Trending
Deadline for Iran peace deal
nears with little hope in sight
The 60-day deadline for an agreement to end the Iran war and resolve the dispute over its nuclear program is expiring. An interim agreement reached in June has collapsed, and Washington and Tehran are even further apart than they were then. Talks appear to be mostly indirect through mediators and have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The crucial waterway for global energy has been largely closed by Iranian attacks on shipping. Iran has issued far-reaching demands for opening it, while the U.S. appears to be banking on economic pressure to get Tehran to back down. Fighting flared in July and could resume at any time.
Trump administration briefly pauses
contentious border project in Texas
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration says it is temporarily pausing construction of a controversial border construction project in the Big Bend National Park while the head of the agency tasked with building the wall visits Texas to do an "on-the-ground evaluation."
The project through the national park in southern Texas has faced fierce bipartisan opposition by critics who say it is marring a pristine environmental area and that the region's rugged and remote terrain already serves as a deterrent to migrants and smugglers.
Rodney Scott, who heads Customs and Border Protection which is tasked with building the wall, said in an announcement on X Monday that he was visiting Texas to do an evaluation.
ICE pitches insurance to help
shield officers making arrests
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is pitching a plan to help shield local police officers who make immigration arrests from possible financial consequences if they are accused of on-duty misconduct.
A planning document released Friday says the agency is proposing to subsidize liability insurance for state and local officers who are trained and deputized to enforce federal immigration laws. ICE's partnerships with local departments have soared since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year and may get an additional boost with liability insurance by removing a hurdle that has made some local police departments reluctant to join. The Associated Press is the first to report on this insurance proposal.
Luigi Mangione's state murder
trial is postponed indefinitely
NEW YORK -- Luigi Mangione's state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been postponed indefinitely. His lawyers are seeking to have the case dismissed on double jeopardy grounds after Mangione pleaded guilty to federal charges last week. Judge Gregory Carro issued an order Monday canceling the Sept. 8 trial and giving the Manhattan District Attorney's office until Oct. 9 to respond. A hearing is set for Dec. 10. Mangione admitted to stalking and killing Thompson in 2024. Federal prosecutors are seeking life in prison, though guidelines suggest 24 to 30 years. Mangione's lawyers argue he's being punished twice for the same conduct.
Flooding risk remains as storms
move away from the Midwest
INDIANAPOLIS ( -- A deadly stretch of unsettled weather is continuing with thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding an ongoing threat from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic. The National Weather Service said repeated rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms would continue for one more day before a cold front sweeps the weather pattern off the East Coast Tuesday. Meanwhile, flash flood warnings were issued in parts of West Virginia, where one person died and residents were already cleaning up from a weekend deluge of rain. In Indiana, days of storms have left at least seven people dead. Elsewhere, high heat continues to scorch much of the South and Southwest.
Shakira visits quake survivors
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombian superstar Shakira pledged to help rebuild at least 10 schools in a remote region of her home country after a devastating earthquake struck last week, killing hundreds and affecting thousands of educational sites.
During a surprise visit to Quibdo, Shakira toured damaged schools and committed her Barefoot Foundation's support. She was joined by philanthropist Howard Buffett, who will collaborate with her foundation on the project.
The 7.4 magnitude quake destroyed over 26,000 dwellings and affected more than 265 educational sites in Choca. Shakira emphasized the importance of rebuilding schools to secure children's futures.
President of Zambia reelected
LUSAKA, Zambia -- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been reelected to serve a second five-year term. The Electoral Commission of Zambia announced his victory early Tuesday. Hichilema won more than 51% of the vote, and opposition leader Brian Mundubile came in second. \ election, held last Thursday, was closely watched and saw vote counting suspended Friday due to security concerns. Several opposition figures were arrested, with police citing threats to state security. Thursday's election was a test of Hichilema's economic recovery plan after Zambia's 2020 debt crisis.
The Associated Press