Ukraine’s divisive mobilization law comes into force as a new Russian push strains front-line troops
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine has come into force as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive that some fear could close in on Ukraine’s second-largest city. The legislation, which was watered down from its original draft, will make it easier to identify every conscript in the country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed separate laws Friday that allow prisoners to join the army and increase fines for draft dodgers fivefold. Thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country to escape the draft, and some risked their lives as they tried to swim across a river to neighboring Romania and Hungary.
Israeli army finds bodies of 3 hostages in Gaza killed at Oct. 7 music festival
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says its troops in Gaza found the bodies of three Israeli hostages killed by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack, including German-Israeli Shani Louk. A photo of Louk’s twisted body in the back of a pickup truck ricocheted around the world, bringing to light the scale of the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The military on Friday identified the other two bodies found as those of a 28-year-old woman, Amit Buskila, and a 56-year-old man, Itzhak Gelerenter. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said all three were killed by Hamas while fleeing the Nova music festival, an outdoor dance party near the Gaza border. The military did not give immediate details on where their bodies were found.
Trucks are rolling across a new US pier into Gaza. But challenges remain to getting enough aid in
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trucks carrying badly needed aid for the Gaza Strip have rolled across a newly built U.S. pier and into the besieged enclave for the first time. Friday’s shipment is the first in an operation that American military officials anticipate could scale up to 150 truckloads a day. It comes as Israeli restrictions on border crossings and heavy fighting hindered the delivery of food and other supplies seven months into the Israel-Hamas war. But the U.S. and aid groups warn that the floating pier project is not a substitute for land deliveries that could bring in all the food, water and fuel needed in Gaza. Before the war, more than 500 truckloads entered the territory on an average day.
Slovak prime minister still in serious condition as suspect appears in court
PEZINOK, Slovakia (AP) — A government minister says Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s condition is stable but serious as the man accused of trying to assassinate him faces his first court appearance. Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova said Saturday that two-hour surgery to remove dead tissue from multiple gunshot wounds “contributed to a positive prognosis” for Fico. Defense Minister Robert Kalinak says his condition still makes it impossible to transport him to Bratislava. The update came as the man accused of attempting to assassinate him made his first court appearance.
Noncitizen voting, already illegal in federal elections, becomes a centerpiece of 2024 GOP messaging
NEW YORK (AP) — In recent months, the specter of noncitizens voting in the U.S. has erupted into a leading rallying cry for Republicans. They say new legislation is necessary to protect the sanctity of the vote as the country faces unprecedented illegal immigration at its southern border. Noncitizen voting already is illegal in federal elections, and there is no indication it’s happening anywhere in significant numbers. States have mechanisms to check whether voters on their rolls are citizens. Still, Republicans at the federal and state level are introducing legislation and fall ballot measures to ensure it remains at the forefront of voters’ minds in November.
Donald Trump will address the NRA in Texas. He’s called himself the best president for gun owners
DALLAS (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is expected to address thousands of members of the National Rifle Association in Texas a day after campaigning in Minnesota in the midst of his hush money trial. Trump has pledged to continue to defend the Second Amendment and has called himself “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House.” The country faces record numbers of deaths due to mass shootings. Last year ended with 42 mass killings and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record.
Even with school choice, some Black families find options lacking decades after Brown v. Board
The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling and desegregation orders were only the first steps toward the elusive goal of equitable education. For many Black families, school choice has been critical to finding at least the option that works best for them. And that has not necessarily meant the school with the highest levels of racial integration. Some families describe being torn between schools where their children will feel more included on one hand or schools where they might have better academic opportunities on the other hand.
Widespread power outages from deadly Houston storm raise new risk: hot weather
HOUSTON (AP) — As the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to thousands after deadly storms, it will do so Saturday under a smog warning and as all of southern Texas starts to feel the heat. The National Weather Service in Houston warned that with temperatures hitting around 90 degrees this weekend, people should know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and not “overdo yourself during the cleanup process.” The balmy weather is a concern in a region where more than 555,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Friday night. The area was hit with fierce storms Thursday with winds of up to 100 miles per hour.
Flash floods due to unusually heavy seasonal rains kill at least 50 people in western Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Taliban official says flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in western Afghanistan have killed at least 50 people and dozens remain missing, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. The hard-hit province of Ghor has suffered significant financial losses, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor, after thousands of homes and properties were damaged and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed following Friday’s floods. Last week, the U.N. food agency said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people, mostly in the province of Baghlan.
Young women in a Rio favela hope to overcome slum violence to play in the Women’s World Cup in 2027
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Young Brazilian female footballers are hopeful that their country playing host to the 2027 Women’s World Cup will boost the sport in the South American nation. On Friday, FIFA members voted to make Brazil the first Latin American country to host the tournament. A 20-minute drive separates the Maracana Stadium from the Complexo do Alemao, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most impoverished and violent favelas, or slums. One of its residents, 15-year-old Kaylane Alves dos Santos, hopes her powerful shots and impressive dribbles will allow her to cover that short distance in three years to play for Brazil’s national team in the final of the 2027 tournament.
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