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Nation and world at a glance

Heat, thirst drive families in Gaza

to drink water that makes them sick

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — People in Gaza are struggling to secure enough water for drinking and sanitation. Experts warn that less than three liters per person per day is being delivered, a fraction of what’s needed for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene.

The thirst is only growing as a heat wave bears down, with humidity and temperatures in Gaza soaring. The territory’s more than 2 million people faced shortages even before the war.

They relied on Israeli electricity to power desalination and wastewater treatment plants. Now, displaced families reuse water for dishes and bathing. Shortages are helping fuel the rampant spread of disease.

Democrats release plan to boost

party’s California US House seats

LOS ANGELES — Democrats have unveiled a proposal that could give California’s dominant political party an additional five U.S. House seats in a bid to win the fight to control Congress next year.

The plan calls for the reshaping of district lines to greatly strengthen the Democratic advantage in the state ahead of midterm elections. Republicans will be defending a fragile House majority in 2026.

Meanwhile Texas Republicans have ended a legislative session without approving new congressional maps but quickly began another.

It is intended to satisfy President Donald Trump’s wishes for redistricting that bolsters the GOP. Democrats blocked the plan by leaving the state during a special session.

Flash floods kill more than 280

in India, Pakistan as thousands flee

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Officials say flash floods triggered by torrential rains have killed over 280 people in India and Pakistan and left scores of others missing. Rescuers on Friday had brought to safety some 1,600 people from two mountainous districts in the neighboring countries.

Flooding began on Thursday in Indian-controlled Kashmir and spread to the north and northwest in neighboring Pakistan.

Powerful cloudbursts triggered the flooding and subsequent landslides that injured dozens of people and forced the evacuation and rescue of thousands of others, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Stone Age humans were picky about

which rocks they used to make tools

WASHINGTON — New research finds early human ancestors during the Stone Age were more picky about the rocks they used for making tools than previously thought.

The study published Friday in Science Advances shows that by 2.6 million years ago, early humans had developed a method to chip sharp flakes from rocks to use as blades for butchering meat.

At an archaeological site in Kenya, researchers found durable blades made of quartzite, then traced the original rock material to locations several miles away. This suggests the early humans had a mental map of where suitable raw materials were located and planned ahead to use them.

Air Canada cancels hundreds of flights

as flight attendants’ strike looms

TORONTO — Air Canada has canceled hundreds of flights — many of them international flights — as a potential strike by flight attendants looms.

The union, representing 10,000 attendants, rejected the airline’s request for government-directed arbitration. This decision could lead to a strike and lockout starting early Saturday, affecting about 130,000 travelers daily.

The airline began canceling flights Thursday and expects to cancel 500 flights by Friday’s end. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged both sides to reach an agreement. Passengers can request refunds or alternative travel options, but rebooking may be difficult due to full flights during the peak summer season.

Target and Ulta mutually agree not

to renew partnership launched in ’21

NEW YORK — Target and Ulta Beauty are parting ways, ending a partnership launched in 2021 that created in-store shops filled with beauty products at hundreds of the discounter’s stores.

According to a joint release issued Thursday, the companies said they have “mutually agreed” not to renew their pact, which concludes in August 2026. Until then, the Ulta Beauty experience at Target will continue in Target stores and on Target.com, the release said. Ulta is currently in 600 of Target’s roughly 1,980 stores, according to a Target spokesperson.

Train collides with vehicle in Denmark

BERLIN — A passenger train has collided with a vehicle at a crossing in southern Denmark. The accident on Friday left one person dead and injured about 20 others. The extent of the injuries remains unclear, but photos show derailed and overturned carriages. A large number of emergency services were on the scene. Local news outlet TV2 reported that drones and search dogs were deployed. Banedanmark, the company operating Denmark’s rail network, confirmed the collision occurred at a level crossing.

