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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Eastern US sweats through another hot day before rain, cold move in
SUMMARY: It's another hot day across the eastern U.S. a day after several spots broke daily heat records. While students elsewhere sweated it out in unairconditioned classrooms, the Philadelphia school district shifted to remote learning Wednesday for students in 57 schools. The National Weather Service said another day of record heat was expected from the mid-Atlantic to New England before a cold front brings rain later in the week. A heat advisory was in effect for portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island through Wednesday evening, with high temperatures and humidity making it feel like up to 96 degrees Fahrenheit.
WORDS: 261 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:31 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWeatherNortheastHeat/929c4a8d14ab5c44d278ef900436069b/text___
US is expected to announce criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is expected to announce a criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro. That's according to two people familiar with the matter. The announcement was expected Wednesday. The move comes as the U.S. is escalating pressure on the socialist government. Federal prosecutors in Miami have been preparing an indictment related to Castro’s role in the 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was Cuba's defense minister at the time. Top Justice Department officials are expected to be in Miami for a ceremony to honor the victims of the shootdown.
WORDS: 1002 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCubaRaulCastro/c04030a07c1b72442e61e72ad6d78604/text___
Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
SUMMARY: Two police officers who helped defend the U.S. Capitol from an attack by a mob of Trump supporters are suing to block anyone — including Jan. 6, 2021, rioters — from receiving payouts from a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for people who claim to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions. The officers’ attorneys filed the federal lawsuit on Wednesday, a day after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund’s creation during a congressional hearing. Blanche, a personal attorney for President Donald Trump before joining the Justice Department, wouldn’t rule out the possibility that rioters who assaulted police on Jan. 6 would be eligible for fund payouts.
WORDS: 511 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 3:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSettlementCapitolRiotndLdWritethru/fc73eb5f35481bb6d8892ac1e14e98bd/text___
More than 17,000 under evacuation orders as Southern California wildfire threatens homes
SUMMARY: More than 17,000 people are under evacuation orders as a wildfire continues to threaten suburban homes in Southern California. The Sandy Fire in hills above Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles, had consumed more than two square miles of dry brush as of Tuesday. The fire is 5% contained, and the cause is under investigation. Evacuation orders and warnings are still in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people. Meanwhile, firefighters are battling a 23-square-mile blaze on Santa Rosa Island, off the Southern California coast. It has no containment.
WORDS: 241 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 4:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaWildfiresthLdWritethru/be9cce40d55499e6772328fa764954f6/text___
South Carolina House backs congressional map favoring GOP but bill faces a more skeptical Senate
SUMMARY: The South Carolina House has endorsed a plan to redraw its congressional districts to favor Republicans at the urging of President Donald Trump. The chamber voted Wednesday on a new congressional map sending it to the more skeptical state Senate. Some Republicans have questioned whether redistricting could backfire — making districts competitive enough for Democrats to gain seats instead of securing all seven for the GOP. If the proposal becomes law, South Carolina would delay its U.S. House primaries to August and spend at least $3 million on another statewide election. Lawsuits against a new map are likely.
WORDS: 886 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 5:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingrdLdWritethru/20660140099f1adf6d9b446ace6d47ed/text___
San Diego mosque shooters met online and left writings expressing hate, FBI says
SUMMARY: Authorities say the two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque had been radicalized online where they first met. Investigators said Tuesday that the pair shared white supremacist views and left behind writings showing their hatred toward various races and religions. Authorities also found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at two residences after Monday’s attack. Authorities praised the security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego and two other men who were killed for slowing the attackers. They say the victims helped stop the attackers from reaching schoolchildren just steps away. Police have said the shooters killed themselves.
WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 5:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIslamicCenterShootingthLdWritethru/d81d87793aa3eea836d45a9d5b1f297b/text___
Busiest US commuter rail system resumes operations as deal reached to end strike
SUMMARY: Trains are rolling again on the Long Island Rail Road after a deal was reached to end a strike that had shut down the busiest commuter rail system in the country. The first trains departed from Manhattan’s Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal shortly after noon on Tuesday. But commuters in the New York City suburbs muddled through another tough morning rush hour as trains weren't running in time for the commute into work. The strike that began Saturday was the first walkout for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994. An agreement was reached late Monday. Around 250,000 riders typically travel each weekday on the train system.
