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AP Top Stories Digest

Posted 7/22/26

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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AP 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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AP-US-Venezuela-Maduro, 6th Ld-Writethru

June 1 trial date set for Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro in his US drug trafficking case

SUMMARY: A June 1 trial date has been set for Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking charges in New York. The trial date was set on Wednesday during a brief hearing. His lawyer says he plans to contest the charges against his client on sovereign immunity grounds. Defense lawyers have objected to the U.S. military action that snatched Venezuela’s president from power. Maduro was brought to the Manhattan courthouse early Wednesday from a Brooklyn jail. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges that they sided with drug dealers in a multidecade scheme to ship large quantities of drugs to the United States.

WORDS: 329 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:03 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaMadurothLdWritethru/f90603d36d36a88837f485dd5b2698b5/text

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AP-US-Tropical-Weather, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Beaches closed as Tropical Storm Bertha crawls along the Gulf Coast

SUMMARY: Tropical Storm Bertha is creeping along the Gulf Coast toward Louisiana. The storm on Wednesday is spinning off strong winds far from its center and closing beaches from Florida to Mississippi. Forecasters say the main threat from Bertha is expected to be damaging winds and coastal storm surge. Isolated flooding during the next few days could inundate some communities. A tropical storm warning stretched from parts of the Florida Panhandle over to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center says the warning also covers the New Orleans area and Lake Pontchartrain. Landfall was expected later Wednesday but experts say the center of the storm crossing over land was not a major threat.

WORDS: 503 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 7:13 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTropicalWeatherndLdWritethru/6052f6812cf03558fcbd08c4444a72a1/text

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AP-US-Nolan-Wells-Autopsy, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Independent autopsy of Nolan Wells finds 'undetermined' cause of death

SUMMARY: An independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan Xavier Wells' family finds his cause of death "undetermined" pending further investigation. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the preliminary findings Wednesday at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago. The autopsy was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Robert Mitchell and cited body decomposition and missing facts as reasons for the inconclusive result. Wells disappeared after a July 4 boat trip to an island off Mississippi. His body was found two days later. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office has not released its autopsy results. A $125,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

WORDS: 646 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 11:32 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNolanWellsAutopsyndLdWritethru/b620c2bedf4c05d2a460b5bb1e7ee02e/text

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AP-US-Trump-Dignified-Transfer, 6th Ld-Writethru

Trump attending the dignified transfer of 4 US service members killed in the Middle East

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is attending the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members recently killed in the Middle East. On his way to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday, Trump called it “one of the hardest things to do as a president.” An administration official says two Army soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan will be returned during the transfer, as well as a third service member who is believed to be the soldier missing after the Jordan attacks. The remains of another soldier, killed in Iraq during a detonation of an Iranian drone, will also be returned.

WORDS: 848 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:12 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpDignifiedTransferthLdWritethru/8a79b27e10cedd202596d57f743ca569/text

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AP-US-Severe-Weather, 2nd Ld-Writethru

National Guard deploys as flash floods in West Virginia inundate homes and businesses

SUMMARY: Torrential rains in West Virginia have caused flash flooding that inundated homes and businesses. Authorities say the floods washed out bridges and led to numerous water rescues in portions of the state. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties Tuesday night. Forecasters said up to 7 inches of rain fell in some places. No deaths were immediately reported. Morrisey sent 100 National Guard members to the hardest-hit areas in the state's north, with an additional 200 members set to arrive late Wednesday morning. The rains were part of wide-ranging storms that produced reports of tornadoes in several states.

WORDS: 524 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 12:37 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSevereWeatherndLdWritethru/919eb8602f8954b99c517ac4fae1cd64/text

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AP-US-Mamdani-Netanyahu-Arrest-Warrant

Mamdani says NYC can't arrest Netanyahu but the federal government should

SUMMARY: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says that the city will not be able to arrest Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu under a warrant issued by the world’s top war-crimes court. Mamdani said instead that the federal government should make the arrest. He had told the New York Times earlier this month that he and the city’s legal department were discussing arresting Netanyahu if he comes to New York City for the U.N. General Assembly in September. Mamdani had said throughout his mayoral election campaign last year that he would seek to order the city’s police to arrest Netanyahu. The Israeli ambassador to the U.N. responded by telling the mayor “enough.”

