A defiant Biden borrows some tactics from his rival as he tries to put debate debacle behind him
NEW YORK (AP) — He’s calling into his favorite morning cable news show, bashing the “elites” of his party and dismissing unfavorable polls. He’s even talking up his crowd sizes. As an increasingly defiant President Joe Biden rejects calls to step aside after a disastrous debate performance that has put his competence into question, he’s been embracing some of the tactics used by a man he calls a mortal threat to democracy: his rival, former President Donald Trump. The presumptive GOP nominee has weathered a seemingly never-ending list of controversies and has developed a well-worn playbook for confronting allegations.
Pelosi says ‘it’s up to the president’ to decide whether to stay in the race
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi says it’s up to President Joe Biden to decide whether to continue his reelection campaign. Pelosi’s remarks Wednesday on MSNBC show how unsettled the questions over Biden’s candidacy remain among Democrats, despite Biden’s insistence he is staying in the race. Pelosi of California has been widely watched for signals of how top Democrats are thinking about Biden’s imperiled candidacy. Her comments will be viewed as important for the party’s direction as they weigh possible alternatives in the campaign against Republican Donald Trump. Her remarks come after Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado said Democrats could lose in a landslide to Trump and face a moral choice confronting a potential second Trump presidency.
Israeli military orders the evacuation of Gaza City, an early target of its war with Hamas
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military has urged all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south. The evacuation orders issued Wednesday indicated that Israel was pressing ahead with a fresh offensive across the north, south and center of the embattled territory that has killed dozens of people over the past 48 hours. The stepped-up military activity came as U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators were meeting with Israeli officials in the Qatari capital, Doha, for talks seeking a long-elusive cease-fire deal with Gaza’s Hamas militant group. Israel informed people in Gaza of the evacuation order by dropping leaflets.
Houston residents stew and swelter after storm Beryl leaves millions without power
HOUSTON (AP) — The return of searing heat in the Houston area has deepened the misery for people still without power after Hurricane Beryl. The storm left residents in search of places to cool off and fuel up Wednesday as the extended outages strained one of the nation’s largest cities. More than 1.7 million homes and businesses in Texas lacked electricity Wednesday morning. That’s down from a peak of over 2.7 million on Monday. State officials faced questions over whether the power utility that covers much of the area had sufficiently prepared. Texas Lt. Gov.  Dan Patrick said that a sports and event complex would be used to hold hospital patients.
House GOP wants proof of citizenship to vote, boosting an election-year talking point
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote on a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration. It’s a proposal Republicans have prioritized as an election-year talking point even as research shows noncitizens illegally registering and casting ballots in federal elections is exceptionally rare. Even if it passes the GOP-controlled House, the legislation is unlikely to advance through the Democratic-led Senate. Democrats and voting rights advocates have said the legislation is unnecessary because it’s already a felony for noncitizens to register to vote in federal elections, punishable by fines, prison or deportation.
UK police are searching for a man with a crossbow after BBC radio commentator’s family is killed
LONDON (AP) — British police are searching for a man believed to be armed with a crossbow after three women were killed in a house near London. The BBC said the women killed were the family of its main radio racing commentator John Hunt. Hertfordshire Police said Kyle Clifford, 26, was being sought over the suspected triple murder. Police said the three women, ages 25, 28 and 61, were found seriously injured in a house in Bushey, northwest of London, on Tuesday evening. BBC Radio 5 live said the victims were Carol Hunt, wife of its commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters. Police did not say whether Clifford was connected to the women.
Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can safely return them to Earth, despite failures
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Two astronauts who should have been back on Earth weeks ago say they’re confident that Boeing’s space capsule can return them safely. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule early last month. Leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the International Space Station, and has kept them there much longer than planned. In their first news conference from orbit Wednesday, the pair said they expect to return once thruster testing is complete here on Earth. They say they’re not complaining about getting extra time in orbit, and are enjoying helping the station crew.
Specialists say there are benefits to couples sleeping separately
NEW YORK (AP) — Couples who sleep in separate rooms see no lack of intimacy, only quality sleep. Specialists agree there are benefits to sleeping apart. For couples considering the split, the experts urge people to seek a sleep evaluation. The problem that’s causing chaos may be treatable, such as sleep apnea. While there’s no shame in sleeping apart, technology has helped make sharing a bed easier in some ways. White noise machines, cooling pillows and bedding, mattresses with dual temperature controls and dual control electric blankets can help. Some couples have given up sharing blankets, using their own, to make sleep easier.
Defense attorney says ‘Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting’ at trial openings
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A defense attorney says that Alec Baldwin’s shooting of a cinematographer was “an unspeakable tragedy,” but that he “committed no crime, he was an actor, acting.” Baldwin’s attorney Alex Spiro gave the opening statement Wednesday at his involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico. Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson told jurors Baldwin “violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety” in her opening. The trial will delve into the confluence of gun safety, high-wattage celebrity and a low-budget Western movie on a remote movie ranch. Baldwin was the lead actor and co-producer on “Rust.” He has pleaded not guilty and says he followed instructions in pointing the gun and didn’t pull the trigger.
Novak Djokovic gets to his 13th Wimbledon semifinal via walkover. 2022 champ Elena Rybakina wins
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s smooth trip through the Wimbledon bracket has been made even easier. Djokovic moved into his record-tying 13th semifinal at the tournament via a walkover on Wednesday because his quarterfinal opponent, Alex de Minaur, pulled out with a hip injury. Djokovic had knee surgery less than a month before the start of play at the All England Club, raising questions about whether he’d even be able to try to earn his eighth championship at the grass-court major and add to his men’s mark of 24 Grand Slam trophies. But the 37-year-old Djokovic has dropped only two sets so far and will get three full days off before Friday’s semifinals.
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