Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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The Waffle House Index helps Southerners — and FEMA — gauge a storm's severity
SUMMARY: For some residents of storm-prone Southeastern states, the best indicator of a hurricane’s severity can be found at the local Waffle House. If the Georgia-based restaurant chain stays open in town, neighbors are reassured that the coming storm is unlikely to cause devastation. A closed location of the dependable diner chain has come to indicate impending disaster. What might sound like silly logic has become one of the most reliable ways for Southerners and even federal officials to gauge a storm’s severity and identify communities most in need of immediate aid. The Waffle House Index was created by a emergency management official and is still used today.
WORDS: 683 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWaffleHouseIndex/1489d75a250f85c38a898bd93e39d41a/text___
Man with a gun and knife is fatally shot by security at Nashville federal courthouse, police say
SUMMARY: Police say a man armed with a pistol and a knife was fatally shot by a security officer inside the federal courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee. A spokesperson for Metro Nashville Police says the man in his 40s was killed after he tried to fire his gun but failed and then pulled out a knife. The man was from out of state. No details were released about why he was at the courthouse. Police said a search of his car found nothing threatening. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire notes that the courthouse includes offices of federal prosecutors and Tennessee's U.S. senators.
WORDS: 306 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 3:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTennesseeCourthouseShootingthLdWritethru/b89d9fca923731bf31280c980bc52d05/text___
Hurricane Isaias is expected to strengthen as it barrels toward the US Gulf Coast
SUMMARY: Isaias is surging toward the U.S. Gulf Coast as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Governors in Florida and Alabama declared a state of emergency for dozens of counties. Isaias is forecast to intensify rapidly and bring strong winds and a life-threatening storm surge to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Landfall was forecast on the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. Heavy rain with the risk of flooding was possible into the weekend as far inland as the Tennessee Valley. The hurricane had 80 mph winds early Thursday. Some Gulf oil wells paused production, and some Florida school districts canceled classes.
WORDS: 1028 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 5:37 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSExtremeWeatherIsaiasthLdWritethru/8244ca45b8d4c292350f00adfabb0967/text___
New US indictment charges former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with torture
SUMMARY: A new U.S. indictment charges former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with torture and other crimes. The indictment was unsealed Thursday in New York. Maduro was previously charged with participating in a conspiracy to send cocaine into the U.S. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, now also face allegations of human rights abuses during his reign as president of the oil-rich South American nation. On Thursday, Flores’ lawyers unsuccessfully urged a judge to free her from jail and put her under house arrest because of heart problems. Maduro and Flores have been behind bars in New York since early January when U.S. forces seized them from their Caracas home. Both have pleaded not guilty in the drug case.
WORDS: 951 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaMadurothLdWritethru/da82df35aab0f02e344d1c3de0ed31d7/text___
Atlantic hurricanes starting with 'I' typically bring death and destruction. Isaias is up next
SUMMARY: Atlantic hurricanes starting with the letter ‘I’ share a long history of death and destruction. Isaias is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season and is expected to make landfall by this weekend. Ever since Atlantic hurricanes have been given names starting in 1953, 100 of those are no longer used due to their destruction or high death tolls. Fourteen Atlantic hurricanes starting with 'I' have been retired, the most of any letter. Of the 55 costliest hurricanes to hit the United States, a dozen of those began with the letter “I”, including four in the top 10.
WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSExtremeWeatherWhatsInAName/8a36104329c8aae0fa6c7944a441e71c/text___
The long-deployed USS Lincoln is returning home to San Diego
SUMMARY: The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is returning home to San Diego after a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea supporting the Iran war. The carrier’s extended deployment drew the nation’s attention following reports of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and hygiene products. The Navy initially downplayed any problems, and President Donald Trump commented that the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment was “not nearly long enough.” The carrier left San Diego in November, arrived in the Middle East in January to support Iran operations, and spent 265 days at sea, a record for days in between ports of call.
WORDS: 703 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 9:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUSSLincolnReturnsHomendLdWritethru/6ddd8cc3f634f9863bd718683df21ba7/text___
Isaias strengthens into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season
SUMMARY: Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The National Hurricane Center said late Wednesday that the hurricane was on track to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. It’s expected to bring heavy rains and potentially flash flooding. The Miami-based hurricane center reports the center of the hurricane is about 460 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It has maximum sustained winds around 75 mph. Isaias is developing more than four months into the Atlantic hurricane season.
