Trump won big spending promises from NATO last year. This week in Turkey, he'll try to enforce them
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be heading to Ankara, Turkey, for the annual NATO summit. Last year, he pushed NATO allies to spend more on defense. This year, his mission is to try to enforce those pledges. He's long aired grievances that the U.S. spends more on defense relative to European partners. He leaves Monday evening, Trump plans to meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the summit to talk about Kyiv's war with Russia. The summit comes as Trump's team pushes for NATO members to make even bigger changes that would allow the U.S. to turn its attention from Europe to other parts of the globe.
China test-launches a ballistic missile in a South Pacific nuclear-free zone
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s military has test-launched a long-range ballistic missile from one of its nuclear-powered submarines in the South Pacific. The New Zealand government said the missile was fired into a nuclear-free zone established in a 1986 treaty. China last tested a missile in international waters in 2024, the first such test in four decades. China's brief announcement on Monday's test said the missile carried a dummy warhead and was part of routine training. The launch took place the same day Australia and Fiji signed a new mutual defense treaty that is meant to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.
Philippine Senate opens the politically volatile impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine Senate has started the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in a politically volatile event that will unfold with the backdrop of her bitter feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Thousands of police officers were deployed to secure the Senate. Duterte was represented by lawyers at the start of the trial Monday. She is accused of amassing unexplained wealth and publicly threatening to have Marcos assassinated. She denies that. If convicted, Duterte may be permanently disqualified from holding public office.
A new ICE facility could speed up deportations for families and kids
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed holding center for migrant families and unaccompanied children awaiting removal from the U.S., putting it next to a Louisiana airfield that has become the nation’s largest hub of deportation flights. Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials signed a contract to build the facility at a former military base in Alexandria, according to Ralph Hennessy, executive director of the local England Airpark Authority. ICE said the facility is not a detention center but a “staging facility.” Immigration advocates say the facility is a departure from existing legal frameworks for managing children and expressed concern that they would be held longer than court-mandated limits.
3 dead and others rescued after boat capsizes on Wisconsin lake amid storms
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (AP) — Three people died and seven others were rescued after a boat capsized on a Wisconsin lake during a strong storm. Many injuries were reported Friday in Wisconsin’s Walworth County as the storm toppled trees, knocked down power lines, and damaged buildings. Police are investigating the capsizing on Lake Geneva. The mayor declared an emergency and noted power outages and minor injuries. County authorities received 911 calls reporting damage and people trapped in buildings. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area, forecasting heavy rain and lingering showers into Independence Day.
Khamenei's other sons appear at his funeral in Iran as new supreme leader remains in hiding
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s top officials and brothers of the country’s new supreme leader have emerged into public view to attend the funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling confidence in their safety as Iran pushes back on U.S. demands in negotiations to permanently end the war. Crowds of hundreds of thousands called for revenge over the Feb. 28 attack that killed the 86-year-old supreme leader and other top officials, triggering the war. Some hard-liners called for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance in the funeral ceremonies, which are unfolding over several days.
Trump pardons former Abramoff partner, 9 people convicted of violating vehicle emissions controls
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday pardoned 11 people, including a former business partner of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and nine people identified by the White House as having helped people bypass emissions control systems on vehicles. The acts of clemency come as Trump has issued a slew of pardons in his second term, particularly for allies, public figures and those seen as politically aligned. His use of the presidency’s sweeping ability to unilaterally grant pardons and commute sentences is among the ways the Republican’s return to office has featured an expansive use of executive power.
Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
Ukrainian drones have struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg as Kyiv ramps up bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure. The attacks have created a fuel crisis in Russia and political pressure on the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He said Ukrainian forces also hit a military target on the island of Kronstadt. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the strikes as “not critical.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials deny Russian claims of capturing the city of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region.
Fallout from Venezuela's earthquakes turns political as opposition leader Machado seeks return
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The fallout from Venezuela’s powerful twin quakes has evolved into a major test for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, sending her scrambling to prevent the humanitarian disaster from becoming a political one in the face of fierce public criticism and efforts by the Venezuelan opposition leader to return from exile. Rodríguez's 180-day mandate as interim leader expires on Friday. A day after Rodríguez angrily defended the competence of her government’s relief effort at her first press conference since the June 24 disaster, her main rival, exiled Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, issued her own appeal. She argued the government’s quake response exposed its critical weaknesses and that her return would help recovery efforts.
Far-right Alternative for Germany party reelects leaders as protesters and police clash
ERFURT, Germany (AP) — Delegates at the national convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany party have overwhelmingly reelected its leaders, including Alice Weidel. Tens of thousands of protesters aimed to disrupt the meeting on Saturday, and some clashed with police. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, sought to show unity as it voted to extend the terms of Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have headed it for four years as co-leaders. The demonstrations outside the convention in the eastern city of Erfurt reflected how AfD has divided Germany even while becoming the biggest opposition party nationally.
