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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Man pleads guilty to killing a top Minnesota Democrat and her husband while posing as an officer
SUMMARY: The man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband has pleaded guilty in federal court after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty. Vance Boelter was charged with murder in the deaths of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. He is also charged in the nonfatal shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. He came to their doors in the early hours of June 14, 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car.
WORDS: 582 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 4:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMinnesotaLawmakersShotthLdWritethru/c3e9d3e92eafbb9cfa4995935769898c/text___
Hundreds of thousands without power after Midwest storms, while East Coast braces for high heat
SUMMARY: Several hundred thousand homes and businesses were still without power after severe storms swept through the Midwest. Wednesday's storms damaged buildings and structures across a wide swath and caused more than a thousand fight delays and cancellations. The National Weather Service says it received more than a dozen reports of tornadoes Wednesday across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois. Damage to buildings was reported across the region, including Chicago. Police in Des Moines, Iowa, say a man was killed by a tree that fell. More severe weather is expected Thursday, along with potentially dangerous heat and humidity along the East Coast.
WORDS: 918 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 3:23 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSevereWeatherthLdWritethru/c318b02d9cc46da26b11910adfc31509/text___
Judge considers arguments in challenge to New Mexico's universal childcare program
SUMMARY: It is up to a New Mexico judge to settle a challenge over the legality of New Mexico’s fledgling universal childcare program, an ambitious and closely watched effort to eliminate daycare costs for all working families. A lawsuit brought by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and other plaintiffs challenges the process used by state officials to eliminate an income cap and co-pays for childcare assistance. They say the Legislature didn't have a chance to weigh in or approve funding before regulations were adopted last fall by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration. Attorneys for the administration argue the case is moot since funding has since been approved.
WORDS: 394 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUniversalChildCareNewMexico/693219d2e02e969f4f8ab6efedccc639/text___
Feds won't seek death penalty in plea deal with man accused of killing top Minnesota Democrat
SUMMARY: U.S. prosecutors say they will not seek the death penalty as part of a plea agreement with the man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House along with her husband, as well as the attempted murders of a state senator and his wife. Vance Boelter has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled for Thursday morning in federal court in Minneapolis. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were shot by a man who came to their doors in the early hours of June 14, 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car.
WORDS: 619 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 10:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMinnesotaLawmakersShotthLdWritethru/af14b275e8e332ed46e14d534254638a/text___
A burning cross in a Chicago park shocks residents and has police searching for who did it
SUMMARY: Chicago police are urging residents to come forward with any information about a cross burning in a public park. The burning of a cross is a historic symbol of hate and intimidation against Black Americans. However, the intent behind the fire Tuesday afternoon in Grant Park was still unclear. Police released a community alert Wednesday that included an image of a person walking away from the area Tuesday. Video taken by a driver that circulated widely online showed the wooden cross engulfed in bright orange flames as it leaned against a tree in the park. Chicago firefighters put out the blaze.
WORDS: 902 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 4:32 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCrossBurningChicagothLdWritethru/e61c932c3633516f55e32da3fd294dec/text___
Florida court allows use of new US House districts drawn by Republicans for midterm elections
SUMMARY: The Florida Supreme Court has allowed the use of a new U.S. House map drawn by Republicans in the midterm elections. The court on Wednesday declined a request to issue a temporary injunction against the map backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Attorneys representing voters had argued that the new districts violate a state constitutional ban on political gerrymandering. Republicans currently hold 20 of the state’s 28 U.S. House seats. The new voting districts could improve the GOP’s chances to win four additional seats this year. President Donald Trump has urged Republican-led states to redraw voting districts to try to hold on to a slim House majority in November.
