Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted after Trump pushes for prosecution of longtime foe
WASHINGTON (AP) — James Comey has been charged with making a false statement to Congress and obstruction of a criminal proceeding. The charges come in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies. The indictment Thursday makes Comey the first former senior government official to face prosecution in connection with one of Trump’s chief grievances: the long-concluded investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump and his supporters have long derided that investigation as a “hoax” and a “witch hunt” despite multiple government reviews showing Moscow interfered on behalf of the Republican’s campaign.
Trump signs executive order supporting proposed deal to put TikTok under US ownership
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring that a proposed deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States will be a qualified sale that meets national security concerns laid out by the law. Much is still unknown about the actual arrangement, but Trump said Chinese leader Xi Jinping “gave us the go-ahead” to proceed with the deal. Any major change to the popular video platform could have a huge impact on how Americans — particularly young adults and teenagers — consume information online.
Trump to put import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs, kitchen cabinets, furniture and heavy trucks
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is putting import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1. Trump said Thursday on his social media site that foreign manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry were flooding the United States with their products and that tariffs must be applied “for National Security and other reasons.” Trump said that foreign-made heavy trucks and parts are hurting domestic producers.
Trump says he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has vowed not to allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. The president stated firmly on Thursday that he would block any such move, which also has been opposed by Arab leaders. Trump made these comments while signing unrelated executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump said he'd spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but also emphasized his stance against annexation. This comes as Israel expands settlements in the West Bank and continues its offensive in Gaza. The international community largely views these settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Trump at the White House on Monday.
Man who fired on ICE facility hated US government, sought to kill federal agents, officials say
DALLAS (AP) — The gunman who opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas hated the U.S. government and wanted to incite terror by killing federal agents. That's according to authorities, who held a news conference Thursday offering the first hint of a motive in the attack. Citing handwritten notes found at his suburban home, officials said 29-year-old Joshua Jahn set out to ambush the agency and then fatally shot himself following the assault. The shooting at daybreak Wednesday targeted the ICE office building, including a van in a gated entryway that held detainees. One detainee was killed, and two others were critically wounded. No ICE personnel were hurt.
Hegseth abruptly summons top military commanders to a meeting in Virginia next week
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to a base in northern Virginia for a sudden meeting next week. The directive doesn't offer a reason for the gathering next Tuesday of senior commanders of the one-star rank or higher and their top advisers. Confirmation comes from three people familiar with the matter who weren't authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive plans and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon’s top spokesman confirms that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.” Vice President JD Vance argued that the media had turned it into a “big story.”
Amazon to pay $2.5 billion to settle FTC allegations it duped customers into enrolling in Prime
SEATTLE (AP) — Amazon has reached a historic $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission which said the online giant tricked customers into signing up for its Prime memberships, and made it difficult to cancel after they did so. The Seattle company will pay $1 billion in civil penalties — the largest fine in FTC history, and $1.5 billion will be paid to consumers who were unintentionally enrolled in Prime, or were deterred from canceling their subscriptions.
Human remains in Washington state identified as Travis Decker, wanted for killing his daughters
WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — Authorities in Washington state say forensic tests confirm that the remains of a former soldier who was wanted for killing his three young daughters have been found. They say the remains of Travis Decker were located in a remote wooded area of central Washington. Law enforcement teams had been looking for Decker for more than three months since his daughters were found dead at a campground in early June. Decker had failed to return the girls to their mother following a scheduled visit. The search for Decker covered a vast area of rugged and remote terrain in Washington.
Greenspan, Bernanke and Yellen urge Supreme Court to let Lisa Cook keep her job as a Fed governor
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen and other former top economic officials appointed by presidents of both parties are urging the Supreme Court to preserve the Federal Reserve’s political independence and allow Lisa Cook to remain as a central bank governor for now. The filing Thursday comes as the justices are weighing an emergency appeal from the administration to remove Cook while her lawsuit challenging her firing by President Donald Trump proceeds through the courts. The Fed board was designed to be largely independent from day-to-day politics. No president has fired a sitting Fed governor in the agency’s 112-year history.
Arizona jury convicts man in string of shootings that killed 8 in metro Phoenix
Phoenix (AP) — An Arizona jury has convicted a man accused of killing eight people during a shooting spree in the metro Phoenix area in 2017. Cleophus Cooksey Jr.’s trial came more than seven years after the killings due to repeated delays caused by the pandemic. The 43-year-old was accused of murder and other charges stemming from the fatal shootings in Phoenix and nearby Glendale over a three-week span. The jury also found Cooksey guilty of crimes including kidnapping, sexual assault and armed robbery. The sentencing portion of the trial begins Monday. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
