The United States has launched airstrikes against Iran after blaming Tehran for the crash of an American attack helicopter. Iran fired back Wednesday at countries in the region. Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran was taking “too long to negotiate a deal” and that “now they will have to pay the price.” The exchange of fire was another escalation that threatened to derail efforts to end the war. It was the second time this week that back-and-forth strikes have tested the ceasefire after Iran and Israel targeted each other on Monday. The attacks again raised the question of how much pressure the deal can take before it cracks.
- International movement returns June 17, uniting voices across six continents to challenge stigma, increase awareness, and spotlight barriers to fertility care worldwide -
The Pentagon’s recent revision to its list of Christian religions has reignited a long-standing debate about whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian denomination. Latter-day Saints identify as Christian. But some core beliefs, particularly involving the Trinity, differ from Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations. Utah's U.S. Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Republicans and Latter-day Saints, challenged the Pentagon’s exclusion of their faith from its list of Christian religions. The Pentagon removed the Christian label from 20 traditions, including Catholic and Lutheran, and stated the new rubric is not meant to question any faith’s legitimacy.
Pope Leo XIV is honoring two of Barcelona’s most sacred monuments. On Wednesday he is celebrating a noontime prayer at a mountain-top abbey and an evening Mass at the famed Sagrada Familia Basilica. Wednesday marks the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the architect who designed the Sagrada Familia. Leo is in Spain on a weeklong visit. His reception has highlighted how Spain still has plenty of faithful Catholics after the country of 50 million experienced a religious crisis following its 20th-century dictatorship. Onlookers have turned out in droves to welcome the American pope.
The unique grandeur of the Sagrada Familia means that even those who work and worship at Barcelona’s world famous basilica every day can still be surprised with some fresh wonder. That's why The Associated Press enlisted the aid of Sagrada Familia rector Josep Turull to share his favorite hidden gems of the basilica still in-the-making ahead of the highly anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV. Turull reveals enigmas carved in stone, Gaudí's crypt and the private room where the pope will change into a robe made for the occasion.
Riots broke out in Belfast after a stabbing attack by a man from Sudan that left a victim seriously injured. The attack triggered anti-immigrant violence in several parts of Northern Ireland. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
U.K. leaders have called for calm after the arrest of a Sudanese man accused of a stabbing in Belfast sparked anti-immigration protests. Police said the victim, a man in his 40s, was seriously injured Monday. The suspect, 30, was charged with attempted murder. Authorities are investigating the motive but said the attack was not terrorism-related. Northern Ireland’s leaders urged against inciting hate, as protests were planned in response. The suspect was living in the U.K. on a visa granted in September. Police and politicians urged people not to share graphic images of the attack online.
Paraguayan fans are eager to see their national soccer team’s long-awaited return to the World Cup in the country they now call home. Many said ticket prices were too exorbitant to attend the team's first match against the U.S. in Los Angeles, but bought tickets to see the team face Turkey and Australia near San Francisco later in June. Others plan to watch with family friends at home in communities spanning from New Jersey to California. It's the first time the South American team has scored a World Cup spot since 2010 and a documentary film was recently released about its journey to the competition.
A series of long-range Ukrainian attacks hit targets deep inside Russia, part of Kyiv’s efforts to raise the costs of the war for the Kremlin by striking energy facilities and military industries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck several military and energy infrastructure sites on Wednesday, including a military factory in the city of Cheboksary, that he said supplied components for Russian drones and missiles. Zelenskyy also said a refinery in Russia’s Samara region and two oil infrastructure facilities in the Vladimir region had been targeted. The increasingly deep and audacious Ukrainian strikes have cast a challenge to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, defying his claim that Moscow was winning the war now in its fifth year.