Bad Bunny jumpstarts economy

VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico — Thousands of tourists are descending on Puerto Rico this summer for one of Bad Bunny’s concerts as part of the rapper’s residency that has boosted the U.S. territory’s fragile economy. Visitors are not only coming to see him, but to explore his island. The government and the private sector have launched tours and named food and drinks after his songs while small businesses have sold clothes and other goods sought by tourists. Short-term rentals are up 42% this August and 61% for September.

The Associated Press

, compared with the same period last year. Nearly three dozen hotels are participating in packages that include the concert, generating nearly $200 million

Nation and world at a glance

Melania demands Hunter Biden

retract ‘salacious’ Epstein comments

WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump is demanding that Hunter Biden retract “extremely salacious” comments linking her to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. She threatens to sue if he does not.

Biden made the comments in an interview this month, claiming Epstein introduced Melania to Donald Trump. Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, calls the statements false and defamatory. Brito says the comments have been widely shared on social media, causing harm to the first lady’s reputation.

Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trump has criticized. The Trumps have long said they were introduced by a modeling agent in 1998.

Police chief orders more cooperation

with immigration agents, police in DC

WASHINGTON — The D.C. police chief stepped up cooperation between her officers and federal immigration officials as President Donald Trump’s law enforcement takeover of the nation’s capital took root Thursday. National Guard troops watched over some of the world’s most renowned landmarks and Humvees took up position in front of the busy main train station.

The police chief’s order establishes that Metropolitan Police Department officers may now share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody — such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint. MPD officers may also provide “transportation for federal immigration employees and detained subject,” the order states.

DeSantis announces plans for 2nd

immigration detention facility in Fla.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is preparing to open a second immigration detention facility dubbed “Deportation Depot” at a state prison as a federal judge decides the fate of the state’s holding center for immigrants at an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

DeSantis announced Thursday that the new facility is to be housed at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles west of downtown Jacksonville. It is expected to hold 1,300 immigration detention beds, though that capacity could be expanded to 2,000, state officials said.

Truck, van carrying Amish group,

crash, killing at least six in Mich.

A pickup truck crashed into a van carrying members of an Amish group in rural Michigan, killing at least six people. The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon in Tuscola County.

Authorities said 13 people were in the two vehicles, including 10 in the van.

Multiple passengers were ejected from both vehicles. The van was carrying members of a local Amish community.

Authorities say seven people were taken to a hospital, but their conditions are unknown. The crash happened when the pickup went through a stop sign. Elsewhere in Michigan, a baby riding in an Amish buggy was killed in a crash with a pickup truck.

At least 56 killed in Kashmir floods

SRINAGAR, India — Flash floods caused by torrential rains in Indian-controlled Kashmir have left at least 56 people dead.

One official saids rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village of Chositi brought at least 300 people to safety.

At least 80 are believed to be missing. India’s deputy minister for science and technology said that the floods on Thursday were triggered by a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chositi area.

Sudden and intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions. They are prone to flash floods and landslides.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

CDC shooter blamed COVID vaccine

for depression that led to violence

A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer.

The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the incident, had also tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, is calling for heightened security and a strong statement condemning vaccine misinformation from federal officials.

More than 500 people arrested in UK

at pro-Palestinian weekend events

LONDON — London police said Sunday that 532 people were arrested the previous day when supporters of a pro-Palestinian group recently outlawed as a terrorist organization intentionally broke the law to test the government’s ability to enforce the ban.

The Metropolitan Police Service released the updated figures as protesters demanding the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza held their own march through central London on Sunday afternoon.

The vast majority of those detained on Saturday were arrested for displaying placards declaring their support for the group known as Palestine Action. Police said 522 people were arrested for supporting a proscribed organization in violation of anti-terror laws.

Floods cancel last day of state fair

in Wisconsin as rain closes roads

MILWAUKEE — Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states has led to water rescues, power outages and road closures.

The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. Forecasters predict repeated rounds of heavy rain, along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

Among the worst hit is the Milwaukee area, where up to 14 inches of rain had fallen in some areas. USA Triathlon also canceled its Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, where thousands were expected to compete.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits

province in Turkey, killing one

ISTANBUL — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has struck Turkey’s northwestern province of Balikesir, killing at least one person and causing about a dozen buildings to collapse.