WORDS: 388 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 3:57 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMamdaniNetanyahuArrestWarrant/5d2dc3bed6a30a2ee8b4e7fbaaa66603/text

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AP-US-Iran-War-Deaths, 10th Ld-Writethru

US military identifies 3rd service member believed to have been killed in Iranian attack

SUMMARY: The U.S. military has confirmed that a third service member is believed to be dead in Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan and identified them as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of New York. The confirmation brings the death toll to 18 U.S. service members killed since the war began. The U.S. military has also identified a soldier killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton from North Carolina. The military said Tuesday that Swinton will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant.

WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 1:57 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranWarDeathsthLdWritethru/5ec21d4f12fbdee658ec15ed8d3750ee/text

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AP-US-Aviation-Safety-Pan-Am-Wreck-Found, 4th Ld-Writethru

Wreckage found of Pan Am plane crash that helped lead to today's safety briefings on every flight

SUMMARY: The wreckage from a Pan Am plane crash in the ocean 74 years ago that helped lead to requirements for the passenger safety briefings on every flight today has been found off the coast of Puerto Rico. The talks flight attendants deliver about how to inflate a life vest or find the exits on a plane that are routine today were developed after 52 people perished aboard Pan Am’s Clipper Endeavor because they didn’t get off the plane before it sank. Explorers used an autonomous sonar drone to find the fuselage and tail of the DC-4 last month under 2,000 feet of water.

WORDS: 826 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 9:50 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAviationSafetyPanAmWreckFoundthLdWritethru/c581438fdefb797d831370e8b1ff6e74/text

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AP-US-River-Deaths-Ohio, 2nd Ld-Writethru

2 married couples from Honduras were among 5 adults who drowned in an Ohio river

SUMMARY: Honduran authorities have confirmed that four of the five people who drowned in an Ohio river over the weekend are Honduran citizens. A consular affairs director told reporters Tuesday that they were two married couples. Honduran authorities are working with U.S. authorities to bring their bodies home. One of the couples left behind two children, who were also at the river. The fifth adult's identity has not been released. Once all the victims have been identified by U.S. officials, the Honduran government will start the repatriation process. That process could take at least a month.

WORDS: 633 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 10:13 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRiverDeathsOhiondLdWritethru/a347c33c0b3a6e3717fb0660b799a1d8/text

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AP-US-Immigration-Enforcement-Florida

Mexican man killed after ICE encounter in Florida was on vacation, officials say

SUMMARY: The Mexican man who was struck and killed by a tractor trailer while running from an encounter with immigration and other federal agents in Florida had been vacationing in the U.S. on a tourist visa. That's according to a Mexican government official and the founder of a farmworkers advocacy organization that has been helping the man's widow. Colectivo Arbol founder Isaret Jeffers says 28-year-old Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán had traveled from his Mexican hometown of San Luis de la Paz to visit family and friends. She says he arrived in Florida two days before he was fatally struck by the truck. His was the third death in roughly a week involving encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

WORDS: 650 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 9:19 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementFlorida/030e77819f8832d32abd60f52b41f673/text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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AP-US-Trump-Saudi-Nuclear, 1st Ld-Writethru

Rubio says any nuclear agreement the US signs will not lead to nuclear proliferation

SUMMARY: The Trump administration is expected to sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says any deal signed by the U.S. would not lead to proliferation. Two people familiar with the matter have confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press. The deal could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint U.S.-Saudi study. The two people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agreement could be announced as soon as Wednesday.

