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Associated Press News	2025-05-05 15:43:06+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "District of Columbia", "Energy industry", "Keir Starmer", "Letitia James", "Doug Burgum", "Kathy Hochul", "Massachusetts", "New York", "United States government", "Government programs", "United Kingdom", "Legal proceedings", "United States", "Trump lawsuits", "Politics", "Climate and environment", "Business", "Executive orders", "United Kingdom government", "Andrea Campbell", "Associated Press", "Tim Houston", "Taylor Rogers", "Norway government" ]	# States sue Trump administration for blocking the development of wind energy By Jennifer Mcdermott May 5th, 2025, 03:43 PM --- A coalition of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump's attempt to stop the development of wind energy. Attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging an executive order Trump signed during his first day in office, pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects both onshore and offshore. They say Trump doesn't have the authority to unilaterally shut down the permitting process, and he's jeopardizing development of a power source critical to the states' economic vitality, energy mix, public health and climate goals. They're asking a federal judge to declare the order unlawful and stop federal agencies from implementing it. "This arbitrary and unnecessary directive threatens the loss of thousands of good-paying jobs and billions in investments, and it is delaying our transition away from the fossil fuels that harm our health and our planet," New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the coalition, said in a statement. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Democratic attorneys general are "using lawfare to stop the president's popular energy agenda," instead of working with him to unleash American energy and lower prices for families. "The American people voted for the president to restore America's energy dominance, and Americans in blue states should not have to pay the price of the Democrats' radical climate agenda," Rogers said in a statement to The Associated Press. Trump vowed during the campaign to end the offshore wind industry if he returned to the White House. His order said there were "alleged legal deficiencies underlying the federal government's leasing and permitting" of wind projects, and it directed the Interior secretary to review wind leasing and permitting practices for federal waters and lands. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts. ## Trump's order targeted a priority of Biden's climate plan The Biden administration saw offshore wind as a climate change solution, setting national goals, holding lease sales and approving nearly a dozen commercial-scale projects. Trump is reversing those energy policies. He's boosting fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, arguing it's necessary for the U.S. to have the lowest-cost energy and electricity in the world. The Trump administration took a more aggressive step against wind in April when it ordered the Norwegian company Equinor to halt construction on Empire Wind, a fully permitted project located southeast of Long Island, New York, that is about 30% complete. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said it appeared the Biden administration rushed the approval. Equinor went through a seven-year permitting process before starting to build Empire Wind last year to provide power to 500,000 New York homes. Equinor is considering legal options, which would be separate from the complaint filed Monday. The Norwegian government owns a majority stake in Equinor. Wind provides about 10% of the electricity generated in the United States, making it the nation's largest source of renewable energy. The attorneys general argue that Trump's order is at odds with years of bipartisan support for wind energy and contradicts his own declaration of a "national energy emergency," which called for expanding domestic energy production. ## States have already invested large sums to develop wind energy The coalition includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Washington, D.C. They say they've invested hundreds of millions of dollars collectively to develop wind energy and even more on upgrading transmission lines to bring wind energy to the electrical grid. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the executive order sows chaos, when businesses need clear regulations to effectively operate. Large, ocean-based wind farms are the linchpin of state plans to shift to renewable energy, particularly in populous East Coast states with limited land. The nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm opened a year ago, a 12-turbine wind farm east of Montauk Point, New York. A smaller wind farm operates near Block Island in waters controlled by the state of Rhode Island. Massachusetts has invested in offshore wind to ensure residents have access to well-paying green jobs and reliable, affordable energy, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said. The state has three offshore wind projects in various stages of development, include Vineyard Wind. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied to hear a case brought by fishermen's organizations challenging the approval of Vineyard Wind. The Trump administration has also suspended federal funding for floating offshore wind research in Maine and revoked a permit for a proposed offshore wind project in New Jersey. Elsewhere, political leaders are trying to rapidly increase wind energy. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmerannounced a major investment in wind power in April while hosting an international summit on energy security. Nova Scotia plans to offer leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said in Virginia last week at an Oceantic Network conference. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 21:56:30+00:00	[ "Utah", "Salt Lake City", "Dominic Garcia", "Law enforcement", "Kidnapping", "Indictments", "Sexual assault", "Prisons" ]	# Utah man kidnaps family for 6 months, lying they needed protection from 'cartel,' police say May 19th, 2025, 09:56 PM --- SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah man accused of holding his girlfriend and her family in their home for six months on a lie that "cartel" members were after them has been arrested. Dominic Garcia, 23, faces 28 counts, including seven each of kidnapping and assault, after his arrest Saturday. He remained held Monday in the Salt Lake County jail, NBC News reported. He allegedly told police he lied to the family about needing to protect them from a nonexistent "cartel," according to the police affidavit. "Dominic said that he continued this lie for several months because he did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him," the affidavit reads. He had no attorney listed to speak on his behalf. Garcia moved in with the family of seven in the Salt Lake City suburb of Millcreek in December. Soon after, he allegedly told them his own family had business ties to a cartel and the family needed to protect themselves. Garcia allegedly began carrying a handgun and repeatedly told family members the cartel would kill them if they did not do as he told. Other family members allegedly told police Garcia, at times, kept them from leaving the house for more than short periods. Police went to the house after getting a call from someone inside, according to the affidavit. "The complainant reported they weren't able to take it any longer, and they were holding Dominic at gunpoint until police arrived," the affidavit states. "Officers arrived and took Dominic into custody without incident."
Associated Press News	2025-05-04 03:46:39+00:00	[ "Australia", "Donald Trump", "Australia government", "Pierre Poilievre", "Emmanuel Macron", "Anthony Albanese", "Peter Dutton", "Global elections", "Jim Chalmers", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy", "Voting", "Government programs", "Prabowo Subianto", "Politics", "John Howard", "Jodie Haydon", "Conservatism", "Elections", "James Marape", "Elon Musk", "Political and civil unrest" ]	# Australia election: PM Anthony Albanese says voters chose unity over division By Rod Mcguirk May 4th, 2025, 03:46 AM --- MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday was greeted by well-wishers at a Sydney café and said the country had voted for unity over division. Albanese's center-left Labor Party won an emphatic victory in elections on Saturday. As vote counting continued, the government was on track to win at least 85 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber where parties need a majority to form an administration. Labor held 78 seats in the previous Parliament, and gaining seats in a second term is rare in Australian politics. "The Australian people voted for unity rather than division," Albanese told reporters in the crowded café in inner-suburban Leichhardt where he and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, gathered with colleagues and supporters for coffee. "We'll be a disciplined, orderly government in our second term, just like we have been in our first," he added. Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the government's top economic minister, explained the election result as voters seeking stability after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff disruptions to the global economy. "This was beyond even our most optimistic expectations," Chalmers told Australian Broadcasting Corp. of the election result. "We know that this second term has been given to us by the Australian people because they want stability in uncertain times," he added. ## Australian election result reminiscent of Canada In an election result reminiscent of Canada's recent contest, conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton lost his parliamentary seat. His alliance of parties was reduced to 37 seats. Canada's opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, lost his seat after Trump declared economic war on the U.S. neighbor. Poilievre had previously been regarded as a shoo-in to become Canada's next prime minister and shepherd his Conservative Party back into power for the first time in a decade. Senior Australian lawmakers say they feared late last year they would become the first government to be tossed out after a single three-year term since the turmoil of the Great Depression in 1931. Like the center-left Canadian government, the Australian government had linked their political opponents to Trump's administration and its Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. Australia was hit during the five-week election campaign with 10% tariffs on exports to the United States despite trading with its bilateral free trade partner at a deficit for decades. ## Opposition leader branded 'DOGE-y Dutton' The opposition leader was branded "DOGE-y Dutton," and Labor warned that a Dutton government would slash public sector services to pay for seven government-funded nuclear power plants. Labor said Dutton never campaigned at any of the proposed power plant sites and argued the conservatives realized that nuclear reactors were not popular. There is no nuclear power generation in Australia. Labor also accused Dutton of igniting culture wars. While Albanese stands before the Australian flag and two Indigenous flags at media announcements, Dutton had said that as prime minister, he would only stand in front of the national flag. Indigenous Australians account for 4% of the population and are the nation's most disadvantaged ethnic minority. Chalmers said the direct impacts of U.S. tariffs on Australia were "manageable and relatively modest." "But there is a huge downside risk in the global economy. I think what's happening, particularly between the U.S. and China, does cast a dark shadow over the global economy. And we're not uniquely impacted by that. But we're really well-placed. We are quite well-prepared," Chalmers said. Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to lead a party to consecutive election victories since conservative John Howard in 2004. ## Revolving door for Australian political leaders Howard's 11-year reign ended at the next election in 2007. Like Dutton, Howard also lost his seat in Parliament as well as his government. Howard's departure coincided with the start of an extraordinary period of political instability that created a revolving door for political leaders. There have been six prime ministers since Howard, including one who served in the role twice in separate stints three years apart. Albanese said the first world leader to congratulate him on his election victory was Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, who phoned at 7:45 a.m. "He's a very good friend," Albanese said. "I told him it's a bit early to call." Albanese had also spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and received text messages of congratulation from British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Albanese said he would speak to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later Sunday.
Associated Press News	2025-05-08 01:16:55+00:00	[ "Venezuela government", "Argentina government", "Maria Corina Machado", "Diosdado Cabello", "Nicolas Maduro", "Venezuela", "Marco Rubio", "Bogota", "Colombia", "Argentina", "Fernando Martinez", "Politics", "Javier Milei", "Garcia Cano" ]	# Venezuela denies that opposition members left country under international rescue operation By Regina Garcia Cano and Andry Rincon May 8th, 2025, 01:16 AM --- CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that members of the country's opposition left the Argentine diplomatic compound where they had sheltered for over a year, but it denied that their arrival to the United States occurred under an international rescue operation as characterized by the political faction and the U.S. State Department. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the group's movements were negotiated with the government and further alleged that one of the six people who entered the Argentine ambassador's residence in March left the compound in August, contradicting earlier statements from the opposition. Cabello's statements came roughly 24 hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media that the opposition members were on U.S. soil after a "successful rescue." The government of Argentine President Javier Milei allowed the six people into the ambassador's residence when authorities loyal to Venezuela's ruling party issued warrants for their arrest, accusing them of promoting acts of violence to destabilize the country. The group included the campaign manager and communications director of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as well as Fernando Martinez, a cabinet minister in the 1990s. Martinez abandoned the compound in mid-December and, according to Venezuelan authorities, appeared before prosecutors. He died in February. After Rubio's announcement Tuesday, Machado thanked people involved in what she called an "impeccable and epic operation for the Freedom of five heroes of Venezuela." But Cabello alleged that only four people remained at the embassy after Martinez's departure. Since late November, the group had denounced the constant presence of intelligence service agents and police outside the residence. It had also accused the government of President Nicolás Maduro of cutting electricity and water services to the compound. The government denied the allegations. "They put on their show, and in the end, they ended up negotiating," Cabello said Wednesday during his weekly show on state television. Cabello did not offer details of the group's movements to reach the U.S. But he alleged that Machado negotiated with the government to allow her mother to leave the country, which he said she did so Monday via a commercial airplane headed to Colombia's capital, Bogota. Machado, who was last seen in public in January, did not immediately respond to Cabello's allegations. Maduro's government routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents ahead of last year's presidential election, and its crackdown on dissent only increased after the country's National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary. The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force and ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina. As Cabello's TV show aired, Machado's campaign manager, Magalli Meda, said on X that her home was being raided and shared timestamped photos showing men dressed in black, some with their faces covered and wearing bullet-proof vests, in a living room. "We denounce that at this moment, while Cabello lies about supposed negotiations for our departure, his repressive arm is violating our home in Caracas," she said. "These images were obtained remotely just moments ago." ___ Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 04:06:23+00:00	[ "Fashion", "Black experience", "Met Gala", "Apparel and accessories manufacturing", "Louisiana", "DC Wire", "New York City Wire", "John Wesley", "Anna Wintour", "Elka Stevens", "Trayvon Martin", "Metropolitan Museum of Art", "Kimberly Jenkins", "Pharrell Williams", "Yves Saint Laurent", "Associated Press", "Entertainment", "Colman Domingo", "Race and ethnicity", "ASAP Rocky", "Lewis Hamilton", "New York", "Lifestyle", "Race and Ethnicity" ]	# For Black men, fashion has been a tool of self-expression — and a way they've been judged By Deepti Hajela May 1st, 2025, 04:06 AM --- NEW YORK (AP) — Growing up on the south side of Chicago, the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley was given the message early on: What one wore as a Black man mattered. Wesley's pastor father, who migrated from Louisiana after World War II in search of more opportunities than those readily available to Black people in the Deep South, "always had an impeccable sense of shirt and tie and suit." "In order to move in certain spaces where colored people were not allowed to be, you want to be dressed the right way to be able to fit in," says Wesley, 53, now a senior pastor in Alexandria, Virginia. But Wesley also got an early warning: What he wore could be used against him. His father forbade baseball caps because some street gang members wore them in certain ways, and his father was concerned authorities would make stereotypical or racist assumptions about his son if he were seen wearing one. Clothing as message. Fashion and style as tools, signifiers of culture and identity, whether intentional or assumed. There's likely no group for whom that's been more true than Black men. It's not just what they wear, but also how it's been perceived by others seeing it on a Black man, sometimes at serious cost. "It's always a dialogue, between what you can put on and what you can't take off," says Jonathan Square, assistant professor at Parsons School of Design and among the advisers to a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute that kicks off with Monday's Met Gala. ## Clothing matters, and not just at the Met Gala "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," opening to the public May 10, focuses on Black designers and menswear. It uses the 2009 book, "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity," by guest curator and Barnard College professor Monica L. Miller, as a foundational inspiration for the show. The dress code for the celebrity-laden, fashion extravaganza fundraiser that is the Met Gala is "Tailored For You," with high-profile Black male entertainers like Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo and A$AP Rocky joining Vogue editor Anna Wintour as co-chairs. "When we're talking about Black men ... we are talking about a group, an ethnic and racial group and cultural group that has historically dealt with adversity, oppression, systemic oppression," says Kimberly Jenkins, fashion studies scholar and founder of the Fashion and Race Database, who contributed an essay for the exhibit's catalog. "And so clothing matters for them in terms of social mobility, self-expression, agency." Through the decades, that self-expression has taken many forms and been adopted by others. Take the zoot suit, born in urban centers like New York's