Grass fire at Canadian military base kills 4 soldiers and critically injures 19 other people
WAINWRIGHT, Alberta (AP) — Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people injured, including 19 critically, when a fast-moving fire overtook soldiers conducting live-fire combat training at a military base in Alberta, officials said Sunday.
Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland said military officials knew about the fire for hours but believed it was sufficiently contained to allow training to continue before winds suddenly shifted, sending flames racing toward the soldiers.
“The fire was a kilometer away when the wind shifted. That is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 36 seconds,” he said at a news conference in Edmonton.
Rutland said a commander at the scene told him soldiers went from seeing no fire to having flames upon them in less than a minute.
The fire broke out Saturday during high-intensity combat training involving Charlie Company of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
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Jeffries likes Democrats' chances in race for the House as he campaigns in Ohio
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday the election climate is holding firm for Democrats as he campaigned for Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a heavily contested Ohio congressional district that is crucial for majority control of the House.
Jeffries also slapped back at President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia and said there will be a bipartisan effort in the House to pursue a new sanctions package that the president would not have the ability to waive.
“It’s shocking, but not surprising, that an American president would do so much to undermine the cause of democracy, freedom and dignity for the Ukrainian people,” Jeffries told The Associated Press after visiting church services in Toledo.
Jeffries, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win back the majority, has traveled to some 50 cities campaigning for Democratic candidates. He said the House Republicans are “divorced from reality” in thinking — as Speaker Mike Johnson recently suggested — that the Nov. 3 election will be a repeat of the 2024 sweep that put Trump in the White House and Republicans in Congress.
“We are working hard across the country, continuing to make the case that we need dramatic change as opposed to the status quo,” Jeffries said, “and that Democrats are going to be the only ones to fight to make this country affordable.”
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Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday voiced the public’s “anger” and “shame” over rioting and looting during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,400 people were arrested.
Macron echoed other government officials in blaming much of the violence on far-left activists, accusing them of attacking police and public buildings to foment chaos.
“Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation.
He denounced “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.”
Macron earlier held an emergency meeting with senior government officials, a day after masked groups set fires and attacked city halls in several cities. He said he had instructed prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary.
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Trump endorses embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late in his reelection campaign, a coveted boost because of Trump’s popularity but one that the American had withheld for months as the vote neared and the leaders' strategies in the Middle East diverged.
Trump said in a post on social media that Netanyahu “has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Israelis are set to vote Oct. 27, in the first national elections since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The absence of an endorsement was a setback for the Likud politician, who had billed his tight ties to the Republican president as a selling point for staying in power.
“Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and work together,” Netanyahu said in a statement in Hebrew posted on X. “Together we will complete the mission!”
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Driver in deadly Kansas soccer field crash released while investigation continues
WICHITA, Kansas (AP) — A woman who drove a pickup truck onto a soccer field during a weekend youth game in Kansas, killing two people and injuring 10 others, has been released without charges as the investigation continues, police said Sunday.
The 34-year-old woman was released pending results of toxicology tests and a mechanical examination of the vehicle in the aftermath of Saturday's crash. Her name hasn't been made public.
“Our officers and investigators will continue working to understand exactly what happened,” Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said, noting that no charges have been filed to date.
The woman had one child playing soccer on another field at the Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita when Saturday's crash occurred, a police statement said. The statement said two of her other children were with her in the pickup truck when it struck multiple children and adults.
According to a preliminary investigation, the Chevrolet pickup was parked in a parking space near the soccer fields before it drove onto one of the fields.
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Trump says he will close historic DC golf course for 15 months of renovations
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced plans to close a historic public golf course in the nation's capital for 15 months and redevelop it despite a court challenge to his long-sought renovation.
Trump posted on social media about his intent to shutter the East Potomac Golf Course, not far from the White House, starting Nov. 15 to make it “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World.”
A judge last week, however, ordered a halt to his redevelopment plans until at least Oct. 26 after scolding the government for starting a large-scale tree removal at the course over a holiday weekend while providing little notice to the court or the plaintiffs trying to stop the makeover.
Trump did not acknowledge the legal fight in his post, which included an artist's rendering for the course redesign.
“When completed, it will be open to the Public while, at the same time, designed to the Highest Level of Golf and able to hold World Class Tournaments such as the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Presidents Cup,” Trump wrote.
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Nellis Air Force Base: Service member dies after rappelling fall at a UT San Antonio game
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) — A military service member has died after he fell hard as he rappelled from the ceiling to midfield before a University of Texas at San Antonio football game where the military was honored.
Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs said the service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was taken Saturday to a local hospital, where he later died.
An investigation was underway into what led up to the incident at UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game against Navy.
A video of the fall that was posted on social media showed the man, in combat fatigues, quickly descending to the ground feet first. The fall occurred with fans in the stands and a band assembled nearby on the field. He was treated on the field for several minutes and taken away on a gurney.
In a statement after the game, UTSA offered counseling service contacts for students and said: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues.”
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Hurricane Trudy lashes Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain and strong winds
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Trudy lashed parts of Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday but the storm was forecast to weaken rapidly and authorities discontinued further warnings for the country's coast.
The Category 2 storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and was moving northwest at 6 mph (9 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Trudy’s center was expected to remain near the Mexican coast through Sunday evening before passing south of the Baja California Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday.
The hurricane center said that Trudy was expected to weaken rapidly later Sunday but “interests in southwestern and west-central Mexico, as well as Baja California Sur, should continue to monitor” its progress.
Earlier, the Mexican navy urged mariners and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution, citing high waves, heavy rain and the risk of rising rivers, flooding and landslides.
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Pope Leo tells faithful in St. Peter's Square he will gradually resume duties after cancer surgery
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV thanked thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday for their prayers while he was hospitalized for an operation to remove a malignant tumor, and said he plans to gradually return to his usual duties.
The crowd erupted in cheers when the pontiff showed himself in the window overlooking the square, where a week ago on the same occasion of the traditional Angelus blessing he revealed that a nodule had been located on his lung, and that it would be surgically removed.
’’Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers," Leo said, his voice sounding strong four days after the lower lobe of his right lung was removed.
The pontiff said the experience of the last week “has made me feel especially close to those facing illness and infirmity.” He told the faithful that he had ‘’truly felt your support,'' and expressed ‘’particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff at Gemelli hospital'' where he was treated.
The pope paused for a moment and waved to the crowd before retreating into his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
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Miami is No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 1st time since '02, No. 2 BYU's ranking best since '84 title season
Miami is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2002, No. 2 BYU has its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season and Notre Dame and Georgia stayed in the top five Sunday after both lost close games.
The wildest and wackiest week of the college football season so far saw five of the top seven teams lose — a first in the AP poll's 90-year history. Miami and BYU were the biggest beneficiaries of the chaos and were joined by Ohio State in a tightly bunched top three.
The Hurricanes took over the top spot from Georgia, which lasted one week at No. 1 after losing to Auburn at home. The Bulldogs were the second No. 1 team in two weeks — Texas was the other — to lose to an unranked opponent.
Miami survived end-of-game drama to beat rival Florida State in double overtime and stay unbeaten. The Hurricanes' two-spot jump made them No. 1 for the first time since the 2002 season ended in the national championship game against Ohio State.
The Hurricanes received 40 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel and were just 22 points ahead of BYU, which won a thriller at home over Notre Dame. The Cougars got 20 first-place votes and were 26 points ahead of Ohio State. The Buckeyes got nine first-place votes and were well ahead of No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 5 Georgia.