WORDS: 776 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 10:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLongIslandRailRoadStrikethLdWritethru/4d8d59478a543553606d8095114abb5d/text___
What to know about a deadly attack by teen gunmen on a San Diego mosque
SUMMARY: An attack by two teenagers on a San Diego mosque left a community mourning its victims, Muslim leaders calling for increased security and investigators parsing white supremacist writings by the suspects. The teens killed three men and then themselves after trying to storm the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. A mosque leader said the attack could have been much worse if not for one of the victims, a beloved security guard who shot back and initiated a lockdown. That kept the attackers away from the 140 children who were just steps away. Investigators recovered more than 30 firearms and ammunition as they searched homes associated with the teens.
WORDS: 717 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 1:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIslamicCenterShootingWhattoKnowrdLdWritethru/7f74a37a58116f40e852a303ea23230d/text___
Man arrested day after judge bans most arrests outside New York immigration courts
SUMMARY: A judge barred federal agents from routinely detaining people who show up for proceedings in New York City’s immigration courts, saying that people shouldn’t have to risk arrest to exercise their legal right to pursue an asylum claim or attend a deportation hearing. A day after the ruling, a 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in one of the federal buildings subject to the court order, a group that advocates for immigrant rights said, raising questions about how closely the judge’s decision was being followed. The New York Legal Assistant Group said it would file a legal petition seeking the man’s release. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment. In an earlier statement criticizing the judge’s ruling, the department said such arrests were “common sense."
WORDS: 606 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 4:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSICEArrestsNewYorkCourtsrdLdWritethru/0d8fa782a85853f0092201069f4e21a8/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies. He was 86
SUMMARY: Barney Frank has died. The longtime Democratic congressman from Massachusetts was a leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights. He also helped to craft the most significant changes to the financial system in a generation. Frank was both brusque and erudite. He was the first lawmaker to come out as gay voluntarily. Frank recently spoke to The Associated Press and he advised the left-wing of his party to be less purist and more willing to accept compromise as a form of progress. Frank died late Tuesday. He was 86.
WORDS: 1344 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 1:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObitBarneyFrankthLdWritethru/2bcabf60456bc189fef2cadd393a8b76/text___
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie charted his own way, until toppled by Trump
SUMMARY: Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, has lost his primary bid for reelection. President Donald Trump had launched a costly attack against him, showcasing the president's power to remove his GOP adversaries. Massie, known for his independent voting and willingness to oppose Trump, was a prominent figure in the House. He opposed Trump’s tax cuts and military actions, and pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Massie, an engineer and libertarian-leaning politician, first joined Congress in 2012. Despite his popularity in his district, Trump's relentless criticism ultimately led to Massie's defeat.
WORDS: 969 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMassierdLdWritethru/9561ac5dcf4dc3af932b2e8f781264da/text___
Where Trump stands with Republicans nationally, according to the latest AP-NORC poll
SUMMARY: A new poll finds that Republicans are unhappier with President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they’re largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to the AP-NORC poll. That’s down from about 8 in 10 in February, before the war began. That erosion isn’t translating to his overall job approval — roughly 7 in 10 Republicans approve of how he’s handling the presidency, similar to earlier this year — and he’s recovered some ground on immigration. The findings highlight Trump’s strength within the Republican Party, even as economic frustration grows among some of his supporters.
