Ryland Barton

A massive sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is charming tourists and locals at San Francisco's Pier 39.

Estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, he flops along on the pier among much smaller California sea lions.

He likely came from Washington or Oregon.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.

Louisiana officials suspended congressional races this week after the Supreme Court invalidated the state's congressional map.

Aubrey Juhasz of member station WWNO reports candidates and voters are now challenging the decision.

China's ambassador to the U.N.

is urging Iran and the U.S.

to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

And he says if the waterway is still closed when President Trump visits China later this month, this will be a major theme of the trip, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

Soaring oil prices have boosted Exxon's profits in the real world, but can mess with how they look on paper, as NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports.

The price of gasoline rose another 8 percent this week.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas is now $4.39.

It's NPR News.

President Trump says he'll increase the tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU next week to 25%.

Trump said online that the EU is not complying with a fully agreed-to trade deal, though he did not specify his objections.

The deal with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last summer set a 15% tariff on most goods.

The West African country of Mali is still reeling after militants launched attacks and are now blockading roads leading to several cities, including the capital.

Authorities in neighboring Burkina Faso say they're working to prevent similar attacks there, as NPR's Jewel Bright reports.