Also, an experimental treatment for chronic pain showed promise. Heres the latest at the end of Thursday.

As he runs a long-shot third-party bid for re-election, Mayor Eric Adams is proposing an aggressive approach, favored by conservatives, of combating open drug use.

The document describes payments made for expedition supplies, and was signed by Hernn Corts, who conquered the Aztecs.

Weve been envisioning how some of todays biggest dilemmas could transform the city. Wed like you to imagine with us.

Fans say it's super durable, too. READ MORE...

Donna Kelce stands with her son Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)2025-08-14T22:03:16Z Since nothing Taylor Swift ever does is small, her two-hour conversation with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast is a watershed moment for a media format that has already outlived the device it was named for.By Thursday afternoon, Wednesday nights talk had already been seen more than 11.7 million times on YouTube. But thats only a fraction of its circulation clips distributed on Instagram, TikTok, X and elsewhere have received more than 400 million views, and the episode was also available for streaming on audio platforms.Swift, who infrequently gives interviews to journalists, revealed key information about her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, and talked about her relationships with Travis Kelce and her family, and her joy of gaining full control of her past work a yearslong quest. It was a revelation for fans with whom shes primarily communicated through her music and social media Easter eggs, a treasure hunt of clues about what shes doing professionally.We have not heard Taylor speak in like a long-form interview like that in about five years, Alex Antonides, a superfan from Dallas, told The Associated Press. Shes never been in that comfortable of a situation, either. Its always been like more professional, like a professional interviewer asking her questions. And then this is like with her boyfriend and his brother. So that was ... an environment weve truly never seen her in before. Celebrities like a friendly face for public talksSwift cemented a trend thats been seen in recent years among entertainers, sports figures and politicians who seek to deliver particular messages. A visit to friendly faces for a long-form conversation beats questions from nosy, prying journalists. In this case, Swift and Travis Kelce locked arms and cooed at each other between admiring queries. My boyfriend says, Swift said in asides when Kelce laid things on too thick.The Kelce brothers have become the Barbara Walters of their generation, said Nick Cicero, founder of Mondo Metrics, which studies the podcast industry.Fans ate it up. I think its really nice and refreshing, especially for a woman whose primary fan base is young women, to see somebody that is so celebratory of their partner and also not self-deprecating in a bad way, but also really admires what they do, and they dont try to minimize that, one fan, Britton Copeland, who goes by Britton Rae on TikTok, said in a Zoom interview.Swift interpreters immediately began online discussions about What It All Means. One fan discussed theories about the still-unheard song, The Fate of Ophelia, listed as the new albums first cut. Others pointed out that the album release date of Oct. 3 coincided with National Plaid Day apparently a Swift obsession and National Boyfriends Day.Such Easter eggs are likely to bring listeners back to the New Heights interview again and again, meaning it could eventually stand as the most listened-to podcast episode on YouTube ever. Its got a chance, Cicero said. Podcasts emerged in the 2000s as an audio-only programming format tied to Apples now-defunct iPod. The New Oxford American Dictionary called podcast its word of the year in 2005, even as many in the industry sought an alternative name almost as soon as it was coined.The well-regarded Serial podcasts helped bring the format into the mainstream a decade ago. Particularly since the pandemic, and with the explosive growth of YouTube and personalities like Joe Rogan, video podcasts have become far more popular. Like most interview podcasts, New Heights can also be enjoyed in an audio format and its background noise even for many who air it on YouTube but being able to see Swift and the Kelces interact has its benefits. Will Swift outdraw President Trumps appearance with Rogan?Rogans interview with President Donald Trump was a key moment in the 2024 presidential campaign, and has been seen 59 million times on YouTube in nine months. Certainly Swifties and possibly Trump himself will be eager to see if the New Heights interview exceeds that number. Swift is among the celebrities who has drawn the presidents ire.It has further to go to be a record-setter, though. The most-watched podcast episode ever on YouTube, and likely the most-consumed podcast ever, is Abdulrahman Abu Malehs interview with relationship coach Yasser Hazimi for Secrets to Thriving Relationships from the Saudi Arabian company Thmanyah. It has racked up 144 million views in two years.Swifts and the Kelces teams were was particularly skillful in creating a huge demand for the interview with how its spread clips across various social media platforms, said Tom Webster, founder of Sounds Profitable, a firm that analyzes the podcast industry. By Thursday morning, Instagram highlights alone from the interview were viewed more than 350 million times, Cicero said. ___Associated Press journalist Alicia Rancilio contributed to this report from Detroit. ___David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. DAVID BAUDER Bauder is the APs national media writer, covering the intersection of news, politics and entertainment. He is based in New York. twitter mailto

Antoni Porowski might just be adding a little romance realnessand the internet is collectively clutching its pearls.Just days after wrapping production on the final season of Queer Eye, the 41-year-old food and wine expert swapped his Fab Five for the sun-soaked shores of Ibiza and Formentera, and lets just say he didnt travel solo it looks like.By his side? NYC-based fitness yogi, model, and certified thirst trap Zacharias Niedzwiecki. Yes, girl. A man with abs and alignment.From Queer Eye to Queer Vacation GoalsWhile Ibiza is all high-energy clubs and sunrise raves, Formentera is its chill, bohemian cousinthe ideal place to get cozy, catch a tan, and maybe spoon someone special on a yacht at sunset. Which is exactly what Antoni and Zacharias did.Photos from their Mediterranean escape showed the pair twinning in black swim trunks, chain necklaces, backwards caps, matching facial scruff, andof coursejaw-dropping abs. Are they a couple? Bros being bros? Gay soulmates on a seaside sabbatical? Either way, everyone is watching this sun-drenched situationship very closely.One now-iconic photo shared by Zacharias shows the two cuddled up on a boat as the sun dips into the sea. Antoni, the gentle giant big spoon, wraps Zach in a protective embrace, while the latter nuzzles into Antonis pecs like its his new permanent address.Reader, we gasped.Aspen Adventures & Instagram EmojisIf you thought this yacht moment was a one-off, think again. The pair also took a mountain getaway to Aspen earlier this summerand brought the intimacy with them. Zacharias posted a photo set that included not one but two shirtless bear hugs with Antoni.Aspen checklist: mountain time, bear hugs, hiking, cold plunges, repeat, he captioned the post.Antonis response? The face massage and heart on fire emoji combo. Sir, what are you trying to tell us?! Naturally, the comments exploded:Are yall dating??Waitis this your boyfriend?Sorry to ask butARE YOU DATING???No answers yet, but silence is deafening, besties.The Quiet Soft Launch?Though neither Antoni nor Zacharias have confirmed the nature of their relationship, the receipts are stacking up like a gay romance novel in slow motion.Their Instagram posts have featured sneak peeks of each other from multiple European vacationsincluding a luxurious cruise aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Zacharias even dropped a cheek kiss from Antoni in a photo carousel on June 30, hiding it at the end like a little Easter egg for the gays.And Antonis own cruise video? Blink and youll miss a clip of Zach doing yoga next to him. Stealthy. Tender. Kind of romantic. We see you.A New Chapter After Heartbreak?Its been nearly two years since Antoni ended his engagement with longtime partner Kevin Harrington. The split came during wedding planning in 2023, with both parties acknowledging they were headed down different paths.Could Zacharias be part of Antonis new journey? Possibly. If this is a romance, it looks slow-burn, low-key, and very cuddly.But even if its just a beachy bromance, we love to see two queer men embrace softness, intimacy, and affection with zero shame. Normalize shirtless bear hugs between friends, and normalize your friend kissing your cheek on a yacht if hes hot and youre hot and the vibes are right.Until we get a red carpet moment or a boyfriend soft launch thats not hidden in the last slide of a carousel, well be over here refreshing Instagram, sipping spritzes, and dreaming of Formentera.Source