WORDS: 1056 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 9:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAPPollTrumpApprovalndLdWritethru/283a726342b3b41e0b71f2b2941d8484/text___
Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries: Massie's loss leaves no doubt about Trump's power over the GOP
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has scored another win against a Republican rival, purging Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and knocking out one of his most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill. Massie has been a particularly difficult thorn in Trump’s side. He pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposed the war with Iran and voted against Trump’s signature tax legislation last year. He lost Tuesday to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein following the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. Party primaries were also being decided in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
WORDS: 1458 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 4:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionTakeawaysthLdWritethru/8eb9f54741ce0313ab15b291bd742c16/text___
US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another victory for Trump
SUMMARY: Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has lost his Republican House primary after a concerted effort by President Donald Trump to oust him through challenger and ultimate winner Ed Gallrein. The result shows the president’s persisting influence over GOP voters. It also adds to a growing number of Trump-backed primary challengers to defeat Republican lawmakers he considers disloyal. Massie has served in Congress since 2012. He angered Trump by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, criticizing the war in Iran and voting against his signature tax legislation last year. Also Tuesday, Republicans statewide chose their Senate nominee: U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who was endorsed by Trump.
WORDS: 1077 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionKentuckythLdWritethru/03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47/text___
Trump endorses Ken Paxton in Texas GOP primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, supercharging his effort to oust incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff. Paxton and Cornyn qualified for the May 26 runoff after a March 3 primary. Trump wrote on social media that Paxton is “a true MAGA Warrior.” Although the four-term Cornyn has backed Trump’s agenda in Washington, Paxton pitched himself as a political warrior for the Make America Great Again movement. Trump’s endorsement Tuesday puts him at odds with his party’s establishment, which is convinced Cornyn is the better candidate for November’s general election. The runoff had been shaping up as a bitter and expensive battle for the future of the Republican Party.
WORDS: 1204 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 4:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionTexasSenateTrumpthLdWritethru/adb4c7213fc2d0db0b29d0ab65d49384/text___
US government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement
SUMMARY: The U.S. government has agreed to permanently drop tax claims against President Donald Trump, according to a settlement document that is part of a deal to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. As part of the settlement agreement, the U.S. is “forever barred and precluded” from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump organization’s current tax issues, according to a one-page document posted to the DOJ website on Tuesday.
WORDS: 695 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 7:11 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIRSTrumpSettlementthLdWritethru/7bb7a6d8020b903395accc180acf263b/text___
Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support
SUMMARY: The Senate has advanced legislation that seeks to force President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iran war. The 50-47 vote tally showed that a small but growing number of Republicans are willing to challenge Trump on the Iran war, even though the effort may not advance much further. Three Republicans were absent Tuesday and their vote would be enough to defeat the measure, if they maintain their stance on the war. But Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy — fresh off a primary election loss in which Trump endorsed his opponent — delivered a crucial vote Tuesday to advance the war powers resolution.
WORDS: 782 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 9:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranCongressrdLdWritethru/fe89d2df981a79ac816722d0115d3080/text___
Blanche doesn't rule out considering payments for violent Jan. 6 rioters as he defends $1.8B fund
SUMMARY: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has not ruled out the possibility of compensating individuals involved in violence during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot from a new $1.776 billion fund. During a Congressional hearing on Tuesday, Blanche stated that anyone who believes they were politically targeted can apply for the “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund, announced Monday, aims to compensate those mistreated by previous administrations' Justice Departments. Blanche emphasized that the fund is not limited to any political party or specific individuals. Some Democrats have criticized the fund as an abuse of power, while some Republicans have expressed discomfort with it.
WORDS: 971 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 9:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressJusticeDepartmentthLdWritethru/1b8c7130c12253af161367b701d914b7/text___
Trump shows reporters ballroom construction site as lawmakers balk at $1B for White House security
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is defending the White House ballroom he's building. He showed off the construction site to a group of reporters on Tuesday. The surprise visit comes days after the Senate parliamentarian said a proposal to pay for $1 billion in security additions to the White House campus could not be included in a bill currently before Congress. Raising his voice over the banging and clanging of loud construction equipment, Trump described the ballroom's security features, repeated that taxpayer money isn't paying to build it and called it a "gift to the United States of America.”
