G7 summit opens with deal to use Russian assets for Ukraine as EU’s traditional powers recalibrate
BARI, Italy (AP) — A Group of Seven summit is opening in Italy with agreement on a U.S. proposal to back a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets as collateral. Diplomatic sources confirmed an agreement had been reached on the deal before the leaders even landed in southern Italy for the three-day summit opening Thursday. Beyond the Ukraine war, Pope Francis will become the first pope to address a G7 summit. He’ll be speaking Friday about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence, but is expected to also renew his appeal for a peaceful end to wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
The Latest: Italy hosts the Group of Seven summit with global conflicts on the agenda
BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy (AP) — Italy is hosting the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations in the wake of the European Parliament election that saw a surge in support for the far right in places like G7 members France and Germany. The G7 summit through Saturday is focusing on global conflicts, the spread of artificial intelligence and on Africa. Leaders will also discuss Italy’s longstanding concern about uncontrolled migration and human traffickers. Perennial issues such as climate change and China also will be discussed. The member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
What are the main sticking points in the cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas?
The latest proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza has the support of the United States and most of the international community, but Hamas has not fully embraced it, and neither, it seems, has Israel. Hamas this week accepted the broad outline but requested “amendments.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly disputed certain aspects of the plan, raising questions about Israel’s commitment to what the U.S. says is an Israeli proposal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the negotiations will continue. But he said Hamas had requested “numerous” changes, adding that “some of the changes are workable; some are not.”
Yemen’s Houthi rebels launch boat-borne bomb attack against Greek-owned ship in Red Sea
ABOARD THE USS LABOON IN THE RED SEA (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched a boat-borne bomb attack against a commercial ship in the Red Sea, further escalating their campaign despite a U.S.-led campaign trying to protect the vital waterway. In a warning to shippers, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center described the vessel on Wednesday as being hit in its stern by a small white craft southwest of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida. A Houthi military spokesman later claimed the attack. He described the attack as using a “drone boat,” drones and ballistic missiles. The use of a boat loaded with explosives raises the specter of 2000’s USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaida that killed 17 sailors on board.
Trump is returning to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican lawmakers, a first since Jan. 6 attack
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is making a triumphant return to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. GOP lawmakers find themselves newly energized and reinvigorated by Trump’s bid to retake the White House. This is despite the federal charges against Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and his recent guilty verdict in an unrelated hush money trial. He is expected to visit House and then Senate Republican campaign headquarters near the Capitol to discuss party priorities. It’s his first as the party’s presumptive nominee. He’s also speaking at the Business Roundtable.
Milei’s radical overhaul advances in Argentina’s Senate as protesters clash with police
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s Senate began what’s likely to be an all-night voting marathon on the details of President Javier Milei’s sweeping proposals to slash spending and boost his own powers after giving the plan overall approval in a narrow vote. But as of early Thursday, the shape those reforms would take remained unclear as lawmakers began voting article by article on scores of deregulation measures. Senators voted 37 to 36 late Wednesday to provisionally approve the two bills after a daylong heated debate while thousands of protesters poured into the streets, clashing with police officers, burning cars and throwing Molotov cocktails. Hundreds of federal security forces pushed back with rounds of tear gas and water cannons.
One year later, migrants who cheated death off Greece seek justice and struggle to cope with life
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A year after one of the worst migrant boat tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea, there are only hazy answers as to why hundreds of lives were lost and who can be held answerable. Survivors say they are still waiting for justice, while bearing the trauma of the shipwreck and the horrible five-day journey that preceded it. Just 104 people survived the wreck of the dilapidated fishing boat smuggling up to 750 migrants from North Africa to Europe. Bodies of most of the dead weren’t recovered, so hundreds of families lack even the grim certitude that their relatives are dead.
After rare flash flood emergency, Florida prepares for more heavy rainfall in coming days
A tropical disturbance has brought a rare flash flood emergency to much of southern Florida. Floridians prepared to weather more heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday’s downpours and subsequent flooding blocked roads, floated vehicles and delayed the Florida Panthers on their way to Stanley Cup games in Canada against the Edmonton Oilers. The disorganized storm system was pushing across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico at roughly the same time as the early June start of hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory amid concerns that climate change is increasing storm intensity.
Fired SpaceX employees sue the company for wrongfully terminating critics of CEO Elon Musk
NEW YORK (AP) — Eight former employees sued SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk, alleging that Musk ordered them fired after they challenged what they called rampant sexual harassment, a hostile “Animal House”-style work environment at the company and Musk’s role in creating that atmosphere. The employees, who filed suit in a California state court, detailed their complaints in a 2022 open letter to management they shared via a company intranet. The next day, four of the plaintiffs were fired, they alleged; others were terminated later after an internal investigation. In January, the federal National Labor Relations Board filed its own complaint against SpaceX on behalf of the fired employees.
Tatum, Brown help Celtics hold off huge Dallas rally for 106-99 win, 3-0 lead in NBA Finals
DALLAS (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and the Boston Celtics held off a furious Dallas rally to reach the brink of a record 18th championship with a 106-99 victory over the Mavericks for a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals. No team has rallied from 3-0 down in an NBA playoff series. Jaylen Brown had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics extended their franchise record with a 10th consecutive playoff victory. The Mavs almost pulled off a crazy comeback to avoid the big hole. Boston led 91-70 at the end of a 20-5 run early in the fourth quarter before Dallas answered with a 22-2 spurt to get within a point.
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