With Netflixs Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser pulling back the curtain on one of Americas most controversial reality shows, Bob Harperthe shows longest-standing traineris speaking out. And while the new documentary includes heavy criticism and emotional reckonings from former contestants, Harper is crystal clear on where he stands: hes not here for the trolls.I really do believe we helped a lot of people, Harper tells The Guardian in a new interview. The trolls that are out there just want to attack in any way they can.Harper, now approaching 60 and living a more zen life as a yoga instructor in New York City, seems mostly unbothered by the online backlash. But that doesnt mean he hasnt noticed it. Since The Biggest Loser first aired in 2004, its been both a cultural phenomenon and a lightning rod for criticismfrom promoting unhealthy weight loss goals to fat-shaming. Much of that ire is now being reignited thanks to Fit for TV, where former contestants like Joelle Gwynn are brutally candid. (Fuck you, Bob Harper, Gwynn says in the documentary, referencing a moment when Harper yelled at her on set.)Harper, however, has long since developed a thick skin. Ive learned to not take things personally, he says, smiling from his stylish Manhattan apartment as his dog Ralph (yes, named after Ralph Lauren) scampers behind him.Not Here for the HateThe criticisms being resurfaced range from disturbing contestant experiencesvomiting, dehydration, restricted caloriesto allegations that the show fueled national fatphobia. When told about a study that showed an increase in anti-fat bias among people who watched the show, Harper calls it stupid.Were always going to have people who want to pick everything apart, he says. Especially when it comes to weight loss, people have really strong opinions. But honestly, a lot of it is just people looking for something to be mad about.Hes adamant that The Biggest Loser was not about shaming anyone, and says that while he cant speak for the network or producers, he personally never intended to mock or mistreat anyone. Thats something I would never do and have never done, Harper insists.Complicated LegacyStill, theres no denying the impact the show hadnot just on the contestants, but on the culture at large. At its peak, the show drew over 10 million viewers and had dozens of international versions. But behind the scenes, things were far from glamorous. Harper admits to being physically and emotionally drained from the production schedule, even developing shingles from the stress and eating contestant challenge snacks just to get by.Though the shows messaging often equated thinness with success, Harper now claims to see things differently. Healthy bodies come in many shapes and many sizes, he says, though in the next breath adds, Well, fat is bad. Lets not kid anybody. Its a statement that underscores how complicated his relationship with body image and health truly is.Harper also calls out the absurdity of the way producers shaped the shows visual narrative. From manipulating camera angles to make contestants appear larger, to dolled-up after reveals alongside ghostly before images, the shows aesthetic relied on extremes. It was TV, he says flatly. They wanted drama.Still Proud, Still StandingDespite the firestorm of criticism, Harper says he remains proud of the show and the transformations that did stick. He fondly recalls season 11 winner Olivia Ward, who later named her child after him. Shes still a friend. Shes flying in for my birthday party next week, he says with a grin. And her sister Hannah looks great too.When asked if he thinks a show like The Biggest Loser could exist today, Harper doesnt flinch. I dont see why not, he says, though he admits it would have to be completely different. But in his view, the culture hasnt changed much. Were just as obsessed with weight loss as weve ever been, he notes, pointing to the explosion of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.And while he doesnt outright endorse pharmaceuticals, Harper takes a live-and-let-live stance: If thats what you need to get started, Im for anything that gets you on the path you want to be on.A New Era, Same HarperNow living in what he calls his retirement era, Harper is content teaching hot yoga and enjoying the slower pace of post-TV life. Hes singlehaving split from his fianc in 2019but still open to love. So if you know anyone he jokes.As Fit for TV continues to spark debate and stir old wounds, Harper seems resolutely at peace with his role in The Biggest Loser. Hes taken responsibility for a few regrettable moments (like telling a contestant it was good that she vomited), but draws a firm line at being portrayed as the villain. We were all adults, he says.Trolls may scream louder than ever, but Bob Harper isnt listening. I know what the show meant to me, he says. And I have nothing but good memories.Source

The Trump administration had asked states to certify that their schools did not practice illegal D.E.I. and threatened to cut off billions of dollars from schools that did not comply.

The nonprofit will receive less revenue from its members, which are under pressure to make up for shortfalls of their own.

While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Creating your home isnt only about color palettes and fabric swatches: Making a space that feels special to you is an act of love. Shalese and her family felt that love when her grandmother Irene opened her doors to them. And now, Shalese wanted to express her gratitude by giving Irene the peaceful bedroom she deserves.READ MORE...

While real people and stories are featured in the article below, the following parties did not receive a personal loan from Discover.Having plenty of storage can be a mixed blessing. Its great to have so much spacebut we also have a tendency to fill it.That was the case for Irene, a grandmother in Utah who we visited on our newest episode of Apartment Therapy: Your Space, Your Story.READ MORE...

It's so versatile.READ MORE...

The star women's basketball pairing dished on when they realized they'd connect, who their favorite WNBA player is and more.

With the 2025-26 NBA schedule dropping on Thursday, teams made sure to creatively announce their respective games.

The NFL Players Association placed Heather McPhee, whose allegations helped prompt a federal investigation, on paid administrative leave after multiple employees filed complaints with the union's human resources department, sources said.

The report is not final, but indicates good news for the food and agriculture industries.

In a petition, alumni, faculty and members of the public asked Harvard to stand up to the White House. The school has signaled a willingness to pay $500 million to restore research funds.

Oregon Health & Science University said the couples donation would be the largest single gift to a higher-learning institution in the United States.