Harlem and popularized during World War II, with its wide-legged, high-waisted pants and long suit coats with padded shoulders. The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of styles related to hip-hop culture, such as jeans worn sagging off the hips, oversized jerseys and jackets with designer logos. Hoodies, sneakers and other streetwear were popularized by Black men before becoming global fashion staples. For some, it was about always being dressed "appropriately" or "respectably" to demonstrate to the mainstream that Black men were in fact equal, not lesser beings, criminals or thugs. The Met exhibit, for example, includes material from civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois that showcases how seriously he took the tailoring of his clothes. Gala co-host A$AP Rocky made a point of tailored suits and high fashion earlier this year during his trial on firearms charges for which he was ultimately found not guilty — Yves Saint Laurent even sent out a press release touting his court attire. Others purposely picked their clothing as a pushback and challenge to white standards of what was acceptable, like the Black Panthers' berets and black leather jackets, or colorful dashikis that signaled connection to Pan-Africanism. But it has never been a one-way message. Debates over the clothes Black men wear and how they wear them have at times turned into a form of cultural and literal policing, like when a young Black man sued a New York department store in 2013, saying he was racially profiled and detained by police after buying an expensive belt. ## The weaponization of fashion Elka Stevens, associate professor and fashion design program coordinator at Howard University, describes a gatekeeping weaponization of fashion, where some believe "people don't have the right to wear the finest designer clothes based upon their skin color, or how they look, or how they're being classified." "But if you don't dress at a particular standard, or you don't dress what's considered to be appropriate for said venue or occasion, that gets weaponized as well," she adds. Zoot suits were condemned in the WWII era as unpatriotic for how much fabric they required during wartime scarcity. When Allen Iverson and other athletes started bringing hip-hop style and sensibility to the NBA, the league pushed back in 2005 with a dress code calling for business attire for players on the sidelines to promote what it considered a "professional" image. And even as streetwear styles and sneakers have become big business for global fashion, they can still be looked down upon based on the body wearing them, says Stevens. "That which was previously associated with street culture and particularly Black street culture, now is part of our everyday," she says. "But again, who's wearing it makes a huge difference." There's perhaps no starker example than that of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old killed in Florida in 2012. He was shot by a man who found the sight of the hoodie-wearing Black teen suspicious, leading to the confrontation in which Martin died. Even as hoodies have become essential dressing for everyone from kids to corporate CEOs, it's "the presence of that person who we've identified as being Black or someone identifies as being Black that causes the problem no matter what, no matter what they have on," Stevens says. It's a reality of life in the United States that Wesley has wrestled with. After Martin's death, he wore a hoodie while behind the pulpit at Alfred Street Baptist Church and spoke of his worries about how his own young sons would be perceived. Like his father before him and for the same reasons, there were certain styles he never allowed his sons — now 21 and 18 — to wear. Sagging jeans? He "just won't allow it. I refuse to. Not only because of fear of being stereotyped by the police, but also labeled by society. Maybe I'm wrong for that. I don't know," Wesley says. "To me, it's a shame that my attire can neither hide my color, it can never elevate me above it in your stereotype, but it can always confirm it," Wesley says. "So my suit doesn't get me out of, 'Oh, he's still a Black man who's a threat,' but the hoodie makes it go, 'Oh, he's a Black man who's the threat.'" ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Met Gala, visit https://apnews.com/hub/met-gala.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 18:58:56+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Macon", "Georgia", "John Kennedy", "Steve Gooch", "Josh McLaurin", "Politics", "U.S. Republican Party", "Elections", "Georgia state government", "Greg Dolezal" ]	# Georgia Republican Steve Gooch launches bid for lieutenant governor May 15th, 2025, 06:58 PM --- ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch on Thursday launched his campaign for lieutenant governor, becoming the latest Republican to say he would model his candidacy on President Donald Trump. Burt Jones, the current Republican lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor next year and could announce his candidacy within the next few weeks. Gooch, of Dahlonega, was first elected to the state Senate in 2010. He previously served as Lumpkin County's lone commissioner. He also earlier served as a member of the state Board of Transportation, which oversees Georgia's highways and other infrastructure. "I see a Georgia that is the gold standard for our great country — a state that leads the way in securing our borders, stopping violent crime, abolishing the state income tax, and defending the values that make America great," Gooch said in a statement. He called himself a "die-hard MAGA supporter" having successfully sponsored a law this year creating an "America First" license plate that will soon be offered to Georgia motorists. At a previous state Republican Party convention, Gooch touted the license plate as a way to show support for Trump. Georgia's lieutenant governor presides over Senate sessions, but senators decide how much power the official has. When senators agree, lieutenant governors can be influential. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tillery of Vidalia has already announced that he's running for lieutenant governor. Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon has also been considering a run. Other Republicans could seek the office as well, including state Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming. On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate is state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs.
Associated Press News	2025-05-18 02:21:22+00:00	[ "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "Immunizations", "Medication", "Moderna", "Inc.", "Novavax", "Health", "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.", "John C. Jacobs", "Clinical trials", "COVID-19 pandemic", "Pfizer Inc.", "Business" ]	# FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions By Lauran Neergaard May 18th, 2025, 02:21 AM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has issued a long-awaited approval of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine but with unusual restrictions. Novavax makes the nation's only traditional protein-based coronavirus vaccine – and until now it had emergency authorization from FDA for use in anyone 12 and older. But late Friday, the FDA granted the company full approval for its vaccine for use only in adults 65 and older – or those 12 to 64 who have at least one health problem that puts them at increased risk from COVID-19. Vaccines made by Novavax's competitors Pfizer and Moderna already are fully licensed for use in anyone 12 and older, and also are authorized for use in children as young as 6 months. Next month, influential advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were set to debate if yearly COVID vaccines still should be recommended for everyone or only certain people at higher risk. The Novavax decision suggests the Trump administration may already have decided how to proceed in advance of that meeting. Novavax chief executive John C. Jacobs welcomed the licensure. "Market research and U.S. CDC statistics indicate that older individuals and those with underlying conditions are the populations most likely to seek out COVID-19 vaccination seasonally. This significant milestone demonstrates our commitment to these populations and is a significant step towards availability of our protein-based vaccine option," he said. In its Friday approval letter, the FDA didn't explain the restrictions although they reflect skepticism about vaccines from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other Trump officials. Novavax originally showed its vaccine was safe and effective in a 30,000-person clinical trial. The FDA had been on track to grant Novavax full approval – without restrictions -- by its April 1 target date, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters. Novavax later announced the FDA instead was asking it to run an additional trial after approval, which is highly unusual. FDA did order several additional trials to be completed in the next few years, some examining whether the vaccine might be associated with some heart conditions. Another required study must assess the benefits of continuing vaccination in 50- to 64-year-olds who don't have health problems that increase their risk from COVID-19. —- The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 18:12:50+00:00	[ "Shootings", "Juries", "Crime", "Florida", "Tallahassee", "Law enforcement", "Gun violence", "Ray Rodrigues", "Kate Payne", "Jessica Yeary", "Cody Poppell" ]	# Grand jury indicts Florida State student accused in a mass shooting on campus By Kate Payne May 15th, 2025, 06:12 PM --- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a Florida State University student on murder charges for the killings of two people and the wounding of six others in a mass shooting on campus last month. The indictment released Wednesday divulged new details of how 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner allegedly carried out the attack that terrorized the university and Florida's capital city. Jurors described the rampage as "our community's worst nightmare" but concluded the rapid response of law enforcement cut short the violence, according to a grand jury report obtained by The Associated Press. The grand jury also found that the officer who shot and wounded Ikner acted lawfully and heroically. Wednesday's indictment came a day after Ikner made his first appearance in court since the April 17 shooting. Jessica Yeary, the public defender assigned to Ikner's case, did not respond to a request for comment from AP. Ikner, who investigators have identified as the stepson of a local sheriff's deputy, is being held without bond under orders that he have no contact with the victims and their families. He has been transferred to a jail in neighboring Wakulla County, which is standard procedure when an inmate is related to a Leon County deputy, authorities said. After reviewing police body camera footage, campus surveillance feeds and video recordings by witnesses, the grand jury concluded that Ikner acted alone, that the attack was slowed by a shotgun that failed to properly operate, and that the violence was halted by a multiagency law enforcement response. In roughly four minutes, officers had confronted Ikner, a political science student at Florida State, shooting and wounding him, according to Tallahassee police. The grand jury highlighted the actions of FSU Police Officer Cody Poppell, who drove his motorcycle toward the sound of gunshots as students fled around him. Poppell shot at the gunman several times, still astride his running motorcycle, hitting Ikner once in the face, the grand jury found. "There is no question others would have died absent his actions," the grand jury wrote of Poppell. Speaking at a meeting Thursday of the board that oversees the state's university system, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues applauded the response of law enforcement. "Obviously tragic to have students shot and to have any loss of life. But the quick response of the FSU campus police prevented this from being much, much, much worse than it could have been," Rodrigues said. According to the grand jury's findings, Ikner was armed with a shotgun and a handgun, which was emblazoned with a sheriff's star and "Leon County Sheriff's Office." Investigators have identified that firearm as the former service weapon of Ikner's stepmother. Ikner "stole" both guns from his parents' home, jurors concluded, taking the pistol from his father's bedside. The grand jury described Ikner's selection of the victims as "totally random," targeting men and women of "various ages, races, and lifestyles." "All evidence suggests he merely wanted to kill as many people as possible, not that he was targeting any person or group," the grand jury wrote. "The only consistent trait of each victim was their innocence." To date, the jurors found that Leon County Schools had no history of mental health or behavioral referrals indicating Ikner as a threat. Likewise, Tallahassee State College, which Ikner previously attended, had no disciplinary referrals or reports on file of Ikner making threats against other students. FSU also has no record of Ikner seeking mental health counseling, being reported for violent comments or facing disciplinary referrals, jurors found. Court records show Ikner's arraignment is scheduled for June 11. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Associated Press News	2025-05-09 16:21:31+00:00	[ "Republic of the Congo", "Crime", "Royalty", "Indigenous people", "Human rights", "Torture", "Jonathan Mazower", "Sexual assault", "Womens rights" ]	# Congo national park associated with Prince Harry acknowledges human rights abuses By Wilson Mcmakin May 9th, 2025, 04:21 PM --- DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A national park associated with Prince Harry in the Republic of the Congo has acknowledged that its guards committed human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples who were displaced when the park was constructed. An internal investigation by African Parks, a South African-based wildlife parks consortium, uncovered cases of torture, rape and forced displacement of Indigenous people who used to inhabit the land now occupied by the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Prince Harry sits on the board of African Parks. "African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims," read a statement released Thursday by the group and London-based law firm Omnia Strategy. The initial reports of the abuse, which allegedly took place in 2023, were raised by international rights group Survival International. The allegations were investigated, but the final report of the abuse remains confidential and many details remain unclear. The rights group said Thursday in a statement that men and women were beaten, tortured or raped "by rangers who are managed and paid for by African Parks." It did not provide details. Jonathan Mazower, a spokesperson for Survival International, alleged that African Parks has known since at "least 2013" of cases of abuse when a researcher raised the issue with them. "This is not a particularly isolated case," he said. Founded in 2000, African Parks established a hard-nosed reputation by going into seriously degraded places armed with the right to hire and fire from governments, which retained broad authority but respected a clear separation of roles. The group assumes day-to-day management of countries' wildlife areas, seeking more efficiency and accountability in the campaign to protect flora and fauna from poaching and habitat depletion. Many partner nations struggle to run parks on their own, challenged by poverty, corruption and conflict. ___ Louis Patrick Okamba contributed from Brazzaville
Associated Press News	2025-05-06 14:21:06+00:00	[ "Financial Wellness", "Amy Arnott", "Personal finance", "Morningstar", "Inc.", "Business", "Lifestyle" ]	# What your net worth statement is telling you By Amy Arnott Of Morningstar May 6th, 2025, 02:21 PM --- A summary of all your assets and liabilities is a crucial first step toward getting a better handle on your finances. Before you start putting together a net worth spreadsheet, gather as much information as you can to get the best sense of what it can tell you. ## Overall net worth (assets minus liabilities) The ultimate insight from a net worth statement is exactly what it says: the net worth number, which is simply assets minus liabilities. The number in isolation doesn't tell you too much, but it is a useful benchmark to track over time. A negative net worth figure would obviously indicate room for improvement. ## Debt ratio To calculate your debt ratio, you'll need to add up all required monthly debt payments, including mortgage payments, student loans, auto loans, and credit card debt. Then take the total and divide it by your monthly gross (pretax) income. Lower is better for this number, and any number greater than 43% will likely create problems in obtaining or refinancing a mortgage. ## Emergency fund Most financial advisors recommend keeping at least three to six months' worth of monthly living expenses in cash or other low-risk, highly liquid assets to cover a sudden job loss or other unforeseen events, such as car repairs, appliance replacement, or other home repairs. Some investors may want to keep closer to 12 months' worth of expenses in cash if variable pay makes up a significant portion of their total compensation. ## Division of assets between partners This question normally comes up in the context of divorce, but it can be worth considering for couples who plan to remain married, as well. Depending on your state's estate-tax limits — and potential future changes to federal estate-tax laws— it can be beneficial for couples to try to balance out the assets owned by each individual. It's also important for each member of a couple to have their own retirement assets. ## Allocation of assets among taxable, tax-deferred, and real estate holdings There's no particular reason why the allocations need to be exactly one third each, but the principle of equitable distribution helps avoid assets that are out of balance in any particular area. In particular, it's wise to avoid an overly large concentration in residential real estate because it's not particularly liquid. Investors should generally direct most of their savings toward tax-deferred retirement accounts, but once those have accumulated a healthy balance, it can make sense to steer some savings toward taxable accounts. ## Single-company risk If any one stock accounts for a large share of your net worth, that might be cause for concern. That's particularly true in the case of employer stock because it means that your human capital — your ability to generate income and earn a living — and financial capital both depend on the fortunes of one company. ## Liquidity and valuation issues For most assets, valuation is straightforward. But things get a bit trickier for collectibles that aren't liquid, such as antiques and baseball cards. For any physical assets, make sure all of these assets are both securely stored and itemized on their homeowners' insurance policy. ## Number of accounts Life is complicated enough without having a bunch of financial accounts scattered across different institutions. It's easy to accumulate multiple accounts if you changed jobs and never moved assets from a previous employer's plan or set up different IRAs at different times. But the hassle of keeping track of account numbers, passwords, and updated account balances may not be worth it. That's particularly true for investors approaching age 73, when required minimum distributions kick in. Investors don't have to take RMDs from each account but will need to base their withdrawals on the account totals in every covered account. Having a limited number of accounts to deal with also makes things easier for family members if you die or become incapacitated. __ This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar. For more personal finance content, go to https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance Amy Arnott is a portfolio strategist at Morningstar.
