Donald Trump is heading to North Carolina for an economic speech. Will he stay on message?
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump is set to deliver a rally and speech in North Carolina that his campaign is touting as a significant economic address. The event in Asheville on Wednesday afternoon holds both national and local importance for the former president. Advisors and supporters stress the need for Trump to refine his arguments against Vice President Kamala Harris and make a clear policy contrast, particularly on the economy. Lately, he has been focusing more on personal attacks and grievances. The speech coincides with the Labor Department’s report of year-over-year inflation hitting its lowest level in over three years in July, potentially benefiting Harris.
Faced with a surge in border crossings, Kamala Harris opted for a long-term strategy to address the issue.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris was never designated as the “border czar,” contrary to what her critics claim. Officials in the Biden administration assert that Harris was assigned to address the “root causes” of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, regions that contributed significantly to border crossings. Harris adopted a long-term approach to the problem, working to encourage multinational corporations and Latin American businesses to invest in the area. This, she argued, would create more jobs and provide locals with a reason to stay home instead of making the arduous journey north.
A senior Hamas official expresses doubts about the US as a mediator in Gaza cease-fire negotiations.
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A high-ranking Hamas official suggests that the Palestinian militant group is losing confidence in the United States’ ability to mediate a cease-fire in Gaza ahead of upcoming talks. The discussions come amidst growing pressure to end the 10-month war with Israel. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Osama Hamdan stated that Hamas will only participate if the talks focus on implementing a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden in May and supported internationally. Hamas is particularly opposed to Israel’s demand for a permanent military presence in two strategic areas of Gaza post-cease-fire, conditions that were recently revealed.
A ruling that disqualified Kennedy from the New York ballot may pose challenges for him in other states.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign suffered a setback when a judge in New York invalidated his petition to be listed on the state ballot. The ruling could potentially impact the candidate in other states as well. Justice Christina Ryba stated on Monday that the address Kennedy provided in New York City’s suburbs on his nominating petitions was a “sham” address he used to maintain voter registration and advance his political ambitions. Experts suggest that officials in other states might take note of the final ruling from New York courts regarding Kennedy’s residency.
Ukraine reports further advances and prisoner captures in its military push into the Russian border region.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces continue their significant incursion into Russia’s Kursk region for a second week. They claim to have gained more territory, captured additional Russian soldiers, and destroyed a jet bomber. The Ukrainian military commander stated that assault troops had moved 1-2 kilometers in certain areas of Kursk since the start of the day. Additionally, Ukrainian forces reportedly took over 100 Russian soldiers as prisoners. The surprise Ukrainian offensive on Russian soil that began on Aug. 6 has unsettled the Kremlin. The ambitious Kursk operation marks the largest attack on Russia since World War II, potentially involving up to 10,000 Ukrainian troops supported by armor and artillery.
New research reveals that the ‘altar stone’ at Stonehenge originated from Scotland, not Wales.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Researchers have made progress in unraveling the mysteries of Stonehenge’s construction. A recent study indicates that the distinct stone lying at the center of Stonehenge originally came from a sandstone quarry near northeast Scotland. It remains unclear whether the 16-foot slab was transported by sea or land in a journey spanning over 460 miles. For decades, it was believed that Stonehenge’s “altar stone” originated from Wales. The findings were published in the journal Nature. Construction of Stonehenge dates back around 5,000 years, with the stone formations brought to the site at different points in time.
Ernesto strengthens into a hurricane after impacting the northeast Caribbean and causing power outages.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Ernesto has intensified into a hurricane, bringing heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico and leaving hundreds of thousands without power in the US territory. Ernesto is poised to become a major storm as it approaches Bermuda. The storm is expected to traverse open waters throughout the week and approach closest to Bermuda on Saturday. Forecasts indicate that Ernesto could develop into a major Category 3 hurricane in the upcoming days. Ernesto was located about 225 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving over open waters with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and heading northwest at 16 mph.
3 years into his life sentence, Alex Murdaugh appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The legal challenges begin for Alex Murdaugh, the 56-year-old disgraced South Carolina attorney serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of his wife and son. The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear his appeal against his murder convictions. His legal team alleges jury tampering by the court clerk during his six-week trial. Murdaugh also seeks to appeal the 40-year federal sentence he received after admitting to embezzling nearly $11 million from clients and his law firm, deeming it excessively harsh. Courts have yet to address the issue of whether introducing evidence of his financial crimes during his murder trial was unjust.
WHO declares mpox outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency as a new strain of the virus spreads.
LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of mpox in Congo and other African nations a global emergency. Cases have been confirmed in multiple countries among both children and adults, with a new variant of the virus emerging. Vaccine availability in Africa remains limited. Earlier this week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated the mpox outbreaks as a public health emergency, with over 14,000 cases and more than 500 deaths. International assistance is being sought to contain the virus’s spread. The WHO chief expresses concern over the potential for the virus to spread beyond Africa.
Vince Vaughn, together with ‘Ted Lasso’ co-creator Bill Lawrence, brings entertainment to Carl Hiaasen’s ‘Bad Monkey’.
Vince Vaughn makes his return to television with the premiere of the series “Bad Monkey” on Apple TV+, based on a novel by Carl Hiaasen and co-created by Bill Lawrence, known for acclaimed shows like “Ted Lasso,” “Cougar Town,” and “Scrubs.” Vaughn and Lawrence, who have been friends for over 25 years and used to play poker together, collaborated on “Bad Monkey.” Vaughn portrays Andrew Yancy, a former detective turned restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys, who becomes entangled in a compelling case. Michelle Monaghan, Meredith Hagner, and Natalie Martinez also feature in the cast.
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