WORDS: 694 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 1:48 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSaudiNuclearstLdWritethru/15fdb262bb9c83d0d959ca96b7561c12/text

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AP-US-Election-2026-Messy-Midterms, 1st Ld-Writethru

Messy primaries plague both major political parties, causing chaos and confusion in the midterms

SUMMARY: As midterm campaigning heats up, both major political parties face unexpected challenges. Republicans planned to focus on border security and the economy, while Democrats aimed to rally voters against President Donald Trump. However, both sides are now dealing with internal conflicts and strategic missteps. Trump has led the country into a prolonged conflict with Iran, affecting global oil prices, and remains focused on past election grievances. Meanwhile, Democrats are divided between moderates and progressives, with some candidates faltering in key races. As the November elections approach, both parties are struggling to find a clear path to victory amid chaos and confusion.

WORDS: 1305 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 11:06 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMessyMidtermsstLdWritethru/a2fcc20ef266e721010fc528f2c81b7a/text

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AP-US-Election-2026-Arizona, 15th Ld-Writethru

Andy Biggs wins Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Katie Hobbs for Arizona governor

SUMMARY: U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs has won the Republican nomination for Arizona governor. Biggs is a fierce ally of President Donald Trump and former head of the House Freedom Caucus. He will take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the fall. Biggs was endorsed by Trump and aims to unite the party. Both parties had contested primaries Tuesday for the 1st Congressional District, a battleground for congressional control. Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely was endorsed by Trump and won the Republican primary. The Democratic Party backed Marlene Galán-Woods in her contest against Amish Shah.

WORDS: 1408 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 4:04 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionArizonathLdWritethru/6ecadbc05dc0704285d1f9fbfc3af0cb/text

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AP-US-Congress-Budget, 1st Ld-Writethru

House passes temporary government funding bill months early to avoid election season shutdown

SUMMARY: The House has moved to head-off a potential government shutdown before this fall’s critical midterm elections. Republicans on Tuesday muscled through a bill to fund the federal government through Dec. 4. The deadline for action is more than two months away. But House GOP leaders are not leaving to chance a possible shutdown souring the mood of voters shortly before they go to the polls. Republicans said work on annual spending bills would continue, but that funding the government temporarily would help lawmakers avoid a repeat of the past year, when the country experienced two government shutdowns of record length. Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the measure, saying Republicans took a go-it-alone approach.

WORDS: 581 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 7:24 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetstLdWritethru/a808a5428729a70cdc0250ab0a35611a/text

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AP-US-Iran-Congress, 9th Ld-Writethru

Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5 billion as he defends funding request at fiery hearing

SUMMARY: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far. Hegseth faced fiery questions and protests over the U.S. war against Iran at a Senate hearing Tuesday. Hegseth and other officials appeared as Republicans push a $95 billion budget package to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities. Their appearance came after it was announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17. The Pentagon also disclosed that more than 100 have been injured since early July.

WORDS: 1108 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 5:55 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranCongressthLdWritethru/7d158708c3e5385683930f8b839d0344/text

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AP-US-Election-2026-Michigan-Trump

President Donald Trump to travel to Michigan ahead of swing state's primary election

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is expected to rally in Oakland County on Monday as early voting begins in Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary. That's according to a person familiar with the plans who wasn't authorized to discuss them publicly. The visit comes as voters prepare to choose party nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat, governor and other key races. Democrats are locked in a competitive Senate primary between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed, while Republicans are contesting the open governor’s race. Trump carried Michigan in 2016 and 2024, making the battleground state a key focus ahead of the 2026 midterms.

WORDS: 430 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 10:29 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMichiganTrump/84b99a8225e8844b361deef5d2e771b4/text

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AP-US-Senate-Intelligence-Director, 1st Ld-Writethru

Senate panel advances Jay Clayton's nomination to lead US intelligence agencies

SUMMARY: The Senate Intelligence Committee has advanced the nomination of Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies. The vote was along party lines. The 9-8 vote came after some Democrats had praised Clayton and indicated that they might vote for him. But that shifted after a contentious hearing last week in which Clayton repeatedly refused to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said during the hearing that he was “bitterly disappointed” in Clayton. The intelligence panel vote sets up a floor vote on Clayton’s nomination, potentially early next week.

