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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California Democrats shrug at their choices in packed race to replace Newsom
SUMMARY: The crowded race for California governor still has no clear front-runner with only days left for voters to decide which two candidates to advance to the general election in November. Fewer Democrats are voting early so far this year than usual. Some Democratic voters say they aren't impressed with the field, while others say they're fearful of two Republican candidates advancing and locking out Democrats. That's possible because the state's primary system allows the top two vote-getters to advance regardless of party. But it became less likely after one of the major Democrats dropped out and President Donald Trump endorsed one of the leading Republicans.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 4:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionCaliforniaDemocratsstLdWritethru/4914dea1dc6d263614df6671d38bfb9a/text___
9 missing after Washington paper mill tank rupture and officials say there's no hope of survivors
SUMMARY: Crews are resuming the search for nine people presumed killed at a Washington state paper mill where a chemical tank ruptured. It's likely to be one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in years. Authorities on Wednesday said the presumed death toll rose to 11 after a second person died. Authorities says there's no hope of finding more survivors following Tuesday’s tank failure at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview. Some contamination made its way into the nearby Columbia River. Authorities say the tank failure hasn't impacted the region's air or drinking water, but testing is ongoing.
WORDS: 926 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 2:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWashingtonStateChemicalTankFailurethLdWritethru/317b2491baf6e44c0a5f66ef98af31b5/text___
Many National Spelling Bee contenders pursue mastery. For a few, it's more about memorization
SUMMARY: Many kids who've won the Scripps National Spelling Bee have taken a comprehensive approach to their preparation. They use private coaches, pay for word lists and study guides and compete in online bees. They seek a mastery of roots and language patterns that will help them figure out words they've never heard before. But sometimes a speller comes along who does it differently. Sarv Dharavane finished third last year, and he's a finalist again this year. He says he just reads the dictionary, makes his own word lists and remembers them. Several former champions and coaches say memorization is important, but no one can memorize every word.
WORDS: 1069 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 8:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSpellingBeerdLdWritethru/cc710f7f1eb5538b361e99327deaf34d/text___
Millions of people have been placed in new voting districts. Here's where the redistricting stands
SUMMARY: A redistricting effort ahead of the November elections has reshaped congressional voting districts for millions of Americans. Since President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw U.S. House districts last year, Republicans in several states have enacted new maps that could help them win additional seats in the midterms. Louisiana is expected to join soon, and Alabama Republicans are appealing a court decision blocking a map they support. Republicans think they could gain as many as 14 seats, while Democrats think they could gain six from new districts in California and Utah. The redistricting battle continues across several states.
WORDS: 790 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingWhattoKnowrdLdWritethru/6c8fbbc250f45a91412f63fc78608cee/text___
Don Lemon seeks grand jury transcripts in Minnesota civil rights case, citing misconduct
SUMMARY: Attorneys for former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon argue in a new court filing that recent examples of grand jury misconduct by the U.S. Department of Justice across the country warrant the release of transcripts from the normally secretive proceedings in his case. Lemon made the new arguments in a court filing Wednesday. Lemon pleaded not guilty in February to federal civil rights charges, following a protest at a Minnesota church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor. Lemon’s attorneys argue that “the past 15 months have seen an unprecedented and growing distrust in the Justice Department’s use of the grand jury process.”
WORDS: 590 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 8:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMinnesota/88673f61f72f69eba2d0bb17f73e6c3f/text___
Teen charged with killing stepsister on Carnival Cruise remains free after hearing
SUMMARY: A federal judge has allowed a teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship to remain free for now. The judge is considering arguments following Wednesday's hearing in Miami. Timothy Hudson, initially charged as a juvenile, was allowed to live with an uncle and be electronically monitored. After the case moved to adult court, prosecutors wanted the 16-year-old in custody. The judge ended Wednesday's hearing without a final decision, saying he wants to talk to the U.S. Marshals Service about detaining Hudson closer to his family. Hudson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse.
WORDS: 603 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCruiseShipStepsisterKilledthLdWritethru/63d9ccd0418bdca8d1c16927a9046946/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Justice Department opens investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of assault: AP source
SUMMARY: The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether longtime advice columnist E. Jean Carroll lied during the course of civil litigation against Donald Trump, who Carroll says sexually assaulted her in a New York department store 30 years ago. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing inquiry and spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity. Lawyers for Carroll have not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The Justice Department has opened a series of investigations into perceived adversaries of the Republican president. The person says the perjury investigation is being led by the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago.
