American Heart Association urges people to favor plant-based proteins, replace full fat dairy

2026-03-31T17:04:15.627Z / Reuters

By Reuters

March 31, 2026 5:04 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

节点运行失败

Ingredients for plant-based hamburgers, including a protein gel, are on display in this illustration in Redwood City, California, U.S. October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach/File Photo

March 31 (Reuters) – The American Heart Association’s new nutrition guidance, released on Tuesday, emphasized a dietary pattern rich in vegetables, ​fruits and whole grains, prioritizing plant-based protein over meat.

It also suggested limiting the ‌use of sugar, salt and ultra-processed foods and replacing full fat dairy with non-fat and low-fat dairy.

Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year announced a new slate of dietary ​guidelines that recommended Americans eat more protein from both animal ​and plant sources, and encouraged the consumption of full-fat dairy.

In contrast ⁠to the federal government’s recommendation of use of beef tallow and ​consumption of red meat, the AHA pushed for plant-based proteins such as legumes, ​nuts and seeds, choosing low-fat or fat-free dairy, and, when consuming red meat, selecting lean cuts, avoiding processed forms and keeping portions small.

The Trump administration and Health Secretary ​Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to “Make America Healthy Again” has focused on ​the removal of synthetic dyes, other chemical ingredients, ultraprocessed foods, consumption of less sugar ‌and ⁠seed oils.

The AHA also suggested Americans choose sources of unsaturated fats, avoid ultraprocessed foods, and minimize intake of added sugars in beverages and foods.

The organization recommended Americans to prepare foods with minimal or no salt, and limit ​the intake of ​alcohol.

The guidance also ⁠recommended children can and should begin following a heart-healthy dietary pattern starting at 1 year of age.

The American Heart ​Association’s guidance is aligned with the U.S. Food and ​Drug Administration’s ⁠dietary guidelines on major issues, a spokesperson from the FDA said, adding they look forward to working collaboratively with AHA.

The AHA, which is the nation’s ⁠oldest ​and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart ​disease and stroke, releases dietary guidance about every five years to promote cardiovascular health.

Reporting by ​Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Christy Santhosh; Editing by Shailesh Kuber

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Federal judge orders halt to Trump White House ballroom project; DOJ to appeal

2026-03-31T15:38:03-04:00 / Fox News

District Judge Richard Leon delayed enforcement of the ruling for 14 days to allow time for the White House to appeal

By Jasmine Baehr, Bill Mears, David Spunt, Jake Gibson, Fox News

Published March 31, 2026 3:38pm EDT

Trump says White House ballroom built at ‘no charge to taxpayers’

President Donald Trump touches on the construction of the White House ballroom at the annual National Governors Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.

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A federal judge on Tuesday ordered construction of the White House ballroom project halted, siding with a historic preservation group that argued the effort violated federal law.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the group is likely to succeed on the merits of its case, writing that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have,” according to the ruling.

The injunction temporarily stops work on the project, though the judge delayed enforcement for 14 days to allow the White House time to appeal. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to appeal.

“I will therefore delay enforcement of the injunction for fourteen days,” Leon wrote, noting the administration plans to seek immediate appellate review.

KAROLINE LEAVITT BLASTS NYT BALLROOM COVERAGE, CALLS OUT CRITICS WHO ‘NEVER BUILT ANYTHING’

Construction work continues on President Trump’s White House Ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House, seen from the Washington Monument, March 8, in Washington, D.C.(Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued the project required congressional authorization before moving forward.

In his opinion, Leon said construction could resume if Congress explicitly approves the project or authorizes funding, emphasizing that lawmakers retain authority over federal property and spending.

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Fox News reached out to the White House and the Department of Justice for comment.

This is a developing story, check back later for updates.

Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.

Inspector general’s report says human error, not political motive, to blame for release of Mikie Sherrill’s military records

March 31, 2026 / 2:57 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington— In a finding that puts to rest months of partisan suspicion, the inspector general for the National Archives and Records Administration concluded that the improper release of New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s largely unredacted military records during last year’s governor’s race was the result of human error, not political design.

While the disclosure of Sherrill’s personal information raised concerns because of the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Freedom of Information Act, investigators for the Archives’ watchdog found that the request submitted to the National Archives had been properly filed. The failure, they concluded, occurred later: an Archives technician released the records in error and did not adhere to established protocol.

