Stories from United States

United Airlines is expanding its Summer 2026 service with four new nonstop transatlantic flights. The new destinations include Split, Bari, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela.

US forces released the commercial vessel Blue Star 3 after a search and verification of its voyage plan. The ship was suspected of attempting to enter Iran by violating port boundaries. US forces confirmed the vessel's itinerary did not include a visit to an Iranian port. A total of 39 ships have been returned by US forces so far, according to the report. The US Central Command announced the release of the vessel Blue Star 3 following an inspection. The vessel was previously detained due to suspected links to Iran. The announcement was made via a post on social media, according to the source. The source noted that 60 ships suspected of having Iranian links have been involved in similar situations. The ship was reportedly heading to Iran at the time of the incident.

The US State Department is planning a radical redesign of American passports. The Chancellor reported that there are currently 203,000 passports involved in this modernization process. The project includes a series of new instruments and cybersecurity upgrades.

Critics argue that Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and other executives transformed OpenAI from a non-profit structure into a commercial technology giant through multi-billion dollar investments.

The White House has withdrawn a hospitality executive previously nominated to lead the National Park Service. Cole Allen, a California man, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president during the White House Correspondents' Dinner last Saturday night. Allen also faces federal gun charges following an attempt to storm the black-tie event with multiple weapons. The White House press secretary attributed the incident to divisive rhetoric from Democrats and journalists that she claims fuels political violence in the U.S. New details identify the suspect as Cole Allen, a California man. Federal gun charges have been filed in the case. Prosecutors in Washington D.C. A detention hearing is pending to determine if he will be released on bail or under specific conditions. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 11.

Medicaid coverage for obesity management medications has ceased in the state of California in 2026. Access to these treatments is becoming less accessible due to varying insurance barriers across different states and company sizes.

The case involves a lawsuit filed by Musk against OpenAI to evaluate whether the company's investors and the public were misled. The King noted that the international community faces immense challenges due to conflicts spanning from Europe to the Middle East. The address follows a visit by the King and Queen that has increased security presence in the area. The mission follows recent criticisms from President Trump regarding British and European support for Ukraine. The King noted this was his 20th visit to Washington, DC, and his first as King and Head of the Commonwealth. ABC's Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein provided perspective on the address. Analysts suggest the visit is viewed as highly for bilateral ties. He referenced his grandfather King George VI's 1939 visit to the US and his late mother's 1991 speech to the chamber.

The Container Store will begin selling merchandise from Bed Bath & Beyond, according to the Washington Business Journal. This move makes the retailer one of 98 locations nationwide transitioning into a mashup store format.

A new scoring system involving a 15-point threshold is set to be adopted at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Some observers warn the change may impact younger players by making advantages or disadvantages more obvious.