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Top Stories Digest

Posted 8/17/25

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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Top Stories Digest

Posted

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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US--NEW YORK-CLUB SHOOTING

Shooting in a crowded New York club leaves 3 dead despite record low gun violence

SUMMARY: Authorities in New York City are investigating a shooting in a crowded club that left three people dead and nine others wounded. Law enforcement officials say a shooter or shooters opened fire with multiple weapons at Taste of the City Lounge in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights just before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Three men are dead in what appears to be a gang-related dispute. New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch says it was “a terrible shooting” that comes in a year of otherwise record low gun violence.

WORDS: 439 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7e1143b6869c1ee16ee316ffcf2b476b&mediaType=text

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US--US STEEL-PLANT EXPLOSION

Fatal explosion at U.S. Steel’s plant raises questions about its future, despite heavy investment

SUMMARY: The explosion this week at U.S. Steel’s Pittsburgh-area plant has reignited debate about its future. The Clairton plant is part of a long-standing steelmaking tradition in the Mon Valley and faces uncertainty despite recent investments. Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel promised continued operations, but the explosion that killed two workers could challenge that commitment. The plant has a history of accidents and fines, raising concerns about safety and maintenance. While Nippon Steel pledged to invest in U.S. Steel’s aging facilities, it’s unclear if Clairton will see modernization. The plant’s future remains uncertain amid changing market dynamics and economic pressures.

WORDS: 1144 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 8:23 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:230326ab8a8dd3b6721a657e7c017982&mediaType=text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

Putin agreed to let US, Europe offer NATO-style security protections for Ukraine, Trump envoy says

SUMMARY: Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed at his summit with President Donald Trump to allow the U.S. and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defense mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war. Witkoff told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that “the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO.” Article 5 states that an armed attack against one or more of the 32-member alliance shall be considered an attack against all members.

WORDS: 799 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 11:10 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:048aa829a69b4020ca368577bfe18aee&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTRIC VEHICLES-POSTAL SERVICE

Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service

SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. The effort comes a year after the agency was honored for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet. In June, the Senate parliamentarian in June blocked a Republican proposal to sell off the agency’s new electric vehicles and infrastructure and rescind any remaining money, but the push continues. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says she’s going ahead with a bill to rescind what’s left of the $3 billion in federal funding.

WORDS: 1236 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 7:37 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:03958ff70e8209ee2bf91c266c6d4b6f&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-PUTIN-WHERE TRUMP STANDS

Trump runs into the difficulty of Putin diplomacy and ending a long war

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump walked into a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin pressing for a ceasefire deal and threatening “severe consequences” and tough new sanctions if the Kremlin leader failed to agree to halt the fighting in Ukraine. Instead, Trump was the one who stood down, dropping his demand for a ceasefire in favor of pursuing a full peace accord — a position that aligns with Putin’s. It was a dramatic reversal that laid bare the challenges of dealing with Putin and the complexities of a conflict that Trump had repeatedly boasted during his campaign that he could solve within 24 hours.

WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 7:25 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1c9c559b21bafb3d9247fe6ba4c13aba&mediaType=text

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US--DC-FEDERAL INTERVENTION

Three Republican-led states to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington

SUMMARY: Three Republican-led states are deploying hundreds of members of their National Guard to Washington to assist in the Trump administration’s takeover of the city’s police department. West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 Guard troops, while South Carolina pledged 200 and Ohio says it will send 150 in the coming days. Hundreds of District of Columbia National Guard were activated this week to aid local law enforcement in what the Republican administration calls an effort to crack down on crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital. Protesters have pushed back on the federal intervention in the heavily Democratic city following President Donald Trump’s order federalizing local police forces.

WORDS: 970 - MOVED: 08/16/2025 10:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3aa338b80442e12559273ff5e526edc3&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2026-REDISTRICTING-DEMOCRATS

In Trump’s redistricting push, Democrats find an aggressive identity and progressives are on board

SUMMARY: Democrats have struggled to find effective ways to oppose President Donald Trump, and even some Democratic voters describe the party as weak. But Trump’s push for states to redraw political maps and create more GOP-friendly House seats in time for the 2026 election has raised the stakes. Democrats are showing they’re willing to go beyond words of outrage and use whatever power they have to win. They’ve staged a legislative walkout in Republican-run Texas and answered in Democratic-dominated California with a retaliatory redistricting effort. The reaction has drawn cheers from progressives and forged, at least for now, a more united opposition to Trump’s second administration.

