President Trump's naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been condemned by Beijing as "irresponsible and dangerous," with China's President Xi Jinping warning against a return to "the law of the jungle." Chinese tankers have reportedly challenged the blockade, with some turning back while others passed through.
President Trump's deleted AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus Christ drew criticism from a DC bishop, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and media figures. The image was posted after Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV for criticizing the Iran conflict.
Israeli and Lebanese diplomats held rare direct talks in Washington, hosted by Senator Rubio, despite ongoing fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The discussions aim to ease regional tensions, though Israel maintains its military campaign.
The IMF and ECB President Lagarde warned of slowing global growth and rising inflation, with a top European official predicting stagflation due to the Iran war. Virgin Atlantic raised ticket prices by £360, while OPEC oil production fell 27% in March.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress following multiple sexual misconduct allegations and threats of expulsion. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special election to fill Swalwell's vacant House seat, while Los Angeles DA confirmed an investigation into Swalwell.
The NAACP filed a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk's xAI of illegally spewing toxic pollutants into historically Black neighborhoods near Memphis. The suit alleges the company uses dozens of unpermitted methane gas generators to power its data centers, violating the Clean Air Act.