WORDS: 807 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 9:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSExtremeWeatherGulfstLdWritethru/440bdecf97a5340547ca3ad291b361df/text___
Texas carries out nation’s first execution since Christa Pike’s failed lethal injection
SUMMARY: A Texas man who fatally shot a convenience store clerk in 2000 has been executed, a week after a failed lethal injection in Tennessee. Forty-six-year-old Jamaal Howard was pronounced dead Wednesday evening after receiving a fatal dose of pentobarbital at the state prison at Huntsville. It was the first U.S. execution since Tennessee’s failed attempt to put Christa Pike to death on Sept. 30. Howard’s attorneys had unsuccessfully sought to block the injection, arguing that he was intellectually disabled and faced risks similar to Pike's because both states use the same lethal injection drug. Howard was convicted of killing 42-year-old clerk Vickie Swartout during a convenience store robbery in 2000.
WORDS: 681 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasExecutionthLdWritethru/feb0077b1cbf42e2fd49464da30fcb33/text___
Cornell gang-rape accuser was 'misled' about criminal investigation, her lawyer says
SUMMARY: A lawyer for the woman who says she was gang raped at a Cornell University fraternity says she was “misled” by authorities about the status of the criminal investigation in the weeks after she first went to police. Attorney Thomas Giuffra told The Associated Press campus police led the accuser to believe that the investigation was continuing, even after a local district attorney initially declined to prosecute. In reality, the lawyer says little more was done. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has said he made the decision not to go forward with a criminal case within days of the woman giving her first substantial interviews to police. The men accused by the woman denied her allegations. They have not been charged with a crime.
WORDS: 1125 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 8:59 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCornellRapeInvestigationthLdWritethru/e5d3182af81fff6efc86d700516e171a/text___
Christa Pike is angry and confused after surviving execution attempt, attorney says
SUMMARY: Christa Pike is “angry and confused” after surviving an attempt to execute her in Tennessee. One of Pike’s attorneys, Randy Spivey, said Wednesday that she aware of what happened. Executioners tried twice to administer lethal doses of pentobarbital to Pike on Sept. 30. Witnesses were able to hear her breathing heavily before she was removed from the death chamber. On Wednesday, a judge said she would issue an order to the state to preserve anything that was in the execution chamber and all communication records. Pike was sentenced to death for the beating and stabbing death of Colleen Slemmer in 1995.
WORDS: 805 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTennesseeExecutionthLdWritethru/bb47b2ff362d989f642d9f498413aed9/text___
FBI says it stopped a Mall of America terror attack by a teen after agents sold him an assault rifle
SUMMARY: The FBI says it thwarted an attack on the Mall of America by a teenager after agents supplied him with an assault rifle. Authorities announced Wednesday that the 18-year-old had been under investigation for nearly two years, trading messages with a confidential informant. A federal complaint says Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was arrested Tuesday in a public park after he paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as a member of the Islamic State group for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition. It accuses Mohamud of repeatedly telling the informant that he wanted to kill non-Muslims. He was represented at his initial court appearance Wednesday by a public defender. The lawyer and members of his family declined to comment.
WORDS: 593 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 5:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMinnesotaThwartedAttackthLdWritethru/366922e521871e5da57c0e86cd7e2b16/text___
Ex-Marine to face death penalty in 2025 mass shooting at North Carolina bar
SUMMARY: A former Marine and wounded Iraq War veteran will face the death penalty in a September 2025 mass shooting in North Carolina that left three people dead. Nigel Max Edge is charged with three counts of murder for allegedly piloting a small boat up to a waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina, and opening fire with a short-barreled rifle. Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David acknowledged during a hearing Wednesday that the head wound Edge suffered in Iraq has incapacitated him. But David says he expects treatment to make Edge competent to stand trial. Edge's attorney says the chances of that are low.
