Momentum for a deal to end the Iran war is growing. Pakistan says an agreement is closer than ever. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to discuss demining the Strait of Hormuz at the upcoming Group of Seven summit that begins Monday. Pakistan's prime minister expects a deal within 24 hours. Iran says the likelihood of finalizing a memorandum of understanding in the coming days is high. The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in recent days, threatening a fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile, Iran announced funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in July. Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has succeeded him.
The letters spelling out President Donald Trump’s name on the facade of Kennedy Center are now gone. That word comes Saturday from the executive director of the performing arts venue. Matt Floca made that declaration in a court filing to the federal judge who had ordered the removal. A tarp continued to hang over the scaffolding constructed for workers to remove Trump’s name from the building, making it impossible to immediately detect whether the only words remaining on its white marble portico are “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Larry O'Brien Trophy will be in the building. The rehearsals for the presentation ceremony, if one is needed, are complete. Thousands of New York fans have made the trip to Texas, looking to see something that hasn't happened in 53 years.
The Manhattan architect who lived a secret life as the Gilgo Beach serial killer has spent the past three years alone in a segregated cell. Rex Heuermann has been reading crime novels and gets an occasional visit from his lawyers or family. He also struck up a brief correspondence with Keith Jesperson, the infamous “Happy Face Killer” of the 1990s. That’s according to Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, who oversees the Long Island jail where Heuermann has been held. He faces life without parole in a state prison when he's sentenced Wednesday. Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and since admitted to killing yet another woman.
The United States and Iran appear close to a deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that a deal aimed at ending the war was closer than ever before and expected to be finalized within 24 hours. Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, followed immediately by technical-level talks next week. But the White House did not answer questions about where things stood in negotiations or when a deal might be signed. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said no signing would occur Sunday while leaving the possibility open for the coming days.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump walked out to the strains of Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass" and a roaring standing ovation just before he took a familiar cageside seat at a 2024 UFC event at Madison Square Garden. Long a fan of cage fighting before he entered the political arena, Trump has roo…
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore sites changed under an executive order that sought to eliminate “inappropriate content” at national museums, parks and landmarks. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley's ruling on Friday also ordered the government to pause any additional changes and to submit status reports on restoring the changes. The order comes in response to a lawsuit by conservation and historical organizations over National Park Service policies. Many changes occurred at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, including removing exhibits on enslaved people. President Donald Trump signed the executive order “restoring truth and sanity to American history” at the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks last year.
One of Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey's concerns with a recently introduced Senate bill designed to fix college sports is that it could increase the likelihood of the very type of litigation the measure proposes to reduce.
NEW YORK (AP) — If there is a saving grace from the bedlam that is about to ensue in New York City on Saturday, with the Knicks on the verge of a championship and Brazil taking on Morocco in the World Cup, it is that Game 5 of the NBA Finals is on the road.
The decision by Senate Democrats to let a key surveillance authority lapse comes as they're increasingly emboldened in their legislative fights against President Donald Trump. Democrats are even blocking traditionally bipartisan bills as they push back against his policies and personnel. It's an approach that represents an escalation from a year ago, when Democratic leader Chuck Schumer was widely criticized within his party for his key vote to side with Republicans and avert a government shutdown. Since then, Democrats have forced shutdowns, slowed Trump’s nominations and now blocked the bipartisan intelligence law as they seek leverage in a Republican Congress.
Legislation in two of the nation's most populous states could force 3D printers to come equipped with technology blocking them from making guns. A first-of-its-kind law limiting three-dimensional firearm printing recently passed in New York. A similar measure is pending in the California Legislature. Both would direct panels of experts to come up with technological standards aimed at preventing guns from being printed. The actual blockade would take effect in 2029. Gun rights groups and digital privacy advocates both have raised concerns about the legislation. Others have expressed skepticism that the printing blockade actually will work.
When U.S. President Gerald Ford and leaders of the five other leading democracies gathered at a 14th-century castle outside Paris on Nov. 15, 1975, they planted the seed for what subsequently became the Group of Seven nations. The initial six industrial powers that huddled at the Château de Rambouillet for three days of brainstorming about the global economy became the G7 the following year when Canada joined the elite club. G7 leaders are meeting again next week in France. As part of its coverage, The Associated Press is republishing its story from the opening of the inaugural summit in 1975.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to be more muted in his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump at an upcoming summit in Europe. Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos helped make him an international political star in January, when he declared the global rules-based order over and condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries. But the Group of Seven summit of industrialized democracies that begins Monday in France comes ahead of the scheduled July 1 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That's the latest iteration of the North American free-trade pact.
