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President Donald Trump's administration supports a proposal to delay rules to protect a vanishing species of whale in favor of commercial fishing interests. The North Atlantic right whale numbers only about 380 and they can die after getting tangled in fishing ropes or hit by ships. Environmental groups have pushed for stricter rules to protect the whales, but the U.S. is in the midst of a pause on new federal right whales rules until 2028. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine has led a push to delay new rules all the way to 2035.

Another severe wildfire season is forecast for the Western U.S. due to record-breaking heat and an abysmal snowpack. Some states and utilities are trying to get ahead of that threat using AI. In Arizona, the state’s largest electric utility is installing AI-monitored cameras across its service region. The technology identifies possible smoke and notifies human analysts for quick verification. Fire management officials say the technology spots more fires than humans, and alerts authorities more quickly, allowing for faster and more efficient action to extinguish wildfires. Similar technology is being rolled out in Colorado, California and other wildfire prone states, as well as in Canada and Australia.

For millions of foreign workers in the Mideast, the Iran war has made life even more precarious. At least 28 were killed in missile and drone attacks before a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April. Now they face an even sharper version of a long-standing dilemma: Keep working in the Gulf, where wages are much higher, hoping that the truce endures, or return to already poor countries where prices have soared because of the conflict.

Nine Native American tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are suing the federal government, bidding to stop exploratory drilling for graphite near a sacred ceremonial site in the Black Hills. A small group of demonstrators has been protesting at the drilling location and at the mining company’s headquarters since they learned ground was broken on the project last month. The tribes filed their federal lawsuit Thursday in South Dakota against the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging they violated federal law by greenlighting a project near a site called Pe’Sla, a meadow in the central Black Hills. The agencies and the mining company behind the project had no comment on the litigation.

Shares are mixed in Asia after U.S. stocks set more records, powered by strong profits for major companies. Oil prices held steady after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would help ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday. Iran has rejected the plan, but Trump also said talks with Iran could lead to positive outcomes. On Friday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to another all-time high, closing out a fifth straight winning week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.9% to its own record. Apple led the way after delivering better profit than expected.