WORDS: 466 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 1:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentTrumpColumnistthLdWritethru/ec802c40674fabeefab4dd8ed51aa4b6/text___
Supreme Court rules for Black death row inmate from Mississippi over racial bias in makeup of jury
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court has ruled for a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who claims there was racial bias in the makeup of the jury that convicted him. By a 5-4 vote Thursday, the justices sided with Terry Pitchford, who was sentenced to death for his role in the killing of a grocery store owner in northern Mississippi. There were 11 white jurors and one Black juror in a trial with similarities to that of another Black man on Mississippi’s death row, whose conviction the high court overturned seven years ago. If Pitchford's conviction is overturned, the state could seek to retry him. Pitchford's lawyer says he's “entitled to a fair trial.”
WORDS: 617 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 2:19 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtExcludingBlackJurorsrdLdWritethru/a95ba2fd8163923ecd62e0d8384e89c5/text___
Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There's no immediate effect on the midterms
SUMMARY: A federal judge is declining to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to create a national list of eligible voters and limit mail voting. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington late Wednesday rejected arguments by Democrats and civil rights groups that the provision exceeds the Republican president's powers. The Constitution gives the power to set election rules to the states and Congress, not the president. No matter how rapidly Trump's administration acts, no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which continue into next month. Attention now shifts to Boston, where another challenge to the executive order is in federal court.
WORDS: 530 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 11:54 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpElectionsthLdWritethru/9474fae41161dc5954295ae1370bcb88/text___
Republicans' recent stumbles in Congress highlight the difficult road ahead for their agenda
SUMMARY: Republicans' stumble on an immigration funding bill is raising questions about other parts of their legislative agenda. That includes whether Republicans can enact another catchall, party-line bill referred to in Washington parlance as “Reconciliation 3.0.” House Republicans have spent recent weeks laying the groundwork for the massive bill, which they hope will serve as a final sales pitch to voters going into the midterms. Success will reinforce the GOP’s message of being able to deliver on legislative priorities. Failure will underscore some of the Republican fractures under President Donald Trump that could leave voters seeking an alternative. Democrats say Republicans will have a more difficult path than they did with Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill.
WORDS: 1159 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 11:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetstLdWritethru/dc4fb5d060ce6f46dfc09cec9cebb95b/text___
Newsom seeks to shield California elections from federal interference before Tuesday primary
SUMMARY: Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that aims to shield California elections from federal interference ahead of the state's primary next week. The Democratic governor said he expected President Donald Trump’s administration to try to meddle in upcoming elections. The law prohibits any person from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order. It also makes it a crime to knowingly take voted ballots from election officials. The law took effect Wednesday. A White House spokesperson responded that Trump is committed to ensuring Americans have full confidence in elections. Federal officials have said they have no plans to send immigration agents to polling locations.
WORDS: 521 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 1:45 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNewsomElectionInterferenceBillstLdWritethru/7d4a27328732d31a44153732a251292e/text___
US military strikes another alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing 2
SUMMARY: The U.S. military has struck another vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two men. U.S. Southern Command posted video on social media Wednesday showing a boat resting on the water before being struck by an explosion. A day earlier, U.S. forces had launched a strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing one man and leaving two survivors. The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has gone on since early September and killed at least 196 people in total. The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs.
WORDS: 274 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 1:58 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCartelsstLdWritethru/5cb416940340f78d416f872fcf719e5f/text___
US military conducts another strike against Iran after Trump says Iran is 'negotiating on fumes'
SUMMARY: U.S. forces have carried out new defensive strikes on an Iran military facility after downing Iranian attack drones. That's according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. They said U.S. Central Command forces on Wednesday shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone, according to the officials. The strikes came after President Donald Trump asserted Wednesday that Iran is “negotiating on fumes.”
WORDS: 1226 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSTrumpthLdWritethru/af77d581873bfeec32d7342b56841244/text___
US imposes sanctions on Iranian agency trying to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has placed additional sanctions on Iran as part of a sprawling economic pressure campaign during the war, this time targeting the country’s newly created agency that is trying to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The move Wednesday, first reported by The Associated Press, is the latest U.S. effort to use economic leverage on top of military action to push Iran’s leadership into an agreement to end the war and open the waterway. The sanctions were announced late Wednesday after U.S. forces carried out strikes on an Iran military facility after downing Iranian attack drones, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
WORDS: 554 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 1:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSSanctionsndLdWritethru/13052dd9323747cbdd661d48759f27d6/text___
AP Exclusive: Trump administration tells prosecutors to stand down on Venezuela leader, sources say
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has quietly instructed federal prosecutors in Miami to avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime target of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. That's according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials. It's the latest sign of warming relations between the White House and the oil-rich nation. It’s unclear whether prosecutors had implicated Rodriguez in any crimes or whether investigators were moving toward an indictment. A Justice Department spokesperson said in an email “there was never an investigation into her to shut down.”
