Aid trucks begin entering Gaza under agreement with Egypt to bypass Rafah
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Aid trucks have started entering Gaza from southern Israel through a new agreement to bypass the Rafah crossing with Egypt after Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side earlier this month. Egypt has refused to reopen its side of the Rafah crossing until control of the Gaza side is returned to Palestinians. However, under pressure from the U.S. and Israel, Egypt agreed to redirect traffic through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing, which is Gaza’s main cargo terminal. Israel claims to have allowed hundreds of trucks to enter, but United Nations agencies argue it is usually too dangerous to retrieve the aid on the other side.
Tornado overturns trucks and damages homes as Texas and Oklahoma residents advised to seek shelter
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A tornado touched down and crossed an interstate in Texas, causing damage and potential injuries as severe storms moved through Texas and Oklahoma. Forecasters have issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of both states. An official in Denton County, Texas, reported that a tornado caused damage to homes, power lines, and trees. The official mentioned that overturned tractor-trailer trucks stopped traffic on Interstate 35. The National Weather Service’s office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued a warning for an area north of Oklahoma City, urging people to seek cover immediately. An excessive heat warning has also been issued for South Texas, where the heat index is set to reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit over the holiday weekend.
UN migration agency estimates over 670 killed in Papua New Guinea landslide
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The International Organization for Migration has raised its estimate of the death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea to over 670. Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the U.N. migration agency’s mission in the South Pacific island nation, stated that the revised death toll is based on calculations by Yambali village and Enga provincial officials, indicating that more than 150 homes were buried by Friday’s landslide. The previous estimate had been 60 homes, and local officials had originally put the death toll on Friday at 100 or more. By Sunday, only five bodies and a leg of a sixth victim had been recovered.
Trump faces repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was met with repeated boos while speaking at the Libertarian Party National Convention in Washington, with many in the crowd shouting insults and expressing their disapproval of his policies. When he took the stage on Saturday night, attendees were divided with some booing and others cheering and chanting “USA! USA!” This marked a rare moment for Trump to encounter detractors, as he is accustomed to holding rallies in front of supportive crowds.
Chile accuses volunteer firefighter and ex-forestry official of causing massive fire
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A Chilean judge has ordered a volunteer firefighter and a former forestry official to be detained for allegedly planning and causing a massive forest fire that resulted in 137 deaths and displaced 16,000 people in February. The court in Valparaiso ruled on Saturday that the two individuals can be held for 180 days during the investigation. The main suspect is Francisco Mondaca, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter in Valparaiso who is accused of physically starting the fire. Flares and fireworks were found in Mondaca’s vehicle. The other suspect, Franco Pinto, a former employee of the National Forest Corporation, is accused of planning the crime.
Richard M. Sherman, known for Disney classics, passes away at 95
NEW YORK (AP) — Richard M. Sherman, one half of the famous songwriting duo responsible for classic Disney tunes, has died at the age of 95. Along with his late brother Robert, Sherman wrote numerous songs together, including hits from “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” as well as the popular song “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced Sherman’s passing on Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for their work on Walt Disney’s 1964 film “Mary Poppins.”
Chinese and Japanese leaders visit South Korea for trilateral meeting
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Leaders of China and Japan have arrived in Seoul to meet separately with South Korea’s president, leading up to a trilateral gathering. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are scheduled for bilateral talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss cooperation initiatives. The trilateral meeting on Monday marks the first such meeting in over four years. While no major announcements are expected from the trilateral meeting, the resumption of high-level, three-way discussions is a positive sign indicating the intent of the three Asian neighbors to improve relations.
National Spelling Bee highlights success of Indian immigrants in the U.S.
Since 1999, 28 of the last 34 Scripps National Spelling Bee champions have been Indian American. Many of these winners are the children of parents who immigrated to the United States on student or work visas. The experiences of first-generation Indian Americans and their spelling bee champion children exemplify the economic success and cultural influence of the nation’s second-largest immigrant group. The 2024 bee competition begins on Tuesday outside Washington, with many expected Indian American contenders.
PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray passes away at age 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray has died at the age of 30. The PGA Tour and his management company GSE Worldwide confirmed his death on Saturday. Details surrounding his passing were not immediately provided. Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial after opening with a 68 and being 5 over for his round the following day. Murray had won the Sony Open earlier this year with a birdie putt in a playoff and also claimed victory at the Barbasol Championship in 2017. He made his debut at the Masters in April.
Rare blue-eyed cicada spotted during 2024 emergence in suburban Chicago
LISLE, Ill. (AP) — The 2024 cicada emergence is underway in Illinois. A rare, blue-eyed female Magicicada cassini cicada was observed at The Morton Arboretum in suburban Chicago. The blue-eyed cicada is considered rare, although it is difficult to gauge its exact rarity. Periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years, with the 17-year brood starting to appear in northern Illinois. Both broods are expected to converge in the southern part of the state.
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