Kushner's meeting with Netanyahu on Gaza stretches past 3 hours after talking with Hamas
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mideast negotiator and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner is meeting with Israel's prime minister days after Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15-point, U.S.-backed road map on the Gaza ceasefire. The U.S. seeks Israel’s approval of the road map. Monday's meeting comes a day after Kushner met for two hours with the Hamas chief in Egypt. There is no comment yet from Israel. There is a lot at stake including the lives of some 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, reconstruction of the war-demolished enclave and future control over the territory. Israeli troops now occupy some 60% of the strip.
Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military exercises with South Korea. He explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the “denuclearization” of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that the exercises are costly and “send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile” to North Korea, which he said “has been unthreatening and respectful” during his time in the White House. The 11 days of exercises involving 18,000 South Korean soldiers began Monday and were designed to beef up readiness against North Korean threats.
Tropical Storm Lala rakes Hawaii with high winds and rain without making landfall
Hurricane Lala has weakened to a tropical storm after raking Hawaii without making landfall. But authorities say it has damaged bridges and swept about 100 homes off their foundations othe Big Island. Rainfall approached three feet in some places Sunday, turning rivers into raging torrents and threatening mudslides. Roads and bridges were damaged, making access to some remote places a challenge. A beloved bakery was also badly damaged. Tropical storm conditions spread westward Sunday to Maui and Oahu and Kauai. And Honolulu was bearing the brunt of the weather Sunday. More than 200,000 homes and businesses were without power.
Ukraine takes aim at Russia’s economy and morale by attacking online retailer
Day after day over recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have pummeled giant depots belonging to Wildberries, the country’s biggest online retailer, burning estimated billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the broad public. The attacks that hit about 20 depots belonging to Wildberries in a month reflect Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russia and cast a new challenge to President Vladimir Putin nearly 4 ½ years after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The strikes have shaken the empire founded by Tatyana Kim, the country’s richest female entrepreneur. Forbes Russia estimated her fortune at $8.1 billion before the strikes began.
Ukraine energy company says its facilities seriously damaged after 13 Russian strikes in a week
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s state energy company says Russia has attacked its facilities 13 times over the past week, with nearly 300 attacks this year. Naftogaz Group said Monday that Russian drones and missiles have caused serious damage to equipment and production capacity. Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of “weaponizing winter” by targeting the power grid to weaken civilian morale. Both countries are expanding aerial campaigns, with Ukraine increasing its domestically produced firepower. The United Nations reports nearly 17,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths since the invasion began. Ukraine is developing its own ballistic missile and collaborating with Europe on anti-ballistic defenses.
The 60-day deadline for an Iran peace deal is expiring. Here's where things stand
The 60-day deadline for an agreement to end the Iran war and resolve the dispute over its nuclear program is expiring. An interim agreement reached in June has collapsed, and Washington and Tehran are even further apart than they were then. Talks appear to be mostly indirect through mediators and have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The crucial waterway for global energy has been largely closed by Iranian attacks on shipping. Iran has issued far-reaching demands for opening it, while the U.S. appears to be banking on economic pressure to get Tehran to back down. Fighting flared in July and could resume at any time.
All eyez on Tupac: Long-awaited trial begins in rapper's 1996 killing
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Opening statements are set to begin in the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who is charged with murder in the killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis is the first person to be charged in connection to the musician's death, nearly 30 years after he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. Prosecutors say Davis orchestrated the shooting and provided the gun. A tell-all book Davis published in 2019 revived the cold case. Davis was arrested in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty. His attorney argues the book was fictionalized to make a profit.
States take Meta to trial in California in the biggest fight yet over social media harms to children
Of the thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety on its platforms, none may be more consequential than one going to trial this week in California. States are seeking extensive financial damages that could, in theory, total as much as $1.4 trillion, plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that are addictive. The trial set to begin Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, features four of the states as plaintiffs — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey.
Futures mixed in a big week for retailers as new questions rise over the consumer state of mind
Futures are mixed ahead of a big week for major retailers as new questions emerge about the state of the U.S. consumer, a major engine powering the American economy. The S&P 500 edged 0.1% higher Monday, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.2%. Nasdaq futures gained 0.5%. U.S. stocks hit an all-time high last week despite some recent downbeat data about jobs and, most notably last week, retail spending. Americans unexpectedly pulled back on retail spending in July by the biggest amount in more than a year. Walmart and Target both post second quarter earnings this week, with Target surging under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
Police looking for additional people who fired guns in Virginia university shooting that wounded 5
ETTRICK, Va. (AP) — Authorities are seeking additional people who fired weapons during a weekend shooting at Virginia State University that left five people wounded. A 19-year-old suspect remained in custody on Sunday. Investigators are trying to determine if others who fired weapons did so in self-defense or if they were aggressors. The shooting just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday came as students were getting ready for the new school year. The suspect is not a student but was found hiding in a dormitory closet Saturday afternoon. He faces four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm during a felony. Only one of the victims is a student.
