NATO weighs options to defend Europe as the US plans for conflict elsewhere

BRUSSELS (AP) – NATO’s top military officer is weighing alternative plans to defend Europe should it come under attack from Russia, after the United States announced that it is cutting the number of aircraft and warships that it would provide in a security crisis.

Macron once had a knack for managing Trump. The G7 may test it

WASHINGTON (AP) – The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron started simply enough, with a handshake, nearly a decade ago. But even then, there were signs of strain in their relationship – tensions that could be on full display during next week’s G7 summit in France.

Trump has lost support with independents, according to AP-NORC polling

WASHINGTON (AP) – Independents have grown increasingly unhappy with President Donald Trump during his second term, a new AP-NORC polling analysis finds, particularly those without a college degree. The analysis shows his approval with that group fell to about one-quarter this spring.

What Elon Musk's trillion means in real terms

NEW YORK (AP) – Catapulted by the market debut of his rocket company SpaceX, Elon Musk is now the world’s first trillionaire. That level of wealth, all owned by just one person, was once unfathomable. Before Friday, the trillion dollar mark was reserved for measures like the GDP (or staggering debt ) of a handful of major economies.

A key US government surveillance program is set to expire

WASHINGTON (AP) – A key surveillance tool seen as vital in preventing terror attacks and catching foreign spies is set to expire Friday after congressional efforts to temporarily extend it failed in bipartisan fashion.

Ship from Colombia laden with food docks in Cuba

HAVANA (AP) – A ship carrying nearly 100 tons of food and essential goods arrived Friday from Colombia as part of the humanitarian aid that several countries have sent to Cuba in recent months as a U.S. energy embargo persists.

Pentagon reviews are blocking wind farms, putting jobs at risk, lawsuit says

Renewable energy groups are suing the U.S. military because they say national security reviews for new wind farms on private land have been effectively frozen for months. The groups say this logjam jeopardizes $47 billion in investments and thousands of jobs in 21 states.

Migrant rights will be safeguarded at third-country return hubs

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) – The European Union’s executive arm will monitor any agreement to set up so-called return hubs in non-EU countries so that the rights of rejected asylum seekers sent there are protected, the bloc’s migration commissioner said Friday.

Taylor Swift becomes youngest woman inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame

NEW YORK (AP) – Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night.