US seizes sixth sanctioned tanker it says has ties to Venezuela in Trump’s effort to control its oil

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela. It’s part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday the Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.” The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned vessel seized by U.S. forces as part of Trump’s effort. A video Noem posted online shows helicopters hovering over the deck of a ship while armed troops drop down on the deck by rope.

Postal Service unveils new Muhammad Ali stamp in champ’s hometown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Postal officials have unveiled a commemorative stamp of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky. The stamp features a 1974 Associated Press photograph of Ali in his prime as a fighter. The Postal Service has printed 22 million of these stamps, which went on sale Thursday. Bob Costas hosted the unveiling event, honoring Ali in his hometown. His widow, Lonnie Ali, spoke about the stamp’s significance. Ali, known for his brash poetry and philanthropy, died in 2016. The stamp sheet also features a photo of Ali in a pinstripe suit, recognizing his work as an activist and humanitarian.

Lawmakers propose $2.5B agency to boost production of rare earths

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed creating a new agency with $2.5 billion to boost production of rare earths and the other critical minerals. This comes as the Trump administration takes aggressive steps to reduce reliance on China, which dominates the market for these materials. The Pentagon has spent nearly $5 billion over the past year to secure supply chains. The bill introduced Thursday by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Todd Young aims to stabilize prices and encourage domestic and allied production. The U.S. is under pressure to cut its dependence on China, after a trade truce last year.

Minifridge recall expands to 964,000 Frigidaires after fire reports

NEW YORK (AP) — An appliance distributor is expanding a minifridge recall that now covers roughly 964,000 Frigidaire-branded products sold in the U.S., after multiple fire reports. Following a recall of about 634,000 minifridges last year, Canada-based Curtis International is now recalling another 330,000 of different model. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that these products have electrical components that can short circuit and ignite. Owners are urged to stop using the fridges and visit the company’s website for refund instructions. The recalled fridges were made between January 2020 and December 2023.