Nation and world at a glance

Federal judge extends order blocking

ban on foreign students at Harvard

BOSTON -- A federal judge on Thursday extended an order blocking the Trump administration's attempt to bar Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs extended the block she imposed last week with a temporary restraining order on the government action.

Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security on Friday after Secretary Kristi Noem revoked its ability to host foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Harvard sued the Department of Homeland Security after Noem revoked its ability to host foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced a new effort to revoke Harvard's certification to enroll foreign students.

Trump administration ups pressure on sanctuary cities with public listing

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Homeland Security is putting hundreds of "sanctuary jurisdictions" across the country on notice.

The department said Thursday it is publishing a list of the jurisdictions and said each one will receive formal notification that the government has deemed them noncompliant and if they're believed to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes.

There's no specific definition of a "sanctuary jurisdiction" but the term is often used to refer to communities that don't cooperate with immigration enforcement. Those communities often say it's because immigrants feel safer coming forward if they're a witness to or victim of a crime and they need to focus their limited dollars on fighting crime.

Ex-assistant testifies Combs sexually

assaulted her, often used violence

NEW YORK -- Sean "Diddy" Combs' former personal assistant testified that the hip-hop mogul sexually assaulted her, threw her into a swimming pool, dumped a bucket of ice on her head and slammed her arm into a door during a torturous eight-year tenure.

The woman testified Thursday at Combs' sex trafficking trial under the pseudonym "Mia."

She has alleged that he put his hand up her dress, forced her to perform oral sex and climbed into her bed to have sex with her against her will.

She touched on the allegations briefly at the start of her testimony and is expected to discuss them in detail as her questioning continues.

Harvey Weinstein to decide whether

to testify at his sexual assault trial

NEW YORK -- Harvey Weinstein's defense has started presenting its own witnesses in his sex crimes retrial. But it's unclear whether the ex-studio boss himself will be one of them. He's decide in the coming days whether to testify.

If he does, it would be a remarkable chapter in the yearslong saga of the onetime Hollywood honcho-turned-#MeToo outcast.

The 73-year-old is being retried on rape and sexual assault charges because New York's highest court overturned his 2020 conviction. He denies the allegations. His attorneys maintain that anything that happened between him and his accusers was consensual.

Victoria's Secret takes down website

as it investigates 'security incident'

NEW YORK (AP) -- Victoria's Secret has taken down its U.S. website and says some in-store services will be unavailable as it addresses a "security incident."

A message to customers remained in place of the popular lingerie brand's normal shopping site Thursday morning, stating that the company had halted these services "as a precaution." Victoria's Secret did not immediately provide more details about the incident, or specify whether it was a cyber attack. It also wasn't immediately clear when Victoria's Secret identified the issue and began halting some of its operations.

The company said it was working to fulfill orders placed before Monday and that it would be extending return windows and some direct mail coupon offers for impacted customers in the U.S.

China space mission aims to return

samples from asteroids near Mars

China's space agency has launched a spacecraft that promises to return samples from a pair of asteroids near Mars. China National Space Administration says the Tianwen-2 probe launched early Thursday from southern China aboard the workhorse Long March 3-B rocket will collect samples from an near-Earth asteroid.

The probe also will explore the main-belt comet 311P, which lies even farther from Earth than Mars. The agency head Shan Zhongde says the mission represents a significant step in China's journey of interplanetary exploration.

Investigation into escape of 'Devil'

turns to his work in prison kitchen

CALICO ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas authorities are looking at whether a prison kitchen job played a role in the escape of a convicted former police chief known as the "Devil in the Ozarks."

A prison system spokesperson said Thursday that Grant Hardin worked in the prison kitchen before escaping.

He was housed in a maximum-security wing of the Calico Rock prison he escaped from over the weekend. Hardin got away Sunday after donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. He was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Hardin's arrest.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

SpaceX rocket tumbles out of control

SpaceX has launched its Starship mega rocket again after back-to-back explosions. It made it through the entire test flight Tuesday evening, but fell short of its main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control.

SpaceX had hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff from Texas, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way.

Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an entry in the Indian Ocean. The first-stage booster ended up in the Gulf of Mexico in pieces. There were no plans to catch the booster this time.

King Charles: Canada faces dangers

OTTAWA, Ontario -- King Charles III said Canada is facing unprecedented challenges in a world that's never been more dangerous.

Charles opened the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday with a speech widely viewed as a show of support in the face of annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Charles to give the speech outlining the Liberal government's priorities for the new session of Parliament. The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies. Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States.