WORDS: 1282 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 12:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaDelcyRodrguezndLdWritethru/07226dea025e16afcf8ca3e39280fd76/text___
Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow use of congressional map helping GOP, despite racial bias ruling
SUMMARY: Alabama is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to use a congressional map favoring Republicans in this year’s elections, despite a lower court's ruling the map intentionally discriminates against Black people. The state filed an emergency appeal with the justices Wednesday, a day after a three-judge court blocked a map with a Black majority in just one of Alabama's seven congressional districts. The judges ordered Alabama to use a court-ordered map with two districts with large Black populations. The appeal is the latest development following last month’s Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act and part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to preserve Republicans’ slim House majority.
WORDS: 598 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 3:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingAlabamathLdWritethru/d41988d640f26714a52d2c18271af05e/text___
Trump’s latest immigration move clouds the path to green cards
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's administration has announced a new policy requiring green card seekers to apply from their home countries instead of in the U.S. This change has left many immigrants and attorneys confused and concerned. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the change Friday, affecting hundreds of thousands of applicants each year. It’s unclear what exceptions might be allowed, although USCIS indicated to The Associated Press that people who provide an “economic benefit” or “national interest” could likely apply from the U.S. The move is part of a pivot by Trump's Republican administration to target legal pathways to immigration, after focusing since last year mostly on migrants in the U.S. illegally.
WORDS: 1241 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 10:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationGreenCardsstLdWritethru/e76dfb0b12d4148887419033ec5d6d23/text___
US will need years to replenish stockpiles of advanced weapons used in Iran war, new analysis finds
SUMMARY: U.S. military contractors will need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of three key weapons systems used in the Iran war. That's according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The findings released Wednesday by the Washington think tank add to concerns American forces would have limited firepower in any future conflict with China. The weapons are Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot and THAAD interceptors that defend against incoming missiles and drones. President Donald Trump's Republican administration is ramping up defense spending and manufacturing. But it could still take years to rebuild inventories because contractors aren't used to producing the advanced weapons on such a large scale.
WORDS: 1221 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 1:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSMunitionsthLdWritethru/593f866ad4eae4ddbbcfdafa22267329/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and launch nuclear talks
SUMMARY: U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear program. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said President Donald Trump still needs to sign off on the emerging memorandum of understanding. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal with the United States. The tentative agreement worked out by the two sides comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering.
WORDS: 743 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 3:22 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/8f5ed2813ba63df7ae9ccbe991688d29/text___
What to know about Code Noir, a shocking French law that oversaw the slavery of 1.4 million Africans
SUMMARY: France’s lower house has voted finally to scrub a foundational slavery-era edict from French law. The National Assembly voted 254-0 to overturn Code Noir or Black Code on Thursday. It now goes to the Senate. A French philosopher has described Code Noir as “the most monstrous legal text of modern times." King Louis XIV signed it at Versailles Palace in 1685 to set the rules for slavery across France’s colonial empire. Its 60 articles first governed the French Caribbean and were later extended to French Guiana, Louisiana and the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius.
WORDS: 637 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 1:21 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceSlaveryLawWhattoKnowstLdWritethru/de15f75e89f15949b41141ca7dfa0bec/text___
Fire rips through a dormitory at a girls' school in Kenya, killing at least 16 students
SUMMARY: A fire has devastated a girls' boarding school in central Kenya, killing at least 16 students and injuring many more. The blaze occurred Thursday at Utumishi Girls School, which has over 800 students. Police are questioning surviving students to determine the cause. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said 79 students were injured. Parents are frustrated as victims remain unidentified. The Kenya Red Cross is providing psychological support. President William Ruto expressed condolences, highlighting the ongoing concern over school fires in East Africa. Past incidents include deadly fires in 2024 and 2001, raising alarms about safety measures.
