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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Salman Rushdie testifies at the terrorism trial of the man convicted of stabbing him
SUMMARY: Salman Rushdie has testified for the second time about being stabbed nearly to death four years ago in a western New York amphitheater. The prize-winning author took the witness stand Thursday at Hadi Matar's federal terrorism trial. The 28-year-old Matar already was convicted of a state-level attempted murder charge in the 2022 attack at a cultural institution where Rushdie was poised to speak about threats to writers and artists. Matar has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that include engaging in an act of transnational terrorism. Prosecutors claim Matar was motivated by an Iranian leader’s 1989 call for Rushdie’s death because of his novel “The Satanic Verses.”
WORDS: 797 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSalmanRushdieAssault/f0a0041dd12e2b214ec396879be72648/text___
Wisconsin governor calls for transparency after Madison officer fatally shoots man with knife
SUMMARY: The police shooting death of a man with a knife has roiled a Wisconsin city and prompted the governor to call for transparency and accountability in any investigation. Community members remained gathered at a growing memorial Thursday at the site of the death. The shooting Wednesday prompted protests and a candlelight vigil. Cellphone video of the shooting circulated on social media. The Madison police chief emphasized that the footage is just one perspective. The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave. The shooting also infused itself into state politics, with one candidate addressing mourners at the vigil site Wednesday night and another candidate calling the shooting “painfully reminiscent” of other police shooting tragedies.
WORDS: 758 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 1:43 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMadisonPoliceShootingndLdWritethru/f4efad72ed0dc5cad6005bb6e4a326dd/text___
Tropical Storm Bertha moves toward Texas landfall after grazing Louisiana's coast
SUMMARY: Tropical Storm Bertha is churning toward a second landfall in Texas after grazing southern Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center says the storm packing 45 mph winds should reach the upper coast of Texas on Thursday after days of crawling westward along the U.S. Gulf Coast. No deaths or major damage have been reported. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas. Forecasters say 2 feet of storm surge and isolated flash flooding are still possible before Bertha moves inland and rapidly weakens. Most of the storm's heavy rains have remained offshore.
WORDS: 395 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 6:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTropicalWeatherstLdWritethru/c98b62c56f938bc6b7c0c26e7b08cfeb/text___
Minnesota man gets 2 life sentences for killing Democratic lawmaker and her husband
SUMMARY: The Minnesota man who killed Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Vance Boelter pleaded guilty last month in the June 2025 fatal shooting of the house speaker and her husband Mark. The 59-year-old also pleaded guilty to attacking Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Boelter avoids the death penalty with his plea. He was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison.
WORDS: 1075 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMinnesotaLawmakersShotthLdWritethru/b9b2823e5386f2e4fbc465d23095dab8/text___
Video shows unfazed passersby during fiery attack on New York federal building by ex-soldier
SUMMARY: Security camera video shows some bystanders appeared to barely bat an eye when a man set off a fountain of fireworks then started a blazing fire outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan earlier this week. The surveillance footage was released from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday. It offers the most complete look yet at the bizarre episode Monday morning outside 26 Federal Plaza. No one was seriously injured. Prosecutors say 43-year-old Anthony Arrabaca confessed to carrying out the attack and has been charged with arson. He was jailed without bail Tuesday.
WORDS: 589 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 11:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalBuildingIncendiaryDevice/3d2fb02c67d41c7f503ada279e0459b0/text___
What to know about the autopsy and investigation into Nolan Wells' death
SUMMARY: The family of Nolan Xavier Wells is still searching for answers about the 18-year-old athlete's death. Wells went on a July 4 boat trip with friends off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. But he never returned, and his body was found two days later. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has announced that an independent autopsy commissioned by the family was inconclusive. The Mississippi sheriff’s department investigating Wells’ death hasn’t made a public statement about the case in recent days. Wells’ parents say the tragedy is riddled with conflicting stories. The distrust has been deepened by the state's long legacy of racism.
