US military completes 11th night of strikes on Iran as attacks overshadow diplomacy
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military says it completed the 11th night of strikes on Iran as attacks across the Middle East overshadowed diplomatic efforts to salvage an interim ceasefire deal that has collapsed. U.S. Central Command said the targets of the strikes into Wednesday morning included aircraft hangars and drone storage sites. The barrage came after President Donald Trump telegraphed that strikes would be intensifying. Before the strikes, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict. But it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war, which has become a battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. had no interest in talks.
US military identifies 3rd service member believed to have been killed in Iranian attack
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. military has confirmed that a third service member is believed to be dead in Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan and identified them as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of New York. The confirmation brings the death toll to 18 U.S. service members killed since the war began. The U.S. military has also identified a soldier killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton from North Carolina. The military said Tuesday that Swinton will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant.
Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5 billion as he defends funding request at fiery hearing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far. Hegseth faced fiery questions and protests over the U.S. war against Iran at a Senate hearing Tuesday. Hegseth and other officials appeared as Republicans push a $95 billion budget package to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities. Their appearance came after it was announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17. The Pentagon also disclosed that more than 100 have been injured since early July.
Ukraine overhauls its military top brass for the fight against Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is pushing on with its fight against Russia under new military leadership. President Zelenskyy fired his commander-in-chief after public pressure. This change follows a rift between the outgoing army chief and defense minister, both of whom lost their jobs. The new army chief, Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, is part of a new generation of Ukrainian generals. Zelenskyy has tasked Drapatyi with updating the defense strategy. Street protests in Kyiv demanded the return of the tech-savvy defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have struck warehouses in Russia, targeting facilities they say were used for drone production.
A Palestinian family split between Israel and Gaza reunites after years of war and loss
NAZARETH, Israel (AP) — A Palestinian family that was divided between Israel and Gaza was reunited this month after the eldest sister waged a two-year effort to bring her siblings to join her in Israel. The al-Gharam family was one of hundreds of families with members on both sides of the border. An Israeli airstrike killed both parents and one of their eight children in Gaza in July 2024. That's when the eldest sister, an Israeli citizen living in Nazareth, began trying to bring her surviving siblings, ages 8 to 22, out of Gaza. She eventually secured Israeli passports for them, and they came to live with her.
House passes temporary government funding bill months early to avoid election season shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has moved to head-off a potential government shutdown before this fall’s critical midterm elections. Republicans on Tuesday muscled through a bill to fund the federal government through Dec. 4. The deadline for action is more than two months away. But House GOP leaders are not leaving to chance a possible shutdown souring the mood of voters shortly before they go to the polls. Republicans said work on annual spending bills would continue, but that funding the government temporarily would help lawmakers avoid a repeat of the past year, when the country experienced two government shutdowns of record length. Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the measure, saying Republicans took a go-it-alone approach.
Andy Biggs wins Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Katie Hobbs for Arizona governor
PHOENIX (AP) — U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs has won the Republican nomination for Arizona governor. Biggs is a fierce ally of President Donald Trump and former head of the House Freedom Caucus. He will take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the fall. Biggs was endorsed by Trump and aims to unite the party. Both parties had contested primaries Tuesday for the 1st Congressional District, a battleground for congressional control. Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely was endorsed by Trump and won the Republican primary. The Democratic Party backed Marlene Galán-Woods in her contest against Amish Shah.
Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro back to court for pretrial hearing in his US drug trafficking case
NEW YORK (AP) — Nicolás Maduro will return to a New York courtroom as his lawyers continue their objections to the U.S. military action that snatched Venezuela’s president from power. Maduro is now being held in a Brooklyn jail while being prosecuted on drug trafficking charges. A pretrial hearing is scheduled Wednesday before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges that they sided with drug dealers in a multi-decade scheme to ship large quantities of drugs to the United States. Maduro says he was kidnapped by the U.S. government and remains his country's constitutional president. No trial date has been set.
Mamdani says NYC can't arrest Netanyahu but the federal government should
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says that the city will not be able to arrest Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu under a warrant issued by the world’s top war-crimes court. Mamdani said instead that the federal government should make the arrest. He had told the New York Times earlier this month that he and the city’s legal department were discussing arresting Netanyahu if he comes to New York City for the U.N. General Assembly in September. Mamdani had said throughout his mayoral election campaign last year that he would seek to order the city’s police to arrest Netanyahu. The Israeli ambassador to the U.N. responded by telling the mayor “enough.”
Trump approves nuclear agreement that may allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, two AP sources say
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who confirmed the agreement with The Associated Press. The deal is expected to last 30 years and is also expected to involve U.S. firms in developing the program. The deal could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint U.S.-Saudi study. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly about the yet to be formally announced decision, said the agreement is expected to be announced publicly as early as Wednesday.
