AP Top News at 11:52 p.m. EDT

Harris’ running mate Tim Walz introduces himself to the nation after Bill Clinton tears into Trump

CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party’s nomination for vice president Wednesday night, using his Democratic National Convention address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. “We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple, reason: We love this country,” Walz said as thousands of delegates hoisted vertical placards reading “Coach Walz” in red, white and blue. Walz described his upbringing in Nebraska and teaching and coaching football in Minneosta and told the crowd, “Thank you for bringing the joy to this fight.” “While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours,” he said.

Walz’s night, Bill Clinton’s dig at Trump, influencers flexing clout. DNC Day 3 takeaways

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention barreled into its third day Wednesday with a lineup featuring former President Bill Clinton and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the closer, introducing himself as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Given the truncated nature of the scrambled presidential race, the convention is a key opportunity for voters to get to know Harris and Walz better. Here are some takeaways from the third night of the DNC. Clinton has spoken at 13 straight Democratic National Conventions, going back to 1976. On Wednesday night he confessed, “I have no idea how many more of these I’ll be able to come to.” It was a striking admission from a politician whose dominance earned him the nickname The Big Dog.

Parents of American held by Hamas appeal for hostages’ release during Democratic convention

The parents of a 23-year-old American taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel gave a moving speech Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention, pleading for the release of the dozens of people who continue to be held captive in Gaza. “This is a political convention. But needing our only son — and all of the cherished hostages — home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” said Jon Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin lost part of his left arm and was kidnapped from Israel by militants who attacked the music festival he was attending.

Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass at first outdoor rally since his attempted assassination

ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — At his first outdoor rally since last month’s attempted assassination, Donald Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass Wednesday in North Carolina at an event focused on national security. On politics, he called his predecessor Barack Obama “nasty” for his comments the night before at the Democratic National Convention. Trump blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal and for wars in Ukraine and the Middle East while returning repeatedly in his remarks to the Democratic gathering in Chicago, where speaker after speaker has assailed Trump as a threat to the country should he return to the White House.

Kennedy campaign’s future in question as Trump allies lobby for endorsement

PHOENIX (AP) — Close allies to Donald Trump are quietly urging independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to endorse the Republican nominee if he withdraws from the campaign for the White House as soon as this week. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., along with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and GOP donor Omeed Malik are among those who have been working behind the scenes to lobby Kennedy to drop out of the race and back Trump, according to a person familiar with the efforts. The person requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Kennedy will speak Friday “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” his campaign announced Wednesday, fueling growing speculation that he could drop out and support Trump.

Mexico to bring charges against capo, not for drugs, but for turning over another drug lord to US

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The strange saga of how two Mexican drug lords were detained after landing in a plane in the United States in July just got stranger. The Mexican government now says it is bringing charges against Joaquín Guzmán López, but not because he was a leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel founded by his father, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Instead, Mexican prosecutors are bringing charges against the younger Guzmán for apparently kidnapping Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada — an older drug boss from a rival faction of the cartel — forcing him onto the plane and flying to an airport near El Paso, Texas.

Guatemalan police arrest 7 accused of trafficking the 53 migrants who asphyxiated in Texas in 2022

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan police on Wednesday arrested seven Guatemalans accused of having smuggled 53 migrants from Mexico and Central America who died of asphyxiation in 2022 in Texas after being abandoned in a tractor trailer in the scorching summer heat. They were the latest arrests after years of investigation into the deadliest tragedy of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico. The dead included eight children. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez told The Associated Press the arrests were made possible after 13 raids in three of the country’s departments. They included Rigoberto Román Miranda Orozco, the alleged ringleader of the smuggling gang whose extradition has been requested by the United States.

One woman’s custody battle highlights the challenges facing same-sex couples in China

BANGKOK (AP) — It’s been more than four years since Zhang Peiyi last saw her son, one of two children from her former marriage. Denied custody of both kids, Zhang finally settled in June for visitations with her daughter. But after seeing her only once, Zhang’s ex-wife called the meetings off indefinitely. What Zhang thought was the end of a yearslong legal battle is facing yet another hurdle, as she has to go through court again to ask them to enforce her visitation rights. “These types of disputes are not well protected in our country,” said Gao Mingyue, the lawyer representing Zhang.

Key mediator Egypt expresses skepticism about the Gaza cease-fire proposal as more details emerge

CAIRO (AP) — Key mediator Egypt expressed skepticism Wednesday about the proposal meant to bridge gaps in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas as more details emerged a day before negotiations were expected to resume in Cairo. The challenges around the so-called bridging proposal appeared to undermine the optimism for an imminent agreement that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken carried into his latest Mideast visit this week. Diplomatic efforts have redoubled as fears grow of a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel, and threats of retaliation.

Ex-politician testifies he’s innocent in the killing of a Las Vegas investigative reporter

LAS VEGAS (AP) — In his first words to a jury, a former Las Vegas-area Democratic elected official declared Wednesday that he didn’t kill an investigative reporter who wrote articles critical of him and his workplace conduct. Then he promised to tell them his story. “This is the day I’ve been waiting for,” Robert Telles said after his attorney received permission from the trial judge to let Telles testify “by way of narration” instead of a standard question-and-answer format. The attorney, Robert Draskovich, then sat down. He had strongly advised his client not to take the stand and risk questioning under oath from two prosecutors who rested their murder case Monday after four days, 28 witnesses and hundreds of pages of photos, police reports and video evidence that weigh heavily against Telles.