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 22:26:39+00:00	[ "Marijuana", "Pennsylvania", "Legislation", "Philadelphia", "Josh Shapiro", "Lifestyle", "Tim Bonner", "U.S. Republican Party", "Chris Goldstein", "Politics", "Dan Laughlin", "Marc Anderson", "Health", "Rick Krajewski" ]	# Pennsylvania House advances bill legalizing recreational marijuana By Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy May 7th, 2025, 10:26 PM --- HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvanians 21 or older would be allowed to legally purchase and use marijuana under a bill that passed the state House on Wednesday, the first time a recreational cannabis proposal has been approved by either legislative chamber. Democrats voted unanimously to advance the multifaceted bill to the Senate over unified opposition from Republicans, just as lawmakers are working out which issues will be part of the budget-season dealmaking that occurs every year at this time in Harrisburg. The proposal was touted by the main sponsor, Democratic Rep. Rick Krajewski of Philadelphia, as a "balanced, responsible and robust framework" that will create jobs, ensure a safe product and maintain affordable prices for consumers. He noted that there were about 12,000 simple possession arrests in the state last year. Republicans expressed concern that legalization will increase marijuana usage, cause health issues and create safety problems at workplaces. Several pointed out that marijuana is still illegal under federal law. "The myth that this will only make cannabis available to adults is to deny reason and logic," said Rep. Marc Anderson, a York County Republican. He predicted that "kids will get weed illegally, and it will be more dangerous." The bill seems likely to see changes if senators decide to act on it. Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie County, a leading Republican on the issue, said on social media after the vote that there is "no path forward in the Senate for a state store model for adult-use cannabis." Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed legalizing recreational marijuana in his budget, counting on more than $500 million in revenue during the first year, primarily through licensing fees. He is looking for new sources of cash to pay Medicaid bills, bolster struggling public transit agencies and help the poorest public schools. The proposal would direct that sales be managed by the state-owned liquor store system, but they would occur not at the liquor stores themselves but in other retail outlets. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board would set prices and regulate how cannabis is produced, tested, transported and sold. Some of the new tax revenue would go to help historically disadvantaged communities, with other portions designated to combat substance abuse, boost minority business development and pay for expunging marijuana-related convictions. Rep. Tim Bonner, a Mercer County Republican, argued that the expungement mechanism would improperly impinge on the state courts, but Democratic backers said they were confident the provision will withstand legal scrutiny. Under the bill, drivers who are not considered impaired but have traces of marijuana in their blood would not be subject to driving-under-the-influence charges. State residents would be allowed to grow a small number of plants if they obtain a home cultivation permit. There are 24 states that currently allow recreational marijuana and 14 others that permit it only for medical purposes. Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in 2016 for patients with certain qualifying conditions and the assent of a physician. Democratic state Sen. Sharif Street of Philadelphia, who supports legalization, said the House bill lacks majority support in the Senate. A pair of bills that languished during the last legislative session called for a much different public sales method, involving state licensing of private retail dispensaries. Chris Goldstein, the Pennsylvania regional organizer for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said opponents of putting marijuana sales in the hands of the liquor store system consider the House bill a centralized approach that would not do much to foster small businesses. "This is so far away from anything we see in other states, it's just not something that consumers are familiar with," Goldstein said. "That's not what people want."
Associated Press News	2025-05-06 05:34:20+00:00	[ "Houston", "Texas", "Weather", "Storms", "Floods", "Climate and environment", "Natural disasters", "Mark Donovan", "Brenham", "Steven Eilert", "Melinda Gordon", "Climate" ]	# Rescue crews recover body of 10-year-old girl lost in Texas floods May 6th, 2025, 05:34 AM --- BRENHAM, Texas (AP) — The body of a 10-year-old girl who was swept away in rapidly rising floodwaters has been recovered, Brenham Fire Chief Mark Donovan said Tuesday. Her body was found as forecasters warned that the day could bring more heavy rains and flooding to the Houston area and the state's coast. The girl was identified by authorities as Devah Woods, a third-grade student at Brenham Elementary School. Woods and her sister were walking home from school around 4 p.m. Monday when they got caught in floodwaters from a creek, said Melinda Gordon, a spokesperson for the city. Authorities are not sure if Woods slipped and fell in the creek, but her sister ran to get help, Gordon said. A man who saw her get swept away and a Brenham police officer tried to rescue her but were unsuccessful. The man "got her backpack, but she got away from him," Gordon said. The man and the officer were treated by paramedics and released. Teams of people scoured the city Monday night, using dogs and drones with thermal imaging to try to find the girl. The water rescue operation was scaled back overnight when heavy thunderstorms moved through, but four swift water rescue teams resumed operations early Tuesday, the Fire Department said via social media. The department worked with more than a dozen supporting agencies in the search. Around 10:45 a.m., a dive team with the Texas Department of Public Safety told authorities that it had found her body, Brenham Police Lt. Steven Eilert said during a news conference. "We have taken care of her as much as we could. Our hearts go out to (her) family. It is a difficult thing," Eilert said. Woods' mother attended the news conference but did not speak. The girl's body was found 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers) from where she went missing, Gordon said. Brenham, which has about 19,000 residents, is located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Houston. "We're a very, very special community, very tight-knit Christian community. The response from everyone was overwhelming," Mayor Atwood Kenjura said. "We don't like the outcome that happened." At Woods' school, support services were being provided for students and staff, according to the Brenham Independent School District. "Our hearts are broken for Devah's family, and we ask that you continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this unimaginably difficult time," the district said in a social media post. The next round of severe storms threatened to bring as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain Tuesday to parts of southeastern Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Houston. Strong rip currents and flooding along Gulf-facing beaches, especially during high tide, were also forecast. A large swath of Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi were under flood watches early in the day. Just last week, storms drenched much of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, washing out roads and causing hundreds of flight cancelations and delays. ___ This story has been updated to correct that Mark Donovan is Brenham's fire chief, not its police chief.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 15:49:16+00:00	[ "California", "Birth rates", "COVID-19 pandemic", "COVID-19", "U.S. Republican Party", "Politics", "Eric McGhee" ]	# Here's how much California's population grew in 2024 after a COVID-era dip By Sophie Austin May 1st, 2025, 03:49 PM --- SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California 's population climbed above 39.5 million in 2024, marking the second year of growth following a string of declines in the nation's most populous state during the coronavirus pandemic. The population rose an estimated 1%, adding 108,000 people compared to 2023, according to a report released Thursday by the Department of Finance. The increase is due in part to the number of births outpacing deaths and a boost in the number of adults 65 and older. The state said it also had better data to account for increases in legal immigration into the state from other countries. About one in nine people living in the United States reside in California. The Democratic governor touted the population gains as a sign of the state's growing economy, which is one of the largest in the world. The size of the state's economy has now surpassed that of Japan, which puts it only behind the U.S. as a whole, China and Germany, Newsom's office announced last week. "People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream, where rights are protected and people are respected," Newsom said in a statement. "Regions throughout California are growing, strengthening local communities and boosting our state's future." But Republicans in the Democrat-dominated state and beyond have taken aim at California's population declines in the past and the loss of its residents to Texas, which previously made up the largest state-to-state movement in the U.S., according to U.S. Census data. Critics have tied past population decreases in the Golden State to the relentless homelessness crisis and rising cost of living. California has some of the highest housing, gas and utility prices in the country. "Californians are still leaving because of high costs, bad policies, and a government that punishes work and rewards dysfunction," Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said. "If the Governor thinks a one-year bump means the state's doing fine, he's ignoring the reality most families are living in." Eric McGhee, a policy director and senior fellow at the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, said the period of decline was significant because prior to it, "in our entire existence as a state, we had never lost population before." "We were often one of the fastest-growing states," he said. "So it was unusual for us to be losing population, to say the least." The growth California saw in 2024 "is still very modest," McGhee said. The state also revised its estimate for legal immigration into California from other countries from 2021 to 2024 by roughly 277,000 people, citing better data. The estimated total number of legal immigrants during that period now stands at about 655,000, the Department of Finance said. Seven of the 10 largest cities saw an increase in population in 2024, including Bakersfield and San Diego, which both grew by more than 1% to roughly 419,000 and 1.4 million, respectively. San Francisco, San Jose and Anaheim saw decreases in population by less than 0.5%. The population rose in nine of the 10 largest counties, with Los Angeles County increasing by 28,000 compared to 2023. In Contra Costa, the state's ninth most populous county that is part of the San Francisco Bay Area, the number of residents fell by just two dozen. In Mono, a small county on the California-Nevada border around Yosemite National Park, the population growth rate fell by about 1.6%. ___ Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna
Associated Press News	2025-05-03 04:18:57+00:00	[ "Scott Smith", "Donald Trump", "Radio", "National Public Radio", "West Virginia", "Public Broadcasting Service", "Asheville", "District of Columbia", "Business", "Entertainment", "Hurricane Helene", "Corporation for Public Broadcasting", "Lisa Savage", "Politics", "Teddy Wimer", "Tom Livingston" ]	# NPR stations targeted for cuts have provided lifelines to listeners By John Raby and Jamie Stengle May 3rd, 2025, 04:18 AM --- CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, the sound coming from open car windows as residents gathered on a street at the top of a ridge trying to get cell service last fall was Blue Ridge Public Radio. And as they stood in line for water or food, the latest news they had heard on the station was a frequent topic of conversation. "The public radio station was alerting people what was going on," said Lisa Savage, who volunteered at an area church after the hurricane. Now public radio stations are being targeted for cuts by President Donald Trump. This week, he signed an executive order aimed at slashing public subsidies to NPR and PBS, alleging "bias" in the broadcasters' reporting. Public radio stations have been a lifeline for residents during natural disasters that take out power, the internet and cell towers. And in many remote and rural areas across the U.S., they can be a lone source of local news. About a week after she had volunteered in the Asheville area, Savage recalled driving through another hard-hit community and hearing updates on Blue Ridge Public Radio on where residents could pick up water. "So that was crucial," Savage said. In the West Texas desert, Marfa Public Radio provides listeners with a mix of local and national news and music. It is based in Marfa, a city of about 2,000 that draws tourists to its art scene. "Marfa Public Radio is the only radio service in a lot of the geographic area that we cover," said Tom Livingston, the station's interim executive director. "So it's really essential in terms of if there's news events, if there's safety things that happen in the community." ## Funding has widespread impact Trump's order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies "to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS" and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the private CPB, which has said that it is not a federal executive agency subject to Trump's orders. The heads of PBS, NPR and CPB all suggested Friday that the order was illegal, and a court fight seems inevitable. The White House has also said it will be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. Local stations operate on a combination of government funding, donations and philanthropic grants, and stations in smaller markets are particularly dependent on the public money. WMMT, based in the eastern Kentucky community of Whitesburg, can be heard in parts of five Appalachian states. The station's general manager, Teddy Wimer, said listeners "want to hear people that sound like folks that they know from Appalachia," and the station, which currently operates from a renovated Winnebago called the Possum Den, relies on CPB funding. "We're in an economically disadvantaged area of the country," Wimer said. "Most of our listeners who really rely upon our programming don't have the funds to ramp up their support." Livingston said about 30% of their funding comes from the CPB. Right now, he says, it's too early to know if the cuts will actually happen or what they would impact if they do come through. ## Local flavor is a factor in listenership and credibility Along the West Virginia-Virginia border, more than three hours from Washington, D.C., residents can pick up signals from radio stations far away. But those "aren't going have the local flavor and impact that we do," said Scott Smith, general manager of Allegheny Mountain Radio. "This is the only game in town for that sort of thing." In his home base of Monterey, Virginia, Smith said there's about a 4 -square-mile (10.3-square-kilometer) area of cell coverage with one cell tower. The station has proven to be a vital source of information during natural disasters. In 2012, residents relied on it after a derecho knocked out power to 680,000 customers across West Virginia and it took nearly two weeks for some areas to get their service restored. "Yeah, we play music. Yeah, we get on the air and joke around," he said. "But we're here providing basic level services of information, emergency information, that sort of thing, to our communities. And as part of that, we're a pretty critical link in this area for the emergency alert system." Smith has a staff of 10 people at Allegheny Mountain Radio, which receives 68% of its annual budget from CPB. "What CPB does fund the most is small rural radio," Smith said. "When you take 60% of our income away, that's not readily or easily replaceable." Smith calls it a "wait-and-see game" on whether Congress will act on the CPB funding. "The answer to how we move forward is vague," Smith said. "We will still continue to be here as long as we can be." ___ Stengle reported from Dallas. Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 20:55:17+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Joe Biden", "Trump Media Technology Group", "Barack Obama", "Joseph Stiglitz", "Howard Lutnick", "Financial markets", "Economy", "China", "International trade", "Tariffs and global trade", "Zachary Taylor", "Economic policy", "Ronald Reagan", "Politics", "Recessions and depressions", "Government policy", "Business", "Franklin D. Roosevelt" ]	# Trump says it's Biden's economy, but businesses and economists beg to differ By Paul Wiseman and Christopher Rugaber May 1st, 2025, 08:55 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — When the stock market was climbing in January 2024, Donald Trump knew exactly who deserved credit: He did. Nearly a year before his return to the White House, he declared on his Truth Social platform that investors were celebrating his lead in the polls against President Joe Biden. When the stock market fell Wednesday on news that the American economy had gone backward during the first three months of 2025, Trump knew exactly who to blame: Biden. "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's,'' he posted, adding that Biden "left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!'' Trump also said, "Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden 'Overhang.' This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS." Yet for economists puzzling out how prices and hiring will change in the coming months, or businesses struggling with a starkly uncertain future, Trump's massive and unpredictable import taxes on almost every country do in fact bear much of the blame. Rarely have a new president's policies had such a sharp, immediate impact on the economy. To Georgia Tech University's Mark Zachary Taylor, who studies the economic policies of the American presidents, Trump's assertions sound like a brazen double standard. "He cannot have it both ways,'' Taylor said by email, "though he always tries.'' Trump's attempt to shift blame for bad economic news to his predecessor raises a question: At what point in a four-year term does a new president assume responsibility for the economy's performance? Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said in interviews that the benefits of Trump's policies will be felt in the second half of this year, particularly in the fourth quarter. And Taylor notes that for a typical president, "it might take six months to two years for us to accurately call the economy 'theirs.'" But the threshold is different for presidents who enter the White House with big ambitions to reshape the economy from the get-go. "The more boldly an incoming president acts (and the stronger his Congressional support), the sooner the economy becomes 'his,' " Taylor said. The most notable example is President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who pushed through major legislation — including a bill that effectively established deposit insurance to calm a banking crisis – to combat the Great Depression during his first 100 days in office. