US fires on merchant vessel

trying to breach its blockade

IRBIL, Iraq — The U.S. military has fired on a merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen. The conflict shows no signs of easing after 13 nights of strikes.

U.S. embassies in the Middle East have warned Americans that options to leave could become limited. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to avoid bases with U.S. troops. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point, with its closure causing economic turmoil. Diplomatic efforts appear stalled, with no signs of progress in negotiations.

Trump: US will probe trade

practices of European Union

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says the United States will open a formal investigation into the European Union’s trade practices.

He claims the bloc has unfairly levied billions of dollars of fines against Google, Apple and other U.S. tech giants. Trump made the announcement Friday.

A day earlier, the EU hit Google with a fine of $1 billion after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by setting up Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers toward its own services and apps to the detriment of competitors.

Google said the fine hurts European businesses and consumers.

Family of man killed by police

seeks charges against officer

MADISON, Wis. — An attorney for the family of a man who was shot and killed by Madison police said Corey Ruiz’s death was unjustified, and the officer should be criminally charged.

Ruiz was killed on a busy city street Wednesday. Police were investigating reports that someone was trying to enter parked vehicles when they tried to arrest Ruiz. They say Ruiz injured an officer. The officer who fired the shots at Ruiz has not yet been identified.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called it an unjustified “execution” during an emotional press conference Friday. Ruiz’s 13-year-old daughter said her heart is broken.

Teen pleads guilty to murder

in shooting at high school

WINDER, Ga. — A teenager has pleaded guilty to all 55 counts in a deadly shooting nearly two years ago at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

Sixteen-year-old Colt Gray entered the plea Friday without having reached a deal with prosecutors.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to charges in the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting that killed two students and two teachers, and left several others wounded, at the high school about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. Because he pleaded guilty to murder, Gray faces a minimum sentence of life in prison. The judge must decide whether he should be eligible for parole.

502 students lose spots

at Howard over tuition

WASHINGTON — More than 500 incoming students at Howard University have learned this week that they have been unenrolled from the Washington, D.C., school and no longer have spots for the upcoming fall semester that begins Aug. 17. Many have taken to social media — some in tears — to share their stories. The posts have gone viral. Howard is one of about 100 historically black colleges and universities in the United States. It says Friday that the school sent notifications to 502 first-time-in-college students whose accounts did not reflect the required enrollment and financial obligations.

10 killed, 100 wounded

in Russian attack on Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian attack on a site near Kyiv that was hosting a defense industry event killed at least 10 people and wounded nearly 100 others. The ballistic missile strike Friday came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives from Raytheon, the U.S. company behind the Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine urgently needs the systems to counter Russian missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to target Russian infrastructure, including logistical hubs and oil facilities. Ukrainian forces have intensified drone attacks inside Russia.

The Associated Press