Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Tropical storm remnants pound Gulf states with heavy rain after tornadoes hit the Midwest
SUMMARY: The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur are battering parts of the southeastern United States with heavy rain, sparking flash flood and tornado warnings along the Gulf Coast. Building damage, downed trees and power outages are reported Thursday. The Midwest, meanwhile, is recovering from a line of strong storms that tore through parts of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky on Wednesday. Tornadoes and high winds slammed some areas of the Midwest, also damaging homes and downing trees and power lines. The National Weather Service says heavy rain is falling in southern Louisiana and Mississippi on Thursday and is expected to move into Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
WORDS: 767 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 2:31 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSevereWeatherstLdWritethru/e2a4a7131a85faf929f35d37bb75a742/text___
Springsteen, Bono and Stevie Wonder will help the Obamas open their presidential museum
SUMMARY: Former President Barack Obama, joined by three former presidents, is celebrating the opening of his presidential museum in Chicago in an extraordinary event that brought together former world leaders, A-list celebrities, athletes and other internationally known figures. The guestlist for Thursday’s dedication ceremony included Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and Bono. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama sat on stage with former presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former first ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The invite-only celebration was live-streamed and kicks off a weekend of events centered around the Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the general public on Juneteenth.
WORDS: 467 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObamaPresidentialCenterthLdWritethru/5812303765c1c9327f7cf643acd17aa4/text___
New York Knicks revel in their NBA victory parade as joyous fans and celebs fill the streets
SUMMARY: The New York Knicks celebrated their first NBA championship in 53 years with a ticker-tape parade through Manhattan’s “Canyon of Heroes,” drawing thousands of fans dressed in the team’s blue and orange. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson hoisted the trophy toward the crowd so they could touch it, while teammates rode floats through the streets or got off to interact with cheering fans. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and celebrities including Spike Lee and Alicia Key joined Knicks legends like Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Carmelo Anthony. The parade marked a historic moment for the franchise and city, which did not hold championship parades after the Knicks’ title wins in the 1970s.
WORDS: 1048 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNKnicksChampionshipParadethLdWritethru/3a701ffd169009d5cfb418334734646b/text___
Los Angeles warehouse fire prompts shelter-in-place orders due to hazardous air
SUMMARY: A fire at a massive warehouse has blackened the skies near downtown Los Angeles, prompting a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents due to the risk of hazardous air. Firefighters responded Wednesday afternoon to the blaze as it sent large plumes of smoke into the air. Officials have advised nearby residents to close windows, doors and vents and to turn off air conditioning. The building at the address is listed as a cold storage warehouse owned by Lineage Logistics. The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
WORDS: 219 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 12:50 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLosAngelesWarehouseFirendLdWritethru/c013b1df549f97177e16c80a30bb0fd4/text___
With a sledgehammer and a shovel, volunteers raced to save passengers in Texas plane crash
SUMMARY: Several motorists who happened across a fiery plane crash on a Texas highway rushed to help — putting their own lives in danger to help those on board escape. Among them was 23-year-old tow truck driver Ivan Franco. Franco says he felt “constant fear” because he thought the plane might explode. But he and others tried to break the cockpit window and get the pilots out. Police and good Samaritans ultimately helped lift the plane's door to free three passengers and two pilots. Killed in the crash was Joshua Baer, a leader in Texas’ technology and startup sectors.
WORDS: 968 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:32 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasPlaneCrashRescuers/6463740902031c959f781641871df159/text___
'A million years isn’t enough': Victims' relatives confront Gilgo Beach serial killer at sentencing
SUMMARY: A Long Island architect who lived a secret life as the Gilgo Beach serial killer has been sentenced to to life in prison without parole. Rex Heuermann had previously admitted in court to killing eight women, many of them sex workers. Police discovered the remains of several of the women along a coastal parkway not far from Long Island’s Gilgo Beach. Family members of victims delivered emotional statements during the court hearing. Jasmine Robinson, a cousin of victim Jessica Taylor, said, “You fill me with so much repugnance, I can’t stand it.”