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama also entered office during economic crises and moved swiftly to deal with them. But even they did not move the economic data as quickly or sharply as Trump. On Wednesday, the government reported that imports surged 41%, the biggest jump — excluding the pandemic — since 1972. Companies rushed to bring in goods in the first quarter to beat the impending tariffs. The flood of imports pulled down growth, under the government's accounting, and the economy shrank 0.3% at an annual rate, the first decline in two years. The negative showing is what prompted Trump's Biden-bashing post on Wednesday. The figures are "exactly what one would expect from millions of American businesses and households trying to get ahead of looming tariff hikes,'' Taylor said, adding that Trump's trade war is also responsible for the slumping stock market and a drop in the value of the dollar. Surveys show that manufacturers are receiving fewer orders and that their production is falling. On Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, released its monthly survey of manufacturers, which typically includes a selection of comments from its membership. Typically, the comments reflect the individual concerns of a specific industry, whether chemicals, electronics, or clothing makers. In April's report, all 10 comments — every single one — focused on tariffs. "Tariffs impacting operations — specifically, delayed border crossings and duties calculations that are complex and not completely understood," one company in the transportation equipment sector said. "As a result, we are potentially overpaying duties." Trump has blown up the existing world trade system by slapping 10% import taxes – tariffs – on friends and foes alike in the name of bringing back jobs to the U.S. He's plastered 145% tariffs on China, drawing retaliation from Beijing that threatens to end trade between the world's two largest economies. He's also hit foreign steel, aluminum and autos. The erratic way he's rolled out his protectionist policies – introducing, then suspending tariffs, then announcing new ones – has left companies, consumers and investors bewildered. The S&P 500 stock index has dropped 7% since just before Inauguration Day Jan. 20. And consumer confidence has wilted. "Some of what you are seeing right now is purely Trump related,'' said Columbia University's Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in the Clinton administration. "No one can look at what is going on in the economy without saying the on-again, off-again tariffs are not having an impact.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 09:55:37+00:00	[ "Ukraine", "Donald Trump", "District of Columbia", "United States government", "Marco Rubio", "Scott Bessent", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy", "Government programs", "United States", "Russia-Ukraine war", "Hybrid vehicles", "Technology", "Yulia Svyrydenko", "Ukraine government", "JD Vance", "Business", "Russia Ukraine war", "Politics" ]	# What does the Ukraine-US minerals deal include? By Samya Kullab May 1st, 2025, 09:55 AM --- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — After months of tense negotiations, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country's critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defense against Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, the version of the deal signed Wednesday is far more beneficial to Ukraine than previous versions, which they said reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the country's resources. The agreement — which the Ukrainian parliament must ratify — would establish a reconstruction fund for Ukraine that Ukrainian officials hope will be a vehicle to ensure future American military assistance. A previous agreement was nearly signed before being derailed in a tense Oval Office meeting involving U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We have formed a version of the agreement that provides mutually beneficial conditions for both countries. This is an agreement in which the United States notes its commitment to promoting long-term peace in Ukraine and recognizes the contribution that Ukraine has made to global security by giving up its nuclear arsenal," Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the deal for Ukraine, said in a post on Facebook. The signing comes during what U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said would be a "very critical" week for U.S.-led efforts to end the war that appear to have stalled. Ukraine sees the deal as a way to ensure that its biggest and most consequential ally stays engaged and doesn't freeze military support, which has been key in its 3-year-old fight against Russia's full-scale invasion. "This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who signed for the U.S., said in a statement. Here is a look at the deal. ## What does the deal include? The deal covers minerals, including rare earth elements, but also other valuable resources, including oil and natural gas, according to the text released by Ukraine's government. It does not include resources that are already a source of revenue for the Ukrainian state. In other words, any profits under the deal are dependent on the success of new investments. Ukrainian officials have also noted that it does not refer to any debt obligations for Kyiv, meaning profits from the fund will likely not go toward paying the U.S. back for its previous support. Officials have also emphasized that the agreement ensures full ownership of the resources remains with Ukraine, and the state will determine what can be extracted and where. It does not mention any explicit security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression that Ukraine has long insisted on. The text of the deal lists 55 minerals but says more can be agreed to. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Ukraine's rare earth elements, and some of them are included in the list, as are other critical minerals, such as titanium, lithium and uranium. ## What are rare earth elements? They are a group of 17 elements that are essential to many kinds of consumer technology, including cellphones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles. China is the world's largest producer of rare earth elements, and both the U.S and Europe have sought to reduce their dependence on Beijing, Trump's chief geopolitical adversary. They include elements such as lanthanum, cerium and scandium, which are listed in the deal. ## How will the fund work? The agreement establishes a reconstruction investment fund, and both the U.S. and Ukraine will have an equal say in its management, according to Svyrydenko. The fund will be supported by the U.S. government through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation agency, which Ukraine hopes will attract investment and technology from American and European countries. Ukraine is expected to contribute 50% of all future profits from government-owned natural resources into the fund. The United States will also contribute in the form of direct funds and equipment, including badly needed air defense systems and other military aid. Contributions to the fund will be reinvested in projects related to mining, oil and gas as well as infrastructure. No profits will be taken from the fund for the first 10 years, Svyrydenko said. Trump administration officials initially pushed for a deal in which Washington would receive $500 billion in profits from exploited minerals as compensation for its wartime support. But Zelenskyy rejected the offer, saying he would not sign off on an agreement "that will be paid off by 10 generations of Ukrainians." ## What is the state of Ukraine's minerals industry? Ukraine's rare earth elements are largely untapped because of state policies regulating the industry, a lack of good information about deposits, and the war. The industry's potential is unclear since geological data is thin because mineral reserves are scattered across Ukraine, and existing studies are considered largely inadequate, according to businessmen and analysts. In general, however, the outlook for Ukrainian natural resources is promising. The country's reserves of titanium, a key component for the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, are believed to be among Europe's largest. Ukraine also holds some of Europe's largest known reserves of lithium, which is required to produce batteries, ceramics and glass. In 2021, the Ukrainian mineral industry accounted for 6.1% of the country's gross domestic product and 30% of exports. An estimated 40% of Ukraine's metallic mineral resources are inaccessible because of Russian occupation, according to data from We Build Ukraine, a Kyiv-based think tank. Ukraine has argued that it's in Trump's interest to develop the remainder before Russian advances capture more.
Associated Press News	2025-05-11 15:35:18+00:00	[ "Eric Trump", "Donald Trump", "Qatar", "Karoline Leavitt", "District of Columbia", "United States government", "Middle East", "United States", "Business", "The Boeing Co.", "Kathleen Clark", "Charles Schumer", "Jr.", "Politics", "Philanthropy", "Qatar government", "Government policy", "Ali Al-Ansari", "Military and defense", "Jordan Libowitz" ]	# Trump is ready to accept luxury jet as gift from Qatar, US officials say By Zeke Miller and Will Weissert May 11th, 2025, 03:35 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft. The Qatari government said a final decision hadn't been made. Still, Trump defended the idea — what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government — as a fiscally smart move for the country. "So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane," Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. "Anybody can do that!" ABC News reported that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library. The gift was expected to be announced when Trump visits Qatar, according to ABC's report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term. Before Trump's post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's media attaché, said in a statement that the "possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense." "But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," the statement added. Meanwhile, administration officials, anticipating ethics concerns, have prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the plane would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution's Emoluments Clause bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any "King, Prince, or foreign State," without congressional consent. One expert on government ethics, Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump of being "committed to exploiting the federal government's power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's "America first" political slogan. "Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom." Even some conservatives expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a U.S. president. Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has lost billions of dollars on the project. Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official. The official was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public. The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world. The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements. Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said. Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called such a gift "unprecedented." "The totality of gifts given to a president over their term doesn't get close to this level," Libowitz said, adding, "You have to ask, if he makes foreign policy — especially in regards to the Middle East — how much is he being influenced by his gifts and his business deals." ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Trump toured in February, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club. Trump faced lawsuits for violating the Emoluments Clause during his first term, but those were ended by the Supreme Court in 2021, which found the cases moot because the Republican had left office. Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund. Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, is home to the state-owned airline Qatar Airways. The country also has worked to have a close relationship to Trump after he apparently backed a boycott of Doha by four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later in his term applauded Qatar. Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the president's policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments. But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Trump's first term, when the organization released an ethics pact prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked Friday if the president might meet with people who have ties to his family's business, said it was "ridiculous" to suggest Trump "is doing anything for his own benefit." ___ Associated Press writer Christine Fernando in Chicago and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 22:35:54+00:00	[ "Vancouver", "Fairs and festivals", "Mental health", "Homicide", "David Eby", "Race and ethnicity", "Steve Rai", "Ken Sim", "Technology", "Indictments", "Courts", "Marco Harder", "Race and Ethnicity" ]	# Judge orders mental health assessment for man accused of killing 11 at Vancouver festival By Jim Morris May 2nd, 2025, 10:35 PM --- VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A Canadian judge on Friday ordered a man accused of ramming his sport utility vehicle through a Filipino heritage festival crowd, killing 11 people and injuring dozens, to receive a mental health assessment to determine if he's fit to stand trial. A publicity ban prevents the publication of why Judge Reginal Harris made the decision. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, appeared in provincial court via video link. He wore an orange short-sleeved jumpsuit and sat on a blue couch. He is expected to return to court on May 30. Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder after allegedly driving an SUV through a crowd of people at the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day Street festival on Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia. Attending Friday's hearing was Marco Harder, vice consul for the Consulate General of the Philippines. Lo had previously been scheduled to appear in court on May 26, after making his first appearance by video on Sunday, the day after the attack. Damienne Darby with the British Columbia Prosecution Service said that Lo's lawyer had requested the next appearance be moved ahead. Lo's court appearance came just hours before a memorial mass to pray for victims of the tragedy. The B.C. provincial government had declared Friday a day of mourning for the victims. Flag across the city flew at half mast. During a Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral Archbishop J. Michael Miller offered words of comfort to everyone affected "by this grim day in Vancouver's history." Miller told members of the Filipino community they are not alone in their grief. "We are with you in your sorrow, a sorrow that has shaken all of us to the very core of our being," he said. When the service ended B.C. Premier David Eby addressed the gathering, saying the entire province is in mourning. "We're mourning an injury to the Filipino community," said Eby. "We mourn a loss of innocence. That this could happen here, our province and Vancouver. It happened to people we know. "We mourn a loss of potential, those who were taken from us." Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the tragedy "shattered something in all of us." "I'm still trying to process the heartbreak, the shock, the anger and the deep, deep sadness of the families that lost loved ones," he said. Vancouver police Interim Chief Const. Steve Rai said the city stands united with the Filipino community. "With all who are mourning and struggling with the terrible tragedy as we now try to being the long process of healing," he said.
Associated Press News	2025-05-16 12:39:02+00:00	[ "Indonesia", "Rebellions and uprisings", "Iwan Dwi Prihartono" ]	# Clash in Indonesia's restive Papua region kills 18 rebels and 2 police officers By Niniek Karmini and Alfian Kartono May 16th, 2025, 12:39 PM --- JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's security forces have clashed with separatist rebels in the restive Papua region, leaving at least 18 insurgents and two police officers dead, officials and the rebels said Friday. The battle erupted Wednesday when dozens of rebels armed with military-grade weapons and arrows attacked troops preparing to offer health and education services to villages in Intan Jaya, a hotbed of the insurgency, said Lt. Col. Iwan Dwi Prihartono, a military spokesperson. "The situation changed when an armed group ambushed dozens of government soldiers," Prihartono said in a video statement. "So at that moment we carried out a measured and professional action operation." Security forces seized one assault rifle, a homemade rifle, several arrows, rounds of ammunition and a "morning star" flag — a separatist symbol — after the clash, Prihartono said, adding there were no casualties on the government side. Rebels in Papua have been fighting a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region, a former Dutch colony. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the rebel West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, said only three of the group's fighters were killed. He claimed that the rest of the dead were "innocent residents" shot by the troops. Sambom said the rebels killed two police Friday in the neighboring regency of Puncak Jaya in retaliation for the death of Bumiwalo Enumbi, a key member of the group. Rebel attacks have spiked in recent years, with dozens of rebels, security forces and civilians killed. Last month, the rebels said they attacked a gold panning camp in the Yahukimo regency, killing 17 people, and said the victims were members of Indonesia's army disguised as gold miners, a claim that was denied by authorities. ___ Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Associated Press News	2025-05-06 18:23:13+00:00	[ "Shootings", "Michigan", "School shootings", "Detroit", "Ethan Crumbley", "Legal proceedings", "Crime", "Gun violence", "Education", "Jennifer Crumbley" ]	# Michigan school shooter loses appeal in bid to withdraw guilty plea in 4 deaths May 6th, 2025, 06:23 PM --- PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan court said Tuesday it won't accept an appeal from a school shooter who was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 for killing four students and wounding others. The Court of Appeals turned down Ethan Crumbley's application "for lack of merit in the grounds presented." Crumbley pleaded guilty to the 2021 Oxford High School shooting. After he received a rare no-parole sentence, a new legal team asked a judge to set aside the life term and also allow Crumbley to withdraw the guilty plea. Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe said no. He said Crumbley's plea was "knowingly, voluntarily, and accurately given." Crumbley, now 19, was 15 when he committed the mass shooting on Nov. 30, 2021. Earlier that day, his parents were summoned to discuss violent drawings and agonizing phrases written on a math assignment. They didn't take him home, and no one checked his backpack for a gun. Crumbley's appellate lawyers claim that his brain development was likely diminished by his mother's use of alcohol. Prosecutors, however, noted that fetal alcohol spectrum disorder was not raised by a psychologist who testified on Crumbley's behalf during the sentencing phase. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. They were accused of making a gun accessible at home and failing to foresee that the mass shooting was possible.
