Trump’s VP shortlist and potential picks or fallouts
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has narrowed down his vice-presidential shortlist to a select few contenders as he gears up to announce his choice before or during next month’s Republican National Convention. He confirmed to reporters on Saturday that he has already made his decision and that the chosen candidate will be present at the first debate of the general election campaign in Atlanta on Thursday night against Democratic President Joe Biden. Some of the names rumored to be in consideration include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Senators JD Vance of Ohio, Marco Rubio of Florida, and Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Trump Cabinet member Ben Carson, and Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York and Byron Donalds of Florida.
Death toll at Hajj pilgrimage rises to 1,300 amid scorching temperatures
CAIRO (AP) — Over 1,300 individuals lost their lives during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to extreme temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert Kingdom. Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel revealed that 83% of the deaths were among unauthorized pilgrims who endured long journeys under the sweltering sun. Egyptian officials reported that over 660 of the deceased were from Egypt. Additional fatalities included 165 pilgrims from Indonesia, 98 from India, and several others from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Malaysia. Two U.S. pilgrims were also confirmed dead.
Dilemma for Democrats regarding attendance at Netanyahu’s speech to Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 60 Democrats skipped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the U.S. Congress nine years ago, criticizing it as a disrespectful gesture towards then-President Barack Obama during his negotiations on an Iran nuclear deal. With Netanyahu scheduled to address U.S. lawmakers on July 24, the number of expected absences is likely to be even higher. Congressional Democrats are grappling with the decision of whether to attend, torn between their historic support for Israel and concerns over Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza. Some Democrats plan to attend out of respect for Israel, while others will boycott Netanyahu’s appearance.
Russia heightens tensions with the West over Ukraine through new agreement with North Korea
During President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea, a strong message was sent: In the ongoing standoff with the U.S. and its allies concerning Ukraine, the Russian leader is prepared to challenge Western interests like never before. The agreement signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un includes provisions for mutual military assistance between Moscow and Pyongyang. Putin also indicated that Russia could supply weapons to the isolated nation, potentially destabilizing the Korean Peninsula and causing ripple effects. This move was characterized as a response to NATO’s provision of advanced weaponry to Ukraine for use against Russia, with Putin affirming Russia’s willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve its objectives in Ukraine.
U.S. bracing for intense heatwave while parts of the Midwest are inundated with floodwaters
Millions of Americans are bracing for another scorching day, with the possibility of thunderstorms offering some relief from the high temperatures. Flooding has forced evacuations in certain regions of the Midwest, including a town in Iowa where the water-level gauge was submerged. Public officials across the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and inland California are cautioning residents about the heat and humidity. The National Weather Service issued warnings about potential tornado activity in the Northeast later on Sunday.
Abortion rights at a crossroads as citizens initiatives determine outcomes in some states
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — In the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, abortion rights proponents in certain states have utilized citizen initiatives to safeguard access to the procedure. However, in half of the states, including many Republican-controlled Southern states that have imposed near-total abortion bans, voters do not have this option. Citizen initiatives have provided a means for voters to uphold abortion and other reproductive rights in several states over the past two years.
Kamala Harris emphasizes the significance of reproductive rights in the upcoming election
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris stressed the critical nature of reproductive health rights in the presidential election coming up in November. Her remarks, made in an MSNBC interview, coincide with the Biden campaign’s efforts to highlight the disparities between Democratic President Joe Biden’s and Republican Donald Trump’s stances on the issue ahead of their debate on Thursday night. The Biden campaign has planned over 50 events in battleground states and beyond to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the federal right to abortion. Biden and his supporters aim to remind voters that the decision was made by a court that included three conservative justices appointed by Trump.
Netanyahu reiterates claims of halted U.S. arms shipments despite Washington’s denial
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his Cabinet of a significant decrease in U.S. weapon deliveries for Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu reiterated allegations that the United States, Israel’s top ally, was withholding arms shipments despite denials from the Biden administration. He mentioned that the decline in arms deliveries began four months ago, without specifying the type of weapons affected. This disagreement underscores the strained relations between Israel and Washington during the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu’s earlier statements on arms shipments last week sparked controversy in Israel and were met with denial and confusion from White House officials.
Russian casualties reported from Ukrainian attacks, renewed bombings in Kharkiv
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Six individuals died and over 100 were injured in Ukrainian drone and missile strikes in Russia, while airstrikes on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on the second consecutive day resulted in at least one fatality. The fatalities in Russia included five individuals killed by debris from Ukrainian missiles brought down on Sevastopol, a port city in Russian-annexed Crimea. According to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, 124 individuals sustained injuries. These attacks followed Russia’s bombing of Kharkiv on Saturday, which claimed three lives after hitting a residential building.
Nigerian community grapples with rising sea levels threatening its existence
AYETORO, Nigeria (AP) — The coastal community of Ayetoro in Nigeria, also known as “Happy City,” established as a Christian utopia decades ago, is now faced with the relentless advance of the sea. Structures have sunk into the Atlantic Ocean, a sight becoming more common along the West African coastline. Low-lying nations have long warned about the existential threat posed by rising seas. Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, is struggling to respond to the crisis. The traditional leader of Ayetoro lamented the loss of not just land but also the religious heritage of the community, expressing sorrow over the transformation of Ayetoro from a paradise to a community in peril.
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