WORDS: 793 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 7:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpWhiteHouseBallroomstLdWritethru/275f8034ad3817ca78aa085d1c202c32/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Residents of Lithuania's capital told to shelter as drone alarm underlines NATO's eastern jitters
SUMMARY: Lithuania's president and prime minister have been taken to safe locations after a suspected drone was detected near the country's border with Belarus. Residents of Vilnius were told to take shelter, and airspace over Vilnius Airport was closed for about an hour on Wednesday. The alert came after military reports of drone activity in Belarus, though no drones were seen over Lithuania. This marks the first major alert in a NATO capital since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lithuanian officials accuse Russia of redirecting Ukrainian drones into Baltic airspace to sow chaos and distract from Ukraine's military successes.
WORDS: 1004 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 9:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/65a07ddd19cc4aa73776418135379669/text___
Ebola fears surge on the ground in Congo over rapid spread of a rare type
SUMMARY: Healthcare workers in eastern Congo say they are underprotected and undertrained amid a rapidly spreading outbreak of a rare Ebola virus. Families weep as burials of loved ones continue. The virus known as Bundibugyo had spread undetected for weeks and will take months to control. So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo, with two in Uganda. The World Health Organization says the outbreak poses a low global risk but local case numbers will increase. The arrival of any potential vaccine is months away. The region faces immense pressure from conflict and a collapsing health system, stretching limited resources even further.
WORDS: 1204 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 10:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolathLdWritethru/6b0bd445b991dd381ae8a585a9b6179a/text___
Putin and Xi hail their friendship and growing energy trade at their meeting in Beijing
SUMMARY: Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have hailed their strategic ties and energy trade during a meeting in Beijing. They oversaw the signing of over 40 cooperation agreements in trade, technology, and media on Wednesday. Xi described their relationship as being at the highest level in history. He also stressed the need for peace in the Middle East to ensure energy stability. China has become Russia's top trading partner since the Ukraine invasion, despite sanctions. Both leaders highlighted their united front on international affairs. They praised each other as friends.
WORDS: 898 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaRussiaPutinthLdWritethru/5b7304bc1604cbb7135cb96f217b8b3e/text___
North Korean soccer team beats South Korean hosts in rare match between divided countries
SUMMARY: Drenched in rain, hundreds of South Koreans have cheered the North Korean visitors during a rare soccer match between the divided countries as Pyongyang-based Naegohyang Women’s FC defeated host Suwon 2-1 against the backdrop of political tensions. The win locked Naegohyang into another match in South Korea, a final Saturday against Tokyo Verdy Beleza which defeated Melbourne City 3-1 in the other semifinal of the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League. While athletes from North and South Korea have previously competed on combined teams and marched together in Olympic ceremonies during periods of warmer ties, such exchanges have largely disappeared in recent years as relations between the rivals deteriorated.
WORDS: 688 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 12:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCKoreasRareMatchstLdWritethru/61ec0fe71f94e0144b1e8901fb2a2cf3/text___
In Iran's capital, weapons demonstrations send a signal at home and abroad as threat of war remains
SUMMARY: Weapons are now regularly brandished in Tehran in an increasing show of defiance. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens he could restart the war with Iran should negotiations break down and the Islamic Republic refuses to release its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. The weapons displays reflect the genuine threat Iran faces: Trump has suggested American forces could seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium by force and previously said that he sent arms to Kurdish fighters to pass onto anti-government protesters. But they also offer reassurance and motivation to hard-liners and provide rare entertainment at a time of great uncertainty. Suggesting more hard-liners will be armed could also help suppress any new demonstration against Iran’s theocracy.
WORDS: 837 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 10:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSWeaponizedTehranstLdWritethru/df66b19c69074ca4f4195f9eca262020/text___
WHO says risk of global spread of Ebola outbreak is low, but high at national, regional levels
SUMMARY: The risk of global spread of the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda is high at national, regional levels but low at the global level, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. So far 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo in the northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu provinces in Congo, “although we know the scale of the epidemic is much larger,” he said on Wednesday. Uganda has also told the U.N. health agency of two confirmed cases in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. “Beyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected,” he said. “We expect those numbers to keep increasing.”
