Trump leaves Alaska summit with Putin empty-handed after failing to reach a deal to end Ukraine war

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — President Donald Trump has failed to secure an agreement from Vladimir Putin to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, falling short in his most significant move yet to stop the bloodshed, even after rolling out the red carpet for the man who started it. Putin said they had hammered out an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” But Trump said “there's no deal until there's a deal.” He said he would call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to brief them on the talks.

The Latest: Trump says no deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war was made with Putin after Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have not reached a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The two leaders offered scant details on what was discussed during talks in Alaska on Friday. Putin said he and Trump had reached an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” But Trump said, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal." He said he plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders soon. The high-profile summit ended without an agreement to end, or even pause, the brutal conflict that has raged for more than three years.

Trump administration agrees to keep DC police chief in place, but with immigration enforcement order

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has reversed course and agreed to leave the Washington, D.C., police chief in control of the department after a court hearing. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a new memo, is directing the District’s police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement regardless of any city law. Bondi’s new order Friday came after officials in the nation’s capital sued to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Washington police. On Thursday night, his administration escalated its intervention into the city’s law enforcement by naming a federal official as the new emergency head of the department.

Heat and thirst drive families in Gaza to drink water that makes them sick

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — People in Gaza are struggling to secure enough water for drinking and sanitation. Experts warn that less than three liters per person per day is being delivered, a fraction of what's needed for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene. The thirst is only growing as a heat wave bears down, with humidity and temperatures in Gaza soaring. The territory's more than 2 million people faced shortages even before the war. They relied on Israeli electricity to power desalination and wastewater treatment plants. Now, displaced families reuse water for dishes and bathing. Shortages are helping fuel the rampant spread of disease.

Democrats release plan to boost party's California US House seats in fight for Congress

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democrats have unveiled a proposal that could give California’s dominant political party an additional five U.S. House seats in a bid to win the fight to control Congress next year. The plan calls for the reshaping of district lines to greatly strengthen the Democratic advantage in the state ahead of midterm elections. Republicans will be defending a fragile House majority in 2026. Meanwhile Texas Republicans have ended a legislative session without approving new congressional maps but quickly began another. It is intended to satisfy President Donald Trump’s wishes for redistricting that bolsters the GOP. Democrats blocked the plan by leaving the state during a special session.

Erin becomes a Category 3 hurricane in the Caribbean and is expected to strengthen further

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Erin has become a Category 3 hurricane in the Caribbean, with expectations to strengthen further on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is currently northeast of Anguilla, with winds of 120 mph. It is moving west-northwest. While it is not forecasted to hit land, strong winds are affecting nearby islands, raising concerns about flooding and landslides. Tropical storm watches are in place for several islands. Experts predict Erin will turn northeast, potentially affecting Bermuda. This is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, which is expected to be unusually busy.

New Orleans mayor indicted over allegations of trying to hide relationship with bodyguard

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell  after a long corruption investigation. She was indicted on fraud, conspiracy and obstruction charges in a probe into allegations that she tried to hide a romantic relationship with her bodyguard. The indictment is the culmination of a long-running federal investigation into the first female mayor in the city’s 300-year history. Her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, has pleaded not guilty following his indictment on charges of wire fraud and making false statements. He is accused of hiding a romantic relationship with Cantrell and filing false payroll records claiming he was on duty. Vappie retired from the police department last year.

Flash floods kill more than 280 people in India and Pakistan as thousands flee

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Officials say flash floods triggered by torrential rains have killed over 280 people in India and Pakistan and left scores of others missing. Rescuers on Friday had brought to safety some 1,600 people from two mountainous districts in the neighboring countries. Flooding began on Thursday in Indian-controlled Kashmir and spread to the north and northwest in neighboring Pakistan. Powerful cloudbursts triggered the flooding and subsequent landslides that injured dozens of people and forced the evacuation and rescue of thousands of others, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Stone Age humans were picky about which rocks they used for making tools, study finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — New research finds early human ancestors during the Stone Age were more picky about the rocks they used for making tools than previously thought. The study published Friday in Science Advances shows that by 2.6 million years ago, early humans had developed a method to chip sharp flakes from rocks to use as blades for butchering meat. At an archaeological site in Kenya, researchers found durable blades made of quartzite, then traced the original rock material to locations several miles away. This suggests the early humans had a mental map of where suitable raw materials were located and planned ahead to use them.