UN court order demanding that Israel halt its Gaza offensive further isolates the US position
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.N. court’s order that Israel halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah is deepening a disconnect with the United States. The military operation faces mounting international condemnation, but American officials describe it, at least for now, as limited and targeted. The decision Friday by the International Court of Justice in The Hague adds to the pressure facing an increasingly isolated Israel. Yet the harsh global rhetoric stands apart from the stance of the Biden administration, which has made clear its opposition to a major offensive in Rafah while also insisting that the steps Israel has taken so far have not crossed red lines.
Egypt agrees to send aid trucks through Israeli crossing to Gaza but impact is unclear
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Egypt says it has agreed to send U.N. humanitarian aid trucks through Israel’s main crossing into Gaza. But it remains unclear if the aid will be able to enter the territory as fighting raged in the southern city of Rafah amid Israel’s escalating offensive there. Israel’s army says the bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct. 7 were recovered overnight from Gaza. The CIA chief met in Paris with Israeli and Qatari officials, trying to revive negotiations for a cease-fire and a hostage release.
What we know about the young missionaries and religious leader killed in Haiti
A family member of a U.S. missionary couple says the couple and a Haitian man who led a religious organization have been fatally shot by criminal gang members in Haiti’s capital. Davy Lloyd’s sister on Friday told The Associated Press that her brother, his wife Natalie Lloyd and Missions in Haiti Inc. local Director Jude Montis were abducted and killed. Police union head Lionel Lazarre says the attack happened Thursday evening in Port-au-Prince. The slayings occurred as the capital crumbles under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of the city. Authorities are awaiting the arrival of a police force from Kenya to help quell gang violence in the Caribbean country.
Chile accuses volunteer firefighter and ex-forestry official with causing huge fire that killed 137
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A Chilean judge has ordered a volunteer firefighter and a former forestry official detained for allegedly planning and causing a mammoth forest fire that caused 137 deaths and made 16,000 people homeless in February. The court in Valparaiso ruled Saturday that the two men can be held for 180 days while they are investigated. The chief prosecutor in the case says the main suspect is Francisco Mondaca, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter in Valparaiso who is accused of physically starting the fire. The prosecutor says flares and fireworks were found in Mondaca’s vehicle. The other suspect is identified as Franco Pinto, a former employee of the National Forest Corporation. He is accused of planning the crime.
Trump, accustomed to friendly crowds, confronts repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing the Libertarian Party National Convention in Washington, with many in the crowd shouting insults during his speech and decrying him for running up towering federal deficits and enriching pharmaceutical companies with the COVID-19 vaccine development. When he took the stage Saturday night, many on hand booed while some supporters clad in “Make America Great” hats and T-shirts cheered and chanted “USA! USA!” Though the audience was divided, it was a rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with detractors, which is highly unusual for someone accustomed to staging rallies in front of ever-adoring crowds.
Richard M. Sherman, who fueled Disney charm in ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘It’s a Small World,’ dies at 95
NEW YORK (AP) — Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning classic Disney tunes, has died. He was 95. Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, wrote hundreds of songs together, including songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney’s 1964 smash “Mary Poppins.” Robert Sherman died in London in 2012.
Uvalde families sue Meta and Call of Duty maker on second anniversary of school attack
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The families of a group of victims of the Uvalde school shooting have announced new lawsuits against Instagram parent company Meta Platforms, the maker of the video game Call of Duty and the gun company that made the assault rifle used in the shooting. They accuse the companies of partnering to promote and create content designed to glorify violence and effectively training the teenage gunman in one of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The lawsuits against Meta, Activision, and gun-maker Daniel Defense were announced on the two-year anniversary of the attack on Robb Elementary School.
Tornado warning issued for parts of Oklahoma amid severe storms, as heat scorches South Texas
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of Oklahoma. The service’s office in Norman said Saturday night that the warning was for northern Noble and far southern Kay counties. That’s an area to the north of Oklahoma City. Excessive heat is the danger in South Texas, where the heat index is forecast to approach 120 degrees Fahrenheit over the holiday weekend. The region is on the north end of a heat dome that stretches from Mexico to South America. Brownsville and Harlingen near the Texas-Mexico border set new record highs Saturday for the May 25 calendar date, of 99 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
Millions vote in India’s grueling election with Prime Minister Modi’s party likely to win third term
NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians are voting in the next-to-last round of a grueling national election in the searing summer heat. The combined opposition is trying to rattle Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign for a third-consecutive term for himself and his Hindu nationalist party. Saturday’s voting in 58 constituencies, including seven in New Delhi, will complete polling for roughly 90% of 543 seats in the lower house of Parliament. The voting for the remaining 57 seats on June 1 will wrap up a six-week election. The votes will be counted on June 4. This election is considered one of the most consequential in India’s history and will test the limits of Modi’s political dominance.
Grayson Murray dies at age 30 a day after withdrawing from Colonial, PGA Tour says
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray has died at the age of 30. The PGA Tour and his management company GSE Worldwide confirmed the death Saturday. There were no immediate details how Murray died. He opened with a 68 at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial. The next day he was 5 over for his round when he withdrew with two holes to play. Murray won the Sony Open this year with a 40-foot birdie putt in a playoff. He also won the Barbasol Championship in 2017. Murray made his Masters debut in April.
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