In a news wrap on Thursday, a federal judge extended White House access for three news outlets until a final ruling on President Trump's press ban is reached. The judge's decision came as attorneys for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico returned to court, with the initial restraining order against the ban set to expire. The president had barred these organizations last month, citing unfavorable coverage. A lawyer for the outlets expressed expectations for a ruling by next week.
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., attorney for the media outlets, stated, "We believe that President Trump's ban on the free press violates the First Amendment and the due process clause, and it's an effort to deprive the American public of information about their government." PBS News is among over 70 news organizations that signed an amicus brief in support of the preliminary injunction.
In a separate development, the Trump administration announced the suspension of Microsoft from a green card program, accusing the company of abusing the system. This program allows employers to sponsor H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. Vice President J.D. Vance announced the suspension, which also affects Adobe and several large IT outsourcing firms. Vance remarked, "Our message to Microsoft is, you're a great American company, but you have got to hire great American workers."
Microsoft responded, stating that the majority of applications are for existing employees rather than new hires, and emphasized that it only files H-1B petitions for those who meet the rigorous standards of the visa category.
In military news, the USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego after a record-setting deployment in support of the Iran war, marking the end of over 260 uninterrupted days at sea. Reports during the deployment indicated stress among the crew and poor living conditions.
In Ukraine, authorities reported that a Russian-guided bomb killed at least 33 people on public buses in Kramatorsk. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced additional sanctions on Russia, emphasizing the need for increased pressure on the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the war has reached a dangerous phase, suggesting that stalemates can only end through negotiation or escalation. President Zelenskyy indicated that his mediators plan to visit the U.S. for further discussions.
In Congress, Democrats are calling for U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to address a report alleging that she requested a Trump donor to pay off her $100,000 credit card bill. Guilfoyle's lawyers have denied the allegations.
In cultural news, Canadian poet Anne Carson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her innovative works, with her notable piece "Autobiography of Red" highlighted.
On Wall Street, stocks ended mixed following a rise in oil prices, with the Dow Jones industrial average gaining about 50 points, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.25 percent.
Additionally, four astronauts returned to Earth after nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station, landing off the coast of California. NASA also announced the passing of Margaret Hamilton, a pioneering computer scientist who contributed to the Apollo moon landing, at the age of 90.