The powerful son of Iran's slain supreme leader emerged on Wednesday as a frontrunner to succeed him as the U.S. stepped up its military campaign against Tehran and NATO air defenses destroyed a missile heading from Iran into Turkish airspace. The missile incident reported by Turkey was the first time...
Oil Steady as Widening US, Israeli Strikes on Iran Snarl Hormuz Flows
Oil prices were steady despite volatile trading on Wednesday as further U.S., Israeli strikes against Iran escalated the conflict and paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for a fifth day to impact vital Middle East oil and gas production. Brent crude was down 24 cents, or 0.3%, to $81.13...
US to Auction Oil and Gas Drilling Rights in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
The Trump administration on Wednesday will offer more than 1 million acres (404,686 hectares) in Alaska's Cook Inlet to oil and gas drillers, a key test of industry appetite for investment in the region. The sale is the first of six Alaska offshore oil and gas auctions mandated through 2032...
Israel Orders Lebanese to Leave Swathe of the South ‘Immediately’
Israel warned residents to immediately leave a swathe of south Lebanon on Wednesday, ordering them to move north of the Litani River on the third day of full-blown hostilities with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Lebanon has emerged as a theatre in the war that has engulfed the region since the...
State Awards Fresno $10.5M for Homeless Housing
The state of California awarded the city of Fresno nearly $10.5 million that will help keep emergency shelter beds open for homeless people. The award from the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention fund will also help provide case management for people as they navigate the service network. "Since the start...
US Lawmakers Set to Vote on War Powers as Iran Conflict Widens
Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate were set to begin voting on Wednesday on a bipartisan war powers resolution aiming to stop the military campaign against Iran and require that any hostilities against it be authorized by Congress. The latest effort by Democrats and a few Republicans to rein in President...
Global Markets Swing as Investors Assess Energy Price Impact
Markets appeared to stabilize Wednesday, with stocks rising and oil prices and bond markets holding steady, as investors continued to assess the effects of energy supply disruptions stemming from the war in Iran. Oil prices remained choppy but have not added to their sharp rise since the war began after...
Eight US Senate Races to Watch in the 2026 Midterm Elections
Democrats face an uphill battle to capture the U.S. Senate in the November midterm elections, as Republicans are defending just two seats viewed as competitive by nonpartisan analysts and hold a 53-47 majority. Democrats are defending four competitive seats and would need to pick up four to take the majority....
Crockett Concedes Democratic Primary in Texas; Republicans Head to Runoff
Rep. Jasmine Crockett issued a statement Wednesday conceding the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas to James Talarico, a state lawmaker and seminarian, in a contest that served as an early test of the party’s direction heading into the November midterm elections. Earlier Wednesday, it had not been clear whether Crockett...
US Kills Iranian Leader of Trump Assassination Plot, Pentagon Says
The U.S. military has killed an Iranian official who headed a unit behind an alleged assassination plot against President Donald Trump, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. The announcement of the unnamed Iranian official's killing came during an operational update to the four-day-old war with Iran at the Pentagon. U.S. Defense...