WORDS: 943 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 9:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingrdLdWritethru/2a32c663cd09190bf3a58febeef8dacd/text___
FBI seizing evidence at California plant where chemical tank overheated and forced evacuations
SUMMARY: Federal authorities served a search warrant on Wednesday at a Southern California aerospace facility where a chemical tank overheated last month, forcing 50,000 residents to evacuate because authorities feared an explosion. The warrant signed by a federal judge last week approved the seizure of documents and records related to the “storage, use, or disposal” of methyl methacrylate, the chemical inside the affected tank. The FBI confirmed its agents were searching GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems in the Orange County city of Garden Grove. A GKN spokesperson told the AP the company is cooperating with authorities. County health officials said the chemical that overheated is still in the holding tank and there are plans to have it removed.
WORDS: 1043 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 5:22 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSouthernCaliforniaChemicalTankthLdWritethru/5cea31cc43e5eda3cb04955b6c07ff00/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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FISA spy powers are almost certain to expire after the House votes down an extension
SUMMARY: A key surveillance tool that allows the United States to collect intelligence abroad appears certain to expire. That's because the House on Thursday failed to temporarily extend the program, in a protest of President Donald Trump’s temporary pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies. The House vote collapsed in bipartisan fashion, with some 20 Republicans and nearly all Democrats rejecting the temporary measure. The Senate may try its own vote later Thursday, but hopes are dimming to prevent what could be rare lapse of spy powers. The law expires on Friday at midnight.
WORDS: 1067 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressForeignSurveillancerdLdWritethru/066052a8521d68215497c1162f3dbd6c/text___
Lights! Camera! Cage match! The White House lawn's Octagon is ready for Trump's 80th birthday bash
SUMMARY: A massive UFC event is set to take over the White House's South Lawn. The temporary arena resembles a cross between a UFO and a claw game in a video arcade and features an eight-sided cage and a towering structure of lights, speakers and wiring called The Claw. The event celebrates President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The National Park Service is contesting a lawsuit to block the event, which costs more than $60 million. The fights are scheduled for Sunday night, with additional activities planned throughout the weekend. UFC chief Dana White insists the show will go on, rain or shine.
WORDS: 956 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 3:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpUFC/2c008c72bcfd2334a17ba5ba009595ec/text___
Opening of Canada-US bridge that Trump threatened to block is delayed over unresolved 'issues'
SUMMARY: The opening of a Canadian-U.S. bridge across the Detroit River that President Donald Trump previously threatened to block has been delayed due to unresolved issues. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said Thursday ahead of a scheduled Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.” The bridge authority hasn't elaborated. The Gordie Howe International Bridge is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan and was expected to open to traffic later this month. The Republican U.S. president in February demanded Canada turn over at least half the ownership of the bridge to the U.S. federal government.
WORDS: 502 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 12:54 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCanadaDetroitBridgethLdWritethru/12af9790c89b04969194802493bf0d46/text___
Trump has a new, surprising take on the higher cost of living: 'I love the inflation'
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has a surprising take on a new report that shows inflation spiking to its highest level in three years. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that “I love the inflation." Ahead of the November midterm elections, voters have ranked the economy as a top concern — and have given Trump low marks on that issue. The problem has intensified as the Iran war has pushed oil prices higher. Within minutes of his on-camera comment, Democrats quickly rushed to promote it on social media. On Capitol Hill, Representative Emilia Sykes — a Democrat from Ohio — asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright if he, too, loved inflation. Wright said he'd prefer lower inflation, but praised Trump's work on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
WORDS: 725 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 8:49 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpInflationndLdWritethru/603791c93c785221dae8be6df14d807d/text___
Trump accuses Democrats of hypocrisy on Platner, despite questions about his own conduct
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is accusing the Democratic Party of hypocrisy for supporting Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner despite his own history of misconduct against women. The Republican president called Platner a “thug” and a “pig” on Wednesday in the Oval Office while signing an immigration and deportation funding bill. The president also called Platner “worse than any human being that's ever run for office, probably.” Trump himself has faced a laundry list of misconduct allegations, was caught on audio bragging about grabbing women by the genitals and was found liable by a New York jury for sexual abuse. Trump also has endorsed a parade of Republicans with their own deep personal baggage.
