Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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NATIONAL

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US--OBIT-JAMES DOBSON

James Dobson, Focus on the Family founder and key leader on the Christian right, dies at 89

SUMMARY: James Dobson, a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, has died at age 89. Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson launched a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents and started Focus on the Family in 1977. He became a force in the 1980s for pushing conservative Christian ideals in mainstream American politics alongside fundamentalist giants like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. At its peak, Focus on the Family had more than 1,000 employees and gave Dobson a platform to weigh in on legislation and serve as an adviser to five presidents.

WORDS: 1095 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 1:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:51a9dbf50e26eaee2ac01d457e9d46aa&mediaType=text

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US--NYC MAYOR-INVESTIGATIONS

Former top aide to NYC mayor among 7 facing new charges in City Hall corruption probe

SUMMARY: A former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams is among seven people facing new charges in the corruption investigation that has swirled around City Hall for two years. Prosecutors in Manhattan announced the new charges on Thursday. Adams himself has not been charged, but the case thrusts the corruption allegations that have dogged the Democrat back into focus while he runs for reelection. Among those facing new charges is Adams’ former chief of staff and closest confidant, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn D. Martin, former state Sen. Jesse Hamilton and two of Adams’ political donors, siblings Tony and Gina Argento.

WORDS: 782 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 1:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4c8841776078103524c1262ffdce18df&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-FRAUD LAWSUIT-APPEAL

Appeals court throws out massive civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is declaring victory now that an appeals court has thrown out the massive civil fraud penalty against him. But the court has upheld other punishments, such as banning Trump and his two eldest sons from serving in corporate leadership for a few years. A five-judge panel ruled Thursday in New York state’s lawsuit accusing the businessman-turned-politician of exaggerating his wealth. The decision in New York’s mid-level Appellate Division altered a verdict that stood to cost Trump more than $515 million and rock his real estate empire. The Republican president says the case and the verdict were political moves by Democrats. New York’s attorney general says the court affirmed the finding Trump was liable for fraud.

WORDS: 1113 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:57 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:db39d93feff322eeeeedbc1ff75ccaf3&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2026-REDISTRICTING-WHAT TO KNOW

How redistricting is done and why it could give parties an edge in 2026 elections

SUMMARY: California and Texas are redrawing U.S. House maps before the 2026 midterm elections, highlighting redistricting’s impact on political power. Texas acted after President Donald Trump urged Republican states to adjust district lines to favor GOP voters, a practice known as partisan gerrymandering. California Democrats are set to approve their redrawn map. Texas’ new maps need approval from the state Senate and governor. They could give Republicans five more seats in Congress. California’s maps aim to gain five seats for Democrats. Democrats plan to challenge Texas’s maps in court.

WORDS: 729 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1e23e2b3f8e09031cf1eee8979ff3559&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2026-REDISTRICTING

California is set to act fast after Texas advances congressional maps to boost Republicans

SUMMARY: California’s Democratic Legislature is expected to counter Texas’ mid-decade redraw of its congressional map with one of its own. Texas Republicans passed a map creating five new winnable seats for the GOP in that state’s House of Representatives on Wednesday. President Donald Trump has pushed for Republican-controlled states to redraw their legislative maps to give his party a better chance of holding onto control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections. California on Thursday is scheduled to pass a map to create five new winnable Democratic seats. Unlike in Texas, the California seats cannot become official unless approved by the voters.

WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:45 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4c22e21d5d4022d33a257045693b6fd4&mediaType=text

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GYM--USA GYMNASTICS-ABUSE INQUIRY

Gymnast who sparked FBI sex abuse inquiry into coach tells AP she’s proud to come forward

SUMMARY: A gymnast whose report of sexual abuse against her former coach led to his arrest and an FBI investigation into potential misconduct at gyms in three states says she’s proud she made a difference. Finley Weldon spoke in an interview with The Associated Press about her role in exposing the allegations against Sean Gardner, her coach at a renowned academy in Iowa until 2021. The 18-year-old Iowa State University freshman says she “felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls, so they didn’t have to go through what I went through.” Weldon says she’s going public because she’s proud to have come forward. The FBI arrested Gardner last week.