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 09:23:02+00:00	[ "Slovakia", "Europe", "Vladimir Putin", "Robert Fico", "European Union", "Ursula Von Der Leyen", "European Commission", "Eurocopa 2024", "Business", "Russia government", "Politics", "Russia Ukraine war" ]	# Slovakia's leader rejects an EU plan to halt Russian natural gas imports by the end of 2027 May 7th, 2025, 09:23 AM --- BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia's populist leader on Wednesday blasted a European Union plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027 to deprive President Vladimir Putin of revenue that helps fuel the war in Ukraine. The European Commission, the bloc's executive branch, will present a detailed plan next month. It will seek to ban new gas contracts with Russia by the end of this year and phase out existing ones still in use in the 27-nation EU by the end of 2027. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said the plan is "absolutely unacceptable" for his country and that his government was ready to veto it. He said the move would be harmful for Slovakia and the entire EU, because the price of gas will increase as a result. Slovakia has a gas delivery deal with Russia that expires in 2034, and Fico said that he would seek compensations for damages, if the plan proceeds. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is pressing ahead with the plan, told EU lawmakers that Russia has proven time and again that it is not a reliable energy supplier. "Dependency on Russia is not only bad for our security, but also for our economy. Our energy prices cannot be dictated by a hostile neighbor," she told members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Fico also rejected a proposal to halt imports of oil and nuclear fuel from Russia to the European Union. Hungary and Slovakia — whose leaders are considered to be Putin's closest allies in Europe — have blocked EU military assistance to Ukraine and have been expected to oppose the European Commission's gas plans. Fico, a divisive figure at home and abroad, returned to power in 2003 after his leftist Smer (Direction) party won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Known for his pro-Russia views, he has openly challenged the EU's policies over Ukraine. He is set to become the only EU leader to travel to Moscow for festivities on Friday marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. It will be his second trip to Moscow since December. His government has faced vocal protests against its pro-Russian stance and other policies.
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 17:54:07+00:00	[ "Alphabet", "Inc.", "Amazon.com", "Microsoft Corp.", "Energy industry", "Artificial intelligence", "Government regulations", "Chris Colbert", "Nuclear power", "Business", "Amanda Peterson Corio", "Technology", "Constellation Energy Corp." ]	# Google partners with Elementl Power on nuclear energy sites as power demand for AI grows By The Associated Press May 7th, 2025, 05:54 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — Google is partnering with Elementl Power on three project sites for advanced nuclear energy as the energy required to power burgeoning artificial intelligence projects rises sharply. Under the agreement announced Wednesday, Google will provide capital for the projects, which the companies say will each produce 600 megawatts of power capacity. No dollar figure for Google's investment was given. "Our collaboration with Elementl Power enhances our ability to move at the speed required to meet this moment of AI and American innovation," said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's head of data center energy. Google and Elementl said they will collaborative with utility and regulated power companies to identify and advance new projects. "We look forward to working with Google to execute these projects and bring safe, carbon-free, baseload electricity to the grid," said Elementl Power Chairman and CEO Chris Colbert. U.S. states have been positioning themselves to meet the tech industry's power needs as policymakers consider expanding subsidies and gutting regulatory obstacles. Last year, 25 states passed legislation to support advanced nuclear energy, and lawmakers this year have introduced over 200 bills supportive of nuclear energy, according to the trade association Nuclear Energy Institute. Advanced reactor designs from competing firms are filling up the federal government's regulatory pipeline as the industry touts them as a reliable, climate-friendly way to meet electricity demands from tech giants desperate to power their fast-growing artificial intelligence platforms. In October, Amazon announced that it was investing in small nuclear reactors, just two days after a similar announcement by Google. A month before that, Constellation Energy, the owner of the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear power plant said it it planned to restart the reactor so tech giant Microsoft could secure power to supply its data centers. Three Mile Island, located on the Susquehanna River just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was the site of the nation's worst commercial nuclear power accident, in 1979. Amazon, Google and Microsoft also have been investing in solar and wind technologies, which make electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions. Elementl Power was founded in 2022.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 18:22:06+00:00	[ "Joe Biden", "Jill Biden", "Donald Trump", "Denis McDonough", "Barack Obama", "Cancer", "Prostate cancer", "Hillary Clinton", "Valerie Jarrett", "Mens health", "Brain cancer", "Medical research", "Politics", "Kamala Harris", "Health", "John F. Kennedy" ]	# After a political career shaped by cancer, Biden faces his own grim diagnosis By Chris Megerian May 19th, 2025, 06:22 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — In Joe Biden's family, there's a saying that the three worst words anyone can hear are "you have cancer." One decade ago, his son Beau died from a brain tumor. Several years later, his wife Jill had two cancerous lesions removed in her own brush with the disease. Now it is the former president's turn. Biden's office disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis over the weekend, saying it has already spread to his bones. Although the cancer can possibly be controlled with treatment, it is no longer curable. The announcement is a bitter revelation that a disease that has brought so much tragedy to Biden's life could be what ends it. "Cancer touches us all," Biden wrote on social media. "Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places." Even before the diagnosis, Biden's post-presidency was shadowed by questions about his health and whether he should have run for reelection. As questions about his fitness for office mounted, he abandoned the campaign and Donald Trump retook the presidency by defeating Kamala Harris. As the 82-year-old Biden works to safeguard his damaged political legacy, he'll also be fighting a disease that shaped the final chapters of his decades-long career. Biden was serving as Barack Obama's vice president when Beau died in 2015. He decided not to seek the Democratic nomination the following year, which helped clear a path for Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016. Valerie Jarrett, a longtime Obama adviser, said Biden wanted to "channel his grief into action and figure out how we can do better" on treating cancer to "make sure that other people didn't have to go through what he went through." The effort was formalized as a White House task force, with Biden in charge. After a few years out of office, Biden re-entered politics to campaign against Trump in 2020. The heartache from Beau's death was never far from the surface though. His eldest son had been Delaware's attorney general and often viewed as Biden's political successor. "Beau should be the one running for president, not me," Biden said, a thought he echoed on many occasions. He made fighting cancer a focus for his presidency, resurrecting a "moonshot" initiative to increase funding for research and improve treatment. He unveiled the initiative at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 2022, echoing the Democratic icon's famous speech declaring that "we will go to the moon" six decades earlier. "Beating cancer is something we can do together," Biden said. By this point, he had already signed legislation known as the PACT Act to expand healthcare benefits for veterans. The law guarantees treatment for chronic illnesses blamed on burn pits, which were used to dispose of chemicals, tires, plastics, medical equipment and human waste on military bases. Biden left no doubt that he believed Beau's death resulted from his service with the National Guard in Iraq. "When they came home, many of the fittest and best warriors that we sent to war were not the same — headaches, numbness, dizziness, cancer," he said. "My son Beau was one of them." Denis McDonough, who led the Veterans Affairs Department under Biden, said the president didn't talk about Beau's death during policy discussions. But he said it was clear that Biden "knew the experience that other families were having, and he was going to be damn sure that we weren't going to miss an opportunity to address that." McDonough recalled that Biden wanted the new law to take effect as quickly as possible. "He had an option to stretch it out," he said. "He said no way." The following year, first lady Jill Biden had two cancerous lesions removed, one above her right eye and the other on her chest. They were both basal cell carcinoma. Learning of the diagnosis "was a little harder than I thought," she told The Associated Press during a trip to Africa. "I'm lucky," she said. "Believe me, I am so lucky that they caught it, they removed it, and I'm healthy." Biden's cancer diagnosis is not the first time that he's faced his own mortality. Months after ending his first presidential campaign in 1988, he collapsed in a New York hotel room. In his memoir "Promises to Keep," he described "lightning flashing inside my head, a powerful electrical surge — and then a rip of pain like I'd never felt before." He had suffered a brain aneurysm that required surgery. Biden wrote that "I had no real fear of dying. I'd long since accepted the fact that life's guarantees don't include a fair shake." McDonough imagined that Biden would feel similarly about his current situation. "He's always on to the next fight," he said.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 08:47:01+00:00	[ "New Zealand", "Peter Jackson", "Matt Clarke", "Wellington", "Gymnastics", "Movies", "JWD-evergreen", "Entertainment", "Michael Parks" ]	# Giant sculpture of Gandalf riding an eagle departs Wellington airport for good By Charlotte Graham-Mclay May 5th, 2025, 08:47 AM --- WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — For more than a decade, passengers at New Zealand 's Wellington Airport have boarded flights below the figures of two giant, hovering eagles from the Hobbit films, one bearing a bellowing wizard Gandalf. With 50-foot (15-meter) wingspans and weighing 2,600 pounds (1.1 ton) each, the sculptures that hover in the terminal have delighted tourists and scared children since 2013. Their tenure was eventful — one became unmoored from its fixings during a severe earthquake in 2016, and plummeted onto the terminal floor below. No one was hurt. But this month the majestic creatures, which underscore the capital city's connection to Peter Jackson 's "Lord of the Rings" and Hobbit films, will depart the terminal for good, Wellington Airport announced Monday. "It's been quite a Lord of the Rings-heavy storytelling theme in here," said airport chief executive Matt Clarke. "Now we're looking to change that to something new." "It breaks my heart," said one traveler, Verity Johnson, who sat beneath a grasping eagle claw in the food court on Monday. The sculptures had impressed her since she was young. "Please, please reconsider." "Taking them away is un-New Zealand," joked another airport visitor, Michael Parks. The eagles were crafted by the film props and effects company Wētā Workshop, which created tens of thousands of props for the Oscar-winning fantasy films directed by Jackson -- one of Wellington's best-known residents, who lives on an isthmus near the airport. The movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien 's beloved novels generated billions of dollars in tourism revenue for New Zealand and employed thousands of people in Wellington over the 15 years of the movies' production. But during the years the eagles have hovered in the terminal, Tolkien tourism has waned in Wellington — although the city will perhaps always be synonymous with Jackson's films. Guided tours still convey fans to the settings of famous scenes from the films and to visit production companies such as Wētā, which will create a new display for the airport, to be unveiled later this year, Clarke said. Travelers have until Friday to admire the birds, which will then be put into storage, Clarke said. He hopes the creatures – which each feature 1,000 3D printed feathers – will find a home at a museum. "It's a spectacular thing for little kids to see," Clarke said. "Even your old, grizzled businessmen, they still pull out their phones and take a quick cheeky photo too." Wellington Airport isn't losing its quirky side. An enormous sculpture of The Hobbit's gold-hoarding dragon, Smaug, will remain overlooking the check-in counters.
