Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' in the United States
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's renaming Lake Ontario to be known as “Lake America” in the United States as he escalates his trade war with Canada. The Republican president signed an executive order in the Oval Office on Thursday that updated the lake’s name for the U.S. geographic naming service. Trump cannot force Canada to follow along, however. Trump has been floating the idea of the name change in recent days as the U.S. announced it was imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods over the weekend after talks between the countries broke down.
Catastrophic floods kill over 390 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,400 missing
DEVIGHAT, Nepal (AP) — Rescue teams and military helicopters are searching for hundreds of missing people after flash floods on the Nepal-China border. The torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities Wednesday after rock and a glacier collapsed in the Himalayan region. Videos showed people running ahead of the floodwaters that washed out buildings and bridges. More than 390 people were killed and more than 1,400 are missing, including hundreds of foreigners and pilgrims. Hundreds of others have been displaced across the Himalayan region. The steep slopes and lush valleys below the Himalayan mountain range are especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides.
Nepal floods highlight growing glacier risks in warming Himalayas
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Scientists say a deadly flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by a glacier chunk breaking off and temporarily damming a river. This may have led to a surge of water downstream, killing hundreds and leaving many more missing. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse, causing catastrophic debris flow. Researchers are still analyzing satellite and ground-level data to understand the event. Experts say it's too early to directly link the disaster to global warming, but note that rising temperatures increase such risks, especially in the rapidly warming Himalayan region.
Exclusive: RFK Jr. said a Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines. New documents refute that
NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press and The Guardian have obtained documents that contradict statements made by current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during two congressional hearings in 2025. Kennedy was seeking confirmation for the Cabinet post. He told senators that a trip he took to Samoa in 2019 before a deadly measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines.” The new documents show he wrote the then-prime minister, saying he wanted his team to study what happened with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the Pacific island nation. The letter raises questions about how truthful Kennedy was in testimony before Congress. Kennedy's department says the Samoa visit was “unrelated to vaccines.”
Exclusive: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are 'beyond critical' due to Iran war, officials say
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military faces a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe largely driven by President Donald Trump's war with Iran. That's according to a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official. They spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss sensitive military matters. The most concerning shortfall involves the Patriot missile interceptors crucial for defending against Russian ballistic missiles. That's raised concerns about NATO's vulnerability to a potential Russian attack after U.S. missile stocks were moved to the Middle East and as other countries also are experiencing shortages. The Pentagon says claims of U.S. munition shortages “are false.”
ICE officer's release from Texas jail opens a new front in the escalating fight over extradition
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Legal experts say an immigration officer’s release from a Texas jail despite a request to return him to Minnesota for prosecution could create a dangerous precedent. Christian Castro was released early Thursday from a detention center in Brownsville after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refused to immediately sign his extradition request. The standoff between the two states is highly unusual. Under federal law, states have little discretion to reject extradition requests from fellow states. Thousands of fugitives are sent to other states each year as a matter of routine. Legal scholars say the Texas decision could help criminal defendants avoid justice.
Ratko Mladic, ex-Bosnian Serb warlord who oversaw atrocities, dies as a prisoner at 84
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ratko Mladic, the notorious Bosnian Serb general, has died at age 84 while serving a life sentence for war crimes. U.N. officials confirmed his death Thursday in a hospital in The Hague. Mladic was sentenced in 2017 for his role in the Bosnian conflict, which left over 100,000 dead. He commanded forces responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. Despite his conviction, Mladic remained defiant, never expressing remorse. His death highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans.
Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell form in the Pacific Ocean as Dolly churns in the Atlantic
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell have formed in the Pacific Ocean far from land. The National Hurricane Center says both are expected to become hurricanes in the next few days. There are no coastal watches or warnings for either storm. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm could bring heavy rain to portions of the Caribbean in the coming days. The storm’s name had no connection to Dolly Parton’s death. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but the Leeward Islands could get heavy rain Saturday and Sunday.
Republicans face a midterm verdict as Iran war drags on months longer than Trump promised
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — The Iran war has reshaped the rapidly approaching midterm elections. It's undermining President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to steer clear of foreign conflicts and it's challenging Republicans who'd rather focus on their tax cuts as they cling to narrow majorities in Congress. The Republican president’s supporters are undeterred, but the war’s unpopularity and economic ripple effects could tilt the scales in tightly contested House districts. Interviews by Associated Press reporters with voters around the country show how a war that Trump expected to end with a swift victory could undermine the final years of his presidency.
UEFA prepares criminal complaint in Swiss courts against FIFA's Infantino over World Cup sell-off
MONACO (AP) — UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. UEFA has filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund, Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner.