Sherrill and other senior Democrats suggested the episode bore the hallmarks of coordination between her Republican opponent and Trump administration allies — a suspicion that lingered during the campaign for New Jersey governor. Sherill ultimately prevailed over Jack Ciattarelli, her GOP opponent.

But the inquiry found there were no political motivations for releasing the records. What emerged instead was a bureaucratic misstep.

“As we said all along, the Ciattarelli campaign did nothing wrong. Now that the phony ‘Trump did it’ smokescreen — which most of the NJ press corps fell for — has been proven false, Governor Sherrill should come clean and release the records about her involvement in the Naval Academy cheating the scandal,” said Mark Sheridan of the law firm Squire Patton Boggs, who represents Ciattarelli’s campaign.

CBS News originally began investigating Sherill during the campaign over accusations that she was involved in the 1994 Naval Academy scandal, where more than 100 midshipmen were implicated in cheating on an exam. Sherrill told CBS News that she was not accused of cheating and said her only involvement was not informing on her fellow classmates. She was prevented from walking during her graduation but did graduate and went onto serve in the U.S. Navy.

Contacted by CBS News, a spokesperson for Sherrill did not immediately comment.

CBS News obtained the results of the investigation after submitting a request under the Freedom of Information Act to the National Archives earlier this year. The investigation confirms CBS News’ previous reporting.

“No evidence was developed during the investigation indicating the disclosure was politically motivated,” the investigation concluded. The Office of the Inspector General for the National Archives opened the investigation days after CBS News exclusively reported last year that the Archives had released Sherrill’s military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, a Ciattarelli ally.

The documents released included Sherrill’s Social Security number, home addresses for her and her parents, life insurance information, Sherrill’s performance evaluations and the nondisclosure agreement between her and the government to safeguard classified information.

CBS News’ report last year ignited a political uproar. Both Sherrill’s and Ciattarellli’s campaigns lobbed legal threats and negative ads at each other for the rest of the race.

Political campaigns, opposition research firms and news organizations often seek the military records of current or former service members running for elected office for both vetting purposes and to better inform voters.

The investigation concluded that the Archives technician assigned to handle the request from Ciattarelli’s associate, De Gregorio, should have notified his supervisor to escalate the request for a higher level of review, since the request for information involved a member of Congress. The name of the Archives technician is redacted because of privacy exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Archives technician admitted the mistake to investigators, saying it was likely “caused by being distracted and not focusing entirely on the task at hand.”

“Based on the gravity of the improper release, on December 16, 2025, supervisory staff proposed the Archives Technician for removal from Federal service for Neglect of Duty,” according to the investigation. The technician, who had worked at the Archives since about 2015, chose to retire rather than face termination.

After the incident, the National Archives said it instituted several practices to ensure “enhanced reliability and accuracy of response for sensitive record and FOIA requests,” according to the investigation. The Archives conducted training and implemented directives to avoid future similar errors in processing personnel records.

“I appreciate the Inspector General’s complete dismantling of Governor Sherrill’s false and potentially defamatory attacks against me. As a veteran myself, I filed a FOIA request to see if Governor Sherrill was lying to voters about her service,” De Gregorio told CBS News. He added, “I encourage all citizens to utilize FOIA to hold our elected officials accountable.

The Trump administration’s objectives for the Iran war keep changing

2026-03-31T17:53:00.084Z / CNN

Analysis by

Aaron Blake

PUBLISHED Mar 31, 2026, 1:53 PM ET

The Middle East Donald Trump Pete Hegseth

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attend a Cabinet meeting at the White House on March 26.

Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File

The Trump administration keeps suggesting that the Iran war could wrap up soon. The reason? Because it’s accomplishing its goals.

“We are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC News on Monday.

But when it comes to precisely what those goals are, the administration has been remarkably inconsistent.

Officials have regularly listed four objectives, but they’ve often changed depending upon the date and who’s providing them.

And even the frequently mentioned ones have been adjusted and scaled back.

Let’s recap.

Four goals but rarely the same four

When the US launched strikes on Iran on February 28, the administration had done remarkably little legwork in building a case for war or laying out its objectives.

But it finally clarified the latter on March 2.

