AP News Summary at 3:41 a.m. EDT

Iran's unrelenting attacks on Mideast shipping and energy infrastructure send oil prices soaring

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Unrelenting Iranian attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure again pushed oil above $100 a barrel. Iran on Thursday hit a container ship off the coast of Dubai, caused a blaze near Bahrain’s international airport, targeted a major Saudi oil field with a drone attack and forced Iraq to halt operations at all the country’s oil terminals after an attack on its Basra port on the Persian Gulf. Meantime, American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to the war in sight. Sirens wailed before dawn in Jerusalem after Israel said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran.

Outdated intel likely led US to carry out deadly strike on Iranian elementary school, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outdated intelligence has likely led to the United States carrying out a deadly missile strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed over 165 people, many of them children, in the opening hours of the conflict, according to a U.S. official and a second person briefed on findings of a preliminary U.S military investigation into the incident. Now, dozens of Democratic senators are demanding answers from the Trump administration. The letter from more than 45 senators pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on whether the U.S. was, in fact, culpable. The senators also raised concerns about the hollowing out of a congressionally mandated office set up specifically to reduce civilian casualties.

Brent crude oil briefly tops $100 a barrel as Iran attacks on shipping worsen supply concerns

BANGKOK (AP) — The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, has topped $100 a barrel again, jolting markets just days after it spiked near $120. Oil prices shot more than 9% higher early Thursday as supply concerns worsened with Iranian attacks on commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz. They later fell back slightly, with Brent up nearly 7% at $98 per barrel and U.S. benchmark crude up 6.5% at about $93 a barrel. Markets in Asia logged moderate losses investors absorbed the latest news suggesting the war in the Middle East is far from over. U.S. futures declined and the dollar climbed to 159 Japanese yen. The U.S. campaign of airstrikes in Iran is now in its 13th day.

Tornadoes kill 2 in northwestern Indiana and raze buildings in Kankakee, Illinois

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — Tornadoes have killed at least two people in northwest Indiana and leveled buildings in Kankakee, Illinois. The Newton County Coroner's Office on Wednesday identified an elderly couple killed in their Lake Village, Indiana home as Edward and Arlene Kozlowski. A volunteer fire department says less than 10 people were injured in Tuesday's storms. In Illinois, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office says a tornado caused extensive damage in the small suburb of Aroma Park, uprooting trees, shattering windows, tearing off roofs and smashing vehicles. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio remain under tornado watch Wednesday.

Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are digging into Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling financial portfolio. A committee deposed the late financier’s accountant on Wednesday. Richard Kahn worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein’s sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth. Lawmakers say that a better understanding of Epstein’s wealth could help the public understand how, for years, he was able to get away with trafficking and sexually abusing underage girls.

Trump administration kicks off new process to try to replace tariffs struck down by Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is opening a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries. It’s an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s previous use of tariffs. Trump and his team have made clear that they’re seeking to replace the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenues by using different laws to establish new tariffs. The administration is starting investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to try to charge new import taxes. But U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that he didn’t want to prejudge the outcome of the process, even though he said that “the policy remains the same.”

Iran war has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil choke point. Reopening it is a big challenge

PARIS (AP) — Governments are working on plans to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil choke point. The Iran war has effectively closed the waterway and pushed up gasoline prices. French President Emmanuel Macron is leading an international effort to reopen the waterway “when circumstances permit.” Retired naval officers say that using warships to escort tankers would make no sense during active combat. They say ships have little room in the waterway to evade attacks. Navies have recent escort experience in the Red Sea against Houthi drones and missiles. Experts say Hormuz poses far higher risks. Iran has missiles, drones, fast boats and naval mines. Insurers also drive decisions. Premiums for ships wanting to use the strait have surged.

FACT FOCUS: The Trump administration is falsely claiming Jimmy Carter was against mail-in voting

President Donald Trump and members of his administration are claiming that former President Jimmy Carter was against the use of mail-in and absentee ballots, citing a bipartisan 2005 report from the Commission on Federal Election Reform co-chaired by Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker. But Carter supported the use of mail-in and absentee ballots from at least 2020 and up until his death in 2024. The two decade-old report did state that mailed and absentee ballots can create opportunities for fraud, but also suggested ways to reduce that risk and recommended further research on the issue.

Trump visa changes squeeze rural schools relying on international teachers

Rural school districts say the Trump administration’s visa changes are jeopardizing a key source of teachers. Many schools hired foreign teachers when they couldn't attract American instructors to remote locations. But visas have become harder to come by under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Schools are looking for other ways to fill the gaps. When schools can't hire local replacements for international educators, some are planning to rely more on online instruction. Instructors join a class live and teach via video chat. Elsewhere, school leaders say they may hire uncertified teachers, combine classes or drop course offerings.

King penguins are the rare species benefiting from a warming world. But that could change

WASHINGTON (AP) — King penguins are adapting to climate change in a way that seems to help them breed successfully, which is unusual. Researchers tracked about 19,000 birds on a sub-Antarctic island chain and found breeding is starting 19 days earlier than in 2000. Wednesday's study links the earlier timing to a 40% jump in breeding success. That's a rarity in the natural world, where warming often means mismatches in timing for species that depend on each other, like bees and flowers. Scientists say the king penguins benefit from being flexible in diet and breeding. It's a climate change success story, but scientists caution it may only be for now.