Air Canada executives are interrupted by Air Canada flight attendants during a press conference as a possible strike looms, in Toronto, on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-08-14T21:15:53Z Summer travelers are facing uncertainty as the clock winds down on a possible strike by Air Canada flight attendants, which the airline said would force it to cancel almost all of its scheduled flights as soon as Saturday. The Canadian carrier on Thursday began what it described as a phased wind down of most operations that included multiple flight cancellations. Air Canada said it was suspending its schedule and trying to get passengers booked with other airlines to limit disruptions if members of its cabin crews walk off the job. Both the union that represents about 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants and the airline say disagreements over key issues, including pay raises, have brought contract talks to a standstill.A complete shutdown of the countrys largest airline threatens to impact about 130,000 people a day. Heres what to know about the rights of passengers and airline consumer protections: Impacted passengers will be notified Air Canada said it would reach out via email or text to let customers know if their flights are canceled. The cancellations on Thursday included some long-haul overseas flights. By the end of Friday, the airline expects to cancel 500 flights. Flight attendants are threatening to strike at 1 a.m. EDT Saturday if they dont have a new contract by then. If the walkout happens, the airline said it would suspend all of its Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, but not the regional Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines. How long the airlines planes will be grounded remains to be seen. Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr said the decision to lock out the union members even if it meant halting flights would help facilitate an orderly restart, which under the best circumstances will take a full week to complete.A complete grounding would affect 25,000 Canadians a day who traveled abroad and may become stranded. You have options if your flight is canceledPassengers whose travel is impacted will be eligible to request a full refund on the airlines website or mobile app, according to Air Canada.The airline said it would also offer alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. But it warned that it could not guarantee immediate rebooking because flights on other airlines are already full due to the summer travel peak.Passengers with the flexibility to reschedule their travel plans can also rebook their flights for dates between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12 at no additional cost, Air Canada said.The airline says that under federal regulations, flight cancellations caused by a strike or lockout are considered outside the carriers control, meaning customers are not eligible for compensation for food and lodging expenses incurred during the labor dispute. Most of the union voted to strikeAir Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have been in contract talks for about eight months, but they have yet to reach a tentative deal. By the end of July, the union put it to a vote, and 99.7% approved a strike. The union on Wednesday gave Air Canada a 72-hour strike notice. The airline responded with a so-called lockout notice, saying it would prevent the flight attendants from working on Saturday.The union said it rejected a proposal from the airline to enter a binding arbitration process that would have prevented flight attendants from walking off the job, saying it prefers to negotiate a deal that its members can then vote on.Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canadas head of human resources, said the company was weighing all of its options, including asking for government intervention.Negotiations break down over payBoth the union and the airline say they remain far apart on the issue of pay and the unpaid work flight attendants do when planes arent in the air.The airline said its latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation, including benefits and pensions over four years. But the union pushed back, saying the proposed 8% raise in the first year didnt go far enough because of inflation.Vancouver-based flight attendant Henly Larden, who has worked for Air Canada since 2017, said the union also wont back down on its goal to get flight attendants paid for the time theyre on the ground. Larden, 33, called it a very archaic expectation to work for free during the boarding process. Just because its a past practice doesnt mean here in 2025 that its OK or its right, and we want to change that going forward, she said. RIO YAMAT Yamat is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. Based in Las Vegas, she covers airlines, travel and tourism. twitter mailto

Nothing beats a good pop duo moment, and Troye Sivan just served one up. In his latest Instagram photo dump, the opening shot is a gem from 2015 showing a young Troye alongside Chappell Roan. Before Rush, My My My!, Pink Pony Club, or The Subway. Just two rising stars with no idea of the pop royalty status ahead of them.What makes the interaction more iconic is the fact that Troye confessed to finding the photo by doing a weekly google of troye sivan and chappell roan.' Imagine being able to search yourself with another celebrity name and find random pictures from your past. FYI I found that pic online doing my weekly google of troye sivan and chappell roan, not my crop!!!!!This comment came after the Angel Baby singer faced criticism for how the photo was cropped. But dont worry, people online have also tracked down the full photo, which does feature Connor Franta.The photo also appears to be shared initially by Chappell on Twitter after a breakfast with the two YouTubers. Fans have also dug up tweets from Troye showing his support for Chappell, then going by her name, Kaleigh Rose, since 2014. He even gave her a shoutout and dropped a link to her track Die Young.If youre gonna support these icons, you better know your gay history.Chappell Roan is having one of those unstoppable pop star summers. Her latest single, The Subway, not only became her highest-charting U.S. hit, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, but also snagged the No. 1 spot in the U.K. Starting this fall, shes launching the Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things mini-tour, hitting three major cities in the U.S.:New York Forest Hills Stadium, Sept2024Kansas City Museum and Memorial Park, Oct34Los Angeles (Pasadena) Brookside at the Rose Bowl, Oct1011The tour also includes a wonderful initiative: shell donate $1 from each ticket to local transgender youth charities in each city.Troye Sivan, meanwhile, is leaning into spontaneity. Earlier this month, he popped up unannounced during Role Models set at Outside Lands, sending fans into a frenzy. Before that, he was wrapping up the high-energy Sweat Tour with Charli XCX, ending with a headline set at Primavera Sound that doubled as his 30th birthday celebration. Hes also bringing his lifestyle brand, Tsu Lange Yor, into the world this month with a chic pop-up at Nordstroms Americana in Glendale, open through the end of August.Both artists are thriving in totally different waysRoans ruling the charts, Troyes owning the stageand its safe to say pop culture is eating it up.Source

Robert MacIntyre seized on a softer Caves Valley after a two-hour storm delay and rode the best putting round of his year with six straight birdies to post an 8-under 62 for a three-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood in the BMW Championship on Thursday.

And Just Like That showed New Yorkers awash in luxury. But Carrie and her friends lived with money, not necessarily for it one of the reasons weve been drawn to them for decades.

The governor kicked off his campaign for a proposition asking California voters to approve a new congressional map, a move that comes with both opportunity and risk.

The Sex and the City revival ended on an empowering but bittersweet note for Carrie and the crew and also with Barry White.

The storms likely path is coming into focus, but a lot can still change. Heres what the forecasters look at.

Ms. Bezos and her husband invested about $245,000 in Amazon when the online bookstore was in its first year.

The man was hit by a vehicle. It happened about a month after an immigrant fell from a greenhouse and later died following a raid in Ventura County.

Officials blamed U.S. protectionism for the dismal July data, but growth was likely held back by real estate and new policies aimed at slowing factory investments.

Russias president has long insisted that Ukraine will be his. But his obsession may cost Russia more than he has bargained for.

Ecuadors ecological progress is threatened by a series of reforms steamrolled by its young populist president, Daniel Noboa.