WORDS: 947 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 4:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGilgoBeachSerialKillingsthLdWritethru/387005d77f2d7b699ee9692a81d1b0b7/text___
Investigators seek clues in small jet crash that killed 1 in Texas, where bystanders rushed to help
SUMMARY: Investigators are on the scene where business jet crashed on a Texas highway, killing one person on board. Local officials in Laredo said Wednesday the toll in the fiery crash could have been much worse and credited bystanders for helping police rescue passengers and crew. A business partner confirmed in a social media post that the person who died was Joshua Baer, a leader in Texas’ technology and startup sectors. The plane went down with six people on board late Tuesday near the Mexican border after its crew radioed the local airport seeking to make an emergency landing. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
WORDS: 872 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 4:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasPlaneCrashthLdWritethru/9d1eb45ec3c4482f2362ec3a39693a82/text___
Cargo ship's chief engineer charged in 2024 Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore
SUMMARY: Prosecutors have charged the chief engineer of the cargo ship Dali in connection with the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. They allege the engineer failed to notify the U.S. Coast Guard about hazardous conditions on the ship. The charge was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Maryland. The ship lost power twice and crashed into the bridge, killing six construction workers. The Singapore-based ship operator and another employee were indicted in May. A trial for the ship's operator and technical superintendent is set for October 2027. A $2.25 billion settlement was announced in April.
WORDS: 599 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 10:31 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBaltimoreBridgeCollapse/459f4248e19fc40e36837f76a25ee367/text___
Military officials identify all 8 victims of fiery B-52 crash at California Air Force base
SUMMARY: Military officials have identified all eight people killed in this week’s fiery crash of a B-52 during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Officials said in a statement Wednesday that the victims were men between the ages of 32 and 53. They include four active duty airmen, one reservist and three civilians. The airfield where the crash occurred on Monday was still closed but other base operations have resumed. No cause has been determined. Officials said it could take six months to complete the investigation.
WORDS: 867 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 5:17 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMilitaryCrashCaliforniathLdWritethru/dddb89a863a9dbe1dadce4fbfe0010b3/text___
Luigi Mangione will assert psychiatric defense in murder case in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
SUMMARY: Luigi Mangione plans to assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro said Wednesday that Mangione’s lawyers have informed him they will try to show that he was suffering from “extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence.” By asserting a psychiatric defense, Mangione would effectively be admitting that he killed Thompson but did so because of mitigating circumstances. If a jury finds that Mangione was emotionally disturbed at the time of the killing, it could convict him of manslaughter instead of murder, meaning he’d be sentenced to less time in prison.
WORDS: 848 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 1:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedHealthcareCEOKilledthLdWritethru/4ddb015ce3937689b41615571b3a1732/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Supreme Court sides with a Texas man who says it’s not a crime for marijuana users to have guns
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court has ruled against a broad federal ban on gun ownership by marijuana users. The decision Thursday is the latest in a line of firearm cases from a court that has expanded gun rights. The justices decided unanimously in favor of a Texas man who argued that a law barring guns from anyone who regularly uses illegal drugs violates the Second Amendment. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that his opinion narrowly limits the government’s power to take guns away from drug users who aren't considered dangerous. The Trump administration had defended the law, but Gorsuch wrote that its core argument “fails under every measure."
WORDS: 680 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 2:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtGunsDrugUsersthLdWritethru/a60ce6df9e735c6bc7def285ca396784/text___
Federal regulators back Trump's plan to speed power to energy-hungry AI data centers
SUMMARY: Federal regulators have agreed to let large energy users connect more quickly to the nation’s inefficient and electric transmission system to accommodate surging demand from power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers. Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to direct six regional grid operators to ensure that AI data centers and other large power users are “able to connect to the transmission system in a timely and orderly manner.” Those operators serve 200 million Americans. Energy Secretary Chris Wright had urged the commission to help the United States better compete with China for superiority in the fast-growing AI sector.
