Trending
Gas project
in Alaska
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump has announced plans for South Korea to invest roughly $54 billion in a project to export natural gas from Alaska. The proposal has long been backed by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who’s in a competitive reelection contest there.
It marked the second time this week that Trump has sought to highlight the promise of foreign investment made possible by his administration’s trade policy in states where Republican Senate candidates are in tight election campaigns.
Trump made a similar announcement on Monday for a massive steel plant in Iowa. In Alaska, Sullivan faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman.
US exits
from Iraq
BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S. military has completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. The last troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington.
President Donald Trump hailed the withdrawal as a victory for the U.S. and Iraq. The move marks a shift from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort. However, concerns remain about the resurgence of the Islamic State group and attacks by Iran-linked groups.
The future of Iraqi militias also remains uncertain as the government seeks to disarm them.
Court halts
execution
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee’s execution of Christa Gail Pike has been halted just an hour before it was set to begin. A federal appeals court wants to review whether her claims of childhood sexual abuse were fully considered at sentencing.
Tennessee’s attorney general is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and the execution could still take place Wednesday. Pike was 18 when she killed a classmate in 1995. Pike admits to the crime but argues her age, mental illness and abuse allegations should be considered.
Tennessee has not executed a woman in more than 200 years.
Heavy rain
across Plains
(AP) -- Tropical weather that surged onshore from the Pacific is soaking more of the U.S. while forecasters announce yet another hurricane off the coast of Mexico. Heavy rain continues from Colorado across the Great Plains, with storm totals topping 2 inches in places.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Rachel has formed in the Pacific Ocean but poses no threat to land. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center says Rachel is about 380 miles west of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, or about 220 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Forecasters say it is expected to rapidly strengthen and could become a major hurricane.
Merger may
soon close
CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge has now granted Paramount’s settlement agreement with 12 states that sued over the company’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing the companies to soon close their $81 billion mega merger.
Paramount previously called the antitrust challenge the last hurdle ahead of closing its Warner merger, and signaled that it aims to close its Warner acquisition as soon as early October. Shortly after U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín’s ruling on Wednesday afternoon, the company announced that Ynon Kreiz -- current chief executive at toy giant Mattel -- will join Paramount on Oct. 5 and serve as co-CEO alongside David Ellison of the combined company.