WORDS: 1266 - MOVED: 08/16/2025 10:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9422a8300f5bcc2aa587bcb3811a1479&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR

Trump reverses on the need for a ceasefire before a potential peace deal ending the war in Ukraine

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump reversed course in the wake of his meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and now says an overall peace agreement is the next step in ending the war in Ukraine, rather than the ceasefire the American has long championed. Russia is seeking a long-term settlement that takes Moscow’s interests into account. In talks with European allies after Friday’s summit in Alaska, Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions. But Putin appeared open to the possibility of halting the stalemate in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with a freeze along the front lines. That’s according to European officials familiar with the calls who spoke on condition of anonymity.

WORDS: 1282 - MOVED: 08/16/2025 4:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:63b0072a0b15be7e1b90fb967baad100&mediaType=text

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INTERNATIONAL

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-GAZA

Israel’s growing frustration over the war in Gaza erupts in nationwide protests

SUMMARY: Israeli police have made dozens of arrests as tens of thousands of protesters across the country demand a deal to free hostages in Gaza. The one-day strike shows the growing frustration in Israel over plans for a new military offensive in some of Gaza’s most populated areas. Many in Israel fear that could endanger the remaining hostages. Twenty of the 50 who remain are believed to be alive. Sunday’s protest is one of the largest and fiercest in 22 months of war. War-weary Palestinians say they won’t leave ahead of the coming offensive, arguing that there is “no safe place” in Gaza.

WORDS: 1027 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:260c6b0f9e79698d635a0e50da5c51bd&mediaType=text

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EU--UKRAINE-TRUMP

European leaders to join Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for meeting with Trump

SUMMARY: European and NATO leaders will join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. The possibility of U.S. security guarantees is now on the negotiating table as Zelenskyy and the European delegation head to Washington on Monday. Leaders from France, Britain and Germany are rallying around the Ukrainian leader after his exclusion from Trump’s summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their pledge to be at Zelenskyy’s side is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.

WORDS: 850 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 12:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7b082bae4136ef8932e16ac2d166303&mediaType=text

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CB--TROPICAL-WEATHER

Hurricane Erin weakens to Category 3 as forecasters wait for northward turn

SUMMARY: Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as winds and heavy rains continue to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 before weakening. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Sunday that Erin had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm’s center is about 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. While the wind speeds have decreased, Erin has grown in size. Forecasters say the storm will move well away from the U.S. East Coast, but rip tides are possible.

WORDS: 462 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 11:39 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d686d5a5844bb300b30dd1c9019b112f&mediaType=text

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AS--PAKISTAN-FLOODS

Pakistan defends flood response after over 270 people killed in northwestern district

SUMMARY: Officials say rescuers have recovered dozens more bodies from the rubble of collapsed homes in a northwestern district of Pakistan, bringing the death toll to at least 274, as authorities defended their response to the flooding and said they did not need any foreign help at this point. In recent days, rains have killed dozens of people in Indian-administered Kashmir. Mohammad Suhail, a spokesman for the emergency service, said 54 bodies were found in Buner, a mountainous part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where torrential rains and cloudbursts triggered massive flooding on Friday.

WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 11:18 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e4333febfc2f379953bae49b86ce04af&mediaType=text

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EU--EUROPE-FIRES

Spain deploys 500 more troops to battle wildfires during extended heatwave

SUMMARY: Spain is deploying 500 more soldiers to help battle wildfires that have ravaged parched woodlands during a prolonged heatwave, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. Authorities are struggling to contain forest blazes, especially in the northwestern Galicia region. Firefighters are facing 12 major wildfires near the city of Ourense. The fires in Spain this year have burned an area roughly as big as metropolitan London. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.