WORDS: 1312 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:54afe97648c39177b8939e208c50a806&mediaType=text

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US--CELLPHONES-IN-SCHOOL

Students face new cellphone restrictions in 17 states as school year begins

SUMMARY: As students start school this year, 17 states and the District of Columbia are imposing new cellphone restrictions. In total, 35 states have passed laws or rules to limit student phone use in schools, with 29 states taking action this year. The movement has gained bipartisan support due to concerns about phones affecting mental health and learning. Some states have enacted full-day bans, while others restrict phone use during class. Students have mixed feelings, with some appreciating fewer distractions. But some parents express concerns about safety and communication, wanting more involvement in policy decisions. Researchers say that it’s too soon yet to determine whether phone restrictions will bring all the benefits that supporters seek.

WORDS: 961 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 11:34 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d6464fbfdfae83189c752fe0c40fd060&mediaType=text

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US--ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds

SUMMARY: A closely watched report says the number of people in the United States illegally surged to an all-time high of 14 million in 2023. That represents a major increase but still falls well short of estimates from President Donald Trump and some allies. The Pew Research Center said Thursday that the 14-million mark rose from 11.8 million a year earlier and surpassed the previous high of 12.2 million in 2007. The increase was driven by some 6 million who were in the country with some form of legal protection under President Joe Biden.

WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 11:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a2cf8f2f908c98ca17d383b57fd65daa&mediaType=text

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US--WYOMING-WOLF KILLING

Wyoming man indicted for allegedly hitting wolf with snowmobile, bringing it to bar and killing it

SUMMARY: A Wyoming grand jury has indicted a man on an animal cruelty charge after he allegedly hit a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut and brought it into a bar before killing it. The incident happened in February 2024. Cody Roberts previously paid a $250 fine for illegal possession of wildlife but avoided more serious charges. Investigators struggled to find cooperative witnesses and Wyoming gives wide leeway for killing wolves outside national parks. The grand jury nonetheless found enough evidence to support the felony animal cruelty charge. Roberts faces up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted.

WORDS: 463 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 11:05 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3b0fbb9c39a5257854e9aa88290666e8&mediaType=text

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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY

Prosecutors say Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ request for acquittal or new trial should be swiftly rejected

SUMMARY: Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to quickly reject Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request that he throw out a jury verdict or order a new trial after a jury convicted the music maven of two prostitution-related charges. Prosecutors say in papers filed shortly before midnight Wednesday that Combs masterminded elaborate sexual events for two ex-girlfriends. The multiday, drug-fueled events involved hiring male sex workers and facilitating their travel across multiple states for what became known as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.” Prosecutors say he then used video recordings he made of the sexual events to threaten and coerce the girlfriends to continue participating in the sometimes weekly or monthly sexual marathons.

WORDS: 678 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 2:33 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7f7aa45f9ed3001384a44dbba49a0f2e&mediaType=text

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US--COLLEGE-SOFTBALL-FATAL-CRASH-OREGON

Oregon man pleads guilty following fatal crash with community college softball team bus

SUMMARY: An Oregon man has pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter following a fatal crash with a community college softball team. Court documents filed Wednesday in Coos County Circuit Court show Jonathan Dowdy has also pleaded guilty to several counts of assault, one count of driving under the influence and one count of driving with a suspended license. State police said Dowdy was driving his pickup truck in April when he crossed a center line and crashed into a bus carrying 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team. A 19-year-old player and the team’s 46-year-old head coach died. Dowdy’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

WORDS: 272 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 6:45 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8fe903aab85bd90f15dfca402892b39d&mediaType=text

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US--SOUTHWEST HEAT

Dangerous heat descends on California and the Southwest, raising wildfire risk

SUMMARY: A dangerous heat wave has descended on much of California and the U.S. Southwest, with triple-digit temperatures expected along with a higher risk of wildfires. Officials opened cooling centers this week in Los Angeles and warned residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state firefighting resources deployed in areas where blazes could ignite. The peak of the heat wave will hit Arizona on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures there could possibly reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the southern and western parts of the state.

WORDS: 529 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 6:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f77de39dd5737e901ee49348b61fd917&mediaType=text

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US--JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-JEFFREY EPSTEIN

Judge denies Justice Department request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts

SUMMARY: A federal judge in New York who presided over the sex trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein has rejected the government’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts. Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Richard Berman came after the judge presiding over the case against Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell also turned down the government’s request. Barring reversal on appeal, Berman’s decision forecloses the possibility of grand jury testimony being released given that other judges who received the same Justice Department request reached the same conclusions. The Justice Department declines to comment. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her conviction for helping Epstein. sexually abuse girls and young women. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.