Trump seeks to halt deportation order

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to halt a judge's order allowing migrants to challenge their deportations to South Sudan.

The emergency appeal Tuesday came after a judge found the White House violated a court order with a deportation flight to the chaotic African nation carrying people from other countries who had been convicted of crimes in the U.S. Judge Brian E. Murphy in Boston found that the White House had "unquestionably" violated his earlier order that people must be given a chance to raise objections before being sent to another country that would put them in danger, even if they've otherwise exhausted their legal appeals.

Trump set to pardon the Chrisleys

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump says he's planning to pardon TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for "Chrisley Knows Best," a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle.

The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans by submitting false documents.

They were also found guilty of tax evasion by hiding their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that prosecutors said included luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning some high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers.

Driver in Liberpool tragedy arrested

LIVERPOOL, England -- Police say 65 people were injured when a car rammed into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans celebrating their teams Premier League championship and 11 remained hospitalized on Tuesday.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police said the patients were all stable. Fifty of the casualties required hospital treatment.

The 53-year-old car driver has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said the man is also being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving on drugs. The driver followed an ambulance to get through road blocks that had been set up during Liverpool's championship parade.

At least 5 killed in chemical blast

BEIJING -- An explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China has killed at least five people and injured 19. That's according to local emergency management authorities reported. Authorities say six people are missing following Tuesday's explosion at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. in the city of Weifang. It manufactures pesticides as well as chemicals for medical use. It is not immediately clear what caused the explosion. The blast knocked out windows at a storage warehouse more than two miles away.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Police say driver who plowed into

Liverpool soccer fans acted alone

LONDON -- British police say an incident in which a minivan hit crowds celebrating Liverpool's soccer victory is not being treated as terrorism. Merseyside Police said Monday a 53-year-old man, believed to be the driver, has been arrested and they are not looking for anyone else.

Authorities say 27 people were taken to the hospital, with two suffering serious injuries, and another 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. At least four children were injured. The crash happened at the end of the team's bus parade through the city after winning the Premier League this season.

a U.S.-backed group reports

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip -- A new aid system in Gaza has opened its first distribution hubs in the territory. That's according to a U.S.-backed group that is taking over handling of supplies. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is backed by Israel and the United States but has been rejected by the United Nations and other aid groups.

They assert that Israel is trying to use food as a weapon. They also say a new distribution system won't be effective. Gaza faces a growing humanitarian crisis after Israel's nearly three-month blockade of supplies to pressure Hamas.

Experts have warned of famine in the territory of over 2 million people.

France's first lady seems to push

Macron as they land in Vietnam

PARIS -- Video images show France's first lady pushing her husband away with both hands on his face just before they disembark from their presidential plane to start a tour of southeast Asia this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that the couple were simply joking around.

His office said the images caught "a moment where the president and his wife were decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around." But the moment quickly made headlines in France. Media there tried to decipher the interaction that cameras spotted through the just-opened door of the plane.

California utility ordered to pay

federal government $82.5 million

LOS ANGELES -- A California utility has agreed to pay the federal government $82.5 million stemming from an enormous 2020 wildfire that churned through mountains northeast of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert.

The U.S. Justice Department announced the payment by Southern California Edison on Friday.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli says the settlement provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the fire and for the widespread damage to public land. Edison agreed to pay the settlement without admitting wrongdoing or fault. Federal authorities say the fire harmed important habitats and that resources from the settlement will help rehabilitate burned areas.

Scars from Hurricane Helene heal

slowly in North Carolina town

CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE, N.C. -- Despite being nearly wiped off the map by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, tiny Chimney Rock Village in North Carolina had optimistically predicted it would be open for business by Memorial Day.

But in the days leading up to the holiday, a security guard at the town's entrance still turns away all but locals and construction workers. Mayor Peter O'Leary admits Main Street likely won't reopen until summer sometime. He said nearly a third of businesses were destroyed by last September's flooding.

While some are likely gone forever, there are signs of progress. Amish volunteers from Pennsylvania are rebuilding wrecked shops and inns. The state is close to finishing a temporary bridge for Chimney Rock State Park to reopen. O'Leary says the long rebuild will be worth it.

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Nation and world at a glance

Trump loses patience with Putin,

calls leader of Russia 'CRAZY'

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump made it clear he is losing patience with Vladimir Putin, leveling some of his sharpest criticism at the Russian leader as Moscow pounded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles for a third straight night.