India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other security personnel carry out a rescue operation after Thursday's flash floods in Chositi village, Kishtwar district, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)2025-08-15T07:48:37Z CHOSITI, India (AP) Rescuers searched for missing people in a remote village in India-controlled Kashmir on Friday after flash floods caused by torrential rains a day earlier left at least 60 people dead, officials said.Teams of disaster management officials, police and soldiers helped by local villagers scoured the devastated Himalayan village of Chositi on Friday.Officials halted rescue operations overnight but rescued at least 300 people Thursday after a powerful cloudburst triggered floods and landslides. Officials said many missing people were believed to have been washed away. More rescue teams were headed to the area to strengthen relief operations.At least 50 seriously injured people were treated in local hospitals, many of them rescued from a stream filled with mud and debris. Disaster management official Mohammed Irshad said the number of missing people could increase. Weather officials forecast more heavy rains and floods in the area.Chositi is a remote Himalayan village in Kashmirs Kishtwar district and the last village accessible to motor vehicles on the route of an ongoing annual Hindu pilgrimage to a mountainous shrine at an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,500 feet) and about an 8-kilometer (5-mile) trek from the village. Officials said the pilgrimage, which began July 25 and was scheduled to end on Sept. 5, was suspended. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. The devastating floods swept away the main community kitchen set up for the pilgrims, as well as dozens of vehicles and motorbikes. More than 200 pilgrims were in the kitchen at the time of the flood, which also damaged or washed away many of the homes clustered together in the foothills, officials said. Photos and videos on social media show extensive damage with household goods strewn next to damaged vehicles and homes in the village. Authorities made makeshift bridges Friday to help stranded pilgrims cross a muddy water channel. Sudden, intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in Indias Himalayan regions, which are prone to flash floods and landslides. Cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, impacting thousands of people in the mountainous regions.Experts say cloudbursts have increased in recent years partly because of climate change, while damage from the storms also has increased because of unplanned development in mountain regions.Kishtwar district is home to multiple hydroelectric power projects, which experts have long warned pose a threat to the regions fragile ecosystem.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit on July 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)2025-08-15T04:10:34Z ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit that could determine not only the trajectory of the war in Ukraine but also the fate of European security.The sit-down offers Trump a chance to prove to the world that he is both a master dealmaker and a global peacemaker. He and his allies have cast him as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russias gains, block Kyivs bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscows orbit. Members of the media stand outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russias President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Members of the media stand outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russias President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More There are significant risks for Trump. By bringing Putin onto U.S. soil, the president is giving Russias leader the validation he desires after his ostracization following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. The exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the summit also deals a heavy blow to the Wests policy of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine and invites the possibility that Trump could agree to a deal that Ukraine does not want.Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for peace. Putin has long resisted any temporary ceasefire, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies and a freeze on Ukraines mobilization efforts conditions rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. Trump said that even more important than his summit with Putin would be a subsequent meeting that also includes Zelenskyy, something he suggested could even happen before he departs Alaska a possibility that Russia hasnt agreed to. Trump said in a Fox News radio interview Thursday that he didnt know if they would get an immediate ceasefire but he wanted a broad peace deal done quickly. That seemingly echoes Putins longtime argument that Russia favors a comprehensive deal to end the fighting, reflecting its demands, not a temporary halt to hostilities. The Kremlin said Trump and Putin will first sit down for a one-on-one discussion, followed by the two delegations meeting and talks continuing over a working breakfast. They are then expected to hold a joint press conference. Trump has offered shifting explanations for his meeting goals In the days leading up to the summit, set for a military base near Anchorage, Trump described it as really a feel-out meeting. But hes also warned of very severe consequences for Russia if Putin doesnt agree to end the war and said that though Putin might bully other leaders, Hes not going to mess around with me.Trumps repeated suggestions that a deal would likely involve some swapping of territories which disappointed Ukraine and European allies along with his controversial history with Putin have some skeptical about what kind of agreement can be reached.Ian Kelly, a retired career foreign service officer who served as the U.S. ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and first Trump administrations, said he sees no upside for the U.S., only an upside for Putin. The best that can happen is nothing, and the worst that can happen is that Putin entices Trump into putting more pressure on Zelenskyy, Kelly said. George Beebe, the former director of the CIAs Russia analysis team who is now affiliated with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said theres a serious risk of blown expectations or misunderstandings for a high-level summit pulled together so quickly. People hold a large Ukrainian flag during a rally in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russias President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) People hold a large Ukrainian flag during a rally in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russias President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More That said, I doubt President Trump would be going into a meeting like this unless there had been enough work done behind the scenes for him to feel that there is a decent chance that something concrete will come out of it, Beebe said.Zelenskyy has time and again cast doubts on Putins willingness to negotiate in good faith. His European allies, whove held increasingly urgent meetings with U.S. leaders over the past week, have stressed the need for Ukraine to be involved in any peace talks.Political commentators in Moscow, meanwhile, have relished that the summit leaves Ukraine and its European allies on the sidelines.Dmitry Suslov, a pro-Kremlin voice, expressed hope that the summit will deepen a trans-Atlantic rift and weaken Europes position as the toughest enemy of Russia.European leaders who consulted with Trump this week said the president assured them he would prioritize trying to achieve a ceasefire. The summit could have far-reaching implicationsForeign governments will be watching closely to see how Trump reacts to Putin, likely gauging what the interaction might mean for their own dealings with the U.S. president, who has eschewed traditional diplomacy for his own transactional approach to relationships.The meeting comes as the war has caused heavy losses on both sides and drained resources. Ukraine has held on far longer than some initially expected since the February 2022 invasion, but it is straining to hold off Russias much larger army, grappling with bombardments of its cities and fighting for every inch on the over 600-mile (1,000-kilometer) front line.Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said U.S. antagonists like China, Iran and North Korea will be paying attention to Trumps posture to see whether or not the threats that he continues to make against Putin are indeed credible. Or, if has been the past track record, he continues to back down and look for ways to wiggle out of the kind of threats and pressure he has promised to apply, said Kendall-Taylor, who is also a former senior intelligence officer.While some have objected to the location of the summit, Trump has said he thought it was very respectful of Putin to come to the U.S. instead of a meeting in Russia.Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin Moscow-based analyst, observed that the choice of Alaska as the summits venue underlined the distancing from Europe and Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit on July 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit on July 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Being on a military base allows the leaders to avoid protests and meet more securely, but the location carries its own significance because of its history and location. Alaska, which the U.S. purchased from Russia in 1867, is separated from Russia at its closest point by just 3 miles (less than 5 kilometers) and the international date line. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It continues to play a role today, as planes from the base still intercept Russian aircraft that regularly fly into U.S. airspace.___Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. MICHELLE L. PRICE Price covers the White House. She previously covered the 2024 presidential campaign and politics, government and other news in New York, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. She is based in Washington. twitter mailto WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Japan's ministers bow during a memorial service marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II defeat, at the Nippon Budokan hall Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)2025-08-15T03:31:51Z TOKYO (AP) Japan is paying tribute to more than 3 million war dead as the country marks its surrender 80 years ago, ending the World War II, as concern grows about the rapidly fading memories of the tragedy of war and the bitter lessons from the era of Japanese militarism.Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed remorse over the war, which he called a mistake, restoring the word in a Japanese leaders Aug. 15 address for the first time since 2013, when former premier Shinzo Abe shunned it. Ishiba, however, did not mention Japans aggression across Asia or apologize. We will never repeat the tragedy of the war. We will never go the wrong way, Ishiba said. Once again, we must deeply keep to our hearts the remorse and lesson from that war. Guests prepare to attend a memorial service marking the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II defeat, at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Guests prepare to attend a memorial service marking the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II defeat, at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In a national ceremony Friday at Tokyos Budokan hall, about 4,500 officials and bereaved families and their descendants from around the country observed a moment of silence at noon, the time when the then-emperors surrender speech began on Aug. 15, 1945. Just a block away at Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Asian neighbors as a symbol of militarism, dozens of Japanese rightwing politicians and their supporters came to pray. Ishiba stayed away from Yasukuni and sent a religious ornament as a personal gesture instead of praying at the controversial shrine. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. But Shinjiro Koizumi, the agriculture minister considered as a top candidate to replace the beleaguered prime minister, prayed at the shrine. Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minitser Junichiro Koizumi whose Yasukuni visit as a serving leader in 2001 outraged China, is a regular at the shrine. Visitors line up to offer prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Visitors line up to offer prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Visitors release doves at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Visitors release doves at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Rightwing lawmakers, including former economic security ministers Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, as well as governing Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight Koichi Hagiuda, also visited the shrine Friday.The shrine honors convicted war criminals, among about 2.5 million war dead. Victims of Japanese aggression, especially China and the Koreas, see visits to the shrine as a lack of remorse about Japans wartime past. Japanese emperors have stopped visiting the Yasukuni site since the enshrinement of top war criminals there in 1978.Emperor Naruhito, in his address at the Budokan memorial Friday, expressed his earnest hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated while reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse. Naruhito reiterated the importance of telling the wars tragic history and the ordeals faced during and after the war to younger generations as we continue to seek the peace and happiness of the people in the future. Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, bottom, bows to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at a memorial service at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, bottom, bows to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at a memorial service at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More As part of the 80th anniversary remembrance, he has traveled to Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima, and is expected to visit Nagasaki with his daughter, Princess Aiko, in September.Hajime Eda, whose father died on his way home from Korea when his ship was hit by a mine, said he will never forget his father and others who never made it home. In his speech representing the bereaved families, Eda said it is Japans responsibility to share the lesson the emptiness of the conflict, the difficulty of reconstruction and the preciousness of peace. There was some hope at the ceremony, with a number of teenagers participating after learning about their great-grandfathers who died in the battlefields. Among them, Ami Tashiro, a 15-year-old high school student from Hiroshima, said she joined a memorial marking the end of the battle on Iwo Jima in April after reading a letter her great-grandfather sent from the island. She also hopes to join in the search for his remains. As the population of wartime generations rapidly decline, Japan faces serious questions on how it should pass on the wartime history to the next generation, as the country has already faced revisionist pushbacks under Abe and his supporters in the 2010s. Since 2013, Japanese prime ministers stopped apologizing to Asian victims, under the precedent set by Abe. Some lawmakers denial of Japans military role in massive civilian deaths on Okinawa or the Nanking Massacre have stirred controversy. In an editorial Friday, the Mainichi newspaper noted that Japans pacifist principle was mostly about staying out of global conflict, rather than thinking how to make peace, and called the country to work together with Asian neighbors as equal partners.Its time to show a vision toward a world without war based on the lesson from its own history, the Mainichi said. MARI YAMAGUCHI Yamaguchi is based in Tokyo and covers Japanese politics, security, nuclear energy and social issues for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

