Protecting press freedom isn’t free. Help support the independent journalism of the Associated Press.
|
|
|
In the news today: A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel halts fighting between Israel and Hezbollah; a messy GOP battle over a foreign surveillance program; and problems with ICE’s recent hiring spree. Also, AP’s tips on how to stay safe and healthy during festival season.
|
Displaced residents celebrate as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Zefta, southern Lebanon, Friday. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
|
A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel goes into effect
|
The truce, promising a pause in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, appeared to be holding early Friday, possibly clearing one major obstacle to a deal between Iran and the United States and Israel to end weeks of devastating war. Read more.
|
|
|
- An end to Israel’s war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators, who previously accused Israel of breaking the current ceasefire deal with strikes on Lebanon. Israel said that the deal did not cover Lebanon.
Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon — days after the first direct diplomatic talks between the two countries in decades. But a Hezbollah official said the ceasefire was a result of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, and Iranian officials have also taken credit. Hezbollah had opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
- The regional war that began after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.
|
|
|
House extends foreign surveillance powers until April 30
|
The House early Friday approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies in a post-midnight vote after Republicans revolted and refused President Donald Trump’s push for a longer extension. Read more.
|
|
|
At the center of the standoff is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. It incidentally sweeps up the conversations of any Americans who interact with foreigners targeted for surveillance. Supporters say the program is vital to national security whilst opponents point to past misuses.
GOP leaders first unveiled a plan for a five-year extension. Then they tried to salvage a shorter 18-month renewal that Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed. Some 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in blocking its advance. Eventually, they agreed to a 10-day extension. It next goes to the Senate, which is gaveling for a rare Friday session, as Congress races to keep the surveillance program running.
|
|
|
ICE hiring spree didn’t require sterling credentials, AP investigation finds
|
Amid an unprecedented hiring spree — including 12,000 new officers and special agents — some newly hired U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers started working before passing background checks. Several had histories of unpaid debts that resulted in legal action, two had filed for bankruptcy and three others had faced lawsuits that alleged misconduct in prior law enforcement jobs, the AP found. Read more.
|
|
|
The new officers were hired to help carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, financed by a $75 billion funding infusion from Congress for ICE. The AP focused on more than 40 of those officers who recently made public their new jobs as ICE officers on LinkedIn pages, using public records to check their backgrounds.
Marshall Jones, an expert on police recruiting at the Florida Institute of Technology, said it’s hard to get a full picture of ICE’s new employee pool without more data. But he said ICE has likely hired some “less than ideal candidates” who meet minimum requirements but would be passed over in a normal hiring cycle.
The Department of Homeland Security did not answer questions about specific hiring decisions. But it acknowledged some applicants received “tentative selection letters” and offers to begin working on a temporary status before they had been subjected to full background checks.
|
|
|
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
|
How to stay safe and healthy while enjoying the show
Music festival season is upon us. While the big names — like Coachella this weekend — draw huge crowds, my tastes lean more towards smaller events with a metal lineup, where legends like Judas Priest are still tearing up the stage. But whatever your musical tastes, it’s important to look after yourself. From appropriate footwear to staying cool, we asked the experts how to make the most while staying safe and healthy.
|
|
|
*Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here.
|
|
|
|
