Biden tweets gratitude to Purple Heart recipients...Saudis: Germany attacker was in touch with IS...Progress reported vs 2 wildfires

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden seems to be taking a swipe at Donald Trump for his recent remark that he "always wanted to get the Purple Heart." On Twitter today, Biden wrote: "No one wants to earn a Purple Heart. But to those who did, you have America's unending gratitude and admiration. Thank you." The Purple Heart acknowledges service members who have been wounded or killed. At a voter rally in Virginia, Trump accepted a Purple Heart from an audience member by saying he always wanted one.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia says a member of the Islamic State group was in contact with a Syrian asylum-seeker who blew himself up outside a bar in southern Germany last month. The Saudi Interior Ministry tells The Associated Press that a Saudi phone line was used to communicate with the attacker through a social networking application. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed the assailant and wounded 15 others.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Firefighters are reporting progress against two Northern California wildfires. A wildfire that has burned 90 square miles near Big Sur on the central California coast is now 45 percent contained. And a fire east of San Francisco that has burned more than 8 square miles is now 50 percent contained.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police say the bodies of a man and woman have been found at the bottom of a sea cliff in the San Pedro section of the city. Police say the bodies were discovered this morning beneath a bluff. The Los Angeles coroner's office will investigate the cause of the deaths.

SHIRLEY, N.Y. (AP) — A 69-year-old athlete has died while competing in a New York triathlon. Authorities say Vincent Fleck of Mount Kisco died after a lifeguard noticed him in distress during a swimming portion of the event. He was given first aid but was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The emergency occurred during the 500-meter swim portion of the Smith Point Spring Triathlon in Narrow Bay.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.