August 23, 2026 6:16 am
CHICAGO (AP) — After trade negotiations crumbled down to the eleventh hour, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on scores of Canadian imports kicked in Saturday. The new levies are expected to affect roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, ranging from hockey sticks to agricultural products. And Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly promised that his government would roll out “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures starting Sept. 8. The latest escalation between the two countries — which once held one of the world’s most durable trade alliances — plunges them deeper into a trade war that has kept both sides of the border on edge throughout Trump’s second term in office.
August 23, 2026 6:13 am
DALLAS (AP) — A Texas judge has denied a new trial for Karmelo Anthony in the stabbing death of an athlete at a high school track meet. The case drew national attention and spurred harassment of the families and demonstrations at the courthouse. The 19-year-old Anthony is serving 35 years in prison after being convicted of murder in the April 2025 death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Judge Michael Chitty denied the retrial motion in a half-page order following a two-day hearing this week near Dallas. He cited a review of the evidence but did not elaborate. Anthony’s defense says there will be an appeal.
August 23, 2026 6:14 am
HONOLULU (AP) — The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Moke has formed in the Pacific Ocean. It is on track to bring another round of heavy rain and wind to Hawaii as residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala. The hurricane center’s advisory shows Moke was located about 425 miles southeast of Hilo as of Saturday morning. Maximum sustained winds were around 50 mph (85 kph). Like with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island is again expected to bear the brunt of the storm. It battered Hawaii last weekend without making landfall, downing trees and leaving roads covered in mud and rocks. Rain and heavy winds from Moke are expected to hit the Big Island late Saturday.
August 23, 2026 6:08 am
SAN MARINO (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has used a visit to San Marino and a major Catholic gathering in the nearby Italian city of Rimini to urge Catholics to reject division, conflict and social polarization, calling instead for dialogue, mercy and friendship across political and cultural differences. He spoke on Saturday at the annual Rimini Meeting, warning against a culture that “rearms minds, words and nations.” Leo said Christians should work to overcome poverty, inequality and war. He also delivered a strong message to young Catholics, describing them as “a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat,” and encouraging them to engage with society and help build a “civilization of love.”
August 23, 2026 6:10 am
Iran’s president has defended a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. as the best way to end a stalled conflict. He emphasizes the agreement aligns with Iran’s dignity and interests. The deal, signed in June, aimed to end the war and reach a nuclear accord, but key issues remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Iran’s new security chief warned neighboring countries against supporting U.S. sanctions, threatening retaliation. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian man reported on Sunday being beaten by an Israeli settler. Israel’s military is also pursuing a suspect in a separate stabbing incident, highlighting ongoing violence in the region.
August 23, 2026 6:04 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Deadly airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday have raised doubts about new U.S. efforts to advance a ceasefire there. Local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent say at least 10 people were killed in two strikes, days after a U.S. envoy met with Israel’s prime minister. Witnesses said Israeli troops also crossed the ceasefire line and detained a Hamas police colonel. Israel’s military said the strikes targeted Hamas commanders involved in previous attacks. The Palestinian Red Crescent said a strike on a police station killed at least nine people. On the diplomatic front, ceasefire negotiations appear stalled, with disagreements over Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal.
August 22, 2026 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. Canada says it will retaliate. President Donald Trump’s import taxes taking effect Saturday will hit about 5% of what Canada ships to the United States every year, including products ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, “Canada will match those tariffs dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses.” He is blaming Washington for the breakdown, saying “last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair.”
August 22, 2026 4:24 am
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump says the first step toward keeping Darline Graham as a U.S. senator from South Carolina involves helping her win a Republican runoff next week. The Republican president also begged supporters to pretend he’s on the ballot Tuesday. Trump was nodding to the reality that Republican base voters lose interest in elections when he isn’t on the ballot. Trump went to Myrtle Beach on Friday to support Sen. Darline Graham, his chosen candidate to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. She is serving out the remainder of her brother’s term. She faces Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s runoff.
August 22, 2026 4:29 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for allowing the White House to continue construction for now on his $400 million White House ballroom project. Chief Justice John Roberts signed a temporary order Friday letting work continue as the court considers an emergency appeal from Trump’s Republican administration. Speaking later Friday in South Carolina, Trump thanked the court and Roberts and called the court’s action a “good thing.” The temporary order came hours before lower-court rulings would have forced a halt to aboveground construction of the project because Trump didn’t get congressional approval.
August 22, 2026 4:26 am
TikTok has reached a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a 2024 lawsuit alleging the company violated federal children’s privacy laws. The DOJ said Friday that TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree against its predecessor company, Musical.ly. Since the DOJ’s lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm. In January, the social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture.