Pakistan has launched airstrikes on three eastern provinces in Afghanistan. The attack is a further escalation of months of fighting between the two neighbors that has killed hundreds. Afghanistan said Wednesday's strikes hit the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, and killed 13 civilians, including 11 children. Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts, and killed 26 militants. They shattered more than a month of calm between the two sides. Pakistan and Afghanistan had been embroiled in months of fighting that killed hundreds of people since late February, when Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
Hong Kong authorities have charged seven people and two companies with offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud over the city's deadliest fire in decades. The blaze engulfed seven apartment buildings and killed 168 people. Authorities said Wednesday that police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged the suspects with 25 counts, including money laundering and tax evasion. The charges relate to a major renovation project at Wang Fuk Court. The seven defendants were brought to the court and told the judge that they understood the charges. Authorities said they included directors and a registered inspector of Will Power and Prestige’s directors.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins often boosts her popularity by keeping her distance from President Donald Trump. She has managed to stay close enough to benefit politically while maintaining an independent streak. This strategy has helped her survive Trump's frequent personal attacks and his primary endorsements that cost two of her Republican incumbent Senate colleagues their reelection. She's also kept winning reelection despite her seat remaining a key target for Democrats over the years. Collins' opponent, Graham Platner, faces several allegations that have complicated the race. But despite Trump's past criticisms, the president hasn't recently slammed Collins, recognizing the importance of maintaining GOP control in Congress.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States was received by a crowd of supporters and officials Wednesday as he arrived in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, where he said he plans to be at the next World Cup and urged Somali youths to be…
For decades, Israel has worked to expand the Jewish presence in annexed east Jerusalem. It's the beating heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and home to major Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites. Settlers have exploited discriminatory policies to evict Palestinians far from the front lines of the region’s wars. Activists say those efforts have gone into overdrive in recent years, as Israel is no longer constrained by U.S. pressure and attention has shifted to Gaza and other war zones. An Israeli rights group says over 260 homes and other structures were demolished in 2025, a 70% increase from three years earlier. Some neighborhoods have seen the most evictions in decades.
Shares in Europe are mostly lower after most markets in Asia declined. Oil prices edged higher after the U.S. launched fresh airstrikes against Iran, raising questions again over prospects for a permanent end to the war. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil gained 0.4% to about $92. The U.S. military launched airstrikes following the crash of an Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz that U.S. President Donald Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic. U.S. futures edged lower after chipmakers including Micron Technology and AMD fell Tuesday on Wall Street. The benchmark S&P 500 slipped 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 1%.
June 3 - June 9, 2026 This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.AP mobile scroll: a selection of standout vertical images published by The Associated Press in the past week. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Celebrations have run into mounting social tensions in Mexico as the capital prepares to welcome the world in the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup.
An earthquake that struck the southern Philippines on Monday caused buildings to collapse and displaced thousands of residents. ____ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Voters across Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota headed to the polls Tuesday for another day of primaries in America. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, will face Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in a battle to hold onto his seat in November, setting up what is considered one of the most competitive governor's races in the country.
A man accused by Lebanese officials of being part of an Israeli intelligence plot took refuge in the Ukrainian Embassy in Beirut over two months ago. The current whereabouts of the man identified by Lebanese officials as Khaled al-Aydi are unknown. Al-Aydi, said to be a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also holds Ukrainian citizenship, was detained by Hezbollah in Beirut before the latest conflict with Israel began in March. He escaped during Israeli bombardments and sought refuge in the embassy. Lebanese authorities have requested his handover, but the embassy claims he is not there. The case highlights tensions between Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities.
A large, burning cross has been discovered at a Chicago park. Police said on Tuesday that they are investigating how it ended up there and the motive behind it. Video taken by a driver shows the wooden cross engulfed in bright orange flames as it leans against a tree in Grant Park, a popular area near Lake Michigan. The Chicago Fire Department confirmed the flaming object was a cross, and said officials put out the fire.
Hollywood directors have reached a four-year tentative contract agreement with studios and streaming services. The Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers struck the deal Tuesday after four weeks of talks. This is the first negotiation under new DGA President Christopher Nolan. Similar four-year deals have been ratified recently by unions representing writers and actors. This agreement adds to the likelihood of long-term labor peace in Hollywood despite industry upheavals. The collective bargaining agreement must still be approved by the guild’s national board and ratified by the guild membership.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently cut from the tournament by FIFA was set to make history for his country.