"I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!" Trump wrote in a social media post on Sunday night.

Trump said Putin is "needlessly killing a lot of people," pointing out that "missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever."

The attack was the largest aerial assault since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, according to Ukrainian officials. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured. The U.S. president warned that if Putin wants to conquer all of Ukraine, it will "lead to the downfall of Russia!" But Trump expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well, saying that he is "doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does."

Digital Equity Act tried to close

digital divide; Trump calls it racist

PORTLAND, Ore. -- One initiative distributes laptops in rural Iowa. Another helped people get back online in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene washed away computers and phones.

And there are efforts in Oregon and rural Alabama teach digital skills to older people, including some who've never touched a computer.

Those and others are in jeopardy after President Donald Trump said he's cutting a program aimed at filling gaps in the digital divide. The Digital Equity Act was intended to cover unmet needs that surfaced during the country's broadband rollout.

Trump has branded the program as racist and illegal, and claims it amounts to "woke handouts based on race."

Many Venezuelans choose not to vote

in weekend's election for president

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelans still reeling from the outcome of last year's presidential election are not responding to government calls to get out and vote for lawmakers, governors and other officials.

That left voting centers practically empty at times Sunday and put officials on the defensive. The election, which the political opposition urged people to boycott, is the first to allow broad voter participation since last year's presidential contest, which President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won despite credible evidence to the contrary.

Sunday's vote is taking place two days after the government detained dozens of people, including a prominent opposition leader, and linked them to an alleged plot to hinder the vote.

Justice Department reaches deal

to allow Boeing to avoid prosecution

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has reached a deal with Boeing that will allow the company to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed and killed 346 people.

The Justice Department said in a court filing that it had reached an "agreement in principle" that will require the company to pay and invest more than $1.1 billion and, in return, the department will dismiss the criminal case against the aircraft manufacturer.

The deal still needs to be finalized. Attorney Paul Cassell said the families of victims he represents will object to the deal and "hope to convince the court to reject it."

Amid funding cutbacks, thousands

of American scientists lose their jobs

As the Trump administration cut billions of dollars in federal funding to scientific research, thousands of scientists in the U.S. lost their jobs or grants.

And governments and universities around the world spotted an opportunity and launched programs to lure researchers from the U.S. Since World War II, the U.S. has invested huge amounts of money in scientific research conducted at independent universities and federal agencies.

That funding helped the U.S. to become the world's leading scientific power. But today that system is being shaken by deep cuts.

The Trump administration says it is reviewing the previous administration's projects, identifying waste and realigning research spending to match the "American people's priorities."

LGBTQ groups worldwide to converge

on Washington for political activism

WASHINGTON -- Members of different LGBTQ and transgender communities are descending on the nation's capital with plans for celebrations, parades, concerts and more. But the unifying theme will be to let the world know they're here and ready to keep fighting for their rights.

The gathering known as World Pride comes at a time when the Trump administration is making life difficult for them on numerous fronts. This year's program will have a strong focus on activism and political action. One activist involved in the organizing says he wants one message to resound after the gathering of communities: "We're not going anywhere."

Collies keep W. Va. runway safe, clear

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two border collies have a full-time job keeping birds and other wildlife off the runway at West Virginia's busiest airport. Hercules and Ned make daily patrols with their handler to keep planes and passengers safe along the milelong airfield at West Virginia International Yeager Airport.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Trump administration bars

Harvard from enrolling foreigners

WASHINGTON) -- The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students in its escalating battle with the Ivy League school.

It says thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the action Thursday, saying Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, saying it hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

Gaza's main hospital is overwhelmed

with children suffering malnutrition

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip -- The U.N. children's agency says more than 9,000 children have been treated for malnutrition in Gaza this year, and food security experts say tens of thousands of cases are expected in the coming year. Experts also warn the territory could plunge into famine if Israel doesn't stop its military campaign and fully lift its blockade.

The blockade was in place for more than two months, preventing all food, medicine and other goods from entering the territory that is home to some 2 million Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israel has carried out waves of airstrikes and ground operations. Palestinians in Gaza rely almost entirely on outside aid to survive because Israel's offensive has destroyed almost all the territory's food production capabilities.

RFK.'s MAHA report raises concerns

about vaccines, food and drugs

WASHINGTON -- A new government-issued report reflects some of the most controversial views on vaccines, the nation's food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs held by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The much-anticipated "Make America Healthy Again" report, led by Kennedy and other top Trump administration officials, was released on Thursday. It calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule, a review of the pesticides sprayed on American crops and describes the nation's children as overmedicated.

