Iran seizes ships near Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it seized two cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz after both vessels came under fire. The move comes as the United States enforces a blockade of Iranian ports, and despite a cease-fire that remains in effect. Traffic through the strategic waterway, once responsible for about one fifth of the world's oil flow, has nearly halted, straining global energy supplies.

The White House said President Donald Trump did not consider the seizures a violation of the truce because the ships were not American or Israeli. Trump had previously threatened to strike Iran if it blocked the strait. Iranian leaders appear to be betting they can withstand a prolonged standoff, even as economic pressure mounts at home.

In other developments, a new study found that youth suicides in the United States fell significantly after the launch of the national 988 crisis hotline, with thousands fewer deaths than projected. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also opened an inquiry into a New York Times reporter after she reported on the bureau's director, prompting concerns within the Justice Department about possible retaliation.

Meanwhile, satellite images show China rapidly expanding an artificial island in disputed waters near Vietnam, adding buildings and military-style infrastructure. Analysts say the outpost could become one of Beijing's largest bases in the South China Sea.