George, 67, walks away with what's left of his belongings, after the city put his mattress and other belongings in a garbage truck, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-08-15T04:43:27Z WASHINGTON (AP) Ms. Jay didnt wait for the authorities to come before packing her tent and carrying what belongings she could across Pennsylvania Avenue on her way to whatever comes next.Shed been living her Girl Scout life, she said, saving money and looking for work while homeless. When she got word that the law was on its way, she found herself living the scouting motto: Be prepared.Last night was so scary, she said, recalling when federal law officers, in concert with local police, began fanning out across Washington to uproot homeless encampments. I dont want to be the one to wait until the last moment and then have to rush out.President Donald Trumps housecleaning started with official Washington and the denizens of its marbled buildings, back in the bureaucracy-scouring days of the Department of Government Efficiency. Now he is taking on the other side of Washington, having sent some 800 National Guard troops to help local police go after crime, grime and makeshift homeless encampments. First came the spring cleaningBack in early spring, Trumps efforts upended the U.S. Institute of Peace, among other institutions and departments. On Thursday, authorities brought in an earth mover to clear out an encampment within sight of that hollowed-out institutes handsome Constitution Avenue headquarters.The mission to clean the capital of criminal elements and ragged edges comes under Trumps Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. Some in D.C. believe a different kind of ugliness is playing out.From the White House, the president sees a lawless wasteland, said leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. We see fellow human beings neighbors, workers, friends and family each made in the image of God.For Andrew S., 61, the ugliness came Wednesday when agents he identified as being with the federal government treated him like an eyesore. They asked him to move from his resting place along the route where Trump would be driven to the Kennedy Center. You have to move because youre in eyesight of the president, Andrew, originally from Baltimore, said he was told. He added, I didnt really take it serious until today, but the president really doesnt want us here. He, Ms. Jay and some others interviewed and photographed by The Associated Press declined to give their full names in the midst of the heavy law enforcement presence in Washington.Saying goodbye to his belongings At the encampment near the peace institute, a man named George, 67, walked away Thursday carrying an umbrella in one hand and a garbage bag with some of his belongings in the other. City workers put his mattress and other possessions in a garbage truck idling nearby. He waved goodbye to it.It was that kind of day for others at the same site, too.I have known homelessness for so long that it is part of normal life at this point, Jesse Wall, 43, said as he cleared his belongings Thursday from the site near the peace institute. What are you trying to prove here? Wall asked, as if speaking with the law. That youre a bully?David Beatty, 67, had been living at that encampment for several months. On Thursday, he watched as parts of it were roped off. Beatty and others were allowed to pack up what they could before the heavy machinery cleared remaining items from the area and dumped them into trucks and receptacles. What about the Golden Rule?He quoted a variation of the Bibles Golden Rule Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and said, The idea that hes targeting us and persecuting us feels wrong to me. Much of the clearing out Thursday was at the hands of local police. D.C. officials knew federal authorities would be dismantling all homeless encampments if local police didnt. Wayne Turnage, a deputy mayor, said the district has a process to do it the way it should be done.The expectation was clear, if not overtly stated: Local police would go about the work in a more humane way than the feds.Jesse Rabinowitz from the National Homelessness Law Center said that, according to the briefing he received on the operation, people would be given the choice to leave or be detained at eight federal and 54 local sites. The intent, Rabinowitz said he believed, was to trash tents in the daylight (because authorities want the public to see that) and do the bulk of arrests in darkness (because they dont want that widely seen). Once penniless, hes now an advocateBorn and raised in Washington, Wesley Thomas spent nearly three decades on the streets, struggling with drug addiction, until other homeless people and charitable organizations helped him get clean through therapy and back on his feet.Now he has had a place to live for eight years and works as an advocate for a nonprofit group that supported him, Miriams Kitchen, where hes helped dozens find housing.The first day I was out there I was penniless, homeless, frightened, only the clothing on my back, didnt know where I was gonna sleep nor eat, he said. Fortunately, there were some homeless people in the area, gave me blankets, showed me a safe place, St. Johns Church, to rest my head for the night. St. Johns is across from Lafayette Park, which is across from the White House. It is known as the Church of the Presidents, because its sanctuary has seen all presidents since James Madison in the early 1800s.Thomas wanted the public to know that most of the people being moved off are not uneducated, dumb or stupid, even if they are down on their luck. You got doctors, lawyers, businessmen, Navy SEALs, veterans, mailmen, he said.Poor people come in all races, ethnicities and colors.___Kinnard reported from South Carolina. Associated Press journalist River Zhang contributed reporting. JACQUELYN MARTIN Martin photographs politics at the White House and Congress and has circumnavigated the globe as a pool photographer covering every Secretary of State since 2010. She is known for her multidisciplinary enterprise feature packages and is fluent in Spanish. twitter instagram NATHAN ELLGREN Ellgren is an Associated Press video journalist based in Washington, D.C. mailto MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto

