Seattle’s Space Needle is framed by cherry blossoms on Thursday. The Associated Press

Nation

District of Columbia

WASHINGTON — The White House has pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The decision Thursday is a stunning turnaround for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet pick, after her confirmation had been stalled over concerns about Republicans’ tight margins in the House.

Virginia

Alleged MS-13 street gang leader is arrested

MANASSAS — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the alleged leader of the MS-13 street gang on the East Coast has been arrested in Virginia.

The 24-year-old man from El Salvador was described as one of MS-13’s top three leaders in the United States.

World

Egypt

At least 6 dead after tour submarine sinks

CAIRO — A provincial governor in Egypt says that at least six Russian tourists are dead after a recreational submarine on an underwater cruise of coral reefs sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada.

The remaining 39 tourists, more than two dozen of whom were injured, have been rescued. The cause of the sinking was not immediately known.

Turkey

Police forcibly break up campus protests

ISTANBUL — Police have used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters at a university in Turkey’s capital. It’s the latest clash in the country’s biggest anti-government protests in more than a decade.

The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Police continued to carry out house raids targeting protesters Thursday morning.