Get ready for another busy

Atlantic hurricane season

WASHINGTON -- With warmer-than-normal ocean waters, forecasters are expecting another unusually busy hurricane season for the Atlantic. But they don't think it will be as chaotic as 2024. Last year was the third-costliest season on record, with killer storms Beryl, Helene and Milton.

Thursday's hurricane season outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects a 60% chance for an above-normal season, a 30% chance it will be near normal and only a 10% probability it will be quieter than average.

The forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes. It projects three to five of those will reach major status, which means winds of more than 110 mph.

his wife and her two sons in 1989

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee has executed Oscar Smith for the 1989 murder of his estranged wife, Judith Smith, and her sons, Jason and Chad Burnett. Smith was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning three years after the 75-year-old was spared by a last-minute reprieve in 2022.

It turned out that the lethal drugs had not been properly tested. An investigation found that testing was just one of numerous problems plaguing Tennessee's executions. The state unveiled a new execution protocol in December.

Smith was one of several inmates who sued over the new protocol. A trial in that case is set for next January.

leave at least 3 dead and 1 missing

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australian officials say record floodwaters on the country's east coast have left three people dead and one missing, as more heavy rain is forecast in the area. More than 500 people have been rescued in the flooding emergency in New South Wales state north of Sydney.

The area has been hit with heavy rain since Tuesday. The flooding exceeds local records set in 1929. News South Wales Premier Christopher Minns said some areas were forecast to receive as much as 1 foot of rain in the next 24 hours. He said 50,000 people were warned to prepare to evacuate or be isolated by floodwaters, telling reporters: "We are bracing for more bad news."

selfie as Martian dust devil blows by

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The latest selfie by NASA's Perseverance rover at Mars has captured an unexpected guest: a Martian dust devil. The twirling dust devil popped up a few miles behind the rover during this month's photo shoot. The selfie was released Wednesday. It's a composite of 59 images taken by the camera on the end of the rover's arm. Perseverance is covered with red dust in the picture, the result of drilling into dozens of rocks over the past four years. It's collecting samples at an ancient lakebed and river delta for eventual return to Earth.

The Associated Press

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military

SEATTLE -- Microsoft has fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the company's work supplying the Israeli military with technology used for the war in Gaza. Software engineer Joe Lopez could be heard shouting at Nadella in the opening minutes Monday of the tech giant's annual Build developer conference in Seattle before getting escorted out of the room. Lopez's outburst was the first of several pro-Palestinian disruptions at the event that has drawn thousands of software developers to the Seattle Convention Center this week. At least three talks by executives were disrupted.

Nation and world at a glance

Trump on Capitol Hill implores

Republicans to unify behind tax bill

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his big tax cuts bill.

He spoke privately for at least an hour trying to unite House Republicans on the multitrillion-dollar package that is at risk of collapsing before planned votes this week. Trump was upbeat afterward, saying there was "unity."

But negotiations are slogging along. It's not at all clear the package, with its sweeping tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, has the support needed. With all Democrats opposed, the Republicans can handle only a few defections from their slim House majority.

Judge: US officials must keep control

of all migrants sent to South Sudan

WASHINGTON -- A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that U.S. officials must retain custody and control of migrants apparently removed to South Sudan, in case he orders their removals were unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts ordered an emergency hearing for Wednesday, after attorneys for immigrants said in court documents that up to a dozen people from several countries, including Myanmar and Vietnam, may have been sent to Africa earlier Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

as Democrats press him on Gaza

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Democratic senators have sparred over a wide range of the Trump administration's foreign policies: Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, Latin America, the slashing of the U.S. foreign assistance budget, refugee admissions and more.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday, Rubio defended the administration's decisions, saying "America is back."

He claimed four months of foreign policy achievements, even as many of them remain inconclusive. Among them, the resumption of nuclear talks with Iran, efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine into peace talks, and efforts to end to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Arrested New Orleans jail worker

says he helped 10 inmates escape

NEW ORLEANS -- Authorities have arrested an Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office maintenance worker in connection with the escape of 10 jail inmates.

Thirty-three-year-old Sterling Williams has admitted he turned the water off in a cell before the men slipped away through a hole behind the toilet early Friday. Williams told authorities an inmate threatened to stab him if he didn't help.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson last week told reporters her agency had suspended three employees pending an investigation. She says she takes "full accountability" for the escape.

