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Russia is providing Iran with intelligence about the locations and movements of American troops, ships and aircraft, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence reporting on the issue, the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved inthe war.

Much of the intelligence Russia has shared with Iran has been imagery from Moscow's sophisticated constellation of overhead satellites, one of the people said. It is not clear what Russia is getting in return for the assistance.

CNN has asked the Kremlin and the Russian embassy in Washington for comment.

It is also not clear whether any single Iranian attack can be linked to Russian targeting intelligence, which wasfirst reportedby the Washington Post. But several Iranian drones have hit locations where US troops have been in recent days. An Iranian drone struck a makeshift facility housing US troops in Kuwait on Sunday, killing six US service members, CNN has reported.

One of the sources briefed on the intelligence said, "This shows Russia still likes Iran very much."

The US also has intelligence suggesting that China may be preparing to provide Iran with financial assistance, spare parts and missile components, three people familiar with the matter said, though Beijing has stayed out of the war up until now. China relies heavily on Iranian oil and hasreportedlybeen pressuring Tehran ⁠to allow safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

"China is more cautious in its support. It wants the war to end because it endangers their energy supply," one of the sources familiar said.

The CIA declined to comment. CNN has asked the Chinese embassy in Washington for comment on the suggestion China may be preparing to assist Iran.

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Asked about the reports of intelligence sharing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS News' "60 Minutes" that "We're tracking everything."

"The American people can rest assured their commander-in-chief is well aware of who's talking to who," he added in the interview airing Sunday. "And anything that shouldn't be happening, whether it's in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly."

Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday that Russia and China are "not really a factor" in the war with Iran.

Russia and Iran have been cooperating for at least the last three years on missile and drone technology, with Iran providing Russia with Shahed drones and short-range ballistic missiles to target Ukraine and helping to set up a massive drone factory to pump out Iranian-designed drones inside Russia. Iran has in turn sought Russia's help to bolster its nuclear program,CNN has reported.

The US operation against Iran currently involves more than 50,000 troops, more than 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers, CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said this week, and administration officials have not said how long the war is expected to last. The US military objective, according to Pentagon officials, is to eliminate Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, which Hegseth said this week Iran was using as a "shield" to develop its nuclear program.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN's Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon policy limiting journalists' access to the building is depriving Americans of vital information about U.S. military operations while the country isat war, a New York Times attorney argued Friday in urging a judge to block the new rules.

Pentagon Press Access

"It's more important than ever for the public to know as much as they can," Times attorney Theodore Boutrous told U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman during the first hearing for the newspaper's lawsuit against the Defense Department.

Friedman didn't immediately rule on whether to order the Pentagon to reinstate press credentials for reporters whowalked outof the building last October rather than agree to the new rules. But the judge's remarks suggested he was skeptical of key arguments in the government's defense of the policy.

Judge cites need for 'a variety of views'

Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, suggested it is "more important than ever" for Americans to hear "a variety of views" about the activities of the federal government and its elected leaders.

"A lot of things need to be held tightly and secure, but openness and transparency allows members of the public to know what their government is doing," the judge said.

Justice Department attorney Michael Bruns said the credentialing policy reflects the government's "compelling interest" and its "statutory obligation" to protect national security information.

"This is not a trivial exercise," Bruns argued.

Friedman said he intends to issue "as prompt a decision as I can, because I know it's important for lots of reasons."

The Timessued the Pentagonand Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists' constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

Times spokesperson Charles Stadtlander said the U.S. attacks on Iran — and the resultingdeaths of American troops— "illuminate the public's right to access deep, impartial reporting on the details of the military actions happening as we speak."

"Today was an important opportunity for The New York Times's lawyers to make our case for the clear importance and public service of allowing journalists to report fully on the Pentagon," Stadtlander said in a statement.

The current Pentagon press corps comprises mostly conservative outlets that agreed to the policy. Reporters from outlets that refused to consent to the new rules, including those from The Associated Press, havecontinued reportingon the military from outside the building.

The AP, meanwhile, is awaiting a decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals on itsseparate lawsuitagainst President Donald Trump's administration. The AP contends that Trump's team punished it by reducing its access to presidential events because the outlet hasn't followed the president's lead in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

The Pentagon calls the policy 'common sense'

The Pentagon has argued that the policy imposes "common sense" rules that protect the military from the disclosure of national security information.

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"The goal of that process is to prevent those who pose a security risk from having broad access to American military headquarters,"government attorneys wrote.

Times attorneys claim the policy is designed to silence unfavorable press coverage of Trump's administration.

"The First Amendment flatly prohibits the government from granting itself the unbridled power to restrict speech because the mere existence of such arbitrary authority can lead to self-censorship,"they wrote.

The Times argues that the Pentagon has applied its own rules inconsistently. The newspaper said Trump allyLaura Loomer, a right-wing personality who agreed to the Pentagon policy, appeared to violate its prohibition on soliciting unauthorized information by promoting her "tip line."

The government didn't object to Loomer's "general tip line" but concluded that a Washington Post tip line does violate its policy because it purportedly "targets" military personnel and department employees.

"It's mystifying," Boutrous said. "It just doesn't make any sense."