At a briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described four objectives:

1. “Destroy Iranian offensive missiles”
2. “Destroy Iranian missile production”
3. “Destroy their navy and other security infrastructure” and
4. “They will never have nuclear weapons”

Those four more or less matched the things President Donald Trump mentioned in a video released the morning of the first strikes.

But just hours after Hegseth’s comments, Trump debuted an amended list at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House.

Numbers 3 and 4 were the same, but numbers 1 and 2 were merged into one goal — “destroying Iran’s missile capabilities.” And he added a new fourth goal concerning Iran’s Middle East proxy groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis: “Ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

Two days later, we saw a similar split. Rubio echoed Hegseth’s list in a social media post. But shortly thereafter, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Trump’s amended list. She ran through four goals that again included neutralizing the proxy threat, which Rubio hadn’t mentioned.

And the split has largely continued along those lines, with Leavitt including the proxy threat but others like Hegseth and Rubio omitting it.

We’ve seen yet more shifts this past week.

On Friday, Rubio added “destroy their air force” on top of his previously stated objective of destroying Iran’s navy.

And during interviews Monday with ABC and Al Jazeera, he made destroying the air force one of the four numbered objectives, in place of Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon.

(Rubio still mentioned preventing Iran from obtaining nukes. But he treated it as more of a side effect of the declared goals, while Hegseth and Leavitt have listed it as one of the four enumerated goals.)

You can see the difference in the lists that Rubio posted on March 4 (mentions nukes but not the air force) and that the State Department posted on Monday (mentions the air force but not nukes).

But lest anyone understand Rubio’s list as the final word, Leavitt on Monday gave another list that differed from what the secretary of state laid out in interviews the very same day.

There were three distinctions: Hers did not mention destroying Iran’s air force. She listed “preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon” as a distinct goal, unlike Rubio. And she again included combatting Iran’s proxies, despite Rubio not mentioning them in either the ABC or the Al Jazeera interviews.

The shifting goals

And even when the general subject matter of the goals has stayed consistent, the wording has evolved.

Early on, the US signaled it sought complete and utter destruction of Iran’s missile program. Trump on February 28 said the US would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

“It will be totally, again, obliterated,” the president said.

By March 2, Hegseth said the goals were to “destroy” both Iran’s offensive missiles and its missile production. And Trump said, “We’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities.”

Later, that objective evolved to include destroying Iran’s “ability to make” missiles and also to destroy its missile launchers.

Over the past week, Rubio has seemed to lay out a more limited version.

He said Friday that the goal was to “dramatically reduce” Iran’s missile launchers. In the Al Jazeera interview, he cited a “significant reduction” in them. And in the ABC interview, he said the goal was a “severe diminishing of their missile launching capability,” rather than a complete destruction.

The proxies goal has also been scaled back.

Trump said on March 2 that the objective was “ensuring” that Iran “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct” the proxies. That would seem to be very difficult to accomplish and verify.

But Leavitt has since characterized the objective as instead trying to “weaken” the proxies, which would be more nebulous and subjective.

What it means

The two examples above seem to point to the administration trying to scale back expectations for what it must accomplish for a successful campaign.

Its initial goals suggested success would be achieved only if Iran had no missiles or ability to fire them, and if proxy groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen were cut off.

The amended goals from Rubio allow some wiggle room.

The other big question is how much the administration emphasizes eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat. Rubio’s recent rhetoric could be read to suggest the administration is more focused on combatting Iran’s delivery systems than going after its 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium — a mission that would very likely require ground troops.

At a briefing on Tuesday morning, Hegseth pitched the Iran war as different from other recent US wars, where he said the mission was ill-defined.

“In those wars, it was always about the next rotation, never knowing when the mission would end or exactly what the mission was, year after year,” Hegseth said. “Not with Epic Fury.”

But that’s exactly the sense the administration’s public comments about this war have given.

It makes it very difficult to measure the success of the war effort when the administration can’t even give a consistent list of four goals.

And the fact that those goals have shifted so much probably won’t calm the fears of Americans who don’t seem to understand what this war is about.

Judge rules Trump’s directive cutting off funding for NPR and PBS violates the First Amendment

2026-03-31 3:01 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that parts of President Trump’s executive order stripping National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service of federal funding violated the First Amendment by seeking to punish the two news outlets for speech he dislikes.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss permanently blocked the Trump administration from enforcing two provisions of an executive order Mr. Trump signed in May, which directed all federal agencies to cut off funding to NPR and PBS.

