By JENNIFER McDERMOTT, Associated Press

GENEVA (AP) — Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution are discussing a new draft of the text Wednesday that would not limit plastic production or address chemicals used in plastic products.

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The biggest issue of the talks has been whether the treaty should impose caps on producing new plastic or focus instead on things like better design, recycling and reuse. About 100 countries want to limit production as well as tackle cleanup and recycling. Many have said it’s essential to address toxic chemicals.

Powerful oil and gas-producing nations and the plastics industry oppose production limits. They want a treaty focused on better waste management and reuse.

The draft contains one mention of plastic production in the preamble, reaffirming the importance of promoting sustainable production and consumption of plastics. It does not contain an article on production from a previous draft. There is no mention of chemicals.

The new provisions seek to reduce the number of problematic plastic products that often enter the environment and are difficult to recycle and promote the redesign of plastic products so they can be recycled and reused. Parties to the treaty would improve their waste management.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service

Looking for a refreshing and satisfying summer salad? This light and flavorful chicken salad is perfect for warm-weather meals and can be prepared in advance and served at room temperature.

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Tender sautéed chicken breast is paired with the crisp crunch of sliced celery and the juicy sweetness of ripe summer tomatoes. Creamy mayonnaise, accented with chopped scallions, and fresh basil, ties it all together. It creates a quick, easy and delicious dish that’s ideal for picnics or light dinners.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Water can be used instead of chicken broth.

Any type of short cut pasta such as fusilli, farfalle or rigatoni can be used.

COUNTDOWN:

Place water on to boil.

Boil penne pasta, drain and set aside.

Saute chicken and make salad.

SHOPPING LIST:

To buy:1 package penne pasta (4 ounces needed), 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 bunch celery, 1 large tomato, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat lettuce leaves, 1 bunch scallions, 1 bunch fresh basil, 1 container no-salt-added chicken broth, 1 jar reduced-fat mayonnaise,

Staples: olive oil, salt and black peppercorns.

Sunny Chicken Pasta Salad

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

4 ounces penne pasta (about 1 1/2-cups)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 cup tomato cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup no-salt-added chicken broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 cups washed, ready-to-eat lettuce leaves
2 scallions measure (about 1/2 cup sliced)
1/4 cup sliced basil

Place a large saucepan 3/4 full of water on to boil. When boiling add penne and cook 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile heat olive oil in skillet add chicken cook 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a plate. Add celery and tomatoes to the skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add broth and bring it to simmer. Return chicken to the skillet. Add drained penne. Toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and add the mayonnaise. Mix well. Place one cup of lettuce leaves each on the center of 2 dinner plates. Divide the chicken salad in half and place on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle scallions and basil on top.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 565 calories (28 percent from fat), 17.5 g fat (2.8 g saturated, 5.2 g monounsaturated), 126 mg cholesterol, 48.3 g protein, 51.1 g carbohydrates, 4.7 g fiber, 282 mg sodium.

©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, Associated Press Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is now rolling out a service where its Prime members can order their blueberries and milk at the same time as their batteries, T-shirts and other basic items.

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The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns now have access to fresh groceries with its free same-day delivery service on orders over $25 for Prime members, with plans to reach over 2,300 by the end of the year.

The move marks one of the most significant grocery expansions for the online retailer as Amazon introduces thousands of perishable food items into its existing logistics network. The expansion is expected to put more pressure on grocery delivery services offered by such rivals as Walmart, Kroger and Target, which all saw their shares take a hit in early trading Wednesday.

Amazon’s shares rose 1%.

Amazon said that if an order doesn’t meet the minimum, members can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size.

In the past, Prime subscribers’ grocery orders were fulfilled through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods.

Prime members pay $14.99 monthly or $149 annually.

“We’re continuously innovating to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable for our customers, especially Prime members,” said Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores, in a statement. “By introducing fresh groceries into our Same-Day Delivery service, we’re creating a quick and easy experience for customers. ”

Herrington noted that customers can order milk alongside electronics; oranges, apples, and potatoes with a mystery novel; and frozen pizza at the same time as tools for their next home improvement project—and check out with one cart and have everything delivered to their doorstep within hours.

Amazon said it generated over $100 billion in gross sales of groceries and household essentials last year not including sales from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh.

In June, Amazon said it was investing more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026, with a focus on small towns and rural communities across the country.

It also noted that it’s using artificial intelligence to help it predict local customer preferences so it can stock popular items alongside items targeted for specific communities.

By STEFANIE DAZIO and KAREEM CHEHAYEB, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — The top diplomats of Britain, France, and Germany threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran as an end-of-the-month deadline nears for the country to resume negotiations with the West over its nuclear program and cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The three countries, known as the E3, wrote in a letter to the United Nations dated Friday that they were willing to trigger a process known as the “snapback” mechanism, which allows one of the Western parties to reimpose U.N. sanctions, if Tehran doesn’t comply with its requirements.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Nöel Barrot posted the letter Wednesday to X. He co-signed it along with top diplomats from Germany and the United Kingdom.

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“E3 have always committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon,” the letter said. “We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism.”

The letter comes following a period of apparent diplomatic deadlock after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, where Israeli and American jets struck some key nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.

The countries met with Iranian officials last month in Turkey at Iran’s consulate building in Istanbul on the possibility of reimposing international sanctions, lifted in 2015 in exchange for Tehran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said at the time that he hoped that the meeting would see the E3 nations reassess their “previous unconstructive attitude.”

The Iranian government didn’t immediately comment Wednesday on the development.

Since the war, talks with Washington for a new nuclear deal haven’t resumed, and Iran has since suspended ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, following the attacks. The IAEA’s first visit to Iran since the war didn’t entail any visits to nuclear facilities Monday, and cooperation wasn’t officially restored.

One of the three countries opting to trigger the snapback mechanism would renew sanctions on Iran, but Tehran renewing cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA and addressing concerns about its highly-enriched uranium stockpile would delay it, according to a diplomat who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity following July’s meeting in Istanbul.

Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program will resume.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Josef Hinterseher on Wednesday said that the letter “once again underlines that the legal preconditions for snapback have long existed.”

“Our position and our appeal is, very clearly, that Iran still has the choice of deciding to return to diplomacy … and full cooperation with the IAEA,” he told reporters at a regular news conference in Berlin.

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

The IAEA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Kareem Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Geir Moulson contributed to this report from Berlin.