Oil prices jump and stocks tumble following Israel’s attack on Iran
Oil prices jumped and stocks tumbled Friday following Israel’s attack on Iran, which raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Crude oil prices saw their biggest increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, pushing the U.S. benchmark close to $73 a barrel. If sustained, that could reverse the downward slide in gasoline prices, which has helped to keep inflation in check. The Labor Department said Wednesday that gas prices had fallen 12% in the last twelve months.
Stocks fell sharply Friday as investors weighed the potential fallout from the conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell close to 500 points, or 1.1% in the first two hours of trading.
Investors were rattled after Israel launched air strikes into Iran, targeting the country’s nuclear facilities, and Iran sent drones towards Israel to retaliate.
Ordinarily, nervous traders would seek shelter in U.S. government bonds, pushing bond prices up and yields down. That didn’t happen early Friday, however, perhaps signaling investors’ lingering worries over the high level of U.S. debt. This week, the Treasury Department reported that the federal deficit had topped $1.2 trillion, with four months still to go in the fiscal year.
Trump administration lauds plastic surgeons’ statement on trans surgery for minors
A patient who came to regret the top surgery she got as a teen won a $2 million malpractice suit. Then, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons clarified its position that surgery is not recommended for transgender minors.
Sunday Puzzle: -IUM Pandemonium
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with KPBS listener Anthony Baio and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
Thailand counts votes in early election with 3 main parties vying for power
Vote counting was underway in Thailand's early general election on Sunday, seen as a three-way race among competing visions of progressive, populist and old-fashioned patronage politics.
US ski star Lindsey Vonn crashes in Olympic downhill race
In an explosive crash near the top of the downhill course in Cortina, Vonn landed a jump perpendicular to the slope and tumbled to a stop shortly below.
For many U.S. Olympic athletes, Italy feels like home turf
Many spent their careers training on the mountains they'll be competing on at the Winter Games. Lindsey Vonn wanted to stage a comeback on these slopes and Jessie Diggins won her first World Cup there.
Immigrant whose skull was broken in 8 places during ICE arrest says beating was unprovoked
Alberto Castañeda Mondragón was hospitalized with eight skull fractures and five life-threatening brain hemorrhages. Officers claimed he ran into a wall, but medical staff doubted that account.
