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Welcome back. In the news today: The U.S. and Iran sign an initial deal to end the war, ease sanctions and open the Strait of Hormuz; Hegseth announces a review of U.S. forces in Europe; and in an AP exclusive, Sen. Bernie Sanders unveils his plan for public ownership of AI companies. Also, archaeologists reveal the discovery of a “prototype” of the Stonehenge monument.
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A small motorboat passes anchored vessels in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Wednesday. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)
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US and Iran sign initial deal to end war, ease sanctions and open strait as nuclear talks continue
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President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran on Wednesday, much of which would restore the status quo before the war, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities, though Trump left the door open to resume attacks. Read more.
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- The agreement starts a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The deal also opens the strait without tolls for two months, but does not preclude fees in the future, according to the drafts from both countries.
Major concessions have been offered to Iran. The U.S. will issue waivers to sanctions that will immediately allow Iran to sell its oil freely. Other concessions — including the full lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets — would happen gradually and be linked to progress in the nuclear talks, according to Pakistani officials. The accord would also provide Iran with at least $300 billion to rebuild — an extraordinary figure and another major benefit for Iran. The money also appears dependent on the progress of further negotiations.
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Hegseth lashes out at NATO allies and announces a review of US forces in Europe
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized NATO allies for not taking more responsibility for their own security on Thursday in Brussels. He also announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. Read more.
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Hegseth lambasted European allies for failing to provide U.S. forces access to bases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, calling it “shameful.” He also called for a reboot of the alliance to turn it into a “NATO 3.0” capable of deterring any threat. Hegseth said the United States would be investing $1.5 trillion in its own defense in 2027, sending “a message to the world” that America is building an “arsenal of freedom.”
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AP Exclusive: Bernie Sanders unveils plan to give the public direct ownership of AI companies
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The legislation, shown first to The Associated Press, would create a sovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commission and financed through a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies. Read more.
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Sanders estimates that the tax would create a nearly $7 trillion fund that would generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually in direct payments to Americans and programs such as health care, education and housing.
While the idea of public ownership of AI companies has been discussed by President Donald Trump and OpenAI’s CEO, Sanders’ proposal goes much further. He’s calling for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies and direct influence over corporate decision-making.
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This photo provided by Wessex Archaeology shows archaeologist Phil Harding standing at Stonehenge in May, near Salisbury, England. (Wessex Archaeology via AP)
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Archaeologists unearth ‘prototype’ of Stonehenge monument nearby
The archaeologists say the structure would have consisted of two wooden poles 394 feet apart and aligned to movements of the sun during the summer and winter solstices. I liked 1984’s “Spinal Tap” and keep thinking about the comically small replica in the Stonehenge scene. This Sunday, thousands will gather at the actual Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice. The latest revelation adds a new layer to the World Heritage Site’s story. As the team leader Phil Harding put it, “Thank God I’m still in archaeology long enough to be part of this discovery, because it’s certainly the highlight of my career.”
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That’s all from me today, thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can invite a friend to subscribe here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja
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That’s all from me today, thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can invite a friend to subscribe here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Nadja
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