Trump injects new dose of uncertainty in tariffs as he pushes start date back to Aug. 7

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's order imposing new tariffs on 68 countries and the European Union starting in seven days has injected a new dose of uncertainty in an already uncertain process. Trump has promised these tariffs will boost the U.S. economy and create jobs, but critics warn they could harm America's global standing and increase inflation. The legality of the tariffs is being questioned in court, with judges expressing skepticism. Major companies have warned of financial impacts, and there are concerns about rising inflation and job losses in manufacturing.

Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners that go into effect in 7 days

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would have new tariffs on a wide swath of U.S. trading partners to go into effect in seven days — the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and alliances. The order was issued Thursday evening, following a series of tariff-related activities as the White House reached agreements with various nations. Trump also announced a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico, keeping the current 25% tariff rates. The tariffs are set to take effect Friday, with countries notified of their rates. Trump has reached deals with South Korea, the European Union, Japan, and others. The tariffs aim to address trade imbalances and issues like fentanyl trafficking.

Judge blocks Trump administration from ending protections for 60,000 from Central America and Nepal

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California judge is extending migrant status protections ended by the Trump administration for more than 60,000 people from Central America and Nepal. The order Thursday by U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson in San Francisco affects 7,000 Nepalese whose Temporary Protected Status designations were scheduled to expire Tuesday. About 51,000 people from Honduras and nearly 3,000 from Nicaragua were scheduled to have their status terminated in September. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ended the program after determining that conditions in their home countries no longer warranted protections. The National TPS Alliance is challenging the terminations as arbitrary and racist.

US envoy arrives in Israel to monitor Gaza food distribution as humanitarian crisis worsens

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump has sent special envoy Steve Witkoff to the Middle East to “save lives" and end the humanitarian crisis there. Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to address the worsening crisis in Gaza. Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee plan to inspect food distribution in Gaza on Friday. The Gaza Health Ministry said that over the past 24 hours at least 91 Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 wounded while trying to get aid. The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes, stating it targets militants and blaming civilian deaths on Hamas. Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation.

Why not enough food is reaching people in Gaza even after Israel eased its blockade

International outcry over images of emaciated children and increasing reports of hunger-related deaths have pressured Israel to let more aid into the Gaza Strip. This week, Israel paused fighting in parts of Gaza and airdropped food. But aid groups and Palestinians say the changes have only been incremental and are not enough to reverse what food experts say is a “worst-case scenario of famine” unfolding in the war-ravaged territory. The new measures have brought an uptick in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza. But almost none of it reaches U.N. warehouses for distribution.

Rural Texas county's top leaders were asleep, out of town during initial hours of flood crisis

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Two top leaders in a rural Texas county were asleep and a third was out of town in the initial hours of a catastrophic flood that caused widespread destruction and killed more than 130 people. Texas lawmakers began questioning local Kerr County officials over their preparedness and response to the deadly July 4 floods. Lawmakers have filed bills to address improving emergency communications and providing additional funding for affected areas. Republican lawmakers have been careful not to scrutinize the state’s response while emergency officials faced scrutiny from Democrats at a hearing last week.

Teacher admits to fatally stabbing couple on a hike with their kids in a random attack in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A father and mother who died on an Arkansas hiking trail were stabbed to death and a 28-year-old schoolteacher has been charged in the killings. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said during a news conference Thursday that authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack. They have no reason to believe Andrew James McGann knew the couple or their children. McGann was arrested on Wednesday. Clinton and Cristen Brink were found dead on a walking trail at Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday. Two of their three daughters who were with them at the time were not hurt in the attack.

Heavy rain pummels the East Coast and sparks isolated flash flooding

Storms are lashing the East Coast from Virginia to Connecticut, flooding roadways and delaying flights from Boston to Washington, D.C. Social media posts show vehicles stranded in pockets of high water and water pouring over a train in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal. Commuter rail lines into suburban Long Island and New Jersey are suspended in places. Flash flood warnings are in effect for parts of New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia. States of emergency have been declared in New Jersey and New York City. The National Weather Service warns of heavy rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor.

Mourners honor the NYPD officer killed in the attack at the NFL headquarters building

NEW YORK (AP) — Mourners packed a Bronx mosque to pay respects to a New York City police officer who was among the four people killed when a gunman opened fire this week at the Manhattan skyscraper that houses the NFL's offices. New York's mayor and governor were among those who remembered Officer Didarul Islam for his devotion to his family, faith and the police department. The police commissioner said the 36-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant described policing as “a blanket of the community, there to provide comfort and care,. Islam was a married father of two, with a third child on the way.

Hulk Hogan's cause of death was a heart attack, medical examiner says

A Florida medical examiner’s report says Hulk Hogan's death last week was caused by a heart attack. The report said Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, also had leukemia and atrial fibrillation and the cause of death was “natural.” Flags on official buildings in the state will be flown at half-staff on Friday to honor him, as Gov. Ron DeSantis declared it “Hulk Hogan Day in Florida.” The Republican governor called him “a true Floridian through and through.” Hogan was a major WWE star, known for his larger-than-life persona. His wife, Sky Daily, shared her grief on Instagram, calling the loss “sudden and impossible to process.”