Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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NATIONAL

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US--CHICAGO SHOOTING

Drive-by shooting kills 4 and wounds 14 others after a party at a Chicago restaurant

SUMMARY: Police say four people have died from gunshot wounds and 14 others have been hospitalized following a drive-by shooting in Chicago. At least three were in critical condition. The shooting happened late Wednesday as people were leaving a restaurant event in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, a popular nightlife destination. A pastor said he found mayhem and confusion after arriving at the scene. Police said early Thursday that no one was in custody. Authorities say 13 women and five men ranging in age from 21 to 32 were shot, and that the dead included two men and two women.

WORDS: 456 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2f47e213cae908d6a52439e5cdae44f9&mediaType=text

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US--BAPTIST-ANTI-SLAVERY SCROLL

A volunteer finds the Holy Grail of abolitionist-era Baptist documents in Massachusetts

SUMMARY: A volunteer searching the archives of the American Baptist in Massachusetts has found a nearly 180-year-old document shedding light on the church’s support for ending slavery. The 5-foot-long scroll is a handwritten declaration signed by 116 New England ministers saying they “disapprove and abhor the system of American slavery.” The document was signed two years after the issue of slavery prompted Baptists in the south to break away and form the Southern Baptist Convention. Church officials consider the scroll one of the most important abolitionist-era Baptist documents. It was discovered in a storage room in Groton, Massachusetts.

WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 9:51 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2f281d1c1245e5e387e981a4eb0945b4&mediaType=text

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US--MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS SHOT

Man charged with killing former Minnesota House speaker is due back in court after delay

SUMMARY: The man accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, is due back in court after a week’s delay. Prosecutors allege 57-year-old Vance Boelter carried out the June 14 attacks disguised as a police officer. Authorities say he also targeted other Democrats. Boelter’s lawyer argued that he’d been sleep-deprived due to harsh jail conditions, and won a delay in proceedings last week. Boelter could face the federal death penalty, though no decision has been made. The attacks have been described as a political assassination and a threat to democracy.

WORDS: 706 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:10ffb5080c8763ed236f05435979b7be&mediaType=text

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US--PLANE OFF RUNWAY

Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospital

SUMMARY: A skydiving plane carrying 15 people has crashed near an airport in southern New Jersey after reporting engine trouble. Authorities say the single-engine Cessna 208B crashed on landing Wednesday evening near Cross Keys Airport. All fifteen people were taking to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Some were covered in jet fuel and required decontamination. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The plane was severely damaged, with debris scattered in nearby woods.

WORDS: 414 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 11:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:57bcc1e5f7ac1c3fa0d0a8badc1fed3f&mediaType=text

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US--FOUR-KILLED-IDAHO-WHAT WE LEARNED

A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students

SUMMARY: The man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in 2022 pleaded guilty, capping a mystifying murder case that’s long captured the nation’s attention. The hearing Wednesday described new details of the moments when Bryan Kohberger entered a home and stabbed the four students to death. Kohberger then worked to hide the crime, scrubbing his apartment, office and car before investigators looked over them. It’s still unknown why Kohberger decided to kill those students, or if he was targeting all four of them. The now 30-year-old will be sentenced in July, and is facing life in prison.

WORDS: 1233 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 10:20 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d73f71d01046a99e2dba6170e4ed7c50&mediaType=text

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US--IMMIGRATION-FLORIDA DETAINEES

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center is set to receive its first group of immigrants

SUMMARY: The first group of immigrants are set to arrive at a new detention center deep in the Florida Everglades that officials have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Florida Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier said on social media that “hundreds” of immigration detainees were set to arrive at the center Wednesday night. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis says the facility will have a capacity of about 3,000 detainees when fully operational. The center was built in eight days over 10 miles of Everglades. It features more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel.