WORDS: 715 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 10:48 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:34057085cfe89c3107b65bd7cc9767cc&mediaType=text

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AS--HONG KONG-ACTIVISTS

Hong Kong pro-democracy activists granted asylum in Australia and Britain

SUMMARY: A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and a former lawmaker have been granted asylum in Great Britain and Australia. Tony Chung, imprisoned under Hong Kong’s national security law, and Ted Hui, facing trial for his role in 2019 protests, announced their asylum over the weekend. Civil liberties in Hong Kong have eroded since Beijing imposed the law in 2020. Hui, now a lawyer in Adelaide, expressed gratitude to Australia for granting him protection. Chung, who fled to Britain, shared his excitement about receiving refugee status. Hong Kong’s government condemned the asylum decisions, calling it a contempt for the rule of law.

WORDS: 475 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 9:45 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2235a82d28a206ef02836bf536e30122&mediaType=text

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EU--SERBIA-PROTESTS

Serbia’s populist leader vows tough response to protesters following riots

SUMMARY: Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Sunday tough measures against anti-government protesters following days of riots in the streets throughout Serbia. Vucic in an address to the public accused the demonstrators of “pure terrorism” and reiterated his claims that months of persistent protests against his increasingly autocratic rule have been orchestrated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia. The stern warnings came after five nights of clashes between the protesters on one side and police and Vucic’s loyalists on the other. Angry protesters on Saturday evening torched Vucic’s governing Serbian Progressive Party offices in a town in western Serbia, and of other ruling coalition allies.

WORDS: 430 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 9:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bfc44e310294b24deddfdc9810caac36&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-EVACUATIONS

High-tech drones turn Ukraine’s front line into a deadly kill zone, complicating evacuations

SUMMARY: In eastern Ukraine, medics face increasing challenges as evacuations become more dangerous due to drone warfare. They often can’t save soldiers because it takes too long to reach them. Drones, especially first-person-view types, have turned areas up to 20 kilometers from the front line into deadly kill zones. Medics say most injuries now come from these drones and not gunfire. The commander of a medical unit notes that the situation has significantly increased mortality among the wounded. Medics must adapt by focusing on self-aid and self-evacuation, but the risk remains high.

WORDS: 894 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 5:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d4153f6321301c507a88d69a9776c265&mediaType=text

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EU--FRANCE-BAYEUX TAPESTRY

With the Bayeux Tapestry that tells of their long rivalry, France and Britain are making nice

SUMMARY: The Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval masterpiece depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, is set for a new chapter. Next year, it will be transported from Bayeux, Normandy, to the British Museum in London for an exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. This will be its first U.K. appearance in nearly 1,000 years. The tapestry’s journey symbolizes warming relations between the U.K. and France after Brexit. Moving the fragile, 70-meter-long artwork poses risks, but both countries are working to ensure its safe transport. During its absence, the Bayeux Museum will undergo major renovations.

WORDS: 786 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 3:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:df7d306cf790692712837103da345cb6&mediaType=text

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AF--SENEGAL-SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS

Senegal’s ‘schools for husbands’ aim to shift gender roles and keep mothers from dying

SUMMARY: Senegal’s “schools for husbands” have been training hundreds of men in largely conservative communities on issues ranging from women’s rights to the need to help with household chores. The government has seized on the program as a way to further improve maternal and newborn health in a West African country where many women must seek a men’s permission for life-changing decisions. From a Muslim imam to a former army commando, men who teach in the program or attend its talks acknowledge the benefits. But not all issues are easily embraced.

WORDS: 876 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:443463276da6ba6d4e599847daadfd36&mediaType=text

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ML--LEBANON-SYRIA-TENSE RELATIONS

Mistrust and fear: The complex story behind strained Syria-Lebanon relations

SUMMARY: Relations between Beirut and Damascus remain tense — as they have been for decades past, a time during which Syria failed to treat its smaller neighbor as a sovereign nation. A lot has happened on both sides of the Lebanon-Syria border. A lightning offensive by Islamist insurgents in Syria toppled longtime autocrat Bashar Assad last December and brought a new government in place in Damascus. In Lebanon, a bruising war with Israel dealt a serious blow to Hezbollah and a U.S.-negotiated deal has brought a fragile ceasefire. Still, even with the fall of Syria’s 54-year Assad family rule and the events in Lebanon of the past year, attempts to reset Lebanese-Syrian political ties have been slow to take hold.

WORDS: 1067 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:26 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3b9f93c92835a7c1d0e498ca7fac865a&mediaType=text

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LT--CHILE-PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL

Meet the actor with Down syndrome who wants to run for president of Chile

SUMMARY: Chilean actor Sebastián Solorza is already a household name for many Chileans. He has starred in a popular Netflix series and has won several national awards for his acting. Now, the 43-year-old actor with Down syndrome is aiming to run for president of Chile in this year’s national election. Solorza is seeking to collect 35,000 signatures that would allow him to enter the race as an independent candidate. He frames his candidacy as a “point of balance” in a polarized political climate, with a campaign focused on greater inclusion for people with disabilities and key issues like health and security.

WORDS: 829 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:13 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:14cee8c74f0ca8ce8ee7b4dd3ddfbedd&mediaType=text

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LT--BOLIVIA-ELECTIONS

Bolivia heads to the polls as its right-wing opposition eyes first victory in decades

SUMMARY: Bolivians have headed to the polls for a pivotal election that could end the long reign of the leftist Movement Toward Socialism party. The election could see a right-wing government in power for the first time in over two decades. The race is tight, with many voters still undecided. Bolivia faces its worst economic crisis in 40 years, with inflation and shortages affecting daily life. The outcome could shift Bolivia’s geopolitical alliances, currently aligned with countries like Venezuela and China. If no candidate wins outright, a runoff is expected on October 19.

WORDS: 909 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 12:05 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:53c1f0b0548c36c643a4edfb1ef004e5&mediaType=text

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RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-PUTIN’S GAINS

Summit puts Putin back on the global stage and Trump echoes a Kremlin position

SUMMARY: In a summit meeting marked by red carpets, handshakes and military flyovers, President Vladimir Putin made his first trip to the United States in a decade and was greeted warmly by President Donald Trump. But they failed to reach a deal on ending the war in Ukraine. After the spectacle, Trump seemed to abandon the idea of a ceasefire, favoring a “Peace Agreement” instead. That aligned him with the Kremlin’s position. Observers say the Alaska summit gave Putin what he wanted. Trump has stopped talking about the threats of more sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, Russia continues its military actions in Ukraine, making slow advances on the battlefield, despite the summit slogan of “Pursuing Peace.”

WORDS: 1246 - MOVED: 08/16/2025 3:22 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7f46fb427a771f0965171da867f947f7&mediaType=text

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RACE AND ETHNICITY

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US--TRUMP-DC TAKEOVER-BLACK MAYORS

Black mayors of cities Trump decries as ‘lawless’ tout significant declines in violent crimes

SUMMARY: Members of the African American Mayors Association started noticing last year declines in violent crime in their cities. But, those accomplishments, which they felt were already overlooked, became further buried this week with the Trump administration’s unprecedented law enforcement takeover in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump has deployed the first of 800 National Guard members to Washington, D.C. But, the Republican president is setting his sights on other cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles and Oakland, California. One thing they all have in common: They’re led by Black mayors. The federal government’s actions have heightened some of these mayors’ desires to champion the strategies they’ve used to help make their cities safer.

WORDS: 1239 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 9:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aa9a9cd07f0704b13f3d2deb2e351e44&mediaType=text

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BUSINESS

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CN--CANADA-AIR CANADA-FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

Air Canada flight attendants refuse to end strike, defying back-to-work order

SUMMARY: The union representing 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants says it will defy an order to return to work. The strike has stranded over 100,000 travelers during peak summer travel. The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered staff back by Sunday afternoon after government intervention. Union president Mark Hancock says the process is unfair and plans to challenge the order. Air Canada says flights will resume but expects cancelations for several days. The strike began early Saturday, impacting about 130,000 people daily. Contract talks have been ongoing for eight months, with pay and unpaid work as key issues.

WORDS: 691 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:06 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:541145adf4092a677f3e7f2df7ffd7b4&mediaType=text

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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US--CLIMATE-COASTAL RESTORATION

Coastal communities restoring marshes, dunes, reefs to protect against rising seas and storm surges

SUMMARY: Coastal communities nationwide are ramping up efforts to restore and protect their shorelines as climate change causes more intense and destructive storms and leads to sea-level rise that puts tens of millions of people at risk. Louisiana officials canceled a $3 billion project to divert sediment-laden water from the Mississippi River to rebuild part of its coast. But many other projects are underway there and around the country to restore barrier islands, saltwater marshes, shellfish reefs and other natural features that provided protection before they were destroyed by development, industry and efforts to control waterways.