The quake hit Sunday, with the epicenter in the town of Sindirgi. Shocks were felt as far as Istanbul and other nearby provinces.

Rescue teams recovered the body of one person trapped in debris. Four others were rescued. A total of 16 buildings and two mosque minarets collapsed collapsed in the region. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency reported several aftershocks and urged citizens to avoid damaged buildings.

US tourist who flew to Puerto Rico

for Bad Bunny concert fatally shot

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A tourist from the U.S. mainland who was visiting Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s residency has been fatally shot at La Perla, a popular seaside shantytown.

Police identified the victim as Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old who lived in New York. The shooting happened in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday.

Police tell The Associated Press that the shooting happened when several people near Mares began arguing and one pulled out a gun and shot at least three people, including Mares.

A brother and sister who live in La Perla were injured and remain hospitalized. Ruiz said Mares was an innocent bystander.

Major wildfires in France controlled

PARIS — About 1,400 firefighters have been deployed in France’s southern Aude region to prevent the country’s largest wildfire in decades from reigniting.

All residents have been allowed to return home. Aude prefect Christian Pouget said Saturday the fire has been contained since Thursday after burning some 62 square miles.

All roads have been reopened, but there’s a strict ban on accessing the forest. The blaze left one person dead and injured 25 others, including 19 firefighters.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

President Donald Trump, center, shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during a trilateral signing ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders

make peace at White House

WASHINGTON — Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a peace agreement at the White House, aiming to end decades of conflict.

President Donald Trump facilitated the meeting, with both leaders who crediting him for the breakthrough. The deal will reopen key transportation routes and create a major transit corridor named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This agreement signed Friday allows the U.S. to expand its influence in the region as Russia’s wanes.

The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has lasted nearly four decades, with recent developments encouraging Armenia to seek closer ties with the U.S.

In the AP photo above, Trump, center, shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during the ceremony.

Justice Dept. heightens

scrutiny of 2 big Trump foes

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is escalating efforts to scrutinize perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump with investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department has subpoenaed James for records related to a lawsuit the Democrat filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business dealings, according to a person familiar with the matter. And Attorney General Pam Bondi this week named Ed Martin as a special prosecutor to help conduct separate mortgage fraud investigations into James and Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

James and Schiff have denied any wrongdoing and have called the claims politically motivated.

Appeals court tosses Trump

contempt of court finding

WASHINGTON — A split appeals court panel is tossing out a judge’s contempt of court finding against President Donald Trump’s administration in a case over deportations to an El Salvador prison.

The Friday decision came after planes carrying Venezuelan migrants landed at the prison even after U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg said in court they must return to the United States. Boasberg had found probable cause to believe Trump administration officials rushed deportees out of the country before they could challenge their removal in court and then willfully disregarded his order.

The Republican administration has denied any violation, saying the judge did not specify the return of the planes in his written order.

Israel’s plan to control Gaza

stirs new fears for many

JERUSALEM — Israel says it plans to take over Gaza City. The decision to escalate its 22-month war with Hamas drew a dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict and stirred fears for hostages still in Gaza. Israel’s air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine.

The timing of another major ground operation remains unclear but will almost certainly exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, two Arab officials told the Associated Press that mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new framework that will include the release of all hostages in one go in return for an end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip.

Germany halts exports to

Israel over Gaza Strip plan

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany won’t authorize exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.”

The decision came after the Israeli Cabinet announced plans to take over Gaza City. Merz said Friday that Israel “has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror.”

He stated that the release of Israeli hostages and negotiations toward a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war are “our top priority.” Merz added that the recent military actions by Israel make it difficult for Germany to see how these goals will be achieved.

Suspected gunman, police officer killed near Emory

ATLANTA — Police said a suspected shooter and a police officer are dead after law enforcement responded to an active shooter near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University.