WORDS: 1100 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 12:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNolanWellsWhattoKnowstLdWritethru/b9327f377853d7934ea70c2e936a4f2e/text___
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. Roger 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: 670 - MOVED: 07/21/2026 11:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNolanWellsAutopsythLdWritethru/b620c2bedf4c05d2a460b5bb1e7ee02e/text___
AP Exclusive: A boater's photo may be 'the last picture' of group drowned in an Ohio river
SUMMARY: Marcus L. Martin felt instant trepidation when he saw five adults wading thigh- and waist-deep in the Scioto River last weekend. The Baptist pastor is a frequent boater on that area of the central Ohio waterway north of Columbus. He knew the area where the group was standing Sunday to be treacherous due to a steep drop-off. He took a photo of the group when he returned past them. It may be the last portrait of a group of friends who drowned that day, two Honduran married couples and their friend. Authorities have not yet confirmed the individuals pictured in the pastor's photo.
WORDS: 737 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 6:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRiverDeathsOhiothLdWritethru/327dd0e5d6cd3a346dc000551eabd53e/text___
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 in Manhattan federal court. His lawyer says he plans to contest the charges against his client on sovereign immunity grounds, among others. Defense lawyers have objected to the U.S. military action that snatched Venezuela’s president from power. Maduro was being returned to 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: 457 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaMadurothLdWritethru/f90603d36d36a88837f485dd5b2698b5/text___
Trump pays respects to 4 US service members killed in the Middle East
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is honoring the lives of four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East and returned to their families at an air force base in Delaware. Trump saluted Wednesday as four transfer cases carrying the service members' remains were escorted off an airplane during the dignified transfer. Earlier in the day, he called the ritual over the loss of life as “one of the hardest things to do as a president.” The service members were identified as 25-year-old Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii, 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas, 28-year-old Angel S. Rampersad of New York, and 30-year-old Michael Emmanuel Swinton of North Carolina.
WORDS: 1053 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:12 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpDignifiedTransferthLdWritethru/8a79b27e10cedd202596d57f743ca569/text___
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 said Wednesday some people are unaccounted for but he didn’t specify whether any deaths occurred. Forecasters said up to 7 inches of rain fell in some places. Morrisey has sent more than 300 National Guard members to affected areas. The rains were part of wide-ranging storms that produced reports of tornadoes in several states.
WORDS: 767 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 12:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSevereWeatherthLdWritethru/919eb8602f8954b99c517ac4fae1cd64/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump says Saudi nuclear pact requires kingdom to normalize Israel relations through Abraham Accords
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says a new agreement with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. The Republican president said Thursday on social media the deal doesn’t allow for enrichment of uranium. Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels. Trump has sought to build on the 2020 accords, which expanded the number of Arab states with diplomatic ties to Israel. The Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
WORDS: 1097 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 12:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSaudiNuclearthLdWritethru/6d498a1e851f226c04831bbedf979ec9/text___
House Republican says Smith may have lied about Trump probe and refers him for possible prosecution
SUMMARY: A key Republican lawmaker says he believes that special counsel Jack Smith may have lied to Congress while testifying about his investigation of President Donald Trump and that the Justice Department should consider prosecuting him. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio referred Smith to the Justice Department on Wednesday. Jordan alleges Smith made false statements during closed-door testimony about whether he had obtained records of lawmakers while investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Smith's lawyers on Thursday denied the allegation and said he testified truthfully. The Justice Department says it “will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct.”
WORDS: 759 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 11:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJackSmithJusticeDepartmentndLdWritethru/cc55dcd5e524018ff15b1ce63c9bee5d/text___
Trump expands a voluntary pledge to protect consumers from high utility bills from AI data centers
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is having governors and electricity companies join a pledge aimed at shielding U.S. consumers from higher utility bills because data centers. This move highlights the controversy surrounding AI development before the November midterm elections. Trump initially announced the pledge with tech companies in March, but voters remain concerned about affordability and competition for resources. A recent analysis shows increased electricity demand could raise utility bills by 15% to 40% by 2030. Opposition to data centers has become bipartisan. Some governors have taken steps to address these concerns.
