Trump arrives at rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner
Donald Trump is arriving at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington for the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, three months after the original April event was halted when a gunman fired at a security checkpoint outside the ballroom. Organizers have scaled down the gala and scaled up security, while the Secret Service warned that nationwide threat levels have been nearly 40 percent higher since January than during the same period last year.
The White House had said Trump would deliver a 'unifying yet vicious' speech, and Trump had earlier indicated he had planned to sharply criticize the media but would probably refrain. Relations between his administration and the press remain tense, and first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were expected to skip the event, according to reports ahead of the dinner.
BBC News reported that Trump poked fun at the press and that the event celebrated press freedom, while other contemporaneous accounts, including from CBS News and The Guardian, described the event as getting under way, leaving the precise completion status unconfirmed.
Trump Considers “Massive Attack” as Iran Rejects Cease‑Fire
Iranian-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen claimed strikes on two Saudi Arabian-flagged oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, with Saudi authorities later confirming that one vessel was ablaze, The Guardian and The New York Times reported. The claimed attacks were the first since the Tehran-backed group announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia earlier in the week, citing retaliation for a blockade on Yemen and a recent strike on Sanaa International Airport, euronews noted. News24 and The Guardian said the Red Sea incidents raised fears of a new front opening in the widening U.S.-Iran conflict, which has seen U.S. forces conduct successive nights of strikes against Iran.
The violence sent oil prices sharply higher: Brent crude futures rose about 3 percent to as high as $97.45 a barrel during Thursday trading and later climbed past $100 a barrel, according to The Guardian and The New York Times. President Donald Trump responded by threatening attacks on Houthi militants, The New York Times reported, and on Friday told reporters that Iran was "not ready" to make a deal and had not "received enough pain yet," TIME reported.
International Criminal Court Ousts Prosecutor Karim Khan Over Misconduct
Member states of the International Criminal Court voted Friday to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan from office, the court's oversight body announced, according to NPR. The Guardian and The New York Times reported that the governing body found Khan had committed serious misconduct connected to allegations of sexual abuse, making the vote an unprecedented ouster. Khan has denied allegations that he engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and sought to block her complaint, the BBC noted. The allegations had left the tribunal in limbo for nearly two years before the vote.
Democrats Approve South Carolina as First 2028 Primary State
Democrats voted Friday to make South Carolina the first state in their 2028 presidential nominating calendar, NPR reported. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee recommended the change earlier in the day, CBS News and The New York Times noted, and The Guardian said the move is intended to better represent the party's racially diverse voter base. Under the approved calendar, South Carolina will be followed by Nevada, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia also holding early contests, according to NPR.
Indian Activist Sonam Wangchuk Ends 26-Day Hunger Strike
Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday, telling supporters he broke his fast after lengthy negotiations with officials and "in view of possible violence in the country," The New York Times and the BBC reported. During the fast, Wangchuk had lost 11kg as he became the main draw at the youth-led "Cockroach" protest movement, the BBC reported before he ended it. The strike had helped galvanize demonstrations that erupted over an exam-paper scandal and broadened into protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, The Guardian and NPR said. Protesters vowed to continue calling for the resignation of the education minister, according to Sky News and NPR, while Wangchuk said he wanted to avert further bloodshed.
Five Officers Injured as Police Boat Hits Westminster Bridge
Five Metropolitan Police officers were injured Friday afternoon when a marine policing unit boat struck Westminster Bridge in central London, The Guardian and Sky News reported. The Metropolitan Police said the incident occurred at about 3:40 p.m.; a number of officers entered the water but were recovered, the BBC reported. The injured officers were receiving treatment, police said.
Chris Brown Pleads Guilty to Affray in London Nightclub Brawl
American singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty to affray over a 2023 bottle attack at the Tape private members' club in London, avoiding trial on more serious charges, News24 and The Guardian reported. Prosecutors described the assault on music producer Abraham Diaw as an “unprovoked attack” with a bottle, and other charges including assault were dropped as a result of the plea, The Guardian said. Sky News reported that a man was hit over the head with a bottle during the confrontation. Brown is due to be sentenced in October.
LeBron James Agrees to Join Philadelphia 76ers in Free Agency
LeBron James announced Friday that he is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, calling the move his "last decision," CBS News reported. His agency, Klutch Sports Group, confirmed to ESPN that the 41-year-old will play a record 24th NBA season on a two-year, $8 million deal that includes a player option, according to The Guardian. James spent the past eight seasons with the Lakers.
Former NFL Quarterback Tony Romo Arrested on Suspicion of DUI
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo was arrested Thursday evening in Wisconsin on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, CBS News and The Guardian reported. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said Romo was pulled over around 6 p.m. and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, according to the reports. In Wisconsin, a first-offense charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated is not a criminal charge, The Guardian noted.
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Clean Energy Grants by Politics
The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it canceled more than $7.5 billion in federal clean‑energy grants to states based solely on whether they backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, The Guardian and The New York Times reported. The administration, however, called the characterization a “misrepresentation,” the Guardian said.
Small Businesses Sue Trump Administration Over New Tariffs
Two small U.S. businesses sued the Trump administration Friday over its latest round of tariffs, The Guardian and The New York Times reported. The plaintiffs, represented by the Liberty Justice Center, argue that the legislation used to impose the duties is "arbitrary and capricious," The Guardian said. President Trump has defended the tariffs as targeting countries that engage in forced labor.