Sean Kingston, right, and his mother Janice Turner arrive at the 40th anniversary American Music Awards, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)2025-08-15T04:01:31Z FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Rapper Sean Kingston is scheduled to be sentenced in South Florida on Friday after being convicted of a $1 million fraud scheme.Kingston, whose legal name is Kisean Paul Anderson, and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were each convicted by a federal jury in March of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. U.S. Judge David Leibowitz sentenced Turner last month to five years in prison, but Kingstons sentencing was rescheduled.Kingston, 35, and his mother were arrested in May 2024 after a SWAT team raided Kingstons rented mansion in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Turner was taken into custody during the raid, while Kingston was arrested at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in Californias Mojave Desert, where he was performing.According to court records, Kingston used social media from April 2023 to March 2024 to arrange purchases of high-end merchandise. After negotiating deals, Kingston would invite the sellers to one of his high-end Florida homes and promise to feature them and their products on social media. Investigators said that when it came time to pay, Kingston or his mother would text the victims fake wire receipts for the luxury merchandise, which included a bulletproof Escalade, watches and a 19-foot (5.9-meter) LED TV, investigators said.When the funds never cleared, victims often contacted Kingston and Turner repeatedly, but were either never paid or received money only after filing lawsuits or contacting law enforcement.Kingston shot to fame at age 17 with the 2007 hit Beautiful Girls, which laid his lyrics over Ben E. Kings 1961 song Stand By Me.

Barcelona have been following Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic's situation closely. Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.

Nature, Published online: 14 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02657-wA trio of robots help each other abseil into lava tubes without human oversight. Plus, sex-reversed birds are surprisingly common and the beginning of a new era for quantum-gravity research.

MAGA would fill museums with self-glorifying kitsch, the aesthetic lingua franca of all authoritarians.

It takes a village to raise a child. But some of the villagers must be men.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 148th artillery brigade load ammunition into a M777 howitzer before firing towards Russian positions at the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)2025-08-15T05:02:31Z DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) Days before the leaders of Russia and the U.S. hold a summit meeting in Alaska, Moscows forces breached Ukrainian lines in a series of infiltrations in the countrys industrial heartland of Donetsk.This weeks advances amount to only a limited success for Russia, analysts say, since it still needs to consolidate its gains before achieving a true breakthrough. Still, its a potentially dangerous moment for Ukraine.Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely try to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Ukraine by arguing the 3 1/2-year-old war is going badly for Kyiv, said Mykola Bieleskov, a senior analyst at CBA Initiatives Center.The key risk for Ukraine is that the Kremlin will try to turn certain local gains on the battlefield into strategic victories at the negotiating table, he said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that Kyiv still controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the Ukrainian leader categorically rejected.After years of fighting, Russia still does not fully control all of the Donetsk region, which it illegally annexed in 2022, along with the Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Infiltration by small groups of Russian forcesAttention has been focused on Pokrovsk a key highway and rail junction that once was home to about 60,000 and now is partially encircled but Russian forces have been probing for weaknesses north of the city, according to battlefield analysis site DeepState. The forces found a gap east of the coal-mining town of Dobropillia, and advanced about 10 kilometers (6 miles).Zelenskyy noted its clear significance to the summit: To create a certain information backdrop ahead of Putins meeting with Trump, especially in the American information space, suggesting that Russia is moving forward and Ukraine is losing ground.Small groups of Russian troops are slipping past the first defensive line, hiding and trying to build up their forces, said Dmytro Trehubov, spokesman for Ukraines Dnipro operational-strategic group. Ukraines military has been repelling these attempts, he said, although DeepState said the situation has not been stabilized. Analysts described the breach near Dobropillia as a localized crisis that could escalate if the Russians are not neutralized and their main forces can widen the gap.Exploiting an absence of Ukrainian infantryThe breach of the defensive line has seemed inevitable for months, according to a drone pilot in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly. Moscows forces have been exploiting the lack of Ukrainian infantry, a problem tied not only to the countrys stalled mobilization but also to poor management, the pilot said.We pay with territory and lives to fix mistakes and we can keep fixing mistakes only as long as we have even a scrap of land left, the pilot said.Ukrainian forces have tried to plug the gaps by extensive use of first-person-view drones remotely piloted devices loaded with explosives that allow operators to see targets before striking. These FPVs have turned areas up to 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) from the front into deadly zones on both sides of the line. But because the Russians attack with small groups, its hard to counter with drones alone.We cant launch 100 FPVs at once, the pilot said, noting the drone operators would interfere with each other.With tactics and technology roughly equal on both sides, the Russians superior manpower works to their advantage, said Bielieskov, the Kyiv-based analyst.They have no regard for human life. Very often, most of those they send are on a one-way mission, he said.Stopping the infiltrations and assaults by armored vehicles requires different defenses and leadership structures changes that have yet to appear on Ukraines side, he said.Ukraines military said Thursday additional troops have been moved to affected areas, with battle-hardened forces like the Azov brigade being deployed to the sector. However, the Deepstate map doesnt show any changes in favor of the Ukrainian army. Russias focus on cutting supply routesMichael Kofman, a military analyst for the Carnegie Endowment, said in a post on X that it was too early to assess if the front line was collapsing,Russia is focused on expanding the breach of the front line into a corridor to support its ground forces, Bieleskov said. The strategy avoids direct assaults on heavily fortified urban centers, instead pushing through open terrain where Ukraines troop shortages and large settlements make defense harder.If successful, such a move could bypass Russias need to storm Kostiantynivka once a city of over 67,000 people and now significantly ruined and on the verge of falling. That would complicate defending the regions last big cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka, posing a serious challenge for Ukraines military. Cmdr. Serhii Filimonov of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion of the 59th brigade, warned that Kostiantynivka could fall without a fight if Russia severs supply routes.With few major roads, maintaining logistics for the large number of Ukrainian forces in the area would become extremely difficult, Filimonov said.Turning to the summit, Filimonov decried what he described as ongoing Russian killings and atrocities. And then the civilized world comes to them and says, Fine, lets make a deal. Thats not how it should be done, he said.___Associated Press reporters Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka and Dmytro Zhyhinas in the Donetsk region and Volodymyr Yurchuk and Alex Babenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed. HANNA ARHIROVA Arhirova is an Associated Press reporter covering Ukraine. She is based in Kyiv. twitter instagram mailto