“The message is clear: NPR and PBS need not apply for any federal benefit because the President disapproves of their ‘left wing’ coverage of the news,” Moss wrote in a 62-page decision.

Moss wrote that the directive is unconstitutional because the First Amendment “does not tolerate” that kind of viewpoint discrimination and retaliation.

Mr. Trump and his Republican allies have long criticized NPR and PBS over what they claim is bias reporting against conservatives. The president claimed last year that the news outlets are “arms of the Radical Left Democrat Party.”

In addition to directing federal agencies to terminate funding to PBS and NPR, Mr. Trump’s executive order called for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provided public dollars to the two news outlets, to cease funding to them. Last year, Congress passed, and Mr. Trump signed into law, a legislative package that clawed back about $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

On the heels of that rescission, the corporation said last August it would begin winding down its operations and last month filed Articles of Dissolution.

But the president’s executive order covered all federal agencies, and the National Endowment for the Arts, FEMA and the Department of Education went on to cancel grants awarded to PBS and NPR, according to court papers.

NPR and PBS, as well as several member stations, filed their lawsuits against Mr. Trump and his administration in late May challenging the legality of his executive order. The Justice Department has argued that the president acted within his authority when he ordered federal agencies to end funding for PBS and NPR because he has the right to decide what speech to fund.

But in his decision, Moss rejected the Justice Department’s arguments and wrote that the president’s executive order crosses a First Amendment line that bars the government from using its power, including the power of the purse, to punish speech it dislikes.

The measure, he said, “does not define or regulate the content of government speech or ensure compliance with a federal program. Nor does it set neutral and germane criteria that apply to all applicants for a federal grant program. Instead, it singles out two speakers and, on the basis of their speech, bars them from all federally funded programs.”

Moss found that for as long as Mr. Trump’s order is in effect, NPR and PBS cannot be considered for grants that they would otherwise be eligible for based only on the president’s dislike of their coverage, and wrote that the president’s directive seeks to punish the two outlets for their past speech.

“It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,” he wrote. “The Executive Order seeks to exclude NPR and PBS from receiving federal grants or other funding because they have provided more positive coverage of his political opponents than of his party and allies, because their news coverage, in his view, tips left, and because they were critical of him.”

The judge added that “there can be no doubt” that Mr. Trump’s measure targets NPR and PBS because he believes their coverage is unfavorable to him and the Republican Party.

“To be sure, the President is entitled to criticize this or any other reporting, and he can express his own views as he sees fit,” Moss wrote. “He may not, however, use his governmental power to direct federal agencies to exclude Plaintiffs from receiving federal grants or other funding in retaliation for saying things that he does not like.”

Public broadcasting cuts and rural areas

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/public-broadcasting-funding-cuts-could-lead-to-news-blackouts-in-rural-areas/

Public broadcasting funding cuts could lead to news blackouts in rural areas

(03:03)

More key US allies block military flights as Iran war rift widens with Trump

March 31, 2026 1:24pm EDT / Fox News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called out the Royal Navy, while Trump told European allies to ‘build up some delayed courage’ and secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves

By Efrat Lachter Fox News

More key European allies are restricting U.S. military access as the Trump administration presses ahead with its war against Iran, with both France and Spain moving to block U.S.-linked aircraft from using their airspace or bases.

France has refused overflight for planes carrying U.S. military supplies to Israel, according to President Donald Trump, marking a rare disruption to routine military coordination between Washington and key European allies.

Their refusals carry operational weight because U.S. bases in Europe are “essential” for supporting Middle East operations, acting as critical staging and transit hubs for military aircraft.

MULTIPLE ALLIES DECLINE US CALLS FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ SUPPORT AMID RISING MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS

The move marks the latest sign of growing friction between the United States and European allies as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on NATO partners to support operations tied to the war with Iran.

President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they pose for a photo.(Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters)

According to a Tuesday Reuters report, Italy denied permission for U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East, saying Washington had not sought prior authorization from Rome.

An Italian government statement pushed back on reports of a rupture, saying: “With reference to media reports regarding the use of military bases, the government reiterates that Italy acts in full compliance with existing international agreements and with the policy guidelines set out by the government to parliament.”