WORDS: 530 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 10:00 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:79190c04f55db8f872a2a802093dc36e&mediaType=text

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US--FIREWORKS WAREHOUSE-EXPLOSION

7 missing after explosion at California fireworks warehouse sets off massive blaze

SUMMARY: Authorities say seven people are missing following an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in rural Northern California that caused a massive fire. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says Wednesday that emergency crews and investigators are working with the property’s owner and monitoring the area using drones to find the individuals. It’s not immediately clear if those missing worked at the warehouse or lived nearby. People were urged to avoid the area near the community of Esparto for several days following the Tuesday night blast, which set off a barrage of fireworks and caused a blaze that led to other spot fires and collapsed the building in the farming community northwest of Sacramento.

WORDS: 460 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 9:01 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1047354701b97a34ef084542f32d0d8e&mediaType=text

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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is denied bail after mixed verdict clears him of top charges in sex crimes case

SUMMARY: A judge has declined to set Sean “Diddy” Combs free on bail to await sentencing in his sex crimes case. Combs was convicted Wednesday of federal prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The 55-year-old Combs has been behind bars since his September arrest. He stands convicted of two counts of a crime that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. But the jury cleared him of charges that could have put him behind bars for life. The judge will decide Combs’ punishment and suggested Oct. 3 as a sentencing date. A virtual hearing is set for Tuesday on the defense’s request for an earlier date.

WORDS: 1318 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 8:36 p.m. EDT

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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY-CHARGES-EXPLAINER

The potential sentence faced by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for his prostitution-related crime

SUMMARY: Prosecutors say they will seek a prison sentence for Sean “Diddy” Combs in his sex trafficking trial. The jury found Combs guilty of a prostitution-related crime but cleared him of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Prosecutors estimate that Combs’ sentencing guidelines could justify a prison term of more than four years. The defense puts it much lower. Combs was convicted of flying people around the country to engage in sexual encounters, including girlfriends and male sex workers. His lawyers say the women were willing participants and that authorities had exaggerated Combs’ lifestyle.

WORDS: 572 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 7:24 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:59cc96a80e22f7a10ad099a6f3e60e89&mediaType=text

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US--FOUR KILLED-UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Bryan Kohberger admits to killing 4 Idaho students but motive remains unclear

SUMMARY: Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. He entered the plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid the death penalty. He had been set to go to trial in August. Kohberger remained impassive as he confirmed to the judge that he stabbed the four victims. He was a graduate student at nearby Washington State University when prosecutors say he sneaked into a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbed the four students. The killings terrified the campus and set off a nationwide search in 2022. No motive has emerged for the killings.

WORDS: 987 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 5:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6626d7c53a08563cfa9df5123f41bd87&mediaType=text

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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY-MANN ACT

What is the Mann Act? Here’s what to know about the law used to convict Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

SUMMARY: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been convicted of prostitution-related offenses under the federal Mann Act, an anti-sex trafficking law with a century-old history. Combs was convicted Wednesday of paying for girlfriends and sex workers to fly around the country and engage in sexual encounters in violation of the 1910 law. The law has applied in prominent cases including R&B superstar R. Kelly, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and rock musician Chuck Berry.

WORDS: 600 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 4:56 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7360e375ed8dcf3431216c358e18ebfb&mediaType=text

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US--IMMIGRATION LAWSUIT-ASYLUM

Judge blocks order barring asylum access at border and gives administration two weeks to appeal

SUMMARY: A federal judge has ruled that an executive order by President Donald Trump suspending asylum access at the southern border is unlawful. Wednesday’s decision could throw into doubt one of the key pillars of the president’s plans to crack down on immigration at the southern border. But the judge gave the Trump administration two weeks to appeal. In an executive order Jan. 20, Trump declared that the situation at the southern border was an invasion, and he was “suspending the physical entry” of migrants and their ability to seek asylum until he decides it is over.