WORDS: 349 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 8:49 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNorthCarolinaBarShootingstLdWritethru/66c0b3cd561e933db8072ab5de401f99/text___
Trump's executive order on dyed diesel will offer little relief, farmers and truckers say
SUMMARY: Farmers, truckers, and economists say cutting taxes on diesel may not ease record-high fuel prices. Prices have soared since the U.S. attacked Iran months ago, with diesel prices averaging $6.30 per gallon on Wednesday. Industry groups said they appreciate President Donald Trump's executive order expanding the use of off-road diesel, but many farmers already have access to it and truckers face challenges with varying state rules. The order defers the $0.24 federal tax per gallon until the end of the year, and experts warn that easing limits may increase competition for the dyed diesel.
WORDS: 922 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 7:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpDieselstLdWritethru/9f01941a843fbd8ba64240e296c43f1b/text___
Trial begins for a man accused of killing UNC student Faith Hedgepeth 14 years ago
SUMMARY: The trial of a man accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago is finally getting underway. Miguel Salguero Olivares is charged with first-degree murder, rape and burglary in the death of Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Salguero Olivares was arrested nine years later, in 2021. In opening statements Wednesday, the prosecutor said the defendant killed Hedgepeth in a fit of rage and left his DNA all over the crime scene. The defense says the evidence doesn’t add up and that finding DNA doesn’t mean it is connected to a crime.
WORDS: 645 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 5:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUNCStudentDeathndLdWritethru/3cfd196e47fb7a4bacc671fd389f45dd/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump says US will not resume military strikes on Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says the U.S. will not resume military strikes on Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Trump has hinted that was confident that an end game to the war cold come in the days before or after the election, while also suggesting he remained open to resuming full-scale military operations against Iran. But Trump in a social media post on Thursday said the U.S. “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”
WORDS: 375 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpIranthLdWritethru/422b1799a1a06466279ac265f560e014/text___
Rubio refuses to comment on Guilfoyle allegations
SUMMARY: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before taking up her post. Rubio told reporters before leaving Greece on Thursday that he would not discuss the allegations contained in a Wall Street Journal story that said Guilfoyle had asked a donor and supporter of President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did. Rubio said he was aware of the report but had no idea if it was true and he would not address it.
WORDS: 404 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 6:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGreeceRubioGuilfoylendLdWritethru/ec31c487c41f60147e0d413aedbd92f4/text___
Media attorneys ask court for help in preventing White House ban until legal case is resolved
SUMMARY: An attorney for three news organizations told a federal judge that the Trump administration must be prevented from barring their reporters from the White House. Theodore Boutrous Jr. says the ban is a classic example of “viewpoint discrimination” that is punishing people for what they say — and restricting the media outlets’ First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said he intended to rule by Tuesday, possibly sooner, on whether to extend an order that preserves White House access for journalists from MS NOW, CNN and Politico. The case has been going on since last month, shortly after President Donald Trump banned the outlets from the White House grounds, saying he objected to their reporting.
WORDS: 694 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpMedia/6459d3612a0a845a0cf1a093acafbe6f/text___
The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is suspending tech giant Microsoft from a program to apply for green cards for workers who come to the U.S. to live and work using H-1B visas, accusing the company of fraud. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday, “If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants.” Vance spoke in a White House news conference announcing the decision. The H-1B program has long been a target of President Donald Trump’s supporters who say the program undercuts American workers and is rife with abuse. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft hasn’t responded to a request for comment.
WORDS: 693 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 2:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVanceMicrosoftHBthLdWritethru/e7b3a407f822702b269ee277d21343ea/text___
Texas socialists are building a movement, one sandwich at a time
SUMMARY: The Democratic Socialists of America has seen its membership more than double to 126,000 over the past two years. This surge has thrust the group into the spotlight during midterm elections, making them a target for Republicans and part of a political identity crisis for Democrats. A look inside an Austin, Texas, chapter of DSA shows a buzzing community, buoyed by victories across the country. They're powered by their members' willingness to volunteer dozens or hundreds of hours to protest, canvass and help the poor. Despite their growing influence, DSA's official platform, which includes abolishing the Senate, has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
WORDS: 1299 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 12:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionDSArdLdWritethru/a117ec152525a54180f14cf17a8a04e6/text___
As Democrats eye big midterm wins, Republicans look to turn the tables in some House districts
SUMMARY: The midterm elections may be challenging for Republicans, but there are some key House races where GOP wins might mean election night goes better than expected. National Republicans are investing in some; key issues might sway others. In an open New Hampshire seat, Trump allies are spending to support other races, which could boost Anthony DiLorenzo against Democrat Stefany Shaheen. Ohio's redistricting efforts could impact Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman. In Nevada, tax policy might affect Democratic Rep. Susie Lee's race and Republican Marty O'Donnell. New Mexico Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez's contest against Greg Cunningham could test Trump's appeal with Hispanic voters.