WORDS: 494 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 4:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFKenyaSchoolFirethLdWritethru/6f22a871876a8b99c2ded08e14ef53a9/text___
Israel strikes Beirut southern suburb ahead of crucial Washington talks
SUMMARY: Israel’s air force has carried out an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut, the Israeli military says. The strike on Thursday afternoon hit an apartment in Choueifat, near Beirut’s international airport. This comes amid escalating tensions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have crossed the Litani River. The Israeli military has intensified attacks against Hezbollah, killing at least 14 people across southern Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli military officials are set to hold security talks in Washington on Friday. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has claimed multiple drone and rocket attacks targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
WORDS: 1049 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 7:43 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelHezbollahthLdWritethru/9ee3d769ae672c1a64dae905797a73da/text___
Zelenskyy says he's pressing US for more Patriot missiles for Ukraine to counter Russian strikes
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is pressing the United States for more Patriot air defense missiles to counter Russian attacks. He sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress earlier this week but hasn't received a reply. Zelenskyy is eager to secure foreign weaponry as Ukraine battles Russia's full-scale invasion. Zelenskyy said Thursday during a visit to Sweden that Ukraine has plans to buy 20 Gripen fighter jets and receive 16 older models as a donation. Ukrainian drones are also playing a crucial role in limiting Russian advances by targeting supply routes and front-line positions.
WORDS: 619 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 9:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarstLdWritethru/63efe7b5482de04a4fda9884f3bf7ebe/text___
Exclusive: Inside an African hotel where asylum seekers deported by the US are imprisoned
SUMMARY: Under an opaque $7.5 million deal with the Trump administration, Equatorial Guinea’s all-powerful president has turned a hotel owned by his family into a prison for asylum seekers deported from the United States. The asylum seekers' lawyers say they had previously been granted protection from U.S. judges. Of the at least 32 people imprisoned at the hotel since November, 25 have been forced back to home countries across Africa where their lives might be in danger. The rest face pressure from authorities to leave. The Trump administration uses deportations to third countries as a legal loophole, immigration lawyers say, to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.
WORDS: 1297 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFMigrationEquatorialGuineaUSDeporteesndLdWritethru/f37fb971a2f463a96bdde4911feefc7a/text___
Taylor Swift concert plot suspect apologizes in Austrian court ahead of verdict
SUMMARY: A man who admitted to plotting to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna nearly two years ago has told an Austrian court that he's sorry, ahead of a verdict in his trial. The concert plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still canceled Swift’s three performances in August 2024. The defendant, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen known only as Beran A. in line with Austrian privacy rules, faces charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. His lawyer said he had pleaded guilty. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
WORDS: 387 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUAustriaTaylorSwiftPlotstLdWritethru/8f0709f69e96d71fc846886147923668/text___
France’s parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code, with tears and history in the chamber
SUMMARY: French lawmakers have voted to repeal a 17th-century law that governed enslaved people in France's colonies. The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved the bill to repeal Code Noir. The decree was signed in 1685 by King Louis XIV. France abolished slavery in 1848. But the Code Noir was never formally eliminated as a law. The vote is seen as a significant step in addressing France's colonial past. President Emmanuel Macron recently suggested the idea of reparations for slavery. But details remain unclear. The repeal is considered symbolic. Many people are calling for further action to address systemic racism and inequality.
WORDS: 1398 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUFranceSlaveryLawthLdWritethru/74ce7aecfdd7172bc5b54fcecf9cc789/text___
Plans for the Gaza International Stabilization Force are in question as troop pledges stall
SUMMARY: An international stabilization force promised for Gaza has yet to materialize three months after it was announced at an event hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. None of the five countries that pledged troops have come through with any significant contributions. Efforts to shore up the fragile ceasefire have stalled as Hamas has refused to disarm. Israel has seized more territory while continuing to strike what it says are militant targets, often killing civilians. The Iran war has meanwhile made it more difficult for Arab and Muslim leaders to openly cooperate with the United States and Israel, and the resulting global energy crisis has sapped their resources.
WORDS: 1103 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASGazaInternationalStabilizationForcestLdWritethru/a5e1d4a894746104c1335b6962c0ab69/text___
Australia launches record $1.4B lawsuit against 3M over 'forever chemicals' at defense bases
SUMMARY: Australia is suing the U.S. company 3M for over $1.4 billion due to contamination from “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam at defense bases. The government announced the lawsuit on Thursday, focusing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at 28 sites. These "forever chemicals" don't break down naturally. Australia filed the suit in the Federal Court of Australia. 3M plans to contest the claim, stating it stopped selling the foam in Australia two decades ago but that the Defense Department continued using it longer. The Australian government seeks damages for past and future expenses related to managing the contamination.
