Justice Dept. wants to interview Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department wants to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping the New York financier sexually abuse underage girls and is in prison. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says he anticipates meeting with Maxwell in the coming days. Maxwell’s lawyer confirmed Tuesday there were discussions with the government and says Maxwell will always testify truthfully. The overture to attorneys for Maxwell is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. Blanche says the Republican president has told the department “to release all credible evidence.”

Smoking or oxygen machine may have caused deadly fire at Mass. assisted-living home

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts officials say a fire that killed 10 people at an assisted-living facility was unintentionally caused by an electrical issue with an oxygen machine or someone smoking. The state fire marshal, Jon Davine, told reporters Tuesday that the presence of medical oxygen contributed to the spread of the July 13 fire at Gabriel House in Fall River, about 50 miles south of Boston. The blaze left some residents hanging out windows screaming for help. A resident of Gabriel House filed a lawsuit Monday alleging the facility was not properly managed or maintained, and that “emergency response procedures were not put in place.”

Trump says Philippines will pay 19% tariff while U.S. pays no tariffs under deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s reached a trade agreement with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following a meeting at the White House that will see the U.S. slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines without paying import taxes for what it sells there. Trump announced the broad terms of the agreement online Tuesday and added the U.S. and the Philippines would work together militarily. The announcement of a loose framework of a deal comes as the countries are seeking closer security and economic ties in the face of shifting geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. Marcos’ government had indicated ahead of the meeting he was prepared to offer zero tariffs on some U.S. goods.

Trump administration withdraws from UNESCO again, only 2 years after US rejoined

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Trump administration has announced that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. The move Tuesday was expect and has the U.S. further retreating from international organizations. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency promoting anti-Israel speech.