Senate Republicans hold new vote on war powers after Trump berated them at Capitol meeting
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump on Wednesday over opposition to his war in Iran held a late-night vote to try to appease him, voting down a war powers resolution a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues and brought much of the chamber’s business to a halt. He exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure.
Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing widespread damage
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil’s Amazon about 1,700 kilometers away. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said late Wednesday that the earthquakes caused damages in several states. She did not give any figures of homes and buildings affected, injures or fatalities. The quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
NATO's Trump whisperer meets the president in an effort to appease him before next month's summit
WASHINGTON (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has met with President Donald Trump, advocating for the military alliance that the U.S. leader has sharply criticized. Trump argues that his country bears too much of NATO's financial burden, especially after the Iran conflict. Rutte is known for his ability to charm Trump and he aimed to ease tensions during their White House meeting on Wednesday. Trump has renewed threats to leave NATO, raising the stakes before next month's summit in Turkey. Rutte emphasizes European support, noting U.S. military activity in Europe. The Pentagon is reviewing U.S. forces in Europe, echoing Trump's critiques of NATO allies.
Dispute over nuclear inspections shows how US and Iran are negotiating in public
TOKYO (AP) — The head of the U.N.’s nuclear agency signaled that Iranian nuclear enrichment sites would be visited by his inspectors, a key component in the interim U.S.-Iran deal to reach an end to the war. An Iranian diplomat instead insisted on Wednesday that any such visit would only come after a final deal. Leaders from the U.S. and Iran have repeatedly disagreed in public about what the interim deal actually means. Dueling narratives are playing out on a range of issues, including Israel’s war with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and how Tehran will spend billions of dollars once unfrozen. Lebanon's state-run news agency says Israel launched an airstrike that killed two people in southern Lebanon.
Trump turns America 250 kickoff into a campaign-style rally on the National Mall
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump sees America’s 250th anniversary as a chance to get the country excited again — about himself. The president addressed a rally Wednesday on the National Mall in Washington. The show included a series of flyovers by stealth bombers, music from military bands, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA." The rally is designed to kick off weeks of celebrations about the founding of America. Critics say Trump is turning the anniversary into a partisan event to try to boost his ratings — and those of his party — ahead of November congressional elections. But Trump declared of the nation, "Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.”
Trump-endorsed de la Espriella declared winner of Colombia’s presidential runoff election
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire political newcomer, has been declared Colombia’s next president. Electoral authorities announced his victory on Wednesday after a close runoff election on Sunday. De la Espriella, who has never held office, defeated progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda by a narrow margin. His win is seen as a rejection of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s policies. De la Espriella promises a tough approach to crime, inspired by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Cepeda conceded and accepted a Senate seat. De la Espriella’s term begins Aug. 7, and he aims to unify the nation.
Rural area in Northern California jolted by its biggest quake since 1940
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A rural area of Northern California has experienced its strongest earthquake since 1940, but it caused only mild shaking with no immediate reports of major damage. Mendocino County authorities say some injuries have been reported but have provided no details. The U.S. Geological Survey says the epicenter of Wednesday's quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, was about 7 miles northwest of the agricultural town of Willits. The USGS says it was about 5 miles deep. Three other quakes under a 2.7 magnitude struck near the epicenter within an hour.
A member of the cultlike Zizians group is charged in the killings of her parents in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania prosecutor says a member of the cultlike group known as Zizians has been charged in the 2022 killing of her parents, and authorities don't believe she acted alone. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said Wednesday that 33-year-old Michelle Zajko faces murder, burglary and conspiracy charges. Rita and Richard Zajko were shot in their Chester Heights home on New Year’s Eve, Michelle's birthday. Rouse says if Zajko didn't pull the trigger, she arranged for it. But she has denied killing her parents. She's been jailed since February 2025, when she was arrested with two other members of the group in Maryland.
Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy after catastrophic Texas floods killed 28 people at the girls' camp
DALLAS (AP) — Camp Mystic has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The filing Wednesday comes nearly a year after catastrophic floods in Texas Hill Country killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors at the Christian camp for girls. Camp owner Richard Eastland also died in the flood over the July 4 weekend at the camp on the Guadalupe River. In paperwork filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas in Houston, the camp listed its debt as more than $10 million. Families of the victims filed a lawsuit in November saying the camp operators failed to take the necessary steps to protect the girls as life-threatening floodwaters approached.
World Cup what to know: US faces decisions for final group-stage game against winless Turkey
The United States returns to the pitch for its final World Cup group-stage game with some decisions to make. The Americans have already won Group D to lock up a spot in the knockout stage and will face winless Turkey in Inglewood, California. Christian Pulisic returned to training after missing a 2-0 win over Australia, but coach Mauricio Pochettino has to decide how much to use his star player in a game that’s meaningless in the standings and the knockout stage around the corner. In other games, Ivory Coast can earn its first trip to the knockout stage with a win over Curacao, Ecuador faces a must-win against Germany and three games will determine the Group F winner.