The court officials overseeing the NFL’s $1 billion settlement fund for concussion-related injuries have barred five law firms from handling any more claims from former players, after finding that they fraudulently steered clients toward doctors willing to give them a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis whether they exhibited symptoms or not. A report filed in federal court in Philadelphia this week says the five firms represented or performed work involving 98 former players who in recent years sought payouts from the settlement for Parkinson’s disease claims. Dozens of those claims were approved to the tune of $95 million — with the share going to the attorneys totaling about $20 million.
Even as President Donald Trump boosts coal over clean energy, solar power is hitting new milestones in the U.S. and remains the leading source of new power. New reports released Wednesday by global energy think tank Ember and the Solar Energy Industries Association show the continued growth of solar and decline of coal in the United States despite federal policy. Ember says that in May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal, or 12.8%. Coal supplied 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share ever. Trump has been helping the struggling U.S. coal industry while curtailing solar and wind. He says coal’s a great business.
Fans who hear the whirring sound of a drone over a stadium might see it as a nuisance but law enforcement has long viewed those aircraft as a potential weapon of mass destruction.
Catholic bishops from across the U.S. come together Thursday to consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This event marks the 250th anniversary of the United States and is part of the bishops’ spring assembly in Orlando, Florida. The mainstream, centuries-old Catholic devotion focuses on Jesus’ sacrificial love for humanity. In some instances, the consecration has political overtones. Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, says the consecration aims to promote service to God, country and the needy. This is the first time U.S. Catholic leaders have held such a service, though other countries have done so since 1874.
Graham Platner has won the Maine Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner is an oyster farmer and former chair of the planning board in the small town of Sullivan, has little political experience. But he has drawn hundreds of people to rallies around the state. He also has faced a series of controversies that have been the focus of GOP attacks. Democrats see Maine as a top opportunity to flip a GOP-held seat. It is the only state with a competitive Senate race where voters supported Democrat Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in 2024. Collins is the only Republican senator from New England.
A Texas teenager who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old athlete from a rival track team has been found guilty of murder. Jurors on Tuesday convicted 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony and sentenced him to 35 years in prison in the death of Austin Metcalf. The killing last year stunned the booming Dallas suburb of Frisco. Both teens attended different schools there. Prosecutors accused Anthony of egging on a confrontation after being asked to leave the tent of Metcalf's team. Anthony’s attorney claimed the stabbing was self-defense. The case drew wide attention, in part because of social media posts about race. Anthony is Black. Metcalf was white. But prosecutors and defense attorneys said the case had nothing to do with race.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says a controversial luxury resort development linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will move forward despite growing protests. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Rama rejected environmental concerns as misinformation and said no formal environmental impact assessment has begun because the project remains in the planning stage. But some land is already being cleared. The proposed development includes the uninhabited island of Sazan and a protected coastal lagoon, drawing opposition from environmental groups. Rama defended Albania’s conservation record and suggested misinformation surrounding the project has been amplified from outside the country.
California’s most prominent congressional elections for this fall’s midterms are now set, with two districts in particular ready to test Democrats’ redrawn U.S. House map. In the Central Valley, the state’s agricultural center, Democrat Randy Villegas will challenge Republican Rep. David Valadao, who is considered one of the most endangered Republicans this fall. In a Sacramento-area seat, former Democratic state lawmaker Richard Pan will face Rep. Kevin Kiley, who left the GOP and became an independent to run in a newly drawn district. In other races set Tuesday, two Democrats will face off for a seat representing Sacramento while two Republicans will challenge each other in a Southern California district.
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines (AP) — Rescuers searched ruined buildings in the southern Philippines on Tuesday to ensure no one was still trapped a day after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 32,000.
A New York man has gone viral for a prediction he made in his high school yearbook six years ago that the New York Knicks would win an NBA title in 2026. Evan Pfeufer chose to have “Knicks in 6. 2026 NBA Finals” written next to his portrait in the 2020 Smithtown High School West yearbook. The prescient prediction has gone viral after he shared it on social media recently. One Instagram post has more than 130,000 views. The Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 2-1 in the best of seven series. The teams play again Wednesday.