And on Tuesday evening she announced she had paused her reelection campaign. Five of the fugitives have been apprehended and five remain at large.

Japan's agriculture minister resigns

over his inappropriate rice remark

TOKYO -- Japan's agriculture minister has resigned after making an inappropriate remark about buying rice.

Taku Eto said at a party seminar Sunday that he never had to buy rice thanks to his supporters' gifts, triggering an uproar while there's a rice shortage and skyrocketing prices. He apologized Wednesday and said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted his resignation. Officials have blamed the supply shortage on poor harvests due to hot weather in 2023, and higher production costs.

The government made an unprecedented release from its emergency stockpile in recent weeks, but agricultural ministry statistics show the release has hardly helped to ease the shortage or lower prices.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Suspect in California fertility clinic

bombing left 'anti pro-life' writings

A 25-year-old man believed to be responsible for an explosion that ripped through a Palm Springs, California, fertility clinic left behind "anti-pro-life" writings before carrying out the attack. Investigators are calling the bombing an act of terrorism.

The FBI on Sunday identified the man as Guy Edward Bartkus, of nearby Twentynine Palms. Authorities are continuing to piece together the motive and events leading up to Saturday's bombing. Investigators said the blast killed the suspect. Four other people were injured. The explosion gutted the single-story American Reproductive Centers clinic, damaging the office space. The clinic's IVF lab and stored embryos were not damaged.

Israel to allow 'basic' aid into Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip -- Israel said it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade. Sunday's announcement came days after global experts warned of famine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a "starvation crisis" in Gaza would jeopardize Israel's new military offensive there. He says his Cabinet has approved a decision to allow in a "basic" amount of food. There are no immediate details. Israel in early March cut off all food, medicine and other supplies to the territory of over 2 million people to pressure Hamas over ceasefire terms.

Ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge; 2 killed

NEW YORK -- A Mexican navy sailing ship on a global goodwill tour struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, snapping its three masts, killing two crew members and leaving some sailors dangling from harnesses high in the air waiting for help.

Mayor Eric Adams said at least 19 people aboard the ship needed medical treatment Saturday night. But he says the 142-year-old bridge has been spared major damage.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. The Mexican navy says in a post on the social media platform X that the incident involves the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel.

Reward increased for escapees' capture

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Officials have increased the reward for the capture of seven inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail by fleeing through a hole behind a toilet. FBI Special Agent Jonathan Trapp said Sunday seven of the 10 men are still at large and the FBI is offering $10,000 per inmate.

He said he believes members of the public may be aiding the men. They range in age from 19 to 42 and face a variety of charges including aggravated assault, domestic abuse battery and murder. Gov. Jeff Landry says an audit of the jail by the Department of Corrections will be done by the end of the week.

Severe storms kill at least 27 in US

LONDON, Ky. -- Severe storms across parts of the U.S. Midwest and South have left at least 27 people dead. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday that there were 18 weather-related deaths in his state. Ten others in the state were hospitalized in critical condition. A devastating tornado in Kentucky damaged homes, tossed vehicles and left many people homeless. Seventeen of the deaths were in Laurel County, located in the state's southeast. The other was in Pulaski County: Fire Department Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman, a 39-year veteran who was fatally injured while responding to the deadly weather. Beshear said parts of two dozen state roads were closed, and some could take days to reopen.

Romanians elect centrist president

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania's presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist, nearly complete electoral data shows. Opponent George Simion is leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Supreme Court rejects Trump bid

to resume speedy deportations

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's appeal to quickly resume deportations of Venezuelans under an 18th-century wartime law.

Over two dissenting votes, the justices acted Friday on an emergency appeal from lawyers for Venezuelan men who have been accused of being gang members. The administration says that designation makes them eligible for rapid removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The high court had already called a temporary halt to the deportations from a north Texas detention facility in a middle-of-the-night order issued last month. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Conservatives block Trump's big tax

breaks bill in a stunning setback

WASHINGTON -- Conservatives have blocked President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill. House Republicans failed Friday to push it out of the Budget Committee.

Four GOP conservatives initially voted against it, demanding further cuts to Medicaid and green energy tax breaks. A fifth switched his vote in a procedural step so it could be reconsidered later and says he's confident they'll "get this done."

Tallying a whopping 1,116 pages, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is teetering at a critical moment. At the same time, lawmakers from high-tax states including New York are demanding a deeper local tax deduction. Democrats call the package "bad economics."