A confidential internal memo obtained by The Associated Press says that the international aid group Doctors Without Borders found a pattern of abuse and sexual exploitation by some local and foreign staff working in Chad along the Sudanese border. The organization said it launched the monthslong investigation in response to AP reporting that women had accused staff of sexually exploiting them in displacement sites in Chad. Hundreds of thousands fled there from Sudan’s civil war. Doctors Without Borders is one of the largest employers and biggest aid organizations in eastern Chad's refugee camps. It says that the cases represent a breach of its values and that it has implemented new recruiting and complaint systems, though it recognizes much work remains.
The U.S. has opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half. Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead. Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time. The U.S. scored only three goals combined in Qatar four years ago.
In 1976, as the United States prepared to celebrate its 200th anniversary, the mood was ambivalent. Americans had outlasted the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, with the occasional moment of joy like the moon landing. The State of the Union was intact, even if many Americans were still on edge. The traveling Freedom Train, Operation Sail and TV's “Bicentennial Minute" aimed for positive vibes, dance music ruled the airwaves, and Farrah Fawcett-Majors' red, white and blue poster became a phenomenon. But Nixon-era paranoia lingered in theaters with “All the President's Men,” “Taxi Driver” and “Network.”
Roaring crowds wearing stars and stripes came out to support the U.S. men's soccer team in their World Cup opener against Paraguay. While the U.S. isn't known for soccer as much as football or basketball, the sport has seen a rise in popularity since the last time the country hosted the international tournament in 1994. Many fans on Friday said they grew up playing soccer, and came from immigrant families passionate about the sport. They traveled from as far as Tennessee and Georgia to see the team play. And they saw the U.S. beat Paraguay 4-1.
President Donald Trump says a “swift and lethal kinetic” U.S. strike has killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called “the infamous leader” of the Tren de Aragua gang. Tren de Aragua has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization. Guerrero Flores has been charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December. Trump wrote on his social media site Friday that “Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else."
Authorities in Texas say a man who opened fire in a shooting that left one dead and 10 injured had shot at police just days earlier during a chase. Texas officials say the suspect began firing shots at officers and bystanders in Midland, Texas, on Friday morning before barricading himself inside an abandoned veterinary clinic. The Texas Department of Public Safety identified him as 45-year-old Victor Mata Villarreal. Police say he was found dead a few hours after the shooting began. Police have not said how he died. No officers were hurt.
The United States and Mexico had a dream start to a World Cup on their home soil. Canada’s first game wasn’t too bad, either. The Americans put an exclamation point on Friday’s action with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Inglewood, California. The U.S. built a 3-0 lead by halftime and matched the biggest World Cup victory by an American squad. The World Cup gets into the meat of its schedule starting Saturday — highlighted by an intriguing matchup between Brazil and Morocco. There are at least four games scheduled each day until June 27.
A federal judge in Virginia has extended a court-ordered block on the Trump administration's $1.8 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the government is scrapping its plans for the fund after bipartisan backlash. Plaintiffs' attorneys aren't satisfied by Blanche's assurances the fund won't move forward. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema previously agreed to temporarily block President Donald Trump's Republican administration from proceeding with the fund for at least two weeks. Brinkema on Friday gave the parties a week to negotiate an agreement for Blanche to submit a sworn declaration the administration won't revive the fund.
A beloved movie critic and arts reporter for the “Today” show, Gene Shalit has died. Known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and a love for puns, Shalit joined “Today” in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973. He was a middle-of-the-road critic, known for his wit and intelligence. Shalit was instrumental in changing the balance of critical power in America, moving it from print to television. He was regularly mocked on “Saturday Night Live” and made cameos on shows like “Sesame Street.” Shalit was predeceased by his wife and had six children.
Anthropic says it has taken its latest AI models offline to comply with new export controls from the Trump administration (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert left out the word 'it').
A federal judge has ruled the White House is allowed to stage a UFC show this weekend in an elaborate ring already built on the South Lawn to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary — on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Friday that organizers can use the White House lawn as the venue for Sunday's planned UFC mixed martial arts event. The nonprofit Public Integrity Project had sued to challenge Trump's UFC Freedom 250 event. The White House calls the lawsuit baseless, saying the UFC event is no different from many other events hosted at public forums in the capital.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama on Friday asked permission to execute a man by lethal injection after court rulings blocked the use of nitrogen gas and cast doubt on the future of the state’s gas method.