WORDS: 362 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 7:07 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASAustraliaMContaminationndLdWritethru/0bb0120960a0381b3133a0d2530d25ab/text___
5 things to know about the protests challenging Bolivia's new president
SUMMARY: Less than six months ago, the inauguration of centrist President Rodrigo Paz seemed to usher in a new reality for Bolivians reeling from the worst economic crisis in a generation. Now, that optimism has been replaced by dread as violent protests shake the government of this new Trump administration ally. Demonstrators wielding dynamite have blockaded major cities, leading to shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies. Indigenous and rural Bolivians have called on Paz to step down. Here are five things to know as Paz approves a law that could pave a way for him to declare a state of emergency.
WORDS: 1164 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 6:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTBoliviaWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/3df9cc7c109570302a2fe7f8fe58d933/text___
Uganda closes its border with Congo, where suspected cases of a rare Ebola type are surging
SUMMARY: Uganda has ordered the closure of its border with Congo, where suspected Ebola cases are surging. A local Ugandan task force gave the order on Wednesday. This comes after Ugandan health workers were exposed to Ebola following the arrival of Congolese patients who crossed the border before the outbreak in Congo was declared on May 15. Uganda has so far reported seven cases of Ebola, including a 59-year-old man who died in Kampala, the country's capital, on May 14. Meanwhile, the number of suspected Ebola cases in eastern Congo is nearing 1,000. There are also at least 220 suspected deaths.
WORDS: 879 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 1:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFEbolathLdWritethru/b96734598ea95b1cdb71986c8b1adf43/text___
Israel's military tells residents across southern Lebanon to leave as it fights Hezbollah
SUMMARY: The Israeli military has told residents across southern Lebanon to leave as it expands its operations there. The statement says the military will “work with extreme force” against Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group. The warning on Wednesday is the first since a ceasefire went into effect on April 17, and came amid a rising escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah war, with Israeli troops crossing the Litani River and edging closer to the southern city of Nabatiyeh. The escalation comes two days before Lebanese and Lebanese military officials were scheduled to meet at the Pentagon to discuss among things strengthening the ceasefire agreement.
WORDS: 582 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 5:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelHezbollahrdLdWritethru/3d9f77d0ab95fc8b00d417dea1680673/text___
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RACE AND ETHNICITY
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AP Exclusive: Stop AAPI Hate launches a nonprofit to mobilize voters before midterms
SUMMARY: Stop AAPI Hate is an organization that rose to national prominence for its meticulous reports on anti-Asian hate incidents at the height of the pandemic. The organization has announced Thursday it is launching a nonprofit called Stop AAPI Hate Action. It's a political and advocacy arm dedicated to getting more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders registered to vote and mobilize current voters. Over the past six years, the organization has elevated conversations about racism, discrimination and allyship. The voter initiative was sparked in part in response to actions from President Donald Trump’s administration.
WORDS: 1026 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSStopAAPIHateActionstLdWritethru/3d6ed97aa14ff2cc70ef6b59e19a4c6b/text___
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BUSINESS
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Wall Street pushes to more records as profits keep piling up for US companies
SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are pushing to more records as companies like Dollar Tree, Snowflake and Hormel Foods keep piling up profits. That’s even as oil prices continue to swing and more data on Thursday showed pressure building on the economy because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 added 0.6% to its all-time high set the day before after drifting between small gains and losses earlier in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 39 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8% after both indexes also set records the day before. Treasury yields eased in the bond market.
WORDS: 741 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 3:23 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/559e1f1e5269976ea21bb551e916c941/text___
Key inflation gauge worsens as Americans' income and spending power erodes
SUMMARY: A key inflation gauge accelerated in April to the highest level in three years, the latest sign that spiking gas prices and higher food costs are squeezing Americans’ finances. Inflation jumped to 3.8% in April compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from 3.5% in March and the highest since May 2023. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.4%, down from the 0.7% rise in March. The report showed that prices have risen for many items in addition to gas, a sign inflation could persist and pose problems for congressional Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.
WORDS: 853 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 12:39 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSConsumerSpendingrdLdWritethru/4f59d739153d66682b6fbc2b457f5df6/text___
Gamification and memes lure young people to sports wagering apps, prediction markets
SUMMARY: Some sports wagering platforms, as well as popular prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket, are touting their availability to users starting at 18 despite most U.S. states restricting gambling to 21 and older. The companies often use memes to advertise their platforms, then keep users hooked with what they market as low-stakes, casual opportunities to make an easy buck. That creates an environment that some say feels more like a game and less like a risky financial transaction. Young adulthood is a crucial period for companies to cultivate long-term users, but experts note that it’s also a critical moment for cognitive development. Kalshi says memes are “just a part of corporate branding nowadays” and their usage isn’t necessarily related to age.
