An Israeli attack targeting the Hamas military commander kills at least 71 in southern Gaza
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says it has targeted Hamas’ shadowy military commander in a massive strike in southern Gaza that local health officials say killed at least 71 people. It’s not immediately known whether Mohammed Deif was among the dead. Hamas has denied that he was nearby. Israel’s military says it is still verifying the results of Saturday’s strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a press conference in the evening. Deif is believed by many to be the chief architect of the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war. The strike came at a delicate time in cease-fire efforts.
Biden’s supporters want to ‘let Joe be Joe’ — but his stumbles are now under a bigger spotlight
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is on a public and private blitz to shake off concerns about his cognitive capacities. But with unabating public doubts about his fitness to serve, Biden’s every move is now under a withering microscope as any potential stumble risks becoming magnified and delivering another blow to his candidacy. To wit: As he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit event Thursday evening, Biden flubbed and called him “President Putin,” prompting audible gasps from the audience. He corrected himself, saying, “I’m so focused on beating Putin” before ceding the lectern to Zelenskyy. Shortly thereafter at a news conference, Biden errantly referred to “Vice President Trump.”
Trump heads to Pennsylvania for pre-convention rally as VP announcement looms
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump will have one last chance Saturday to dramatically unveil his vice presidential pick on a rally stage before the Republican National Convention kicks off next week. Trump’s rally in western Pennsylvania, at the Butler Farm Show just outside Pittsburgh, comes as the former reality TV star and tabloid hound continues to tease his pick for maximum attention. But Trump has made clear in recent days that his preference is to dramatically reveal his pick live at the convention — something the ratings-obsessed former president has said would make the proceedings more “interesting” and “exciting.”
Deeply Democratic Milwaukee wrestles with hosting Trump and the Republican National Convention
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee loves its Miller Beer, Brewers baseball and “Bronze Fonz” statue. The deepest blue city in swing state Wisconsin, Milwaukee also loves Democrats. So it can be hard for some to swallow that Milwaukee is playing host to former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Convention this coming week while rival Chicago, the larger city 90 miles to the south, welcomes President Joe Biden and Democrats in August. It didn’t help smooth things over with wary Democrats after Trump used the word “horrible” when talking about Milwaukee just a month before the convention. Still, Milwaukee officials point to the economic benefits and the chance to showcase the city nationally.
With words, deeds and arms deals, allies make the case for NATO in terms that would appeal to Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — European allies in NATO are stepping up their military spending, just as Donald Trump wanted. They’re pointing to common interests, such as security concerns with China. They’re creating American jobs by buying U.S. weapons. In words, deeds and arms deals, leaders of the United States’ partner countries in NATO are making the case for the military alliance in ways likely to appeal to the presumed Republican presidential nominee. Even if their actions aren’t necessarily directly tied to Trump’s prodding, the allies are casting them in terms he would approve of, and maybe take credit for.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, America’s diminutive and pioneering sex therapist, dies at 96
NEW YORK (AP) — Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, has died. She was 96. Westheimer never advocated risky sexual behavior. Instead, she encouraged an open dialogue on previously closeted issues that affected her audience of millions. Her one recurring theme was there was nothing to be ashamed of. Westheimer’s giggly, German-accented voice, coupled with her 4-foot-7 frame, made her an unlikely looking — and sounding — outlet for “sexual literacy.” The contradiction was one of the keys to her success. She died Friday at her home in New York City, surrounded by family.
A Taiwan-based Buddhist charity attempts to take the founding nun’s message of compassion global
HUALIEN, Taiwan (AP) — Tzu Chi is an international Buddhist organization led by the Venerable Cheng Yen, an 87-year-old nun living in Taiwan. Over five decades, the nun whose work began with a small group of housewives has expanded into a global organization. Tzu Chi has millions of members across 67 countries, including the United States. The organization follows the principle of humanistic or engaged Buddhism, which emphasizes loving compassion, community engagement and action over rituals and prayer. The organization has also been able to successfully recruit business tycoons and industry leaders across several countries to help raise money for its various efforts, such as disaster relief, education and a host of social programs.
Shelling kills 4 in Ukraine as a drone attack sparks fire at an oil depot in Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian shelling of Ukraine has killed four people as the two countries exchanged drone attacks, one of which set ablaze a Russian oil depot. Ukraine has in recent months stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals in an effort to slow down the Kremlin’s war machine. Moscow’s army is pressing hard along the front line in eastern Ukraine, where a shortage of troops and ammunition in the third year of war has made defenders vulnerable. An oil depot deep inside Russia’s southwestern Rostov region was set ablaze Saturday in the latest long-range strike by Kyiv’s forces on a border region.
Inside the courtroom as case dismissed against Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting of cinematographer
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A nearly three-year legal saga for Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer has ended without a verdict but with tears of relief for the actor and a small coterie of family who had settled into a somber routine inside a windowless New Mexico courtroom at trial. Inside the court, jurors dutifully scrawled notes and listened with steepled hands. But they were sent home early Friday as the criminal case against Baldwin collapsed amid gasps in the courtroom gallery and accusations that prosecutors “buried” evidence about ammunition.
Houston community groups strain to keep feeding and cooling a city battered by repeat storms
HOUSTON (AP) — In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, fresh food and cool air are coming from Houston community groups that have honed their disaster services in a city frequently battered by extreme weather. Nonprofits and mutual aid organizations are bringing relief for some of the millions without power after the Category 1 storm knocked electricity out across the major American city. But some find their resources drained by the repeat extreme weather. And it is only the beginning of what experts say will be a busy hurricane season. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Sally Ray says climate change requires donors to proactively help build the capacity of emergency services.
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