WORDS: 947 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 3:27 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEnergyDataCentersndLdWritethru/506e3d206871111f15c3c62fc5368be5/text___
Vance, skeptical of foreign wars, becomes the face of Trump's tentative deal to end war with Iran
SUMMARY: Vice President JD Vance has embraced the role of being the chief defender of the agreement he and President Donald Trump signed with Iran over the weekend. It’s a striking transformation for a politician that was known for his skepticism of foreign military interventions and who seemed reluctant to speak on the conflict when Trump launched it in late February. The vice president is poised to yoke himself further to the conflict’s outcome on Friday, when he’s expected to travel to Switzerland to kick off a new phase of negotiations with Tehran after Trump signed the agreement Wednesday.
WORDS: 1337 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVanceIranstLdWritethru/ed8862d489b80023154188e223063cdd/text___
Trump delays his own national intelligence nominee, fueling tension with fellow Republicans
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is trying to stop the confirmation process for his own nominee to head the nation’s intelligence agencies. Trump's extraordinary move Wednesday upended Senate efforts to renew a crucial surveillance program that expired last week and fueled fresh tensions with fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill. Trump declared in a social media post he was delaying the nomination of Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence just hours before his scheduled hearing. Republicans eventually postponed the hearing for Clayton, who's U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Further complicating matters, Trump says he won't sign the surveillance program renewal without his legislation to require proof of citizenship for voters.
WORDS: 1110 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 8:21 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressIntelligenceDirectorthLdWritethru/bc75e8a07ea29788b602625cf1c54b47/text___
Mamdani tests his political clout in New York's primary as he looks to reshape the Democratic Party
SUMMARY: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is testing the limits of his newfound political muscle in a bid to reshape the Democratic Party, even if it means challenging his own party’s leadership. Mamdani will join Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a get-out-the-vote rally in Brooklyn on Thursday. The event is designed to elevate a slate of candidates aligned with Mamdani’s values, including two who are running against Democratic incumbents in Tuesday’s primary.
WORDS: 1070 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionNewYorkMamdanistLdWritethru/b1a13eaf0d7e634b6805fc80b3372cf8/text___
Georgia Republican legislative leaders reject governor's call for 2028 redistricting
SUMMARY: Republican lawmakers in Georgia won’t redraw congressional and state legislative districts for the 2028 elections during a special session called by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp. In a letter to Kemp on Wednesday, Republican House leaders said changes to Georgia’s maps should take place only after a deliberative process providing the public ample opportunity for input. They also noted that legal challenges are still ongoing against some of their current districts. The decision marked a setback for both Kemp and President Donald Trump, who has urged Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts to their advantage
WORDS: 1051 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 4:20 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRedistrictingGeorgiathLdWritethru/31f6b532e057174e68be183a9d850ec5/text___
The interim US-Iran deal leaves the fate of Tehran's nuclear program still to be negotiated
SUMMARY: The interim deal between the U.S. and Iran is supposed to usher in a two-month period that would address Tehran’s nuclear program. Preventing Iran from attaining a nuclear bomb is a key reason that President Donald Trump says he launched the war alongside Israel in February. But the tentative agreement leaves little runway to negotiate the long-running sticking point. The previous nuclear pact between Iran and world powers that Trump pulled the U.S. from in his first term took many months to negotiate. There's deep skepticism among Republican and Democratic lawmakers and others that the new deal will have any effect on nuclear talks.
