Hezbollah launches numerous rockets at northern Israel while Gaza cease-fire negotiations remain uncertain.
BEIRUT (AP) — In retaliation for the killing of a senior commander, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has fired a large number of rockets into northern Israel. This escalation of tensions in the region comes as the fate of an internationally-supported plan for a cease-fire in Gaza hangs in the balance. United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is in the region to promote a cease-fire proposal with global approval that has not been fully accepted by Israel or Hamas. The militant group submitted its initial official response on Tuesday night, requesting modifications to the agreement. Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas backed by Iran, has been engaging in fire exchanges with Israel almost daily since the 8-month long Israel-Hamas war started and has stated that they will only cease fire if there is a truce in Gaza. This has raised concerns of a broader conflict.
What’s next for Hunter Biden following his conviction on federal gun-related charges
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s legal troubles are not over after being found guilty on three felony firearms charges in a trial that highlighted his history of drug abuse. Now, President Joe Biden’s son faces sentencing and another trial on tax charges amidst his father’s reelection campaign. Jurors reached a guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for three hours over two days in Wilmington, Delaware. The case stemmed from a firearm Hunter Biden purchased in 2018 while, according to prosecutors, he was struggling with a crack cocaine addiction. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell stated following the verdict that they will continue to aggressively pursue all available legal options.
AP sources report the arrest of 8 individuals with potential ties to Islamic State in the US for immigration violations
WASHINGTON (AP) — Recent arrests of eight individuals from Tajikistan suspected to have connections with the Islamic State group have taken place in the United States. According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, the arrests occurred in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, and the individuals, who entered the US through the southern border, are being detained on immigration violations. The specifics of their suspected ties to IS were not immediately clear, but the men were monitored by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. They are currently under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which made the arrests, pending deportation proceedings.
North Korea’s Kim praises Russia relations as Putin reportedly plans a visit
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commended the expanding relationship with Russia as reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon visit North Korea for his third meeting with Kim. North Korea’s state media announced on Wednesday that Kim sent Putin a message of congratulations to mark Russia’s National Day and discussed the growing bilateral ties. Collaboration between the two countries has significantly increased since Kim’s visit to Russia in September last year for a meeting with Putin. Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing diplomatic sources including high-ranking Russian officials, reported on Wednesday that Putin is preparing to visit North Korea and Vietnam next week.
At least 35 people confirmed dead in a building fire in Kuwait, state news agency reports
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The state-run news agency in Kuwait has reported that at least 35 individuals have lost their lives in a building fire. KUNA stated that another 15 people were injured in the fire which started early on Wednesday in the southern Mangaf district. The head of forensic evidence at the Interior Ministry declared that the fire has been contained and that authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze. Kuwait, a country with a population of approximately 4.2 million, slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, possesses the sixth-largest known oil reserves in the world. In 2022, a fire at an oil refinery claimed the lives of four individuals.
Over 1.5 million foreign Muslims arrive in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Foreign pilgrims have been arriving in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca for the Hajj, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale. Saudi officials have confirmed that over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca. More are expected to join, along with hundreds of thousands of Saudis and other residents living in Saudi Arabia, when the pilgrimage officially commences on Friday. Saudi authorities anticipate the number of participants to exceed those in 2023 when over 1.8 million people performed the Hajj. The numbers are approaching the levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims undertook the pilgrimage.
Deceitful tactics: Russia, China, and Big Tech utilize fake female personas to attract clicks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Research indicates that when it comes to online scams and foreign disinformation, adopting a female persona can be advantageous. Chatbots and fake social media accounts tend to receive more engagement when portraying a female identity. Researchers suggest that this is due to the perception of women as warm and approachable, with chatbots embodying feminine personas being viewed as more human compared to those posing as male. Consequently, many chatbots are designed with female personalities, while groups linked to the Kremlin and China prefer using fake accounts with female profile pictures to disseminate misleading information and propaganda.
Delayed plans for memorial to Florida nightclub massacre victims finally progressing
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Survivors and families of the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Florida had expected to have a permanent memorial at the site by now. However, plans for a memorial honoring the 49 individuals killed and 53 wounded in the attack on the LGBTQ-friendly club in Orlando have only recently begun to materialize in a more modest form. A private foundation with grand plans for a multi-million dollar memorial and museum has dissolved, and last year the city of Orlando acquired the nightclub property for $2 million. The city has outlined more humble plans for a memorial. Wednesday marks the eighth anniversary of the attack carried out by gunman Omar Mateen, who was killed following a standoff.
Federal Reserve likely to revise plans for rate cuts due to persistent inflation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials are expected to acknowledge on Wednesday what has been evident for some time: with inflation remaining well above their 2% target, they are adjusting their expectations for interest rate reductions. In the economic forecasts to be released after their latest meeting, policymakers are anticipated to indicate that they plan to lower the benchmark rate once or twice by the end of the year, as opposed to the three times they had originally projected in March. The Fed’s rate decisions typically have a substantial impact on mortgage rates, auto loans, credit card rates, and other forms of consumer and business borrowing.
Thefts of charging cables add to challenges faced by the electric vehicle industry
DETROIT (AP) — Thieves across the United States are targeting electric vehicle charging stations with the intention of stealing the cables, which contain copper wiring. The price of copper is near a record high on global markets, making it a lucrative venture for criminals who stand to profit from selling the material. The stolen cables often render entire charging stations inoperable. Malfunctioning chargers have become the latest hurdle for US automakers in their endeavor to encourage more Americans to switch to electric vehicles despite concerns about the availability of charging stations. When finding a charging station does not guarantee functioning cables, it becomes another reason for consumers to stick with gasoline-powered or hybrid vehicles, at least for the time being.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