WORDS: 715 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 4:30 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:af374b821fb3872078beb5a495e01d8e&mediaType=text

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US--WISCONSIN ABORTION-RULING

Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority strikes down 176-year-old abortion ban

SUMMARY: The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban. The court’s liberal majority ruled 4-3 on Wednesday that the ban is no longer valid because newer abortion restrictions superseded it. State lawmakers adopted the total ban in 1849. It was in effect until 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nullified it, and was never repealed. Conservatives argued that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe reactivated the prohibition. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul sued, arguing that a 1985 state law that prohibits abortions after viability essentially repealed the ban.

WORDS: 926 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 2:34 p.m. EDT

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--CONGRESS-TAX CUTS-JEFFRIES

Hakeem Jeffries takes his ‘sweet time’ holding the floor to delay Trump’s tax bill

SUMMARY: There’s no filibuster in the House, but Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries essentially conducted one anyway. Jeffries held the House floor for more than eight hours on Thursday, taking his “sweet time” with a marathon floor speech that delayed passage of Republicans’ massive tax and spending cuts legislation. The marathon speech gave his party a lengthy spotlight to excoriate what he called an “immoral” bill from Republicans. The speech pushed a final vote on the tax bill, initially expected in the early morning, into the daylight hours. Republicans who were sitting on the floor when Jeffries started trickled out, leaving half the chamber empty.

WORDS: 594 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 1:21 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f75825c61f0cb75f294c9eb25b739306&mediaType=text

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US--SUPREME COURT-TRANSGENDER-ATHLETES

Supreme Court will take up a new case about which school sports teams transgender students can join

SUMMARY: Just two weeks ago, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. On Thursday, the justices said they’ll review lower court rulings in favor of transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia. The case will be argued in the fall. West Virginia’s attorney general calls it “a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard.” Lawyers on the other side say they stand ready to defend the lower-court rulings. More than two dozen states have enacted laws restricting transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports. Some of these laws have been blocked in court.

WORDS: 722 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:47 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3871f87d332fb229c07ad16aa3d3cca8&mediaType=text

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US--MELANIA TRUMP

Melania Trump meets with patients, visits garden at Washington children’s hospital

SUMMARY: First lady Melania Trump visited sick patients at Children’s National hospital in Washington as the children made Fourth of July arts and crafts ahead of the holiday. Trump, continuing a tradition of support by first ladies for the pediatric care center, also stopped by the hospital’s rooftop “healing” garden, which she dedicated during the first Trump administration to first ladies of the United States. Trump helped the children decorate the garden for the holiday. She and chief White House groundskeeper Dale Haney inspected a new yellow rose bush donated by the White House and planted earlier in the week at the hospital garden.

WORDS: 390 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6074a190dcf31b5587d252c2b23bb83a&mediaType=text

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US--CONGRESS-TAX CUTS

House Republicans are ready to finish Trump’s bill. Not so fast, Democratic leader Jeffries says

SUMMARY: It’s five hours and counting that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has held the floor as he speaks out against President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill. Republicans, up all night, are ready to vote on the package Thursday and send it to the White House. But Jeffries is seizing on a leader’s prerogative for unlimited debate. GOP leaders were up all night and the president himself worked to persuade skeptical holdouts to drop their opposition. Jeffries is reading letter after letter from Americans writing about their reliance of the health care programs and their worries of devastating cuts.

WORDS: 1032 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:25 a.m. EDT

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US--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-US WEAPONS

Air defense missiles among weaponry US is withholding from Ukraine, AP sources say

SUMMARY: The Trump administration will hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons as part of its announced pause to some arms shipments. The details on the weapons in some of the paused deliveries were confirmed by a U.S. official and former national security official familiar with the matter. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined during a briefing Wednesday to detail which weapons were being held back but said a pause to consider the health of the U.S. stockpile was necessary. The pause includes some shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds. One of the officials said other weaponry being held up includes AIM-7 Sparrows, Stingers and AT-4 grenade launchers.

WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 5:25 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1df59a85dbfaa5085b56d84820737376&mediaType=text

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INTERNATIONAL

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EU--US-RUSSIA

Putin and Trump discuss Iran and Ukraine in phone call, Kremlin official says

SUMMARY: The Kremlin says U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine and other issues by phone, their sixth publicly disclosed chat since Trump returned to the White House. Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin emphasized the need to resolve issues related to the Iranian nuclear program by political and diplomatic means. The United States struck three sites in Iran on June 22, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying Tehran’s nuclear program. On the conflict in Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv.

WORDS: 484 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 1:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9b0054c655cbb3b54126bb3f2c32713c&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST-WARS-GAZA

Strikes kill 94 Palestinians in Gaza, including 45 people waiting for aid, authorities say

SUMMARY: Israeli airstrikes and shootings have killed 94 Palestinians in Gaza, including 45 who were attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid. That’s according to hospitals and the Gaza Health Ministry. Families wept Thursday over the bodies from a strike that hit a tent camp during the night as displaced people slept in southern Gaza. At least 13 members of a single family were killed, including at least six children under 12. In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead 6-year-old sister in a morgue at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital. The girl and another of her brothers were among eight people killed when a strike Wednesday evening hit near a stand selling falafel.

WORDS: 1012 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7bed9df1b8a5278631ae844c18ace2b2&mediaType=text

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EU--FINLAND-STABBINGS

Finnish police say a suspect is arrested in the stabbing of 4 people at a mall in Tampere

SUMMARY: Finnish police said an assailant was arrested after stabbing four people outside a shopping center in the southern city of Tampere. Police said there were no fatalities in the attack Thursday afternoon. Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported that workers were using pressure washers to clean up blood stains outside the mall. A large pool of blood was visible outside a restaurant and blood trailed from the mall to a nearby highway.

WORDS: 162 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1864975e2249f6a4dc232be5c91c7bd5&mediaType=text

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ML--IRAQ-TURKEY-PKK DISARMAMENT

Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq to hand over weapons in first step toward disarmament

SUMMARY: A Kurdish militant group has announced plans to start disarming as part of a peace process with Turkey. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, says its fighters in northern Iraq will begin handing over their weapons next week in a ceremony in Iraq’s Kurdish region. The number of fighters who will take part has not yet been determined but might be between 20 and 30. This marks the first concrete step toward disarmament after decades of conflict. The PKK announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict after the group’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, called for an end to the fighting.

WORDS: 570 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 10:53 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8362d25a38455371775ba1e03c4602a3&mediaType=text

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AS--INDONESIA-FERRY SINKING

Indonesia rescuers searching for 29 missing people after ferry sinks near Bali

SUMMARY: Indonesian rescuers on Thursday were searching for 29 people who remained missing after a ferry sank and six people died, including a 3-year-old boy and his mother. The ferry sank Wednesday night near Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. The boy and his mother were the most recent victims whose bodies were recovered. The head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency says 30 people had been rescued from the ferry’s 53 passengers and 12 crew members. Indonesian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Survivors told rescuers there appeared to be a leak in the engine room of the ferry.

WORDS: 568 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 8:46 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c341cc2834693c90ac1a5af1015ecb3a&mediaType=text

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EU--EUROPE-DENMARK-PRESIDENCY

Denmark launches its EU presidency facing war in Ukraine and Trump tariff chaos

SUMMARY: Denmark is launching its presidency of the European Union with a ceremony on Thursday in the western city of Aarhus. Its six months at the EU’s helm comes against a backdrop of conflict in Ukraine and chaos caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff war. Presidencies rotate between the 27 EU member countries every six months. The nation in charge sets policy priorities and organizes the working agenda. It’s meant to be an “honest broker” who sets aside national interests for the greater good. Denmark’s holding its term under the motto “A Strong Europe in a Changing World.” It says Europe must take charge of its own security by 2030 and boost economic competitiveness.