WORDS: 1275 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSNuclearthLdWritethru/d8e5c8ada80c35446d4194201d9a7502/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Ukrainian drones set a Moscow refinery ablaze in a major attack on the Russian capital
SUMMARY: Ukraine has hit a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week, disrupting hundreds of flights at the capital's airports. Russian officials said Thursday that this is one of Ukraine's biggest drone attacks since Russia’s invasion over four years ago. The attack follows Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's coordination call with the U.S. and France, securing further support from the G7 summit. Ukraine aims to cut Moscow’s war revenue by targeting oil facilities. The Russian Defense Ministry claims its air defenses shot down 555 Ukrainian drones overnight. Zelenskyy says the attack is part of efforts to force Putin to negotiate.
WORDS: 1188 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 7:24 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/0ee97c720e770c392067418f9cabcbba/text___
Residents return to war-ravaged southern Lebanon with hope and sorrow after the US-Iran deal
SUMMARY: Many Lebanese from the country's south hope the U.S.-Iran deal marks the start of better times but their hopes are mixed with skepticism — there had been too many ceasefires that had failed to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Adnan Kaour returned on Thursday to check on his home in the southern coastal city of Tyre, just a week after Israel issued warnings for all of its residents to evacuate. He found a pile of rubble and shattered glass. Still, he hopes for peace and an end to the war so that "everyone can go back to their homes.” Fighting in southern Lebanon, still underway on Wednesday, could derail the U.S.-Iran deal.
WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 12:31 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelWarReturneesrdLdWritethru/b8fe65c97e30afc1424b8f00c3bfc377/text___
US and Iran sign initial deal to end war, ease sanctions and open strait as nuclear talks continue
SUMMARY: An initial agreement to end the war between the United States and Iran calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and would waive sanctions on the country, immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil freely. That's according to U.S. officials who read the language of the memorandum on ending the war to journalists on Wednesday. Iran also released a similar version of the accord. The agreement would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon’s territorial integrity in the face of Israel’s invasion against the Hezbollah militant group. Both the U.S. and Iranian presidents have signed the deal.
WORDS: 1393 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 10:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSrdLdWritethru/19652f4611b704c0a991bf1f5bc9a4b9/text___
Church of England apologizes for role in forced adoptions as recent as the mid-1970s
SUMMARY: The Church of England has apologized for its role in forced adoptions as recent as the mid-1970s. The archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, on Thursday acknowledged the painful experiences of many unmarried women at so-called mother and baby homes in the U.K. that were affiliated with the church. Mullally is the first woman to lead the church and the person seen as the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. She issued the apology as the church released a report on conditions at the homes from 1949 to 1976.
WORDS: 315 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 10:33 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainChurchofEngland/110388642d2f6359a709354331018702/text___
Israel seized more land from neighbors since 2023 than it has in decades
SUMMARY: Over the past two and a half years, Israel has taken control of swaths of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria that amount to its largest expansion of militarily occupied lands in decades. It is an area larger than many major cities — roughly 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) — and Israel has said it plans to stay indefinitely. The land seizures began in the aftermath of Hamas’ 2023 cross-border attack, which ignited wars on multiple fronts. Israel calls these areas “buffer zones” and says they are needed to prevent future attacks by militant groups. The areas are not new borders, which require an agreement between two countries. But many fear these changes could become long-lasting.
WORDS: 958 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 11:49 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsIsraeliExpansion/5b677801f5daae02b3bc892e6d57f7ad/text___
The European Union has quietly sought to reopen communication with Russia
SUMMARY: EU officials say that the European Union has reached out to Moscow in a tentative bid to open a line of communication so the continent is not sidelined in any potential talks to end Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine. The news emerged Thursday as Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago. Against the backdrop of conflict, the EU has been quietly seeking to reopen communications with Moscow even as it doubles down on its support for Kyiv.
WORDS: 536 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 1:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUEuropeRussiaUkraine/aa15744d012642764c460182bfa794e6/text___
A special election in the UK could hasten the rise of Andy Burnham and the end for Keir Starmer
SUMMARY: Keir Starmer's future as Britain's prime minister is on the line in a special election in Makerfield in northwest England. Voters are choosing a new lawmaker with Andy Burnham of the Labour Party as the leading contender. Burnham is likely to challenge Starmer for the party leadership if he wins. Starmer's popularity has dropped since a 2024 landslide victory because of a sluggish economy and political missteps. Burnham has won praise during nine years as mayor of Greater Manchester and has pledged to change national politics if he wins Thursday's election. A Burnham win could pressure Starmer to resign while a victory for the anti-immigration opposition party Reform UK would be disastrous for Labour.