WORDS: 875 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 10:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpPlatner/bb4ecb0bcffbd8166e0c45eeeac89148/text___
Administration plans intensive, year-round construction schedule for Trump's triumphal arch
SUMMARY: A new report by the National Park Service says construction of the 250-foot-high triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants built near the Lincoln Memorial could occur 20 hours per day, year-round, as officials push to complete the project within three years. Tower cranes up to 320 feet tall would be needed to build the arch, which would be more than twice as high as the Lincoln Memorial. The planned site for the arch, across the Potomac River from the memorial, is on a flight path near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it is reviewing whether the project’s planned height poses a risk to airplane travel in the area.
WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 10:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTriumphalArch/7217464481aac6676b01ebfb7aa02927/text___
Bill Gates testifies about his ties to Epstein, calls meeting him a 'grave error in judgment'
SUMMARY: Bill Gates says he made an error in judgment by ever meeting with Jeffrey Epstein as the Microsoft co-founder faces questions behind closed doors from lawmakers about his relationship with the disgraced financier. In an opening statement provided Wednesday to The Associated Press, Gates said he should never have met with Epstein, but that he never had any indication that Epstein was engaged in criminal activity. The tech billionaire became the latest powerful figure linked to Epstein to testify before the House Oversight Committee. As Gates arrived at the Capitol, he noted that he was there voluntarily.
WORDS: 936 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 4:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressEpsteinGatesthLdWritethru/d8d5c31739bb9452e979018be2fd4f35/text___
Nancy Mace's unpredictable career is up in the air after finishing last in South Carolina primary
SUMMARY: Rep. Nancy Mace has finished a distant fifth in South Carolina's Republican primary for governor, leaving her political future uncertain. Her campaign mirrored her unpredictable career. She courted President Donald Trump's support after previously criticizing him. She pushed for releasing Jeffrey Epstein investigation files over some Republican objections. And in the final days of her campaign, she advocated for banning people who aren't born in the U.S. from holding political office or being judges. Mace's campaign struggled with fundraising and relied heavily on social media. In her concession speech, she didn't indicate her plans now.
WORDS: 833 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 3:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionNancyMacestLdWritethru/343edd90060f56572735b71a60cd0fc6/text___
Collins isn’t Trump’s ‘best friend’ but he’s on her side in Maine Senate matchup with Platner
SUMMARY: Maine's Susan Collins often boosts her popularity by keeping her distance from President Donald Trump. The Republican senator has managed to stay close enough to benefit politically while maintaining an independent streak. This strategy has helped her survive Trump's frequent personal attacks and she's kept winning reelection despite the seat being a key target for Democrats over the years. Trump told reporters Wednesday that he's backing Collins in the November campaign because she's “a sane person.” Republicans also need to retain the seat if they want to hold the Senate. The president is dismissing Collins' Democratic opponent, Graham Platner, as a “thug” and a “pig.”
WORDS: 1286 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 9:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionSusanCollinsthLdWritethru/5333d177cb972102d1d87c0124ef76d5/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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UK defense secretary resigns, saying the government is not willing to spend enough on the military
SUMMARY: U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey has resigned, saying the government is not willing to spend enough on the military at a time of rising threats. Healey told Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday that the government’s defense investment plan falls “well short of what is required at this dangerous time.” Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the defense ministry and the Treasury. Healey wrote in a letter to Starmer that “I am now left with no other option to submit my resignation.” Analysts said the departure both undermines Starmer and sends a worrying message about the UK's ability to defend itself.
WORDS: 814 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 11:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainDefensethLdWritethru/533cb2637192f045ca6247ab5a402bac/text___
Foreign workers say they were paid less than $2 an hour to build a new US Consulate in Milan
SUMMARY: Foreign workers building a sprawling $350 million American Consulate in Milan say they were paid less than $2 an hour after being promised fair wages. That is according to Associated Press interviews with five former employees and a review of their employment letters and pay stubs. Italian prosecutors are investigating Montgomery, Alabama-based Caddell Construction, a major builder of U.S. diplomatic missions abroad. Prosecutors say two of its managers in Italy were arrested this month on suspicion of labor exploitation. The probe involves some 70 workers, mostly from India. The company and the U.S. State Department say they are investigating the allegations.
WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 5:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUItalyUSConsulateLaborAbusestLdWritethru/9b77ab653aad4ffeab368de423920848/text___
Trump threatens to seize Iranian island vital to oil exports, as ceasefire teeters
SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening major strikes on Iran and to seize control of its oil and gas industries as escalating attacks between the countries push the Middle East closer to full-scale war. The threats to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal come after the U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second straight day. Trump told Fox News that while he would prefer to take over Kharg Island, he's not sure that “America has the stomach for it.” Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned on social media that an “endless quagmire” could result.
WORDS: 1187 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/3c2c6d356a1e25b4d7edf66b2edba57d/text___
Thai court sentences 2 Uyghur men to death over 2015 Bangkok bombing that killed 20
SUMMARY: A court in Thailand has sentenced two Uyghur men to death for a 2015 bombing at Bangkok's Erawan shrine. The attack killed 20 people and injured more than 120. Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammad were convicted Thursday. They were allegedly linked to the bombing by video, fingerprints and other evidence. The trial faced delays due to translation issues and was criticized by human rights groups. The men initially confessed but later claimed mistreatment. Authorities have maintained the bombing was revenge by a people smuggling gang, though some suspect Uyghur separatists were involved.
WORDS: 632 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 8:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASThailandErawanBombingstLdWritethru/6e1f0ab2f99b2b630df34aa79e1c29d2/text___
The 'King of the North' seeks a path to becoming Britain's next leader in a special election
SUMMARY: About 75,000 voters in northwest England are about to make a significant decision. They will vote in a contest that could choose the U.K.’s next prime minister or add more chaos to British politics. The special election on June 18 in Makerfield has drawn global attention. If Andy Burnham from the Labour Party wins, he could replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He's competing against Reform UK, a hard-right party. Immigration is a key issue, with recent tensions adding to the debate. Burnham, the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, needs a seat in Parliament to challenge Starmer. The election is expected to be close.
WORDS: 1017 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 4:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPivotalElectionndLdWritethru/470f6f70f2f1a62ab9a0bad212efc6fe/text___
Amnesty accuses Israel's government of 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians from the West Bank
SUMMARY: Amnesty International has accused Israel of carrying out a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. The London-based rights group says the Israeli government is deliberately trying to annex the Palestinian territory. The accusation came in a new, 149-page report released on Wednesday. It alleges that the forced displacement of West Bank Palestinians resulted from a state policy, not just the actions of violent settlers. The United Nations says over 100 West Bank villages were fully or partially emptied out between January 2023 and April 2026. Israel did not immediately respond to the report. It has denounced past accusations as longtime unfair bias against Israel.
WORDS: 754 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 10:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelPalestiniansAmnestythLdWritethru/c6eadbaf0a002a91765509a0df126744/text___
Police blast water cannons at Belfast protesters as unrest flares again after stabbing
SUMMARY: Police have used water cannons on protesters in Northern Ireland after violence erupted a second night over a stabbing in Belfast. A Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court Wednesday charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing Stephen Ogilvie with a knife and leaving him partly blind. The incident has sparked anti-immigrant violence, with masked men setting fires and attacking police. Authorities have increased police presence and called for calm. Politicians condemned the violence, emphasizing the importance of unity. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others have denounced the attacks, urging people not to let this incident fuel further division.
WORDS: 1069 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 8:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNorthernIrelandStabbingthLdWritethru/1d8b2331cfa33a0b39492ca9098c206f/text___
Philippine town seeks immediate airlift of food to ease hunger in quake-hit villages
SUMMARY: The mayor of a quake-hit southern Philippine town is pleading for air force helicopters to transport food to stave off hunger in places isolated by landslides. The earthquake Monday off southern Sarangani province has left 47 people dead with 31 others still missing and 45,000 displaced. Glan Mayor Victor James Yap said Thursday that 10 villages remained isolated mostly due to landslides. He pleaded for the immediate deployment of air force helicopters to deliver food to the stricken areas. The town doesn't have power and phone service is spotty.