Associated Press News	2025-05-09 11:51:33+00:00	[ "Theft", "Klaus Iohannis", "Romania", "Netherlands", "Crime", "Amsterdam", "Douglas W." ]	# Romanian treasures stolen from Dutch museum could still be intact, prosecutors say By Mike Corder May 9th, 2025, 11:51 AM --- THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A priceless golden helmet and other Romanian artifacts stolen from a small museum in The Netherlands have not been melted down and could still be recovered, Dutch prosecutors said Friday. The theft in January shocked Romania, whose national museum loaned the artifacts for an exhibition. The then President Klaus Iohannis said at the time that the artifacts had "exceptional cultural and historical importance" for Romanian heritage and identity, and that their disappearance had "a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society." Thieves used a homemade firework bomb and sledge hammer to break into the Drents Museum, in the eastern Dutch city of Assen, on Jan. 25 and steal items, including the intricate golden Cotofenesti helmet that dates back 2,500 years and is one Romania's most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization. Grainy security video distributed by police after the raid appeared to show three people opening a museum door with a large crowbar, after which an explosion is seen. Within days of the break in, three people were arrested by police. On Friday, a judge at North Netherlands District Court ordered two suspects, aged 35 and 35, to remain in custody for a further 90 days pending further inquiries. They have been charged with three offenses linked to their alleged involvement in the heist: Causing an explosion, damaging the museum and stealing the artifacts. A third suspect, aged 20, is also under arrest. All three come from the same town near Amsterdam. One of the suspects, identified by Dutch media as Douglas W., insisted he was innocent, national broadcaster NOS reported. "I'm sitting here innocent and my life is ruined," he was reported to have told the court. Police are still seeking four other people who are suspected of playing supporting roles in the theft of the artifacts, which art experts believe would be impossible to sell. Dutch prosecutors believe the art treasures "have not been melted down and that the main suspects, particularly the 36-year-old, still have control over them," the prosecution service said in a statement. A trial is expected to begin in about a year.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 10:06:53+00:00	[ "Mark Rutte", "Fraud", "Law enforcement", "Corruption", "NATO", "Technology", "Spain", "Business", "Netherlands", "North Atlantic Treaty Organization", "Luxembourg" ]	# NATO's procurement agency under investigation for alleged corruption linked to military contracts May 15th, 2025, 10:06 AM --- BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday that the organization's procurement agency is cooperating with police investigating corruption and fraud allegations involving the purchase of military equipment. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) helps the 32 members of the world's biggest security alliance and their partners to buy defense equipment and other security systems and support. NATO as an organization does not own any weapons. The European Union's criminal justice agency, Eurojust, said Thursday that it had provided support for a cross-border investigation into alleged corruption involving current and former NSPA employees. The investigation stretches to Spain and Luxembourg, where the NSPA is based. Rutte said that the NATO agency is "working very closely with all the relevant authorities, and obviously we will continue doing that. We want to get to the root of this." He spoke in Turkey where he was chairing a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Belgian prosecutors said Wednesday that two suspects in the western region of Flanders had been taken in for questioning over the allegations. One was arrested, the other released. No names or details about them were provided. They said that the probe is focusing on possible "irregularities" in the awarding of contracts to defense companies to buy military equipment like ammunition and drones, which have become a decisive factor in Russia's war on Ukraine. The prosecutors suspect that agency employees might have given confidential information to the companies to help them win contracts, and that money may have been laundered through consultancy firms set up for the purpose. In a related case, Dutch prosecutors announced earlier this week that they had arrested a 58-year-old man from Rotterdam on corruption charges. The prosecution service did not release his name in line with their privacy rules, but said he was a former Dutch defense ministry civil servant who "was responsible for international purchase contracts." In a statement, prosecutors said the man is "suspected of having taken bribes in 2023 regarding the awarding of purchase contracts, together with others partly outside the Netherlands." Two other suspects, who were not civil servants, were also arrested, the statement said. It did not provide further details. The suspects were appearing Thursday before an investigative judge in the Netherlands. ___ Mike Corder contributed to this story from The Hague, Netherlands.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 11:54:36+00:00	[ "JWD-evergreen", "Recipes", "Food and drink", "Albert Stumm", "Jane Cumming", "Alexander Graham Bell", "Lifestyle", "Scotland", "Garry Coutts" ]	# The Scottish Highlands offer visitors a mix of history and modernity By Albert Stumm May 1st, 2025, 11:54 AM --- INVERNESS, Scotland (AP) — As we crossed the Kessock Bridge into the rolling hills outside Inverness, green fields of early-spring barley still had months to grow until harvest. The grain will be sent to a nearby malting factory and eventually made into whisky at some of Scotland's 150-plus distilleries. Interspersed among the barley fields were yellow rows of flowering rapeseed, used to make cooking oil, and herds of grazing sheep that seemed to outnumber people. It was a tableau I thought would have been the same for a thousand years. But rapeseed only started to be planted in the 1970s, and at one point there were a lot more people than sheep, said my guide, Cath Findlay. During the tumultuous hundred years of the Highland Clearance, landowners kicked out most of the tenants and replaced them with sheep, which were more valuable to them than people, Findlay said. "At the time, the British government were fighting all over the world, and they needed wool for uniforms and meat for their soldiers," she said. "So in much of the Highlands, we see that it's hilly, and there's lots of sheep." The history lesson resonated because it was obvious throughout my week in Scotland that the past is very much present. But Inverness and its environs are hardly stuck in the past. ## Small, but thriving Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands, a rugged, windswept region of northwest Scotland. The small but thriving city, one of the fastest-growing in the United Kingdom, is best known as the jumping-off point for mystical monster hunters attracted by the legend of Loch Ness. In recent years, however, it's carving out an international identity beyond whisky, Nessie and tartan plaid, though there still is plenty of that too. The center of town can be crossed on foot in a leisurely 15 minutes. Overlooking a cliff at one end, the red sandstone Inverness Castle was covered in scaffolding when I visited this spring. A renovation to turn it into an interactive attraction focused on stories of the Highlands is expected to finish this year. Right in the center is the recently refurbished Victorian Market, a once bustling hall that was on the verge of closing anyway when the COVID lockdown arrived. Town leaders took advantage of the moment to breathe new life into it. The market now includes a mix of craft stores, cafes, jewelry shops, barbers and one remaining butcher (try their meat pies, which Findlay said are better than homemade). The seafood market was replaced with a lively food hall, with the acclaimed Bad Girls Bakery as its first tenant. Following soon were innovative but affordable seafood at The Redshank, pulled meat at Ollie's Pops, vegan at Salt N Fire, and more. Now, there is live music every day and 75,000 people pass through the market during busier weeks — nearly the size of the population of the entire city. "It was dead as a doornail, and now it's the beating heart of the town," Findlay said. Just up Church Street, the main drag, The Walrus and Corkscrew opened soon after as the town's only wine bar. And nearby at Black Isle Bar, wood-fired pizzas come paired with one of 24 organic beers that the owners brew on their own farm just outside town. ## A story with your meal In the nearby village of Beauly, the Downright Gabbler guesthouse has four suites and a full-time storyteller. Garry Coutts and his wife, Jane Cumming, opened with a small dining room and their daughter Kristy as chef. It's not a restaurant, exactly, but they hold several themed events each week that combine Coutts' encyclopedic knowledge of Scottish history and legend with their daughter's modern take on traditional dishes. Among the events is the regularly held Highland Banquet, six courses that trace the region's people from prehistory to modern times. Venison carpaccio with pickled blackberries, for instance, was inspired by hunter-gatherers, although Coutts noted they ate much more seafood and foraged vegetables than deer. "They're very difficult to catch," Coutts quipped. "They run away!" The courses unfolded with stories peppered throughout, ranging from some illegal origins of Johnnie Walker's whisky blends to the couple's distaste for Las Vegas. Also on the table was a deck of cards, each printed with the name of a prominent Scot to be drawn at random for a story told on the fly. I pulled Alexander Graham Bell, who likely holds the record for having the most challenges from competitors for patent infringement, Coutts said. "It's amazing the number of Americans that come in here and tell me he's not Scottish," he said. ## If you go Where to stay: Lodgings include the Ness Walk Hotel, a modern, five-star property a 20-minute walk from the center, and the Heathmount Hotel, a cozy, independent, three-star option within a 10-minute walk of Church Street. Travelers tip: For such a small town, there is a shocking amount of live music. Performers attract crowds at Hootananny and The Highlander every night, and most nights at MacGregor's, among other spots. First, stop into The Malt Room for a whisky flight chosen from their list of 350 single-malts. Find more information on visitscotland.com. ___ In a story published May 1, 2025, about Inverness, Scotland, The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of a bridge. It's the Kessock Bridge, not the Keswick Bridge. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about travel, food and wellness. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 18:59:25+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency", "Government regulations", "Climate change", "Sustainability", "Climate and environment", "Economy", "Steven Nadel", "Consumer affairs", "Xavier Boatright", "Pollution", "Energy efficiency and conservation", "Francis Dietz", "Jill Notini", "Government budgets", "Sarah Gleeson", "Politics", "Health", "Business", "Consumer products and services", "Climate" ]	# EPA takes aim at Energy Star program that has guided consumer buying By Michael Phillis and Alexa St. John May 7th, 2025, 06:59 PM --- An Environmental Protection Agency plan to eliminate its Energy Star offices would end a decades-old program that gave consumers a choice to buy environmentally friendly refrigerators, dishwashers and other electronics and save money on electric bills, consumer and environmental groups said. The changes, outlined in agency documents reviewed by The Associated Press, are part of a broad reorganization at the EPA that would eliminate or reorganize significant parts of the office focused on air pollution. Those plans advance President Donald Trump's sharp turn away from the prior administration's focus on climate change. The EPA did not confirm directly it was ending the program, first reported Tuesday by CNN, but said the reorganization "is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency's core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback." The EPA launched Energy Star in 1992 with the goal of tackling environmental protection and economic growth. It boosts the market for energy-efficient products and benefits companies that design appliances that earn the label. A home that decides to buy Energy Star products can save $450 annually on energy costs, the program's website says. "People recognize it right away, so they would be like 'oh, it is Energy Star, so I should probably go with this one,'" said Francis Dietz, spokesperson with the trade association Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute. Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said the program enjoyed bipartisan support until recently. It promotes efficiency by tightening standards when lots of products are able to meet the label requirements, he said. ## Big savings in money and pollution Since its start, the program has reduced energy costs by more than $500 billion and prevented about 4 billion metric tons of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to its website. Appliances can be responsible for tons of air pollution, but efficiency measures can reduce the carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter that producing the electricity releases into the atmosphere. These pollutants can harm the heart and lungs, and cause other health issues. Trump's proposed budget asks that Congress eliminate the EPA's entire Atmospheric Protection Program, which houses the offices that run Energy Star. The budget described the program as "an overreach of Government authority that imposes unnecessary and radical climate change regulations on businesses and stifles economic growth." But Sarah Gleeson, climate solutions research manager at the climate action nonprofit Project Drawdown, said America's energy independence depends on the ability to meet U.S. energy demands, and cutting the program imperils that and strains households at the same time. Gleeson said losing Energy Star will make it harder for consumers to have trustworthy information about products' energy use. ## Label is voluntary, and Congress ordered it The Energy Star label is voluntary for products that meet certain efficiency levels, and differs from Department of Energy standards that set minimum efficiency requirements that products must meet to be legally sold. In the 2000s, Congress directed the EPA and Department of Energy to run an energy-efficiency program and promote Energy Star. The DOE did not comment on the changes and its role moving forward, deferring questions to the EPA. According to the program's website, DOE's role includes developing product testing procedures. The EPA is responsible for setting performance levels and ensuring consumers can rely on the label. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers said it supports a streamlined Energy Star program through the DOE. Spokeswoman Jill Notini said that "would meet the administration's goals of preserving a full selection of products from which consumers can choose, and reducing unnecessary regulatory burden." The move is the latest in the Trump administration's broader deregulatory effort. They've announced plans to slash Biden-era policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritized fossil fuels and an energy-dominance policy. The president has been particularly keen on eliminating efficiency standards, arguing they result in products that cost more and are less effective, and that they deny consumer choice. Trump has reversed rules restricting water flow for showerheads and other household appliances. Trump targeted Energy Star during his first stint in the White House, but faced backlash. "For an administration who keeps claiming the country is facing an 'energy emergency,' Trump continues to attack any and all efforts aimed at saving energy through efficiency," Xavier Boatright, deputy legislative director for clean energy and electrification at Sierra Club said in a statement. "When we waste energy through inefficient appliances the fossil fuel industry uses it as an excuse to extract and sell more of its product to make more money on the backs of the American people." ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 12:19:59+00:00	[ "London", "Keir Starmer", "Crime", "Fires", "United Kingdom government", "Democracy", "International", "Conservatism", "Arson", "Dominic Murphy", "Politics", "Law enforcement" ]	# UK's Starmer condemns 'attack on our democracy' after fires at homes linked to him By Associated Press May 14th, 2025, 12:19 PM --- LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told lawmakers Wednesday that recent arson attacks on properties linked to him represent "an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for." The remarks by Starmer during weekly prime minister's questions were his first since the fires came to light earlier this week. The attacks were condemned by leaders across the House of Commons, including the Conservative Party's Kemi Badenoch, who described them as "completely unacceptable." On Tuesday, London's Metropolitan Police arrested a 21-year-old man in southeast London on suspicion of starting fires at Starmer's private house, another property and a car connected to the politician. No injuries were reported from any of the fires. In a statement Wednesday, police said they have been granted a further 36 hours to question the man, who is being held at a London police station. That means he can be questioned until Friday morning. Police said the suspect was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after an early morning fire Monday damaged the door of the house in Kentish Town, north London, where Starmer and his family lived before he was elected to lead the country last July. Starmer moved with his family to the prime minister's official Downing Street residence after taking office. Counterterrorism detectives, who are leading the investigation because it involves the prime minister, are also looking into connections between a car fire Thursday near Starmer's house and another fire Sunday outside a house nearby that has been converted into apartments and which he has a connection to. Authorities are investigating whether there was state involvement as well as looking at other potential motivations. "A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure," said Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, head of counterterrorism at the Metropolitan Police. Starmer's former house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year, three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with public order offenses after unfurling a banner covered in red handprints outside the building.
