Texas House approves redrawn maps sought by Trump ahead of 2026 elections
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ House of Representatives is approving a new map that creates up to five new, winnable congressional seats for the GOP. The map passed Wednesday after a push by President Donald Trump for Republican-controlled states to redraw their legislative maps to give his party a better chance of holding onto control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections. The maps must be approved by Texas’ Republican-controlled Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott before they become official. The new maps are likely to trigger revised maps in California to create new Democratic-leaning seats later this week. Those would need to be approved by voters before becoming official.
Hurricane Erin picking up steam as it edges along the East Coast
RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is strengthening again and forecasters say it could intensify again to be a major hurricane. The storm is creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City. By Wednesday evening, its outer bands had reaching North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. But authorities are warning that its large swells will cut off roads on the Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center is watching two more tropical waves.
Israel to mobilize 60,000 reservists ahead of an expanded Gaza City operation
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it plans to call up tens of thousands of reservists for an expanded operation in Gaza City. Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the plan, which involves deploying 60,000 reservists and extending service for 20,000 more. The move comes amid international concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where many inhabitants are displaced and facing famine. The operation aims to target Hamas' underground tunnel network, according to Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, negotiations for a ceasefire continue, with Hamas agreeing to the terms of a proposed 60-day halt to the fighting but with Israel yet to respond.
Federal Reserve official says she won't be 'bullied' by Trump into resigning
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn’t leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, the head of the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a Trump appointee, alleged early Wednesday that Cook had claimed two primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Trump followed up Pulte’s accusation by calling on Cook to resign, in the latest effort by the administration to exert greater control over one of the few remaining independent federal agencies.
Judge denies Justice Department request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in New York who presided over the sex trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein has rejected the government’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts. Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Richard Berman came after the judge presiding over the case against Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell also turned down the government’s request. Barring reversal on appeal, Berman’s decision forecloses the possibility of grand jury testimony being released given that other judges who received the same Justice Department request reached the same conclusions. The Justice Department declines to comment. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her conviction for helping Epstein. sexually abuse girls and young women. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.
Appeals court allows Trump to end temporary protections for migrants from Central America and Nepal
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court is allowing the Trump administration to end temporary protections for 60,000 migrants from Central America and Nepal. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco halted for now an order from a district judge who kept migrant protections in place while immigrant rights groups challenge the administration. The judges on Wednesday granted the government’s request for an emergency stay pending an appeal. About 7,000 people from Nepal can now be removed from the country. A district judge found that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not take into account current conditions when she determined that Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal were safe to return.
China rushes to build out solar, and emissions edge downward
TALATAN, China (AP) — Chinese officials have showcased what they claim will be the world's largest solar farm on the Tibetan plateau. It covers 610 square kilometers, or about 235 square miles, and is part of China's rapid solar expansion. A study out Thursday says China's carbon emissions fell 1% in the first half of the year, continuing a trend since March 2024. This decline suggests emissions may have peaked well ahead of the nation's goal of before 2030. However, experts say a sharper reduction is needed for China to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. One challenge is aligning green energy distribution with industrial needs across the country.
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s federal police say messages found on the telephone of former President Jair Bolsonaro show he once wanted to flee to Argentina and request political asylum. Bolsonaro is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling about an alleged coup attempt and on Wednesday found out he might face another case as police formally accused him and one of his sons of obstruction of justice in connection with his pending trial. The Associated Press reviewed the police evidence, which included messaging app exchanges and voice messages, after police forwarded the documents to Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Gabbard slashing intelligence office workforce and cutting budget by over $700 million
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says it will dramatically reduce its workforce and cut its budget by more than $700 million annually. The move Wednesday amounts to a major downsizing of the responsible for coordinating the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including on counterterrorism and counterintelligence. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says the office "has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence.” The reorganization is part of a broader administration effort to rethink how it tracks foreign threats to American elections, a topic that has become politically loaded.
Top White House officials turn to public appearances with troops as a tense Washington watches
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has expanded his law-enforcement crackdown in Washington, D.C., with top officials visiting National Guard troops at the city's main railroad station. The deployment has left parts of the city looking like occupied territory. Vice President JD Vance praised the operation, claiming it has restored law and order. But some residents feel under siege. Trump has suggested replicating this approach in other cities like Chicago and Baltimore. The move has polarized the Democratic-led city, with protests and increased arrests.