The judge asked Bruns, the government attorney, what standards are used to decide if a reporter poses a security risk.

"Don't there have to be some criteria that are applied in a uniform way?" Friedman asked.

Yes, Bruns answered. But he said the government has "far more leeway" to restrict speech in a secure forum like the Pentagon.

"The reason for the policy is the security of the Pentagon," he added.

Yale Law School professor David Schulz, who represents the Pentagon Press Association, said the challenged policy represents a "stark break from the past."

"The press has been in the building since the day it opened," Schulz told the judge. "It has always been there."

AP Media Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this story.

In southern Utah, a measles outbreak that's been simmering since last summer is showing signs of wider spread. Now, state health officials are pleading with residents totake the virus seriously.

"It is not a mild infection. It is not a mild virus. It is severe illness," Utah's state epidemiologist, Dr. Leisha Nolen, said at a news briefing Thursday.

She's hearing from people sick with the virus, as well as their caregivers, that "measles is so much worse than what they expected."

"A number of them clearly said if they had known, they would have vaccinated themselves and their children against measles, but they didn't realize how bad it was," Nolen said.

As of Friday,Utah had 358 casesin the outbreak, which began last June. It wasn't until August, however, that the outbreak took off. Most cases have been concentrated in the southwestern part of the state, linked specifically to a tight-knit community that borders Arizona. It'slargely composed of mostly former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a sect of the Mormon church.

The outbreak has since expanded north to areas in and around Salt Lake City, particularly following large school athletic events.

This week, the TriCounty Health Department, which encompasses three counties in the northeastern part of the state, reported five measles cases. All patients had been exposed at a state wrestling tournament that was held three weeks ago, Feb. 13-14. It can take 21 days to develop symptoms of measles after an exposure.

Statewide, Nolen said that more than 120 people have gone to the emergency room over the course of the outbreak. Thirty-one people were hospitalized for at least one night, and three people were placed in the intensive care unit.

Nurse practitioner Amanda Jocelyn has seen more than a dozen measles cases in her practice in the southern part of the state.

"The children I am seeing in clinic with measles are very, very ill. And in several cases, their parents and their caregivers get ill as well," Jocelyn said at Thursday's briefing.

One person, she said, experienced what's known as an aplastic crisis, which is "when the bone marrow shuts down red blood cell production and the body becomes extremely anemic."

Another, an otherwise healthy young mother, Jocelyn said, was admitted to the intensive care unit with measles-induced hepatitis. Her liver had become severely inflamed.

As of Friday, the U.S. has logged 1,281 measles cases since Jan. 1, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. That's more than half of the total number of cases reported last year: 2,283.

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Thirty states have reportedoutbreaks in 2026. The vast majority of cases are in kids and teenagers who have not received a measles vaccine. Twenty-three percent of cases have occurred in children younger than 5 years old, while older kids ages 5 through 19 account for 54% of cases, the CDC said. Ninety-three percent of people were unvaccinated.

As vaccine rates rise, outbreaks slow

In South Carolina, the site of thenation's largest measles outbreakin a generation, cases finally appear to be slowing. In the past week, the state only logged an additional six cases, bringing the total to 991.

During her weekly news briefing on Wednesday — the 23rd since the outbreak began last fall — state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said residents have stepped up to get vaccinated.

In Spartanburg County, where the outbreak is concentrated, measles vaccinations were up 70% in February compared to the same time last year.

Measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, given in two doses around a child's first and fifth birthdays, provide 97% protection against the virus. That protection usually lasts a lifetime.

During outbreaks, babies 6 to 11 months old can be given an early extra shot. Since the outbreak began last fall, Bell said, more than 4,800 MMR doses have been given in this age group.

"The reason for that recommendation is because of serious complications that can occur in young children, for example, pneumonia," Bell said. "That's the leading cause of death for measles in children under the age of 5."

As soon as next week, three CDC epidemic intelligence officers will arrive in South Carolina to help analyze the massive amount of data the state has collected from the outbreak, Bell said. The goal is to have a better understanding of how the virus spreads in schools and the community, as well as how many people exposed to the virus ultimately get sick.

It's the first time that the state has requested this type of help from the CDC, she said.

While the South Carolina outbreak appears to be dwindling in cases, Bell said that she and her team remain on guard.

"Given the surge in cases we saw following the Christmas holidays, we remain concerned that another surge could occur following spring break," she said.

Measles infections usually start with symptoms similar to the flu or other common viruses: headache, fever, cough and runny nose. Jocelyn said that her measles patients had fevers up to 105 that lasted up to a week, accompanied by severe coughing.

Within days, patients tend to develop red, watery eyes and tiny white spots inside the mouth.

People who have measles are highly contagious during this phase, up to four days before the telltale splotchy red rash appears on the scalp, neck, trunk, arms and legs.

Lily Collins and her engagement ring are reunited

NEED TO KNOW

• The actress recovered her engagement ring with the help of a jewelry store in Chicago three years after it was taken from a hotel locker

• The ring, a custom Irene Neuwirth design, was stolen along with other belongings worth over $10,000 in May 2023

• Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell wed in September 2021

Lily Collins' engagement ring will always hold a special place in her heart — and now it's back on her finger after the precious sparkler that was once stolen is back in her possession.