WORDS: 622 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 3:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpDataCentersstLdWritethru/490ea7e4c7227d5e550b00a0056c33c9/text___
House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect
SUMMARY: The House has narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain. The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they're meant as a strong signal to the Republican president his support on Capitol Hill is eroding as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties question his administration’s endgame. Washington Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal says the war has “no clear mission.”
WORDS: 945 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 2:26 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranCongressrdLdWritethru/0ba2387a476fe08de0bfd6281adb9639/text___
Democrats seize on AI data center backlash that's dividing rural Republicans in places like Texas
SUMMARY: Democratic Texas governor's race nominee Gina Hinojosa is focusing on artificial intelligence data centers as a key issue in her campaign against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. AI data centers are causing concern in rural areas due to their impact on land, water and local life. This issue is resonating in other states like Arizona and Ohio. In Texas, data centers are rapidly expanding while both Democrats and Republicans voice opposition. Abbott has promised to regulate data centers. But critics say Abbott's actions lack urgency. The AI data center controversy could influence the upcoming election.
WORDS: 1381 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionDataCentersstLdWritethru/3624f9a97e584c46d0ac65ca3870adcf/text___
Amish Shah wins Democratic congressional primary in Arizona, a blow to the party establishment
SUMMARY: Amish Shah has won the Democratic primary for an open congressional seat in Arizona. His win marks another defeat for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which supported Marlene Galán-Woods. Shah and Galán-Woods are ideologically similar. But voters have been rejecting candidates favored by party leaders in Washington. In some cases this has caused concern among congressional leaders, who fear insurgent candidates might be seen as too extreme. Shah says he was not the party's pick but he was willing to stand up to the establishment, and that’s what the voters of the 1st Congressional District want. In the fall he will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 2:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionArizonaHousethLdWritethru/c1631e29aaeef27cdf4ea40cb352069d/text___
House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump's priorities
SUMMARY: The House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities. Speaker Mike Johnson worked Wednesday to push it over objections from Democrats and some GOP holdouts as a priority before the midterm elections. The package includes $73 billion for the Pentagon and other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers struggling under President Donald Trump’s tariffs and $10 billion for voting law changes that are a Trump priority. Democrats argued the money should be spent at home, particularly on efforts to lower costs for Americans. It next goes to the Senate.
WORDS: 947 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 6:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetrdLdWritethru/f9dea5ef800bfeb0e343256e841af38f/text___
House votes for Department of War renaming as part of an annual defense bill
SUMMARY: The House has passed a defense policy bill that incorporates President Donald Trump’s request for a historic $1.15 trillion in spending for the Pentagon. The bill passed Wednesday also would designate the Department of Defense as the Department of War and provide for a pay raise next year of 5% to 7% for service members. The National Defense Authorization Act is generally one of the more bipartisan bills that Congress takes up each year. That’s not the case this year. Democrats took issue with steep spending increases for defense while Republicans attempted to cut numerous non-defense programs. The Senate still has to pass its own version of the bill.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 8:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressDefensestLdWritethru/de65f6e0ee4f4d69699fb9f1f647083e/text___
US and Saudi Arabia sign new nuclear agreement that could pave way for kingdom to enrich uranium
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has forged a new agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday signed the nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a “123 agreement,” alongside what the Trump administration described as a “bilateral safeguards agreement.” The U.S. administration released scant details of the deal. But the framework of the agreement paves the way for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint U.S.-Saudi study. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly.
