France and Spain battle wildfires as more than 250,000 people are forced to flee homes
LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — France is using a massive cargo aircraft to dump flame retardants on a wildfire near the wine country city of Bordeaux. The fire has forced tens of thousands to evacuate, with winds threatening to push it closer to the city. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the battle as “long and very difficult.” Soldiers and firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which has reached unprecedented strength. French officials slashed the length of the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday so more police could be deployed to the wildfire zones. In Spain, wildfires have displaced over 70,000 people. High temperatures and climate change have fueled these fires, catching authorities off guard.
Iran-backed Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia in response to airstrikes in Yemen
CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on Yemen's strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida. The claim on Saturday marks an escalation over vital Middle East shipping routes as the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia’s civil defense said alerts sounded in its cities of Yanbu and Jizan, but it provided no further details. Iran reported no U.S. strikes overnight for the first time in nearly two weeks. U.S. Central Command hasn't commented. Threats to shipping remain a focal point due to the importance to global energy supplies.
Maine Democratic delegates choose Troy Jackson as new nominee to face US Sen. Susan Collins
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Former state lawmaker and logger Troy Jackson has secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine. He will face longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race that could decide which party controls the Senate. Jackson was nominated Saturday during a gathering of Democratic delegates. He replaces Graham Platner, who won the Democratic primary in June but withdrew from the race earlier this month following an allegation of sexual assault that Platner has denied. Platner’s exit forced Democrats to quickly come up with a never-before-used process to choose a new nominee. Collins begins the general election cycle with a big fundraising advantage.
Latest Russian and Ukrainian attacks kill a total of 15 people, officials say
Ukrainian forces attacked holiday camps in the partly Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, killing 12 people, including four children. Ukraine did not immediately comment over the claim on Saturday by Moscow-installed officials. Separately, authorities in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region said a Russian drone strike killed three people there. The strikes followed an attack on Friday near Kyiv that killed at least 10 people at a defense industry event, and a warning from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia was preparing a major assault within 48 hours. Romania said it shot down a drone breaching its airspace near the Ukrainian border, the second such interception in two days.
Americans rewire their grocery shopping routines while digesting the biggest price jump in 50 years
Living through the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half-century has many Americans changing their eating and food shopping habits. The price of food purchased for home use has increased 33% since the beginning of 2019. In the 7 1/2 before thatThe war in Iran has made it uncertain if a slowdown expected this year will materialize. Residents of some cities where food prices increased by more than the national average say they hunting for deals at multiple stores and switching brands. Others are buying fewer of their favorite foods or less food overall. One reason consumers feel so pinched is other costs have climbed rapidly, too, most recently for gasoline.
A person is killed and several are injured at Berlin's LGBTQ+ march when a car drives into the crowd
BERLIN (AP) — A car that drove into a crowd during Berlin's LGBTQ+ parade has killed one person and injured at least 15. Police called off the event in the German capital hours after it began on Saturday. Some victims have life-threatening injuries. Firefighters and ambulances were at the scene. Police urged everyone to leave the premises immediately. The car drove into Tiergarten park, near the pride march route, hitting several people. Officers are searching for suspects. The pride event, known as Christopher Street Day, was one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations. It was called off around 10:15 p.m.
Small businesses file lawsuits against Trump's new sweeping tariffs
NEW YORK (AP) — Trump’s tariffs are headed to court — again. Two lawsuits filed by small businesses are challenging Trump’s sweeping tariffs announced Thursday that impose double digit levies on 60 trading partners. The tariffs, implemented for what the Trump administration says is countries’ failure to prevent imports produced by forced labor, cover 99% of U.S. imports. Critics say that’s a pretext and the goal is to replace the worldwide tariffs that Trump imposed last year that were struck down by the Supreme Court in February. They came just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs — that had also been challenged in court — expired.
Wisconsin's capital city cancels signature events, grapples with fallout from police shooting
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A police shooting in Wisconsin’s progressive capital city this week put the spotlight on persistent and deep racial divisions, prompting cancellations and other changes to popular summertime events as protesters said they were determined to continue public pressure for change in Madison. Corey Ruiz, who is identified as Black or Latino in Wisconsin court records, was shot and killed by a Madison police officer on Wednesday after a brief scuffle. It marks the third time since 2012 that Madison police have shot and killed someone in the same neighborhood. The shooting has sparked renewed calls for police reforms and forced the city to once again reckon with calls from the Black community to address racial justice issues.
How the lighthearted social media trend of 'teen takeovers' took a serious turn
A growing trend called “teen takeovers” where scores of young people converge on small areas have raised safety concerns in cities across the United States, and prompted officials to develop strategies to control the trend. Fueled by warm weather and driven by social media, takeovers have popped up in big cities like Houston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Detroit, and smaller communities like Clearwater, Florida. The gatherings often lead to fights, theft and vandalism. In May, a 14-year-old was shot and wounded during a fight with other teens during a takeover in downtown Detroit. Vehicles in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood were damaged during a takeover there.
More health workers strike as Ebola cases in Congo near 3,000, including over 1,300 deaths
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Health workers at an Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo have gone on strike over payment issues, disrupting patient care. The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has reached 2,905, with 1,269 deaths. Activities at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Center in Bunia, Ituri province, were largely paralyzed after staff stopped work. About a hundred health workers protested Saturday, citing unpaid bonuses. They called on authorities to settle the arrears. The Central African nation has been battling the outbreak since May 15. The outbreak continues to spread faster than health officials can track despite an expanding response.