WORDS: 557 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 7:45 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSenateIntelligenceDirectorstLdWritethru/b98a7ab0283eb9a27f3ec21f6ca22a04/text

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AP-US-Election-2026-Noncitizen-Registrations, 4th Ld-Writethru

6,600 noncitizens registered to vote after error in New Jersey motor vehicle system, governor says

SUMMARY: New Jersey's governor says about 6,600 people who indicated they were noncitizens were nonetheless registered to vote in the state because of a Motor Vehicle Commission system error. Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the problem Tuesday. Sherrill says that from June 2023 to June 2024, before she was in office, people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens on a voter registration keypad were registered to vote anyway. Sherrill says fewer than 400 of those people ended up casting ballots. The revelation comes as President Donald Trump and other Republicans continue to claim that voting by noncitizens is rampant in U.S. elections, even though the problem is rare.

WORDS: 863 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 5:54 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionNoncitizenRegistrationsthLdWritethru/99ef57346bbe09ba2ff606538a76eede/text

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AP-US-Congress-Smithsonian, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Smithsonian history museum chief rejects White House criticism of its leaders as radical activists

SUMMARY: The director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is pushing back against a White House report labeling the institution's leadership as radical activists. Anthea M. Hartig told a House Oversight subcommittee on Tuesday the report does not fairly represent the museum's work. The report was released on July Fourth and criticized the museum as not telling history in an inspiring and unifying way. Republicans echoed these concerns, accusing the museum of presenting history as a power struggle. Hartig emphasizes the museum aims to add voices to the narrative, not erase history. Hartig says the museum does not take sides in political debates.

WORDS: 684 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 3:14 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressSmithsonianrdLdWritethru/99fff0e5911b4dc01905713d19a73e32/text

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INTERNATIONAL

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AP-AF-Congo-Ebola, 7th Ld-Writethru

Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed nearly 1,000 people

SUMMARY: At least 999 people have died from the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, according to official data published overnight into Wednesday, a grim toll in what’s already been declared the fastest Ebola outbreak in history. The latest update from Congo’s Ministry of Health shows that as of Monday, 2,473 cases have been recorded in the latest outbreak. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is unlike most previous Ebola outbreaks because the Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments. Ebola is rare, but highly contagious and can be contracted via bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen.

WORDS: 909 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 10:09 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolathLdWritethru/154413267e8816b82c7561c352b90321/text

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AP-ML-Mideast-Wars-Gaza-Family-Reunites, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Orphaned by war in Gaza, Palestinian siblings reunite with their sister in Israel

SUMMARY: A Palestinian family that was divided between Israel and Gaza was reunited this month after the eldest sister waged a two-year effort to bring her siblings to join her in Israel. The al-Gharam family was one of hundreds of families with members on both sides of the border. An Israeli airstrike killed both parents and one of their eight children in Gaza in July 2024. That's when the eldest sister, an Israeli citizen living in Nazareth, began trying to bring her surviving siblings, ages 8 to 22, out of Gaza. She eventually secured Israeli passports for them, and they came to live with her.

WORDS: 1252 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 5:49 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazaFamilyReunitesndLdWritethru/ad1fa83381a1fc66d51b66202de233cf/text

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AP-EU-France-Louvre-Reopening, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Louvre reopens Apollo Gallery after a brazen heist, but no jewels are on display

SUMMARY: The Louvre's Apollo gallery is reopening to the public for the first time since last year's crown jewels heist. The museum has removed the collections and precious jewels, returning the gallery to its original ceremonial purpose. Security at the Paris museum has been boosted with new surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems. On the day of the heist, thieves took less than eight minutes to steal the 88 million euro trove. Security improvement is a priority of the decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” plan, launched last year, to modernize infrastructure and ease crowding.