WORDS: 935 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPivotalElectionstLdWritethru/ff06efb52a1f6593c94617cceeb9b603/text___
Pentagon chief lashes out at NATO allies and announces a review of US forces in Europe
SUMMARY: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. The review's outcome will depend on how quickly European allies take responsibility for their own security. On Thursday, Hegseth criticized NATO allies for not providing access to bases for U.S. forces to launch attacks on Iran. He also accused Europe of prioritizing gender equity and climate change over defense. Despite these criticisms, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted a significant increase in European defense spending. The review could impact NATO's collective security guarantee, but U.S. nuclear weapons will remain in Europe.
WORDS: 984 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 6:55 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APNATOUSthLdWritethru/3a550c72f0470de26b619d22b17935b6/text___
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza during ceasefire, Palestinian authorities say
SUMMARY: Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip have killed 1,005 Palestinians since a ceasefire was reached between Israel and the militant group Hamas last October. The tally was issued by the Gaza Health Ministry on Wednesday. It came days after it said the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 73,000 in Gaza. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants. It is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community. The war erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023.
WORDS: 318 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 2:45 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazathLdWritethru/07ecc0f22a1fb8332466ffc87f928cf4/text___
What do Iran and the US stand to gain from their deal? Here's what to know
SUMMARY: The interim deal reached by the United States and Iran to end their war will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring the two adversaries back to the negotiating table over Tehran’s nuclear program. It will also allow Iran to sell its oil freely again. That's according to details released by both countries. Besides the new oil revenue for Iran, the two sides would find themselves more or less back where they were before Israel and the U.S. started the war on Feb. 28. The war has left thousands dead across the region, triggered a global energy crisis and shaken the American economy.
WORDS: 1293 - MOVED: 06/13/2026 11:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/949710df39e3f1033cbb6beda3955814/text___
Tropical Cyclone Arthur weakens to a low pressure area along the upper Texas coast
SUMMARY: Tropical Storm Arthur has weakened to a low pressure area along the upper Texas coast. The National Hurricane Center announced that the storm had degenerated Wednesday night. It was the first of the Atlantic season and threatened the southern United States with dangerous flash flooding. Days of heavy rain have been drenching southern Texas. Authorities near Houston said a teenager appears to have drowned in a retention pond Tuesday following a period of heavy rain earlier in the week.
WORDS: 494 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 3:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTropicalWeatherthLdWritethru/08542f7d4005057e14602b1f07f39ae7/text___
Takeaways from the G7: Trump's new attitude toward allies buoyed by their praise for Iran deal
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump isn't fond of international meetings of world leaders. But he changed his tune at the G7 summit after earning support from his counterparts for a tentative agreement he struck with Iran to end the war. It was an about-face for the Republican president. Just weeks ago, Trump had been sharply criticizing fellow leaders for refusing to join the United States and Israel in bombing Iran to force it to give up its nuclear aspirations. Trump told reporters before departing the summit at a French Alpine resort that “we found a great deal of unity here at the G7.”
WORDS: 1019 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 8:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGSummitTakeawaysstLdWritethru/0b3127724dbbf16dd36353247290568e/text___
G7 leaders back Trump's deal to end Iran war as more details of it emerge
SUMMARY: Leaders at the Group of Seven summit have backed U.S. President Donald Trump's tentative agreement with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and extend a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a “very good deal,” noting it could stabilize the region and benefit economies. The deal is set to be signed in Switzerland on Friday and aims to end U.S. and U.N. sanctions on Tehran if a final agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear program is reached.. G7 leaders also discussed supporting Ukraine against Russia and tackling global drug gangs. Trump also discussed strengthening trade ties with India.