WORDS: 448 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 4:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASPhilippinesEarthquake/e16822a81f68a806a3db54713920a687/text___
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BUSINESS
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Wall Street recovers some of the week's losses after AI stocks swing back upward
SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are recovering some of their losses for the week, as the roller coaster for AI companies turns back upward. Oil prices and Treasury yields, meanwhile, remain near where they were the day before, even though worries are rising Thursday about the war with Iran and accelerating inflation. The S&P 500 added 0.3%, coming off a back-to-back drop that yanked it back to where it was in early May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 313 points and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%. Chip stocks helped offset a drop for Oracle, which sank on concerns about how much it's spending on AI.
WORDS: 747 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 1:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/87c831451197beedb3e29771de1e0a92/text___
Elon Musk's SpaceX is about to make its debut on Wall Street
SUMMARY: Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX will make its debut on Wall Street Friday. Both institutional and retail investors are expected to gobble up the 555.6 million shares going up for sale at $135 apiece. Musk is already the world’s richest man and he could become its first trillionaire. Musk says the company is going public because it needs money to fund its ambitions of putting satellites and data centers in space.
WORDS: 896 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 10:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSpaceXIPOWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/293e82ea0216efdd0ff7601baf85bae8/text___
US households, businesses stung by higher energy prices that have pushed inflation above 4%
SUMMARY: Rising gas prices pushed inflation to its highest level in three years last month, a headache for the Federal Reserve and a potential political challenge for the Trump administration as midterm elections near. New data showed Wednesday that consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, the third straight monthly increase. Prices have now risen faster than wages for several months. Families are dipping into savings to maintain their spending, and more people are falling behind on their credit card bills. Large retailers say they have also noticed changes in customer behavior, like buying smaller amounts of gas during visits to the pump.
WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 06/09/2026 8:21 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSConsumerPricesthLdWritethru/878f6759c93fcb078aeefffe19d4dfa5/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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FDA's e-cigarette authorization: Fruity vapes not significantly better than tobacco ones
SUMMARY: A new memo from U.S. health regulators is raising questions about a recent decision to authorize the first fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adult smokers. The Food and Drug Administration document posted online this week shows that adding flavors like mango and blueberry didn't help smokers quit when compared with older, tobacco-flavored vapes. The memo provides the first detailed look at how the FDA made its decision to approve the e-cigarettes from a small California vaping company. The decision marked a first for the agency and has been heavily criticized by health groups and lawmakers.
WORDS: 686 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 2:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDFDAVapesFlavorsstLdWritethru/52f9156a6e46e8e3369418c16ca1220b/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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El Nino is here and scientists fear it'll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires
SUMMARY: U.S. meteorologists say an El Nino has formed. That's the natural warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather around the globe. It is likely to a major factor in extreme and deadly weather across the planet for the next year or so. The one announced Thursday is expected to rival the record and costly 1997-1998 El Nino. It is usually strongest in the wintertime, and it makes it incredibly likely that 2027 will set a record for the hottest year globally. The United Nations secretary-general says El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world.
WORDS: 826 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 1:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APClimateElNino/7eafacd2bcf04ade9d7f555dfd488178/text___
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RELIGION
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Pope honors Barcelona's Sagrada Familia as masterpiece of stone, color and light on Gaudí centenary
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV has celebrated the Sagrada Familia Basilica as a masterpiece of “stones, colors and light.” He marked the centenary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí, with a Mass. Leo called Gaudí’s unfinished temple, one of the world’s most visited monuments, a “sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain.” The service Wednesday was the highlight of Leo’s weeklong visit to Spain. It was the first visit by a pope in 15 years to the once-staunchly Catholic European country that, like many others, has experienced secularizing trends. The trip, though, has shown the country still has plenty of faithful Catholics who have turned out in droves to welcome the American pope.
