US Vice President JD Vance arrives in Switzerland to launch talks with Iran on its nuclear program
OBBUERGEN, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance has landed in Switzerland to help launch negotiations with Iranian leaders over Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks aim to solidify an interim deal to end the war in Iran. The negotiations, involving top U.S. and Iranian officials, are crucial for global security and the economy. Vance’s arrival was delayed due to escalating fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. The situation is tense, with Iran claiming to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. U.S. Central Command disputes this, saying traffic continues. The talks include Qatari mediators and Pakistani leaders.
US and Iran to talk Sunday in Switzerland as Tehran says it closed Strait of Hormuz again
TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators are on their way to a venue in Switzerland to discuss details of their interim agreement to halt the war. This comes after Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz due to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump in response threatened to impose tolls in the waterway if a final deal isn't reached in 60 days. Talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar are set to begin Sunday. The deal involves unfreezing billions of dollars of Iran’s assets, and Iran's negotiating team includes central bank and oil officials, among others.
Trump deepens the dustup with Italy's Meloni, who says his 'unprovoked attacks are senseless'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni once more. Trump is insisting she asked “over and over” for a photo with him at the recent Group of Seven summit in France and he's criticizing what he says was Italy’s lack of cooperation during the Iran war. Trump's remarks on social media Saturday are deepening the spat between the allies. Meloni has called Trump's claim “completely fabricated," and is now saying that Trump's “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.” The dustup led Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned trip to the United States.
Warsh's gamble: A quieter Federal Reserve could mean volatile markets, higher rates
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has for decades moved steadily from a remote, opaque government agency that shared little about what it did or why to a more transparent institution willing to explain how it makes decisions and what it thinks about the economy. New chair Kevin Warsh has begun to reverse some of those steps because he believes that by signaling its intentions the Fed pigeonholes itself into a position on interest rates. Yet such an approach carries the risk of more violent swings in stock and bond prices, analysts say, and ultimately higher interest rates for consumers and businesses.
Massive fire destroys resort in Dominican Republic and forces evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A large fire has almost completely destroyed a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists. Local media reported an Italian tourist died in the fire and several other tourists required medical assistance. The Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort is located in Bayahibe, a popular destination for U.S. and international tourists on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Authorities reported about 1,690 tourists had to be evacuated from the resort to other hotels and nearby housing facilities because of the massive blaze.
Russia strikes an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and 1 person is killed
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian bombs have struck an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Authorities said that the bombardment killed at least one person and injured nine others including a child. The attack happened early Saturday. A body was pulled from the rubble hours later. A Russian drone hit a civilian car in Kharkiv on Friday evening in a strike that killed a man and wounded a woman. Moscow hasn't commented on the attacks. Ukraine's air force said it shot down 92 of 99 Russian drones launched overnight. Russian air defenses repelled a drone attack on an oil refinery in Tyumen in Western Siberia.
Utah marks a year of battling measles, with no clear end in sight
Utah has spent the past year fighting measles outbreaks in almost every county. And experts say there's no clear end in sight. While some parts of the state have successfully stopped the spread, the highly contagious virus is continuing its steady march. The outbreaks are fueled by dropping childhood vaccination rates. Health officials worry measles cases will rise again when school starts and cold weather arrives. International health experts will gather in November to determine if the U.S. and Mexico will keep their measles-free designation. Canada lost its measles elimination status last year.
Congress wonders as the Iran war draws to a close: Was it worth it?
WASHINGTON (AP) — The question hangs in the halls at the Capitol: Was the war with Iran worth it? Congress never authorized the war, yet never fully objected to it. Now lawmakers must grapple with the consequences of President Donald Trump’s war. That includes the lives lost, the billions spent and the national security fallout. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the rounds on Capitol Hill this past week as Congress considers an additional $350 billion for the Pentagon. But uncertainty and skepticism over the deal the Trump struck with Iran to end the war leave many questions.
Starmer is on the precipice as pressure builds for the UK leader to resign
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a crucial decision: step down or fight a leadership challenge from Labour Party rival Andy Burnham. Starmer has vowed to stay, but pressure is mounting as colleagues believe his time is up. Expectations are growing that he will announce a timetable for his resignation as soon as Monday. Burnham, recently elected as a lawmaker, is now in a position to challenge Starmer. Discontent has been building due to Starmer's struggles with economic growth and public services. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Starmer is reflecting on his political situation.
Colombians vote in a presidential runoff that pits an outsider against a progressive
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia faces a tight runoff election between a progressive and a conservative outsider. Businessman Abelardo de la Espriella and lawmaker Iván Cepeda are vying for the presidency. Both candidates aim to address the country's tenuous security, as well as social and financial challenges. De la Espriella proposes a tough approach to violence, similar to El Salvador's president. Cepeda wants to continue outgoing President Gustavo Petro's dialogue efforts with armed groups. The election comes 10 years after Colombia's peace pact with the armed group FARC, but violence has surged. Official results from the first round showed Cepeda with 41% of the vote and de la Espriella with 44%.