WORDS: 1041 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGSummitthLdWritethru/2b13227bfc63d5c7c92c64488e3e2753/text___
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BUSINESS
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Maritime data company says stranded ships have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz
SUMMARY: Maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence says major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. For the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. The strait is a critical passageway for the world’s oil and natural gas. Its closure has created a historic energy crisis. Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. Lloyd’s List estimated that 550 merchant ships will need to prepare to exit the Persian Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 container ships and 10 vehicle carriers.
WORDS: 429 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 3:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APIranUSStraitofHormuzndLdWritethru/01c1335e69e40f2ee921e25e59a18a71/text___
Stocks rise on Wall Street, erasing much of their loss from a day earlier
SUMMARY: Stocks are rising on Wall Street, taking back most of their losses from a day earlier that were driven by anticipation that the Federal Reserve will likely raise interest rates this year in an effort to fight inflation. The S&P 500 rose 1% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 169 points, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 1.4%. Crude oil prices continued to fall after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic. Brent crude fell 2%. Treasury yields eased in the bond market.
WORDS: 742 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 3:22 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/dc678fb5647a136f75caf2d1fbaa2092/text___
US gas prices fall below $4 for 1st time since March, but still 25% higher than last year
SUMMARY: U.S. gas prices are just barely below an average of $4 a gallon nationwide on Thursday, shortly after President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waives U.S.-backed sanctions on the country. Gas prices are at $3.99 on average in the U.S., according to AAA. A gallon of gas has hovered above $4 a gallon since March. But fluctuations in gas prices remain across the country. In California, gas prices are averaging $5.64 per gallon, while in South Carolina it’s $3.58 per gallon.
WORDS: 402 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 12:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGasPricesndLdWritethru/72d8e7d7c9dcd0795c37a51864fce8a6/text___
Federal Reserve policymakers show support for rate hikes as Warsh reins in guidance
SUMMARY: The Federal Reserve kept its key rate unchanged Wednesday yet nearly half the central bank’s policymakers said they could support a rate hike later this year, an unexpectedly aggressive outcome that would disappoint President Trump and suggests heightened concerns about persistent inflation. In an unusually short statement after their two-day meeting, Fed officials dropped language that had suggested their next move would be to cut their key rate. The brief statement reflects the influence of new chair Kevin Warsh, appointed by Trump, who has previously criticized the Fed for commenting too broadly on the economy.
WORDS: 1067 - MOVED: 06/16/2026 8:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalReservethLdWritethru/103325df845d2d6bde63dfa4b8093d35/text___
Retail sales up a strong 0.9% in May, underscoring the resilience of the US consumer
SUMMARY: Shoppers stepped up their spending in May, surpassing economists’ expectations, as temperatures warmed and gasoline prices leveled off. Retail sales rose 0.9%, up from a revised 0.4% gain in April, according to new Commerce Department data released Wednesday. Sales got a boost from generous government tax refunds in both April and May, though economists say that cushion is starting to fade. Excluding sales at gas stations, retail sales in May rose 0.7%. Spending was broad-based. Business at miscellaneous stores, clothing and accessories stores and home furnishing and furniture stores all posted increases. Online sales rose 1.5%.
WORDS: 686 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 12:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRetailSalesthLdWritethru/090206f028b12e15038265806355d75f/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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FDA panel considers a first-of-its-kind flu vaccine using mRNA technology
SUMMARY: U.S. health advisers are debating a new kind of flu vaccine. The new shot is made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderna is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for mFlusiva as an option for people 50 and older. The FDA advisory panel is meeting Thursday to consider it. There already are numerous types of flu vaccines to choose from, but experts say adding a faster-to-manufacture mRNA option could be useful. FDA's advisers are being asked if there's enough evidence for the shot in both 50- to 64-year-olds and those 65 and older.
