Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is reportedly killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, which could lead to increased tensions
BEIRUT (AP) — The top political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in an airstrike in Tehran, as stated by Hamas and Iran, both pointing fingers at Israel. This unexpected killing raises the risk of further conflict at a time when the U.S. and other countries are working to avoid a full-scale regional war. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised retaliation against Israel for the killing of a “dear guest,” shortly after Haniyeh was present at Iran’s new president’s inauguration. Israel has not officially commented on the strike, but they have previously vowed to target Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in response to the group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths.
The ongoing war in Gaza may complicate the process of selecting Haniyeh’s successor. Here are some potential candidates
BEIRUT (AP) — The militant Palestinian organization Hamas has a track record of quickly and smoothly replacing fallen leaders who have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in the early hours of Wednesday in the Iranian capital comes at a challenging time for Hamas, as the conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for nearly 10 months. Haniyeh was leading the group’s political bureau until his death. His deputy, Saleh Arouri, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut in January, would have been the natural successor. Once the group’s Shura council convenes, several top Hamas officials could potentially replace Haniyeh, including Zaher Jabarin, Khaled Mashaal, and Khalil al-Hayya.
A United Nations report reveals that Palestinians detained by Israeli authorities since Oct. 7 have been subjected to torture and mistreatment
GENEVA (AP) — A report from the U.N. human rights office details the torture and mistreatment faced by Palestinians detained by Israeli authorities following the Oct. 7 attacks. Methods such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and electric shocks were reportedly used on these individuals. The report, released on Wednesday, indicates that Israel’s prison service held over 9,400 “security detainees” by the end of June, with some being held in secret without legal representation or respect for their rights. The findings of this report, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, could potentially be used by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court investigating crimes related to the Oct. 7 attacks.
Colombian President Petro urges Venezuelan President Maduro to disclose detailed election results
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called on his close ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to provide detailed vote counts from the recent election in which Maduro was declared the winner by electoral authorities. Petro’s demand comes amidst criticism from the international community directed at Maduro and the National Electoral Council, which has yet to release polling center-level results as done in previous elections. Maduro’s main rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado argue that disclosing this information would prove Maduro’s defeat in the election.
Approximately 8 out of 10 Democrats express satisfaction with Kamala Harris following Biden’s withdrawal: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have energized Democrats early in her candidacy, with the surge in support extending to various groups, including key Democratic constituencies that were not as enthusiastic about President Joe Biden. A recent poll indicates that about 8 out of 10 Democrats would be content if Harris were to become the Democratic presidential nominee. The survey, conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research after Biden’s exit from the race, highlights the rapid shift in Democrats’ views towards supporting Harris as the party’s nominee.
An invitation for Donald Trump to speak at the National Association of Black Journalists convention divides the organization
WASHINGTON (AP) — The decision to invite Donald Trump to address the National Association of Black Journalists has sparked controversy within the organization and online debates. It is customary for journalism organizations representing people of color to invite presidential candidates to speak at their summer conferences during election years. However, Trump’s acceptance of the NABJ’s invitation has led to a prominent member stepping down as a convention co-chair and concerns among others that the convention may give Trump a platform to spread misinformation or be seen as receiving NABJ’s endorsement. This debate within the NABJ reflects the ongoing challenge that journalists face in navigating their relationship with Trump nearly a decade after his initial presidential campaign.
Washington, DC, files a lawsuit against StubHub, alleging that the ticket resale platform inflates prices with misleading fees
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ticket resale company StubHub is facing legal action from the attorney general of Washington, D.C., accusing the company of deceptively advertising low prices and then raising them with added fees. Washington Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that this practice, known as “drip pricing,” violates consumer protection laws in the city. On the other hand, StubHub claims that its pricing practices are in line with legal requirements and industry standards. According to Washington’s lawsuit, StubHub has sold nearly 5 million tickets in the city since 2015, generating around $118 million in fees. The lawsuit seeks damages and a change in the pricing structure.
Delta CEO reveals that the airline is facing $500 million in costs due to a global tech outage
Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced that the airline is dealing with $500 million in costs resulting from a recent global technology failure. Speaking on CNBC, Bastian mentioned that this figure includes lost revenue, as well as expenses related to compensations and accommodations, totaling tens of millions of dollars per day, incurred over a five-day period.
Meet the dedicated Olympics superfan who invested her savings to attend her 7th Games
PARIS (AP) — A familiar face in the streets of Paris, Vivianne Robinson, is hard to miss with her collection of pins and decorations. The avid Olympics enthusiast has attended seven Summer Games over the span of four decades. However, her most recent trip to Paris came at a high cost of $10,000. The 66-year-old went to great lengths to afford this experience, maxing out her credit cards and taking on additional work. Despite paying $1,600 for the opening ceremony, she ended up watching it on a screen. Robinson has become somewhat of a celebrity herself and is determined to attend future Olympic Games, regardless of the expenses.
Olympic triathletes go ahead with swimming in the Seine River after concerns about water quality
PARIS (AP) — After days of uncertainties and delays due to water quality concerns in the Seine River, the Olympic triathlons finally took place on Wednesday. Organizers stated that the latest tests showed that the water quality in the renowned Paris waterway met the required standards. Elevated levels of bacteria had previously postponed the men’s race from Tuesday. The decision to proceed with the Seine swim for the triathlon events is a significant success for the city and Olympics organizers, who have worked on a substantial plan to clean up the historically polluted Seine, asserting that swimming events could be safely conducted in the river.
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