Trump proposes

the telephone

ISLAMABAD — Iran’s foreign minister has briefly visited Islamabad again as Pakistan’s leaders work to restart ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.

But President Donald Trump says the two sides can talk by phone instead. Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistan’s capital on Saturday but returned to Islamabad before heading on to Moscow on Sunday. The White House had said Friday it would send envoys to Islamabad for a second round of talks, but Trump called off the mission due to a lack of progress. Pakistani officials say indirect talks are still ongoing.

Warsh headed for

Fed confirmation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican senator who had effectively blocked confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve says he’s dropping his opposition after the Department of Justice ended its investigation of the current central bank chair. The announcement by Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina removes a big hurdle to Trump’s effort to install Kevin Warsh in the job in place of Jerome Powell.

At issue was an investigation by the top federal prosecutor in Washington of the Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovations. Tillis had seen that as a “vindictive prosecution” and suggested it threatened the Fed’s longtime independence from day-to-day politics.

Ga. wildfire tops

31 square miles

NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — One of two large wildfires in southeastern Georgia continues to grow and now exceeds 31 square miles. The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since April 20 and as of Saturday had destroyed at least 87 homes. Officials said Sunday that it was only 7% contained. Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said the fire doubled in size from Saturday night and will be further impacted by the wind. Cason also said evacuation notices could be issued and residents should heed them.

Malian defense chief is killed as jihadis and rebels seize towns and military bases

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Malian Minister of Defense Gen. Sadio Camara has been killed in an attack as jihadi and rebel forces seized towns and military bases across the West African country. His death was confirmed by a spokesman and broadcast on state-run television on Sunday. Separatist fighters joined Islamic militants in one of the biggest coordinated attacks on the Malian army on Saturday, leaving at least 16 wounded. Malian troops and Russian mercenaries withdrew from the northern city of Kidal after the attacks. The separatists have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali. The Economic Community of West African States condemned the attacks.

‘Michael’ moonwalks to $97 million opening, shattering record for music biopics

NEW YORK (AP) — “Michael,” the big-budget Michael Jackson spectacle, shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with $97 million in U.S. and Canada theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday, shattering a record debut for music biopics. A highly authorized portrayal of the King of Pop, co-produced by the Jackson estate, “Michael” far surpassed previous biopic top performers like “Straight Outta Compton” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” International sales were also strong. “Michael” collected $120.4 million overseas to give it a $217.4 million global opening — a new high for a music biopic. Universal picked up distribution in most international markets.

Marathon milestone shattered: Sabastian Sawe breaks the fabled 2-hour barrier by 30 seconds

LONDON (AP) — Sabastian Sawe of Kenya has become the first person to break the fabled 2-hour barrier in the marathon in a huge moment in sports history. Sawe smashed the men’s world record by 65 seconds in winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The second-place finisher, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, also dipped under 2 hours by crossing the line in 1:59:41 in his first-ever marathon. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda broke the previous world-record time, set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023, by seven seconds in finishing in 2:00:28.

The Associated Press