WORDS: 118 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 9:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolaWHO/2bbfe841ed70b824d27c5adfd659edf7/text___
Israeli minister orders West Bank hamlet evicted after hearing he may face arrest warrant overseas
SUMMARY: Israel’s finance minister has ordered the eviction of a Palestinian village in the West Bank. He says it is a response to reports that he may be a target of international war crimes prosecutors. It is not clear whether the International Criminal Court is mulling an arrest warrant for the minister, named Bezalel Smotrich. The Hague court says it keeps requests and plans for warrants confidential. Smotrich has reacted defiantly, saying he is ordering the eviction of Khan Al-Ahmar, a village of Palestinian Bedouins long caught up in a legal battle to remain on their land.
WORDS: 594 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 2:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelPalestiniansndLdWritethru/68bffe70027bab508e650641f71324bd/text___
Ukraine ally Britain eases new sanctions on Russian oil as fuel prices surge over Iran war
SUMMARY: The U.K. government has delayed some new sanctions on Russian oil. It says it is protecting consumers from rising costs due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Iran war. A trade license now allows the import of Russian oil refined into jet fuel and diesel in countries like India and Turkey. The U.K. announced in October it would ban these imports. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move is to protect consumers. The government insists its sanctions remain among the toughest. However, some lawmakers and Ukrainian officials have expressed disappointment over the decision.
WORDS: 522 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 9:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainRussiaSanctionsndLdWritethru/b44c42c1e172302d7d09bc07ee49b49c/text___
Finnish divers recover remaining 2 bodies of Italians from underwater cave in Maldives
SUMMARY: Divers have recovered the last two bodies of the four Italians who died deep inside an underwater cave in the Maldives last week. The Italian divers had been exploring the cave in Vaavu Atoll last Thursday when they disappeared. The body of their Italian diving instructor was recovered outside the cave, and the Finnish recovery divers brought the bodies of two of the divers to the surface Tuesday. Maldives President’s Spokesman Mohameed Hussain Shareef said Wednesday that three Finnish divers have brought out the last remaining bodies. A local military diver died in an earlier recovery attempt. The bodies of the Italians will be brought to a morgue in the capital and soon be repatriated.
WORDS: 461 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 8:28 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APItalyMaldivesDeadDiversstLdWritethru/567927eaf0173648de1f83767b6f345f/text___
Board of Peace will ask the UN Security Council to press Hamas to disarm
SUMMARY: The body overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza plans to ask the United Nations Security Council to press Hamas to disarm. The Associated Press saw the Board of Peace report before its release. The report is expected to be discussed Thursday. It states that Hamas' refusal to disarm is a major obstacle to the ceasefire's full implementation. Hamas has rejected the report, calling it fallacious. The ceasefire began in October but has stalled due to the deadlock over disarming Hamas. The report highlights ongoing ceasefire violations and emphasizes that disarmament is crucial for reconstruction and progress toward Palestinian self-determination.
WORDS: 765 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 2:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazastLdWritethru/c23fe476ed6d329b9c0b08b5fec4b156/text___
Taiwan's Lai says he would tell Trump he hopes to continue arms purchases from the US
SUMMARY: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says that if given the chance he would tell U.S. President Donald Trump he hopes to continue U.S. arms purchases that are essential for peace. Lai on Wednesday marked two years in office, the halfway point of his term. He made assurances that Taiwan's future would not be decided by external forces. Trump has recently raised concern about traditional U.S. support for the island. He says a new Taiwan arms package is a good bargaining chip with China. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a strong warning during a Beijing summit with Trump last week, saying the “Taiwan question” is the most important issue between China and the U.S.