WORDS: 1093 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionHouseRepublicansstLdWritethru/c87c09149f0d5fe329f78bc73901a8dd/text___
Two lawsuits challenge Trump's taxpayer-funded ads, alleging they violate propaganda law
SUMMARY: Two new lawsuits are challenging President Donald Trump's recent spate of federally funded television advertisements. The lawsuits filed Wednesday came from the Democratic National Committee and a coalition including the nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause. The plaintiffs argue the ads, which promote Trump's political message while costing taxpayers millions of dollars, violate U.S. propaganda law. They ask the courts to block the use of federal funds to pay for the ads. The ads began in September and have cost taxpayers at least $12 million out of a contracted $20 million. Trump has defended the ads as positive promotion for the country. He has said he’ll pay for them through his super PAC going forward.
WORDS: 604 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 8:11 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionGovernmentAdrdLdWritethru/a1e286d37989f1cb5bbe13905f8fbbf1/text___
Trump's $90 Medicare rebate rolls out, but millions aren't eligible. Critics see a political stunt
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's Trump’s promised $90 Medicare rebate rolls out this week, but millions of people will be left out. The rebates are estimated to cost $2 billion and are intended to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees with their Part B premiums. Less than one-third of all Medicare recipients are eligible for the payouts. Not eligible are roughly 35 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, millions of other people with disabilities and low-income Medicare recipients. The election-year promise comes as the Novembers midterms are fast approaching, with the cost of living and healthcare expenses among the top issues for voters. Critics say the move is a political stunt.
WORDS: 670 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 5:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpMedicarePaymentsstLdWritethru/277813080b537068037e9bfaad7f9e94/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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A quarter century later, the legacy of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan endures
SUMMARY: A U.S.-led coalition invaded Afghanistan 25 years ago and launched Operation Enduring Freedom to dismantle al-Qaida. The terrorist organization's leader Osama bin Laden had orchestrated the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. The invasion was to mark the start of a 20-year-long war that cost tens of thousands of lives and whose legacy lives on today. One doctor returning home from her night shift in a Kabul hospital the morning after the invasion recalls seeing people in the street lynching Taliban members. The Taliban's harsh rule had seen public executions, limb amputations for alleged criminals and draconian restrictions on women. Now the Taliban are firmly back in control of Afghanistan five years after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.
WORDS: 1019 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 7:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASAfghanistanUSInvasionYears/ee2cf4ec49abcb514d53b4ced748898b/text___
Deported to Central African Republic, a transgender woman who lived openly in Miami is hiding again
SUMMARY: Daniela Fuentes is a transgender woman from Cuba who's been deported to the Central African Republic as part of a U.S. immigration policy. She previously lived in Miami, where she styled hair and performed in drag. Now, she hides her identity in a country with little protection for transgender people. She was sent there under U.S. President Donald Trump's “third-country” deportation policy, which recently was temporarily upheld by the Supreme Court. Fuentes is among tens of thousands sent to such third countries where they have no ties. She shares a room with men also deported from Cuba and relies on aid or donations for food. Fuentes hopes to leave and seek asylum elsewhere, possibly Canada.
WORDS: 1623 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 4:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCentralAfricanRepublicDeporteendLdWritethru/1409867a074f4e8ce660d757a05d88b4/text___
Strike on Ukrainian public buses leaves 30 dead as blackouts worsen in Kyiv
SUMMARY: A powerful Russian guided bomb explosion has killed 30 people and wounded at least 18 in eastern Ukraine, according to authorities. The attack happened near public buses in Krematorsk, Donetsk region, on Thursday. Public transport was suspended in the area. Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of the city's military administration, accused Russia of targeting civilians. The attack follows deadly missile strikes in Pryluky, where 22 people died the previous day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for more defense support from NATO countries. Kyiv faces worsening power outages, and officials are urging families to prepare for expected winter blackouts.