WORDS: 812 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 6:35 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c148333f2618c92c0b9a87784c45a416&mediaType=text

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US--MENENDEZ-BROTHERS-EXPLAINER

What to know about the Menendez brothers’ parole hearings

SUMMARY: Lyle and Erik Menendez are scheduled to face separate parole hearings this week in California and could eventually be released from prison nearly 30 years after being convicted of killing their parents. A panel of parole officers will evaluate each of the brothers via videoconference from their San Diego prison. Both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 shotgun-killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez inside their Beverly Hills home. They became eligible for parole after a Los Angeles judge in May reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life.

WORDS: 902 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 3:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b19be69cd41953f07d3fcf84413ce4c8&mediaType=text

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US--TEN COMMANDMENTS-TEXAS

Texas can’t put the Ten Commandments in certain school districts’ classrooms, judge says

SUMMARY: A federal judge has temporarily blocked Texas from requiring nearly a dozen public school districts across the state to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom. This decision on Wednesday follows similar legal challenges in other states. A group of families from districts that include Houston and Austin sought the injunction. Texas is the third and largest state to attempt this requirement. A federal court has blocked a similar law in Louisiana, and a judge in Arkansas blocked four districts from putting up the posters. The issue is expected to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

WORDS: 663 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 2:16 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e272529440c0500e9102c590e68420a6&mediaType=text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--DC-FEDERAL-INTERVENTION

Trump’s immigration crackdown brings checkpoints and new fears to Washington

SUMMARY: Federal and local police are setting up checkpoints around Washington, D.C., screening vehicles and sometimes asking about immigration status. This is controversial tactic is part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown in the nation’s capital. Hundreds of National Guard troops have also been deployed. The initiative has caused fear among the immigrant population. Some day cares have closed or stopped taking children on walks due to concerns about law enforcement. Since the crackdown began on August 7, there have been 630 arrests, including 251 undocumented immigrants. Federal agents are operating widely throughout the city, causing disruptions and concerns among residents.

WORDS: 1041 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:57 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81e3493e73e8af1ecce47af23d9911f4&mediaType=text

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US--DC-FEDERAL INTERVENTION-SOUTH PARK

‘South Park’ targets federal takeover of DC police in latest episode

SUMMARY: The team at “South Park” is continuing its comic assault on the Trump administration. The new episode on Comedy Central Wednesday addressed the federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department, showing armed forces patrolling in front of the White House and U.S. Supreme Court, with a tank rolling by the presidential residence. The full half-hour episode, which primarily satirized artificial intelligence, also roasted world leaders and tech CEOs for kowtowing to President Donald Trump. In the first three episodes of its 27th season, the cartoon has depicted Trump lying in bed with Satan, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shooting puppies. The White House has attacked “South Park” as a fourth-rate, irrelevant show.

WORDS: 299 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 1:46 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8a14c4c0aaa430f0c25f025498aaaee7&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-SECURITY CLEARANCES

A look at those Trump has targeted in tactic of revoking security clearances

SUMMARY: The Trump administration’s announcement this week that it would rescind the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials was hardly an isolated act. In ordering the revocation of the clearances, President Donald Trump was turning to a favored retributive tactic that he’s wielded — or at least tried to — against high-profile political figures, lawyers and intelligence officials. The latest targets include officials who have served across a range of government agencies, including on former President Joe Biden’s national security team and at the National Security Agency. Some have been vocal critics of Trump and some have worked directly on matters that infuriated him.

WORDS: 948 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 9:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:262fcd2766a22ea39968abda9ecb0d50&mediaType=text

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US--MIGRANTS-TEMPORARY STATUS

Appeals court allows Trump to end temporary protections for migrants from Central America and Nepal

SUMMARY: A federal appeals court is allowing the Trump administration to end temporary protections for 60,000 migrants from Central America and Nepal. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco halted for now an order from a district judge who kept migrant protections in place while immigrant rights groups challenge the administration. The judges on Wednesday granted the government’s request for an emergency stay pending an appeal. About 7,000 people from Nepal can now be removed from the country. A district judge found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not take into account current conditions when she determined that Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal were safe to return.

