Zelenskyy says Putin’s vow not to hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ‘at odds with reality’
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says President Vladimir Putin’s vow not to attack energy infrastructure was “very much at odds with reality” following an overnight barrage of drone strikes. Russia strikes hit civilian areas and damaged a hospital in Ukraine following the refusal by Putin to back a full 30-day ceasefire during discussions with his American counterpart. The White House has described the call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin as the first step in a “movement to peace.” Zelenskyy said he would speak to Trump later Wednesday and expected to hear more about the call with Putin and discuss next steps.
A UN staff was killed and 5 others wounded in a strike in the Gaza Strip, UN says
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An international United Nations staffer has been killed and five others wounded in a strike on a U.N. guesthouse in the Gaza Strip. The head of the U.N. Office for Project Services spoke to reporters on Wednesday but declined to say who carried out the strike. He said the explosive ordnance was “dropped or fired” and the blast was not accidental or related to demining activity. He did not provide the nationalities of those killed and wounded. The Israeli military, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes since early Tuesday, denied earlier reports that it had targeted the U.N. compound.
Turkish police arrest Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival, as government crackdown escalates
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish police have arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and terror links. The state-run Anadolu Agency said prosecutors issued warrants for some 100 other people. Authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest. The arrest followed a search of Ekrem Imamoglu’s home, a day after a university invalidated his diploma, effectively disqualifying the popular opposition figure from running in the next presidential race. Having a university degree is a requisite for running in elections under Turkish law.
Agent Orange cleanup and other efforts critical to ties with Vietnam jeopardized by USAID cuts
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A multi-year cleanup at a former U.S. air base in Vietnam was abruptly halted when the Trump administration cut funding, leaving tons of dioxin-contaminated soil exposed. The freeze also affected efforts to clear unexploded munitions, assist victims of Agent Orange, and and other war legacy remediation efforts. Although funding was partially restored, uncertainty and confusion over the goodwill projects’ future threatens to harm the trust built over decades between the former foes. It comes at a time when Vietnam is of growing strategic importance to the U.S. as Washington pushes back at increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Widespread license violations exposed as North Macedonia mourns nightclub fire victims
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia has shut down dozens of nightclubs following a fire in the eastern town of Kocani that killed 59 people. The blaze, caused by pyrotechnics in an unsafe venue, has led to a nationwide crackdown, which inspected 50 venues and found that only 22 had valid licenses. Authorities have detained 16 people for questioning. The tragedy has sparked protests and a week of national mourning, with funerals scheduled for Thursday. Many injured have been transferred abroad for burn treatment with European Union-backed support. Officials, including church leaders, are urging calm, while the government faces increased scrutiny over safety regulations and corruption.
Roberts rejects Trump’s call for impeaching judge who ruled against his deportation plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is rejecting calls for impeaching federal judges after President Donald Trump demanded the removal of a judge who ruled against his deportation plans. “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said in a rare statement. The flashpoint for the latest controversy was deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, which is being paid by the U.S. to imprison them. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg had issued an order blocking the deportation flights.
Democrats clashed over their shutdown strategy. But the party’s identity crisis runs far deeper
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are confronting stark divisions within their party as leaders grapple with their losses in the 2024 election cycle and how to confront an emboldened Trump administration. For months, Democrats have been struggling to coalesce behind a political strategy. While Democrats broadly agree on a core set of economic and social issues, they are divided over the best way to respond to the Republican administration’s efforts on tariffs, immigration and other issues. But progressive and moderate Democrats agree their party must do more to reach working-class voters. Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts says the Democratic brand “absolutely needs to change.”
JFK assassination files released, sending history buffs hunting for new clues
DALLAS (AP) — Unredacted documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been released following an order by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. The documents were posted on the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration on Tuesday evening. The vast majority of the National Archives’ collection of over 6 million pages of records, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings and artifacts related to the assassination have previously been released.
Violent attacks on Tesla dealerships spike as Musk takes prominent role in Trump White House
SEATTLE (AP) — Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric-car company are cropping up from coast to coast and even overseas. Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and even privately owned cars have been targeted. Not all of the incidents have been definitively linked to politics, but there has been a clear uptick since President Donald Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency that’s slashing government spending. Experts on domestic extremism say Tesla is a predictable target for left-wing anarchist violence, even if it’s impossible to know yet if the spate of violence is a passing fad or the beginning of a worrisome trend.
This cutting edge hair loss treatment is a repurposed drug from the 1990s
WASHINGTON (AP) — A hair loss drug that first gained popularity in the 1990s is seeing a resurgence of interest. Minoxidil is best known as the key ingredient in Rogaine, the popular hair loss solution launched more than 30 years ago. Now dermatologists are increasingly prescribing the drug in low-dose pills to help men and women trying to regrow hair. The practice follows a handful of recent studies suggesting the ingredient is effective when taken by mouth. Telehealth companies are also driving demand by offering patients a quick, easy way to get a prescription and have the pills shipped through the mail.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