The White House hosts an official media walk through of the South Lawn where a UFC mixed martial arts cage-match will be held for Trump’s 80th birthday.
Pakistan's prime minister says the United State and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in the Middle East. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a social media post Friday that mediators are working with both sides to finalize a deal. He wrote: “Peace has never been this close.” Iran's foreign minister said both sides are working toward an initial agreement to end the war. He said terms dealing with Iran's nuclear program and other issues will be finalized during the following 60-day period.
Shares of SpaceX soared 19% in their Wall Street debut, making the rocket maker's founder and CEO Elon Musk the first-ever trillionaire. The shares opened at $150 and finished Friday slightly above $161. That price gave the company a market value of around $2.2 trillion. Forbes estimates that Musk, who is also a major shareholder in Tesla, is now worth $1.1 trillion. Musk says SpaceX is going public because it needs money to fund its ambitions of putting satellites and data centers in space and eventually establishing a colony of people on Mars. The $75 billion in proceeds from the IPO tops the previous high of $26 billion for Saudi Aramco's IPO in 2019.
Democrat Eric Jones has advanced to the November ballot in a Northern California congressional district, where he will face fellow Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson in the latest generational battle within the party. Jones, a 35-year-old former venture capitalist, on Friday took the second slot in California’s top-two, nonpartisan primary for the state’s 4th Congressional District. Thompson was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998 after serving as a state lawmaker. The race becomes the second generational challenge against a California U.S. House Democrat. Rep. Doris Matsui, 81, is facing a challenge from 41-year-old Sacramento City Councilwoman Mai Vang.
The U.S. Justice Department has determined that Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is unlikely to be harmful to consumers. The agency said Friday that an investigation by antitrust regulators concluded that the merger would increase competition in areas like video streaming, giving consumers more options. It also found that the merger is not likely to harm competition in the film industry. Paramount Skydance reached the deal in February, beating a rival bid by Netflix. Critics, however, worry about industry consolidation. The merger is still under review by other regulators, including those in Europe and the U.K., with decisions expected in the coming months.
Fire officials say crews responding to a blaze that destroyed a massive medical equipment warehouse in a Northern California city were hindered by sprinklers and hydrants that weren’t working. A deputy fire chief in the city said Friday that little or no water was flowing through either of the warehouse's systems during the fire. Crews were forced to try to connect to the city's hydrants instead. No one was injured in the blaze. The 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Tracy, east of San Francisco, supplied medical equipment to area hospitals.
A judge has denied a request from the Kennedy Center to pause a ruling ordering President Donald Trump's name removed from building. That denial came Friday. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled last month that Trump's name was illegally added to the iconic Washington performing arts facility. Cooper ruled only Congress could institute a change to the Kennedy Center's name and ordered references to Trump to be removed by Friday. Now he's refused the Kennedy's Center board's request to stay the ruling.
Residents in tornado-ravaged areas in Illinois and Indiana were grappling with the damage to their homes and neighborhoods on Friday, after the strong line of storms barreled through communities south of Chicago and left trails of destruction. Cleanup efforts were underway, and utility compa…
Pakistan's prime minister says the United States and Iran have agreed on a final text for a peace deal. Pakistan has been a key mediator in the talks. Iran's foreign minister posted earlier Friday that an agreement "has never been closer.” And it’s already going to be a big weekend for U.S. President Donald Trump. The World Cup returns to the U.S. today; on Sunday, Trump will host a UFC fight at the White House on his 80th birthday; hours later, he’s scheduled to jet off to the G7 summit in the French Alps.
WASHINGTON (AP) — One was a rotating disc that sent out beams of light. Another was a shining red orb of a hue the observer had never seen before. Then there was the one compared to a potato, and also a bean, but with a coat of shimmering, fishlike scales.
SEATTLE (AP) — Ali Abdulla was over the moon when he learned his youth-soccer nonprofit would receive 20 free tickets to the World Cup round of 16 match next month in Seattle. Many of the kids in his African Youth Sports Academy come from low-income, immigrant families, and with ticket price…
Patagonia the clothing brand is suing Pattie Gonia the drag queen for $1. The central question is whether Pattie Gonia, who filed for a trademark last year, can sell clothing and other merchandise using her name without causing confusion for consumers, who may be looking for clothing made instead by popular outdoors brand Patagonia. The American company named after the diverse region in southern Chile and Argentina helped set the industry standard for high-end sustainable outdoors apparel. Pattie Gonia is based in Bend, Oregon, and she is known for mobilizing climate activists and raising money for climate organizations.
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