Democrats sharpen criticism of Vance as they look past Trump to the 2028 presidential campaign

FAIRFIELD, Ohio (AP) – Although President Donald Trump is the top Democratic nemesis, some of the party’s most ambitious leaders are increasingly looking past him and at Vice President JD Vance.

France holds the final round of municipal elections

PARIS (AP) – French voters returned to the polls Sunday for the second and final round of municipal elections in over 1,500 communes. The vote is a test of the balance of power on France’s local political map before the 2027 presidential race begins to take shape. It is also a measure of whether the far right can convert national momentum into control of major cities.

Trump's EPA is paving the way for haze to return to national parks

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A year ago, federal environmental regulators told West Virginia officials that their plan to clear sulfur and smog from skies over the state’s national wilderness areas wasn’t good enough because a dozen coal plants didn’t analyze whether they needed better pollution controls.

Editorials from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years threatens dam

HONOLULU (AP) – Hawaii officials urged people in hard-hit areas to evacuate Saturday due to the state’s worst flooding in more than 20 years, after heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago with still more expected over the weekend.

Japanese national detained in Iran last year has been released

TOKYO (AP) – Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and is headed home. Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday.

Slovenia's governing liberals face right-wing populists in a tight election

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) – Voters in Slovenia cast ballots Sunday in a highly contested parliamentary election that will decide whether the small European Union nation stays on its liberal course or sways toward the right.

Congress looks for Trump's exit plan as the Iran war drags on

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump took the United States to war without a vote of support from Congress, but lawmakers are increasingly questioning when, how and at what cost the war with Iran will come to an end. Three weeks into the conflict, the toll is becoming apparent. 13 U.S. military personnel have died, and more than 230 have been wounded.

Trump threatens Iran's power plants if Strait of Hormuz isn't open in 48 hours

CAIRO (AP) - President Donald Trump on Saturday said the U.S. will "obliterate" Iranian power plants if it doesn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Trump issued the ultimatum in a social media post while he spent the weekend in Florida. He said he's giving Iran exactly 48 hours to open the vital waterway or face a new round of attacks.