US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, while the United States and allies prepare to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict. Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. A White House adviser says, “we are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over.”
Jordan’s top diplomat makes rare visit to Iran as fears of a wider regional war soar
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, has arrived in Iran on what would be the first official visit by a senior official of the close U.S. ally in two decades. Sunday’s visit comes as the U.S. and its Arab allies are trying to prevent a wider regional war after the back-to-back killings of top Iran-allied militants sparked vows of revenge against Israel. Jordan is a close Western ally and helped intercept scores of missiles and drones fired by Iran toward Israel in April. Safadi met the Iranian acting foreign minister and will later meet the country’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iran’s state TV.
Renewed anti-government protests leave nearly 100 dead, hundreds more injured in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Nearly 100 people have been killed and hundreds more injured as renewed anti-government protests sweep across Bangladesh. The protesters are calling for the prime minister to resign. The prime minister responded by accusing them of “sabotage” and cutting off mobile internet in a bid to quell the unrest. The country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, said at least 95 people were killed Sunday, including at least 14 police officers. The military announced that a new curfew was in effect for an indefinite period. Demonstrators are demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation following deadly protests last month that began with students calling for an end to a quota system for government jobs.
Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward Florida, with potential record-setting rains further north
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby is strengthening as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Sunday the storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, up from 50 mph just a few hours ago. Forecasters predict it will become a hurricane before coming ashore. Debby is likely to bring drenching rain and coastal flooding to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Sunday night. Forecasters warn it also could drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later in the week. Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
VP’s campaign launches ‘Republicans for Harris’ in push to win over GOP voters put off by Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is launching “Republicans for Harris” as she tries to win over Republican voters put off by Donald Trump’s candidacy. Harris’ team says the program will aim to use well-known Republicans to activate their networks, with a particular emphasis on primary voters who backed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The program will kick off with dedicated events this coming week in Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Also, Republicans backing Harris will appear at rallies with the vice president and her soon-to-be-named running mate this coming week. The Harris campaign shared the details of the program first with The Associated Press before the official announcement Sunday.
Voices across the globe express concern over increasing arrests in Venezuela after disputed election
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Voices across the globe are expressing concern over the growing number of arrests in Venezuela following last weekend’s disputed elections. Pope Francis said Venezuela is “living a critical situation” in his traditional homily Sunday at the Vatican. The remarks came hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Saturday that the government has arrested 2,000 opponents. At a rally in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, Maduro pledged to detain more and send them to prison. A U.S. official said Sunday the Biden administration is concerned about the possibility of political instability if the arrests continue. The Pope appealed to all parties “to seek the truth, to avoid all kinds of violence.”
UK leader Starmer condemns attack on asylum-seeker hotel as far-right violence spreads
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned an attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in the north of England, describing it as “far-right thuggery.” In a statement Sunday afternoon, the prime minister vowed that “we will do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” as he addressed the nation following ongoing unrest across parts of the country. Police in the north of England town of Rotherham struggled to hold back a mob of far-right rioters who were seeking to break into a hotel housing asylum-seekers. Police faced a barrage of missiles, as they sought to prevent the rioters, many of whom wore masks, from entering the Holiday Inn Express hotel. A small fire in a wheelie bin was also visible.
‘We’re going to survive and it’s going to come back’: A year after Maui wildfire, survivors press on
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii residents have faced a year of challenges since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century decimated the historic town of Lahaina, on Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023. They have combed the ashes for mementos, worried about where they’d sleep, questioned their faith and tried to find a way to grieve amid the unsettling devastation. To mark the anniversary, The Associated Press interviewed seven survivors its journalists first encountered in the days, weeks or months after the fire, as well as a first responder who helped fight the flames. Among their difficulties they also have found hope, resilience and determination.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy displays newly arrived F-16 fighter jets to combat Russia in the air
SOMEWHERE IN UKRAINE (AP) — Ukraine’s newly arrived F-16 fighter jets have been put on display by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the planes will boost the country’s war effort against Russia. Two F-16 jets, sporting Ukraine’s trident insignia on their tails and draped in camouflage netting, were a dramatic background for Zelenskyy’s address to Armed Forces Day, an event held under tight security at an undisclosed location to protect the fighter jets from Russian attacks. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is also trying to get neighboring countries to help defend it against Russian missiles.
For female athletes of color, scrutiny around gender rules and identity is part of a long trend
PARIS (AP) — Female athletes of color have historically faced disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination when it comes to sex testing and false accusations that they are male or transgender. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting are the latest examples of women of color who have found themselves caught in a contentious debate around gender regulations and perceptions in sports. Historians and anthropologists say international sporting federations don’t tend to promote an understanding of diversity in sex and gender identity. They note that gender tests have often targeted female athletes of color who don’t conform to typically Western, white ideals of femininity.
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