WORDS: 736 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 7:49 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/7f395d215bb67082da29f9c4467ef776/text___
Judge says search warrants used to seize property from former Prince Andrew were unlawful
SUMMARY: A London judge says police who searched former Prince Andrew's properties in connection to Jeffrey Epstein agreed the search warrants were unlawful. Justice Nicholas Hilliard stated that Thames Valley Police made a significant error when applying for the warrant. The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. His lawyers are challenging the warrants, aiming to exclude evidence from any trial. King Charles III stripped him of his title last year. The investigation continues, with police confirming ongoing legal proceedings.
WORDS: 670 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 9:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainAndrewthLdWritethru/bcfae2d3a619487724a3dc20bd16020a/text___
International Criminal Court judges say Philippine ex-President Rodrigo Duterte fit to stand trial
SUMMARY: Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the so-called war on drugs he waged while in office. The court made the announcement on Thursday. The 81-year-old Duterte denies the charges. His trial is scheduled to open on Nov. 30. The ex-leader is accused of murder and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of the war on drugs. The court’s Sept. 28 ruling that he is fit to face justice came after an independent panel of experts said that Duterte “has the capacity to understand the charges” and follow the proceedings.
WORDS: 415 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 1:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUInternationalCourtDuterterdLdWritethru/dfdcb1d01b2848e5337a0d1c1bee1b49/text___
Houthis claim new attack against airport in Saudi capital as witness reports evacuation
SUMMARY: A witness says explosions have rocked Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, including a blast at the international airport. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen have claimed the new attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. The Saudis had no immediate comment Thursday about the claim. A flight monitor said King Khalid International Airport was closed, with flights halted and passengers were evacuated. On Wednesday, attacks claimed by the Houthis killed three people at two Saudi airports. The kingdom has launched a major offensive against the rebels in response to weeks of drone and missile attacks.
WORDS: 783 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 12:05 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSaudiArabiaExplosionsthLdWritethru/35194542a9d7ae54fca983db5f4f1adb/text___
Moscow’s secrecy about a suspected plague case follows a pattern from the Soviet era
SUMMARY: The Kremlin has long maintained a culture of secrecy when it comes to controlling public information, especially involving accidents -- from industrial disasters to health emergencies. The suspicious death last week of a worker at a research lab in Siberia that has fueled global concerns about suspected pneumonic plague is just the latest example of how leaders in Moscow manage the official narrative that can often cover up the truth for years. Scarce official information about the death, which unconfirmed reports in Russia blamed on pneumonic plague, follows Soviet-era patterns of secrecy in dealing with infectious diseases and other emergencies.
WORDS: 1109 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 2:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaDiseaseSecrecy/1628f0bd90bf441a5c9f525d677c5757/text___
Russia's public health watchdog denies a second infection in suspected pneumonic plague case
SUMMARY: Russia’s public health watchdog has denied that a lab worker who died in Siberia had spread infection to another person as global concerns swirled about suspected pneumonic plague. Rospotrebnadzor has said that the lab worker at a plague research institute in Irkutsk in southeastern Siberia died of pneumonia of unknown origin. In tersely worded statements, it said that “extensive” testing found no evidence her illness was caused by any of the pathogens she worked with and it informed the World Health Organization that no case of plague has been registered in the Irkutsk region. In Thursday’s statement, Rospotrebnadzor rejected the reports about a second person falling ill after contact with the lab worker as fake.
WORDS: 398 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 10:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaDisease/defe48862d80e6d4724be52215fb1c42/text___
Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction shook Spain, has died in hospital
SUMMARY: María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home sparked protests across Spain, has died. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez expressed condolences. Known as “Maricarmen,” she became a symbol for renters struggling with Spain's housing crisis. Her eviction on September 23 led to nationwide protests. Despite a deal allowing her to return home, her health worsened. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, highlighted the impact of evictions on health. Maricarmen's case has galvanized a social movement, leading to a general strike and early elections called by Sánchez.
WORDS: 862 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 7:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainHousingMaricarmenthLdWritethru/58901917de1314e56ef2ca7eff71cfe6/text___
Scars from Oct. 7 fuel deep divisions over Netanyahu ahead of Israeli election
SUMMARY: As Israel gears up for national elections this month, the country remains focused on Oct. 7. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks are at the forefront of a bitter campaign that will determine the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Nearly every poster, stump speech or debate on television seems to reference the attack. Netanyahu’s opponents want him to pay for the failures that led to the deadliest day in Israel’s 78-year history and plunged the country into a series of inconclusive wars. His defenders say Netanyahu was betrayed by the military establishment and has led Israel through a dramatic rebound from its darkest hour.
