Trump says US and Iran are talking. His claim is eliciting skepticism

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump started the fourth week of his war against Iran by offering the world some guarded optimism that the U.S. could soon be winding operations down, a claim that markets cheered but Iranian officials dismissed as a ploy to buy time for a conflict that is causing economic pain around the globe.

Wall Street has its worst day since the war with Iran started

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks had their worst day since the war with Iran started. The S&P 500 fell 1.7% Thursday. The index is headed for a fifth straight losing week, which would be the longest such losing streak in almost four years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.4%.

Deal emerges to end Homeland Security budget standoff as disruptions deepen

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senators raced Tuesday to clinch an emerging proposal to end the Homeland Security shutdown by funding much of the department, including the Transportation Security Administration airport workers going without pay, but excluding ICE operations that have been core to the dispute.

How the Iran war is landing with Republicans, according to new AP-NORC poll

It’s costing more and more to gas up the hot rods that Donnie Beson has spent a lifetime tinkering with. He’s not questioning his support for President Donald Trump, but he feels as though the war in Iran has distracted the Republican president from the issues that got him elected. “Come on, Trump. Worry about us,” said Beson, 68, of Woodland Park, Colorado.

Stories of survival emerge from deadly New York airport collision

NEW YORK (AP) – Moments after an Air Canada jet collided at high speed with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilots and hurling a flight attendant from the aircraft, the passengers took their escape into their own hands.

What we know about diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with devastating attacks unless it accepts a 15-point White House peace plan, possibly through indirect talks brokered by Pakistan. Pakistan’s top diplomat confirmed those negotiations were ongoing as military activity – and rhetoric – continued to escalate.

Pentagon removes media offices after judge reinstates New York Times

The U.S. Defense Department will remove media offices from the Pentagon after a federal judge sided with The New York Times in a lawsuit challenging limits on reporters’ access to the building, a department official announced Monday.

Editorials from The Washington Post, New York Times, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Trump casts Florida mail ballot as he pushes Congress to limit that option

President Donald Trump has cast another mail ballot in Florida as he continues to publicly bash the voting method as a source of fraud and push Congress to curtail the practice. Palm Beach County voter records show the president voted by mail in a Tuesday special election for state legislative seats and that his ballot has been counted.