Medics were working on Monday to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly hantavirus after a suspected outbreak on a luxury cruise ship held off West Africa carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers, officials said. Around 150 people were still stuck on the vessel after three people - a...
Oil Prices Jump 6% as Iran Sets UAE Oil Port Ablaze, Strikes Vessels in Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices jumped about 6% on Monday as Iran stepped up attacks on the United Arab Emirates and ships in the Middle East Gulf over the past 24 hours, the most serious escalation since a U.S.-Iran ceasefire came into force in early April. Brent futures rose $6.79, or 6.3%, to...
DHS Intelligence Office Did Not Properly Secure Smartphones, Watchdog Says
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security failed to effectively secure smartphones used by staff in its intelligence office, raising the risk of cyberattacks and unauthorized access to sensitive information, the department’s inspector general said in a report published Monday. The independent watchdog found that the department did not require...
Britney Spears Pleads Guilty to Reckless Driving in DUI Case
Pop star Britney Spears settled her case of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol by pleading guilty on Monday to a lesser charge of reckless driving that reduces the probationary time she otherwise would have faced. Spears' lawyers entered the plea on her behalf during a brief hearing...
S&P 500 Falls From Record High on Middle East Worries
Wall Street dipped from record highs on Monday after a South Korean ship was hit by an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran demonstrated its grip on Middle East oil, dampening optimism about strong first-quarter earnings reports. Energy stocks rose after the reports of the latest confrontations. An...
Tower Fire Burns 2,500 Acres in Kern County, 50% Contained
A wildfire reported Sunday afternoon in Kern County has grown to 2,500 acres and is 50% contained, CalFire reported Monday morning. The Tower Fire is burning near Edison Highway and Comanche Drive in Bakersfield, according to authorities. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, CalFire said. — Connect with Anthony...
Pakistan Says It Helped Iranian Crew From Ship That US Seized
Pakistan said Monday that it helped transfer 22 crew members from an Iranian ship, describing the move as a “confidence-building measure” coordinated with the United States and Iran. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the crew, who had been held aboard the MV Touska after its capture by the U.S. Navy, were...
Coalinga Police Arrest 2 After Drug Bust, Seize ‘Ghost Gun’
Two people were arrested after police served a narcotics-related search warrant at a Coalinga residence and discovered drugs and a firearm, authorities said. Officers with the Coalinga Police Department executed the warrant around 8:30 a.m. Friday at a home in the 300 block of West Polk Street, according to a...
Dairy Queen Pauses Middle East Growth Plans, Takes on AI in Drive-Thrus
Middle East tensions including war in Iran have led Berkshire Hathaway-owned Dairy Queen to put expansion plans in the region on hold, as cautious franchisees address supply-chain disruptions, the restaurant chain's chief executive said. Speaking during Berkshire's annual shareholder weekend in early May, Chief Executive Troy Bader said shipping restrictions...
Gap Co‑Founder Doris Fisher Dies at 94
Gap co-founder Doris Fisher, who helped build one of America's most recognizable clothing retailers, has died at the age of 94, CEO Richard Dickson said in a statement. Fisher and her late husband Donald Fisher opened the first Gap store in 1969 on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, initially selling...