Harris says she’s ready to debate Trump and accuses him of ‘backpedaling’ from Sept. 10 faceoff
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has stated that she is prepared to debate Donald Trump. She has accused Trump of retracting from a previous agreement for a debate scheduled by ABC News on Sept. 10. Trump has expressed a preference to move the event to Fox News, but is open to having two debates with Harris. Harris believes that voters should witness the confrontation on the debate stage. She made these remarks to reporters upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews after visiting Indiana and Texas.
Harris tells Netanyahu ‘it is time’ to end the war in Gaza and bring the hostages home
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a prompt cease-fire agreement with Hamas in order for the hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack to be safely returned. She had a direct and positive conversation with Netanyahu on Thursday, emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense while expressing deep concern about the high casualties in Gaza over nine months of conflict and the distressing humanitarian conditions there. With the focus on the probable Democratic presidential candidate, Harris echoed President Joe Biden’s longstanding message that it is imperative to find a resolution to the war, but she delivered a more strong and urgent tone.
Prosecutors urge judge not to dismiss Trump’s hush money conviction, pushing back on immunity claim
NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors are advising a judge to uphold Donald Trump’s significant hush money conviction. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has argued in court documents released on Thursday that the verdict should be upheld despite the recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. The prosecutors argue that the Supreme Court’s opinion is irrelevant to the hush money case in New York, as it involves unofficial actions for which a former president does not have immunity. Trump’s lawyers are seeking to dismiss the verdict and even the indictment based on the Supreme Court’s decision, which grants presidents considerable protection from prosecution.
US arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel: ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and son of ‘El Chapo’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has announced the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a long-serving leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, son of another notorious cartel leader, in Texas. Zambada has been a key figure in the powerful cartel for many years, working alongside Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. He is known for managing the cartel’s smuggling operations while maintaining a lower profile. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. The arrests took place on Thursday in El Paso. These detentions follow the significant arrests of other Sinaloa cartel members.
Brazil apologizes for post-WWII persecution of Japanese immigrants
Sao Paulo (AP) — The Brazilian government has issued an apology to the Japanese community for human rights violations in the persecution and internment of immigrants in the years following World War II. Enea de Stutz e Almeida, president of the Amnesty Commission and advisory board of the Ministry of Human Rights, expressed the state’s regret for the persecution suffered by the ancestors of the Japanese community. The commission’s report acknowledged that 172 immigrants were sent to a concentration camp on the São Paulo coast, where they were mistreated and tortured from 1946 to 1948.
Lightning and a burning car pushed into a gully are blamed for wildfires scorching the West
Wildfires are continuing to devastate the West, with authorities attributing one major fire to a burning car that was pushed into a gully. A 42-year-old man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of igniting a wildfire that has become California’s largest this year. The flames rapidly spread into what is now the Park Fire, which has consumed over 110 square miles near Chico, California. While evacuations are ongoing in California, some Oregon residents have been allowed to return home following a thunderstorm that brought much-needed rain but also potentially dangerous lightning to the largest active fire in the U.S.
Chinese and Russian bombers patrolling off Alaska raise concerns about growing military cooperation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has expressed concerns over Russian and Chinese bombers flying jointly for the first time in international airspace off the coast of Alaska, indicating an expansion of military cooperation between the two nations. While the flights were not seen as a direct threat, U.S. and Canadian fighter jets tracked and intercepted the bombers. This marks the first instance of Chinese bomber aircraft flying within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone and Chinese and Russian aircraft departing from the same base in northeast Russia.
Venezuela’s presidential candidates conclude their campaigns ahead of Sunday’s election
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s presidential candidates have wrapped up their campaigns ahead of Sunday’s election with rallies attended by thousands. Events held in Caracas on Thursday showcased the contrasting resources available to the top contenders. President Nicolás Maduro, seeking a third term, delivered a large-scale rally with music and dancing to his supporters. Meanwhile, former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia, representing the Unitary Platform coalition, gathered fewer supporters along with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, moving through the capital on a truck. Maduro’s ruling party faces a challenging electoral competition as he remains deeply unpopular among many voters.
Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s video game performers are set to go on strike, leading to another work stoppage in the entertainment industry after failed contract negotiations with major game studios over artificial intelligence protections. The strike is scheduled to commence at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, marking the second strike for video game actors and performers under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The breakdown in negotiations comes after nearly two years of talks with leading gaming companies. Union negotiators have indicated progress on issues such as wages and job safety, but an agreement has not been reached on the regulation of generative AI.
With big goals and gambles, Paris aims to reset the Olympics with audacious Games and a wow opening
PARIS (AP) — Paris, renowned as a city of dreamers, is gearing up to host its first Olympic Games in a century, with the grand opening ceremony set for Friday. The inaugural ceremony promises to be the most bold and ambitious in Olympic history, featuring a gala spectacle on the River Seine that initially prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to view it as a “crazy and not very serious idea.” The 16-day competition will combine Olympic sports, iconic Paris landmarks, and France’s signature “savoir faire” in fashion, cuisine, and culture. This unique blend is expected to secure the long-term success of the Games, although Paris faces significant challenges ahead.
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