CDC employees say bullets struck the windows of several CDC buildings. Emory University announced in a post on X that the shelter-in-place order has been lifted but to avoid the area.

No civilians are believed to have been injured.

The shooter was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC and died at the scene. Authorities said the man’s motive is not yet known.

Trump executive order gives politicians control over all federal grants, alarming researchers

NEW YORK — An executive order signed by President Donald Trump aims to give political appointees power over the billions of dollars of grants that are awarded by federal agencies. The order signed Thursday requires agencies to appoint individuals responsible for reviewing federal funding opportunities and grants. Scientists say the order will undermine America’s scientific engine by placing control over federal research funds in the hands of people who are influenced by politics and lack relevant expertise. The Trump administration said these changes are part of an effort to streamline grantmaking.

AP investigation shows chaos of deadly Texas floods through emergency recordings and videos

The Associated Press has assembled a chronology of chaotic rescue efforts as a flash flood barreled through the Hill Country of Central Texas before dawn July 4. The AP analyzed first responder recordings, weather service warnings, survivor videos and official testimony. Cries for help came from the woods, rooftops and attics that shifted unsteadily as the water rose. Firefighters and police raced to help, having little guidance on where or how. Top emergency leaders were asleep or out of town. The flooding killed at least 136 people, including more than two dozen children and counselors at a camp.

Nation and world at a glance

Judge orders temporary halt

to construction at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

MIAMI — A federal judge has ordered a two-week halt to construction at an immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” as she considers whether it violates environmental laws.

The facility was quickly built two months ago at a lightly used, single-runway training airport and can hold up to 3,000 detainees in temporary tent structures.

The facility was continuing to be built out, but Thursday’s order by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams temporarily bars any new filling, paving or infrastructure. The order doesn’t include any restrictions on law enforcement or immigration enforcement activity at the center. Williams issued the temporary restraining order during a hearing Thursday.

FBI forces out more senior officials,

including ex-director who fought Trump

WASHINGTON — The FBI is forcing out more senior officials, including a former acting director who resisted Trump administration demands to turn over the names of agents who participated in Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations and the head of the bureau’s Washington field office.

That’s according to people familiar with the matter and internal communications seen by The Associated Press on Thursday.

Brian Driscoll led the bureau in the weeks that followed President Donald Trump’s inauguration last January. Steven Jensen for months led the Washington office, one of the bureau’s largest and busiest. Driscoll and Jensen have sent farewell messages to colleagues.

Air Force to deny retirement pay

option to transgender service members

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has decided to deny early retirement options for transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service.

Instead, they are being separated without retirement benefits.

This decision means transgender service members must choose between a lump-sum separation payment or leaving the service without benefits.

An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that no exceptions to this policy were approved, despite previous notifications to some members. All transgender members are being separated under the Trump administration’s policies.

Trump’s redistricting fight mushrooms

with Vance in Indiana and Florida

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — President Donald Trump is increasing pressure on Republican-led states to redraw congressional boundaries.

Vice President JD Vance went to Indiana on Thursday as the president called for a new federal census. A top Florida Republican says his state will start the redistricting process soon.

All of this aims to boost the GOP’s advantages in upcoming elections. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said that FBI Director Kash Patel has agreed to get involved in corralling Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their state to deny the Republican majority a quorum necessary to vote on a U.S. House redistricting plan. The developments reflect rising tensions in a bitter partisan fight that seems to be mushrooming nationally

United Airlines resolves disruption

that resulted in delays, cancellations

A disruption to a system housing United Airlines’ flight information that caused more than 1,000 delays has been resolved. However, delays continued into Thursday. United says the underlying issue has been resolved, but residual delays were expected as the airline works to restore normal operations.

FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions, says about 35% of all the Chicago-based airline’s flights were delayed Wednesday and 7% were canceled. By Thursday afternoon local Chicago time, 11% of United flights for the day were delayed and 5% canceled. The airline’s travel alert page notes that a technology disruption could impact flights to or from 14 airports including Newark, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Frankfurt.