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 05:09:14+00:00	[ "Child care", "Education funding", "Arizona", "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services", "Colorado", "Minnesota", "Massachusetts", "Education", "Health", "Politics" ]	# Child welfare research grants marked for termination in mistaken HHS email By The Associated Press May 2nd, 2025, 05:09 AM --- An employee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent an email Wednesday that mistakenly included plans to terminate more than 150 research grants related to child and family well-being. The grants are administered by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation and distributed across the country. A spokesperson for HHS said the list contained "outdated and pre-decisional information" but did not deny that some grants could be cut. Below is a list of the grants that were marked for termination at dozens of universities, nonprofits and other agencies. The total amounts for each grant were not listed. — Secondary Analyses of Data on the National Incidence of Child Maltreatment, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago — Secondary Analyses of Data on the National Incidence of Child Maltreatment, Child Trends Inc. — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, The Regents of the University of Colorado — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, Evident Change — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, University of Vermont and State Agricultural College — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, OSLC Developments Inc. — Prevention Services Evaluation Partnership Grants, Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma — Behavioral Intervention Scholars, University of California, Los Angeles — Behavioral Intervention Scholars, University of Washington — Behavioral Intervention Scholars, Ohio State University — Behavioral Intervention Scholars, University of Chicago — Behavioral Intervention Scholars, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - 2020, The Regents of the University of California — Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - 2020, Duke University — Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - 2020, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - 2020, Wayne State University — Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - 2020, Oregon State — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2022, University of Texas Arlington — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, Northwestern University — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, Texas Christian University — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, Mighty Crow Media — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, The George Washington University — Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants 2023, MDRC — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, County of Santa Clara — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, Colorado Department of Human Services — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, Arizona Department of Economic Security — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance — TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards, New Jersey Department of Human Services — Child Development Research Fellowship 2019-2024, Society for Research in Child Development Inc. — The National African American Child and Family Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine — Center for Research on Hispanic Children and Families, Child Trends — Child Development Research Fellowship 2025-2029, Society for Research in Child Development Inc. — TANF Data Analysis, University of Maryland, College Park — Child Care and Early Education Research Connections - 2020, ICF Incorporated, L.L.C. — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Chapin Hall Center for Children — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Child Trends Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Delaware — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, WestEd — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, The University of Alabama — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Delaware — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Colorado Seminary — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Child Trends Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Massachusetts Boston — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Chapin Hall Center for Children — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University System of New Hampshire — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, National Opinion Research Center — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, The Urban Institute — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, Erikson Institute — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, The University of Alabama — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, Child Trends Inc. — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, SRI International — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, Education Development Center Inc. — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, Public Policy Associates Inc. — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships Grants 2022, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Center to Support Research and Evaluation Capacity of CCDF Lead Agencies, The Urban Institute — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, Brandeis University — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Boston University — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Regents of the University of Minnesota — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Child Trends Inc. — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, The Urban Institute — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, The University of Chicago — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Public Policy Associates Inc. — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Education Development Center Inc. — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Public Policy Institute of California — Coordinated Evaluations of Child Care and Development Fund Policies and Initiatives: Implementation Grants, Children's Hospital Corporation — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, New York University — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, The Florida International University Board of Trustees — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, Ohio State University — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, University of Delaware — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, The Urban Institute — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, The Regents of the University of New Mexico — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, University of Virginia — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, Trustees of Boston University — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, Oregon State University — Child Care Policy Research Partnerships 2024, Child Trends Inc. — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, Northwestern University — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants, University of Delaware — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, The Urban Institute — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Child Trends Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Massachusetts — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Child Trends Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Magnolia Consulting, LLC — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, National Opinion Research Center — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, Ohio State University — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Tennessee — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Missouri System — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Cincinnati — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, National Opinion Research Center — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Washington — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, The Urban Institute — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, SRI International — Secondary Analyses of Child Care and Early Education Data, University of Missouri System — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, Georgetown University — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, University of Colorado Denver — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Virginia Commonwealth University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, SRI International — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Child Trends — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, University of Oklahoma — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Iowa State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, University of Connecticut — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Southern Methodist University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, University of Arkansas System — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Georgia State University Research Foundation Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Research for Action Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Urban Institute — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, University of Delaware — Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-Being, Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia — Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data, Trustees of Boston University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, MEF Associates — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, The University of Alabama — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, The Ohio State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, SRI International — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Arizona State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Board of Regents, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Chapin Hall Center for Children — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Yale University — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, Lehigh University — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, President and Fellows of Harvard College — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, Ohio State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, RAND Corporation — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, The New York Academy of Medicine — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of Delaware — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of Colorado Denver — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, SRI International — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Ohio State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of South Carolina — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of Georgia — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, The University of Alabama — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, James Bell Associates Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, California State University Long Beach Research Foundation — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Child Trends Inc. — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Michigan State University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, Clarkson University — Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data, University of Wyoming — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, University of Connecticut — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, Iowa State University of Science and Technology — Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia ___
Associated Press News	2025-05-16 15:18:50+00:00	[ "Russia government", "Poland government", "Donald Tusk", "Poland", "Meta Platforms", "Inc.", "Warsaw", "Global elections", "Technology", "Elections", "Politics", "Belarus government", "Russia Ukraine war" ]	# Poland's Tusk says Russian hackers attacked party websites before election May 16th, 2025, 03:18 PM --- WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Russian hackers attacked the websites of parties in his ruling coalition on Friday, two days before a presidential election. The frontrunner in Sunday's election is a high-ranking member of Tusk's Civic Platform party, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. "Two days before the elections, a group of Russian hackers operating on Telegram attacked the websites of the Civic Platform," Tusk wrote on X on Friday afternoon. Tusk said that the websites of other parties in his governing coalition, the Left and the Polish People's Party (PSL), were also targeted. "The services are conducting intensive actions in this matter. The attack is ongoing," he said. Polish authorities were also investigating paid political advertisements on Facebook that a Polish state research institute, NASK, identified as possible electoral interference. NASK is the Polish acronym for National Research and Academic Computer Network. The institute said that it reported the misinformation to Meta, which owns Facebook, and that the ads were removed. "Ad accounts involved in the campaign have spent more on political content than any election committee in the past seven days," NASK said Wednesday. "The actions were intended to ostensibly support one of the candidates and discredit others." Already in late 2024, Polish authorities had reported up to 1,000 Russian and Belarusian cyberattacks a day targeting government institutions and agencies, and have linked them to the country's support for neighboring Ukraine in its three-year war against Russia's invasion.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 16:30:24+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Politics", "Prisons" ]	# Alcatraz in Photos: From 1930s prison life to present day By The Associated Press May 5th, 2025, 04:30 PM --- President Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on a hard-to-reach California island off San Francisco that has been closed for more than 60 years. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 19:04:29+00:00	[ "Enrique Tarrio", "Donald Trump", "Mar-a-Lago", "Florida", "Proud Boys", "2021 United States Capitol riot", "Capitol siege", "Political debates", "Government and politics", "Law and order", "United States government" ]	# Ex- Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio says he met with Trump in Florida By Michelle L. Price May 5th, 2025, 07:04 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was pardoned by Donald Trump for his conviction related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, said he met with the president over the weekend in Florida. Tarrio posted about the meeting on his X account Sunday morning. "Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting the President of the United States, a moment I never could have imagined in my darkest days," Tarrio wrote. In other posts, he said he was at Mar-a-Lago, the president's club, and that he had a "great conversation" with the president after Trump called him and his mother over during dinner. A White House official said the meeting was not planned; rather, Tarrio had been at the club to dine with a member, who introduced him to Trump. The two had a "brief exchange" as the president walked to his table for dinner, said the official who was granted anonymity to discuss a private encounter. Tarrio responded to messages seeking comment about the meeting. A federal jury convicted Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for a failed plot to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Tarrio was serving a 22-year prison sentence, the longest of any Capitol riot case, before Trump pardoned him. He was in prison for about three years. Tarrio wasn't in Washington, D.C, when Proud Boys members stormed the Capitol with a mob of Trump supporters. But prosecutors said the Miami resident organized and led the far-right extremist group's assault from afar. Trump has defended the clemency actions he took on his first day returning to office. He pardoned roughly 1,500 people who were involved in the siege at the Capitol by his angry supporters. He also suggested there could be a place in American politics for the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, the extremists groups whose leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy against the U.S. Before the Capitol attack, the Proud Boys were best known for street fights with anti-fascist activists at time when Trump told the group to "stand back and stand by" during his first debate in 2020 with then-presidential candidate Biden. ___ Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-06 02:25:33+00:00	[ "Los Angeles", "Labor unions", "Financial Wellness", "Edward Kelly", "Business", "Personal finance", "Adam Walker" ]	# LA firefighters union leaders suspended after audit finds $800,000 in undocumented spending By Jaimie Ding May 6th, 2025, 02:25 AM --- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Top officials at the Los Angeles firefighters labor union were suspended Monday after an audit conducted by its parent organization found over $800,000 in credit card spending, some of it by the union's president, could not be accounted for. The International Association of Fire Fighters, which oversees firefighter unions across the country, wrote in a letter to the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City that it would be placing the union under a conservatorship to properly manage its finances. The union represents more than 3,600 members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to its LinkedIn. According to the letter from IAFF President Edward Kelly, the organization voted to suspend union President Freddy Escobar and two other officials who made thousands of credit card transactions with no receipts or other documentation justifying them. Escobar posted a statement on his Instagram account denying the allegations. "I'm going to defend myself because I have nothing to hide and I have always worked for the benefit of our membership for the greater good," the post said. "These false allegations are disgusting and politically motivated by those who want to attack the union and me personally and I'm going to clear my name." The union's troubles began in October 2024, when an officer flagged concerns about improper record-keeping to the parent organization. An investigation found that then-secretary Adam Walker transferred, without authorization, more than $80,000 from the union's nonprofit to support firefighters and families directly into his personal bank accounts, according to IAFF. Investigators found that after moving those funds, Walker paid off substantial personal debts such as mortgage and loan payments, as well as casino cash ATM withdrawals. He was suspended for "breach of fiduciary responsibility and misappropriation of funds," Kelly said. Contact information could not be located for requesting comment from Walker. A more extensive audit was ordered, revealing that Escobar had spent more than $300,000 on his union credit card between July 2018 and November 2024. Kelly said there was no way to determine that the funds were used for "legitimate union expenditures." Auditors had warned union leadership in March 2024 there were "significant deficiencies" in the local's financial practices. Escobar spent more than $70,000 without submitting a single receipt that year. A former treasurer, Domingo Albarran, was also found to have spent more than $300,000 over about five years without documentation of the expenditures, according to the letter. The union's parent organization voted to suspend Vice Presidents Chuong Ho and Doug Coates for failing to ensure leaders were following policy. "The financial malpractice by the leadership of UFLAC has dealt serious harm to the membership," Kelly said. Contact information for Albarran, Ho and Coates could not be immediately located.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 13:41:39+00:00	[ "Aleksandar Vucic", "Rail accidents", "Belgrade", "Serbia", "Protests and demonstrations", "Politics" ]	# Thousands in Serbia mark 6 months since a train station canopy crash that triggered mass protests By Jovana Gec May 1st, 2025, 01:41 PM --- BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of people in Serbia on Thursday marked six months since a train station tragedy in the country's north killed 16 people and triggered a wave of anti-corruption protests that have shaken populist President Aleksandar Vucic's tight grip on power. Workers' unions joined university students in Belgrade, Serbia's capital, to demand changes in labor and strike laws as part of Labor Day protests. In the northern city of Novi Sad, residents left flowers and lit candles outside the central station where tons of concrete crashed on the people standing or sitting underneath on Nov. 1. Many in Serbia blamed alleged rampant government corruption fueling negligence and disrespect of safety regulations for the tragedy. The concrete canopy at the outer wall of the building had been renovated twice before the disaster as part of a major infrastructure deal with Chinese state companies. Almost daily protests since the crash have developed into a nationwide movement demanding changes. Thousands marched in Novi Sad on Thursday after holding a commemorative silence for the victims near the station. University students, a key force behind the anti-graft movement, set up a stone monument with an inscription saying: "Novi Sad remembers." "Today, we declared the train station building for a memorial site," a student told the crowd. "It will serve as a reminder what happens when corruption takes over the state." In Belgrade, union flags mixed with student banners outside the Serbian government building in a downtown area as thousands streamed in from various parts of the city for the gathering. "Corruption kills!" said one student, who did not say his name. "This is why the fight against corruption must be held not only at (student) blockades but also at work place." Populist supporters of President Vucic meanwhile enjoyed a May Day barbecue, drinks and folk music in a pro-government camp outside the parliament building and in an adjacent park by the presidential palace. The guarded camp, set up weeks ago, also hosted masked ex-paramilitary fighters apparently as protection for Vucic. Vucic has accused the anti-graft protesters of staging a "color revolution" under Western instructions to oust him from power and "destroy" Serbia. He has organized parallel rallies to counter almost daily street demonstrations that have drawn tens of thousands of people for some of the biggest ever anti-government rallies in the country. Serbia's populist leader has faced accusations of stifling democratic freedoms, including pressure on the protesting students. In the latest incident on Monday in Novi Sad, police used batons and pepper spray while pushing protesters away from a sports faculty building. Several people were injured. Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership but the accession process recently has been stalled amid Vucic's increasing authoritarianism.
Associated Press News	2025-05-12 15:10:00+00:00	[ "California", "San Francisco", "Homelessness", "Los Angeles", "Karen Bass", "Alex Visotzky", "Politics", "Carolyn Coleman", "Daniel Lurie", "Jay Joshua", "Matt Mahan" ]	# Gov. Newsom urges California cities and counties to ban homeless encampments By Janie Har May 12th, 2025, 03:10 PM --- SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday urged California cities to clear homeless encampments, escalating efforts anew to address the makeshift tents that line underpasses, parks and streets up and down the state. The Democratic governor unveiled a blueprint for a camping ban for cities and counties to follow in announcing more than $3 billion in grants for facilities to treat homeless people and others who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. He used the occasion to exhort cities and counties once again to use the money and policy changes provided by the state to do their part to help eradicate the disturbing street conditions that have come to define much of California "No more excuses," he said at a news conference, adding, "It is time to take back the streets. It's time to take back the sidewalks. It's time to take these encampments and provide alternatives." Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco, made homelessness a priority upon taking office in 2019, tackling statewide a problem long the purview of mayors and local officials. He has pressed on local leaders to think bigger to battle what has become one of the most pressing public health and safety issues in California — and one sure to dog Newsom if he runs for national office. He appears to be the first Democratic governor to offer a statewide blueprint for local encampment bans. California has more than 187,000 people in need of housing, a quarter of the U.S. homeless population. ## Supreme Court allows crackdown Last year the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for officials to ban homeless people from camping outside. Many Democratic leaders welcomed the ruling though advocates for homeless people criticized the conservative court's decision as cruel. Newsom's model ordinance includes prohibitions on "persistent camping" in one location and encampments blocking sidewalks. It asks cities and counties to provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment. Major cities have already started cracking down on encampments. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie pledged to clean up city sidewalks while San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed arrests if a person refuses shelter three times. Both Democrat-led cities have ramped up the number of shelter beds available. In Los Angeles, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has made clearing encampments a priority but sagging tents, makeshift shelters and rusting RVs remain a common sight in nearly every neighborhood. An annual tally last year estimated that more than 45,000 homeless people were living in the city. ## Critics question encampment bans In a Los Angeles neighborhood Monday, Jay Joshua oversaw a small encampment of about half a dozen tents where he lives. Joshua said he cleans the area daily because of a school nearby. He said encampments can be a safe space for those living there. "It helps certain people build their lives back," he said. Critics say punitive bans make it even harder for homeless people to find stable housing and employment. "My immediate reaction was that this is a distraction from a state budget that isn't likely to have funding for housing and homelessness," said Alex Visotzky with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Organizations representing California's cities and counties have balked at the implication that they are to blame, and say they need sustained funding. "Clearing encampments may be the most visible part of this crisis, but without addressing the underlying root causes of homelessness, the cycle will only repeat itself," said Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities. She said that eight in 10 cities have policies to address encampments. The California State Association of Counties said the state has not provided as much money to address homelessness as it says it has and that half of the money has gone to housing developers. ## Voters want changes Housing and homeless advocates have applauded Newsom for pushing cities and counties to build more housing, especially for the unhoused. He also pushed a voter-approved measure last year for more treatment beds for homeless people with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse problems, so they don't wind up back in jail or on the streets still in need. But in spite of the money spent, California has had a hard time delivering visible results. A state audit last year found that the state spent $24 billion on more more than 30 homeless and housing programs between 2018 and 2023 to tackle homelessness, but lacked the data to fully understand what worked and what didn't. ___ Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber, Michael R. Blood and Damian Dovarganes in Los Angeles contributed to this report. ___ An earlier version of this report incorrectly said California makes up nearly one third of homeless people in the U.S., instead of a quarter.
