Kushner has hourslong meeting with Netanyahu on Gaza a day after talking with Hamas
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mideast negotiator and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner has wrapped up an hourslong meeting with Israel's prime minister, days after Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the new U.S.-backed road map on the Gaza ceasefire. The U.S. seeks Israel’s approval of the road map. Monday's meeting came 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.
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.
Long-awaited trial begins in rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 killing in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Fans of Tupac Shakur are arriving at a Las Vegas courthouse for opening statements in the trial of a man accused of orchestrating the killing of the legendary rapper. Duane “Keffe D” Davis is charged with murder in the 1996 killing of 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.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36
Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36. The actor starred in television series including “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Police in Greenville, South Carolina, say Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment complex on Sunday. They say there were no signs of foul play and an autopsy is being performed. Panettiere’s father announced the actor’s death in a statement provided to ABC News. Panettiere had a prolific career dating to 1996. She appeared in “Remember the Titans” and voiced Dot in the Disney animated movie “A Bug’s Life.” Her role as a superpowered cheerleader in “Heroes” propelled her to fame two decades ago.
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.
US stocks hang near their record heights
NEWYORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting near their record heights. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Monday but remains near its all-time high set on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 163 points, and the Nasdaq composite was flat. Wall Street has run to records in large part because profits are booming for big U.S. companies, and investors are waiting for the latest earnings updates from the nation’s biggest retailers coming later this week. In the meantime, oil prices are edging higher and helped push Treasury yields upward in the bond market. Stocks slipped in Europe following a stronger finish in Asia.
Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze
SOURBRODT, Belgium (AP) — Belgium is battling one of its largest wildfires, despite cooler weather and rain. The blaze in the High Fens is moving near Germany and has burned around 30 square kilometers, or about 12 square miles. Firefighters from several countries are assisting, but some areas remain inaccessible. In Greece, a fire near Athens' main airport was quickly controlled, and investigators are looking into a deadly fire on Salamina island. In France, a fire in the southwestern Landes region is under control, allowing some residents to return home. Europe is experiencing one of its hottest summers on record.
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.
Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 68, overshadowing Independence Day
REO, Indonesia (AP) — Thousands of people on Indonesia’s Flores Island are still waiting for aid after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake killed at least 68 people, injured more than 200 and damaged more than 1,300 homes. The disaster is overshadowing Monday's 81st Independence Day celebrations. The quake struck Saturday, triggering panic, tsunami warnings and 1,576 aftershocks. About 5,000 people have been displaced, many sheltering under tarpaulins outside damaged homes. Authorities declared a 14-day state of emergency and sent thousands of security personnel and aid supplies, though difficult access has slowed relief efforts. Survivors urgently appealed for food, water, medicine and cooking equipment.
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.
