Netanyahu says deadly Israeli strike in Rafah was the result of a ‘tragic mistake’
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a “tragic mistake” was made in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians. Local officials say at least 45 people were killed in Sunday’s strike. It only added to the surging international criticism Israel has faced over its war with Hamas. Netanyahu did not elaborate on the error. Israel’s military initially said it had carried out a precise airstrike on a Hamas compound, killing two senior militants. As details of the strike and fire emerged, the military said it had opened an investigation into the deaths of civilians.
At least 22 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states
A series of powerful storms in the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend has killed at least 22 people as they left a wide trail of destroyed homes, businesses, and power outages. The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive early-season heatwave setting records from south Texas to Florida. Forecasters said the severe weather could shift to the East Coast later Monday and warned millions of people outdoors for the holiday to watch the skies.
Biden says each generation has to ‘earn’ freedom, in solemn Memorial Day remarks
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is making a Memorial Day pledge that his country will continue the work of the nation’s fallen toward a more perfect union, “for which they lived, and for which they died.” Delivering remarks at a solemn remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Biden says each generation must ensure the sacrifice of the country’s service members is not in vain. Says Biden: “Freedom has never been guaranteed. Every generation has to earn it, fight for it, defend it in the battle between autocracy and democracy, between the greed of a few, and the rights of many.”
Closing arguments, jury instructions, and maybe a verdict? Major week looms in Trump hush money trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — Testimony in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial is wrapped up after more than four weeks and nearly two dozen witnesses. That means the case heads into the pivotal final stretch of closing arguments, jury deliberations, and possibly a verdict. It’s impossible to say how long that all takes. But in a landmark trial that’s already featured its fair share of memorable moments, this week could be the most important. Starting Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers will have their final opportunity to address the jury in closing arguments. Perhaps Wednesday, before the jury begins deliberations, the judge is expected to spend about an hour instructing the jury on the law governing the case.
At least 2,000 feared dead in Papua New Guinea landslide. These are some challenges rescuers face
BANGKOK (AP) — The Papua New Guinea government said more than 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive in a landslide in the South Pacific island nation. The disaster struck after the side of a mountain came down early Friday morning when the village of Yambali was asleep. The settlement is in a restive and remote area in the interior of the poor, rural nation off the northern coast of Australia, making search and rescue efforts complicated and hazardous. The scale of the disaster, local feuds and the lack of heavy equipment are also factors.
Iran further increases its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, watchdog says
VIENNA (AP) — A report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says that Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. The confidential report was seen by The Associated Press on Monday. It says Iran now has 142.1 kilograms, or about 313.2 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% — an increase since the IAEA’s previous report in February and just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The report also says that Tehran has not reconsidered reversing its September 2023 decision to bar IAEA’s nuclear inspectors from monitoring its nuclear program and adds that it is essential for Iran “to do so.”
North Korean rocket carrying its 2nd spy satellite explodes shortly after launch
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says its attempt to put another spy satellite into orbit has failed. State media said the rocket carrying the satellite exploded after liftoff Monday evening due to a suspected engine problem. The failed launch came hours after leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul in their first trilateral meeting in more than four years. It’s highly unusual for North Korea to take provocative action when its major ally China is engaged in high-level diplomacy in the region. The launch drew rebukes from the North’s neighbors because the U.N. bans North Korea from conducting any such launches, viewing them as covers for testing long-range missile technology.
Armenians, Hmong, and other groups feel US race and ethnicity categories don’t represent them
The federal government recently reclassified race and ethnicity groups in an effort to better capture the diversity of the United States, but some groups feel the changes are still missing the mark. Hmong, Armenian, Black Arab, and Brazilian communities in the U.S. feel that they are not accurately represented in the official numbers that their government produces. While the revisions were widely applauded, these communities say the changes have created a tension between how the federal government classifies them and how they identify themselves. Advocates are hoping revisions will be made before the next census in 2030.
Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player who became a star broadcaster, dies of cancer at 71
Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, has died. The league announced that Walton died Monday after a prolonged fight with cancer. He was 71. Walton was the NBA’s MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA’s 50th anniversary and 75th-anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.
Major retailers are offering summer deals to entice inflation-weary shoppers
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans who spend Memorial Day scouting sales online and in stores may find more reasons to celebrate the return of warmer weather. Major retailers are stepping up discounts heading into the summer months, hoping to entice inflation-weary shoppers into opening their wallets. Target, Walmart, and other chains have rolled out price cuts — some permanent, others temporary — with the stated aim of giving their customers some relief. The reductions, which mostly involve groceries, are getting introduced as inflation showed its first sign of easing this year but not enough for consumers who are struggling to pay for basic necessities as well as rent and car insurance.
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