Israel declares Gaza’s largest city a combat zone as death toll surpasses 63,000
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 63,000 as Palestinians face the start of Israel’s expanded offensive in Gaza City. The count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians killed in the 22-month war between Israel and Hamas. The ministry says five people have died from malnutrition-related causes over the past day, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began. A military official says Israel intends to continue helping aid reach Gaza City during the offensive, but a U.N. humanitarian group fears “a horrific impact” on people already deprived of basic needs.
Trump ends ex-Vice President Harris' Secret Service protection early after Biden had extended it
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would've ended next summer. That’s according to senior Trump administration officials. Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But another person familiar with the matter says then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her. The people insisted on anonymity Friday to discuss a matter not made public. Trump is a Republican. Biden and Harris are Democrats. Trump defeated Harris in the presidential election last year after Biden dropped out of the contest and Harris replaced him.
Boy wounded in Minnesota church shooting asks doctor: ‘Can you say a prayer with me?’
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stories of bravery and heartache are emerging after the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church during a Mass celebrating the start of the school year. Friends say one girl was wounded while shielding her buddy as her father, the school’s gym teacher, helped usher kids to safety. The aunt of a 13-year-old boy who is recovering after being shot twice says he asked a doctor to pray with him as he was rushed into surgery. The shooting Wednesday morning left two students dead and 20 people wounded, nearly all of them children. At least five children and one adult remain hospitalized Friday.
Missouri is next to answer Trump's call for redrawn maps that boost GOP in 2026
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — Missouri’s Republican governor is calling a special legislative session to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts. The announcement Friday by Gov. Mike Kehoe comes as President Donald Trump has been urging Republican-led states to reshape district lines to give the party a better shot at retaining control of Congress in next year’s elections. It came hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a new U.S. House map that gives the GOP a chance at winning five additional seats. Democratic lawmakers in California have countered with a redistricting plan giving Democrats a chance at winning five more seats there. The California plan still needs voter approval.
US revokes visas of Palestinian president and other officials ahead of UN General Assembly
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss visa issues that are normally confidential, disclosed Friday that Abbas and other officials from the Palestinian Authority were among those affected. The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments as the host country of the U.N. and urged the State Department to reverse its decision.
Gym owner says she reported grooming concerns about coach years before arrest in sex abuse case
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Concerns about a banned gymnastics coach arrested amid allegations he abused girls he coached surfaced years before police or sports authorities took action. The Associated Press has learned that a former boss of Sean Gardner brought concerns in 2018 about “grooming” behavior to the agency overseeing U.S. gymnastics. Girls he coached and their parents told AP they sounded alarms about Gardner's inappropriate behavior to coaches at the renowned academy where he worked after that. The parents spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their daughters. Gym's owner Liang “Chow” Qiao kept Gardner on and promoted him. Not until 2022 was Gardner banned from gymnastics. Shortly after, Qiao and others at the gym were sanctioned for failing to report sexual misconduct reports against Gardner.
The Latest: Trump blocks $4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress
In a letter sent to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, President Donald Trump said he wouldn't be spending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid — effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. The letter was posted Friday morning on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Trump’s move rests on a tool not used in nearly 50 years, known as a pocket rescission: A president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year so that Congress can’t act on the request in the 45-day timeframe, and the money goes unspent as a result.
Thai court dismisses prime minister over compromising phone call with Cambodian leader
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for violating ethics rules in a phone call with a Cambodian official. The court's decision ends the term of Thailand’s youngest prime minister and impacts the Shinawatra political dynasty. On Friday, judges ruled that her conduct in a June 15 call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen breached ethics rules. The call, which became public before a deadly border conflict, sparked outrage in Thailand. Paetongtarn defended her actions, saying her tone was a negotiating tactic. The court's order leaves the ruling coalition on shaky ground and affects her father Thaksin's political influence.
Appeals court rules against Trump's plans to end legal protections for 600,000 Venezuelan migrants
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s plans to end temporary protections for 600,000 Venezuelans who have permission to live and work in the U.S. This means those migrants whose protections expired or are about to expire might be allowed to stay. A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday said plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had no authority to vacate Temporary Protected Status extensions granted by a previous administration. A San Francisco judge in March said the same and ordered a pause on terminations, but the Supreme Court reversed him without explanation.
What states are doing in the battle for partisan advantage in US House redistricting maps
A redistricting battle for partisan advantage in Congress is spreading across states. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed legislation creating a new U.S. House map that gives Republicans a chance to win as many as five more seats in next year's elections. Hours later, Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session on redistricting in an attempt to gain another GOP seat. Meanwhile, California Democrats are asking voters to approve revised House districts that give Democrats there a chance at winning five more seats. Officials in other states also are considering redrawing congressional districts to try to gain a partisan advantage.