WORDS: 1468 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 9:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSPredictionMarketsYoungUsers/59e79f3f85800e1301fa71f235cf0cf8/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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A rare blue micromoon rises this weekend
SUMMARY: Get set for a rare blue micromoon this weekend. It's when a blue moon that's also the most distant and smallest-looking full moon of the year rises. The brilliant star Antares will photobomb Sunday's spectacle for a celestial three-for-one. A blue moon occurs every two to three years when a second full moon squeezes into a single month. May 1 saw this month's first full moon. The upcoming full moon will be farther from Earth than usual at a distance of 252,360 miles. That will make the moon seem a bit smaller and dimmer.
WORDS: 356 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 12:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCIBlueMicromoon/52449eae9ac9cc2c3fd42e4805d66cee/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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Think it's hot now? The next five years will smash records, UN says
SUMMARY: A new report from the United Nations weather agency gives a three-out-of-four chance that the next five years will average more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. That's the international safety limit set in 2015. There’s an even higher chance — 86% — that one of the next five years will smash the global heat record set in 2024 and next year looks like a leading contender. So expect more extreme weather. The next five winters in the Arctic are predicted to be nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the last five years. Meteorologists also forecast an Amazon drought that may spark wildfires.
WORDS: 1013 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APClimateNextFiveYearsrdLdWritethru/53d79525a06f09d9ace45a141dbebb01/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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'Shoot me up with a big one': A timeline of the last days of Matthew Perry
SUMMARY: The prosecution of five people in the drug death of actor Matthew Perry ended Wednesday with the sentencing of the personal assistant of the “Friends” star. Sixty-year-old Kenneth Iwamasa was at Perry's side in the final weeks of his life. Perry had been taking ketamine legally through his doctor, but about a month before his death began illegally seeking more. He found a doctor willing to provide it off the books, and a street dealer who gave him even more. On the last day of his life, Perry received about half a dozen injections. Iwamasa found him dead in the Jacuzzi of the home they shared.
WORDS: 1149 - MOVED: 05/28/2026 3:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTMatthewPerryTimelinestLdWritethru/5eaf9ab97871106dce7a7b89780f5c08/text___
Matthew Perry's assistant gets more than 3 years in prison for central role in his ketamine death
SUMMARY: Matthew Perry's personal assistant has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for his role in the drug death of the “Friends” star. Sixty-year-old Kenneth Iwamasa received the sentence in a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday. Iwamasa The assistant was at Perry’s side through the final days of his life in 2023. He injected Perry with the fatal dose of ketamine and found him dead in his Jacuzzi. He would eventually become prosecutors’ most important informant. Iwamasa was the last person sentenced of five who pleaded guilty in connection with Perry's death at age 54.
WORDS: 1042 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 5:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTMatthewPerrythLdWritethru/d58a608daa1eca55e20fed284763e5aa/text___
What to know about the 5 people convicted in connection with Matthew Perry’s death
SUMMARY: The prosecution of five people involved in the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry has come to a close. They've all pleaded guilty for their various roles in supplying the actor with ketamine, the drug that was the primary cause of his 2023 death at age 54. On Friday, his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, received more than three years in prison for facilitating his ketamine use. Two doctors, an addiction counselor and an admitted drug dealer prosecutors say was known as “The Ketamine Queen” were previously sentenced.
WORDS: 1265 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 10:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTMatthewPerryDefendantsWhattoKnow/ae9c3f9b14d9ba0733a8334f09e25bc0/text___
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SPORTS
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Key Sens. Cruz, Cantwell look to break college sports logjam in Congress with a bipartisan bill
SUMMARY: The senators trying to fix college sports will introduce a bipartisan bill designed to break a congressional logjam that would regulate payments to players, limit them to one “free” transfer over their careers and create a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict coach movement during the season. Senators Ted Cruz, a Republican, and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, briefed The Associated Press on details of the bill they crafted in hopes it could get the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate. They are trying to overcome more than a year of inaction in Congress, which is seeking to enshrine rules created by a lawsuit settlement that allowed players to be paid.
WORDS: 1130 - MOVED: 05/27/2026 3:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCollegeSportsCongressthLdWritethru/b715ea4cb6ffbc302bfc3fd41b00e157/text___
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