WORDS: 688 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 8:47 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c6e1924473dba9dea2bc7e3ee8aef861&mediaType=text

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US--INTELLIGENCE-BUDGET

Gabbard slashing intelligence office workforce and cutting budget by over $700 million

SUMMARY: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says it will dramatically reduce its workforce and cut its budget by more than $700 million annually. The move Wednesday amounts to a major downsizing of the responsible for coordinating the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including on counterterrorism and counterintelligence. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says the office “has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence.” The reorganization is part of a broader administration effort to rethink how it tracks foreign threats to American elections, a topic that has become politically loaded.

WORDS: 846 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 6:56 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e982e5364481d41a058e2bd78be4060f&mediaType=text

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INTERNATIONAL

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AF--UGANDA-US-DEPORTATIONS

Uganda agrees to take deported migrants from US if they don’t have criminal records

SUMMARY: Uganda’s foreign ministry says the African country has agreed to a deal with the United States to take deported migrants as long as they don’t have criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors. The ministry said in a statement Thursday that the agreement had been concluded but that terms were still being worked out. It added that Uganda prefers that the migrants sent there be of African nationalities, but did not elaborate on what Uganda might get in return for accepting deportees. The U.S. embassy in Uganda declined to comment on what it called “diplomatic negotiations.” Human rights activists criticized the deal as possibly going against international law.

WORDS: 570 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 1:03 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:15edfb4d80677c51c56beb8ab5130cd4&mediaType=text

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US--TROPICAL WEATHER-WHAT TO KNOW

What to know about powerful Hurricane Erin as it moves away from the US East Coast

SUMMARY: Hurricane Erin has pounded the North Carolina coast with strong waves and gusty winds as it slowly moves out to sea. Erin remained a Category 2 hurricane on Thursday but it could strengthen again. The National Hurricane Center says eventually it will weaken by Friday. Erin is not expected to make landfall in the U.S., but authorities warn of dangerous surf and rip currents. Coastal flooding has been reported along part of the North Carolina and mid-Atlantic coasts. Evacuations were ordered along parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Officials have prohibited swimming at beaches in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey through Thursday due to treacherous waters.

WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c248ff527e0603f6e6d0c85c2a8db400&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR

Major Russian attack on western Ukraine hits an American factory during US-led push for peace

SUMMARY: Russia has launched a rare drone and missile attack on western Ukraine, hitting an American-owned electronics plant among other targets and injecting further uncertainty into the U.S.-led efforts to end the three-year-old war. The aerial assault on a part of Ukraine that has largely avoided such focused attacks was one of Russia’s biggest this year and came amid Moscow’s objections to key aspects of proposals that could end the fighting. European countries are considering military deployments to deter future Russian aggression, but the Kremlin opposes NATO involvement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the latest attack and urged stronger international pressure on Moscow, including tougher sanctions.

WORDS: 1089 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:48 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:92ee89feba2224f140429bcb573e61f9&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-GAZA

Israel’s Netanyahu set to give final approval for Gaza City takeover despite protests

SUMMARY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu is expected to give final approval for plans to take over Gaza City in an operation that could begin within days. The widening of the 22-month offensive against Hamas appears to be proceeding despite protests in both Israel and the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu will meet with top security officials to sign off on the plans, according to an Israeli official. It was unclear whether they would discuss a ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators that Hamas says it has accepted. The Israeli military began calling medical officials and international organizations in the northern Gaza Strip to encourage them to evacuate to the south ahead of the expanded operation.

WORDS: 1263 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:30 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8a99e26655548972bea7c53b0570c751&mediaType=text

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US--TROPICAL WEATHER

Hurricane Erin stirs up strong winds and floods part of a NC highway as it slowly moves out to sea

SUMMARY: Hurricane Erin has battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks with strong winds and waves that flooded part of the main highway and surged under beachfront homes. The unusually large hurricane slowly began to move away from the East Coast on Thursday. Erin is not forecast to make landfall. Forecasters say it will slowly weaken over the next few days while turning farther out to sea. The menacing waves have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City on Thursday. Along the North Carolina shoreline, the storm breached sand dunes on Hatteras Island and damaged one waterfront motel. Parts of the main route linking the Outer Banks remain closed.

