4 hours ago

U.S. to guide ships in Strait of Hormuz, and Spirit Airlines shuts down: Weekend Rundown

President Donald Trump said the U.S. will guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as he has offered little optimism that he will accept a recent proposal from Tehran to end the war.

Trump said the U.S. will begin escorting the ships Monday in response to other countries — which he did not name, but he said they were not involved in the conflict — asking the U.S. to help free up ships locked in the passage.

“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Earlier, the president said he was reviewing a new offer from Iran but that he doubts it is “acceptable.” The proposal would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade while pushing off talks on Iran’s nuclear programs for later.

What Spirit Airlines passengers should know about refunds, rebooking and fares

Within hours of Spirit Airlines shutting down, thousands of flights had been canceled, leaving travelers stranded. Check-in counters sat empty, customer service lines were unavailable and many passengers said they had received no warning before arriving at the airport.

If you’re holding on to a ticket, the airline said it will automatically refund those purchased directly with a credit or debit card, while people who booked through third parties must contact their travel agent. One of the most reliable options may be to dispute charges through your credit card company.

Other carriers are also stepping up to absorb the disruption, with United Airlines offering capped “rescue fares” to stranded Spirit passengers for a limited time.

'Meet the Press'

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey goes beyond the Instagram post central to his case.

“This is not just about a single Instagram post,” Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “This is about a body of evidence that [prosecutors] collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury.”

Blanche said the Justice Department has “evidence of all sorts” against Comey and that the indictment isn’t tied exclusively to the number “86 47,” which appears frequently on social media and online shops.

Appearing later on “Meet the Press,” Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., criticized Blanche’s defense of the indictment, citing the widespread presence of “86 47” merchandise online.

“The only facts that distinguish this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to public,” the senator said. “It’s the fact that James Comey is a political opponent of the president’s. It’s the fact the president has called upon him for prosecution. It’s the fact that Todd Blanche wants to keep this job.”

Politics in brief

Abortion pill access: Danco Laboratories, one of the makers of mifepristone, asked the Supreme Court to block a lower court ruling that imposed a nationwide requirement for the medication to be dispensed in person.
The ‘presumptive nominee’: Excitement was palpable at a Maine Democratic Party convention, but some attendees had mixed feelings about Graham Platner’s prospects against GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

A historic victory at the 152nd Kentucky Derby

Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby when Golden Tempo claimed the 152nd Run for the Roses in Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs.

“I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere,” DeVaux said. “We can do anything we set our minds to.”

Golden Tempo made a late surge to defeat one of the favorites in Renegade, which finished second. DeVaux praised jockey Jose Ortiz — who beat his brother, who was atop Renegade — for his “masterful job.”

“He was so far out of it, and he has had so much faith in this horse,” she said.

And it wouldn’t have been a proper day of horse racing without elaborate outfits and gaudy hats. Check out the best photos from Churchill Downs.

AI finds signs of pancreatic cancer before tumors develop

The REDMOD AI model analyzes a CT scan to detect early tissue changes associated with pancreatic cancer. (Mayo Clinic)

By the time doctors detect pancreatic cancer, it’s often too late to treat effectively. But a new study suggests that artificial intelligence might be able to find signs of the disease before tumors are visible on a scan.

An AI model developed at the Mayo Clinic detected abnormalities on patients’ CT scans up to three years before they were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to research published this week.

Scientists trained the model by feeding it scans from patients who had been screened for other medical conditions then were later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Compared to radiologists who reviewed the scans, AI was three times better at identifying the early signs of cancer.

Notable quote

Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight last week in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank. His death comes amid a dramatic escalation in Israeli settler violence, alongside a push to expand Israel’s control over the West Bank through new laws, settlement expansions and security crackdowns limiting Palestinians’ freedom.