US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and launch nuclear talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear program. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said President Donald Trump still needs to sign off on the emerging memorandum of understanding. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal with the United States. The tentative agreement worked out by the two sides comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering.

Israeli military strikes southern suburb of Beirut before crucial Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel’s military says that the air force has carried out an airstrike on a southern suburb of Lebanon’s capital. The strike on Thursday afternoon hit an apartment in Choueifat near Beirut’s international airport. This comes amid escalating tensions in southern Lebanon where Israeli troops have crossed the Litani River. The Israeli military has intensified attacks against Hezbollah and killed at least 14 people across southern Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli military officials will hold security talks in Washington on Friday. The Hezbollah militant group say it has carried out multiple drone and rocket attacks targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

AP Exclusive: Trump administration tells prosecutors to stand down on Venezuela leader, sources say

MIAMI (AP) — The Trump administration has quietly instructed federal prosecutors in Miami to avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime target of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. That’s according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials. It’s the latest sign of warming relations between the White House and the oil-rich nation. It’s unclear whether prosecutors had implicated Rodriguez in any crimes or whether investigators were moving toward an indictment. A Justice Department spokesperson said in an email “there was never an investigation into her to shut down.”

Justice Department opens investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of assault: AP source

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether longtime advice columnist E. Jean Carroll lied during the course of civil litigation against Donald Trump, who Carroll says sexually assaulted her in a New York department store 30 years ago. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing inquiry and spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity. Lawyers for Carroll have not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The Justice Department has opened a series of investigations into perceived adversaries of the Republican president. The person says the perjury investigation is being led by the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago.

Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There’s no immediate effect on the midterms

A federal judge is declining to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to create a national list of eligible voters and limit mail voting. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington late Wednesday rejected arguments by Democrats and civil rights groups that the provision exceeds the Republican president’s powers. The Constitution gives the power to set election rules to the states and Congress, not the president. No matter how rapidly Trump’s administration acts, no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which continue into next month. Attention now shifts to Boston, where another challenge to the executive order is in federal court.

Gamification and memes lure young people to sports wagering apps, prediction markets

Some sports wagering platforms, as well as popular prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket, are touting their availability to users starting at 18 despite most U.S. states restricting gambling to 21 and older. The companies often use memes to advertise their platforms, then keep users hooked with what they market as low-stakes, casual opportunities to make an easy buck. That creates an environment that some say feels more like a game and less like a risky financial transaction. Young adulthood is a crucial period for companies to cultivate long-term users, but experts note that it’s also a critical moment for cognitive development. Kalshi says memes are “just a part of corporate branding nowadays” and their usage isn’t necessarily related to age.

Supreme Court rules for Black death row inmate from Mississippi over racial bias in makeup of jury

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has ruled for a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who claims there was racial bias in the makeup of the jury that convicted him. By a 5-4 vote Thursday, the justices sided with Terry Pitchford, who was sentenced to death for his role in the killing of a grocery store owner in northern Mississippi. There were 11 white jurors and one Black juror in a trial with similarities to that of another Black man on Mississippi’s death row, whose conviction the high court overturned seven years ago. If Pitchford’s conviction is overturned, the state could seek to retry him. Pitchford’s lawyer says he’s “entitled to a fair trial.”

Republicans’ recent stumbles in Congress highlight the difficult road ahead for their agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans’ stumble on an immigration funding bill is raising questions about other parts of their legislative agenda. That includes whether Republicans can enact another catchall, party-line bill referred to in Washington parlance as “Reconciliation 3.0.” House Republicans have spent recent weeks laying the groundwork for the massive bill, which they hope will serve as a final sales pitch to voters going into the midterms. Success will reinforce the GOP’s message of being able to deliver on legislative priorities. Failure will underscore some of the Republican fractures under President Donald Trump that could leave voters seeking an alternative. Democrats say Republicans will have a more difficult path than they did with Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill.

Fire rips through a dormitory at a girls’ school in Kenya, killing at least 16 students

GILGIL, Kenya (AP) — A fire has devastated a girls’ boarding school in central Kenya, killing at least 16 students and injuring many more. The blaze occurred Thursday at Utumishi Girls School, which has over 800 students. Police are questioning surviving students to determine the cause. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said 79 students were injured. Parents are frustrated as victims remain unidentified. The Kenya Red Cross is providing psychological support. President William Ruto expressed condolences, highlighting the ongoing concern over school fires in East Africa. Past incidents include deadly fires in 2024 and 2001, raising alarms about safety measures.

Wall Street pushes to more records as profits keep piling up for US companies

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are pushing to more records as companies like Dollar Tree, Snowflake and Hormel Foods keep piling up profits. A tentative deal to extend the ceasefire in the war with Iran by 60 days also helped lift the market and rein in oil prices on Thursday. The S&P 500 added 0.6% to its all-time high set the day before after drifting between small gains and losses earlier in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 30 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9% after both indexes also set records the day before. Treasury yields eased in the bond market.