WORDS: 735 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:27 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b570906ec052872caf3e557d0f5242ca&mediaType=text

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ML--ISRAEL-ARCHAEOLOGY-NEANDERTHALS

Bones of ancient child suggest humans could have interbred with Neanderthals earlier than thought

SUMMARY: Modern humans and Neanderthals may have interacted 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. That’s according to researchers who used CT scans and 3D mapping to study the bones of a child they believe was the result of interbreeding between the two distinct groups. The child was buried in a cave in Israel some 140,000 years ago. Because no ancient DNA was extracted from the fossilized remains, it’s impossible to confirm the child’s origins, but scientists say microscopic details in the bones indicate the child had traits of both groups. The findings were published recently in the peer-reviewed journal L’Anthropologie.

WORDS: 862 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 11:45 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:773d0cf2e142871cdbb047dc72e7417b&mediaType=text

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EU--GERMANY-ITALY-PIPELINE ATTACK

Ukrainian man arrested in Italy over Nord Stream pipeline blasts

SUMMARY: A Ukrainian man suspected to be one of the coordinators of the undersea explosions in 2022 that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany has been arrested in Italy. Italian police said the 49-year-old was arrested in the early hours in a village inland from Italy’s Adriatic coast, where he was staying with his family. The explosions on September 26, 2022, damaged pipelines carrying Russian natural gas to Germany, intensifying tensions over the war in Ukraine. Russia has accused the U.S. of staging the explosions, a claim Washington has denied. In 2023, German media reported a pro-Ukraine group was involved, but Ukraine rejected any involvement. German officials have expressed caution over these accusations.

WORDS: 567 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 10:33 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:40f17315bcd585b48cd6f88028047307&mediaType=text

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EU--UKRAINE-DRONE-FACTORY

A Ukrainian startup develops long-range drones and missiles to take the battle to Russia

SUMMARY: Ukraine’s defense industry is gaining global attention for its innovative drone technology. Last September, a Ukrainian-made drone attacked a Russian ammunition depot more than 620 miles away. This marked a significant achievement for Fire Point, the company behind the drones. Iryna Terekh, head of production, said drones have given Ukraine an asymmetric advantage. Fire Point’s FP-1 drones, capable of traveling up to 990 miles away, have been crucial in hitting Russian targets. Ukraine is rapidly becoming a hub for defense innovation, with many companies emerging to meet the demands of the ongoing conflict with Russia.

WORDS: 1282 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 9:13 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7201ab851544c394ee454407058b10ba&mediaType=text

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EU--NETHERLANDS-TALL SHIPS

Hundreds of historic tall ships sail into Amsterdam for a maritime festival

SUMMARY: A flotilla of hundreds of historic ships is sailing into Amsterdam for a five-day festival celebrating the Dutch capital’s maritime history. Vessels from all over the world left the North Sea coastal town of IJmuiden to begin their hourslong journey along a canal into the city for SAIL 2025, the first edition in a decade. Each tall ship is greeted with two cannon shots and its country’s national anthem as it enters the harbor.

WORDS: 346 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 11:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3dd925577b1f981348af725002ec1c3a&mediaType=text

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AS--AFGHANISTAN-BUS CRASH

Bus crash in Afghanistan kills 79 people returning from Iran

SUMMARY: A bus crash in northwestern Afghanistan has killed at least 79 people, including 19 children. The bus was carrying Afghans returning from Iran. An Interior Ministry official said the crash occurred Tuesday evening in Herat province. The bus collided with a truck and a motorbike, causing a massive fire. Nearly 1.8 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran in recent months. The Taliban criticized neighboring countries for mass expulsions, as millions of Afghan refugees remain overseas.

WORDS: 244 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 10:35 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6877cd0151f7d8d6e7caa71cfdf05272&mediaType=text

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ML--ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-E1

Israel approves settlement project that could divide the West Bank

SUMMARY: Israel has given final approval for a controversial settlement project that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two. Palestinians and rights groups say it could destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state. On Wednesday, the project received final approval. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace. The E1 settlement project is significant because it would block a potential direct route between Ramallah and Bethlehem. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cast the approval as a rebuke to Western countries that announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state in recent weeks.

WORDS: 669 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 10:09 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8a713939ee6f6552381246dacc8a1301&mediaType=text

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LT--BRAZIL-BOLSONARO

Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum

SUMMARY: Brazil’s federal police say messages found on the telephone of former President Jair Bolsonaro show he once wanted to flee to Argentina and request political asylum. Bolsonaro is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling about an alleged coup attempt and on Wednesday found out he might face another case as police formally accused him and one of his sons of obstruction of justice in connection with his pending trial. The Associated Press reviewed the police evidence, which included messaging app exchanges and voice messages, after police forwarded the documents to Brazil’s Supreme Court.

