News without an agenda. AP is a not-for-profit organization with no corporate parent, no shareholders and no government influence. Our mission is journalism, not profit margins. Your donation supports independent reporting that serves the public interest, not corporate shareholders. Donate today.
|
|
|
In the news today: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to face a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill; how the U.S. blockade is squeezing Iran’s oil industry; and how Israel’s warnings to flee have upended lives and reshaped south Lebanon. Also, the future of a beloved dog statue on a New York warehouse is up in the air.
And check out our next Press Freedom Week webinar, “On the Scene: What It Takes to Secure Access to the Biggest Stories.” AP journalists will take you inside how they cover everything from wars and wildfires to Olympic Games and red carpets. Join us here today at 11 a.m. Eastern.
|
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appears before the House Committee on Armed Services on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.)
|
Hegseth faces a second day of Democrats grilling him over the Iran war
|
Making his first appearance before Congress since the Trump administration went to war against Iran, Hegseth battled with Democrats — and some Republicans — on Wednesday in a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing probing him over the war. Hegseth will face questioning in the Senate on Thursday. Read more.
|
|
|
|
US blockade is squeezing Iran’s all-important oil industry
|
With no way to export the oil it is pumping out and diminishing room to store it at home, Iran may be forced to dramatically reduce or cease production from some of its wells, perhaps beginning in as little as two weeks, experts say. Read more.
|
|
|
Already Iran appears to have begun dialing back production, analysts say. According to Miad Maleki, a former sanctions expert at the U.S. Treasury, Iran’s leaders “are really resisting” shutting down oil wells because of how painful that would be long-term. Once shut down, production from the aging wells may not be restarted so easily, if at all.
With its oil trade constrained, Iran is seeing less hard currency flow back into an economy mauled by weeks of war, months of unrest and decades of international sanctions. The pressure is building as the U.S. Treasury Department ratchets up sanctions on Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. military has seized at least two tankers off Asia believed to be carrying Iranian oil.
|
|
|
Israeli evacuation warnings in Lebanon spark chaos amid war with Hezbollah
|
Israel’s warnings to flee — which come suddenly as texts, automated calls and hard-to-read maps shared on social media — have upended lives and reshaped south Lebanon. Entire villages have emptied, with over a million people fleeing at the height of the fighting. Read more.
|
|
|
Israel says the warnings are designed to keep civilians out of harm’s way in its war with Hezbollah. Israel has posted 132 online alerts since the latest war erupted on March 2 — including seven covering over 50 towns in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect on April 17. Lebanese residents say the narrowly targeted warnings often come with short notice, causing chaos and confusion. International law experts say Israel’s warnings are inconsistent and often overly broad and open-ended.
The warnings also come as Israel says it plans to occupy a 6-mile wide buffer zone along the border and prevent people from returning until the threat from Hezbollah has been eliminated.
|
|
|
A giant statue of Nipper the dog sits atop of a building in the warehouse district in Albany, N.Y., April 21. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)
|
Questions over the future of Nipper, the beloved 28-foot tall dog statue
For nearly seven decades, Nipper — Albany’s local icon — has sat obediently atop a New York warehouse. The statue recreating the famous RCA ad imagery of a dog listening to a phonograph has grown into a source of local pride. But the building it sits on has been unused for at least a decade, and is wrapped up in foreclosure litigation. The mayor’s office says it’s working to add Nipper to the city’s list of historic landmarks, which could help protect the dog and the building from damaging changes.
|
|
|
|
Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja
|
|
|
|
|
Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja
|
|
|
|
|
*Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here.
|
|
|
|
|