The Budget Committee plans to try again Sunday.

Strike by New Jersey Transit train

engineers leaves 350,000 in the lurch

Train engineers in New Jersey's huge commuter rail system are on strike, leaving its 350,000 daily riders either working from home or seeking other means to transit the state or cross the Hudson River into New York City.

People who normally rely on New Jersey Transit took to buses, cars, taxis and boats for the morning rush hour on Friday after trains ground to a halt at a minute past midnight.

Some left extra early to avoid problems. A few, unaware that the strike was underway, showed up and waited for trains that weren't going to arrive.

Early indications were that the strike hadn't resulted in major traffic jams or epic lines to get on buses. Friday's rail commute is typically the lightest of the week.

Singer Dawn Richard takes the stand

in sex-trafficking trial of Combs

NEW YORK -- Singer Dawn Richard took the witness stand late Friday afternoon after R&B singer Cassie testified for a fourth day in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial.

Prosecutors allege that the hip hop mogul used his fame and fortune to orchestrate an empire of exploitation, coercing women into abusive sex parties.

His lawyers argue that all the sexual acts were consensual, and although he could be violent, he never veered into sex trafficking and racketeering.

Thai construction magnate facing

charge over tower collapse surrenders

BANGKOK -- A construction magnate and more than a dozen other people have surrendered to police on criminal negligence charges for the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during a March 28 earthquake. Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, and 16 other people were charged with the felony of professional negligence causing death.

All have denied wrongdoing. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction. The building, which was to become a new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centered in neighboring Myanmar.

Israel expands attacks in Gaza

and Yemen as Trump wraps up trip

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip -- Israel has launched dozens of airstrikes across Gaza -- attacks that local health officials say killed 108 people, mostly women and children, and which Israeli officials described as a prelude to a larger campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages.

Israel also struck two ports in Yemen on Friday that it said were used by the Houthi militant group to transfer weapons.

The strikes across the Gaza Strip followed days of attacks that the Gaza Health Ministry said killed more than 130 people, and came as U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up a visit to the region that included stops in three Gulf states but not Israel. He was returning to Washington on Friday.

Theft of Melania statue investigated

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- Police in Slovenia are investigating the disappearance of a bronze statue of U.S. first lady Melania Trump that was sawed off and carried away from her hometown.

The life-size sculpture was unveiled in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term in office near Sevnica in central Slovenia, where Melanija Knavs was born in 1970. It replaced a wooden statue that had been set on fire earlier that year.

Police spokeswoman Alenka Drenik Rangus said Friday that the police were informed about the theft of the statue on Tuesday. She said police were working to track down those responsible.

According to Slovenian media reports, the bronze replica was sawed off at the ankles and removed.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire,

challenges Putin to meet him

KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has challenged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday.

It's the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the U.S.-led peace effort. Zelenskyy said that he still hopes for a ceasefire with Russia starting Monday, and that he will "be waiting for Putin" in Turkey "personally" after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer -- to hold direct talks in Turkey on Thursday.

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations.

US touts 'substantial progress'

in ongoing tariff talks with China

GENEVA (AP) -- The lead U.S. negotiator in trade talks with China cheered "a great deal of productivity" in resolving differences between the world's two leading economic powers, after officials wrapped two days of bargaining in Switzerland following President Donald Trump imposing steep tariffs and Beijing retaliating.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there was "substantial progress" in the weekend sessions, but offered scant information. He said more details would come at a briefing Monday. The Chinese delegation held a subsequent news conference where it described what occurred as "candid, in-depth and constructive dialogue."

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said both sides had agreed to "establishing a consultation mechanism" for further discussions on trade and economic issues.

India claims its strikes inside

Pakistan killed over 100 militants

ISLAMABAD -- India says its strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan on Wednesday killed more than 100 militants. Residents and officials in the disputed Kashmir region say there was overnight fighting between Pakistani and Indian troops, despite a ceasefire, but the clashes subsided by Sunday morning.

As part of the ceasefire announced a day earlier, the nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to immediately stop all military action on land, in the air and at sea. They accused each other of repeatedly violating the deal hours later.

The recent escalation in violence followed a gun massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir and is the most serious military confrontation between them in decades.

Zepbound beats Wegovy for weight loss in first head-to-head trial

A new study shows that people Zepbound lost about 50% more weight than those using Wegovy. It was the first head-to-head trial of the blockbuster weight-loss medications. Participants who took tirzepatide -- which is sold as Zepbound by Eli Lilly -- lost an average of 50 pounds over 72 weeks.