WORDS: 1076 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 9:59 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2c1384ed453a499eb0947b19f5aa2cf9&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-GAZA-HUCKABEE

Huckabee blames Europe for stalled Gaza talks, highlighting a growing Western divide

SUMMARY: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says he blames a recent breakdown in Gaza ceasefire talks on the decision by some European leaders to recognize Palestinian statehood. Huckabee made the remarks Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. The decisions were announced by France, Britain and other countries after the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy had already walked away in frustration from the negotiations, which happened behind closed doors. It’s unclear how and when the talks began to break down. But Huckabee’s remarks point to a sharp divide among Western nations about how to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has deepened under President Donald Trump.

WORDS: 878 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 4:26 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9c07fa5d4a60d5f6b083ce528357a6c9&mediaType=text

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ML--SYRIA-IS

US-led coalition captures a senior Islamic State member in Syria

SUMMARY: A senior member of the Islamic State group has been captured in northwest Syria by the U.S.-led coalition, according to Syrian state media and a war monitor. It was not immediately clear if the man taken early Wednesday is the IS supreme leader. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an IS commander known as Abu Hafs al-Qurayshi was taken away after the raid in a town near the Turkish border. Two years ago, IS announced that a man called Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi was named as its new leader. The U.S. military did not respond to a request for comment.

WORDS: 468 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 2:21 p.m. EDT

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RACE AND ETHNICITY

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US--BOOTS ON THE GROUND-LINE DANCE

Black Cowboy joy is spread by ‘Boots on the Ground’ viral line dance

SUMMARY: The “Boots on the Ground” line dance has quickly become an anticipated moment at African American gatherings, like family reunions, weddings, graduations, parties and cookouts. Released in December, the viral hit song, created by Southern soul singer 803Fresh and dance created by TikTok user Tre Little, has hit No. 1 on both Billboard’s adult R&B airplay and R&B digital song sales charts. A combination of factors, including shining a light on trail ride line dancing, social media, Beyoncé and the current political climate, contributed to its unprecedented spread.

WORDS: 1200 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 11:04 p.m. EDT

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BUSINESS

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FINANCIAL MARKETS

Wall Street slips as Walmart helps pull S&P 500 toward another loss

SUMMARY: U.S. stock indexes are edging lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Thursday and is on track for a fifth straight modest loss since setting an all-time high last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 195 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.4%. Walmart fell after reporting a profit for the spring that came up short of analysts’ expectations, while Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks held a bit steadier following two days of sharp swings. Treasury yields rose after a report forced traders to scale back hopes that the Federal Reserve may soon deliver relief by cutting interest rates.

WORDS: 830 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 12:12 p.m. EDT

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CHINA-DIGITAL CURRENCY-EXPLAINER

China is expanding into digital currencies, hoping to promote use of its ‘people’s money’

SUMMARY: China has been expanding use of digital currencies as it promotes wider use of its yuan, or renminbi, to reflect its status as the world’s second-largest economy. It also wants to challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar in international trade and finance. Restrictions on access to Chinese financial markets and limits on convertibility of the yuan, or “people’s money,” are big obstacles blocking its global use. Still, Hong Kong already has stablecoin regulations and some Chinese experts are pushing for regulations to prepare for a possible stablecoin pegged to the yuan. Such moves follow President Donald Trump’s signing last month of a law regulating stablecoins.

WORDS: 823 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 4:10 a.m. EDT

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US--FEDERAL RESERVE-COOK

Federal Reserve official says she won’t be ‘bullied’ by Trump into resigning

SUMMARY: Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn’t leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, the head of the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a Trump appointee, alleged early Wednesday that Cook had claimed two primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Trump followed up Pulte’s accusation by calling on Cook to resign, in the latest effort by the administration to exert greater control over one of the few remaining independent federal agencies.

WORDS: 1043 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 6:19 p.m. EDT

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US--FEDERAL RESERVE-MINUTES

Fed minutes: Most officials worried about inflation moving higher

SUMMARY: Most Federal Reserve officials said last month that the threat of higher inflation was a greater concern than the potential for job losses, leading the central bank to keep its key rate unchanged. According to the minutes of the July 29-30 meeting, released Wednesday, members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee “assessed that the effects of higher tariffs had become more apparent in the prices of some goods but that their overall effects on economic activity and inflation remained to be seen.” The minutes underscored the reluctance among the majority of the Fed’s 19 policymakers to reduce the central bank’s short-term interest rate.