“Relations with the United States, in particular, are solid and based on full and loyal cooperation,” the statement added.

A senior U.S. official reinforced Italy’s claim, telling Fox News Digital, “This is false. Italy is currently supportive in providing access, basing and overflight for U.S. forces.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.(Darko Bandic/The Associated Press)

Spain on Monday said it had closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in strikes, going further than its earlier refusal to allow the use of jointly operated bases. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been among the most vocal critics of the U.S. and Israeli campaign.

In remarks before parliament Tuesday, Spain’s defense minister said the government had “prohibited the use of the bases of Rota and Morón” and did not grant flight authorizations “to support operations in Iran.”

The minister stressed the decision was limited specifically to operations linked to Iran and did not signal a broader break with NATO or the United States.

“If one looks at Spain’s refusal to allow U.S. overflight over its airspace or U.S. bases,” Hemmings said, “one could argue it’s a U.S.-Spanish issue. The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, a socialist, has no love lost for the MAGA movement. But Italy’s refusal comes after Poland’s refusal to allow a U.S. Patriot anti-missile battery to be redeployed and looks like the U.S. wheels are wobbling — if not coming off.”

Trump on Tuesday escalated his criticism of allies in a series of posts on Truth Social, singling out France and the United Kingdom, although the United Kingdom has continued to allow U.S. aircraft to operate from its territory, including bomber and refueling missions tied to Middle East operations.

TRUMP RATES MACRON ‘AN 8’ AS FRANCE AND US SPLIT OVER MIDDLE EAST STRATEGY

“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!,” President Donald Trump wrote on social media.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,” Trump wrote.

“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!,” he added.

A source in the French presidency, the Élysée Palace, told Fox News Digital, “We are surprised by this tweet. France has not changed its position since the first day, and we confirm this decision, which is consistent with the French position since the beginning of the conflict.”

The Israeli Ministry of Defense said Tuesday it is moving to reduce defense procurement from France to zero, replacing it with domestic production or purchases from other allied countries. The ministry also said it has suspended plans for further professional engagement with the French military, including canceling meetings with France’s defense leadership.

In another post on Tuesday, Trump criticized the U.K. while urging allies to take action in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route disrupted during the conflict.

“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you,” Trump wrote.

“Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”

TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria Starmer at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 28, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland.(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

War Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that message during a press briefing Tuesday.

“There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,” he said. “It’s not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”

NATO acknowledged the growing strain, pointing to remarks by Secretary-General Mark Rutte from a March 26 press conference.

“What I’ve been seeing is some frustration with him (Trump), about the Europeans needing to take time to react to his request, when it comes to this question of making sure that sea lanes are open,” Rutte said.

“There is a reason for that … the U.S. was not able to consult with allies because they wanted to keep the campaign secret,” he said. “But that also had the disadvantage that it takes time for the Europeans to get organized.”

Rutte added that more than 30 countries have since joined discussions on securing maritime routes, “exactly also to the request of President Trump.”

Hemmings warned the fallout could have broader strategic consequences.

“There is something deeper here, though, and that is that there is a growing transatlantic rift between right-leaning populists and left-leaning populists,” he said. “The fact is that the U.S. and many Western European countries are not only split over NATO spending and trade; they are split ideologically.”

NATO leaders pose in this shot taken in June.(Claudia Greco/Reuters)

“This should worry planners at the Pentagon and at NATO headquarters in Brussels,” he said. “Despite recent changes in U.S. force structure in Europe, changes have been incremental and carefully broadcast. The U.S. and Europe still need each other badly for defense-industrial cooperation, for helping bring Ukraine to victory, and for deterring their mutual adversaries.”

Fox News Digital also reached out to Italy and the Pentagon but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Efrat Lachter is a foreign correspondent for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to efrat.lachter@fox.com.

Trump officials acknowledge they can’t promise to reopen Strait of Hormuz before ending Iran war

2026-03-31T19:44:44.416Z / CNN

By Alayna Treene, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler

PUBLISHED Mar 31, 2026, 3:44 PM ET

President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 27.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

President Donald Trump and his administration increasingly believe that they can’t promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a prerequisite to declaring “mission accomplished” in the war with Iran, sources familiar with the discussions tell CNN.

