US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, while the United States and allies prepare to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict. Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. A White House adviser says, “we are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over.”
Renewed anti-government protests leave dozens dead, hundreds injured in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured as renewed anti-government protests sweep across Bangladesh. The protesters are calling for the prime minister to resign. The prime minister responded by accusing them of “sabotage” and cutting off mobile internet in a bid to quell the unrest. The country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, said at least 75 people were killed Sunday, including at least 14 police officers. The military announced that a new curfew was in effect Sunday evening for an indefinite period. Demonstrators are demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation following deadly protests last month that began with students calling for an end to a quota system for government jobs.
Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward Florida, with potential record-setting rains further north
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby is strengthening as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Sunday the storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, up from 50 mph just a few hours ago. Forecasters predict it will become a hurricane before coming ashore. Debby is likely to bring drenching rain and coastal flooding to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Sunday night. Forecasters warn it also could drop heavy rains over north Florida and the Atlantic coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later in the week. Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Horror at deaths of 12 children unites Druze across borders. But Mideast’s wars tear at their bonds
FARDIS, Lebanon (AP) — The strike a week ago in the Israeli-held Golan Heights that killed 12 Druze children unified Druze across the region in grief. It also laid bare the complex identity of the small, insular religious minority, whose members are spread across Israel, the Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Each part of the community has taken different paths historically. Israeli Druze have a large role in their country’s military, while Lebanese and Syrian Druze have fought Israel and backed Palestinians. They always tried to keep a common bond despite their differences, but that has been strained by fighting in Gaza and now by the threat of an all-out regional war.
After smooth campaign start, Kamala Harris faces a crucial week ahead
WASHINGTON (AP) — The crowds are psyched. The campaign donations are flooding in. Volunteers are showing up at field offices in droves. After a mostly smooth two weeks of campaign startup, Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing for a crucial week that includes her most critical decision yet — choosing a running mate. She’s also grappling with how to keep that early political momentum alive. Harris effectively has a deadline of Tuesday to select who will be her No. 2. It’s a high-pressure decision that usually spans several months, but in this case compressed into a matter of just weeks.
Trump again tears into Georgia’s Republican governor on the same day he campaigns in the state
ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump picked a new fight with Georgia’s Republican governor as he campaigned in the key swing state where he’s looking to reverse his narrow 2020 loss to Joe Biden. In a Truth Social post Saturday just ahead of his Atlanta rally, Trump said Gov. Brian Kemp should turn his focus to fighting crime in his home state, not “fighting Unity and the Republican Party!” Kemp has been the rare national-level Republican who has remained popular after feuding with Trump. Kemp had his backing in 2018 but lost Trump’s support after defying the then-president’s demands to help overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 loss in his state.
Opposition leader joins rally calling for Venezuela presidential election results to be overturned
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Thousands of people rallied in the streets of Venezuela’s capital, waving the national flag and singing the national anthem in support of an opposition candidate they believe won the presidential election by a landslide. The government has declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner of last Sunday’s poll, but have yet to produce voting tallies to prove he won. Opposition leaders say tally sheets they obtained from polling centers nationwide show Maduro clearly lost his bid for a third six-year term. Opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado addressed the ecstatic crowd Saturday, saying “Never has the regime been so weak.”
‘We’re going to survive and it’s going to come back’: A year after Maui wildfire, survivors press on
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii residents have faced a year of challenges since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century decimated the historic town of Lahaina, on Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023. They have combed the ashes for mementos, worried about where they’d sleep, questioned their faith and tried to find a way to grieve amid the unsettling devastation. To mark the anniversary, The Associated Press interviewed seven survivors its journalists first encountered in the days, weeks or months after the fire, as well as a first responder who helped fight the flames. Among their difficulties they also have found hope, resilience and determination.
Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan clinches first Olympic medal amid outcry tied to gender misconceptions
VILLEPINTE, France (AP) — Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has clinched her first Olympic medal in front of a crowd that chanted her name at the Paris Games. Her win Sunday comes a day after fellow female boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria secured a victory as well following days of online abuse and intense scrutiny about their participation. Lin defeated Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria in a women’s 57-kilogram quarterfinal, advancing to the division’s semifinal round to ensure she will win at least a bronze medal. Lin and Khelif have been at the center of a clash over gender identity and regulations in sports, as critics have brought up their disqualification from the world championships last year over unspecified eligibility tests.
World Cup champion Germany unbeaten and rolling into basketball quarterfinals at Paris Olympics
PARIS (AP) — Unbeaten at last year’s World Cup on the way to the gold medal. Unbeaten so far at the Paris Olympics. No team in this tournament has better defensive numbers, either. And Germany doesn’t care if anyone notices that, either. The Germans — both last summer at the World Cup and this summer at the Paris Games — play like they have copious chips on all their shoulders. They’re brash, they’re tough, they’re confident and they’re already assured of their best showing ever at an Olympics. Now, they want more.
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