U.S. stocks ticked higher following the latest reversal for oil prices.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Thursday and inched closer to its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.1%. All three indexes erased early drops and gained strength after the price of a barrel of Brent dropped from $109 in the morning to settle below $103.

UN top court: Right to strike protected by treaty

The United Nations’ top court has issued a landmark advisory opinion that says the right to strike is protected by a cornerstone labor treaty.

The International Court of Justice was asked in 2023 by the International Labor Organization to settle an internal dispute over whether one of the U.N. agency’s conventions gives workers the right to strike. Advisory opinions aren’t legally binding but carry significant weight. The decision could have a worldwide impact on labor regulation by enshrining the right to strike in labor standards and international trade agreements.

Meta settles first social media addiction case

Meta has settled the first of many lawsuits brought by school districts across the country that sued social media companies seeking compensation for costs they say they incurred dealing with children’s social media addiction and mental health harms.

The lawsuit brought by a small, rural Kentucky school district was set to go to trial in federal court in Oakland, California, next month. It was selected as a bellwether case, essentially a test case for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury. There are about 1,200 similar cases across the country.

US long-term mortgage rate climbs to 6.51%

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in nearly nine months, driving up borrowing costs for homebuyers during what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.51% from 6.36% last week. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.86%.

US, Mexico pledge joint security efforts

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she and the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin agreed to maintain bilateral cooperation rooted in mutual respect.

Mullin’s two-day Mexico visit follows tensions over the deaths of two CIA agents at Mexico’s northern border and U.S. indictments against 10 Mexican officials. Sheinbaum’s administration has emphasized cooperation while maintaining sovereignty.

Biologist fired over Kirk post wins $485K

Florida officials will pay nearly half a million dollars to a biologist who was fired by a state agency for criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media after his death.

The state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission fired biologist Brittney Brown after she reposted a meme on her personal

Instagram account that claimed Kirk wouldn’t care about children being shot in their classrooms. She filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement. Brown on Thursday signed a $485,000 settlement agreement with agency directors. Brown was among a wave of workers in both the public and private sector who lost their jobs over comments about Kirk’s assassination.