Fort Stewart soldiers hailed as heroes

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Six soldiers at a Georgia Army base are being hailed as heroes for tackling a fellow soldier accused of shooting five people. Officials say Sgt. Quornelius Radford used a personal handgun to shoot five soldiers Wednesday at Fort Stewart before being tackled by other troops.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised the soldiers’ quick actions, saying they saved lives. The wounded soldiers are stable and expected to recover. The suspect was arrested and officials are investigating the motive. The FBI is helping to investigate the shooting, which has raised concerns about safety on military bases.

Secret Service raises river level

for JD Vance kayaking adventure

COLUMBUS — Vice President JD Vance’s security detail had an Ohio river’s water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took for his 41st birthday.

The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel “could operate safely” while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati.

The Army Corps of Engineers action was first reported by The Guardian. Critics blasted Vance as entitled, pointing to the Trump administration’s government-cutting efforts. His office said Vance was unaware the river had been raised.

Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and former manager, dies at 48

NEW YORK (AP) — Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and talent manager Brandon Blackstock has died of cancer. His death was first reported by People. He was 48. A representative for the Blackstock family shared a statement to The Associated Press explaining that Blackstock battled cancer for more than three years. Blackstock was the father to four children, two from a previous marriage and two with Clarkson. He was previously Clarkson’s manager and also formerly represented Blake Shelton. Clarkson and Blackstock were married in October 2013. In 2020, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

Dean Cain, former TV Superman, will be sworn in as honorary ICE officer

Dean Cain wants to join the U.S. and Immigration Customs Enforcement agency. In an interview with Fox News, Cain said he has already spoken to the agency responsible for President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says Cain will be sworn in as an “honorary ICE Officer” in the coming month. McLaughlin referenced Ca

Nation and world at a glance

Trump’s redistricting fight

could broaden, last a while

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas and California are at the center of a national political power struggle that could reshape Trump’s second presidency. And the battle could last months.

In Texas, Republican lawmakers are trying to redraw congressional districts to please President Donald Trump. But Democrats are delaying action by leaving the state.

In California, Democrats are maneuvering to counter Trump’s Texas play by boosting Democratic House seats in the liberal-leaning state. But California’s process is more complicated, no matter how hard Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom might push it. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, has signaled his intention to defend the state’s independent redistricting commission that was a signature accomplishment of his Republican administration.

RFK Jr. pulls $500 million

in funding for vaccines

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services plans to cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that $500 million worth of vaccine development projects using mRNA technology will be halted. The 22 projects are led by major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna. These mRNA vaccines are credited with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

In a social media video, Kennedy said HHS was “prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate.”

Israeli prime minister

hints at expanding war

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hinting at wider military action in devastated Gaza even as some former army and intelligence chiefs call for an end to the war. The new pressure on Netanyahu comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry on Tuesday said the war’s Palestinian death toll has surpassed 61,000.

Previous leaders of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, Mossad spy agency and the military are among those speaking out. Meanwhile, health officials have reported new deaths of hungry people seeking food.

Tennessee man says he hurt

during lethal injection

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An inmate executed by Tennessee without deactivating his implanted defibrillator said he was in serious pain after the lethal injection started. Prison officials say 69-year-old Byron Black died at 10:43 a.m. Tuesday. His defibrillator was left working despite uncertainty about whether the device would shock his heart when the lethal chemicals took effect.

Epstein’s ex, Maxwell: Don’t

release jury transcripts

NEW YORK — Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend wants to keep grand jury records secret in the sex trafficking case that sent her to prison.

Her lawyers said so in a court filing Tuesday. They wrote that Maxwell hasn’t seen the material herself. The grand jury process is conducted behind closed doors. But she opposes unsealing what her lawyers described as potentially “hearsay-laden” transcripts of grand jury testimony.

Meanwhile, prosecutors are continuing to urge a court to release some of those records in the criminal case-turned-political fireball.

