Trump threatens Iran after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral saw open calls for his killing
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran after the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw open calls for his killing. The comments by Trump, made on his Truth Social website, likely again will turn up tensions in the Mideast. There had been multiple days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran, as well as Iranian retaliatory fire targeting nations across the Mideast. “1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat,” Trump wrote.
Platner formally withdraws from Maine Senate race and Democrats announce process to name new nominee
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner has submitted his paperwork to formally withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, officially ending an upstart yet troubled campaign whose dissolution threatens Democrats’ pursuit of chamber control. The Maine Democratic Party announced later Friday it will hold a nominating convention on July 25 to choose his replacement on the November ballot. Platner’s paperwork was received Friday by the Maine secretary of state’s office. Maine is considered a key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Trump will let bipartisan housing bill become law without signing in protest over GOP voter ID law
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has chosen not to sign a sweeping housing affordability bill on Friday, in protest of Congress not approving a strict voter ID bill that does not have enough support to pass. Still, the housing measure could become law on Friday without Trump’s signature, as he had 10 days to issue a veto and stop the measure. Trump’s post simply says that he will not sign it.
Donald Trump ousts election commission members in latest push to reshape US voting process
President Donald Trump has ousted members of a bipartisan federal election commission charged with assisting state and local elections officials. The White House confirmed Friday that Trump is taking executive action to change the makeup of the Election Assistance Commission. That agency distributes federal grants to states, tests voting systems and maintains the national voter registration forms. It is the latest move in Trump's effort to expand White House influence over how U.S. elections are conducted, and it comes after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave the president new personnel authority to fire members of independent agency boards.
A US license could let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles, but it won’t be simple or quick
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air-defense systems could mark a major breakthrough for Kyiv. But experts and Ukrainian officials warn that turning the idea into real weapons would likely take years. Speaking Wednesday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to make the U.S.-designed systems that Kyiv has long sought to shield its cities from Russian missiles and drones. A production license would not automatically allow Ukraine to manufacture complete Patriot batteries. It could instead cover a narrower part of the system, such as interceptor missiles or selected components.
Crews are draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again as part of Trump's troubled revamp
WASHINGTON (AP) — Crews are draining the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool again as President Donald Trump's problem-plagued effort to renovate the site pushes past his initial July 4 deadline. The president initially suggested his renovations would last a century. But, within weeks of the project originally reaching completion last month, the water was beset by an algae bloom and pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling off the bottom. Trump has blamed the peeling on vandals, though critics allege it’s from shoddy repair work. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told a conservative podcaster that the draining was planned and that the water might still contain debris from the Independence Day fireworks display over the National Mall.
Mikel Merino stars again as Spain edges Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute off a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory. Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which advanced to face tournament favorite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in the Dallas area. Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a long shot from Pau Cubarsí. Merino also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal.
Detainees tell their lawyer an ICE officer shot a Houston driver through a passenger window
HOUSTON (AP) — Three men who survived a fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers in Houston say no officer was threatened. A lawyer said Friday that the men told him an officer shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo through the passenger side window Tuesday during an attempted traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security says Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle. But attorney Hugo Balderas-Ibarra says video footage shows no damage to Salgado Araujo's van. ICE hasn't release any other evidence to support their version of events. Balderas-Ibarra says Homeland Security may also try to deport the men quickly so they can't tell their side of the story.
Fellow passengers pull back man partly sucked out of broken window on a flight from Greece
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A passenger on board a flight from Greece to Germany was partially sucked out of a window when it broke soon after takeoff. A hospital official in northern Greece said the 61-year-old man suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. Passengers reported hearing a loud bang nearly an hour into the flight on Friday. One said that oxygen masks dropped and the plane began to lose altitude, causing panic. Low-cost airline operator Ryanair said the flight to Memmingen, near Munich, returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff after a window became dislodged. The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal.
Family of Mississippi teen who died after July 4 trip call for transparency and deeper investigation
NEW YORK (AP) — The family of a Mississippi 18-year-old who was found dead after a July 4 boat trip with friends to an island off the Gulf Coast called for a deeper investigation and for greater transparency at a news conference Friday with the Rev. Al Sharpton and noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The body of Nolan Xavier Wells was found Monday off Horn Island, Mississippi. That’s where he was last seen with friends on Saturday. Crump says the family is seeking answers about the death. Sheriff John Ledbetter says investigators have been told Wells chose to stay on the island when his friends left and was apparently going to return with someone else.