WORDS: 998 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 5:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c382bfd0b26df65e95073a0278e52463&mediaType=text

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LT--TROPICAL WEATHER

Hurricane Flossie weakens to Category 1 off Mexico’s Pacific coast

SUMMARY: Hurricane Flossie continued to weaken as a Category 1 hurricane off Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said its center is forecast to remain offshore, but swells as well as “life-threatening” surf and rip currents were expected in southwestern Mexico and the Baja California peninsula in the coming days. Flossie became a powerful Category 3 hurricane late on Tuesday, but gradually weakened throughout Wednesday. It’s expected to remain offshore and dissipate Thursday.

WORDS: 150 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 11:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:116ba9bdba5bd19d137963f7a0c08fef&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-IRAN

Iran’s president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA

SUMMARY: Iran’s president has ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities. State media online on Wednesday reported the decision by President Masoud Pezeshkian. It follows a law passed by Iran’s parliament to suspend that cooperation. It wasn’t immediately clear what that would mean for U.N. watchdog IAEA. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled in a CBS News interview that Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the United States. A Pentagon spokesperson said Wednesday that the U.S. strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by as much as two years.

WORDS: 1053 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 9:15 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8bbdc81b9199d8d179d0fb2e1b8dac2a&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST-WARS-GAZA-THINGS-TO-KNOW

Trump says deal for ceasefire in Gaza is closer after Israel agrees on terms

SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a new 60-day ceasefire with Hamas and that Washington would work with both sides during that time to try to end more than 20 months of war in Gaza. Neither side has accepted the proposal announced Tuesday by Trump, who has admonished Hamas that if the militant group does not buy into the offer, its prospects will get worse. It’s not clear what conditions Israel agreed to. The efforts to reach a truce are unfolding in the wake of powerful Israeli and American strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, which has long supported Hamas.

WORDS: 1063 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 9:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ad6d1750dd8c0630c9627c5b9dbdef2d&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-GAZA-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS

US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza

SUMMARY: American contractors guarding aid distribution sites in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades as hungry Palestinians scramble for food, according to accounts and videos obtained by The Associated Press. Two U.S. contractors, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were revealing their employers’ internal operations, said they were coming forward because they were disturbed by what they considered dangerous and irresponsible practices. The contractor who provided the videos said the bullets were fired in all directions — in the air, into the ground and at times towards the Palestinians. The testimonies offer a rare glimpse inside an often-chaotic scene at these sites.

WORDS: 2653 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 7:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fe27f3ea83e06a09d66424eed7a5d56f&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-TOUGH BATTLES

Russia ramps up its offensive, putting pressure on Ukraine’s reserve troops

SUMMARY: An emboldened Russia has ramped up military offensives on two fronts in Ukraine. That is scattering Kyiv’s precious reserve troops and threatening to expand the fighting to a new Ukrainian region as each side seeks an advantage before the fighting season wanes in the autumn. Analysts and military commanders say Moscow aims to maximize its territorial gains before seriously considering a full ceasefire. Ukraine wants to slow the Russian advance for as long as possible and extract heavy losses. Kremlin forces are steadily gaining ground in the eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Its capture would hand them a major battlefield victory. The fighting there has also brought combat to the border of the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region.

WORDS: 1224 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 4:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c03921de21027d13117cb668c9a1a959&mediaType=text

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EU--EUROPE-WEATHER

Spanish wildfire kills 2 people as parts of Europe bake in severe heat wave

SUMMARY: Spanish authorities say two people have died in northeastern Spain in a wildfire that spread quickly before firefighters brought it under control. Catalan regional president Salvador Illa announced the deaths in a social media post around midnight on Tuesday. The fire came amid a European heat wave that’s sending thermometers soaring again on Wednesday. A total of 6,500 hectares or 16,000 acres was burned before firefighters established a perimeter and declared the blaze under control. About 14,000 people were ordered to stay indoors. That order was lifted late Tuesday.