WORDS: 1085 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 1:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSaudiNuclearthLdWritethru/15fdb262bb9c83d0d959ca96b7561c12/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, threatening to widen Iran war
SUMMARY: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. That has the potential to open a new front in the Iran war as the U.S. military conducted a 12th night of strikes against Iran and international oil topped $100 a barrel. The Houthis have threatened to shut down another key trade route, with the world economy already reeling from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the U.S. have meanwhile stepped up their attacks as they vie for control of the strait. Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would adopt an “eye for an eye” policy on U.S. strikes against its infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio retorted that President Donald Trump’s policy is “a head for an eye.”
WORDS: 1102 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 7:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/60d46bf8c83c43a8f2268b7b87627c55/text___
What experts are saying as Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda kills more than 1,000 people
SUMMARY: The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is now the fastest-growing in history, with over 1,000 deaths. Health officials are racing to contain the virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. The outbreak declared on May 15 is mostly concentrated in Ituri province. The World Health Organization assesses the global risk as low, noting Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air. The outbreak is complicated by conflict and community resistance. Testing capacity has expanded, but the virus continues to spread. Researchers have begun clinical trials for potential treatments.
WORDS: 959 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 11:52 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFEbolaExplainerndLdWritethru/bb24e07d21fdbdc9e75056ad0352e8ae/text___
India protest movement holds capital sit-in as police crack down on demonstrators
SUMMARY: Young protesters in India are camping on the streets of New Delhi. Protesters defied heavy security measures Thursday in the latest show of strength by a movement posing a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Thursday’s demonstrations followed overnight clashes with police using tear gas and batons. Known as the “Cockroach” protests, the movement was sparked by alleged leaks in competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. It has expanded to include demands for government accountability, unemployment and economic opportunity. The protests have become a significant expression of dissent in India.
WORDS: 645 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 7:21 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASIndiaCockroachProtestsndLdWritethru/d226d142657cd297c3d4232716a8a626/text___
Death toll in India hydropower tunnel disaster rises to 25 as rescue effort ends
SUMMARY: Authorities have recovered the bodies of 13 workers trapped inside a collapsed hydropower tunnel in India. The government of the Himalayan state of Sikkim says rescue operations concluded Thursday after coordinated efforts by multiple agencies. The death toll rose to 25 in the four days after a gas explosion ripped through the tunnel on Monday at the 500-megawatt Teesta Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim. The project is about 40 kilometers south of the state capital Gangtok. Construction accidents are not uncommon in India, where rapid infrastructure growth often collides with fragile geology, construction lapses, extreme weather and safety standards.
WORDS: 263 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 11:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASIndiaTunnelDisaster/8ebecdbfb05aa749ce325190b8ad0346/text___
Ukraine hits Russia's largest online marketplace, hurting small businesses and bringing the war home
SUMMARY: Ukrainian attacks on Russian warehouses have targeted Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. Kyiv's drones hit facilities over the weekend near Moscow and in the Tambov region, killing eight people and injuring dozens. Early Wednesday, warehouses in Krasnodar and Stavropol were attacked, killing one and injuring 14. These attacks are part of Ukraine's strategy to impact Russia's economy during the 4-year-old war. Wildberries, founded in 2004, is a major player in Russia's online retail market. Ukraine alleges it supplies gear to Russia's military, although the Kremlin denies it. The attacks are estimated to have severely affected small businesses, which uses Wildberries' storage and distribution network to sell their goods across Russia.
WORDS: 1167 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 7:26 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWildberriesExplainerndLdWritethru/d69c6db025a0ff779db9606b9982b1d9/text___
US is ready to help end the 'senseless war' in Ukraine but no quick deal ahead, Rubio says
SUMMARY: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration is ready to help end the war in Ukraine but acknowledges there is no quick path to a deal. Rubio met Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said he emphasized Russia's readiness for a political resolution. The meeting took place during an ASEAN gathering in Manila, focusing on international conflicts. U.S. efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine have stalled and have been overshadowed by other global tensions. Rubio has warned that Iran would keep facing renewed strikes and said its leaders aren't ready to make a deal. Rubio also discussed maritime disputes with China, highlighting the need for careful management to avoid conflict.