Those who took semaglutide -- known as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, lost about 33 pounds.

The study was published Sunday and presented at an obesity conference in Spain. Zepbound targets two hormones that regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. Wegovy targets one of those hormones.

First group of white S. Africans

leaves for the US as refugees

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- A group of 49 white South Africans has departed their homeland for the United States on a private charter plane having been offered refugee status by the Trump administration.

The group, which included families and small children, left Johannesburg on Sunday and was due to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside Washington this morning local time.

That's according to Collen Mbisi, a spokesperson for South Africa's transport ministry. They are the first Afrikaners -- a white minority group in South Africa -- to be relocated after the Trump administration accused South Africa's black-led government of racial persecution against them. South Africa said those claims are "completely false."

Another Newark airport disruption

occurs as fewer flights considered

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to reduce the number of flights in and out of the Newark Liberty International Airport for the "next several weeks." New Jersey's largest airport has struggled with radar outages and numerous flight delays and cancellations due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The latest problem was Sunday when a telecommunications issue briefly slowed traffic. Duffy said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he will convene a meeting with airlines flying out of Newark to determine the reduction in traffic. He said there will be a larger reduction in the afternoons when international arrivals make the airport busier.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Up to 1,000 transgender troops

being moved out of the military

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify.

That's happening under a new directive issued Thursday. Buoyed by Tuesday's Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will then begin going through medical records to identify others who haven't come forward.

Department officials have said it's difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated. Those troops would then be involuntarily forced out of the service.

Trump to name Fox host Pirro

as top federal prosecutor in DC

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump says he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation's capital after abandoning his first pick for the job.

He made the announcement in a post Thursday on Truth Social.

Pirro cohosts the show "The Five" on Fox on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York's Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the county's elected district attorney. Trump tapped Pirro to lead the nation's largest U.S. Attorney's office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position.

White House overhaul of troubled

air traffic control to cost billions

The Trump administration has proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system in the wake of recent deadly plane crashes and technical failures that have put a spotlight on the outdated network.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the plan calls for six new air traffic control centers, along with technology and communications upgrades at all of the nation's air traffic facilities over the next three years.

How much it will exactly cost wasn't immediately revealed. Officials want to add fiber, wireless and satellite technology at more than 4,600 locations, replace 618 radars and increase the number of airports with systems designed to reduce near misses on runways.

Ex-fashion model testifies Weinstein

sexually assaulted her at 16 and 19

NEW YORK -- A former model has testified that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old, calling it the most "horrifying thing I ever experienced" to that point.

Kaja Sokola told jurors at Weinstein's #MeToo retrial on Thursday that the onetime movie honcho put his hand inside her underwear and made her touch his genitals at a Manhattan apartment in 2002. Weinstein is not charged with any crime in connection with the alleged assault. Sokola is testifying because Weinstein is charged with forcing oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel four years later. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and denies sexually assaulting anyone.

Reports of Trump deportation plans

highlight abuse of migrants in Libya

CAIRO -- Experts, human rights workers and lawyers criticized reports of plans to deport migrants from the U.S. to Libya. Migrants in Libya are routinely arbitrarily detained and placed in squalid detention centers where they are subjected to extortion, abuse, rape and killings.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that Libya has some 800,000 migrants and refugees seeking work or who have fled war in their home countries.

A U.N.-backed independent fact-finding mission found evidence that crimes against humanity had been committed against migrants in Libya. Authorities from rival administrations in Libya have denied signing a deportation deal with the Trump administration.

Judge orders end to freeze on funds

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Education Department to undo a freeze on the last of the U.S. relief money given to schools to help students recover academically from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Associated Press

The federal government provided $189 billion in aid money for schools during the crisis, giving them broad latitude in how to spend it.

Nation and world at a glance

Iran's top diplomat in Pakistan to mediate in escalation with India over Kashmir attack

ISLAMABAD -- Iran's foreign minister held talks with top Pakistani officials on Monday to try and mediate in the escalation between Islamabad and New Delhi after last month's deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, as the United Nations urged both sides to exercise restraint.

Abbas Araghchi's visit to Islamabad was the first by a foreign dignitary since tensions flared in the wake of the April 22 massacre of 26 people, most of them Indian Hindu tourists, in the town of Pahalgam, which India blames on Pakistan. Islamabad denies the accusation.

