Earthquake response strains Colombia's new government and rescuers as they race against the clock
PEREIRA, Colombia (AP) — The search for life in the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake is growing more desperate as search teams push up against a key time threshold to locate survivors before it's too late. The devastation is testing Colombia's new president as his government scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and ensure aid makes to the vulnerable communities most affected by Monday's quake and more than 100 aftershocks. At least 265 people died, and hundreds have been reported missing. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving people alive, though that limit can be extended if those trapped have access to food and water.
Colombia’s earthquake is déjà vu for Venezuelans. The government response is anything but
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Two powerful earthquakes less than two months apart have exposed stark differences in how neighboring Venezuela and Colombia respond to catastrophe. While civilians in Venezuela dug through rubble by hand for days, Colombia mobilized rescuers and equipment within hours. The contrast reflects deep differences in resources, political systems and institutional strength between Colombia and Venezuela, where years of economic crisis, mass migration and political repression have weakened state capacities and public trust. The disasters were not identical, but for Venezuelans watching Colombia’s response, the contrast has offered a stark measure of what their country has lost.
Britain to swelter again as it looks poised for a record hot summer
LONDON (AP) — Large parts of Europe will be sweltering once again, with Britain poised for its fifth heat wave of an exceptional summer that is expected to be the hottest on record. Forecasters are predicting the mercury to rise as high as 100 Fahrenheit in central and southeast England on Thursday, falling just short of the August record from 2003. The Met Office said earlier this week that only average conditions were needed for the rest of August to beat last year’s record for the hottest year. The bulk of the country is now officially in drought and wildfires have been raging, most notably this week in the New Forest in southern England.
USAID fallout: In Nepal, when the aid workers stopped coming, the women and babies started dying
GAUR, Nepal (AP) — The Associated Press has found that the decision by the United States to slash its foreign aid funding last year has increased pregnancy complications and deaths in Nepal. The AP interviewed health workers, government officials, aid workers and families who said cuts to programs that ensured uneducated, impoverished pregnant women got proper nutrition and prenatal care have led to more babies and pregnant women dying preventable deaths. Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted that 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase. The U.S. State Department says it still supports programs in Nepal aimed at improving maternal and child health.
Nigel Farage faces off against Count Binface in special election that's been denounced as a stunt
LONDON (AP) — A special election is taking place Thursday in the seaside town of Clacton, just east of London. The election was triggered last month by Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-immigration party Reform UK. He quit his seat in the House of Commons in the hope the election could put to bed awkward questions about his finances. Britain’s main political parties, including the governing Labour Party and the main opposition Conservative Party, opted against fielding any candidates, calling Farage's move a stunt. Instead, Farage is having to fend off a collection of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head. The result is expected Friday morning between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Turkey on what was effectively a decoy plane, while President Donald Trump was secreted onto another plane following an Iranian threat. That's according to a senior U.S. official briefed on the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss presidential security. The official says Rubio was aware of the switch and details of the threat behind it but could or would not say why he had stayed on the plane. The switch was kept secret from reporters on the plane ride back.
Kennedy Center board set to vote on whether to move forward with closure
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center's board is set to meet to discuss future plans after a federal judge blocked a two-year closure for renovations. Management on Thursday will present three options: complete closure, partial closure with limited access, or phased closures addressing urgent needs while maintaining programming. Judge Christopher Cooper criticized the board's previous decision as “ill-informed.” The board, mostly allies of President Donald Trump, faces pressure to consider options thoroughly. Trump's influence on the Kennedy Center has been controversial, with legal battles over renaming and renovations. The institution argues it needs significant repairs, highlighting severe water damage and outdated equipment.
Judge will hear whether Tate brothers should stay in custody as they fight extradition to the UK
MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge in Miami will hear arguments for whether social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate should remain in custody. They are fighting extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Tates’ defense team have both filed written arguments over the past week. U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis will have a chance to questions both sides Thursday before determining if the brothers should stay in jail or be released during what could be a monthslong extradition process. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The detention hearing is likely to be the first time the Tates leave the Federal Detention Center in Miami since making a brief court appearance two days after their July 18 arrest.
Millions crowd Spanish cities to see country's first total solar eclipse in over a century
MEDINACELI, Spain (AP) — Millions of people crowded cloudless cities and towns in Spain in search of the best views of a total solar eclipse, when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth briefly plunged parts of the planet into darkness. The crowds brought lawn chairs and umbrellas as they eagerly awaited the celestial spectacle, which began early in the evening. As the sky darkened, people broke into applause and cheered. It was the country’s first total solar eclipse in more than a century. Across a wide band of northern and central Spain and Portugal, millions of people enjoyed some of mainland Europe’s best views of the eclipse.
Deaths and damage reported as severe weather in the Midwest spawns tornadoes and flash flooding
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Severe storms have wreaked havoc across the Midwest, causing tornadoes, heavy rains, and flash flooding. First responders and utility crews have been working to clear roads and restore power to hundreds of thousands of customers. A 4-year-old boy died in Indiana when a tree fell on a home, and a person in Ohio died during a health emergency when first responders couldn't reach them due to flooded roads. Indiana authorities were investigating whether the storms caused a reported house explosion that killed a person. More than 650,000 customers were without power Wednesday afternoon in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
