Biden at 81: Often sharp and focused but sometimes confused and forgetful
WASHINGTON (AP) — Behind closed doors, in the Oval Office, on Air Force One or in meetings around the world, many people describe President Joe Biden in the same dual way. He is often very sharp and focused. But he also has moments, particularly later in the evening, when his thoughts seem jumbled and he trails off mid-sentence or seems confused, and he doesn’t grasp the finer points of some foreign policy details. The president is 81. And that he would be less sharp than he once was is not surprising. But these moments have taken on a fresh resonance following Biden’s disastrous debate performance.
Biden vows to keep running as signs point to rapidly eroding support for him on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is vowing to keep running for reelection as he rejects pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign, one of his top allies publicly suggested Wednesday a way that the party might choose someone else. According to a campaign aides, Biden told his staff that “no one is pushing me out” of the race. But there are signs that support for Biden is rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, says he’d support a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race.
Trump, for now, is ceding the spotlight to Biden as the president’s campaign reels from bad debate
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump typically likes to be the one in the spotlight. But in the days since President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance, the presumptive Republican nominee has kept a low profile, leaving the focus on the drama engulfing the Democratic Party. The strategy comes as Trump and his campaign revel in a series of legal and political victories heading into the Republican National convention this month. Those victories include a Supreme Court ruling Monday that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution and a ruling Tuesday by the judge in Trump’s New York criminal hush money trial to delay his sentencing, which had been scheduled for next week.
Life and death in Gaza’s ‘safe zone’ where food is scarce and Israel strikes without warning
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian hospital authorities and witnesses say an Israeli airstrike slammed into a residential building right next to the main medical center in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis. Health officials say Tuesday’s strike wounded at least seven people. Nasser Hospital sits in the western part of Khan Younis, an area inside the Israeli-designated humanitarian “safe zone.” That’s where Palestinians have been told to flee. However, the head of the U.N. humanitarian office for the Palestinian territories says there are bombings even in so-called safe areas, like the one Wednesday. The Israeli military estimates some 1.9 million people are now clustered in central Gaza.
Labour is hopeful and Conservatives morose before voters deliver their verdict on UK’s election day
LONDON (AP) — British voters are picking a new government Thursday. They are voting in a parliamentary election that delivers a verdict on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party. The Labour Party led by Keir Starmer is widely expected to return to power after 14 years in opposition. The center-left party has has a steady lead in opinion polls. But Labour leaders have warned against taking the expected win for granted. The Conservatives have conceded that Labour appears headed for victory. They are urging voters not to hand the party a “supermajority.” Across the country, voters say they want change but aren’t optimistic it will come. Many election experts expect a low turnout, below the 67% recorded in 2019.
Hurricane Beryl roars toward Mexico after killing at least 7 people in the southeast Caribbean
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and taking aim at Mexico’s Caribbean coast with at least seven dead in its wake. What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, weakened slightly but remained a major hurricane. Its eye was forecast to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight. Mexico’s popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge.
Americans to celebrate Fourth of July with parades, cookouts — and lots of fireworks
All signs point to big celebrations for Americans this Fourth of July. Travel records are projected to fall as people gather for cookouts, parades and fireworks. Some unique celebrations are also planned. In Down East, Maine, lobster boat races will be held off the rocky coast. In Philadelphia, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence will ring the Liberty Bell. An annual tug-of-war contest is being held in California. And, of course, there’s the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York.
Haiti’s prime minister says Kenyan police are crucial to controlling gangs, early days are positive
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille told the U.N. Security Council that recently deployed Kenyan police will be crucial to helping control the country’s gangs and moving toward democratic elections. He said Wednesday his government will focus on addressing gang violence and food insecurity, ensuring free elections through constitutional and political reform, and rebuilding public trust in the police. The initial contingent of 200 Kenyan police arrived in Port-au-Prince late last month. Kenya has pledged 1,000 police to the U.N.-endorsed international police force. They will later be joined by police from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica, for a total of 2,500 personnel.
Abortion measures could be on Arizona and Nebraska ballots after organizers submit signatures
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Nebraska organizers have turned in enough signatures to get abortion-related questions before their states’ voters in November. Election officials must now verify them. Measures that would explicitly enshrine abortion rights are already on the ballots in five states, and voters in a sixth will consider one that supporters say would also protect the right. In Nebraska, backers of dueling amendment campaigns announced Wednesday that they had turned in enough signatures. One measure would expand abortion rights, the other would keep into place the current ban on abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Why mass shootings and violence increase in the summer
Violence and mass shootings often surge in the summer months. That’s especially true around the Fourth of July. It’s usually one of the deadliest days of the year. The Gun Violence Archive tracks mass shootings and shows June, July, and August have had the highest total number over the past decade. Independence Day tops the list with 58 mass shootings over the last 10 years. Researchers point to a combination of factors that have caused the summer months to see an increase historically in violence and shootings. They say the reasons include more social events, teens out of school and hotter temperatures.
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