Man kills 2 in car ramming and stabbing attack at English synagogue on Jewish holy day
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A man drove a car into people outside a synagogue in England and stabbed two of them to death on the holiest day of the Jewish year. Officers shot and killed the suspect Thursday at the synagogue in Manchester. At least three other people were hurt. Authorities described the assault as a terrorist attack. Authorities said the man believed responsible was a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent named Jihad Al-Shamie, who entered the U.K. as a young child. Police also said three people were arrested on suspicion of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.
Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict." That's according to a Trump administration memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The memo appears to represent an extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers, with Trump effectively declaring that trafficking of drugs into the United States amounts to armed conflict requiring the use of military force — a new rationale for past and future actions. The U.S. military last month carried out three deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee says “every American should be alarmed that their President has decided he can wage secret wars.”
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is using the government shutdown to reshape the federal workforce and target detractors. The president says he'll meet with budget director Russ Vought to discuss potential spending cuts. Trump has already suggested slashing Democratic priorities and mass firings of federal workers. Vought has already withheld funds for projects in New York and canceled green energy projects in Democratic states. Congress remains at a standstill on legislation to end the shutdown, with Democrats demanding concessions on health care. Congress had no action scheduled Thursday in observance of the Jewish holy day, virtually guaranteeing the shutdown will last into Friday.
The blame game is on at federal agencies, where political messages fault Democrats for the shutdown
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans' routine interactions with the federal government this week are increasingly being met with partisan messaging. As a Senate deadlock keeps the federal government unfunded, some traditionally apolitical federal agencies are using their official channels to spread a coordinated political message that the shutdown is the Democrats’ fault. The messages are appearing in banners on agency websites, in autoreplies to emails, and in social media posts. They blame the political party that is out of power in Washington, when both sides are refusing to accommodate the other. Some experts suggest that they might be violating a federal law related to political activity by federal employees.
A decade after the refugee crisis that shook Europe, a Syrian family becomes German
BERLIN (AP) — A decade after 1 million migrants arrived in Germany from war-torn countries like Syria, Iran and Afghanistan, the country has changed. While the migrants were initially welcomed by Germans who opened their homes and helped integrate the newcomers, the migrants' arrival has also polarized society. Anger over migration has helped the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany to become the country's second strongest party. Even Germany's current government has made curbing irregular migration one its priorities. Despite some hostility, many migrants have integrated well in society, found jobs and even became German citizens.
Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid in international waters. Can it do that?
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and hundreds of activists raises questions about what any nation can legally do to enforce a blockade in international waters. As dozens of boats sailed closer to Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli navy warned them to turn back. Then Israeli military personnel stormed the vessels and seized activists. The interception sparked condemnation from world leaders and human rights groups who say Israel violated international law. Israeli authorities say they were merely enforcing a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Putin praises Trump but warns supplies of US long-range missiles to Ukraine will badly hurt ties
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington but will not change the situation on the battlefield. At the same time, Putin hailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to help negotiate peace in Ukraine and described their August summit in Alaska as productive. Speaking Thursday at a forum of foreign policy experts in Russia’s southern resort of Sochi, Putin appeared to appeal to Trump and his conservative supporters, hailing Charlie Kirk as a hero assassinated for promoting the same conservative values that Russia shares.
FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials have approved another generic version of the abortion pill, prompting outrage from some abortion opponents aligned with President Donald Trump. Anti-abortion groups quickly criticized the move Thursday, calling it a “stain” on the Trump administration. The groups have been pushing for a safety review of mifepristone for months. The FDA first approved the drug as a safe and effective way to end pregnancies in 2000. The new version of the pill is from drugmaker Evita Solutions. It’s not the first generic version, which FDA previously approved in 2019.
Goodall's influence spread far and wide. Those who felt it are pledging to continue her work
In the wake of Jane Goodall's death, the many scientists and others influenced by her are promising to do their best to carry on her legacy. In her 91 years, Goodall transformed science and humanity’s understanding of our closest living relatives on the planet — chimpanzees and other great apes. In addition to her famed research center in Tanzania and chimpanzee sanctuaries in other countries, a new cultural center is expected to open in Tanzania late next year. There also are Jane Goodall Institutes in 26 countries, as well as the institute’s youth-led education program called Roots & Shoots in dozens of countries.
Schlittler strikes out 12 in postseason debut as Yankees beat Red Sox 4-0 to win Wild Card Series
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight dominant innings and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-0 to win their AL Wild Card Series in a deciding third game. Taking his place in Yankees-Red Sox rivalry lore, the 24-year-old Schlittler overpowered Boston with 100 mph heat in his 15th major league start and pitched New York into a best-of-five Division Series against AL East champion Toronto beginning Saturday. The Yankees became the first team to lose the opener of a best-of-three Wild Card Series and come back to advance since Major League Baseball expanded the first round in 2022.