Inside the White House, many top officials recognize that reopening the oil chokepoint controlled by Tehran is a critical goal — not only for ending the war but also for bringing down soaring oil and gas prices, which are quickly shaping up to be a key liability for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.

But as they stare down Trump’s self-imposed four- to six-week deadline for ending the war, top administration officials have privately acknowledged that they can’t both achieve their military objectives quickly and vow to reopen the strait within the same timeline, according to the sources familiar with those talks. The officials and many in the intelligence community have estimated that it could take weeks, if not months, to return the strait to full operational status. About 20% of the world’s oil supply typically flows through the waterway.

Instead, Trump has communicated publicly, as well as to aides and allies directly, that he believes other countries need to shoulder some, if not most, of the burden. He has argued that because many European nations rely more heavily on the strait for its oil, they must also be responsible for helping get it back up and running.

“Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, singling out the United Kingdom.

Trump has been pressing US allies for weeks to send their own naval assets to the strait to escort tankers. He has grown increasingly frustrated that none have so far agreed to step in while the war is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the collective view among many foreign leaders is that Trump is looking to saddle them with a problem of his own making once he decides the war is over, according to officials familiar with the sentiments.

European leaders, who were not consulted about US strikes on Iran beforehand, have been wary of getting involved in the conflict while it is still raging. A number of nations have signed onto statements pledging cooperation in eventually patrolling the strait, but they haven’t laid down timelines for when that might begin.

Trump has argued that he believes the strait will be easier to reopen once the hostilities with Iran end. He and the White House have also dismissed related concerns over the war’s potential long-term impacts on gas prices, which on Tuesday hit a nationwide average of $4.02 a gallon for the first time since 2022.

Oil tankers and ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates on March 11.

Altaf Qadri/AP/File

“They’ll drop when we leave, when it’s over,” Trump told CBS News in a Tuesday phone interview.

In a statement to CNN, Leavitt again downplayed the spiking prices as a temporary issue: “When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly in a statement to CNN listed several actions the administration has taken to ease the pain of high oil costs, including lifting some sanctions on Russian oil, providing insurance for tankers in the strait and coordinating the release of 400 million barrels of oil. She said the administration “is and was prepared for any potential action taken by the terrorist Iranian regime.”

“The President is confident that the Strait will be opened very soon, and our military continues to steadily degrade Iran’s ability to terrorize merchant ships,” Kelly added.

Many people within the Trump administration recognize that reopening the strait is critical and, to that end, are still engaging closely with US allies, according to sources familiar with the talks. One person close to the president argued that Trump’s aggressive public rhetoric toward European nations not only reflects his true feelings about the issue but also a good public relations strategy.

“He’s right when he says it’s not just a US problem. But it’s also great politics and, frankly, PR to frame this as a shared issue, and one that requires other countries to step up to fix,” they said.

Top US officials have embraced that message in recent days.

“This Strait of Hormuz issue, which we’ve set the conditions for success and we will make sure Iran knows that very clearly, is not just a United States of America problem set,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing Tuesday morning. “We’ve been willing to lead, President Trump’s led the entire time. But it’s not just us.”

“So, ultimately, I think other countries should pay attention,” he added. “You might want to start learning how to fight for yourself.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that the US still wants to form an international coalition to police the strait, but acknowledged that it was a longer-term goal.

Rubio discussed the matter with G7 counterparts in France last Friday and said many understood the need for such a group.

“We’re working hard to make that happen,” he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he speaks to the press at the Bourget airport in Le Bourget, outside Paris, on March 27, following a G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Brendan Smialowski/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

In remarks following the ministerial, Rubio claimed the administration had “always” viewed an allied coalition to reopen the strait “as a post-conflict necessity,” despite the lack of notice to allied countries before attacks began and pressure from Trump for immediate assistance in the strait.

The secretary of state has also repeatedly indicated that the US would play only a supporting role in such a coalition, saying on Friday that the US was “prepared to be a part of that plan. We don’t have to lead that plan.”

“But these countries have a lot at stake, not just the G7 countries, but countries in Asia and all over the world have a lot at stake and should contribute greatly to that effort to ensure that neither the Strait of Hormuz or, frankly, any international waterways should ever be something that’s controlled or tolled by a nation-state or by a terroristic government like the one that exists in Iran today, and that’s their radical clerical regime,” Rubio added.

