Member of Israel’s War Cabinet says he’ll quit the government June 8 unless there’s a new war plan
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A popular centrist member of Israel’s three-man War Cabinet has threatened to resign from the government if it doesn’t adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza in the next three weeks. Benny Gantz’ decision would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more reliant on far-right allies. His announcement Saturday escalates a divide within Israel’s leadership more than seven months into a war in which it has yet to accomplish its stated goals of dismantling Hamas and returning scores of hostages. Another War Cabinet member, Israel’s defense minister, has said he would not remain in his post if Israel chooses to reoccupy Gaza.
Trump receives NRA endorsement as he vows to protect gun rights
DALLAS (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has urged gun owners to vote in the 2024 election as he addressed thousands of members of the National Rifle Association, which officially endorsed him just before Trump took the stage at their annual meeting in Texas. Trump on Saturday pledged to continue to defend the Second Amendment and called himself “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House.” The United States faces record numbers of deaths due to mass shootings. Last year ended with 42 mass killings and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record.
Biden will deliver Morehouse commencement address during a time of tumult on US college campuses
ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden is delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College, the historically Black, male-only institution in Atlanta. The speech on Sunday offers Biden an election-year appearance before a Black audience, a key voting bloc for Democrats. It also could directly expose Biden to the anger that some Morehouse and other college students around the country have been expressing over his support for Israel in its war against Hamas militants in Gaza. Morehouse’s announcement of Biden as the commencement speaker sparked a backlash among the school’s faculty and supporters who oppose Biden’s handling of the war. After the ceremony, Biden was flying to Detroit to speak at an NAACP dinner.
Ukraine’s divisive mobilization law comes into force as a new Russian push strains front-line troops
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine has come into force as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive that some fear could close in on Ukraine’s second-largest city. The legislation, which was watered down from its original draft, will make it easier to identify every conscript in the country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed separate laws Friday that allow prisoners to join the army and increase fines for draft dodgers fivefold. Thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country to escape the draft, and some risked their lives as they tried to swim across a river to neighboring Romania and Hungary.
As killings surge, Haitians struggle to bury loved ones and find closure in violent capital
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Finding closure for loved ones killed by gangs on a relentless rampage through Haiti’s capital and beyond is growing harder day by day in a country where burial rituals are sacred and the dead venerated. Victims of gang violence are increasingly left to decay on the street because some areas are too dangerous for people to retrieve the bodies. Still, there are people who brave the streets despite whizzing bullets so they can give their loved ones a proper burial. Death and life are tightly intertwined in Haiti, where many believe that bodies need a formal resting place so their spirits can drift into the afterlife.
Hot weather poses new risk as thousands remain without power after deadly Houston storm
HOUSTON (AP) — As the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms left at least seven people dead, it will do so amid a smog warning and rising Texas heat. The National Weather Service in Houston warned people to know the symptoms of heat exhaustion as they begin cleanup. Temperatures of around 90 degrees are expected with heat indexes likely to climb to 100 degrees in the coming days. More than a half-million homes and businesses remained without power Saturday after Thursday’s storms whipped the area with thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds.
Ohio voters approved reproductive rights. Will the state’s near-ban on abortion stand?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A judge’s decision in a lawsuit against Ohio’s ban on most abortions could be near. Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins’ ruling could come as soon as Monday. It will take into account voters’ approval in November of a constitutional amendment assuring an individual’s right to make their own reproductive decisions. A 2019 bans most abortions once cardiac activity is detected. It has been mostly paused by the courts since it was enacted, except for a brief window in 2022 after Roe v. Wade was overturned. The state wants the law’s notification and reporting requirements to stay.
Taiwan’s new president inherits a strong foreign policy position but political gridlock at home
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s new president takes office Monday. Lai Ching-te is expected to build on the legacy of incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen. That means aiming to strike a balance between cultivating Taiwan’s unofficial alliance with the United States and maintaining peace with China. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be retaken by force if necessary. On domestic reforms, Lai will be facing political gridlock after Lai and Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in the legislature. That will make it hard for the new president to push through legislation including the approval of crucial national defense budgets.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years. Usyk added Fury’s WBC title to his own WBA, IBF and WBO belts with a spectacular late rally Saunday highlighted by a ninth-round knockdown in a back-and-forth bout between two previously unbeaten heavyweight champs. Two judges favored Usyk, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third gave it to Fury, 114-113. Usyk started quickly, but then had to survive while the confident, charismatic Fury dominated the middle rounds. Usyk rallied in the final rounds, just as the Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist has done so many times in his career.
Seize the Grey wins the Preakness for D. Wayne Lukas and ends Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid
BALTIMORE (AP) — Seize the Grey has won the Preakness Stakes for 88-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. His victory ended Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid. Seize the Grey returned off the same two-week turnaround as Mystik Dan after impressing in a win on the Derby undercard enough to convince Lukas to try the Preakness. Lukas has saddled more horses in the Preakness than anyone else in the race’s 149-year history. He has now won the middle leg of the Triple Crown seven times and is one back of the record held by good friend Bob Baffert. Mystik Dan finished second.
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