WORDS: 636 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 3:37 p.m. EDT

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US--TARGET CEO

Target CEO to step down amid company struggles

SUMMARY: Target has named an insider as its next chief executive officer. The announced on Wednesday comes as the discount retailer tries to reverse a persistent sales malaise and to revive its reputation as the place to go for affordable but stylish products. Minneapolis-based Target said CEO Brian Cornell, who has led the company for 11 years, would step down on Feb. 1. The board of directors chose Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke to succeed him. Target has struggled to find its footing since inflation caused pinched shoppers to curtail their spending. Customers have complained of messy stores with merchandise that didn’t reflect the expensive-looking but budget-priced niche that earned the retailer the nickname “Tarzhay.”

WORDS: 1043 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 2:39 p.m. EDT

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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SCI--EXPLODING STAR

Scientists get a rare peek inside of an exploding star

SUMMARY: Scientists have gotten a rare peek into a dying star, exposing its interior as it exploded. The most massive stars go out with a bang in explosions called supernovas. They tend to jumble up a dying star’s layers, making it hard for scientists to observe its inner structure. Researchers recently observed a supernova explosion that revealed a dying star’s innermost layers of silicon and sulfur, providing a rare look at how stars look toward the end of their lives. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

WORDS: 341 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 1:36 p.m. EDT

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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AS--CLIMATE-CHINA-SOLAR

China races to build world’s largest solar farm to meet emissions targets

SUMMARY: Chinese officials have showcased what they claim will be the world’s largest solar farm on the Tibetan plateau. It covers 610 square kilometers, or about 235 square miles, and is part of China’s rapid solar expansion. A study published Thursday said China’s carbon emissions fell 1% in the first half of the year, continuing a trend since March 2024. This decline suggests emissions may have peaked well ahead of the nation’s goal of before 2030. However, experts say a sharper reduction is needed for China to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. One challenge is aligning green energy distribution with industrial needs across the country.

WORDS: 902 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 10:10 a.m. EDT

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RELIGION

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REL—ANTI-EMPATHY CHRISTIANS

Is empathy a sin? Some conservative Christians argue it can be

SUMMARY: Some voices on the Christian right are arguing the virtue of empathy has become a vice. Those Christians claim empathy can manipulate people into accepting what they see as sins, like abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights. Conservative evangelicals Allie Beth Stuckey and Joe Rigney have written books within the past year criticizing certain forms of empathy. Stuckey’s and Rigney’s views have gained traction among President Donald Trump’s Christian base as his Republican administration enacts hard-line policies. Progressive Christian leaders emphasize empathy is central to Jesus’ teachings, countering claims it’s harmful or sinful.

WORDS: 1276 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 7:16 a.m. EDT

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ENTERTAINMENT

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US--OBIT-FRANK CAPRIO

Rhode Island Judge Frank Caprio, whose empathy in court earned him fame online, dies at 88

SUMMARY: Retired Providence, Rhode Island, Municipal Court Judge Frank Caprio, who found online fame as a caring jurist and host of ”Caught in Providence″ died Tuesday. He was 88. His official social media accounts said Tuesday he passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio billed his courtroom as a place where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion. Caprio’s show was filmed in his courtroom and featured folksy humor and compassion. During his time on the bench, Caprio developed a persona at odds with many TV judges — more sympathetic and less judgmental and often empathizing with people in his courtroom.

WORDS: 745 - MOVED: 08/21/2025 1:18 a.m. EDT

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SPORTS

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BOX--WORLD BOXING-SEX TEST

World Boxing will require sex testing for fighters before world championships in September

SUMMARY: The governing body for Olympic-style boxing will require sex testing for all fighters wishing to compete in the women’s division at its world championships next month. World Boxing already had announced its plan to require competitors to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test or an equivalent genetic screening test to determine their sex at birth. It announced Wednesday that the rules will be implemented ahead of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England, in early September. The tests identify the presence or absence of Y chromosome genetic material as the indicator of biological sex.

WORDS: 561 - MOVED: 08/20/2025 1:35 p.m. EDT

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