WORDS: 353 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 8:58 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceLouvreReopeningrdLdWritethru/20cd200faf7304538fb80cd9f9646c0c/text

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AP-AF-Ebola-Explainer, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Why the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history is becoming more challenging

SUMMARY: The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is the fastest-growing one in history and responders are struggling to keep up. Over 2,400 cases, including just under 1,000 deaths, have been confirmed. Strikes by unpaid workers at health centers could spark further unrest, even as a study has begun of two badly needed treatments. This type of Ebola has no approved treatments or vaccines. Cases are spreading to new areas of Congo and the World Health Organization says most new cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission. The outbreak is complicated by rebels and misinformation, as some people claim Ebola isn't real.

WORDS: 804 - MOVED: 07/13/2026 5:51 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFEbolaExplainerrdLdWritethru/0e482142cbc7b7f3da1c32fd115b49d6/text

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AP-EU-Russia-Ukraine-War, 4th Ld-Writethru

Ukraine overhauls its military top brass for the fight against Russia

SUMMARY: Ukraine is pushing on with its fight against Russia under new military leadership. President Zelenskyy fired his commander-in-chief after public pressure. This change follows a rift between the outgoing army chief and defense minister, both of whom lost their jobs. The new army chief, Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, is part of a new generation of Ukrainian generals. Zelenskyy has tasked Drapatyi with updating the defense strategy. Street protests in Kyiv demanded the return of the tech-savvy defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have struck warehouses in Russia, targeting facilities they say were used for drone production.

WORDS: 1068 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 7:19 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/3001163461bb5ed7f790720f13eb3e36/text

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AP-ML-Iran-US, 13th Ld-Writethru

Trump says US will destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack in the Strait of Hormuz

SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the U.S. will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s latest threat on Wednesday to target civilian infrastructure came as the unpopular war spirals with no clear offramp, threatening further worldwide economic disruption. Both sides have dug in on their dispute over the strait, a crucial waterway for global energy that remains largely closed because of Iranian attacks. The U.S. carried out another wave of strikes on Iran overnight into Wednesday, and air defenses opened fire over the capital, Tehran. Iran launched a missile attack on a Jordanian city on Israel’s doorstep, and alerts were issued in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

WORDS: 950 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 8:19 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/42ff3de8d135ad72ff3ba4d94cc0921d/text

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AP-EU-Europe-Wildfires, 1st Ld-Writethru

Firefighters battle one of Spain's biggest-ever wildfires during heat wave across the Mediterranean

SUMMARY: Firefighters in central Spain are battling a massive wildfire in Guadalajara, which has burned over 32,000 hectares. This comes less than two weeks after a deadly fire in southern Spain killed 13 people. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area on Wednesday, urging political unity to combat climate change. He emphasized that climate change is a scientific issue, not a political one. The Guadalajara fire is one of the largest in Spain's history. A heat wave is complicating firefighting efforts, with temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius. Other European countries are also facing extreme heat and fires.

WORDS: 862 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 12:25 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUEuropeWildfiresstLdWritethru/ba1eb5c07549f001e7dbb9399025941f/text

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AP-AS-ASEAN, 7th Ld-Writethru

Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio warns Asian leaders

SUMMARY: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Asian leaders that Iran's demand to control the Strait of Hormuz threatens the global economy and freedom of navigation. He was speaking Wednesday at an ASEAN meeting in the Philippine capital, Manila, with Southeast Asian leaders concerned about the impact of the war in Iran on their economies. Despite the U.S. focus on the war, Rubio reassured ASEAN countries of continued support and emphasized the danger of allowing a nation to control an international waterway. Rubio also met with Quad partners, where they reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security initiatives that seek to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

WORDS: 1040 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 5:18 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASASEANthLdWritethru/12b3a257be0b6af9d96356dd78be3cfd/text

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AP-ML-Iran-US-Pickaxe-Mountain-What-to-Know

What to know about Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, home to an underground nuclear site threatened by Trump

SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly has issued threats to bomb an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain. The site, known as Pickaxe Mountain, sits just south of Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site. Natanz was earlier bombed by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel. It remains unclear just what has been placed at Pickaxe Mountain as the International Atomic Energy Agency. But Trump on Tuesday talking with journalists in the Oval Office acknowledged the possibility Iran may have moved centrifuges there.

WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 6:21 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSPickaxeMountainWhattoKnow/2df2cbdbab7e21ba26e41cacdfa84e7c/text

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AP-ML-Lebanon-US-Trump, 13th Ld-Writethru

Trump says US-Lebanon flights can resume, pledges help for that country after meeting its president

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has pledged significant support for Lebanon during a White House meeting with Lebanese leader Joseph Aoun. The meeting on Tuesday aimed to promote long-term peace after months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. After it concluded, Trump announced that he would allow the resumption of direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon, suspended since 1985. Lebanon hopes that talks that are being mediated by Washington will lead to Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and increased support for the Lebanese military. A framework agreement for peace between Lebanon and Israel is being tested, but confusion remains over troop withdrawals. The U.S. continues to endorse the Lebanese agreement.

WORDS: 1272 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 4:59 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonUSTrumpthLdWritethru/e0364d0334c2f4d888d2b3970c9fe5b1/text

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AP-EU-France-Social-Media-Ban, 6th Ld-Writethru

French lawmakers approve a sweeping social media ban for children under 15

SUMMARY: French lawmakers have approved a bill banning children under 15 from using social media. The move makes France the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on platforms as concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on kids. Both chambers of the Parliament voted Tuesday in favor of the measure, a flagship initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools.

WORDS: 821 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 6:00 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceSocialMediaBanthLdWritethru/94abd981ccea85138af314cfb1ea62cf/text

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BUSINESS

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AP-Financial-Markets, 8th Ld-Writethru

Oil prices rise another 3%, while Wall Street drifts in mixed trading

SUMMARY: The U.S. stock market is drifting in mixed trading, while oil prices climb another 3% as fighting continues in the war with Iran. The S&P 500 added 0.1% Wednesday after swinging between modest losses and gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 134 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 rose after more companies reported strong results for the spring, including Philip Morris International and AT&T. But AI stocks continued to swing and dragged the U.S. market with them. The price for Brent crude oil, meanwhile, touched its highest level in nearly six weeks.

WORDS: 763 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:30 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/207dfa55d180fcc565420454178168c5/text

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AP-EU-Britain-Economy, 1st Ld-Writethru

Britain's new prime minister must solve the old riddle of how to reinvigorate a slow-growing economy

SUMMARY: Britain’s new leader, Andy Burnham, is facing the same old problem: How can he kickstart a sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output generate enough additional revenue to boost defense spending and pay for everything else voters want without raising taxes? It’s a question that has bedeviled every prime minister since the financial crisis of 2008. And their failure to find an answer is a big part of the reason that the men and women who have taken up residence behind the famous black door at 10 Downing Street in that period have had an average tenure of two years.

WORDS: 1141 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:05 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainEconomystLdWritethru/438eef6399ef4247e9259e39b3b92097/text

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AP-US-OpenAI

OpenAI says its AI technology acted on its own in an 'unprecedented' hack of another company

SUMMARY: OpenAI has disclosed an "unprecedented cyber incident" where its AI system allegedly hacked into another AI company. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that the incident occurred during model evaluations. Last week, AI startup Hugging Face detected an intrusion into its data processing systems. Hugging Face co-founder Clément Delangue confirmed the attack was from an AI agent, noting it was mind-blowing that it happened autonomously. Delangue emphasized there was no malicious intent from OpenAI. The intrusion involved OpenAI's GPT‑5.6 Sol and another model still in testing. This might be the first incident of its kind.

WORDS: 333 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 11:44 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSOpenAI/63ab84fed5612af04d8a160d60f6def3/text

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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AP-US-Tropical-Weather, 7th Ld-Writethru

Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding along the Gulf Coast

SUMMARY: Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to weaken in the Gulf of Mexico as it chugs closer to the U.S. But forecasters say it still could bring coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana. Those areas along the northern Gulf Coast are under a tropical storm warning through Wednesday and could see rain and flooding into Thursday morning. New Orleans is under a tropical storm warning. Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida have opened sites to provide sandbags. Red flag warnings are posted along some Gulf Coast beaches advising swimmers about the dangers of rip tides.

WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 8:45 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTropicalWeatherthLdWritethru/f77a94b86d8c87b4825cad82185f4a13/text

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EDUCATION

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AP-US-Education-Trump-Accounts, 1st Ld-Writethru

As the president touts Trump Accounts, some families are still waiting for baby's $1,000

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says Trump Accounts could lift children out of poverty and help more Americans invest in the stock market. But some parents are still waiting for the money to arrive. Trump plans to speak at a Georgia high school Wednesday to promote these accounts, which offer $1,000 to every child born during his second term. The accounts went live July 4. The accounts can be opened for any child under 18, with contributions from parents, relatives and others. The money is invested in index funds and can be accessed at 18 for purposes like education or buying a house. Some parents say they were told the money could take weeks to arrive.

WORDS: 967 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:06 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEducationTrumpAccountsstLdWritethru/1f749cfbe15409596e0fe7bed0034101/text

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ENTERTAINMENT

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AP-ENT-D4vd-Girl-Killed, 7th Ld-Writethru

Detective says D4vd ordered chain saws, body bags in hearing to decide if singer should go to trial

SUMMARY: A hearing has begun to determine whether singer D4vd, legally known as David Burke, should go on trial in the killing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. A homicide detective testified that Burke ordered items like a body bag and chain saws after her death. Prosecutors showed photos of the dismembered body. Authorities allege he killed her to prevent her from revealing their relationship, which could ruin his music career. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder and sexual abuse of a minor. Burke's music career reportedly earned over $10 million since 2023.

WORDS: 1052 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 4:05 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTDvdGirlKilledthLdWritethru/f90580c2737575deaaf080f7e5369f80/text

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SPORTS

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AP-SOC-WCup-Success, 1st Ld-Writethru

World Cup final between Spain and Argentina watched by roughly 60 million on Fox and Telemundo

SUMMARY: The World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico wasn't perfect, but has still been widely hailed as a success. The tournament featured 48 teams and 104 games, with stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé captivating audiences. Despite some political issues and weather challenges, the games mostly went smoothly. Fox and Telemundo reported strong viewership, with the Spain-Argentina final drawing millions. Fox said Tuesday that the Spain-Argentina game drew 38.937 million viewers — including a peak of 51.685 million — which easily set the record as the most-watched English language soccer telecast in U.S. history, according to Nielsen Media Research.

WORDS: 921 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 7:27 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupSuccessstLdWritethru/444951fd3ad6a19a8a1e1fabed868181/text

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AP-US-ESPN-Layoffs, 2nd Ld-Writethru

ESPN starts layoffs tied to NFL Network acquisition, memo says

SUMMARY: ESPN is undergoing a significant round of layoffs for the first time in three years after taking over NFL Network in April. Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a memo to employees Tuesday morning, obtained by The Associated Press, that most moves are the result of ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and other league digital assets last year. While most of the layoffs affect production and behind-the-scenes personnel, some on-air talent were affected, including ESPN's Ryan Clark and Karl Ravech as well as NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

WORDS: 511 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 4:42 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSESPNLayoffsndLdWritethru/c5d77a9109f6bb44a162410480412028/text

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