Iran warns of military ship ban in Hormuz under potential deal with Oman, and other Middle East news
Iran won't allow military vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz if an agreement it's negotiating with Oman is finalized. That's what Iran’s deputy foreign minister told state television late Tuesday. The top diplomats of the two countries met to discuss managing commercial shipping traffic in the vital waterway which remains largely shut down nearly six months after the Iran war began. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued in Gaza on Wednesday. A ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war appears increasingly fragile. The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln will make a stop in Thailand after its lengthy Middle East deployment.
Meta reaches landmark $18 billion settlement with states in trial over teen social media addiction
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement. The deal announced Wednesday ends a trial over teen social media addiction and settles claims with 48 states and some U.S. territories. The settlement resolves a pivotal case years in the making that sought to hold the tech giant accountable for the role its platforms played in undermining children’s mental health. The effort targeted features designed to hook young people’s attention. If approved by the court, it will stop an avalanche of litigation by states against Meta.
Nearly 1,000 are missing in Nepal and Tibet after catastrophic floods caused by a glacial collapse
UDIN DHUNGA, Nepal (AP) — China’s Xinhua News Agency says mudslides caused by a glacial collapse in Tibet have left 558 people missing. Meanwhile, police in Nepal reported Thursday morning that at least 162 people were killed after massive flash floods in a border area of Nepal and China on Wednesday suddenly swept through communities. Officials in Nepal earlier said 403 people, including 341 foreigners, were reported missing. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV says that 260 of the 558 missing people in Tibet were foreigners and that two villagers were rescued. At least three people were killed as of Thursday morning, it says.
Dolly Parton's philanthropy was based on 'her belief in the goodness of people'
NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library. Similarly well-known is the $1 million gift she made to Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center to help develop Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. There was also quieter giving that the public was still uncovering in her final years. That includes paying for uniforms for Tennessee marching bands and using songwriting royalties to buy a Nashville strip mall to support the surrounding Black neighborhood.
Army to spend $2B to build nuclear microreactors at 5 bases as US seeks to ramp up nuclear power
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army has announced plans to add nuclear microreactors at five military bases from New York to Texas as a reliable energy source independent of the commercial electric grid. The Wednesday announcement comes as the Trump administration pushes hard to develop the next generation of nuclear power. No nuclear microreactors are supplying power to the commercial electric grid in the United States today. Five companies selected by the Army will be awarded up to $2.2 billion in total over five years. The Army expects that more than 20 nuclear microreactors will be built and operated. Army and industry officials say microreactors offer a resilient power source for critical infrastructure at military installations in case the grid fails.
Judge removes one hurdle for Trump mail voting order as states file new challenge before midterms
A federal judge has lifted a major obstacle to President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting, but Democratic state officials are already filing a new court challenge with the midterm elections fast approaching. The fresh round of legal wrangling comes days after the Supreme Court handed down a procedural ruling in Trump’s favor. It’s unclear if the order will be in effect for November’s midterm elections, but it already is beginning to create uncertainty just a week before the first mail ballots are sent out. The order directs the Postal Service to send mail ballots only to those on a list of eligible voters and required a uniform envelope format.
Republican nominee for Maine governor says he wants ICE agents at polling places in the state
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Bobby Charles, the Republican nominee for governor in Maine, has told supporters that he plans to ask a top Homeland Security official to send ICE agents and U.S. Marshals to polling places in Maine before the midterm elections. The Associated Press obtained audio of Charles making these comments during an address before the state's Young Republicans chapter. The Maine Democratic Party criticized the idea as likely illegal and an attempt to intimidate voters. Homeland Security has stated it does not plan to send ICE agents to polling places, and the White House dismissed concerns about federal agents interfering with elections.
Maryland court rules Democratic-backed redistricting amendment cannot go on November ballot
A Maryland court has ruled that a redistricting amendment cannot go on the November ballot. Democratic state lawmakers had approved a proposed constitutional amendment earlier this month. If passed by voters, it could pave the way to redraw congressional districts before the 2028 election. But a judge ruled Wednesday that lawmakers missed a July deadline they had set to prepare summaries of ballot measures. The judge paused the effect of his ruling to allow for an appeal. Democrats already hold seven of the state’s eight U.S. House districts. They hope that redistricting could help them win all eight.
Father says college student was killed by police in Pennsylvania after he went to wrong house
An investigation is underway after police shot and killed a 22-year-old college student in Pennsylvania. Police in Upper Pottsgrove Township responded to a 911 call about a possible home break-in early Sunday. A local district attorney's office said police found Glenwood Pysher IV at the rear of the home and ultimately shot him. Pysher's father, Glen, says his son took a wrong turn after a night out celebrating a friend's birthday and thought he was at a friend's house when he tried to enter the home. He says his son was unarmed and had been sitting on the porch waiting for his friends to come get him.
NFL owners unanimously approve the sale of the Seahawks to Vinod Khosla and his family
ATLANTA (AP) — NFL owners on Wednesday unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated the family for having “great timing” in purchasing the team that is coming off its second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The sale agreement for $9.612 billion was announced on July 11 and awaited Wednesday’s approval at a special meeting of the owners to become final. The sale was in accordance with the wishes of late team owner Paul Allen.