Meanwhile, as the US seeks to potentially cede leadership on the reopening of the critical waterway, China and Pakistan — the latter of which is serving as a key negotiator between the US and Iran — have come out with their own five-point plan for “restoring peace and stability” in the Middle East.

It includes a point on the strait.

“China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible,” their joint statement Tuesday said.

Judge temporarily blocks construction of Trump’s White House ballroom

March 31, 2026 / 3:21 PM EDT / CBS News

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom to replace the White House’s East Wing.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that a legal challenge brought by a preservation group that sued to block President Trump’s construction project was likely to succeed on the merits, because “no statute” the government used to justify the construction “comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

The ruling takes effect in 14 days.

In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the U.S. sued the administration for allegedly failing to adhere to federal guidelines prior to demolishing the East Wing last fall and breaking ground on a ballroom. The Trust also questioned the $400 million project’s funding mechanism, which is largely from private donations.

In February, Leon ruled that the construction could continue temporarily, finding that the legal challenge was not comprehensive enough to prove Mr. Trump lacked the authority to renovate the building with private funds and without congressional action.

Leon allowed the National Trust for Historic Preservation to again take its legal arguments for a preliminary injunction to court earlier this month, where he expressed skepticism of the Justice Department’s legal arguments defending the mechanism to pay for the ballroom.

The judge said that the Trump administration’s continued arguments that the ballroom was a legally allowable “alteration” to White House grounds was a “brazen interpretation of the laws of vocabulary.”

“This isn’t any national park,” Leon said. “This is an iconic symbol of this nation.”

“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Leon wrote in his opinion, issued Tuesday, adding that “the ballroom construction project must stop until Congress authorizes its completion.”

This is a breaking story; it will be updated.

律政部兼社会及家庭发展部高级政务次长蔡瑞隆（右二）为地理空间和定位科技会展开幕后，参观不同公司的展位，了解不同产品的功能。图中展示的机器狗配有镜头，可用来绘制三维地图。 （萧紫薇摄）

多功能地图OneMap应用标示的无障碍路线已达2800公里，预计明年将扩大约一倍半至6800公里。当局也开始绘制商业场所的无障碍路线，为轮椅使用者、行动不便的年长者，以及推着婴儿车出行的家长带来更多便利。

新加坡土地管理局2023年与新加坡协助残障者自立局（SG Enable，简称新协立）及滨海湾花园合作，在OneMap应用上率先标示红山和滨海湾花园一带的无障碍路线。

项目展开后，当局持续推进绘制工作，覆盖范围不断扩大。

律政部兼社会及家庭发展部高级政务次长蔡瑞隆，星期二（3月31日）在2026年“地理空间和定位科技会展”（Geo Connect Asia）的开幕式上致辞时，透露OneMap应用的无障碍路线绘制进度。

目前，无障碍路线已覆盖市中心的核心区、滨海南、乌节、红山、金文泰、勿洛、淡滨尼、宏茂桥、榜鹅，以及新加坡国立大学肯特岗校园等公共空间。

当局把无障碍路线从户外延伸至商业场所

当局也正把无障碍路线从户外延伸至商业场所。土管局、新协立和新加坡产业发展商公会（REDAS）2024年11月签署谅解备忘录，推动标示商场等场所的室内及户外无障碍设施。

在这个基础上，土管局更首次与星狮地产（Frasers Property）展开试点，目前正为乌节路先得坊（The Centrepoint）绘制无障碍路线。

星狮地产零售业务董事陈万龙受询时说，公司一向致力提升商场的无障碍通行体验，与土管局合作后，可实现从住家经公共交通直达商场的无障碍出行，并提供逐向导航及实时定位指引。

公司也会探讨把计划推广至旗下其他商场。

轮椅使用者王佐经常参考OneMap的无障碍路线，以便做好行前规划。对于OneMap纳入商业场所的无障碍路线，他表示欢迎。（萧紫薇摄）

轮椅使用者：无障碍路线让出行更便利

轮椅使用者王佐（33岁，多元与包容专员）经常使用OneMap应用规划路线。他说，以往没有相关资讯可参考，出行时就无法预先掌握沿途是否有斜坡或电梯。

“很多时候就是在绕圈子，找斜坡找电梯，会浪费不少时间。OneMap标示无障碍路线，能省下我很多工夫。”