WORDS: 969 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 2:27 p.m. EDT

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BUSINESS

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US-ECONOMY-JOBS-REPORT

U.S. labor market surprises with 147,000 new jobs last month. Here are the big takeaways

SUMMARY: The U.S. job market delivered another upside surprise last month, churning out a better-than-expected 147,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticked down unexpectedly, too. But the headline numbers masked some weaknesses as the U.S. economy contends with fallout from President Donald Trump’s economic policies, especially his sweeping import taxes and the erratic way he rolls them out. Here are five key takeaways from the jobs report the Labor Department released on Thursday.

WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:55 a.m. EDT

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ONE TECH TIP-BETTER AI PROMPTING

One Tech Tip: Get the most out of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots with better prompts

SUMMARY: If you’re using ChatGPT but getting mediocre results, don’t blame the chatbot. The problem might be your prompts. There’s a lot you can do to improve the prompt to get better answers. Be specific because a chatbot can’t read your mind. Give clear and explicit instructions on what you need it to do. Ask follow-up questions or refine your original query, like you would in a conversation. You can tell the chatbot to respond in a specific voice or style, and the type of person that the response is aimed at. Give it all the background behind the reason for your request and how extensive - or short - the answer should be.

WORDS: 931 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 9:36 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9decab8abe739f44bbc932f32e13ea9b&mediaType=text

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US-TESLA-SALES

Tesla sales plunge again as anti-Musk boycott shows staying power and rivals pounce on the weakness

SUMMARY: Sales of Tesla electric cars fell sharply in the last three months compared to a year earlier as boycotts over Elon Musk’s political views continue to keep buyers away. Tesla is also facing stiff competition from other electric vehicle makers, especially in Europe where China’s BYD has taken a bite out of its market share. The 13% plunge in sales reported Wednesday adds to growing signs that Musk’s embrace of U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right politicians in Europe has had a deep and enduring impact to Tesla’s brand appeal. Sales fell to 384,122 in April through June, down from 443,956 in the same period last year.

WORDS: 588 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 5:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:976a467eca5a179db58cbe4318f54a52&mediaType=text

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US--MICROSOFT-LAYOFFS

Microsoft’s largest layoff in years hits Xbox, sales and other divisions

SUMMARY: Microsoft says it is laying off about 9,000 workers, its second mass layoff in months and its largest in more than two years. The tech giant began sending out layoff notices Wednesday that hit the company’s Xbox video game business and other divisions. The company declined to say how many people would be laid off but that it will comprise less than 4% of the workforce it had a year ago. Microsoft said the cuts will affect multiple teams around the world, including its sales division.

WORDS: 681 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 5:30 p.m. EDT

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FINANCIAL MARKETS

US stocks hit another record as Tesla and Nike rally

SUMMARY: U.S. stocks ticked higher to hit another record. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% Wednesday and set an all-time high for the third time in four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9%. Tesla rallied following its latest update on deliveries, while Nike and other companies that import a lot from Vietnam rose after President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the country. Shorter-term Treasury yields held steady ahead of a highly anticipated report coming on Thursday about the strength of the U.S job market.

WORDS: 799 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 5:01 p.m. EDT

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TRUMP-TARIFFS

President Trump announces trade deal with Vietnam that will let US goods into the country duty-free

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam Wednesday that would allow U.S. goods to enter the country duty-free. Vietnamese exports to the United States, by contrast, would face a 20% levy. On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared the pact “a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries.″ In April, Trump had threatened to hit Vietnamese imports with a 46% tax — one of his so-called reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of countries with which the United States runs trade deficits.