Hiroshima marks 80th

anniversary of bombing

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Hiroshima is marking the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city today. Many aging survivors express frustration over growing global support for nuclear weapons as deterrence. With survivors’ numbers rapidly declining and their average age now over 86, this anniversary is a significant milestone. The bombing on Aug. 6, 1945, killed 140,000 people and a second bomb on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Representatives from 120 countries, including Russia and Belarus, are expected to attend the ceremony.

The Associated Press

NATION AND WORLD AT A GLANCE

Senate confirms former Fox News

host for top federal prosecutor in DC

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, filling the post after President Donald Trump withdrew his controversial first pick, conservative activist Ed Martin Jr.

Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, was confirmed 50-45. Before becoming the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in May, she co-hosted the Fox News show “The Five” on weekday evenings, where she frequently interviewed Trump.

Trump yanked Martin’s nomination after a key Republican senator said he could not support him due to Martin’s outspoken support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Martin now serves as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.

Texas Democrats leave state to block

vote on redrawn US House map

Texas Democrats have left the state in an attempt to prevent the state House from holding a vote today on new congressional maps that Republicans hope will net them several additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

The dramatic move Sunday could expose Democrats to fines and other penalties. Democrats have cast the decision to leave the state as a last-ditch effort to stop Republicans from pushing through a rare mid-decade redrawing of the congressional map. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Legislature that started last month to take up the redistricting effort that President Donald Trump has urged.

Israeli minister prays at flashpoint

holy site as 33 aid-seekers killed

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A far-right Israeli minister has visited and prayed at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, sparking regional condemnation. The visit by Itamar Ben-Gvir threatens to escalate tensions and complicate international efforts to halt Israel’s nearly two-year military offensive in Gaza. Palestinian leaders, along with Jordan and Saudi Arabia, have condemned the visit as incitement.

The visit followed Hamas’ release of videos showing emaciated Israeli hostages that have caused an uproar in Israel. Meanwhile, hospitals in Gaza say 33 more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire while seeking food aid. Israel faces global criticism over famine-like conditions in the besieged strip.

Boeing workers who build fighter

jets reject pact, plan to go on strike

NEW YORK (AP) — Boeing workers who build fighter jets are planning to go on strike. About 3,200 workers at facilities in St. Louis and other locations voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing.

That is according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union. The union says its workers deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.

Boeing says the company is disappointed its employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved issues about work schedules.

Justice Dept. seeks voter election

information from at least 19 states

NEW YORK — The Justice Department is ramping up an effort to get election data from the states. According to an Associated Press tally, the department’s voting section has requested copies of voter registration lists from state election administrators in at least 15 states. And department lawyers have contacted officials in at least seven states to propose a meeting about forging an information-sharing agreement related to instances of voting or election fraud. The unusually expansive outreach has raised alarm among some election officials. That’s because states have the constitutional authority to run elections and because federal law protects the sharing of individual data with the government.

The Associated Press

Former US soldier suspected of killing 4 in Montana remains at large

Authorities say a former US soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar is still at large and believed to be armed. The shooting occurred on Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana. Officials say they believe 45-year-old military veteran Michael Paul Brown committed the shooting with a rifle. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on Sunday warned residents that Brown could return to the area. Investigators are considering all possible options for Brown’s whereabouts. Brown served in the Army and Montana National Guard and has struggled with mental illness for years, family members say.

The UN says 68 African migrants were killed when a boat capsized off Yemen

CAIRO (AP) — The U.N.’s migration agency reports that at least 68 African migrants have died and 74 others are missing after their boat capsized off Yemen. The mishap took place on Sunday. Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organization for Migration in Yemen, says the boat carried 154 Ethiopian migrants and capsized near Yemen’s Abyan province. Twelve migrants survived the shipwreck. The bodies of 54 migrants washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, and 14 others were found dead and taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan on Yemen’s southern coast.