WORDS: 1090 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 1:21 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASASEANthLdWritethru/502b5eb2dc21caf13fab7928acdc5b1e/text___
How protests over a popular minister's firing sparked Ukraine's sudden military reset
SUMMARY: In just a week, the dismissal of a Ukrainian defense minister set in motion a transformation of the country’s armed forces that replaced the old guard with a new generation of leadership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to fire his popular defense minister triggered days of public protest that quickly shifted toward the country’s commander-in-chief and highlighted the growing rift over the future of Ukraine’s military. Demonstrators denounced the commander and overwhelmingly rallied behind the departed defense minister, demanding his reinstatement. The defense minister's dismissal followed months of increasingly bitter disagreements between the two men.
WORDS: 1202 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarMilitaryShakeupExplainerndLdWritethru/6f7a6e338b9add87fd53ef99b136e8e1/text___
EU hits Google with $1 billion fine over its Play app store and search
SUMMARY: The European Union has fined Google $1 billion for breaking digital antitrust regulations. The EU says Google set up its search engine and Google Play to favor its own services over competitors. This is part of Brussels' ongoing efforts to regulate big tech companies. Google recently lost an appeal against a $4.5 billion antitrust fine related to its Android operating system. The European Commission says it's acting to protect consumer interests. Google has criticized the fine, claiming it harms European businesses and consumers. The EU continues to enforce digital regulations despite potential backlash from the U.S.
WORDS: 418 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 10:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUEuropeGooglethLdWritethru/199c77e09d3829ebfc3d9e51281a369a/text___
Sex work or starve: Aid workers in Nepal left jobless by USAID cuts turn to sex work to survive
SUMMARY: After the United States slashed its foreign aid funding last year, more than 280,000 aid workers worldwide lost their jobs. Most of those workers live outside the U.S., in conflict zones or poor areas where other job opportunities are scarce. In impoverished Nepal, where a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options, the impact on aid workers’ lives was crushing. Starving and scared, around 100 LGBTQ+ aid workers left jobless by the funding cuts have turned to sex work to survive, walking the streets alongside the very people they once fought so hard to help.
WORDS: 2770 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:21 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASForeignAidSexWorkorStarvendLdWritethru/d8ea21ca4d43f1598ea54499123d46e0/text___
Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed over 1,000 people
SUMMARY: More than 1,000 people have died from the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, according to Africa’s top health body, 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: 957 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 10:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolathLdWritethru/154413267e8816b82c7561c352b90321/text___
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___
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/APMLIranUSPickaxeMountainWhattoKnowstLdWritethru/2df2cbdbab7e21ba26e41cacdfa84e7c/text___
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BUSINESS
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Brent oil tops $100 per barrel, as tumbles for Tesla and Alphabet yank Wall Street lower
SUMMARY: Brent oil's price jumped above $100 per barrel for the first time since May as increased fighting in the Middle East threatens to slow the global flow of crude. Sharp drops for Alphabet and Tesla, meanwhile, helped yank Wall Street lower. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% and is heading toward its first back-to-back weekly loss since March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 546 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.6%. Brent oil's price has shot up from less than $72 early this month as the war with Iran widens, which threatens to worsen inflation. Treasury yields climbed.
WORDS: 837 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 5:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/45b9165d6c518f5bea668b6ba7a89838/text___
Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz
SUMMARY: Before the war in Iran, roughly 15 million barrels of Persian Gulf oil were shipped each day through the Strait of Hormuz. Within a few years, much of that oil could bypass the strait. As Iran’s chokehold over the strait drags on and oil prices surge, countries across the Gulf are planning to spend billions of dollars to build pipelines enabling them to redirect more supplies to ports on the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Mediterranean. At least seven major pipeline projects are under construction, in the planning stage or being discussed as possibilities.
