Mediators see progress in efforts to halt Iran war as drone attacks rattle region
CAIRO (AP) — Mediators have made progress in efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to negotiations and prevent an all-out war in the Middle East. That's according to two regional officials who spoke to The Associated Press. But scattered attacks by armed groups across the region underscored the lingering tensions. Neither the U.S. nor Iran have claimed any strikes for three days. Mediators led by Qatar and Pakistan are working to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. has paused attacks after targeting Iranian areas in response to Iran firing at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
France says monster fire that forced 220,000 people to flee has stopped growing but remains a threat
LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — Fire crews in southwest France are battling a massive wildfire that has burned an area four times the size of Paris. The blaze forced 220,000 people to flee near Bordeaux. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez says the fire stopped growing, offering a glimmer of hope. However, with temperatures expected to rise, the situation remains critical. Crews are racing against time, using earth movers to create firebreaks. Meanwhile, Spain is also fighting its largest-ever fires, with evacuations around Madrid and Valencia. Authorities are urging stronger climate action as heat waves intensify the crisis.
What to know about the historic wildfires in France and Spain
PARIS (AP) — Historic wildfires in France and Spain have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Heat waves and scant rainfall have fueled these blazes, with record temperatures in June contributing to the crisis. Climate data shows Europe is heating faster than anywhere else on earth. The extreme heat drew moisture from vegetation, creating abundant fuel that allows flames to spread faster and burn more intensely. National and European Union authorities are reporting fires of record scope this year. Other European countries have sent assistance, including firefighters and water bombers, to help battle the blazes.
Republicans decry a new Democratic Socialists of America platform as Dem primaries split the party
NEW YORK (AP) — A new platform from the progressive Democratic Socialists of America is sparking Republican attacks. The DSA's Workers Deserve More program proposes sweeping changes, like abolishing the Senate and allowing all permanent U.S. residents to vote. Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson are framing these ideas as communist threats. The DSA platform has created an opening for Republicans to attack Democrats broadly. Meanwhile, DSA-backed candidates have gained traction in recent Democratic primaries, challenging moderates, even as some try to distance themselves from the “socialism” label. Some establishment Democrats have forcefully pushed back against the DSA-backed candidates' efforts, saying they shouldn't run under the Democratic Party banner.
Zelenskyy and Britain's new leader discuss drone projects and missile defense for Kyiv
LONDON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and new U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham have discussed joint drone projects and Ukraine’s urgent need for ballistic missile interceptors during a visit to a British naval base. Burnham says Monday's visit is intended to underline “unwavering” British support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s trip is the first by a foreign leader since Burnham took office a week ago. He will be the fifth British prime minister the Ukrainian president has dealt with since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Zelenskyy and Burnham met more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who been in Britain taking part in an exercise aimed at strengthening their fighting capabilities and measures to counter mines in the Black Sea.
Days disrupted: 7 people around the world share how the Iran war has reshaped their lives
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Across seven countries, seven people woke up to days that no longer looked the way they once did. The war in Iran began months ago and thousands of miles away. But its effects quickly ricocheted across the world — oil markets first, sending fuel prices higher. Then the shock moved outward — into farms, factories and family budgets. Into the fabric of life. The global economy remains tethered to fossil fuels that also drive climate change. A severe shock to that system could push 45 million more people into poverty, the United Nations Development Program warned.
Police search for a second suspect following Seattle food festival shooting that killed 3
SEATTLE (AP) — Police are searching for a second suspect after gunfire erupted at a crowded food festival beneath Seattle's Space Needle, leaving three people dead and four others wounded, including a toddler. Another suspect was arrested earlier. Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other, but Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said there was no ongoing threat to the public. The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. Sunday during the Bite of Seattle festival. Vendors who fled, abandoning their food booths, were cleaning up Monday. A candlelight vigil was planned Monday night at the center’s International Fountain.
Lindsay Clancy goes on trial over whether postpartum psychosis drove her to kill her 3 children
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts woman is on trial in a case where her lawyers argue that postpartum psychosis was the reason she killed her three children, aged 5 and younger. Lindsay Clancy has pleaded not guilty, and in the coming weeks, jurors will hear dueling views about her culpability and mental state. Clancy’s attorney has laid out an insanity defense. Prosecutors argue she strangled Cora, Dawson, and Callan in well-planned murders in January 2023. At the time, she had been getting psychiatric care for about four months. A jury began hearing opening statements on Monday, and the trial is expected to take several weeks.
Trump is set to defend his economic policies in Michigan, where new Canadian tariffs may sting
MILFORD, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to focus on his economic policies during a visit to suburban Detroit. The Republican president tours a General Motors facility in Milford on Monday and is expected to defend his tariffs in a state where they've affected many businesses. Michigan's economy relies heavily on Canada, and new tariffs including on imported cars and auto parts create concerns. Trump's visit comes ahead of Michigan's Aug. 4 primary and as early voting is underway. Trump has endorsed Rep. John James in the Republican gubernatorial primary, while the Democratic Senate primary between Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed has drawn national attention.
Tate brothers' lawyers and prosecutors to set schedule for UK extradition fight
MIAMI (AP) — Attorneys for social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will meet with federal prosecutors in Miami to work out a schedule for the potentially monthslong process of fighting extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking. A date for a bond hearing and other legal deadlines will likely be set during Monday's status conference. The Tates are being held in federal detention across the street from the courthouse. They aren’t required to attend Monday’s conference and their attorneys said Friday that the Tates weren't planning to be there. The brothers have consistently denied allegations of abuse and human trafficking, claiming their violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context.
