Obama, Pelosi and Democrats make a fresh push for Biden to reconsider 2024 race ahead of convention
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats at the highest levels are making a critical push for President Joe Biden to reconsider his election bid. Former President Barack Obama has privately expressed concerns to Democrats about Biden’s candidacy. And Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi privately warned Biden that Democrats could lose the ability to seize control in the House if he didn’t step away from the race and that polls showed he likely can’t defeat Donald Trump. That’s according to two people familiar with the conversation. Biden says he’s not dropping out believing he’s best to beat the Republican Trump. In a radio interview with Univision, Biden says everything so far between Trump and him “has been basically even.”
Hundreds attend vigil for man killed at Trump rally in Pennsylvania before visitation Thursday
SARVER, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of people who gathered to remember the former fire chief fatally shot at a rally for former President Donald Trump have been urged to find “unity” as the area in rural Pennsylvania seeks to recover. Wednesday’s public event was the first of two organized to memorialize and celebrate Corey Comperatore’s life, with the second to happen Thursday. A sign outside Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, where the vigil for Corey Comperatore was held Wednesday, night read: “Rest in Peace Corey, Thank You For Your Service,” with the logo of his fire company. The 50-year-old died Saturday during an attempt to kill Trump at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump, in highly personal speech, will accept GOP nomination again days after assassination attempt
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a highly personal speech that he wrote as he accepts the GOP nomination for president at the Republican National Convention. That’s according to two people familiar with the planned remarks. It’s Trump’s first speech since he was cut off mid-sentence by gunfire during an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday. Trump says the shooting has led him to change the speech he’ll give Thursday in Milwaukee. Trump tells the Washington Examiner the original speech was “a humdinger” of attacks on Democratic President Joe Biden but now will be more focused on bringing the country together. Trump’s wife, Melania, is expected to attend.
Israel’s Netanyahu makes surprise Gaza visit as far-right politician tours flashpoint Jerusalem site
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to troops in southern Gaza, days before his speech to the U.S. Congress. Netanyahu’s visit to Rafah was announced Thursday, just hours after Israel’s far-right national security minister visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. That move threatens to disrupt sensitive talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire in the 9-month-old Israel-Hamas war. Israeli negotiators landed Wednesday in Cairo, where negotiators are working to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas. In recent weeks, Israel has stepped up strikes in central Gaza, where many Palestinians have fled to escape fighting in other parts of the beleaguered territory.
Bedwetting, nightmares and shaking. War in Gaza takes a mental health toll, especially on children
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are struggling to maintain their mental health, with few resources and no safe places to recover after nine months of war. Mental health experts say anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and aggression are prevalent. Children are especially vulnerable. Some wet the bed and have nightmares. One expert says essentially every child in Gaza needs mental health support. One mother says she tries to calm her children by saying that dying as a martyr is an opportunity to meet God and ask for the fruits and vegetables they didn’t have in hunger-ravaged Gaza.
Closing arguments in espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter will be Friday, court says
YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AP) — Court officials say closing arguments in the espionage trial of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich will be held Friday, as the proceedings picked up speed in a case that has seen the reporter held in pre-trial custody for over a year. The court said Gershkovich attended a trial session for a second day behind closed doors on Thursday. He faces charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. The 32-year-old Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, while he was on a reporting trip. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S.
19 more die in Bangladesh clashes as student protesters try to impose a ‘complete shutdown’
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Media reports from Bangladesh say 19 more people have died in clashes between police and student protesters attempting to impose a “complete shutdown” of the country, following days of violent confrontations during demonstrations over a system of allocating government jobs. Students have been demonstrating for weeks against a quota system for government jobs they say favors allies of the ruling party. But the protests escalated since violence broke out between protesters, police and pro-government student activists on the campus of Dhaka University on Monday. With the latest toll, the number of deaths has reached 25 since Tuesday, when six others lost their lives in the violence.
Missouri high court clears the way for a woman’s release after 43 years in prison
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has cleared the way for a Missouri woman whose murder conviction was overturned to be freed after 43 years in prison. A circuit court judge ruled last month that Sandra Hemme’s attorneys showed evidence of her “actual innocence,” and an appeals court ruled she should be freed while her case is reviewed.  No details have been released on when Hemme will be released.
FDA OKs best-selling e-cigarette Vuse Alto, but only in tobacco flavor
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials have authorized sales of Vuse Alto, the best-selling e-cigarette in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration made the decision Thursday, allowing Reynolds American to keep its reusable e-cigarette on the market for years to come. The authorization only applies to several tobacco-flavored versions of reusable product, which takes cartridges filled with liquid nicotine. The FDA previously rejected an application for Vuse’s more popular menthol flavor. The FDA said smokers who completely switch to Vuse can reduce their exposure to deadly carcinogens found in cigarettes. The agency stressed that non-smokers should not use any vaping products, including Vuse.
McIlroy, DeChambeau stumble badly out of the gates at British Open
TROON, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau were the protagonists from Pinehurst No. 2. They were also-rans at Royal Troon. McIlroy was hopeful of giving himself one last chance at a major in the British Open. Instead he shot a 78 for his worst start to the Open in five years. He says he didn’t adjust to a different wind. DeChambeau couldn’t make par putts and couldn’t move a golf ball more than a few feet on one shot from the rough. He shot 42 on the front nine and rallied for a 76. Now they hope to just make the cut.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