王佐患有脑性麻痹（cerebral palsy），自小就依赖轮椅。他告诉《联合早报》，当局积极绘制无障碍路线，不仅方便残障者和轮椅使用者上班上学，也有助于他们扩大生活圈子，让生活更充实。

蔡瑞隆致辞时强调，“新加坡地理空间总蓝图”（Singapore Geospatial Master Plan）的下一阶段，是在社会各领域推广地理空间技术的应用，尤其是社会医疗领域。

新加坡地理空间总蓝图是我国推动地理空间发展的整体规划，主要通过更好地运用地理空间数据和技术，提升经济发展与社会服务的效果。最新版蓝图于2024年推出。

蔡瑞隆指出，政府若更广泛运用地理空间技术，将能更好地了解民众需求，更有效地协调资源，并在健康、社会及社区护理的交叉领域，提升服务成效。

国大医院创新中心开幕 利用人工智能加速医疗转型

2026年3月31日 23:30 / 联合早报

国大医院药房定点试用医药智宝AI助手，提升药房服务效率，让患者直接向系统获取药物信息并取药。急诊部门药房也将推行这个服务。 （吴先邦摄）

患者在医院药房取药时，药剂师都会嘱咐服药应注意的事项，但如果药物复杂，难免会拉长整体的服务等候时间。

国大医院针对医院药房的高人流量和服务需求，研发一款虚拟药房助手——医药智宝（MedBot），利用生成式人工智能技术，在患者取药前提供相关的服药信息，加速药房服务效率。

目前，医药智宝已在肯特岗翼药房和国大口腔医学中心的附属药房使用。

在国大医院的所有门诊药房及附属药房，每天须要配发约2500份处方，药剂师每次为患者提供药物咨询的时间，平均介于3分钟到20分钟。

医药智宝系统在去年7月推出，预先配置了一些较为常见、药性较为简单的药物信息，如防止孕吐的药物、维生素或止痛药。药房工作人员会根据情况，分配合适的患者使用医药智宝，由患者自行了解信息后取药，无须通过药剂师。

国大医院首席临床药剂师吴淑娴受访时说：“医药智宝目前还不具备双向沟通的技术，但可以像药剂师一样，向患者提供这些指定药物的必要信息。患者了解如何服药等信息后就能取药离开，如果还有疑问，可以再找药剂师询问。”

接下来，医药智宝也将在急诊部门药房推行。

用AI加速医疗转型

为了推动更多这类改善病患服务和效率的计划，国大医院成立创新中心（NUH Innovation Hub），通过合作和AI驱动的解决方案来加速落实医疗转型。

国大医院创新中心的开幕式上，一个人型机器人和活动嘉宾人力部兼文化、社区及青年部政务部长迪内希（右二）击掌互动。（吴先邦摄）

国大医院创新中心设在国大口腔医学中心内，人力部兼文化、社区及青年部政务部长迪内希（Dinesh Vasu Dash）星期二（3月31日）下午主持开幕仪式。

他致辞时指出，医疗队伍必须保持灵活应变的能力，随时准备迎接新技术。

“国大医院创新中心为员工提供AI培训，确保他们能将AI工具真正应用到临床和日常运营中。这不仅提升效率，也让医院在人手紧缺的情况下，依然能提供优质的医疗服务。”

在开幕仪式上，国大医院也与国大设计与工程学院，以及爱思唯尔（Elsevier）新加坡，分别签署谅解备忘录，在接下来的合作关系中，加强实践学习、跨学科合作，以及了解医护人员如何利用AI获取可靠的医学知识，辅助临床工作。

国大医院创新中心设在国大口腔医学中心内，也将是“新加坡—上海医学创新中心”新加坡办事处的所在地。（吴先邦摄）

另一方面，国大医院创新中心将是“新加坡—上海医学创新中心”新加坡办事处的所在地，加速推进T细胞疗法，以及骨科3D打印等技术的跨国研究发展。中心由国大医院与上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院于去年10月正式启动。

国大医院总裁林玉堂教授说：“我们会和上海的合作伙伴一起打通一条跨境合作通道，让这些解决方案在两地共同研发、测试，最后成功推行。无论是细胞和基因疗法，还是3D打印技术，如果只靠单打独斗，我们谁都没法这么快、这么稳地把新技术带给病人。”