Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shake hands and sign deal at White House peace summit

WASHINGTON (AP) — Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a peace agreement at the White House, aiming to end decades of conflict. President Donald Trump facilitated the meeting, with both leaders crediting him for the breakthrough. The deal will reopen key transportation routes and create a major transit corridor named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This agreement allows the U.S. to expand its influence in the region as Russia's wanes. The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has lasted nearly four decades, with recent developments encouraging Armenia to seek closer ties with the U.S.

Justice Department escalates scrutiny of Trump foes with probes of Letitia James and Adam Schiff

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is escalating efforts to scrutinize perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump with investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, according to people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has subpoenaed James for records related to a lawsuit the Democrat filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business dealings, according to a person familiar with the matter. And Attorney General Pam Bondi this week named Ed Martin as a special prosecutor to help conduct separate mortgage fraud investigations into James and Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California. James and Schiff have denied any wrongdoing and have called the claims politically motivated.

Appeals court tosses judge's contempt finding against Trump administration in prison deportations

WASHINGTON (AP) — A split appeals court panel is tossing out a judge’s contempt finding against President Donald Trump’s administration in a case over deportations to an El Salvador prison. The Friday decision comes after planes carrying Venezuelan migrants landed at the prison even after U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg said in court they must return to the United States. Boasberg had found probable cause to believe Trump administration officials rushed deportees out of the country before they could challenge their removal in court and then willfully disregarded his order. The Republican administration has denied any violation, saying the judge did not specify the return of the planes in his written order.

Israel's plan to take over Gaza City stirs fears for civilians and hostages

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it plans to take over Gaza City. The decision to escalate its 22-month war with Hamas drew a dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict and stirred fears for hostages still in Gaza. Israel’s air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. The timing of another major ground operation remains unclear but will almost certainly exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, two Arab officials told the Associated Press that mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new framework that will include the release of all hostages in one go in return for an end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip.

Nagasaki marks 80th A-bomb anniversary as survivors put hopes of nuke ban in the hands of youth

NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) — Nagasaki is marking the U.S. atomic attack on the southern city 80 years ago, with survivors determined to make their hometown the last place on earth hit by the bomb. About 2,600 people attended a memorial event Saturday at Nagasaki Peace Park. Participants included representatives from more than 90 countries, Japan's prime minister and the mayor of Nagasaki. Survivors have committed to a goal of abolishing nuclear weapons but worry about the world moving in the opposite direction. The U.S. bomb dropped on Aug. 9, 1945, killed some 70,000 people three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II.

Germany halts military exports to Israel for use in Gaza amid outcry over Netanyahu plan

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany won't authorize exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.” The decision came after the Israeli Cabinet announced plans to take over Gaza City. Merz said Friday that Israel “has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror.” He stated that the release of Israeli hostages and negotiations toward a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war are “our top priority.” Merz added that the recent military actions by Israel make it difficult for Germany to see how these goals will be achieved.

Trump says he will meet Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the Ukraine war

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. It's a potential breakthrough after weeks of Trump expressing frustration that more was not being done to quell the fighting. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed the details, which Trump announced on social media, but both nations had said they expected a meeting could happen as soon as next week. Such a summit could be a pivotal moment in a war that began more than three years ago when Russia invaded its western neighbor. But there’s no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

California's Newsom, Pelosi back Texas Democrats as GOP warns of more escalations over walkout

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have appeared shoulder-to-shoulder with Texas Democratic lawmakers in a show of support for their nearly weeklong walkout. The standoff has blocked a vote on congressional voting maps sought by President Donald Trump. Pelosi defended the walkout in the appearance in Sacramento on Friday. She called it “self-defense for our democracy.” The Texas House of Representatives failed to meet a quorum to conduct business for the third time this week with Democratic lawmakers staying away. California is moving toward a potential special election in November that Democrats hope could slash five Republican-held House seats in direct response to the maneuvering in Texas.

Suspected gunman and police officer dead in shooting near the CDC and Emory University, police say

ATLANTA (AP) — Police say a suspected shooter and a police officer are dead after law enforcement responded to an active shooter near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University. The CDC's director says bullets struck at least four of the agency's buildings. Photos of bullet-pocket windows circulated among CDC employees. No civilians are believed to have been injured in the Friday shooting. The shooter was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC. He died at the scene. Authorities said the man's motive is not yet known.

Montana bar shooting suspect is captured, ending weeklong search

Authorities say they have captured a man suspected in a shooting at a Montana bar that left four people dead. Law enforcement officers had spend the past week scouring nearby mountains. Forty-five-year-old Michael Paul Brown was taken into custody around 2 p.m. Friday. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Brown was flushed out after about 130 officers made what he called a hard push on a hill a few miles from Anaconda. He said tips from the public helped verify they were searching the right area. Authorities have not said what sparked last week’s shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda.