By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY, Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel provoked diplomatic discomfort in New Zealand by suggesting the opening of a new office in the capital aims to counter China’s influence, drawing polite dismissals from Wellington and ire from Beijing.

Patel was in Wellington on Thursday to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand and to meet senior officials. The arrangement aligns New Zealand with FBI missions in other Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, which also include the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Wellington office will provide a local mission for FBI staff who have operated with oversight from Canberra, Australia, since 2017.

Patel’s China remarks prompted awkward responses

In remarks made in a video published Thursday by the U.S. Embassy, Patel said the office would help counter Chinese Communist Party influence in the contested South Pacific Ocean.

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New Zealand ministers who met Patel, the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit New Zealand, quietly dismissed his claims. A government statement Thursday emphasized joint efforts against crimes such as online child exploitation and drug smuggling, with no mention of China.

“When we were talking, we never raised that issue,” Foreign Minister Winston said Thursday.

Judith Collins, minister for the security services, said the focus would be on transnational crime.

“I don’t respond to other people’s press releases,” she said when reporters noted Patel had mentioned China, Radio New Zealand reported.

Trade Minister Todd McClay rejected a reporter’s suggestion Friday that Wellington had “celebrated” the office opening.

“Well, I don’t think it was celebrated yesterday,” he said. “I think there was an announcement and it was discussed.”

Beijing decries the FBI chief’s comments

At a briefing Friday, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denounced Patel’s remarks

“China believes that cooperation between countries should not target any third party,” he said. “Seeking so-called absolute security through forming small groupings under the banner of countering China does not help keep the Asia Pacific and the world at large peaceful and stable.”

New Zealand, the smallest Five Eyes partner, has faced ongoing pressure to align with U.S. stances on China, its largest trading partner, while carefully balancing relations with Beijing. Analysts said the FBI chief’s comments could vex those efforts, although New Zealand has faced such challenges before.

“It’s in New Zealand’s interest to have more law enforcement activities to deal with our shared problems,” said Jason Young, associate professor of international relations at Victoria University of Wellington. “It’s perhaps not in New Zealand’s interest to say we’re doing this to compete with China.”

The FBI expansion comes during fresh Pacific focus

Patel’s visit came as the Trump administration has sought to raise global alarm about Beijing’s designs. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June said China posed an imminent threat and urged Indo-Pacific countries to increase military spending to 5% of GDP.

New Zealand has traditionally avoided singling out individual countries when discussing regional tensions, Young said.

“I’m sure the U.S. would like New Zealand to speak more forthrightly and characterize the China challenge in a similar way to the United States,” Young added.

New Zealand is a remote country of 5 million people that was once assumed by larger powers to be of little strategic importance. But its location and influence in the contested South Pacific Ocean, where Beijing has sought to woo smaller island nations over the past decade, has increased its appeal to countries like the U.S.

Peters, the foreign minister, told The Associated Press in 2024 that U.S. neglect of the region until recent years had in part been responsible for China’s burgeoning influence there. He urged U.S. officials to “please get engaged and try to turn up.”

New office provokes anger among New Zealanders

Not everyone welcomed the expanded FBI presence.

Online, the new office drew rancor from New Zealanders who posted thousands of overwhelmingly negative comments about the announcement on social media sites. A weekend protest against the opening was planned.

Young said it was unlikely people posting in anger took issue with cross-border law enforcement efforts in general.

“I think it would be more a reflection of some of the deep unease that many people in New Zealand see with some of the political choices that are being made in America at the moment,” he said.

Ken Moritsugu contributed from Beijing.

Minnesota United vs. Club America

When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shell Oil Stadium, Houston
Stream: FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Weather: 84 degrees, 5 mph east wind

Form: MNUFC got off to a steamrolling start to Leagues Cup with a 4-1 blowout win over Queretaro on Wednesday, while America stumbled in a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake. That ended with RSL earning an extra point in a penalty kick shootout.

Standings: After the opening match days for all teams, the Loons stand in the fourth and final MLS knockout spot with three points and a plus-3 goal differential. America is ninth in Liga MX table with one point and a zero goal differential.

View: This tournament shows how watered-down the MLS Cup Playoffs have become. Only 22% of teams in Leagues Cup advance (eight of 36), compared to 60% in MLS’ postseason (18 of 30). MLS does it this way to give mediocre teams something to play for late in the regular season, but it more so creates a bigger volume of playoff games. There is probably a happy middle ground between the two. But in the meantime, MLS gives out participation ribbons.

Context: Since the tournament expanded in 2023, the Loons have won four straight against clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX in this tournament: beating Puebla and Toluca two years ago and Necaxa last summer.

Quote: ESPN commentator Herculez Gomez on the status of America in a post on X: “4 wins in the last 18 games. Can’t defend set pieces to save their life. No new signings. On the brink of elimination from another international tournament. Club America may be coming off 4 straight league finals, but they can’t feel good about this.”

Full picture: With Minnesota in three competitions, here’s the club’s leading scorers across them all: 1. Kelvin Yeboah, 13 (9 MLS, 3 U.S. Open Cup, 1 Leagues Cup); 2. Tani Oluwaseyi, 10 (9, 0, 1); 3. Anthony Markanich, 9 (6, 2, 1). The Loons strikers are expected to be atop the list, but its once-backup left wingback continues a dream year.

