POLITICS & POLICY

PALM BEACH, Florida — President Donald Trump fired off a characteristically boastful message on Truth Social late Friday night, asking supporters "ANYONE SICK OF WINNING YET?" in a 17-second video post that quickly drew thousands of reactions amid signs of de-escalation in the recent U.S.-Iran confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz flared dramatically on Saturday as Iran reimposed strict control over the vital shipping chokepoint and Revolutionary Guard gunboats fired on a tanker, hours after briefly reopening the waterway amid a fragile regional ceasefire.

Iran declared the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz completely open to all commercial vessels Friday, easing weeks of global shipping disruptions and sending oil prices sharply lower as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to hold.

BEIJING — China has sharply criticized the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz as a "dangerous and irresponsible" escalation that threatens global energy security and undermines a fragile ceasefire, even as Chinese-owned tankers continue to transit the vital waterway in apparent defiance of American restrictions.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open and ready for unrestricted passage, claiming a diplomatic and military victory after weeks of U.S. naval enforcement and escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.

MIAMI — Elon Musk on Friday proposed that the U.S. federal government issue "Universal HIGH INCOME" checks as the most effective response to widespread unemployment triggered by artificial intelligence, arguing that AI and robotics will generate such vast abundance that inflation will not result.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to Australia for the first time since their 2018 royal tour, embarking on a four-day whirlwind visit that blends philanthropic causes, mental health advocacy and commercial opportunities as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex navigate life outside the working royal family.

The Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows, stayed under severe restrictions Friday as a U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian ports combined with lingering effects of earlier Iranian disruptions to keep commercial traffic at a fraction of pre-crisis levels.

ANNANDALE, Va. — Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, multiple times inside their northern Virginia home early Thursday before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz entered its third day Thursday with American forces turning back at least 13 vessels, according to Pentagon officials, as diplomatic efforts to extend a fragile ceasefire showed signs of strain and Iran issued fresh threats to disrupt shipping across the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump took a sharp swipe at former President Barack Obama on Wednesday, resurrecting a 2016 prediction that he would never reach the White House and highlighting his two electoral victories in a pointed Truth Social post.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military's naval blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz entered its second full day Wednesday with Pentagon officials claiming near-total compliance, even as ship-tracking data showed limited vessels slipping through and global oil markets braced for prolonged disruption in the strategic waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday, kicking off a four-day Australian tour that blends charitable visits with paid speaking engagements and has quickly ignited debate over security costs borne by Australian taxpayers.

ATHENS, Ga. — Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, canceled her planned appearance at a campus event with Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday after receiving what organizers described as "very serious threats," highlighting the ongoing dangers facing high-profile figures in the conservative movement less than a year after her husband's killing.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the conflict with Iran is "very close to being over," even as the U.S. Navy enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports for a second day and diplomats eyed a possible second round of face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan.

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait International Airport stayed shuttered to commercial passenger flights on Wednesday as authorities continued to assess damage from regional conflict and denied persistent rumors of an imminent reopening.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday he deleted an AI-generated image from his Truth Social account that many interpreted as depicting him as a Jesus-like figure because it caused "confusion" among viewers, while insisting the artwork simply showed him as a doctor healing the sick.

SYDNEY — Australia's immigration system is undergoing a significant recalibration in 2026, with the Albanese government introducing stronger border controls, replacing key temporary work visas and adjusting student intake targets while maintaining the permanent migration program at 185,000 places.

WASHINGTON — The United States imposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports and coastal areas Monday, escalating a high-stakes confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz after marathon peace talks with Iran collapsed without agreement, sending oil prices surging and raising fears of broader conflict in the Middle East.

SYDNEY — Australian motorists are grappling with the nation's worst fuel crisis in decades, as petrol prices surge past A$2.40 a litre and diesel climbs toward A$3 amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military's blockade of Iranian ports took full effect Tuesday, choking off shipping around the Strait of Hormuz and sending oil prices surging above $100 a barrel as geopolitical tensions in the critical waterway escalated to a dangerous new phase.

LONDON — Britain declared Monday it will not support or participate in the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisting the U.K. has no intention of being "dragged in" to the escalating conflict with Iran even as President Donald Trump ordered American forces to begin enforcing restrictions on shipping.

BEIRUT — Intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants erupted again in southern Lebanon on Monday, with rocket barrages, drone strikes and ground operations raising fears that the fragile regional ceasefire could collapse and draw Iran back into direct confrontation.

ROME — Pope Leo XIV pushed back firmly Monday against President Donald Trump's blistering personal criticism, declaring aboard the papal plane that he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and will continue speaking out for peace rooted in the Gospel message.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ignited fresh controversy Sunday night by sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ healing a patient in a hospital bed, just minutes after launching a blistering attack on Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, marks a historic milestone as the first U.S.-born leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A Victorian libertarian MP has issued a blunt challenge to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, demanding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally reimburse police for any extra security provided during their upcoming private visit to Australia this week. David Limbrick said the wealthy couple should "pay for it in full" rather than risk Australian taxpayers subsidizing protection amid their tour of Melbourne and other cities.

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait International Airport stayed shuttered Monday with no commercial passenger flights operating, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation continued to deny rumors of an imminent reopening and cited persistent security concerns tied to the broader U.S.-Iran conflict. Travelers hoping to fly in or out of the Gulf nation on April 13, 2026, faced continued disruption more than six weeks after the facility first suspended normal operations.

CANBERRA, Australia — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will become the first woman to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history, marking a landmark shift for the nation's defense forces amid efforts to boost female representation and modernize military leadership.