Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military exercises with South Korea. He explained the decision by saying South Korea had declined to help with the “denuclearization” of Iran and he cited his good relationship with North Korea's leader. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that the exercises are costly and “send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile” to North Korea, which he said “has been unthreatening and respectful” during his time in the White House. The 11 days of exercises involving 18,000 South Korean soldiers began Monday and were designed to beef up readiness against North Korean threats.
Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii's Big Island without making landfall as heavy wind, rain lash region
Hurricane Lala has skirted Hawaii’s Big Island without making landfall and is expected to weaken after lashing the region with strong winds and drenching rain. The eye of the storm passed the island's southern tip without making landfall. The National Hurricane Center says the powerful storm is expected to weaken. Lala’s maximum sustained winds increased to 75 mph (120 kph), the hurricane center reported, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The Big Island is Hawaii’s largest and has a population of about 210,000.
At least 7 people have died from days of heavy rain and record-setting flooding in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — Indiana public safety officials say at least seven people have died during days of heavy rain and historic flooding in the state. The state Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that a 4-year-old boy, three men and three women died. Indianapolis officials said flooding from the White River peaked early Sunday, and began receding. The city reopened floodgates Sunday but urged residents to take caution returning to damaged neighborhoods. The National Weather Service also warned that more storms were expected to pass through central and southern Indiana later Sunday, bringing the potential for heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging winds.
Police looking for additional people who fired guns in Virginia university shooting that wounded 5
ETTRICK, Va. (AP) — Authorities are seeking additional people who fired weapons during a weekend shooting at Virginia State University that left five people wounded. A 19-year-old suspect remained in custody on Sunday. Investigators are trying to determine if others who fired weapons did so in self-defense or if they were aggressors. The shooting just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday came as students were getting ready for the new school year. The suspect is not a student but was found hiding in a dormitory closet Saturday afternoon. He faces four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm during a felony. Only one of the victims is a student.
Kushner has a rare meeting with Hamas' leader on the Gaza road map. A meeting with Netanyahu is next
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner has held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief in Egypt in a push to make progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Officials from mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Turkey also attended Sunday's meeting. The talks aim to salvage a new U.S.-backed road map for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan last week, defying the Trump administration. Sources say Kushner, Tony Blair and Nickolay Mladenov will meet with Netanyahu on Monday. Regional powers have condemned Israel's rejection and urged immediate action to implement the plan.
Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 54, overshadowing Independence Day
REO, Indonesia (AP) — Thousands of people on Indonesia’s Flores Island are still waiting for aid after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake killed at least 54 people, injured 135 and damaged more than 1,300 homes. The disaster is overshadowing the Monday's 81st Independence Day celebrations. The quake struck Saturday, triggering panic, tsunami warnings and nearly 1,000 aftershocks. About 5,000 people have been displaced, many sheltering under tarpaulins outside damaged homes. Authorities declared a 14-day state of emergency and sent thousands of security personnel and aid supplies, though difficult access has slowed relief efforts. Survivors urgently appealed for food, water, medicine and cooking equipment.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in the television series ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36. She starred in television series including “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement provided to ABC News Sunday. No cause of death was announced, and a publicist did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press. Panettiere had a prolific career dating to 1996, and her credits included the voice of Dot in “A Bug’s Life,” “Remember the Titans” and “Scream VI.” Her role as a cheerleader with superpowers in “Heroes” propelled her to fame, with the series revolving around the mantra “Save the cheerleader, save the world.”
Colombian president asks Trump to suspend tariffs to help earthquake recovery
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs to help Colombia recover from a devastating earthquake. The 7.4 magnitude quake struck Monday, killing at least 289 people and injuring nearly 4,000. De la Espriella, who took office earlier this month, emphasized his connections with Trump, thanking him for $26.5 million in U.S. aid. The quake destroyed thousands of homes, including in western cities like Pereira and Cali. The government declared it a natural disaster, with at least143 people missing and extensive damage reported. Rescue efforts continue despite the challenging conditions.
Republicans won the redistricting competition. Don't tell that to this California congressman
LINCOLN, Calif. (AP) — The national redistricting competition between the parties means California's conservative voters are going through the same thing as Democratic voters in Republican strongholds. California Republicans are seeing their House districts split up to make new ones more friendly for Democrats. They feel their vote may not matter as much in November. Kevin Kiley is one California congressman targeted in the Democratic effort. Kiley is now in a more competitive district. He left the Republican Party and is running as an independent who opposed partisan redistricting. Democrats contend the switch is a political trick. And they note Kiley still caucuses with Republicans and is backed by some of their political groups.
Democrats' 2028 presidential calendar gives Black and Latino voters and union members an early say
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2028 will need to prove themselves early on in states where Black and Latino voters and union members are key supporters. An election-year calendar approved Saturday makes South Carolina’s primary the first, followed by Nevada. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia round out the early states, throughout February 2028. The primary lineup endorsed by the Democratic National Committee pushes Iowa from the traditional top spot. Some potential candidates in what is expected to be a large field have visited early-voting states such as South Carolina. Party leaders have said the order gives candidates the best shot at winning back the White House.