WORDS: 606 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 11:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDNewFluVaccinendLdWritethru/488c68fe39244ca5ebad441a815b4ba2/text___
Ancient teeth from Siberia rewrite the plague’s timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago
SUMMARY: Scientists have found evidence of the oldest known plague, dating back about 5,500 years ago — some 200 years earlier than previously thought. Rare, modern-day plague persists and is treated with antibiotics. Researchers found ancient DNA from the plague-causing bacteria in teeth from remains buried in four Siberian cemeteries. They tracked the family dynamics of how and when people got sick and dated the oldest outbreak to around 5,500 years ago, affecting a small community of hunter-gatherers. The new research published Wednesday in the journal Nature shows that the prehistoric plague was just as deadly as the bubonic plague, which spread through Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa.
WORDS: 488 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 3:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSCIOldestPlagueOutbreak/bc6f28c5c623a279100dacfbc3088595/text___
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RELIGION
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Africa's Ebola outbreaks complicated by victims who prefer traditional healers over hospitals
SUMMARY: Whenever Ebola comes, some of those stricken choose the road to the nearest hospital. Others take the path to the shrine of a traditional healer who can prescribe herbs or offer prayers. With often devastating consequences, too many choose to go to sacred places when they feel the hemorrhagic fever possessing them is perhaps a spiritual event. This is the case now in Congo, which is suffering its seventeenth outbreak of Ebola in a remote eastern region. Five decades after the Ebola virus was first identified in the rich ecosystem known as the Congo Basin, the disease’s symptoms retain the capacity to mystify the afflicted while turning religious leaders into first responders in a deadly emergency.
WORDS: 1163 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 5:22 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFRELEbolaSpiritualityndLdWritethru/b101f804d38b3dcfcde27ec838078ee9/text___
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EDUCATION
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Families of kids with disabilities warn Education Department changes could break a flawed system
SUMMARY: Parents of kids with disabilities say they have waited months for the Education Department to address complaints of bullying or discrimination. Now, the department is offloading civil rights enforcement and special education, raising concerns about further chaos. On Tuesday, the Trump administration said the Department of Justice would take over civil rights enforcement in schools. The Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education. Some advocates argue special education doesn't belong in a health department. The Education Department's civil rights office has been a last resort for parents whose kids have experienced discrimination, but under President Donald Trump, case backlogs have grown. Many families are now seeking justice elsewhere.
WORDS: 1287 - MOVED: 06/18/2026 4:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpEducationstLdWritethru/79ca3d9e82b205f64822a6e195e6c0d5/text___
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SPORTS
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Harry Kane ties England's record for World Cup goals in 4-2 win over Croatia
SUMMARY: Harry Kane scored twice to equal the English record for World Cup goals, Jude Bellingham added another two minutes into the second half and England beat Croatia 4-2. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane’s first-half goals in a rematch of the 2018 semifinal game won by Croatia. Musa’s goal came on the final play before the whistle ending the first half. After Bellingham's goal, Marcus Rashford padded the lead in the 85th minute. Kane is up to 10 World Cup goals. That ties Gary Lineker's mark from the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.
WORDS: 717 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 10:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupEnglandCroatiandLdWritethru/c1bca89bb4a4897fbfa57b2804608426/text___
World Cup hat tricks: Messi’s was the latest, an American scored the first and other key facts
SUMMARY: At age 38 and playing in his sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi has his first hat trick in soccer’s biggest tournament and Argentina’s defense of the trophy is off to a flying start. Messi’s three goals in the 3-0 win against Algeria on Tuesday saw him become the joint highest scorer in men's World Cup history alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 in total. It was also the first hat trick of this year’s tournament and the 55th in World Cup history. Here's what to know about hat tricks.
WORDS: 592 - MOVED: 06/17/2026 6:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupHatTrick/e60514b95936b00f064104d3a47b7f4e/text___
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