DALLAS (AP) – As people gathered across the U.S. to celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to his presidential center.

BRUSSELS (AP) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at NATO allies on Thursday as he announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe whose outcome will depend on how fast the Europeans take responsibility for their own security.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

LONDON (AP) – Labour’s Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, has won a special election for a seat in Parliament that puts him in a position to challenge embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership of the country.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the U.S. Navy has, as part of the agreement to end the war, lifted its blockade on Iranian ports by allowing more than a dozen ships to pass through. Vance gave the update at a White House news briefing, where he also said the greatest amount of oil since the war began is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

ZURICH (AP) – The U.S. push to quickly begin high-stakes talks with Iran hit a snag just two days after the signing of an agreement that opens a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent understanding about Iran’s nuclear program while getting oil traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz back to prewar levels.

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. gas prices fell below $4 a gallon on average Thursday, but just barely. It is the first time since March that the average cost for a regular gallon has been that low. Prices fell overnight after President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waives U.S.-backed sanctions on the country.