Texas Democrats who left state prevent vote, for now, on Trump's efforts to add GOP House seats

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats have prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump. The map would shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm prospects as Trump's political standing falters. After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable Monday to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing some members of the opposition from their seats. Democrats pushed back Monday. Some mocked Abbott as the weak figure in the drama, saying he is “bending a knee” to Trump. And at least one legal expert casts doubt on the governor's ability to sanction any state lawmaker.

California could slash 5 GOP US House seats to counter Texas' move to pad Republican margin

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Democrats are weighing new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. The tentative proposal comes in response to plans by Texas Republicans to redraw House districts and strengthen the GOP hold on the chamber in 2026. According to a source familiar with the plan who was not authorized to discuss it publicly, the map aims to boost the Democratic margin to 48 seats out of California’s 52 congressional districts, up from the 43 seats the party now holds.

Trump says he doesn't trust the jobs data, but Wall Street and economists do

WASHINGTON (AP) — The monthly jobs report is already closely-watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it. Trump claimed that June’s employment figures were “RIGGED” to make him and other Republicans “look bad” yet provided no evidence. The firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics director followed Friday’s jobs report that showed hiring was weak in July and had come to nearly a standstill in May and June. Economists and Wall Street investors have long considered the job figures reliable. Friday’s revisions were unusually large, and the surveys used to compile the report are facing challenges from declining response rates. But that hasn’t led most economists to doubt them.

State Department may require visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter the US

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States. It's a move that may make the process unaffordable for many. In a notice to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the department says it will start a 12-month pilot program under which people from countries deemed to have high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls could be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when they apply for a visa. It says the countries affected will be listed once the program takes effect.

August recess can't hide tensions ahead for Congress on spending and Trump nominations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have left Washington for the annual August recess, but a few weeks of relative quiet at the U.S. Capitol can’t mask the partisan tensions that are brewing on government funding and President Donald Trump’s nominees. It could make for a momentous September. On government funding, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries sent their Republican counterparts a sharply-worded letter Monday calling for a meeting this week. They said it will take bipartisanship to avert a “painful, unnecessary shutdown.” On nominees, Republicans are considering changes to Senate rules to get more of Trump’s nominees confirmed.

Modi and Trump once called each other good friends. Now the US-India relationship is getting bumpy

NEW DELHI (AP) — The friendliness between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump was seen as a relationship like no other. The two men often shared bear hugs, showered flattering praise on each other and made appearances at stadium rallies — a boost in the arm for two populist leaders with ideological similarities. All appeared well until a series of events left the ties between them — and their countries — sour. From Trump’s tariffs and India’s purchase of oil from Russia to a U.S. tilt toward Pakistan, friction between New Delhi and Washington has been noticeable.

Judge says Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs must stay in jail until he is sentenced

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge says Sean “Diddy” Combs can’t go home from jail to await sentencing on his prostitution-related conviction. The judge issued a decision Monday to deny the rap and style mogul’s latest bid for bail. Combs has been behind bars since his arrest in September. He faced federal charges of coercing girlfriends into having drug-fueled sex marathons with other men. He was acquitted last month of the top charges, which were racketeering and sex trafficking. Combs was convicted of two counts of a prostitution-related offense. He denied all the charges.

Dozens killed as Palestinians in Gaza scramble for aid from air and land

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Witnesses and health officials say dozens of Palestinians have been killed or wounded as desperate crowds headed toward food distribution points or airdrops in Gaza. Israel’s blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid. That's contributing to the territory’s slide toward famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas. Aid groups say Israel’s week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, but blame Hamas. The U.N. says several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while seeking food aid.

Brazil’s Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Bolsonaro, a Trump ally

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for an alleged coup plot after losing the 2022 election. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organization that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill President Lula and a Supreme Court justice. Monday’s order follows one from the top court, which last month ordered Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway. The trial is receiving renewed attention after U.S. President Donald Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, calling it a “witch hunt.”

Scientists say they have solved the mystery of what killed more than 5 billion sea stars

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists have solved the mystery of what killed over 5 billion sea stars — also known as starfish — off the Pacific coast of North America. Starting in 2013, a wasting disease caused a mass die-off from Mexico to Alaska, devastating more than 20 species. The sunflower sea star was worst hit, losing around 90% of its population. Researchers have identified the culprit as a bacterium that also infects shellfish. The findings, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, could help scientists intervene to save sea stars. This is crucial for Pacific ecosystems, as healthy starfish control sea urchin populations that threaten kelp forests.