WORDS: 710 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASTaiwanLaiAddressstLdWritethru/d52867fbbb34e66f414fb4a45929f7fc/text___
Nigeria says joint strikes with the US have killed 175 Islamic State group fighters
SUMMARY: A joint operation by the United States and Nigeria has killed 175 Islamic State fighters, Nigeria's military says. The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the operation and emphasized what it can bring to Africa, now considered the "epicenter of global terrorism." The U.S. sent troops to Nigeria in February for advisory roles, but this operation signals more active involvement. Recent gains include the killing of senior IS leaders. U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson on Tuesday praised Nigeria's pivotal role, highlighting the importance of partnerships in addressing threats and protecting American security interests.
WORDS: 483 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 5:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFNigeriaUSJointStrikendLdWritethru/24451eafc0ff312580cc0ab650e024f0/text___
The UAE says drones that targeted its Barakah nuclear power plant came from Iraqi territory
SUMMARY: The United Arab Emirates says drones that targeted its Barakah nuclear power plant came from Iraq. Tuesday's announcement indicated Iranian-backed Shiite militias were likely behind Sunday’s nuclear plant attack. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he's willing to give Iran a few days — possibly until early next week — to make progress in peace negotiations before the United States resumes military strikes. No group has claimed responsibility for the UAE attack, though Iran and its proxies had been suspected as they have launched repeated drone attacks targeting Gulf Arab states since Israel and the U.S. began their war against Iran on Feb. 28.
WORDS: 1066 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 2:21 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/46f5023dc480c3fbe8061c2ed6a94a5c/text___
Trump administration prepares to seek Raúl Castro indictment as it pressures Cuba, AP sources say
SUMMARY: The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, three people familiar with the matter tell The Associated Press. The indictment would require approval by a grand jury. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. One of the people said the potential indictment is connected to Castro’s alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of planes operated by a Miami exile group. Prosecutors in Miami have been building cases against senior Cuban officials amid renewed pressure from south Florida Republicans and a pledge earlier this year by President Donald Trump to orchestrate a “friendly takeover” of the communist-run island
WORDS: 1152 - MOVED: 05/15/2026 6:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentCubathLdWritethru/40939c6644185652649bc90d4e445394/text___
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BUSINESS
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US stocks rally as pressure eases from the bond market and oil prices fall
SUMMARY: The U.S. stock market is bouncing back after pressure eased on Wall Street from the bond market and oil prices gave back some of their big gains. The S&P 500 climbed 0.9% Wednesday toward its first rise in four days and pulled near its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 323 points, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.1%. Stocks got a lift from easing yields in the bond market, which halted their sharp recent climbs on worries about inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back below 4.60% as the price of Brent crude oil dropped 5%.
WORDS: 787 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 4:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/351c7434b9875516e61e8917f960fc13/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Stephen Colbert's long goodbye is coming to an end, leaving a void
SUMMARY: Stephen Colbert's run on “The Late Show” ends Thursday, marking the conclusion of his on-air feud with President Donald Trump. Colbert began hosting in 2015 and often criticized Trump and his policies. CBS announced last summer that the show would end in May, citing economic reasons. However, Colbert and others suspect political pressure played a role. The decision follows Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit and its pending sale to Skydance Media. Colbert's departure leaves a void in late-night TV, with fans missing his unique perspective and humor. Other hosts like Jimmy Kimmel have shown support.
WORDS: 1280 - MOVED: 05/20/2026 11:20 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTTVStephenColbertsGoodbye/13d6bbf9fe8ed40d72aed0c02d158377/text___
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SPORTS
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Arsenal wins its first Premier League title in 22 years after Man City draws with Bournemouth
SUMMARY: Arsenal was crowned Premier League champion for the first time since 2004 after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth. The result put an end to City’s title challenge with one round of the season go. Pep Guardiola’s team needed to win at the Vitality Stadium to take it down to the final game of the campaign on Sunday. But the draw left Arsenal with an unassailable four-point lead at the top, ending its 22-year wait for the title. Arsenal fans celebrated wildly outside its Emirates Stadium. The players did likewise after gathering to watch the game at the club’s training ground.
WORDS: 823 - MOVED: 05/19/2026 7:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCEnglishRoundupthLdWritethru/828b9b177f8c0484754945eeb4ee0d0f/text___
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