WORDS: 504 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 3:34 p.m. EDT

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US--MEDIA-TRUMP-60 MINUTES

Paramount will pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over ’60 Minutes’ interview

SUMMARY: The fallout from Paramount’s decision to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over the editing of a CBS’ “60 Minutes” interview seems certain to linger. Journalists are infuriated by the $16 million settlement, and a Democratic senator wants to investigate whether bribery laws were broken. Paramount, which owns CBS, was hoping to put the issue to rest as it seeks administration approval of a merger. Paramount says the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library and to pay his legal fees, and it’s not apologizing or expressing regret about the story. At issue was the broadcast’s editing of an October interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

WORDS: 1023 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 3:05 p.m. EDT

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US--DEL MONTE-BANKRUPTCY

Del Monte, the 139-year-old canned fruits and vegetables company, seeks bankruptcy protection

SUMMARY: Del Monte Foods is filing for bankruptcy protection. The 139-year-old California company is best known for its canned fruits and vegetables, which have seen sales slide as U.S. consumers seek out healthier and cheaper options. Del Monte said late Tuesday that the bankruptcy filing is part of a planned sale of the company’s assets. It has secured $912.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing that will allow it to operate normally during the sale process. Del Monte is owned by Singapore-based Del Monte Pacific. It also owns the Contadina, College Inn and Joyba bubble tea brands.

WORDS: 299 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 1:55 p.m. EDT

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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US-MED--COVID VACCINE-TRUMP

FDA vaccine official restricted COVID vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff

SUMMARY: A top official at the Food and Drug Administration recently overruled government scientists on the availability of two COVID-19 vaccines. Newly released documents show the FDA’s vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, intervened to restrict approval of two new shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna. FDA staff reviewers recommended the shots be approved for anyone 12 and older. But the FDA memos show Prasad limited the use to seniors and certain higher-risk Americans. It’s the latest in a series of vaccine restrictions imposed by officials working under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

WORDS: 715 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 7:18 p.m. EDT

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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OCEAN--FISHERIES-CAPTURING CARBON-GIGABLUE-TAKEAWAYS

Takeaways from AP report on company that sold 200,000 carbon credits to remove CO2 from ocean

SUMMARY: A startup called Gigablue claims to have reached a milestone by selling 200,000 carbon credits for its ocean-based carbon capture technology. The company says its patented particles grow algae that trap carbon dioxide, which then sinks to the ocean floor. Outside scientists, however, question the effectiveness and environmental impact of this method, citing a lack of public data and concerns about marine ecosystems. Gigablue has conducted trials in New Zealand and plans to expand operations. While some buyers trust the company’s promises, experts remain skeptical about its unproven technology and the broader implications of such ocean-based carbon removal efforts.

WORDS: 1089 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:49 a.m. EDT

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OCEAN--FISHERIES-CAPTURING CARBON-GIGABLUE

An Israeli startup says its new technology will save the planet. Scientists have doubts

SUMMARY: A startup called Gigablue claims to have reached a milestone by selling 200,000 carbon credits for its ocean-based carbon capture technology. The company says its patented particles grow algae that trap carbon dioxide, which then sinks to the ocean floor. Outside scientists, however, question the effectiveness and environmental impact of this method, citing a lack of public data and concerns about marine ecosystems. Gigablue has conducted trials in New Zealand and plans to expand operations. While some buyers trust the company’s promises, experts remain skeptical about its unproven technology and the broader implications of such ocean-based carbon removal efforts.

WORDS: 2979 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 11:47 a.m. EDT

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US--CONGRESS-TAX CUTS-SOLAR

In a big bill that hurts clean energy, residential solar likely to get hit fast

SUMMARY: Republicans in Congress have advanced a bill cutting clean energy tax credits, and the industry is bracing for the impacts. The legislation targets incentives like the 30% residential solar tax credit extended by the Inflation Reduction Act. Business leaders and analysts warn the cuts will reverse growth and lead to job losses. A North Carolina solar company CEO says the changes could force him to lay off over 50 employees. The bill also phases out credits for utility-scale solar and wind projects but spares some commercial initiatives temporarily.

