Health officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after 1st fatality

MADRID (AP) — Oceanwide Expeditions has revealed that 30 passengers disembarked from its cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak on April 24. They left the ship on the remote island of St. Helena, nearly two weeks after the first passenger died. The company had previously said that a Dutch man’s body was removed there, and that his wife also disembarked. She later died in South Africa. Authorities across four continents are tracing contacts of passengers who left the ship. Three passengers have died in the outbreak, and several others are sick. Argentina’s Health Ministry tells AP that a team of investigators has yet to leave for the southern town they suspect is where a Dutch couple contracted the virus while on a bird-watching trip.

Vatican and State Department stress solid ties after Rubio’s fence-mending visit over Trump attacks

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican says the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace” was discussed in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio visited Rome on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. The meetings on Thursday were aimed at easing tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV. Rubio met with Leo and then Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in a visit that lasted 2½ hours. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that Rubio and Leo discussed the situation in the Middle East “and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere.

Iran creates new agency to control shipping in Strait of Hormuz while reviewing peace deal with US

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has created a government agency to control and tax vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. That’s according to the shipping data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which reported the move Thursday. The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping as hundreds of commercial ships remained bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to reach the open sea. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said officials in Tehran are still reviewing messages from Pakistan, which is mediating peace proposals between the Islamic Republic with the U.S.

A note a former cellmate says he found after Epstein’s suspected suicide attempt is released

NEW YORK (AP) — A note Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate claimed he found after the financier’s first jail suicide attempt has been made public after it had been sealed and locked in a courthouse vault for nearly five years as part of an unrelated legal dispute. A judge released the note Wednesday after The New York Times petitioned last week to unseal it and other documents in a case involving the cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione. Among other things, the note contains the phrase “time to say goodbye.” Tartaglione is a former police officer who is serving a life sentence for killing four people. It isn’t clear who wrote the note Tartaglione claimed he found. It wasn’t mentioned in the lengthy government reports examining the circumstances of Epstein’s death.

Tennessee lawmakers pass US House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers have passed a new U.S. House map that carves up a majority-Black district in Memphis. The new voting districts approved Thursday could give Republicans a chance to win all nine of the state’s congressional seats in the November midterm elections. Tennessee is the first state to adopt new districts since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that significantly weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. President Donald Trump has urged more Republican-led states to redraw their districts in light of the court ruling. Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina also have taken steps toward redistricting.

Clarence Thomas becomes the second longest-serving Supreme Court justice in American history

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is now the second longest-serving justice in history, overtaking someone who was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln. Thomas’ tenure as of Thursday tops 34 years. The only justice with a longer tenure is William O. Douglas. Thomas will overtake Douglas in 2028 if he remains on the court — and there’s no sign he plans to retire anytime soon. Thomas was confirmed in 1991 after contentious hearings that included sexual harassment allegations he denied. More recently, Thomas’ acceptance of luxury trips has raised ethics questions. Thomas has nevertheless gone from near-silence at oral arguments to asking the first questions and penned a landmark ruling expanding Second Amendment rights.

British voters cast ballots in local elections seen as a verdict on Keir Starmer’s leadership

LONDON (AP) — British voters are casting ballots in local and regional elections that could determine the fate of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer’s Labour Party is bracing for losses in local elections across England and for legislatures in Scotland and Wales. Results will start coming in overnight with most due by Friday afternoon. While local elections usually focus on community issues, opponents have framed this as a referendum on Starmer. His popularity has dropped due to missteps and economic struggles. Analysts suggest Labour could lose many seats, with Reform UK and the Green Party expected to gain ground. A poor result could lead to a leadership challenge against Starmer from his own party.

Man arrested on suspicion of weapon possession after report former Prince Andrew was threatened

LONDON (AP) — Police in England say a man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon near the home of the former Prince Andrew. It comes after reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was threatened by a masked man while walking his dogs. Norfolk Constabulary says the arrest came Wednesday after a man was reported “behaving in an intimidating manner.” The suspect is being held for questioning at a police station. The 66-year-old Mountbatten-Windsor moved to King Charles III’s private Sandringham Estate after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested and held for hours by police in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office in a case related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Man pleads guilty to murder, other charges, for firebomb attack on Colorado demonstrators

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — A man accused of a firebomb attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last year has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered the pleas Thursday in Boulder County District Court. On June 1, Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at people who were demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attack injured 13 people including an 82-year-old woman who later died. Soliman initially pleaded not guilty to murder and dozens of attempted murder and assault charges. He now faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Soliman continues to face federal hate crimes and other charges to which he has pleaded not guilty.

US stocks hover just below records as oil slips on hopes of an Iran deal

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is hanging just below its records as oil prices keep dropping on hopes that a deal may be nearing to allow tankers to deliver crude once again from the Persian Gulf to customers. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil fell to $100, down from more than $115 early this week. The S&P 500 fell 0.3% from its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 285 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Stronger-than-expected profit reports from Datadog and other big companies helped cushion losses on Wall Street.