US military says it fired on another merchant vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. military says it has fired on a merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen. The conflict shows no signs of easing after 13 nights of strikes. U.S. embassies in the Middle East have warned Americans that options to leave could become limited. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to avoid bases with U.S. troops. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point, with its closure causing economic turmoil. Diplomatic efforts appear stalled, with no signs of progress in negotiations.
Trump says the US will investigate EU trade practices, claiming the bloc unfairly fined tech giants
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the United States will open a formal investigation into the European Union’s trade practices. He claims the bloc has unfairly levied billions of dollars of fines against Google, Apple and other U.S. tech giants. Trump made the announcement Friday. A day earlier, the EU hit Google with a fine of $1 billion after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by setting up Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers toward its own services and apps to the detriment of competitors. Google says the fine hurts European businesses and consumers.
Wildfire leads to evacuations in some suburbs of the French city of Bordeaux
LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — Authorities in France are evacuating suburbs of Bordeaux as a massive wildfire shifts toward the city. The prefect of the Gironde region ordered the evacuation early Saturday, covering parts of three western suburbs, including the airport. Massive forest fires have forced the evacuation of about 200,000 people in southwestern France and central Spain. Residents fled towns near Madrid and Bordeaux on Friday as flames raged out of control. Firefighters and authorities in both countries were caught off guard by the fires, fueled by high temperatures and climate change. Some people in France even fled by boat.
Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has again acknowledged in court documents that it terminated $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” in this case, 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The statement contradicts repeated assertions by Energy Secretary Chris Wight and other officials that the projects were canceled because they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs or had other problems that made them a poor investment of taxpayer dollars. Democrats and environmental groups seized on the latest court filing, saying the administration had “weaponized” the federal government to kill good jobs and punish working families.
Ukraine is still fortifying its border with Belarus years after Russia invaded from there
ALONG THE UKRAINE-BELARUS BORDER (AP) — Ukraine is still fortifying its border with Belarus more than four years after Russia used the country to launch its assault on Kyiv. Roads near the border are now covered by anti-drone netting, and the surrounding landscape is filled with razor wire and anti-tank barriers. The Associated Press visited the area earlier this month, following rising tensions between Kyiv and Minsk. Ukrainian officials say they see no signs of a Russian troop buildup in Belarus, but they remain determined to strengthen the defenses of their border.
Maine Democrats are meeting to pick a new Senate nominee to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine Democrats are meeting to pick a candidate to face longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins after Graham Platner dropped out of the race. Democrats' support has coalesced around former Senate President Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine. The new nominee will be selected at a state party convention in Bangor on Saturday and will have less than four months to campaign. Jackson campaigned alongside Platner during a failed bid for governor and was progressives’ favorite to replace him on the ballot. Democrats need a Maine Senate win to take back control of the chamber from Republicans.
India's 'Cockroach' protests take on Modi with unlikely weapons: Sharp, irreverent humor and memes
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s young protesters are taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with humor as much as street demonstrations, flooding social media with memes, parody videos and jokes while thousands rally across the country. This approach is turning confrontations with police into viral content and complicating the government's control of the narrative. The movement, known as the “Cockroach” movement, began over education reform but has expanded to address unemployment and government accountability. Protesters, many in their twenties, are using satire to express their frustration. It has complicated the government’s efforts to control the narrative while increasing pressure on Modi, who is wary of appearing to give in to a growing youth movement.
Berlin’s first drag march brings protest, pride and flamboyant celebration to the streets
BERLIN (AP) — Berlin’s first drag march dazzled with color and celebration as about 500 drag queens, drag kings and LGBTQ+ supporters marched to music from the Transophonix brass band. Friday’s march opened a weekend of events for one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations. Saturday’s Pride parade, known as Christopher Street Day, commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York. Drag queen Sister Daphne, one of the organizers, expressed joy at the turnout and emphasized its blend of protest and celebration. Her group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, was founded in San Francisco in 1979, and its German branch was established in 1991.
Texts reveal teen who singer D4vd is accused of killing was pregnant, had abortion year before death
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Text messages between singer D4vd and Celeste Rivas Hernandez shown in court indicate she had gotten pregnant and had an abortion more than a year before she was killed. The testimony came Friday during a hearing to determine if the singer, whose legal name is David Burke, should go on trial in the girl's killing. Prosecutors spent part of the hearing detailing the nature of the relationship between Burke and Rivas Hernandez, describing graphic, sexual photos of the two of them. Earlier, the court heard testimony about the girl's autopsy.
Trump returns to correspondents' dinner for a rambling, insult-filled speech 3 months after shooting
President Donald Trump has returned to the stage of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. He delivered a rambling speech that praised some journalists, took potshots at others, made jokes about public figures’ weight and intellect, and quipped about a third presidential term. He assured the crowd of journalists, though, that he’d scrapped the most biting parts of his remarks. His appearance came three months after a gunman upended the original dinner and forced its postponement.
