Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on rapid-fire rifle bump stocks, reopening political fight
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, a rapid-fire gun accessory that was used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The high court Friday found the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course from previous administrations and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with semiautomatic rifles in 2017. A Texas gun shop owner challenged the ban, arguing the Justice Department wrongly classified bump stocks as illegal machine guns. The Biden administration said the department made the right call for gun accessories that can allow a rate of fire similar to an automatic weapon.
Speaker Johnson says House will go to court for Biden audio after Justice Dept. refused to prosecute
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson says the House will go to court to enforce the subpoena against Attorney General Merrick Garland for access to President Joe Biden’s special counsel audio interview. The decision came hours after the Justice Department on Friday refused to prosecute Republicans’ contempt of Congress charge against Garland. In a letter to Johnson, a Justice Department official cited the agency’s “longstanding position and uniform practice” to not prosecute officials who don’t comply with subpoenas because of a president’s claim of executive privilege. The House voted Wednesday to hold Garland in contempt of Congress. Biden has asserted executive privilege to block the release of the recording and has accused Republicans of seeking it only for political purposes.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on mifepristone isn’t the last word on the abortion pill
The Supreme Court has decided to uphold federal approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, for now. But this week’s unanimous ruling isn’t the final word. The justices denied the challenge for technical reasons, and didn’t address the merits of Food and Drug Administration drug approvals. Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s opinion even provided a road map for people who he said have sincere objections to others using mifepristone and obtaining abortions. He said anyone who objects to what the law allows other people to do can take their concerns to the Executive and Legislative Branches. That route would be more likely to work for abortion opponents if Republican Donald Trump is elected president in November.
Some Mexican shelters see crowding south of the border as Biden’s asylum ban takes hold
MATAMOROS, Mexico (AP) — Some shelters south of the U.S. border are caring for many more migrants now that the Biden administration stopped considering most asylum requests. But the impact appears uneven more than a week after the temporary suspension took effect. Shelter directors say they have plenty of space south of Texas and California. But as many as 500 deportations from Arizona each day are straining shelters in Mexico’s Sonora state. They also expect longer stays as migrants try to snag appointments through the CBP One online app. And an exemption for unaccompanied minors has some advocates worried that mothers will send their children across the border alone.
Alex Jones’ personal assets to be sold to pay $1.5B Sandy Hook debt. Company bankruptcy is dismissed
HOUSTON (AP) — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is facing a court-ordered sell-off of many of his personal assets while the future of his Infowars media platform remains up in the air. A federal bankruptcy judge in Houston on Friday ordered a liquidation of Jones’ personal assets to help pay the $1.5 billion in legal judgments he owes relatives of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting for calling the massacre a hoax. But the judge also dismissed the bankruptcy case of Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems. The company’s future is uncertain. Jones has vowed to keep broadcasting his show in some fashion if he loses his company.
G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia’s frozen assets. Here’s how it will work
WASHINGTON (AP) — The leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to set in motion a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine. Interest earned on profits from Russia’s frozen central bank assets would be used as collateral. Details of the deal are being hashed out by G7 leaders at their summit in Italy. The money could reach Kyiv before the end of the year. The plan is to use profits from Russia’s roughly $260 billion in frozen central bank assets as collateral. President Joe Biden said the move was part of a “historic agreement.” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called it “a vital step forward in providing sustainable support for Ukraine in winning this war.”
Pope Francis becomes first pontiff to address a G7 summit, raising alarm about AI. The G7 responds
BARI, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis has challenged leaders of the world’s wealthy democracies to keep human dignity foremost in developing and using artificial intelligence. He warned that human relations themselves could be reduced to algorithms. Francis brought his moral authority to bear on the Group of Seven. In doing so, he became the first pope to attend the G7, offering an ethical take on an issue that is increasingly on the agenda of international summits, government policy and corporate boards alike. The final G7 communique largely reflected his concerns. The leaders pledged to better coordinate the governance and regulatory frameworks surrounding AI to keep it “human-centered.”
South Africa’s President Ramaphosa is reelected for second term after a dramatic late coalition deal
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected by lawmakers for a second term after his African National Congress party struck a dramatic late coalition deal with the main opposition and other parties. Ramaphosa won convincingly in a vote late Friday night against a surprise candidate who was also nominated in Parliament — Julius Malema, the leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters. The 71-year-old Ramaphosa secured a second term with the help of lawmakers from the second biggest Democratic Alliance party and others after the ANC lost its 30-year parliamentary majority in a landmark election two weeks ago.
High orange juice prices may be on the table for a while due to disease and extreme weather
MOGI GUACU, Brazil (AP) — Orange juice prices have always been volatile and highly dependent on the weather. But the record-high prices the world is seeing for OJ right now may be on the table for a while. An invasive pest that has been killing Florida’s orange trees since 2005 also is spreading in Brazil, the world’s largest orange juice exporter. Extreme weather is another factor. This year’s orange harvest in Brazil is likely to be the worst in 36 years due to flooding and drought. Florida’s orange production fell 62% last year in the wake of Hurricane Ian. In the U.S., a 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate cost 42% more in April than a year earlier
Princess of Wales says she’s making ‘good progress’ in cancer treatment, will attend a public event
LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales says she is “making good progress” in her cancer treatment and will attend Saturday’s royal Trooping the Color ceremony, Kate’s first public appearance since her diagnosis. The 42-year-old wife of Prince William has not made any public appearances this year. She announced in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer. She says in a statement Friday: “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.” She added that she faces “a few more months” of treatment.
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