Trending
Trump threatens more strikes on Iran. Tensions from Hormuz to Kuwait and Gaza lead to more warnings
CAIRO -- U.S. President Trump has threatened more strikes on Iran as the U.S. pushes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, speaking Friday, said the U.S. will hit Iran "very hard" until they can't take it anymore. On Saturday, Kuwait responded to new drone attacks from Iran, and a tanker was struck in the strategic waterway. Israel heavily struck Gaza Friday night, saying it was targeting Hamas weapons storage locations, after Hamas agreed to disarm.
Justice Department dismisses case of vandalism at Reflecting Pool by ex-Olympian
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying evidence prosecutors had recently received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame.
Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that additional documents provided by the Interior Department since the indictment of David Hearn show that the damage was the result of a botched installation by a contractor as well as "the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026." In addition, a recent visual inspection revealed damage throughout the pool, including in the middle -- where prosecutors say a vandal would not likely have attempted to peel the lining.
"Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt," said the filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, which asked a judge to formally dismiss the case.
Spain to put containment fence on Ceuta’s border with Morocco after frontier rush that killed 67
CEUTA, Spain -- Spain is installing a 500-meter containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and Morocco. This follows a massive breach where 50,000 to 60,000 migrants crossed the frontier between Thursday and Friday.
The death toll has reached 67, including drownings and stampede victims.
On Saturday, some migrants who swam to Ceuta were escorted back by soldiers. Spain’s interior ministry says most have returned to Morocco. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska emphasized cooperation with Morocco in resolving the situation. Ceuta’s President Juan Jesús Vivas noted the city remains unsettled.
Russia hits Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 9
KYIV, Ukraine -- Russia has launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones into Kyiv, killing at least nine people and wounding 33. The strikes, which occurred overnight into Saturday, follow a major Russian attack two days earlier that killed at least 10 people across Ukraine. Russia’s defense ministry claims the attack targeted military-industrial facilities in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. for more Patriot defense systems to counter these attacks. The cycle of violence continues to hinder diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion.
Trump’s threat to push ahead on settlement fund injects new uncertainty into attorney general talks
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is threatening to push forward with a fund to compensate his allies if two Republican holdouts won't support his nominee for attorney general. It means new uncertainty about a Senate confirmation vote scheduled for next week. And his pronouncement underscores once more his interest in securing payouts for supporters who feel unjustly persecuted. Trump said in a social media post Saturday that he’d keep acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in his current role and press ahead on the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" if Republican John Cornyn and Thom Tillis refuse to support Blanche's nomination.
Trump stands to profit off US policy announcements by selling fast access to his social media posts
NEW YORK -- Investors looking to get a jump on White House announcements will be able to buy sneak peeks starting Saturday as a Trump family company starts selling special, fast access to the president’s posts on social media. The new business targeting special computerized trading firms raises ethics questions about whether it constitutes insider trading and how far should a president be allowed to use his public office to help his private business. A prolific poster, Donald Trump has sent stocks soaring and plunging with his online musings and threats. The White House had no comment, and the company dismissed the ethics issue, saying Democratic critics just don’t like free markets.
Trump wanted interest rate cuts to be ‘Rocket Fuel’ for the economy
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump has for months pressured the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, claiming it would be "Rocket Fuel!" for growth. But he seems to be losing his battle. Since the war in Iran began, borrowing money has become more expensive, meaning fewer families can afford mortgages or auto loans. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note's interest rate shot up above 4.7% on Friday, surpassing the level the president inherited when he returned to the White House last year. Markets currently expect Fed officials to vote to raise rates further in September in order to reduce inflationary pressures. That’s a concern for Republicans heading into the November midterm elections.
Europe's wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee
LE PORGE, France -- Firefighters have contained a vast wildfire in southwestern France, allowing nearly 200,000 people to return home after what may have been the country's largest peacetime evacuation. However, renewed fires have forced thousands from their homes in other parts of France and Greece. In the Var region, a fire thought to be under control raced across 10 square kilometers in just six hours. Meanwhile, in Greece, gale-force winds have driven flames through the coastal area between Athens and Thebes, leading to evacuations. Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are making Europe more vulnerable to such wildfires.
August's total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
For the first time in more than a century, a total solar eclipse is coming to mainland Spain with an even longer encore next summer. Daytime darkness will descend Aug. 12 across the Iberian Peninsula, plus slivers of Greenland and Iceland. Totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds.
A partial eclipse will delight as far away as Alaska and Siberia, enveloping Canada, the northern U.S., and much of Europe and West Africa. This year’s solar spectacle is a warmup to 2027 when a 6½-minute extravaganza will sweep from Spain to North Africa and the Middle East.
The Associated Press