Look-ahead: America is expected to be have a huge home field advantage in muggy Houston on Saturday, but the Loons will have some of their veterans rested and ready. Wil Trapp didn’t play Wednesday, while Michael Boxall came on for only 18 minutes against Queretaro.

Scouting report: America has two key attackers with U.S. connections: Brian Rodriquez and Alejandro Zendejas. Rodriquez played for LAFC, while Zendejas started at FC Dallas and is a U.S. international. Both were on the Liga MX team for the MLS All-Star Game in July. Each have scored this year, including Rodriquez vs. RSL.

Prediction: Given its championship standard, Club America will feel enormous pressure to beat a Loons side with a fraction of its payroll. MNUFC will be defensively sound and will likely find success on set pieces, but will only get one point in a draw (1-1) before falling in PKs.

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By ALICIA RANCILIO, Associated Press

Tracee Ellis Ross, the actor best-known for her roles in shows like “black-ish” and “Girlfriends,” happens to be single and without children, but she doesn’t let either hold her back from experiencing a fulfilling, joyful life, especially when it comes to vacations.

When friends and family can’t join her, or if she just wants to decompress, Ross will jet-set by herself and have a fabulous time doing it. She says she takes at least one solo trip a year, and if vacationing with others, might stay a little longer to include alone time.

In a new three-part docuseries streaming on The Roku Channel, “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross,” a camera crew follows the actor on solo trips to Marrakech, Morocco; Cancún, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain.

This image released by Roku shows promotional art for the Roku original series “Traveling Solo with Tracee Ellis Ross. (Roku via AP)

Ross says her first solo travel experience was in her 20s, and she’s learned over the years that even the uncomfortable moments of being by herself have given her coping skills for everyday life.

“What I find is that I gain a muscle strength around being uncomfortable,” she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “It’s like when a baseball player swings with two bats, and then by the time they get to the one bat, it feels lighter. When you get back into your regular day life and uncomfortable things happen, I have muscle memory to know how to walk through this on my own.”

Ross shared tips to traveling as a party of one:

Ease into it

“Start by going to dinner by yourself,” Ross says. “And if you feel nervous about doing that, go to dinner by yourself on a Tuesday night at 6 o’clock and work your way up to going to dinner by yourself on a Saturday or Friday night at 8 o’clock.

“Walk up to the host and say, ‘I need a table for one.’ See what it feels like to be in that experience because it will only be that times 10 on vacation.”

She suggests bringing something like a book or an iPad when you’re eating alone, and also for when you’re spending time in your room.

That way, “if you end up having to stay in your hotel room the whole time and only going to a restaurant in your hotel or somewhere just around the corner, you don’t feel like you have ruined your trip and done something stupid.”

Know why you’re taking the trip

Ross says there are different reasons for solo trips and you need to understand what yours is.

“Are you going on a solo trip because you’re single and want to meet other people? Are you going on a solo trip because your life is overwhelmed with your children, your dogs, your cats, your job, your life, your survival, all the things, and you’re going to have a moment to sort of recharge and get away by yourself? Or are you going for an adventure?” she asks.

Once you’ve decided what kind of experience you’re seeking, you can make plans to achieve it realistically and safely.

This mage released by Roku shows actor Tracee Ellis Ross in a scene from the Roku original series “Traveling Solo with Tracee Ellis Ross.” (Emily V. Aragones/Roku via AP)

Safety, safety, safety

No matter how independent you are, certain kinds of travelers are more vulnerable than others, especially if they’re by themselves, Ross notes. Take safety seriously when mapping out your itinerary.

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“You might not feel vulnerable, but depending on where you’re going, it might leave you vulnerable. That’s a very specific distinction and something to plan for in order to have a good experience,” she says.

“If you are a Black woman, if you are a woman, if you are LGBTQIA, if you are non-binary, if you are differently abled — that might leave you vulnerable in a foreign place. Make sure you do the best diligence you can to make sure you’re going somewhere that can create a sense of safety for you with whatever those vulnerabilities,” she says.

Ross prefers to travel to destinations with resorts where she can feel safe on her own. “It allows me to not have to adventure off property,” she said. And she returns to places where she’s found comfort “all the time.”

Research many other parts of the trip too

Ross says she’s a planner by nature and does a lot of research online. She also asks around for info about best navigating the experience from beginning to end.

She likes to know whether particular airports are busy and what to expect when she gets there. If it’s a big airport and there’s a lot of walking, she makes sure she has comfortable shoes. She also will pack a personal fan if it’s going to be hot.

Knowing what to expect won’t just lead to feeling prepared and comfortable in general but feeling prepared and comfortable by yourself.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street and Treasury yields are falling sharply after the government reported a sharp slowdown in hiring last month. Markets are also reacting early Friday to the latest tariff news. The S&P 500 fell 1% in the first few minutes of trading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 383 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite was down 1.4%. The suprisingly weak hiring numbers led investors to step up their expectations for an interest rate cut in September.

President Donald Trump issued a new set of sweeping import duties that will apply to dozens of countries as of Aug. 7.