The Latest: S Korea fears infections getting out of control

SEOUL, South Korea — New coronavirus cases in South Korea have reached the highest level in five months, and authorities fear infections are getting out of control in the Seoul region, which is home to half the country’s 51 million people. Officials reported 166 newly confirmed cases Saturday. That...

California wildfires burn amid high risk of brutal blazes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bone-dry vegetation fueled three wildfires near Los Angeles amid warnings Friday that the risk of new blazes erupting was high as temperatures spike and humidity levels drop during a statewide heat wave. A huge forest fire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles flared up Friday...

Tropical Storm Kyle forms as Josephine weakens in Atlantic

MIAMI (AP) — Josephine continued to just barely hold on to its tropical storm status Friday as Tropical Storm Kyle formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England, packing winds near gale force but with no major population centers in its projected path. Kyle was about 185 miles (300 kilometers)...

Crews make gains on Columbia Gorge fire ahead of heat wave

MOSIER, Ore. (AP) — A wildfire burning in the scenic Columbia River Gorge grew to more than 970 acres (392 hectares) as of Friday morning. Crews had it 10% contained and said they'd established a 75% line of defense. “As of right now, it’s going well,” Rich Tyler, a spokesman for the...

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Kyle has formed in the Atlantic off the coast of New England

Iowa governor defends storm response as residents struggle

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds pushed back Friday against criticism that she has been slow to respond to a wind storm that devastated the state and promised more help soon for tens of thousands of residents struggling through their fifth day without electricity. Reynolds said 100 members...

South Asia counts losses from devastating monsoon floods

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — When the Dharala River burst its banks in early July, Kamal Hossain left his home with five members of his family to take shelter in a school in northern Bangladesh, carrying their most prized belongings: cattle, a few sacks of rice and clothes. Like him, an estimated 17.5 million...

Crews try to tame California wildfire as heat wave arrives

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Crews scrambled to protect homes from a huge wildfire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles, and officials warned the blaze could flare up again Thursday as a blistering heat wave descended on California. The fire exploded in size within hours after it broke out in dense forest...

North Korea lifts lockdown in city, rejects flood, virus aid

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lifted a lockdown in a major city near the border with South Korea where thousands had been quarantined for weeks over coronavirus worries, state media said Friday. But Kim, during a key ruling party meeting on Thursday, also insisted the North...

Tropical Storm Josephine forms; no warnings in effect

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Josephine formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday morning, making it the earliest “J-named” storm in a record-setting hurricane season. Josephine was located 760 miles (1,220 kilometers) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands, according to the 11 p.m....