House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is leaving Washington early as Republicans clash over the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Epstein as some Republicans push for a vote on the matter. Johnson said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to release the Epstein information on its own. The speaker’s stance seemed unlikely to satisfy many Republicans who are threatening to support a bipartisan bill to pry information from the Justice Department. Even before Johnson spoke, a Republican-controlled committee was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Trump rehashes years-old grievances on Russia investigation after new intelligence report

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is rehashing longstanding grievances over the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his first term. The Republican president lashed out Tuesday following a report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election. Trump was not making his claims for the first time but delivered them when administration officials are harnessing the machinery of the federal government to investigate the targets of Trump’s derision. A representative for former President Barack Obama, who Trump accused of treason, said the "bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Trump says US will impose 19% tariff on imports from Philippines in deal struck with leader Marcos

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's reached a trade agreement with Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following a meeting at the White House. Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. will slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines without paying import taxes for what it sells there. The online announcement of a loose framework of a deal comes as the countries are seeking closer security and economic ties in the face of shifting geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. Marcos’ government had indicated ahead of the meeting he was prepared to offer zero tariffs on some U.S. goods.

Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76

The gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne has died. A family statement said he died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. The statement did not include a cause but in 2020, Osbourne revealed he had Parkinson's disease. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the Grammy-winning singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”

Witkoff plans to visit the Mideast in push for Gaza ceasefire, State Department spokesperson says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department's spokesperson says President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is planning to head to the Middle East as the U.S. tries once again to solidify a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Tuesday that Witkoff was going to the region with a “strong hope” that the U.S. can deliver another ceasefire deal as well as a new humanitarian corridor for aid distribution. Three U.S. officials said Witkoff is traveling to Europe this week to discuss Gaza and other issues but had no details about Middle East stops.

US Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports.  The committee is citing an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order, signed in February, threatens to cut funding for organizations allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports. The policy is listed under the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy and follows a similar move by the NCAA earlier this year. National governing bodies for various sports like swimming and track and field are expected to comply with the directive.

Driver accused of ramming into crowd outside LA nightclub charged with 37 counts of attempted murder

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles prosecutors have announced charges in connection with a car crash outside a nightclub over the weekend that injured 37 people and led to the driver being shot. LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Tuesday charged the driver, who was identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez. Partygoers were leaving the Vermont Hollywood venue at the end of a reggae hip-hop event early Saturday when a vehicle rammed into the crowd. Injuries ranged from minor to serious fractures and lacerations, and some people were briefly trapped beneath the vehicle. A phone number for Ramirez could not be found and the public defender’s office said that they are not representing him.

Trump administration withdraws from UNESCO again, only 2 years after US rejoined

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Trump administration has announced that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. The move Tuesday was expect and has the U.S. further retreating from international organizations. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency promoting anti-Israel speech. The UNESCO chief said she “deeply” regrets the U.S. decision but said the agency “has prepared for it.” She denied accusations of anti-Israel bias,

Smoking or oxygen machine may have caused deadly fire at Massachusetts assisted-living home

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Investigators say a fire that killed 10 people at a Massachusetts assisted-living facility was likely caused by smoking or an oxygen machine's electrical problem. The Massachusetts fire marshal, Jon Davine, said Tuesday that the July 13 blaze at Gabriel House spread quickly due to the presence of medical oxygen. Thomas Quinn, the county district attorney, said investigators are still collecting evidence on numerous aspects of the case, including whether the facility’s sprinkler system worked as it should. So far, investigators have remained mum on the possibility of criminal charges.

What to know about soda sweeteners as sugar returns to American Coke

President Donald Trump teased the announcement last week, but Coca-Cola finally confirmed it Tuesday: a version of Coke’s trademark cola sweetened with cane sugar will be released in the U.S. this fall. For decades, Coke and other beverage makers have used high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners in their U.S. sodas. But consumers are increasingly looking for products with fewer and more natural ingredients. Nutritionists say high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are both sugars with around the same amount of calories. They are equally likely to lead to issues like obesity and tooth decay.