Trump says the US and Iran have 'sort of' agreed on the terms for a nuclear deal

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have “sort of” agreed to terms on a nuclear deal. Trump describes the talks between his diplomatic envoy and Iran's foreign minister as “very serious negotiations” for “long-term peace” and said the talks are continuing to progress. Still, throughout his visit with Arab Gulf leaders this week, the president has underscored that military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities remains a possibility if the talks derail. Trump also stopped Thursday at a U.S. military installation in Qatar that's at the center of American involvement in the Middle East.

54 people killed in overnight airstrikes on southern Gaza city, hospital says

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A hospital in southern Gaza says 54 people have been killed in overnight airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis. Another airstrike in the north of the Palestinian territory left more than a dozen people dead. An Associated Press cameraman counted 10 airstrikes on the city overnight into Thursday and saw numerous bodies taken to the morgue in Nasser Hospital. The strikes come as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, visiting Gulf states but not Israel. There had been hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Putin spurns Zelenskyy meeting but lower-level Ukraine-Russia talks are still on

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey. Zelenskyy said he's sending a team to Istanbul to meet a Russian delegation, even though Moscow’s side doesn’t include “anyone who actually makes decisions.” Few had expected Putin to show up in Turkey, and it punctured any hope of progress on ending the 3-year-old war that was given a push in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It also raised the prospect of intensified international Western sanctions on Russia.

Supreme Court could block Trump's birthright citizenship order but limit nationwide injunctions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems intent on keeping a block on President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship while looking for a way to scale back nationwide court orders. It's unclear what such a decision might look like. But a majority of the court expressed concerns Thursday about what would happen if the Trump administration were allowed, even temporarily, to deny citizenship to the children born of some immigrants. The justices heard arguments in Trump’s emergency appeals over lower court orders that have kept the restrictions on hold nationwide, while lawsuits go forward. Nationwide, or universal, injunctions have emerged as a check on Trump’s efforts to remake the government and a frustration to the Republican president.

Cassie forced to read aloud explicit messages with Sean 'Diddy' Combs at his sex trafficking trial

NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie has been forced to read aloud her explicit messages with former boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs during his sex trafficking trial. Combs' lawyers began cross-examining Cassie on Thursday. In some of the messages, she expresses enthusiasm for the sex encounters with other men orchestrated by Combs that she disparaged in previous testimony. Cassie testified on Wednesday that Combs raped her in 2018 and coerced her into participating in the so-called “freak-off” sex encounters with male escorts that made her feel ashamed. Combs denies the sex trafficking allegations and says the sex during the encounters was consensual. He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted.

Theo Von riffs on drugs, disabilities and homosexuality before Trump speaks at US base in Qatar

AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — When President Donald Trump addressed U.S. and Qatari troops at a military base in Qatar, he assured the rank and file “we don’t care if you’re politically correct.” Anyone needing proof of that could've watched comedian Theo Von’s routine a little earlier. The podcast host regaled the uniformed troops Thursday with jokes about drugs, developmental disabilities, homosexuality and their Qatari hosts. Von joked about the lack of crime in Qatar, where he said it'd be impossible to identify a perpetrator because everyone is named Mohammed and dresses in the same white robes. Trump connected with Von during last year's campaign. The Republican president was not present for Von's warmup act.

Wisconsin judge pleads not guilty to helping a man evade federal immigration agents

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade federal immigration agents has pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan entered the plea during an arraignment Thursday in federal court. She and her lawyers left after the brief hearing without talking to reporters. Dugan is charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan showed a man out the back door of her courtroom last month after learning immigration agents were in the courthouse looking to arrest him for being in the country illegally. The case has escalated a clash between Trump administration and Democrats over the president’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Autopsies misclassified in-custody deaths that were actually homicides, Maryland officials say

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — An audit of Maryland autopsies has uncovered at least 36 in-custody police deaths that should have been considered homicides. State officials announced their findings Thursday following a comprehensive review of such cases spurred by widespread concerns about the former state medical examiner’s testimony in the death of George Floyd. Investigators focused on 87 autopsies performed during the tenure of Dr. David Fowler. Fowler testified for the defense at the 2021 murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. Fowler had backed the widely rejected theory that attributed Floyd’s death to a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease.

Gene editing helped a desperately ill baby thrive. Scientists say it could someday treat millions

A baby born with a rare and dangerous genetic disease is thriving after getting an experimental gene editing treatment made just for him. Researchers said the Pennsylvania boy is among the first to be successfully treated with a custom gene editing therapy. They described his case in a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Though it may be a while before similar personalized treatments are available for others, doctors hope the technology can someday help millions who have been left behind by genetic medicine because their diseases are so rare.

Under a cloud of tariffs, Walmart is the latest retailer to announce price hikes

NEW YORK (AP) — Volley after volley of tariffs — and at times on-again, off-again trade actions — have put companies around the world on edge. And a handful of major retailers have already raised prices across the U.S., or warned of future hikes. President Donald Trump's sweeping new import taxes and responding retaliation from some targeted countries have piled up in recent months. Because companies that buy products made abroad pay the tariffs imposed on them, higher costs that are typically passed on to consumers. Walmart, Barbie maker Mattel, Microsoft's Xbox and more have recently announced or anticipate price hikes amid the ongoing trade wars.