WORDS: 1165 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 9:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f428fbe3e8de0f8a0f59b997a3403a80&mediaType=text

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RELIGION

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REL-US--MUSLIM MARRIAGE

From apps to matchmaking: the diverse ways some American Muslims navigate finding marriage partners

SUMMARY: A Muslim matchmaking show on Hulu and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s comments about meeting his wife on a dating app provide a glimpse into the diverse ways American Muslims find their spouses. From modern to traditional pathways, many navigate combining the quest for love and marriage with their beliefs, levels of devoutness and diverse lifestyles. That’s on top of a range of cultural influences. Many feel that, for Muslims seeking Muslims, they face unique but also universal challenges. With not as many fish in the sea, some people opt to try long-distance relationships, matchmakers, or dating apps.

WORDS: 1300 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f8ac6df523b8164fbcc31285ad33c824&mediaType=text

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EU-REL--VATICAN-POPE

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa

SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV is spending the last Sunday of his summer vacation with several dozen homeless and poor people and the church volunteers who help them. He is celebrating a special Mass for them and inviting them into the Vatican’s lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal. In his homily, Leo celebrated the “fire of charity” that had brought them together. Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with the poor people of Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and then as bishop. There, he greatly reinforced the work of the local Caritas charity, opening soup kitchens and shelters for migrants.

WORDS: 470 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 7:56 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f4d88950c63c64b4fb2fbd3be1b7c3d4&mediaType=text

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ENTERTAINMENT

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EU--BRITAIN-OBIT-TERENCE STAMP

Terence Stamp, British actor who portrayed General Zod in early Superman films, dies at 87

SUMMARY: Terence Stamp, the British actor who often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films, has died. He was 87. His death on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online. The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962’s seafaring “Billy Budd,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination. Stamp’s six decades in the business were peppered with highlights, including his touching portrayal of the transsexual Bernadette in 1994’s “The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” Stamp also was widely praised for his lead in director Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 crime drama “The Limey.”

WORDS: 461 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8610b7aa374ce19694af9ea03c1279cd&mediaType=text

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ENT--BOX OFFICE

“Weapons” maintained top spot during second weekend, scaring off newcomer “Nobody 2″

SUMMARY: “Weapons” scared its way to the top during its debut last weekend and stayed there, beating out “Freakier Friday” for a second time, and the newcomer action movie “Nobody 2.” Zach Cregger’s horror earned $25 million in 3,450 North American theaters, a 43% drop from its first weekend. The film benefitted from strong audience reviews and social media trends to attract large crowds. Paul Dergarabedian is senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. He said this summer is unlikely to hit the $4 billion benchmark but succeeded in provided movie goers a dynamic and diverse slate of movies.

WORDS: 549 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 12:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:be77fedd08346aa9908503943203bb94&mediaType=text

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SPORTS

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US--MASCOTS-STANDING THE HEAT

How do mascots like the Phillie Phanatic stay fresh in the summer heat? Vodka and water

SUMMARY: Mascots like the Phillie Phanatic have a boozy little trick for staying fresh during hot summer games. They use a mix of vodka and water to combat odors inside their costumes. Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the Phanatic, explains that the concoction helps keep the smell at bay. Mascots like the Phanatic, Fredbird and Clark the Cub need frequent breaks, hydration, and proper ventilation to stay cool. Mitch Maxine from BAM Mascots says air circulation and lightweight materials are key in costume design. Staying hydrated and taking breaks remain crucial for performers to avoid overheating.

WORDS: 1123 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 9:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5421068bba650ba50a2e8428662851f9&mediaType=text

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MMA--UFC 319

Chimaev wins UFC middleweight belt by unanimous decision

SUMMARY: Khamzat Chimaev continued his dominance in the UFC, capturing the middleweight belt by defeating Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319. With a smile on his face, Chimaev (15-0) shot out of his corner in the first round with a takedown of Du Plessis (23-3) in the opening seconds and had Du Plessis on his back for almost the entire first round. Despite the ground control by Chimaev, Du Plessis was able to avoid significant damage in the first round. All three judges scored the fight 50-44.

WORDS: 596 - MOVED: 08/17/2025 1:55 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6d16af58493da565f8ea5d4553a9aed7&mediaType=text

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