US strikes Iran and Bahrain warns of incoming fire as clashes over shipping routes escalate
JERUSALEM (AP) — Bahrain activated its sirens early Friday, warning residents to shelter from detected fire hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran. The Gulf states have come under frequent fire over the past week as the U.S. and Iran exchange escalating strikes in fighting that began with a struggle over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the Iran war as international oil topped $100 a barrel.
Fatal police shooting of man with knife roils Madison, Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The police shooting death of a man with a knife has roiled Wisconsin's capital and prompted politicians from the governor to city officials to call for transparency and accountability. City of Madison officials identified the man as homeless at a Thursday news conference that was interrupted by protesters. As cellphone video of the shooting circulated on social media, the Madison police chief urged people to remain calm pending an independent state investigation. The shooting also infused itself into politics ahead of Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary, with rival contenders weighing in.
Government withdraws subpoenas of 3 reporters for The New York Times after admitting legal errors
NEW YORK (AP) — The government has withdrawn subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawals in U.S. District Court followed a remarkable back and forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys. They come at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it doesn’t like — and also trying to crack down on leaks inside the government.
Trump adds new condition to Saudi nuclear deal, says kingdom must normalize relations with Israel
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump appeared to add a condition to the newly signed agreement with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program, saying the deal would require the kingdom to normalize its relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Trump made the comments Thursday in a social media post. When the deal was announced Wednesday, neither the U.S. Energy Department nor the Saudi government made any mention of it being contingent on the kingdom’s relations with Israel. Trump's assertion is almost certain to make finalizing the deal complicated. The accords expanded the number of Arab and Muslim-majority nations with diplomatic ties with Israel.
Man who killed Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman sentenced to life as family describes trauma, loss
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota man who killed Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Vance Boelter was sentenced Thursday after survivors of the attack and family and friends of the victims spoke about the enduring trauma of that night and the loss. Boelter pleaded guilty last month in the June 2025 fatal shooting of the former house speaker and her husband, Mark. The 59-year-old also pleaded guilty to attacking Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Boelter avoids the death penalty with his plea.
Trump imposes double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries as his 10% levies are set to expire Friday
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court. The United States will impose taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor. The new tariffs come as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Trump had turned to those levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February. Now he’s tapping more durable tariffs under a 1974 trade law.
Tropical Storm Bertha weakens after bringing strong winds and heavy surf to Louisiana and Texas
Tropical Storm Bertha brought heavy surf and some flooding to southern Louisiana and Texas as it came ashore on the Gulf Coast before it was downgraded to a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center says wind gusts of tropical storm force were still possible along the upper Texas coast Thursday evening. Heavy rain into the evening may trigger isolated flash flooding. No deaths or significant damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm made landfall for the first time Wednesday as it grazed the Louisiana coast. It came ashore again Thursday near Galveston, Texas.
Gas, groceries and back-to-school items are where shoppers might see higher oil prices surface
NEW YORK (AP) — Consumers already feeling pinched since the Iran war started may feel more pain after oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel. The elevated price reached on Thursday marked a turn from falling oil prices when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. The last time international standard Brent crude hit $100 a barrel was in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices. They’re likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.
US health officials are investigating a new outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite
U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak involving the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The outbreak included 72 people as of Wednesday. The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located. The FDA earlier this week said it remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate cyclospora outbreak. The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
Trump fetes Dodgers at the White House again, saying the team is 'one of the great brands'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has celebrated the Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House, calling the team “one of the great brands anywhere in the world.” Thursday's event marked the Dodgers' second consecutive World Series win and second White House annual visit, after they edged the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last November. Trump expressed excitement about meeting Shohei Ohtani and compared him to Babe Ruth. The Dodgers gave Trump a jersey and a replica World Series ring. The president mused about whether to report the gift and said the war in Iran had prevented him from following baseball this season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team is aiming for a three-peat.
