Britain’s Labour on track for landslide victory, exit poll suggests, amid anger with Conservatives
LONDON (AP) — An exit poll suggests that Britain’s Labour Party is headed for a landslide victory in a parliamentary election. Voters appear to be punishing the governing Conservatives after 14 years of economic and political upheaval. The poll released moments after voting closed Thursday indicated that center-left Labour’s leader Keir Starmer will be the country’s next prime minister. He will face a jaded electorate impatient for change against a gloomy backdrop of economic malaise, mounting distrust in institutions and a fraying social fabric. The historic defeat for the Conservatives leaves the party depleted and in disarray and will likely spark a contest to replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as leader.
The Latest | Exit poll suggests UK’s Labour Party set for a landslide election victory
Voters in the U.K. have cast their ballots in a national election to choose the 650 lawmakers who will sit in Parliament for the next five years. Polls closed at 10 p.m. local time (2100GMT) Thursday, and an exit poll suggested that the left-of-center Labour Party led by Keir Starmer is headed for a huge majority. The exit poll results suggested that after 14 years in power under five different prime ministers, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are set to have their seats in the 650-seat House of Commons cut down to 131. That would be the Tories’ worst result in the party’s two-century history. Most of the results are expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.
Biden heads into a make-or-break stretch for his imperiled presidential campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is opening a critical stretch in his effort to salvage his imperiled reelection campaign. There’s a growing sense that Biden may have just days to make a persuasive case that he’s fit for office before Democratic support for him completely evaporates in the aftermath of his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Already, some financial backers are holding off or canceling upcoming fundraisers. And Biden himself acknowledged to Democratic governors that he needs to get more sleep and limit late events so he can be fit and rested for the job.
Brazilian police indict ex-President Bolsonaro in undeclared diamonds case, sources say
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association in connection with undeclared diamonds the far-right leader received from Saudi Arabia during his time in office, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations. A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Brazil’s Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the indictment. Once it does, the country’s prosecutor-general will analyze the document and decide whether to file charges and force Bolsonaro to stand trial. The former president has denied wrongdoing.
Americans shrug off searing heat to celebrate Fourth of July with parades, cookouts and fireworks
All signs point to big celebrations for Americans this Fourth of July even as sizzling temperatures are triggering heat warnings for millions. Travel records are projected to fall as people gather for cookouts, parades and fireworks. Some unique celebrations are also planned. In Down East, Maine, lobster boat races will be held off. In Philadelphia, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence will ring the Liberty Bell. An annual tug-of-war contest is being held in California. And, of course, there’s the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York.
Millions swelter under dangerous Fourth of July heat wave
The National Weather Service says that around 134 million people in the U.S. are under alerts as an extremely dangerous and record-breaking heat wave broils much of the country. Regions that may see temperatures above 90 degrees or much higher into the triple digits include nearly all of the West Coast, the southern Plains, most of the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and parts of Florida. It’s a dangerous weather pattern hitting as fires burn in northern California, and just in time for a holiday weekend. Experts urge people to drink plenty of water and find air conditioning.
Israel approves plans for nearly 5,300 new homes in West Bank settlements
JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli anti-settlement monitoring group says the government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank. It’s the latest effort by Israel’s hard-line government to beef up the settlements as part of a strategy to cement Israel’s control over the West Bank and prevent a future Palestinian state. Peace Now says the government’s Higher Planning Council approved or advanced plans for 5,295 homes in dozens of settlements. Also on Thursday, Gaza cease-fire talks appeared to stir back to life, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying he’s decided to send negotiators to resume negotiations. Hamas on Wednesday gave mediators its latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a deal.
Hurricane Beryl churns toward Mexico after leaving destruction in Jamaica and eastern Caribbean
TULUM, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl has ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It rumbled past the Cayman Islands and took aim at Mexico’s Caribbean coast — with at least nine people dead in its wake. Beryl had been the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic but weakened by Thursday afternoon to a Category 2. Its eye was forecast to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight. Mexico’s popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge.
Parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue to buy Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion
NEW YORK (AP) — The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has signed a deal to buy upscale rival Neiman Marcus Group, which owns Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores, for $2.65 billion, with online behemoth Amazon holding a minority stake. The new entity would be called Saks Global, which will comprise the Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH brands, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as the real estate assets of Neiman Marcus Group and HBC, a holding company that purchased Saks in 2013. The deal comes after months of rumors that the department store chains had been negotiating a deal. But the twist is Amazon’s minority stake, which adds “a bit of spice” to an otherwise anticipated pact, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, a research firm.
World swimming federation confirms US federal investigation into Chinese swimmers’ doping tests
GENEVA (AP) — The international swimming federation says its executive director has been ordered to testify as a witness in a U.S. criminal investigation into the case of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 yet were allowed to continue competing. World Aquatics confirmed to The Associated Press that Brent Nowicki “was served with a witness subpoena by the United States government.” In May, a House Committee on China asked the Justice Department and the FBI to launch an investigation under a federal law that allows investigations into suspected doping conspiracies even if they occurred outside the U.S. The swimmers were allowed to compete at the previous Olympics in Tokyo despite testing positive for a banned heart medication.
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