WORDS: 1156 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 5:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelPoliticsOctthLdWritethru/55d94c750b399e7d89f550ebc8610436/text___
Attacks on Saudi airports claimed by Houthi rebels kill 3 people, officials say
SUMMARY: Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for two attacks on Saudi airports, killing three people. The attacks targeted Abha and Riyadh’s King Khalid airports, with casualties including Moroccan, Algerian, and Sudanese nationals. Saudi officials have responded by increasing security around key infrastructure. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a missile and destroyed a launch platform in Yemen’s capital. Fighting has intensified in Yemen, with the coalition aiming to retake strategic areas. The conflict has revived Yemen’s civil war, leading to significant casualties and displacement. The Houthis also launched a missile strike on Aden’s airport, causing no casualties.
WORDS: 924 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 7:57 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLYementhLdWritethru/f22f20dd78b03b741dfa1279881cedbb/text___
Houthis strike Saudi targets, olive harvesters attacked in West Bank, and other Mideast developments
SUMMARY: Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they attacked military facilities and airports in Saudi Arabia, disrupting flights and escalating regional tensions. Also on Wednesday, Israeli settlers opened fire on olive harvesters in the West Bank, killing one man and injuring 16 others. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the goal of the Iran war is to prevent Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapon. Satellite imagery shows that Rafah, once home to a quarter of a million people, lies in ruins three years after Israel launched its military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
WORDS: 845 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 8:28 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastthLdWritethru/4c2cf27f819b6e36940f88a7af49ea78/text___
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BUSINESS
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US stocks edge further from their record as oil prices rise
SUMMARY: The price for a barrel of Brent crude is back above $104, while the U.S. stock market is pulling further from its record. The S&P 500 dipped 0.5% Thursday and is on track for a second modest loss after setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 131 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.9%. Nvidia was one of the heaviest weights on the market, even though tech bellwethers reported relatively strong results. In the bond market, the 10-year Treasury yield swung sharply and remains near its highest level since 2002. Stock indexes fell in much of Europe and Asia.
WORDS: 676 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 5:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/6a096d714c874db13632794a32cebaa6/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space
SUMMARY: Four astronauts are back on Earth after an eight-month stay at the International Space Station. Their SpaceX capsule splashed into the Pacific on Thursday. The U.S., French and Russian astronauts said before leaving the orbiting lab on Wednesday that they'll miss the extraordinary views of Earth from space. But they can't wait to feel the breeze on their faces and hit the shower. They left the planet in February to replace a station crew that returned home early in a medical evacuation. The space station has welcomed 298 visitors from 26 countries since 2000.
WORDS: 541 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 3:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSCISpaceXCrewReturnthLdWritethru/3d4ca5874f95fe94afc037b2443f184c/text___
FDA says its safety review of abortion pill will continue into next year
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration says its ongoing safety review of the nation’s main abortion pill will continue into next year. The FDA gave a court-ordered update on its progress in a legal filing late Wednesday. It's the first substantive information about the reevaluation ordered by the Trump administration. Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 and the FDA repeatedly has reaffirmed the pill’s safety and effectiveness. But since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, anti-abortion groups and their allies in Congress have pushed Trump administration officials to revisit the pill, in the hopes of restricting its use.
WORDS: 573 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 3:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDAbortionPillFDAndLdWritethru/4cc8100112d11d04118eaffc23a6df9d/text___
Scientists win chemistry Nobel for discoveries about mirrored molecules that led to many drugs
SUMMARY: Scientists Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for untangling mysterious mirror images in molecules, a discovery that has been used to develop countless drugs and transformed modern medicine. Many molecules come in versions that look alike but are not exactly identical, like right and left hands. When designing drugs to treat diseases, scientists want to be choosy about which mirror image they get. Kagan, who is from France, and Soai, from Japan, found ways to make chemistry pick a side, designing and describing reactions to produce the desired mirror image.
