Blinken, on ninth Mideast trip since Gaza war began, seeks cease-fire momentum as talks to resume
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will use his ninth diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war to press for the quick conclusion of an elusive cease-fire agreement. Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday ahead of what mediators have billed as a last push to reach a deal that will take place in Cairo later this week. He will meet with top Israeli officials on Monday before traveling to Egypt on Tuesday. Late last week, the three countries mediating the proposed cease-fire reported progress on a deal under which Israel would halt most military operations in Gaza and release a number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Quintuplets among Gaza’s dead as Blinken visits the region to seek a cease-fire deal
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The latest Israeli strikes across Gaza have killed 29 people, including young quintuplets. The bombardment came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to try to seal a cease-fire deal that could help ease soaring regional tensions. Blinken will meet with Israel’s prime minister on Monday. The U.S. and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar say they are closing in on a deal, but Hamas has signaled resistance to what it calls new demands by Israel. Local health authorities say the war has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, and experts warn of famine and the outbreak of diseases like polio.
Thousands of activists expected in Chicago for Democratic convention to call for Gaza cease-fire
CHICAGO (AP) — Thousands of activists are expected to converge in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, hoping to call attention to abortion rights, economic justice and the war in Gaza. While Vice President Kamala Harris has energized crowds of supporters as she prepares to accept the Democratic nomination at the event this week, progressive activists maintain their mission remains the same. Activists say they have learned lessons from last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and are predicting bigger crowds and more robust demonstrations in Chicago, a city with deep social activism roots. The first march kicked off Sunday night.
Harris and Walz make small-town stops and campaign phone calls on Pennsylvania bus tour before DNC
ROCHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz gave pep talks to campaign volunteers and a high school football team Sunday. Their bus tour in a corner of Pennsylvania is serving as a modest, small-town version of the grand rally she’s expected to have at the Democratic nominating convention in Chicago this week. Vice President Harris and Walz, the governor of Minnesota, visited volunteers at a campaign office not far from Pittsburgh before continuing on to a firehouse and a high school in another town. The tour, in a bright blue bus bearing the candidates’ names and the phrase “A new way forward,” also included pilgrimages to a convenience store and a restaurant known for its towering sandwiches.
Ukrainian president says push into Russia’s Kursk region is to create a buffer zone there
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the daring military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region aims to create a buffer zone. Sunday was the first time the president had clearly stated the aim of the operation that began Aug. 6. Previously, he had said the operation aimed to protect communities in the bordering Sumy region from constant shelling. Zelenskyy said “it is now our primary task in defensive operations overall: to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions. This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory – our operation in the Kursk region.”
China accuses the Philippines of deliberately crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s coast guard has accused the Philippines of deliberately crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal, a new flashpoint in the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine ships entered waters near the shoal, ignored Chinese warnings and “deliberately collided” with one of China’s boats early Monday. Philippine authorities did not comment on the encounter near the disputed atoll in the Spratly Islands, where overlapping claims are also made by Vietnam and Taiwan. Sabina lies near the Second Thomas Shoal, where confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have occurred. Filipino scientists have discovered submerged piles of crushed corals at Sabina, raising suspicion China may plan construction there.
Ernesto regains hurricane strength, sends powerful swells, dangerous rip currents to US East Coast
Ernesto has regained hurricane status as the storm churns away from Bermuda and heads farther out into the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds were 75 mph, just barely Category 1 hurricane strength. But swells and dangerous surf and rip currents generated by Ernesto are affecting the U.S. East Coast and Canada’s Atlantic coast. More strengthening is forecast before Ernesto is expected to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday. The storm is forecast to pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday and early Tuesday, bringing the threat of coastal flooding.
Cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed at least 22 people, health minister says
CAIRO (AP) — Health officials say Sudan has been stricken by a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly two dozen people and sickened hundreds more in recent weeks. The African nation has been roiled by a 16-month conflict and devastating floods. Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement Sunday that at least 22 people have died from the disease, and that at least 354 confirmed cases of cholera have been detected across the county in recent weeks.
Can AI truly replicate the screams of a man on fire? Video game performers want their work protected
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Video game performers say the physical strain and hours put into motion capture and voice work make it worth protecting against artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA’s video game workers are now on strike. They argue that all performers — from stunt workers to voice acting stars — should be protected equally from the use of unregulated AI. Video game performers say they fear that AI could reduce or eliminate job opportunities because the technology could be used to replicate one performance into a number of other movements without their consent. The game studios negotiating with the union say they have worked hard to deliver proposals with reasonable terms that protect the rights of performers while ensuring they can continue to use the most advanced technology to create games.
Black men emerge as key constituency in 2024 race, bringing dynamic views to the top of politics
ATLANTA (AP) — Black male voters are traditionally one of the most consistently Democratic-leaning demographics in the nation. The potential election of Vice President Kamala Harris has refocused attention on Black men, a demographic that Democrats and Republicans view as persuadable but whose multifaceted experiences and political preferences often go unaddressed in public debate. Black voters have historically prioritized policies on civil rights and economic mobility, leading to overwhelming support for Democrats. Whether Black men turn out in high numbers and to what degree they maintain traditional support for Democratic candidates may prove decisive in November.
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