Men charged in Tennessee case involving 4 dead family members of abandoned infant

TIPTONVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee authorities have arrested two men they say are connected to the case of four murdered family members who were related to an abandoned infant. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Authorities allege both men “assisted” 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond in the murders, but did not specify how. Authorities have left many unanswered questions, including how the four relatives were killed and how the family’s baby ended up in a car seat in a yard in the Tigrett area. Law enforcement officers are still searching for Drummond.

Ukrainian drone attack sets Russian oil depot on fire as Zelenskyy announces prisoner exchange

Russian officials say a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot near Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi has sparked a major fire. More than 120 firefighters have been working to extinguish the blaze. Russia’s civil aviation authority temporarily stopped flights at Sochi’s airport. Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, a Russian missile strike hit a residential area in Mykolaiv, wounding seven people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners following negotiations in Istanbul. There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Nation and world at a glance

Switzerland, land of luxury brands,

fears tariffs will send prices soaring

Switzerland is home to some of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands. It now faces a 39% tariff as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war. Industry groups warned that both Swiss companies and American consumers could pay the price. Swiss officials failed to reach an agreement with the U.S. after Trump initially threatened a 31% tariff in April.

The Swiss government spent Friday reeling from the news. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Switzerland was $38.5 billion last year. That’s according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Jury orders Tesla to pay more

than $240 million in crash case

MIAMI — A Miami jury decided that Elon Musk’s car company Tesla was partly responsible for a deadly crash in Florida involving its Autopilot driver assist technology and must pay the victims more than $240 million in damages.

The federal jury held that Tesla bore significant responsibility because its technology failed and that not all the blame can be put on a reckless driver. The driver had been looking for a dropped cellphone when he hit a young couple out gazing at the stars.

The case could encourage other crash victims to hold out for big damages and dent confidence in self-driving technology. Lawyers for Tesla said the company will appeal.

Manhunt in Montana continues

after four killed in shooting at bar

Authorities have launched a manhunt after a shooting at a Montana bar left four people dead. State investigators said the shooting happened Friday morning at The Owl Bar in Anaconda.

Public records show that the suspect lived next door to the bar. His home was cleared by a SWAT team, but he was still at large and believed to be armed, prompting warnings from officials to avoid the area.

Authorities have yet to release details about what led to the shooting. Anaconda is a town of about 9,000 people and is about 75 miles southeast of Missoula.

US envoy visits aid site in Gaza

run by criticized Israeli-backed group

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy has visited a food distribution site in the Gaza Strip operated by an Israeli-backed American contractor whose efforts to deliver food to the hunger-stricken territory have been marred by violence and controversy.

International experts warned this week that a “worst-case scenario of famine” is playing out in Gaza. Israel’s nearly 22-month military offensive against Hamas has shattered security and made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving people. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday toured a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site in the city of Rafah, which has been almost completely destroyed and is now a largely depopulated Israeli military zone.

Boy dies in Maryland as storms,

flooding batter East Coast of US

MOUNT AIRY, Md. — A 13-year-old boy died after he was trapped in a storm drain in Maryland during heavy rainfall and flooding on the East Coast that also led to rescues from cars that were submerged in floodwaters, officials said.

Kids were playing in the rain Thursday in a common area between apartment buildings in Mount Airy, a town of about 10,000 people about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Baltimore, but floodwaters rushed in and the boy was swept into the pipe, according to Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company spokesperson Doug Alexander.

People tried to rescue the boy, but the water pressure was too strong and kept pushing him further into the pipe, he said. After the rain slowed, they were able to free him, but it was too late, Alexander said.

Birthright citizenship ban blocked

BOSTON — A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin’s decision Friday is the third court ruling blocking the birthright order since a Supreme Court decision in June that restricted the power of lower-court judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Sorokin said a nationwide injunction he granted months ago remains in place, under an exception to the Supreme Court’s decision. The judge is overseeing a lawsuit by more than a dozen states that argue the citizenship order is blatantly unconstitutional. The Supreme Court will likely be considering the issue again soon.

The Associated Press

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