Beryl weakens to tropical depression after slamming into Texas as Category 1 hurricane
HOUSTON (AP) — After Hurricane Beryl slammed into Texas, knocking out power to nearly 3 million homes and businesses and killing at least three people it moved east and weakened to a tropical depression. The fast-moving tempest on Monday threatened to carve a harsh path over several more states in coming days. Officials warned it could take several days to restore power after Beryl came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane and toppled 10 transmission lines and knocked down trees that took down power lines. Beryl later weakened into a tropical storm and then a tropical depression.
Biden gets support from key lawmakers as he tells Democrats he won’t step aside after debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is standing firm against calls for him to drop his reelection candidacy and calling for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal debate performance. Key lawmakers are expressing support for him to remain in the 2024 presidential race. Biden sent congressional Democrats an open letter aiming to silence their skepticism of his fitness to lead the country for another four years. He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat Donald Trump. After a week of false starts, a coordinated effort by Biden and his campaign to shore up Democratic support appears to be paying off, though he has by no means silenced his doubters.
The White House faces many questions about Biden’s health and medical history. Here are some answers
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has tried to address questions about President Joe Biden’s health. During a Monday news briefing, Jean-Pierre said that the president has only seen a neurologist three times while in office, and those visits were in conjunction with his annual physicals. Biden’s terrible performance at the June 27 presidential debate has raised concerns about his age, health and ability to lead the federal government. Visitor logs show that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist who has conducted research into Parkinson’s, went to the White House eight times over the past four months, though Cannard made similar trips during the administrations of President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
Republicans move at Trump’s behest to change how they will oppose abortion
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Committee’s platform committee is adopting a policy document that reflects former President Donald Trump’s position — opposing a federal abortion ban and ceding limits to the states. It is the first time a national abortion ban has been omitted in 40 years. The move comes as Trump imposes his priorities on the committee as he seeks to steer clear of strict abortion language, even while taking credit for setting up the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. The new platform language relies on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment to say that states are “free to pass laws” concerning abortion.
Searing heat wave grips large parts of the US and causes deaths in the West
DEATH VALLEY, California (AP) — Record daily high temperatures in Oregon are suspected in four deaths reported in the Portland area, as much of the country continues to swelter under an early heat wave. California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Idaho are all under an excessive heat warning. Parts of the East Coast as well as Alabama and Mississippi are under heat advisories. The death of a motorcyclist Saturday in California’s Death Valley also has been blamed on the severe heat. The early U.S. heat wave came as the global temperature in June was record warm for the 13th straight month.
Here’s what to know about Boeing agreeing to plead guilty to fraud in 737 Max crashes
Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to fraud to settle charges stemming from the crashes of two of its 737 Max jets. If a judge in Texas accepts the deal, Boeing won’t have to go on trial. The plea deal was disclosed in a court filing late Sunday. It’s not yet a sure thing, however. Relatives of some of the passengers who died in the Max crashes have indicated they will ask a federal judge to throw out the agreement. Under the deal, Boeing will pay another fine, bringing the total to $487.2 million, and be required to invest at least $455 million in making additional safety improvements.
“Pace is too slow.” Women gradually rise in Japanese politics but face deep challenges
TOKYO (AP) — Eight years ago Yuriko Koike became the first woman to lead Tokyo, beating her male predecessor. She won her third term Sunday and one of her closest rivals was a woman. Multiple women competing for a top political office is still rare in Japan. The country has a terrible global gender-equality ranking. But Koike’s win highlights a gradual rise in powerful female officials and a society more open to gender balance in politics. Politics in Japan is still overwhelmingly dominated by men even if a woman eventually becomes prime minister. And experts see a huge effort needed for equal representation.
The far right seemed to have a lock on France’s legislative elections. Here’s why it didn’t win
PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen appeared to be nearer to power than ever last week after her National Rally party triumphed in the opening round of legislative elections. It looked like an impressive opening position to possibly win or get close to an absolute parliamentary majority in the decisive runoff. But what Le Pen hoped would be a watershed victory turned into another setback. Although her party won more National Assembly seats than ever, it again hit a wall of voters who don’t believe the National Rally should govern France or has shed its links to racism, antisemitism and the country’s still painful World War II past of collaboration with Nazi Germany.
Brazil’s police say Bolsonaro embezzled $1.2 million in undeclared jewelry from Saudi Arabia
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police allege former President Jair Bolsonaro embezzled jewelry worth about $1.2 million during his time in office. That is according to the report on its investigation that was unsealed Monday by the Brazilian Supreme Court. Bolsonaro was indicted last week charging embezzlement, asset laundering and criminal association in connection with luxury jewelry. Bolsonaro hasn’t commented on the indictment, but has previously denied any wrongdoing involving the jewelry. The investigation adds pressure to the far-right leader who governed in 2019-2022 before losing his reelection bid to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has already lost his political rights until 2030.
Judge decides Alec Baldwin’s role as co-producer not relevant to trial over fatal 2021 set shooting
A New Mexico judge has decided that actor Alec Baldwin’s role as co-producer isn’t relevant to the involuntary manslaughter trial over a fatal shooting on the set of the Western film “Rust.” The actor has appeared in court Monday for a pretrial hearing over a single charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a cinematographer. Halyna Hutchins was killed in October 2021 when a gun Baldwin was holding went off during a rehearsal. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty. The judge also decided to exclude as evidence a state workplace safety investigation the prosecution argued was incomplete.
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