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By Sallee Ann Harrison

May 04, 2026

By Sallee Ann Harrison

May 04, 2026

 
 

Hello and welcome to your afternoon news update from The Associated Press. Today, the ceasefire in the Iran war faces its most perilous moment; the Supreme Court restores broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone; and a mini Pluto is thought to be the solar system’s smallest object yet.

 

UP FIRST

An Iranian tugboat floats in the foreground as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Monday. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

An Iranian tugboat floats in the foreground as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Monday. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

What to know as the US tries to open the Strait of Hormuz and a ceasefire wavers

The ceasefire in the Iran war abruptly faced its most perilous moment Monday after the United States began trying to open the Strait of Hormuz to allow hundreds of stranded commercial ships sail out. The United Arab Emirates said it came under attack for the first time since the early April ceasefire, and a British military monitor said two cargo vessels were ablaze off the UAE. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Live updates: United Arab Emirates says Iran resumed attacks as US claims progress in Strait of Hormuz
  • Iran war has put foreign workers in the Gulf at greater risk while raising the cost of going home 
  • As US plans fewer troops in Germany, Europe sees need for bigger role within NATO 
 

TOP STORIES

Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail and pharmacies

The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortions are provided across the nation. The order temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Democrats look for a foothold in Iowa as Vance visits to boost Republicans 
  • Judge in dispute over Washington golf course tells Trump officials not to cut trees without notice
  • Tribes sue federal government to halt exploratory drilling near sacred ceremonial site
  • Endangered whale protections may be delayed to 2035 under Trump-blacked plan
  • Costa Rica's top newspaper says US revoked visas of its executives, prompting press freedom concerns

Astronomers believe they've detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto

A new study suggests that a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto harbors a thin, delicate atmosphere that may have been created by volcanic eruptions or a comet strike. Just 300 miles or so across, this mini Pluto is thought to be the solar system’s smallest object yet with a clearly detected global atmosphere bound by gravity, said lead researcher Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Here’s why May the 4th is celebrated as Star Wars Day across the galaxy 
 

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IN OTHER NEWS

Familiar, an AI pet robot, interacts during a demonstration in Woburn, Mass., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Not a dog or a cat: Roomba pioneer aims to crack the household market again with an AI-powered pet robot

German city of Leipzig: A driver plows into people in a shopping area in Germany, killing 2

California DUI case: Britney Spears avoids jail time with guilty plea to a lesser charge 

Press freedom: Argentina's Milei restores press access to presidency after a ban sparks backlash

Religion: How frequent worship can affect your mental health, according to experts

Met Gala live updates: Stars prepare to dress for ‘Fashion is Art’ theme

WATCH: Romania performer defends 'Choke Me' song that has stirred Eurovision contest controversy

 

TRENDING

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota medical director Dr. Agnes Hutchinson examines a baby rabbit that was brought into the center on Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota medical director Dr. Agnes Hutchinson examines a baby rabbit that was brought into the center on Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Did you find an animal nesting near your house? Here’s what to do