WORDS: 797 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 6:43 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNobelChemistrythLdWritethru/e92801a294ba29d5ff1fbbf63904c977/text___
What to know about Kenya's first Ebola case and how officials are responding
SUMMARY: Kenya's first Ebola case has raised concerns about border control and virus tracing. A Kenyan man traveled for weeks through three countries, undetected, until he tested positive in Nairobi. He had lived in Congo for seven years and felt ill a month ago. He traveled by road to Uganda, then flew to Nairobi on Saturday. He died on Monday. The Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, emphasized the need for strong surveillance at entry points. Officials are tracing contacts, including passengers and crew from his flight. Kenya's Health Ministry has heightened border surveillance and designated isolation facilities.
WORDS: 706 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 3:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFKenyaEbolaExplainerstLdWritethru/c3113ce7ecfe999cf4c2e95d9bcef04b/text___
Christa Pike survived 2 doses of an execution drug. How is that possible?
SUMMARY: Christa Pike has regained consciousness and is speaking a week after receiving two doses of execution drugs in Tennessee. Her attorneys called her recovery “medically unprecedented” after she was placed on a ventilator following the bungled Sept. 30 attempt to make her the first woman put to death in Tennessee in 200 years. Many details of the execution process remain secretive. Tennessee officials say they are investigating what went wrong. Medical experts raised a few possibilities that could explain how Pike was able to survive the injection. Those include the potential drug quality and the placement of IV lines.
WORDS: 865 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 4:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTennesseeExecutionWhatHappenedthLdWritethru/a91e8c3959e8e456c859cef94605de22/text___
What to know about the fears of pneumonic plague in Russia
SUMMARY: The death of a pathogen researcher in Siberia has raised concerns about pneumonic plague. The World Health Organization says it has yet to determine the cause of the 28-year-old woman's death and has asked Russia to provide more information. Pneumonic plague is caused by the same bacteria as the bubonic plague linked to the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It spreads through respiratory particles but is treatable if caught early. The woman worked as a researcher at an anti-plague institute. Russia says it has not detected any recent cases of plague in the region, according to the WHO.
WORDS: 865 - MOVED: 10/06/2026 12:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaDiseaseWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/5aa82b8bc3d8300c551cd0e1bf91e32c/text___
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EDUCATION
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Trump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for international students to work in the US
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students who are seeking to work in the United States. It's the latest effort from the Trump administration to crack down on foreign enrollment. A proposed rule would require schools to pay the fee for every student who participates in a program that allows students to work in jobs related to their major either during or after their time in school. The change would represent a blow to American colleges and universities that heavily recruit students from overseas as a source of tuition revenue. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal, which could face legal challenges.
WORDS: 869 - MOVED: 10/07/2026 3:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEducationTrumpInternationalStudentsstLdWritethru/0919dcbc5a61a589e01ec29041a2087e/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Canadian author Anne Carson wins literature Nobel for 'bold and inventive' works that blend genres
SUMMARY: Anne Carson, a Canadian poet and essayist, has won the Nobel Prize in literature. The Toronto-born Carson draws on themes from classical Greek and Roman literature, modern influences and personal experience for genre-blending works. Her titles have ranged from translations of ancient Greek poets to collaborations with dancers and musicians, including Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed. The Swedish Academy that awards the prize made the announcement Thursday in Stockholm. Carson is among the more high-profile recent winners of the literature Nobel, which often honors authors little known outside of the literary world. It is sometimes criticized for valuing literary experimentation over the ability to connect with a broad readership.
WORDS: 1063 - MOVED: 10/08/2026 6:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNobelLiteraturethLdWritethru/05a268ffc76827d273f9d986c5a5a65e/text___
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for '80s hits like 'You Are My Lady,' dies at 70
SUMMARY: Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for hits like “Rock Me Tonight” and “You Are My Lady,” has died at 70. His family confirmed he died Monday through a statement on Instagram. Jackson was born and raised in Harlem, where he learned all about soul music and sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church. He began his career in the New York club scene before finding success with his debut album in 1985. In 2024, he revealed a kidney disease diagnosis and partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness. Details about arrangements will be announced soon.
WORDS: 483 - MOVED: 10/06/2026 6:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTObitFreddieJacksonndLdWritethru/a83a9d8c7164fd73b99f15fbb97b02eb/text___
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