Biden’s candidacy faces new peril, including the first Senate Democrat saying he should exit the race
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is facing new challenges. Rather than urging him to stay in, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday it’s up to the president to decide if he should. Celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run, and Democratic senators expressed fresh concerns about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump. Late Wednesday, Vermont Sen. Peter Welch called on Biden to withdraw, becoming the first Senate Democrat to do so. It all demonstrates how uncertain the questions surrounding Biden’s candidacy remain among Democrats, despite Biden’s insistence that he is staying in the race. Pelosi’s stance has been closely watched for signals of how top Democrats are viewing Biden’s candidacy.
NATO allies label China as a ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia’s war in Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — In their strongest critique of Beijing to date, NATO allies have described China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine and have expressed worries over China’s nuclear arsenal and capabilities in space. The firmly worded final statement released Wednesday indicates that China is becoming a focal point for the military alliance. This comes as 32 NATO members gathered in Washington. The European and North American members, together with their partners in the Indo-Pacific, increasingly see shared security threats arising from Russia and its allies in Asia, particularly China. In the statement, NATO member countries claim that China is aiding in warfare through its “no-limits partnership” with Russia and its extensive support for Russia’s defense industry.
Israeli military orders Gaza City evacuation, an early target of its conflict with Hamas
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military has instructed all Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City and head south. The evacuation orders issued on Wednesday indicate that Israel is moving forward with a new offensive across the north, south, and center of the embattled territory, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people in the past 48 hours. The increased military operations coincide with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators meeting with Israeli officials in Doha, Qatar, to negotiate a long-awaited ceasefire deal with Hamas, the militant group in Gaza. Israel communicated the evacuation order to Gaza residents by dropping leaflets.
NBA reaches agreement on record-breaking 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, according to AP source
The NBA has reached an agreement on its new media deal, an 11-year contract worth $76 billion that ensures player salaries will continue to rise in the foreseeable future. This deal is expected to change how some viewers access the game for years to come. A source familiar with the negotiations informed The Associated Press that the networks have the terms sheets, with the next step being approval by the league’s board of governors. This deal sets NBA records for its length and total value and will come into effect for the 2025-26 season.
Las Vegas experiences fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or higher as heat wave sweeps the U.S.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas has reached a new milestone with its record fifth consecutive day of temperatures above 115 degrees. The National Weather Service reported that the temperature climbed to 115 degrees on Wednesday afternoon at Harry Reid International Airport, breaking the previous record of four consecutive days. This heat wave set Las Vegas’ all-time temperature record of 120 degrees on Sunday. Meteorologists state that Nevada’s largest city is undergoing the most extreme heat wave in recorded history since 1937. Over 142 million people across the U.S., especially in Western states, are under heat alerts on Wednesday.
Pressure increases on Houston power company to swiftly restore service following Hurricane Beryl
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s primary utility company is facing mounting pressure over its response to Hurricane Beryl. Nearly 1.3 million homes and businesses in the area are still without power on Wednesday, as residents continue to seek places to cool off, refuel, and find food. An official from CenterPoint Energy defended the company’s response during a meeting with the Houston City Council, noting that power had been restored to over 1 million customers since Monday. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the area, emphasizing the potentially dangerous conditions due to the lack of power and air conditioning.
Astronauts confident in Boeing space capsule’s ability to safely return them to Earth, despite setbacks
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Two astronauts who should have returned to Earth weeks earlier express confidence in Boeing’s space capsule’s capability to bring them back safely. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule early last month. Leaks and thruster failures nearly derailed their journey to the International Space Station and have kept them in orbit longer than planned. In their first news conference from space on Wednesday, they stated that they anticipate returning once thruster testing is completed on Earth. They mentioned that they are not upset about the extended time in orbit and are enjoying assisting the station crew.
Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial begins with witnesses recounting chaotic set shooting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A defense attorney describes Alec Baldwin’s shooting of a cinematographer as “an unspeakable tragedy,” stating that he “committed no crime, he was an actor, acting.” Baldwin’s attorney Alex Spiro delivered the opening statement at his involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico on Wednesday. Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson told jurors that Baldwin “violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety” in her opening statement. The trial will explore the intersection of gun safety, celebrity status, and a low-budget Western movie on a remote movie ranch. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of “Rust,” pleaded not guilty, claiming that he followed instructions in handling the gun and did not pull the trigger.
Congress approves bill revamping oversight of troubled federal Bureau of Prisons
Congress has passed legislation that overhauls oversight and enhances transparency in the crisis-ridden federal Bureau of Prisons following reporting from The Associated Press exposing systemic corruption in the federal prison system, which led to increased congressional scrutiny. The bill, unanimously approved by the Senate on Wednesday, mandates the Justice Department’s Inspector General to conduct comprehensive inspections of the prison agency’s 122 facilities, provide recommendations to address issues, and assign a risk score to each facility. The Federal Prison Oversight Act, which the House passed in May, now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
England secures another Euro final berth with a late goal to defeat Netherlands 2-1
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — England has reached its second consecutive European Championship final by defeating the Netherlands 2-1, thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time winner. Watkins replaced captain Harry Kane in a daring move by coach Gareth Southgate and struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner in the first minute of added time. It was a last-minute goal that had King Charles III on the edge of his seat. England will face Spain in the final on Sunday in Berlin. This will be the nation’s first title match on foreign soil, having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
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