Trump says he will order halt to Iran strikes after parameters reached for deal to end war
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he will order American forces to hold off on strikes he had threatened against Iran, claiming Mideast allies had reached the parameters of a deal to end the war. Trump said in a Saturday evening social media post that for now he would halt new strikes in the five-month old war. A day earlier he had threatened more strikes on Iran as the U.S. pushes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came after a call he had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump said Israel had agreed to try to help complete the agreement. Iran did not immediately comment on the announcement.
Trump's threat to push ahead on settlement fund injects new uncertainty into attorney general talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to push forward with a fund to compensate his allies if two Republican holdouts won’t support his nominee for attorney general. It means new uncertainty about next week’s Senate confirmation vote. And his pronouncement underscores once more his interest in securing payouts for supporters who feel unjustly persecuted. Trump said in a social media post Saturday that he'd keep acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in his current role and press ahead on the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” if Republican John Cornyn and Thom Tillis refuse to support Blanche’s nomination.
'I just want a chance': Moroccans sought better future in collective crossing to Spain territory
CEUTA, Spain (AP) — When he heard that the border was breached, Abdulah Buji jumped on his motorbike and rode as fast as he could to join the tens of thousands of other Moroccans who swam en masse to reach Spanish territory. Buji was inspired by the thought that this collective mad dash could somehow unlock his dream of starting a new life in Europe as a teacher. But he went back home when he realized that his ultimate goal of reaching mainland Europe was unattainable. He says “I haven’t found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back.”
Iran's leaders show a united front over the war but are divided over what the goal is
CAIRO (AP) — Iran's leadership is showing unity in its war strategy against the U.S., but there are sharp differences over the endgame. Ultra-hardliners, known as the Paydari movement, push for total victory and oppose negotiations. Meanwhile, supporters of parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and President Masoud Pezeshkian see military pressure as a means to negotiate with the U.S. The ceasefire deal reached in April received backing from Iran’s top leadership, but it crumbled as tensions rose. The hard-liners use rallies and state TV to oppose negotiations, while pragmatists argue for addressing economic and social issues. Both sides are positioning for power postwar.
Trump stands to profit off US policy announcements by selling fast access to his social media posts
NEW YORK (AP) — Investors looking to get a jump on White House announcements will be able to buy sneak peeks starting Saturday as a Trump family company starts selling special, fast access to the president's posts on social media. The new business targeting special computerized trading firms raises ethics questions about whether it constitutes insider trading and how far should a president be allowed to use his public office to help his private business. A prolific poster, Donald Trump has sent stocks soaring and plunging with his online musings and threats. The White House had no comment, and the company dismissed the ethics issue, saying Democratic critics just don't like free markets.
Trump says he will order halt to Iran strikes after parameters reached for deal to end war
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he will order American forces to hold off on strikes he had threatened against Iran after the parameters of a deal to the end the war were reached. Trump said in a Saturday evening social media post that for now he would halt new strikes in the five-month old war. A day earlier he had threatened more strikes on Iran as the U.S. pushes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Friday the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard” until they couldn't take it anymore.
Spain installs sea barrier on Ceuta's border with Morocco after frontier rush that killed 67
CEUTA, Spain (AP) — Spain has installed a 500-meter containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and Morocco. This follows a massive breach where 50,000 to 60,000 migrants crossed the frontier between Thursday and Friday. At least 67 migrants died in the journey. Some drowned or were killed in a stampede. On Saturday, some migrants who swam to Ceuta were escorted back by soldiers. Spain's interior ministry says most have returned to Morocco. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska emphasized cooperation with Morocco in resolving the situation. Ceuta's President Juan Jesús Vivas noted the city remains unsettled.
Idaho fast food restaurant shooting leaves 3 dead and 7 injured, city spokesman says
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Twin Falls city spokesman says that three people were killed and seven more were injured, some critically, in a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho on Saturday afternoon. Police who responded to the shooting found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant, Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer said, and he did not know if the suspect was included in the fatality count. Officials were still working on notifying the family members of victims and so were not yet releasing the names, ages or other details about the people hurt in the shooting, Palmer said
Plane carrying European tourists crashes in Peru, killing 13 people on Nazca Lines viewing flight
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Authorities in Peru say a plane carrying European tourists to view the famed Nazca Lines has crashed into a field outside the Peruvian city of Nazca, killing 13 people. Nazca’s municipal government said the plane departed from the nearby city of Ica and was operated by Peruvian company Aerodiana. On its website, the airline said that it has offered scenic flights over the Nazca lines for the past 14 years using Cessna Grand Caravan planes. Among the dead in Saturday's crash were seven Italian citizens, two Spaniards and two Germans, Peru’s Transportation Ministry said. The other two fatalities were the pilot and copilot.
Russia hits Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 9
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones into Kyiv, killing at least nine people and wounding 33. The strikes, which occurred overnight into Saturday, follow a major Russian attack two days earlier that killed at least 10 people across Ukraine. Russia's defense ministry claims the attack targeted military-industrial facilities in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. for more Patriot defense systems to counter these attacks. The cycle of violence continues to hinder diplomatic efforts to end Russia's invasion.