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)2025-08-15T04:09:44Z LOS ANGELES (AP) A political standoff in Texas over proposed House maps that could hand Republicans five new seats is poised to enter a new phase Friday, while heavily Democratic California plans to release its own new maps intended to erase all but a sprinkle of the states GOP House districts in the fight over control of Congress. The hectic maneuvering in the nations two most populous states underscored the stakes for both parties in the narrowly divided House that could determine the fate of President Donald Trumps agenda in the second half of his term.On Thursday, Texas Democrats moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOPs redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election. The Democrats announced they will return to the state provided that Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal, both of which were expected to happen Friday. However, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to call another special session to push through new maps. Democratic lawmakers vowed to take the fight to the courts. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state will hold a Nov. 4 special election to seek approval of redrawn districts intended to give Democrats five more U.S. House seats, in a counterpunch to undercut any gains in Texas. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More We cant stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country, Newsom said at what amounted to a campaign kickoff rally for the as-yet unreleased maps that Democrats have been shaping behind closed doors. We are not bystanders in this world. We can shape the future.The two states have emerged as the center of a partisan turf war in the House that could spiral into other states as well as the courts in what amounts to a proxy war ahead of the 2026 elections. Fight has gone nationalNewsoms announcement Thursday marked the first time any state beyond Texas has officially waded into the mid-decade redistricting fight. The Texas plan was stalled when minority Democrats fled to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts on Aug. 3 to stop the Legislature from passing any bills.Elsewhere, leaders from red Florida to blue New York are threatening to write new maps. In Missouri, a document obtained by The Associated Press shows the state Senate received a $46,000 invoice to activate six redistricting software licenses and provide training for up to 10 staff members.Newsom encouraged other Democratic-led states to get involved.We need to stand up not just California. Other blue states need to stand up, Newsom said.House control could come down to a few seats in 2026Republicans hold a 219-212 majority in the House, with four vacancies. New maps are typically drawn once a decade after the census is conducted. Many states, including Texas, give legislators the power to draw maps. California is among states that rely on an independent commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan. The California map would take effect only if a Republican state moves forward, and it would remain through the 2030 elections. After that, Democrats say they would return mapmaking power to the independent commission approved by voters more than a decade ago. People await a news conference with California Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) People await a news conference with California Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Newsom goes to LA to launch campaign for new districtsIn Los Angeles, Newsom and other speakers veered from discussing the technical grist of reshaping districts known as redistricting and instead depicted the looming battle as a conflict with all things Trump, tying it explicitly to the fate of American democracy.An overarching theme was the willingness to stand up to Trump, a cheer-inducing line for Democrats as the party looks to regroup from its 2024 losses.Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back, said Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential contender.Opposition to California plan begins to take shapeSome people already have said they would sue to block the effort, and influential voices including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may campaign against it. Gavin Newsoms latest stunt has nothing to do with Californians and everything to do with consolidating radical Democrat power, silencing California voters, and propping up his pathetic 2028 presidential pipe dream, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez said in a statement. Newsoms made it clear: hell shred Californias Constitution and trample over democracy running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, greets Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, greets Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More California Democrats hold 43 of the states 52 House seats, and the state has some of the most competitive House seats.In California, lawmakers must officially declare the special election, which they plan to do next week after voting on the new maps. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers enough to act without any Republican votes and Newsom said he is not worried about winning the required support from two-thirds of lawmakers to advance the maps. ___Nguyn reported from Sacramento, and Lathan from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writer David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed. TRN NGUYN Nguyn is an Associated Press reporter covering California government and politics. mailto NADIA LATHAN Lathan is a statehouse reporter based in Austin, Texas. She is a Report for America corps member. twitter mailto

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the rampart of the 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort monument during the country's Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)2025-08-15T05:53:01Z NEW DELHI (AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbor if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule.Modis remarks Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades.Modi addressed the country from New Delhis 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a new normal that does not differentiate between terrorists and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabads nuclear blackmail. India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now, Modi said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to address the nation from the rampart of the 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort monument during the countrys Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to address the nation from the rampart of the 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort monument during the countrys Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modis remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected Indias statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory.However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new Army Rocket Force Command to bolster the countrys defense capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead. It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history and some 12 million people fled their homes. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine terrorist infrastructure sites. Terror infrastructure was turned to rubble, Modi said in his speech Friday.Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after U.S. mediation. Pakistan immediately claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft during the clashes, including a French-made Rafale fighter. India acknowledged some losses but did not provide details.Last week, Indias air force chief said India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in the first such public claim by India. Pakistan rejected it, saying both sides should open their aircraft inventories to independent verification. During his Friday speech, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897 kilometers (1,800 miles) through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in orange turban, inspects a joint military guard of honor as he arrives to address the nation from the rampart of the 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort monument during the countrys Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in orange turban, inspects a joint military guard of honor as he arrives to address the nation from the rampart of the 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort monument during the countrys Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Rivers from India were irrigating the lands of enemies while my countrys farmers and land faced a deficiency of water, Modi said. India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together.Pakistan has said any effort by India to stop or divert the water from flowing into Pakistan would be considered an act of war.Modi did not directly mention U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the U.S.Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia.India has resisted U.S. pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modis government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. India will not compromise on interest of farmers, he said.Modi claimed Indias demography was being changed as part of a conspiracy through illegal migration and announced what he called a high-powered demographic mission to tackle the problem. He did not provide further details.No nation in the world can hand over itself to infiltrators, he said.Modis ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly described influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as a national security crisis and claimed that unchecked Muslim infiltration from the country is leading to a demographic shift in India.In recent months, Indian officials have conducted what they call a verification drive, which they say is intended to identify immigrants lacking legal status. Many people, most of them Muslim, have been detained or expelled to neighboring Bangladesh.___Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. SHEIKH SAALIQ Saaliq covers news across India and the South Asia region for The Associated Press, often focusing on politics, democracy, conflict and religion. He is based in New Delhi. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 15 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02624-5The generative gap.

It was unclear how widespread or effective the raids were, after district officials and advocates had spent much of the day trying to clear the camps, urging people to go to shelters ahead of the raids.

Plus, your Friday news quiz.

The leaders of the United States and Russia will hold talks at an American military base in Alaska and are expected to hold a news conference afterward.

A sudden feud, an impasse or a first step toward a cease-fire are all possible at the summit in Alaska as the two leaders navigate thorny issues such as Ukraines territory and NATO expansion.

In the nations capital, federal agents have operated a sobriety checkpoint, made gun and drug busts and carried out other day-to-day police work. Some residents are uneasy.