WORDS: 1039 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 7:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranBypassingHormuzndLdWritethru/896c02f0c978986fff0ae7fc389ea51f/text___
OpenAI blamed a hacking event on its AI models going rogue. Here are some things to know
SUMMARY: ChatGPT maker OpenAI says it is still investigating the “unprecedented cyber incident” that led its artificial intelligence systems to break out of a testing environment and hack into another AI company. OpenAI said Tuesday that two of its most capable AI models were responsible for the cyberattack targeting New York-based AI startup Hugging Face. The incident is stirring debates over the need for stronger AI guardrails and the extent to which AI agents are capable of acting on their own. San Francisco-based OpenAI says its AI was working with reduced guardrails because it was supposed to be in a safe testing environment.
WORDS: 822 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 6:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSOpenAICyberattackrdLdWritethru/67b151f1ca59851a9234bee110699f05/text___
European Union gives its greenlight to Paramount and Warner's mega merger with some conditions
SUMMARY: The European Union has approved Paramount's $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a major hurdle for the merger. But the greenlight comes with certain conditions. The EU's antitrust enforcer, the European Commission, says enough competition remains in film production and streaming. However, it warns of high concentration in movie distribution to theaters. To address this, Paramount must end its European partnership with Universal within 13 months. Paramount welcomes the approval, calling it a milestone. The merger faces challenges in the U.S., where a federal judge has paused the deal due to a lawsuit from California and other states.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 8:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWarnerBrosstLdWritethru/87281ccde5b411f87d253e41c43c776e/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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US health officials are investigating a new outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite
SUMMARY: U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak involving the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The outbreak included 72 people as of Wednesday. The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located. The FDA earlier this week said it remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate cyclospora outbreak. The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
WORDS: 236 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:42 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDCyclosporaNewOutbreak/8eb2e66498136ea4dd170118ef1a8a4e/text___
FDA reviews peptide injections favored by RFK Jr. and wellness influencers
SUMMARY: Federal health advisers are meeting to review a group of controversial chemicals called peptides. The unapproved injections have become a popular wellness trend, promoted by influencers and celebrities for building muscle, healing injuries and other uses. The two-day meeting underway Thursday comes at the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big fan” of peptides. Some of the outside experts invited by the FDA have financial ties to the peptide industry, including several doctors who run clinics that offer the injections. The panel will vote on whether the FDA should allow seven of the most popular peptides to be produced by pharmacies.
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 07/23/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDPeptideDrugs/7267d0fad0110e7c2ed301d03cf5f0c2/text___
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EDUCATION
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Millions have signed up for Trump Accounts, but 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. Trump promoted the accounts at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. Trump Accounts offer $1,000 to every child born during his second term. The accounts went live July 4. They can be opened for any child under 18, with contributions from family and others. The money is invested and can be accessed at 18. Some parents say they were told the money could take weeks to arrive. The Treasury Department says most families wait only one or two days.
WORDS: 1119 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 4:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEducationTrumpAccountsrdLdWritethru/1f749cfbe15409596e0fe7bed0034101/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Prosecutors zoom in on blood stains to show singer D4vd should be tried in killing of 14-year-old
SUMMARY: Prosecutors are presenting forensic evidence to persuade a judge that singer D4vd, legally known as David Burke, should face trial in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. On Tuesday, Los Angeles police described finding possible blood and DNA samples in Burke's garage and Tesla. Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, sexual abuse, and mutilation. Prosecutors allege Burke killed Rivas Hernandez to protect his career. Financial witnesses testified that Burke earned at least $10 million between 2023 and 2025 from his music career. The hearing continues as the defense challenges the evidence.
WORDS: 940 - MOVED: 07/22/2026 6:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTDvdGirlKilledndLdWritethru/32ca2cc61ca6b7db8e3170888d3dacd4/text___
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