On March 6, theEmily in Parisactress, 36, revealed in her Instagram Stories that she was left "speechless" after Hakimian Imports Chicago Jewelers was able to get her"original" rose-cut diamond ring back to herafter three years.

"Having this home means SO much to us," she wrote across a selfie in which she showed off her ring. "I'm still speechless its back in my finger."

Collins' engagement ring, in addition to her wedding ring and other belongings, were stolen from from a West Hollywood hotel on May 6, 2023.

At the time, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirms to PEOPLE that officers responded to a burglary call at Edition Hotel on Sunset Boulevard after a well-known female celebrity's belongings were stolen from a secured locker. The actress was staying at the hotel when she went to the spa and locked up her belongings, sources told PEOPLE, and when she returned, her items were gone. The report for the items stolen was categorized as "over $10,000."

Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell (the son of actressMary Steenburgenand actor Malcolm McDowell)got engaged in September 2020. They announced the news on Instagram with photos of the proposal and a close-up of the ring. Appearing onLive with Kelly and Ryanshortly after, Collins said she "was very surprised by" the customIrene Neuwirth-designed rock. "But it's exactly what I would've wanted and he knew me so well, obviously."

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The couplewed on September 4, 2021 in Dunton, Colorado. "I've never wanted to be someone's someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife," she wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the pair kissing at the altar.

For the special day, Collins wore acustom and "magical" Ralph Lauren gownthat she described as a "combination of Western Americana and British Victorian." The dress was handcrafted over the course of nearly 200 hours and was adorned with lace, silk organza petals and Swarovski-beaded micro flower appliqués. It was pared with a dramatic floor-hitting hooded cape.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Soon, Collins will be stepping intoAudrey Hepburn's shoes in a new movie about the making of Hepburn's best-known movie,Breakfast at Tiffany's, which means there will no doubt me more noteworthy jewelry moments to be had for the star.

On Feb. 23, Collins confirmed thatshe will portray Hepburn, the British actress and fashion icon who died at 63 in 1993, in a new film that goes behind-the-scenes of the 1961 romantic comedy that movie fans best associate Hepburn with.

Read the original article onPeople

Seth MacFarlane used AI to portray Bill Clinton in season 2 of Peacock's Ted.

Key points

• The Family Guy creator said that the team "tried prosthetics" and "traditional CGI" before resorting to AI.

• "It's an interesting example of how AI can be used as a tool," MacFarlane opined.

Seth MacFarlaneportraysBill Clintonin the new season ofTed— and he said that the performance could only be properly achieved using AI-generated visuals.

TheFamily Guycreatorexplained why he opted to use AIto play the former president during an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday.

"I've been doing my Bill Clinton impression since the early days ofFamily Guy," MacFarlane said. "We filmed this like a year and a half ago. That's how long it takes us to do the CGI. It's an interesting example of how AI can be used as a tool and not necessarily trample on the art that the rest of the industry is doing."

MacFarlane —who also directs, writes, and executive produces the series — said that theTedteam exhausted every other option before turning to AI. "We tried prosthetics, we tried traditional CGI, and everything just looked terrifying," he said. "So we just said, 'To hell with it, let's try AI.'"

TheAmerican Dadcreator considers his AI version of Clinton a success. "It worked," he said. "It was the only way I looked like Bill Clinton."

Peacock'sTedseries serves as a '90s-set prequel to the 2012 movie of the same name. Both projects star MacFarlane as the voice of Ted, a foul-mouthed living teddy bear who is best friends with John, a human played by Mark Wahlberg in the film and by Max Burkholder in the series.

In the fifth episode of the show's new second season, titled "The Sword in the Stoned," John's parents Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alanna Ubach) begin working at Dunkin' Donuts, and Clinton — the current president in the show's timeline — walks in during one of their shifts.

Matty, a vocal Republican, takes the opportunity to criticize Clinton's policies, which prompts the president to clear the room to have a private conversation with him.

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Clinton then launches into an expletive-filled tirade.

"Listen here, you pockmarked piece of s---. You've got some set of f---in' balls," Clinton says. "I take time out of my day to visit your little s--- shop, and you're giving me lip? Maybe the real problem is just that you're just a f---in' loser. F--- you, think you're so f---in' tough with your f---in' s---bag mouth. Why don't you take a swing at me, tough guy? I'll slap you back so hard you won't even recognize your own f---in' dick. And get a shave, you pig. The f---in' president's here."

Clinton then poses for a photo opportunity with Matty, orders Munchkins, and throws coffee at the barista.

MacFarlane previouslyexpressed mixed feelings about AIin a 2024 interview with Bill Maher on theClub Randompodcast.

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"AI for enterprises like medicine, I think is going to be a wonderful thing," he said. "And I think a lot of doctors that I've spoken to feel the same way. AI is a tool. It's not gonna replace us, it's not gonna replace innovation, when it comes to medicine, but it's a wonderful tool."

MacFarlane continued, "It's a very different development for an enterprise like that than it is for entertainment. Entertainment, we should be very scared."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly