Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Paris as Russia intensifies its battlefield offensive
PARIS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden is set to have a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris as Kyiv’s army faces tough days of fighting against Russia and prepares for a challenging summer. The United States is providing significant wartime support to Ukraine, as they defend against a strong Russian offensive in eastern regions of the country. Biden and Zelenskyy participated in the 80th anniversary events of D-Day in Normandy, northern France, on Thursday. Biden assured that “we will not walk away” from Ukraine, drawing a connection between the fight for Europe’s liberation from Nazi control to the current war against Russian aggression.
Similar to Reagan, Biden aims to capture the essence of the Pointe du Hoc story
PARIS (AP) — President Joe Biden will deliver a speech from Pointe du Hoc this week, marking his second visit to the Normandy coast during his trip to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The cliffs of Pointe du Hoc were climbed by Army Rangers during the invasion, becoming a legendary mission over the years. It was famously remembered by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 when he honored “the boys of Pointe du Hoc.” Biden plans to use the site on Friday to rally Americans in support of democracy, which he believes is threatened by Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
New allegations resurface accusing Trump of disrespecting Black individuals on ‘The Apprentice’
Fresh allegations have emerged regarding Donald Trump’s disrespectful behavior towards Black contestants on “The Apprentice,” the reality TV show he hosted from 2004 to 2015. Former contestant Gene Folkes revealed to the Associated Press that Trump used racially insensitive language when Folkes was fired from the show in 2010. Folkes also mentioned receiving a cease-and-desist letter from NBC preventing him from speaking publicly. Last week, an ex-producer shared an account alleging that Trump used a racist slur to refer to Kwame Jackson, a Black contestant who was a finalist in the show’s first season. A Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed the claims as false and politically driven.
The prosecution is finalizing Hunter Biden’s gun trial with two more witnesses anticipated
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are concluding their gun case against Hunter Biden, with two additional witnesses expected on Friday aiming to prove that the president’s son lied on a mandatory gun purchase form regarding drug use. Prosecutors plan to call a drug expert and an FBI chemist. This week has focused on portraying the seriousness of Hunter Biden’s drug problem through personal and sometimes sensational witness testimonies. He has pleaded not guilty to three felonies.
Women and children in Gaza are facing fewer casualties amidst the escalating toll of war, according to AP data analysis
JERUSALEM (AP) — An Associated Press analysis of Gaza Health Ministry data reveals a decline in the proportion of Palestinian women and children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, despite contradictory statements by the ministry. The decrease coincides with Israel’s shifting battlefield strategies and challenges the ministry’s official reports. The data is crucial as the death rate for women and children is a key indicator of civilian casualties in one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century. Israel is under intense international scrutiny over high levels of civilian casualties in Gaza, raising questions about its efforts to prevent them in an ongoing 8-month war.
Attacks on businesses affiliated with U.S. brands unsettle Baghdad amid rising anger over the Gaza war
BAGHDAD (AP) — Recent attacks in Iraq, orchestrated by supporters of Iran-backed anti-American militias, illustrate growing resentment towards the United States, Israel’s primary ally, due to the conflict in Gaza. Following the outbreak of the war, Iran-backed militias conducted numerous attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and eastern Syria. The attacks ceased in February after retaliatory U.S. strikes in response to a drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. The recent attacks targeting KFC and other U.S.-linked businesses in late May and this week represent a change in tactics to agitate anti-U.S. sentiment over Washington’s continued support for Israel.
Hundreds of asylum-seekers are camped near Seattle with a vacant motel nearby
KENT, Wash. (AP) — A group of asylum-seekers is camping in a lot south of Seattle, highlighting the challenges many communities face. President Joe Biden is working to restrict asylum and address immigration concerns ahead of the upcoming election. Approximately 240 asylum-seekers are residing in tents next to a vacant motel owned by King County. The county acquired the 85-room motel as an emergency quarantine shelter during the pandemic but lacks resources to open it for migrants. The asylum-seekers hope to avoid police threats of arrest for trespassing.
Scorching heat persists in the Southwest U.S. with records tumbling and more triple-digit temperatures forecasted
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A heat wave continues to impact the Southwest United States, with record-setting temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit from southeast California to Arizona. Despite summer officially being weeks away, half of Arizona and Nevada remain under an excessive heat alert until Friday evening. Las Vegas has an ongoing alert until Saturday, experiencing unprecedented early-year heat. Thursday saw new record highs, with temperatures reaching 113 in Phoenix, 111 in Las Vegas, and 122 in Death Valley National Park.
Zombies: The number of heavily indebted companies is on the rise, facing uncertain futures
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of “zombie” companies, burdened by debt and barely staying afloat, are struggling across the globe, including 2,000 in the United States alone. Years of accumulating cheap debt followed by high inflation have pushed these companies to the brink, unable to meet loan interest payments and vulnerable to collapse from any business setbacks. Many of these companies may soon face challenges, as due dates for hundreds of billions of dollars in loans loom.
Paris Olympics organizers unveil the Olympic rings displayed on the Eiffel Tower
PARIS (AP) — In celebration of 50 days until the start of the Summer Games, the Paris Olympics organizers have revealed a display of the five Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower. The rings, made of recycled French steel, are showcased on the south side of the iconic landmark in central Paris, overlooking the Seine River. The Eiffel Tower has seen a surge in visitor numbers leading up to the Games in the French capital.
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