IRAN: ATTACK BY YEMEN JUSTIFIED

» Iran said Monday that the missileand-drone attack on major Saudi oil sites was an act of “legitimate defense” by Yemen’s Iranallied Houthi rebels.

The Sept. 14 assault was claimed by the Houthis, though Saudi Arabia says it was “unquestionably sponsored by Iran.” The kingdom has been at war with the Houthis in Yemen since March 2015.

Iran denies being responsible and has warned any retaliatory attack targeting it will result in an “all-out war.”

Peru president dissolves congress.

L I M

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra dissolved congress Monday, exercising seldom-used executive powers to shut down the oppositioncontrolled legislature that he accuses of stonewalling attempts to curb widespread corruption.

In a televised address, Vizcarra told the South American nation that he had decided to call new legislative elections after lawmakers proceeded with holding a controversial vote to replace almost all the members of the Constitutional Tribunal.

Trump officials shuffle funds to cover family planning gaps.

Federal officials said Monday they’re redirecting nearly $34 million to cover gaps in access to birth control for low-income women after Trump administration abortion restrictions led to an exodus of clinics from the federal family planning program.

Diane Foley, director of the Health and Human Services office that oversees the so-called Title X family planning program, said the goal is to serve about the same number of women, or more, avoiding disruptions.

For the 2nd time this year, NYPD gunfire kills 1 of its own.

N E W YOR

A New York City police officer has been killed by friendly fire for the second time this year.

Officer Brian Mulkeen was fatally struck by two police bullets while struggling with an armed man after chasing and shooting at him Sunday, police commissioner James O’Neill said.

“This is an absolute tragedy,” O’Neill said Monday, turning the blame on the man Mulkeen was grappling with, who was also killed in the burst of gunfire.

U.S. awards border wall contracts worth $812.6M.

DALL A S

» The U.S. government has awarded three contracts worth more than $812.6 million for construction of about 65 miles of new border wall along the lower Rio Grande in South Texas.

In a statement issued Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say the contracts were awarded Sunday to two contractors. The wall projects are to include steel bollard walls of 18 to 30 feet in height, all-weather roads, lighting, security cameras and other technology in 19 separate segments in Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron counties. — Denver Post wire services