WORDS: 1253 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 8:28 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURELSpainPopethLdWritethru/a1b69601917ab4709959c4628a4995b6/text___
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SPORTS
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World Cup what to know: Mexico kicks off a supersized, 48-team tournament
SUMMARY: After years of preparation, a supersized World Cup has finally arrived. This year’s tournament is hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It was expanded to 48 teams that will play in 16 stadiums in a record 104 matches over the 39-day tournament. Mexico gets the World Cup started on Thursday and will be a heavy favorite when it hosts South Africa in Mexico City. The second game of the day will be between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, Mexico. All four teams are part of Group A. Canada and the United States will host their first games on Friday.
WORDS: 978 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 5:55 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupWhatToKnowndLdWritethru/94a3ba298b30a7d6314b00b20cd455ae/text___
The Spurs are still believers, but it's the Knicks who are 1 game from winning the NBA title
SUMMARY: Victor Wembanyama surely knew he was overstating the obvious when he pointed out that there are two possible outcomes for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night. San Antonio wins and extends the series. Or New York wins and becomes NBA champions. After 1,321 games, it really is that simple. If Wembanyama and the Spurs win in San Antonio, the season lives for at least one more game. If the Knicks win, all that’ll be left in this season will be a parade.
WORDS: 840 - MOVED: 06/11/2026 2:42 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNNBAFinalsndLdWritethru/5f5cd598f458de6f8492d802539eb7ee/text___
Chiefs lock in Patrick Mahomes through 2033 with a $504.75M reworked deal, AP source says
SUMMARY: The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes agreed to a restructured contract that adds two years to his deal and pushes the total compensation past a half-billion dollars. That's according to a person familiar with the terms who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Chiefs don't disclose financial terms of their contracts. Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020 that set a benchmark not only for the quarterback position but for any football player. The extension ties the two-time MVP to the Chiefs through the 2033 season, when Mahomes will be 38, and comes in at $504.75 million, while incentives and escalators could push the value beyond $520 million.
WORDS: 808 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 9:05 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBNChiefsMahomesndLdWritethru/970e980738a6696f0e5e64d907a2ff12/text___
FIFA's Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, says fans 'should chill' about ref denied US entry
SUMMARY: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices by saying they align with North American sports. Ticket prices for the 48-nation tournament generally start at $140, with tickets for the World Cup final reaching up to $32,970. FIFA offered some $60 tickets to national federations after being criticized. Infantino claims the average ticket price is under $500 and says it's comparable to U.S. sports. He says he is unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in several states. Infantino also praised FIFA for allowing Iran to participate amid tensions with the U.S. He calls the tournament "the biggest event probably in the history of mankind."
WORDS: 1187 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 7:19 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupInfantinothLdWritethru/7725f0e7df91eeefcbf598bdd9e72f94/text___
UFC fighters say they're honored to compete in front of President Trump on card at the White House
SUMMARY: UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is embracing his bold style ahead of the company's debut at the White House. He is scheduled to fight Sunday on the South Lawn in a mixed martial arts show celebrating President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. UFC CEO Dana White insists the event will proceed despite potential bad weather. The fight card features two championship bouts, including Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane and Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje.
WORDS: 988 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 6:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMMAUFCWhiteHousestLdWritethru/e6507a37a121f22085b1ba43f8c9dcf3/text___
At World Cup stadiums, there will be zero tolerance for drones because of the threat they pose
SUMMARY: Fans who hear the whirring sound of a drone over a stadium might see it as a nuisance but law enforcement has long viewed those aircraft as a potential weapon of mass destruction. Cheap drones are readily available and the bloodshed they have caused during the wars in Ukraine and Iran have underscored the dangers law enforcement have been increasingly worried about. Experts say a terrorist could spend a few hundred dollars on a drone, strap some explosives to it and fly it into a target like a stadium full of people. So drones won’t be tolerated over the 78 World Cup games in 11 U.S. cities.
WORDS: 1210 - MOVED: 06/10/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupDroneThreatsstLdWritethru/6583988184f5075d487478bff015bbd1/text___
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