WORDS: 735 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 4:38 p.m. EDT

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EDUCATION

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US--TRUMP-EDUCATION-GRANT FREEZE

Some education grants in limbo were used for ‘leftwing agenda,’ Trump administration says

SUMMARY: The Trump administration has accused states and schools of using federal education grants to help fund “a radical leftwing agenda.” The administration this week froze over $6 billion in federal education grants meant for immigrant and low-income students. Officials say they are reviewing the funds to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump’s priorities. On Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget claimed some grants were misused to support immigrants in the country illegally or promote LGBTQ+ inclusion. Programs for English learners and migrant children are among those affected, leaving schools scrambling to adjust. Advocates say the majority of children in English language programs were born in the United States.

WORDS: 678 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 3:45 a.m. EDT

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US-TRUMP-EDUCATION-PENN

UPenn updates swimming records set by Lia Thomas, settling with feds on transgender athletes case

SUMMARY: The University of Pennsylvania has changed three school records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. The school says it also will apologize to female athletes it says were “disadvantaged” by Thomas’ participation on the women’s swimming team. The moves were part of a resolution of a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes. Thomas in 2022 became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title. The school now shows other athletes holding the school’s top times in Thomas’ events, noting she set records under rules in place at the time.

WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 2:52 p.m. EDT

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ENTERTAINMENT

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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY-REPUTATION

For Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, could a lesser conviction mean a greater public rehabilitation?

SUMMARY: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been acquitted of the most serious sex trafficking charges against him and convicted of lesser ones. Now the question remains whether a partial conviction could mean a partial public rehabilitation for the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul. Combs had carefully cultivated his reputation before nearly two years of sexual abuse allegations unraveled it. Image management experts say it will be hard to shake off the jokes about “freak-offs” the case inspired. But they say Combs could use a narrative as a tough survivor who beat the feds or a repentant man seeking redemption to recover some semblance of a reputation.

WORDS: 966 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:04 a.m. EDT

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SPORTS

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SOC--LIVERPOOL-JOTA

Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother killed in a car accident in Spain

SUMMARY: Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain. The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road near the northwestern city of Zamora. Police were investigating the causes. They said there were no other vehicles involved. The 28-year-old Jota and his brother, 25-year-old André Silva, both Portuguese players, were in the car. Jota also played for Portugal’s national team. Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

WORDS: 884 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 12:28 p.m. EDT

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BBO--DODGERS-KERSHAW-3000 STRIKEOUTS

A slider, a milestone and a heartfelt thank you: Kershaw’s 3,000th strikeout

SUMMARY: Clayton Kershaw has reached an incredible milestone, becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. On Wednesday night, he struck out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox with a slider in the sixth inning. The 37-year-old Dodgers pitcher joins an elite group, including just three other left-handers, to achieve this feat. Fans at Dodger Stadium gave Kershaw a standing ovation as he tipped his cap and acknowledged his family in the stands. Despite not earning the win, Kershaw expressed gratitude for his teammates and the moment, calling it a special achievement in his 18th season.

WORDS: 1060 - MOVED: 07/03/2025 2:41 a.m. EDT

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HKN--NHL FREE AGENCY

Nikolaj Ehlers remains unsigned, while Brent Burns joins Colorado in NHL free agency

SUMMARY: Nikolaj Ehlers has still not chosen his destination and remains the top player available in NHL free agency. Ehlers wanted to take his time, and his camp watched as fellow winger Brock Boeser re-signed in Vancouver for seven years and older forward Mikael Granlund get $7 million annually from Anaheim. With the salary cap increasing a record amount, Ehlers could sign the most lucrative contract among players changing teams this summer. Brent Burns agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Colorado

WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 10:16 p.m. EDT

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BKN--KNICKS COACH

Knicks offer coaching job to Mike Brown and are working on a deal, AP source says

SUMMARY: A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks have offered their coaching job to Mike Brown and are working to finalize a deal with the two-time NBA Coach of the Year. Brown would replace Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last month despite leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. He had his second interview with the Knicks on Tuesday before the job was offered, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because details of the search were to remain private.

WORDS: 384 - MOVED: 07/02/2025 4:42 p.m. EDT

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