A Jewish settler prepares to throw a light bulb filled with orange paint at Israeli police, as they arrive in the Jewish settlement of Gadid, Aug. 19, 2005. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)2025-08-15T04:05:16Z TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Twenty years ago, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, dismantling 21 Jewish settlements and pulling out its forces. The Friday anniversary of the start of the landmark disengagement comes as Israel is mired in a nearly two-year war with Hamas that has devastated the Palestinian territory and means it is likely to keep troops there long into the future.Israels disengagement, which also included removing four settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharons controversial attempt to jump-start negotiations with the Palestinians. But it bitterly divided Israeli society and led to the empowerment of Hamas, with implications that continue to reverberate today.The emotional images of Jews being ripped from their homes by Israeli soldiers galvanized Israels far-right and settler movements. The anger helped them organize and increase their political influence, accounting in part for the rise of hard-line politicians like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. On Thursday, Smotrich boasted of a settlement expansion plan east of Jerusalem that will bury the idea of a future Palestinian state. For Palestinians, even if they welcomed the disengagement, it didnt end Israels control over their lives. Palestinian police officers in new uniforms ride in the back of a jeep as they wait to enter the former Jewish settlement of Dugit, northern Gaza Strip, Sept. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) Palestinian police officers in new uniforms ride in the back of a jeep as they wait to enter the former Jewish settlement of Dugit, northern Gaza Strip, Sept. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Soon after, Hamas won elections in 2006, then drove out the Palestinian Authority in a violent takeover. Israel and Egypt imposed a closure on the territory, controlling entry and exit of goods and people. Though its intensity varied over the years, the closure helped impoverish the population and entrenched a painful separation from Palestinians in the West Bank.Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians claim all three territories for a future independent state. A unilateral withdrawal enhanced Hamas statureIsrael couldnt justify the military or economic cost of maintaining the heavily fortified settlements in Gaza, explained Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Misgav Institute and the Institute for National Security Studies think tanks. There were around 8,000 Israeli settlers and 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza in 2005.There was no chance for these settlements to exist or flourish or become meaningful enough to be a strategic anchor, he said. By contrast, there are more than 500,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, most living in developed settlement blocs that have generally received more support from Israeli society, Michael said. Most of the world considers the settlements illegal under international law. Because Israel withdrew unilaterally, without any coordination with the Palestinian Authority, it enhanced Hamas stature among Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli security forces carry a resisting settler, with her daughter clinging on, to a waiting bus as settlers are evacuated, Aug. 17, 2005 from the Kerem Atzmona settlement in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool, File) Israeli security forces carry a resisting settler, with her daughter clinging on, to a waiting bus as settlers are evacuated, Aug. 17, 2005 from the Kerem Atzmona settlement in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More This contributed to Hamas win in the elections in 2006, because they leveraged it and introduced it as a very significant achievement, Michael said. They saw it as an achievement of the resistance and a justification for the continuation of the armed resistance.Footage of the violence between Israeli settlers and Israeli soldiers also created an open wound in Israeli society, Michael said.I dont think any government will be able to do something like that in the future, he said. That limits any flexibility over settlements in the West Bank if negotiations over a two-state solution with the Palestinians ever resume. Disengagement will never happen again, this is a price were paying as a society, and a price were paying politically, he said.An early settler longs to returnAnita Tucker, now 79, was part of the first nine Jewish families that moved to the Gaza Strip in 1976. She and her husband and their three kids lived in an Israeli army outpost near what is today Deir al-Balah, while the settlement of Netzer Hazoni was constructed.Originally from Brooklyn, she started a farm growing vegetables in the harsh, tall sand dunes. At first relations were good with their Palestinian neighbors, she said, and they worked hard to build their home and a beautiful community. She had two more children, and three chose to stay and raise their families in Netzer Hazoni. She can still recall the moment, 20 years ago, when 1,000 Israeli soldiers arrived at the gate to the settlement to remove the approximately 400 residents. Some of her neighbors lit their houses on fire in protest. Obviously it was a mistake to leave. The lives of the Arabs became much worse, and the lives of the Jews became much, much worse, with rockets and Oct. 7, she said, referring to the decades of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel and the date in 2023 of the Hamas attack that launched the ongoing war. Israeli police officers storm the rooftop of a synagogue, battling dozens of protesters who threw acid, sand and buckets of green liquid and tried to hit officers with sticks, in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom, in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Israeli police officers storm the rooftop of a synagogue, battling dozens of protesters who threw acid, sand and buckets of green liquid and tried to hit officers with sticks, in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom, in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Despite the passage of time, her family still is yearning and longing for their home, she said. Several of her 10 grandchildren, including some who spent their early childhood in the Gaza settlements, have served in the current war and were near her old house.Its hard to believe, because of all the terrible things that happened that we predicted, but were willing to build there again, said Tucker.Palestinians doubt Israel will ever fully withdraw from Gaza againAfter Israels withdrawal 20 years ago, many Palestinians described Gaza as an open-air prison. They had control on the inside under a Hamas government that some supported but some saw as heavy-handed and brutal. But ultimately, Israel had a grip around the territory.Many Palestinians believe Sharon carried out the withdrawal so Israel could focus on cementing its control in the West Bank through settlement building.Now some believe more direct Israeli occupation is returning to Gaza. After 22 months of war, Israeli troops control more than 75% of Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks of maintaining security control long term after the war. Over the past 20 years we were relieved of occupation, shelling and seeing the Jews. Now we hear that they want to occupy here again after two years of war, said Sabah Abu Audeh, a 67-year-old grandmother who was displaced to Gazas Shati refugee camp. Aouni Timras, 55, from the Nuseirat refugee camp said he felt optimistic when Israel pulled out, thinking things would get better. We were hopeful but now the occupation returned for the second time, Timras said. What can people do? This is what we live through. We hope that there will be a truce so that people can stand up again.Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian NGO Network, said he doesnt believe Netanyahu will repeat Sharons full withdrawal. Instead, he expects the military to continue controlling large swaths of Gaza through buffer zones.The aim, he said, is to keep Gaza unlivable in order to change the demographics, referring to Netanyahus plans to encourage Palestinians to leave the territory.Israel is is reoccupying the Gaza Strip to prevent a Palestinian state, said Mostafa Ibrahim, an author based in Gaza City whose home was destroyed in the current war.Missed opportunitiesIsraeli former Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, who was head of the countrys Southern Command during the disengagement, remembers the toll of protecting a few thousand settlers.There were an average of 10 attacks per day against Israeli settlers and soldiers, including rockets, roadside bombs big enough to destroy a tank, tunnels to attack Israeli soldiers and military positions, and frequent gunfire.Bringing a school bus of kids from one place to another required a military escort, said Harel. There wasnt a future. People paint it as how wonderful it was there, but it wasnt wonderful.Harel says the decision to evacuate Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip was the right one, but that Israel missed crucial opportunities.Most egregious, he said, was a unilateral withdrawal without obtaining any concessions from the Palestinians in Gaza or the Palestinian Authority.He also sharply criticized Israels policy of containment toward Hamas after disengagement. There were short but destructive conflicts over the years between the two sides, but otherwise the policy gave Hamas an opportunity to do whatever they wanted. An Israeli army soldier, part of the disengagement forces, weeps as fellow soldiers and resident dismantle the synagogue of the Jewish settlement of Nissanit, in the northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 15, 2005. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) An Israeli army soldier, part of the disengagement forces, weeps as fellow soldiers and resident dismantle the synagogue of the Jewish settlement of Nissanit, in the northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 15, 2005. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More We had such a blind spot with Hamas, we didnt see them morph from a terror organization into an organized military, with battalions and commanders and infrastructure, he said.The Oct. 7 attack, Israels largest military intelligence failure to date, was not a result of the disengagement, said Harel. The main issue is what we did in the 18 years in between.___Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled contributed from Cairo and Wafaa Shurafa from Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip. MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel.