Sen. Lindsey Graham likely died after aorta tear, medical examiner says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has died after a brief illness. The South Carolina Republican was 71. Graham was known for advocating a strong U.S. foreign policy. He initially opposed Trump and ran against him for president in 2016, but later became a staunch supporter. Graham had just returned from Ukraine, where he’d meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham was known for advising Trump on matters such as Iran and Russia. Trump says Graham “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect,” when the senator called the president Saturday night after returning from his trip. The Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia’s preliminary findings are Graham died of aortic dissection.
Lindsey Graham's journey from a pool hall to the heights of political power
Lindsey Graham was the garrulous son of South Carolina pool hall owners and he rose to become a prominent senator and fixture on the global stage. The high-energy Republican lawmaker was known for his Southern drawl, political flexibility and reliably hawkish stance on foreign policy. He first won election to Congress in 1994 and he ran for the White House in 2016 as a determined opponent of Donald Trump. Later, he became one of the new president’s staunchest allies. Graham died Saturday night after what his office called “a brief and sudden illness.” He was 71.
Lindsey Graham remembered for a vision of American foreign policy that’s fading in Washington
NATO allies, Ukraine and Israel have paid tribute to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham as a friend and advocate of trans-Atlantic ties. Graham was a high-profile figure in global foreign policy both before and during the Trump era. Graham visited Ukraine just before his death and announced an agreement on sanctions against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Graham visited Ukraine 10 times during Russia's full-scale invasion. A one-time critic of Trump turned close ally, Graham drew tributes for his longtime commitment to NATO and trans-Atlantic friendship at a time when those ties have been under pressure.
US and Iran vie for Strait of Hormuz, waterway key to global energy supplies, in latest attacks
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran each are asserting they control the Strait of Hormuz after a weekend of attacks stretching across the wider Middle East. The attacks that continued into Monday morning further threatened any diplomacy to end the war. The attacks underlines that the waterway that once saw a fifth of the world’s traded crude oil and natural gas pass through it remains the key issue in negotiations. Iran and the U.S. are nearly at the midway point of the 60-day period of an interim deal that was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war.
McConnell says a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence about health condition
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Mitch McConnell has for the first time revealed what led to his hospitalization. McConnell, 84, in a statement Sunday said a fall was what landed him in the hospital four weeks ago. The statement comes after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican's health. McConnell explained his long silence as being hesitant to "share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.” McConnell said he will not be returning to the Senate “quite yet” but continues to work with his staff on Senate business. McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged difficulty walking and climbing stairs.
Georgia teen charged in Apalachee High School shooting to appear in court for plea and sentencing
ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has set a plea and sentencing hearing for a teenager accused of killing four people in a 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Colt Gray, 16, had pleaded not guilty to charges including murder. The judge scheduled a “Non-Negotiated Plea and Sentencing Hearing” for July 24. This means the state and defense have not agreed on a sentence, leaving it up to the judge. Gray's trial was set for October. His father was convicted on multiple charges after prosecutors said he gave his son the rifle used in the shooting. The attack left two students and two teachers dead, with several others wounded.
Fire breaks out at a pub in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people
BANGKOK (AP) — A huge fire that engulfed a pub in Bangkok overnight has killed at least 27 people and injured dozens more. Firefighters brought the blaze under control early Monday. Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight Sunday. Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door of the pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. People are seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billows into the sky. Thailand's prime minister told reporters at the scene that several people have been taken to the hospital. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Philadelphia area digs out from damage left by a severe series of microburst storms
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Residents of Philadelphia and some surrounding counties are cleaning up and assessing damage after a series of severe storms called microbursts swept through with winds up to 60 or 70 miles per hour. The storms came through Saturday, downing trees and power lines, flooding several streets and even causing at least one building to collapse that left bricks and debris in the street, crushed cars and blocked trolley tracks. City and housing authority officials evacuated at least two apartment buildings that were heavily damaged.
Keystone Pipeline system's operator agrees to pay a $26.9M penalty over a major Kansas oil spill
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposed legal settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay a civil penalty of nearly $27 million over a major oil spill in Kansas in December 2022. Canada-based South Bow also would spend about $40 million to prevent future accidents under terms of the agreement filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas. The agreement would resolve allegations that South Bow violated U.S. and Kansas clean water laws in operating the pipeline. The 2002 rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek in Washington County, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City. The company disputes the allegations.
Jannik Sinner bounces back with another Wimbledon title after his French Open meltdown
LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 for his second consecutive Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam overall. Zverev appeared bothered by a knee issue after a slip to the grass on a key point in the third set. Sinner’s latest title came in his first tournament since a meltdown at the French Open. It was Sinner’s 10th straight victory over Zverev. Zverev was coming off his first Grand Slam title at the French Open. Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.