Tehran has offered to help ease tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Araghchi held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who thanked him for his peace efforts, according to government statements. Araghchi will visit India this week, according to Pakistani state-run media.

Antonio Guterres, the U.N. Secretary General, also urged both sides later Monday to exercise restraint: "Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution," he told reporters.

"Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink," Guterres said. "The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace."

Islamabad has offered to cooperate with an international investigation. India hasn't accepted the offer so far, and several world leaders have urged both sides to show restraint and avoid further escalation.

Hegseth directs 20% cut to top military leadership positions

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration moves forward with deep cuts that it says will promote efficiency but that critics worry could result in a more politicized force.

Hegseth also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions and directed the military to cut an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank.

The cuts are on top of more than a half-dozen top general officers that President Donald Trump or Hegseth have fired since January, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. They also have fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers.

In the earlier rounds of firing, Hegseth said the eliminations were "a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take."

As Pentagon chief, Hegseth has touted his efforts to root out any programming or leadership that endorses diversity in the ranks, tried to terminate transgender service members and begun sweeping changes to enforce a uniform fitness standard for combat positions.

In a memo announcing the cuts Monday, Hegseth said they would remove "redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership." He said the aim was to free the military from "unnecessary bureaucratic layers."

There are about 800 general officers in the military, but only 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers. The Army has the largest number of general officers, with 219, including eight four-star generals.

The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law. Members of Congress were not provided with the advance notification they normally would receive on the cuts but were given a "very brief alert" this afternoon, according to a congressional staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not made public.

The cuts were first reported by CNN.

Trump administration says Harvard will receive no new grants until it meets demands

WASHINGTON -- Harvard University will receive no new federal grants until it meets a series of demands from President Donald Trump's administration, the Education Department announced Monday.

The action was laid out in a letter to Harvard's president and amounts to a major escalation of Trump's battle with the Ivy League school. The administration previously froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, and Trump is pushing to strip the school of its tax-exempt status.

Harvard has pushed back on the administration's demands, setting up a closely watched clash in Trump's attempt to force change at universities that he says have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.

In a press call, an Education Department official said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it "demonstrates responsible management of the university" and satisfies federal demands on a range of subjects. The ban applies to federal research grants and not to federal financial aid that helps students cover college tuition and fees.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the decision on a call with reporters.

The official accused Harvard of "serious failures." The person said Harvard has allowed antisemitism and racial discrimination to perpetuate, it has abandoned rigorous academic standards, and it has failed to allow a range of views on its campus. To become eligible for new grants, Harvard would need to enter negotiations with the federal government and prove it has satisfied the administration's requirements.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Kuwait frees 10 Americans in 2nd release of detainees

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials say Kuwait has released 10 more American detainees in an apparent goodwill gesture. It brings to nearly two dozen the total number freed from Kuwait in the past two months.

Taken together, the pardons of 23 Americans since March -- done as a goodwill gesture by a U.S. ally -- amounted to the largest release of U.S. citizens by a single foreign country in years. Ten others were released on March 12, weeks after a visit to Kuwait by Adam Boehler, who is serving as the Trump administration's envoy for hostage affairs. The releases weren't done as part of a swap, and the U.S. wasn't asked to give up anything in return.

Trump on tariffs: Children

will get 2 dolls instead of 30

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is acknowledging that his tariffs could result in fewer and costlier products in the United States. He says American kids might "have two dolls instead of 30 dolls."

But he's also insisting China will suffer more from his trade war. The Republican president has tried to reassure a nervous country that his tariffs won't provoke a recession.

But a new government report shows the U.S. economy shrank during the first three months of the year.

Trump told his Cabinet on Wednesday that his tariffs meant China was "having tremendous difficulty because their factories are not doing business." He said the U.S. didn't really need imports from the world's dominant manufacturer.

Storms knock out power

to thousands in Ohio, Pa.

Tuesday night's powerful storms knocked out power to more than 425,000 customers in Pennsylvania and 40,000 in Ohio, according to PowerOutage.us.

Neighboring states also reported thousands of outages. About 300,000 Pennsylvania customers and nearly 19,000 in Ohio were without power late Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light called the storm's damage "unprecedented" for knocking out electricity for some 250,000 of its customers and toppling trees and snapping power poles. The utility was bringing in outside help to restore electricity, and outages could last a week, the spokesperson said.

The Associated Press

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro surveyed damage in Allegheny County on Wednesday and stopped by Fiori's, a popular pizzeria that had had its roof ripped off by the storm.