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 04:01:32+00:00	[ "Middle East", "Qatar", "Donald Trump", "Iran", "Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani", "Bashar Assad", "Ahmad al-Sharaa", "Barack Obama", "2024-2025 Mideast Wars", "Al-Qaida", "Qatar government", "Terrorism", "War and unrest", "Business", "Abu Mohammad al-Golani", "Recep Tayyip Erdogan", "United States government", "Iran government", "Aerospace and defense industry", "Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud", "Hamas", "Abbas Araghchi", "Government and politics", "Hezbollah" ]	# Trump urges Qatar to help him persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program By Zeke Miller, Jon Gambrell, and Aamer Madhani May 14th, 2025, 04:01 AM --- DOHA, Qatar (AP) — President Donald Trump urged Qatar on Wednesday to use its influence over Iran to persuade the country's leadership to reach an agreement with the U.S. to dial back its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Trump, who is visiting the Gulf nation as part of a three-country Mideast swing, made the appeal during a state dinner held in his honor by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar, over the years, has played the role of intermediary between the U.S. and Iran and its proxies, including during talks with Tehran-backed Hamas as its 19-month war with Israel grinds on. "I hope you can help me with the Iran situation," Trump said during remarks at the formal dinner. "It's a perilous situation, and we want to do the right thing." ## Trump wants Iran to stop backing militant proxy groups The appeal to Qatar came after Trump told leaders at a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting earlier Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that he wants "to make a deal," but Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the Mideast as part of any potential agreement. The U.S. and Iran brokered a nuclear deal in 2015, during Democrat Barack Obama's administration, in which Iran agreed to drastically reduce its stockpile of uranium and only enrich up to 3.67%. But that deal was scrapped during the first Trump administration. Today, Iran enriches up to 60%, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, and has enough stockpiled for multiple nuclear bombs should it choose to build them. The Qatari emir told Fox News Channel on Wednesday night that "we agree that we want a nuclear-free region, and we cannot afford a nuclear race in that region." But, Al Thani said, "Iran has its right to have a nuclear — a civilian nuclear power, while not also representing any challenge or any threat for anyone in the region." He said the issue needs to be resolved diplomatically. The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month about the country's nuclear program. Trump has said that he believes brokering a nuclear deal is possible but that the window is closing. At the state dinner, he called on Iran's leadership to "get moving" or risk the situation spiraling into a head-on conflict. "Because things like that get started and they get out of control," Trump said. "I've seen it over and over again. They go to war and things get out of control, and we're not going to let that happen." Trump, in his appearance at the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Riyadh, also said that Tehran "must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons" as conditions for any deal. The call for Iran to cease support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen comes as that proxy network has faced significant setbacks in the 19 months since Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump's remarks "deceitful" but did not directly address his demands. Trump said that he also believed the moment was ripe "for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists." Hezbollah is severely weakened after its war last year with Israel, in which much of its top leadership was killed and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms. ## Lifting sanctions on Syria While in Riyadh, Trump also met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a face-to-face engagement with the onetime insurgent leader who spent years imprisoned by U.S. forces after being captured in Iraq. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stormed Damascus and ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family. Trump said he decided to meet with al-Sharaa after being encouraged to do so by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also pledged to lift yearslong sanctions on Syria. The White House billed the al-Sharaa meeting as a brief "pull aside" that ended up lasting 33 minutes. Trump told reporters that the meeting went "great" and described him as a "young, attractive guy" with a "very strong past." "He's got a real shot at holding it together," Trump said. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion. He still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaida. Al-Sharaa returned to his home country of Syria after the conflict began in 2011 and led al-Qaida's branch called the Nusra Front. He changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and cut links with al-Qaida. The sanctions go back to the rule of Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December, and were intended to inflict major pain on his economy. ## Qatar rolls out the red carpet for Trump In Qatar, Trump was greeted at the airport by Al Thani. Air Force One was escorted by Qatari F-15 jets as it neared Doha, the capital city. As he sat down for talks at Amiri Diwan, the administrative office of the emir, Trump told the Qatari leader he was impressed with the "perfecto" marble as well as the camels that took part in the arrival ceremony. The emir said he had high hopes for Trump's efforts with Iran and at ending the war in Gaza. "I know that you are a man of peace," he said. "I know that you want to bring peace to this region." Qatar, like the other Gulf Arab states, is an autocratic nation where political parties are banned and speech is tightly controlled. But Qatar has also served as a valuable partner to the U.S. The country is also home to Al-Udeid Air Base, a sprawling facility that hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. The oil-and-gas-rich country is also in the center of a controversy over its offer to provide Trump with the gift of a luxury Boeing 747-8 that the U.S. could use as Air Force One while new versions of the plane are under construction by Boeing. The Qatari government has said a final decision hasn't been made. Trump has defended the idea even as critics argue it would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government. Trump has indicated he would refurbish the aircraft and it would later be donated to his post-White House presidential library. He says he would not use the plane once he leaves office. Trump will head to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for the final stop of his Mideast tour. ___ Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 06:42:33+00:00	[ "United Kingdom government", "Keir Starmer", "United Kingdom", "London", "Fires", "Charles Grant", "Politics", "Dominic Murphy" ]	# Man arrested for arson at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's private home May 13th, 2025, 06:42 AM --- LONDON (AP) — Police arrested a 21-year-old man Tuesday on suspicion of starting fires at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's private house, another property and a car connected to the politician. The Metropolitan Police force said the suspect was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after an early morning fire Monday damaged the door of the house where Starmer and his family lived before he was elected to lead the country. No injuries were reported from any of the fires. Counterterrorism detectives, who are leading the investigation because it involves the prime minister, are also looking into connections between a car fire Thursday near Starmer's house and a fire Sunday outside a north London house converted into apartments that he as a connection to. "A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure," said Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, head of counterterrorism at the Metropolitan Police. Starmer moved with his family to the prime minister's official Downing Street residence after taking office in July. Neighbor Charles Grant said police searched his yard Monday for a projectile. "From what other people have told me today, I gather someone threw a firebomb at Keir Starmer's house," he said. Starmer's house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year, three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with public order offenses after unfurling a banner covered in red handprints outside the building. The main opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch of the Conservative Party, called it "a shocking incident." "No one should face these sorts of threats, let alone people in public service," she posted on X. "It's an attack on our democracy and must never be tolerated."
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 04:00:06+00:00	[ "Marc Jacobs", "Rihanna", "Thom Browne", "Tom Ford", "Met Gala", "Coco Jones", "Marie Claire", "Janelle Monae", "Claire Stern Milch", "Apparel and accessories manufacturing", "Gigi Hadid", "Lauryn Hill", "Fashion", "Pregnancy and childbirth", "Black experience", "New York City Wire", "Andr Leon Talley", "Anna Wintour", "Haider Ackermann", "Josephine Baker", "Evan Ross", "Gabrielle Union", "Manish Malhotra", "Helen Lasichanh", "Zoe Saldaa", "Metropolitan Museum of Art", "Entertainment", "Ruth Carter", "LeBron James", "Diana Ross", "Lewis Hamilton", "Emma Chamberlain", "Madonna", "Colman Domingo", "Megan Thee Stallion", "Christian Siriano", "Grace Wales Bonner", "Dua Lipa", "Lifestyle", "Kim Kardashian", "Kylie Jenner", "William Dingle", "Race and ethnicity", "Valentino Garavani", "Race and Ethnicity" ]	# Met Gala 2025 sees tributes to Black fashion and a Rihanna pregnancy surprise By Leanne Italie May 5th, 2025, 04:00 AM --- NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna shut down a rainy Met Gala on Monday in a pinstripe look and a huge hat, her newly announced baby bump on display after announcing her pregnancy with baby No. 3 earlier in the day. Her Marc Jacobs look included tied sleeves of a men's suit that served as a bustle behind her as she posed for the cameras, the last to walk the carpet as usual. Her hair hung long in a mermaid twist behind her. Men's suiting and tailoring was the evening's theme. It came complete with a tuxedoed choir and lots of women rocking pinstripes and other men's detailing. Emma Chamberlain, Zendaya, Teyana Taylor and many other women went with traditional men's detailing. Chamberlain and Zuri Hall were among those who wore sleek, sexy gowns that play on men's suiting in pinstripes as they walked up the grand steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Zendaya, a co-host last year, wore a perfectly tailored white trouser suit with a matching wide-brim hat from Louis Vuitton. Janelle Monáe epitomized the night's theme, the Black dandy, in exaggerated pinstripes by Thom Browne. Lauryn Hill honored menswear in a butter yellow suit with exaggerated tailoring that screamed Black power. The menswear vibe for women was frequent and expected, "women wanting to maintain a traditionally feminine dress silhouette while still respecting the theme," said William Dingle, director of style for blackmenswear.com, a cultural impact agency that focuses on uplifting Black men. Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, leaned WAY in on the pinstripes in red. She rocked a head of bejeweled braids. He rocked a do-rag. Doja Cat, always fearless when it comes to fashion, donned a Marc Jacobs bodysuit look with orange and black wildcat detailing and broad-shouldered pinstripes. Taylor went for a stunning Zoot Suit look with a red, feather-adorned top hat and a huge matching cape dripping with flowers and bling. She collaborated with famed costumer designer Ruth E. Carter. The Zoot was popularized in Harlem in the 1940s. Madonna, "no stranger to gender-bending fashion," Dingle said, showed up in a monochrome taupe tuxedo clutching a cigar. It was Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, the designer who took over when Ford stepped aside. Kylie Jenner, in Ferragamo, mimicked men's tailoring in a gray and black corseted look, while sister Kim Kardashian went embossed black leather dandy, vamping under a tall black hat. Her custom look was by Chrome Hearts. It was low slung and open at the hip with broad straps at the back. Sister Kendall Jenner was in an elegant skirt and jacket, the most subdued of the three. The designer was the British-Nigerian-Brazilian designer Torishéju Dumi. ## And then there were the bombshells ... Megan Thee Stallion in Michael Kors and Dua Lipa in black Chanel included. Megan's look had a high side slit and floral lace embellishment. Lipa was giving elevated flapper in feathers and an "S" curl style for her hair. And Miley Cyrus oozed womanhood in a custom cropped black crocodile jacket and long black taffeta skirt by Alaïa. Diana Ross, meanwhile, swallowed the carpet in a huge white train, escorted by her son, Evan Ross. Lizzo debuted blonde hair to go with her pink and black Christian Siriano gown with a plunge at the front. It was so tight at the legs she struggled to walk. Cardi B, who always goes big at the Met Gala, stunned in a low-cut Burberry pantsuit. She showed off a new hairstyle and eye color, appearing to wear green contacts to match her ivy-colored look. ## The standouts among the men As for the men, co-host A$AP Rocky told The Associated Press that Anna Wintour suggested he wear a Black designer. "So I wore myself," the musician said of his custom suit designed by his creative agency, AWGE, complete with a black parka and diamond-crested umbrella. "Everything is designed by yours truly." Rocky, Rihanna's partner and dad to their two kids, confirmed to reporters that baby No. 3 in on the way. He spoke about it after Rihanna was photographed walking in the rain with her baby bump out in a blue crop top and skirt. "It feels amazing, you know," Rocky said. "It's time that we show the people what we was cooking up. And I'm glad everybody's happy for us 'cause we definitely happy, you know." He added: "Honestly, it's a blessing nonetheless. Because you know how like some people in other situations at times can be envious of other people. But we've been seeing love for the most part. And we real receptive to that and appreciate that, you know what I mean? That's love. Love is love." ## The dress code explained What, exactly, was the suggested dress code of the night, "Tailored for You," is inspired by Black dandyism. And what, exactly, is the Met Gala for? To raise money for the Met's Costume Institute. The gala raised a record $31 million before it began. Nikki Ogunnaike, editor in chief of Marie Claire, noted a few trends done well. "Top trends from the night: Black and white (Zoe Saldaña, Whoopi Goldberg, Gabrielle Union), pinstripes (Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats), suiting (Lupita Nyong'o, Ego Nwodim), hats (Lupita Nyong'o, Whoopi Goldberg and Teyana Taylor)." ## More on the men Colman Domingo, one of the evening's hosts, wore a pleated, gold adorned cape over a gray and black suit, his jacket a pearled windowpane design with a huge dotted black flower. His look, including his cape and a dotted black scarf at his neck, evoked the late André Leon Talley, the fashion icon who made history as a rare Black editor at Vogue. Domingo, in Valentino, arrived with Vogue's Wintour, dressed in a pastel blue coat over a shimmery white gown by Louis Vuitton, a gala sponsor. Fellow co-chair Lewis Hamilton donned a jaunty ivory tuxedo with a cropped jacket, a matching beret and cowrie shell embellishment. Hamilton's look carried deep meaning. "The color of ivory denotes purity and status; cowries pass from hand to hand, the regal sash turns shamanic," he wrote on Instagram. Claire Stern Milch, Elle digital director added: "Known for championing Black designers, the F1 star once again used his platform to celebrate heritage and creativity on one of fashion's biggest stages." Domingo has epitomized contemporary dandyism in a variety of looks over the years. Pharrell Williams, another co-host, was demure in a double-breasted, beaded evening jacket and dark trousers. He kept his dark shades on while posing for the cameras. Williams walked with his wife, Helen Lasichanh, in a black bodysuit and matching jacket. Williams, the Louis Vuitton menswear creative director, said his 15,000 pearls were arranged in a pinstripe design and the jacket took 400 hours to construct. Walton Goggins, a guest this year with others from "The White Lotus," wore a deconstructed suit look with seams out and a pleated skirt he twirled for the cameras. LeBron James, the NBA superstar, was named honorary chair of the evening but bowed out at the last minute due to a knee injury. ## Other Met Gala looks that stood out Monica L. Miller, whose book inspired the evening, wore a bejeweled cropped cape over a dress adorned with cowrie shells by Grace Wales Bonner. It's a direct connection to a piece in the gala's companion Metropolitan Museum of Art spring exhibit that Miller guest curated. What other women killed the menswear game? Coco Jones in an ivory tuxedo coat with a train over matching trousers, both covered in chunky embellishment. "Coco Jones absolutely leaned in," Dingle said. "I love the pearl and gem embellishments here, as well as the long coat, and even the necklace. Because she's taller, the long coat even further elongates her legs. This is a fantastic look." Her look was by Indian designer Manish Malhotra. She said she wanted to honor Black excellence by going all out. Gigi Hadid, on the other hand, went all woman. She pulled up the spirit of Josephine Baker in a shimmery velvet gold halter gown by Miu Miu that hugged her hips, hip hugging being a big trend of the night for the women. Bad Bunny, ever a fashion rebel, wore a custom black Prada suit. The best detail: his woven hat, which appeared to be a reference to the pava, a straw hat associated with the Puerto Rican jíbaro. ___ This story has been updated to correct the name of Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike and the name of Elle digital director Claire Stern Milch. ___ Associated Press writers Gary Hamilton, Beatrice Dupuy, Jocelyn Noveck and Maria Sherman contributed to this story. ___ For full coverage of the Met Gala, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/met-gala
Associated Press News	2025-05-12 18:33:16+00:00	[ "Taylor Swift", "Business", "United States government", "Hospitality and leisure industry", "Jack Groetzinger", "Kid Rock", "Entertainment", "Michael Wichser", "Donald Trump" ]	# As Biden-era 'junk fee' rule takes effect, Ticketmaster says it will display fees more clearly By Dee-Ann Durbin May 12th, 2025, 06:33 PM --- As a Biden administration ban on so-called "junk fees" took effect Monday, Ticketmaster said it would start displaying the full price of a ticket as soon as consumers begin shopping. Ticketmaster, long a subject of complaints about hidden fees and other issues, was among those targeted by the new rule, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front. Ticketmaster said it agreed with the FTC's action. "Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites," Ticketmaster Chief Operating Officer Michael Wichser said in a statement. Ticketmaster said it will also tell customers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event. It will also give real-time updates to customers whose wait times exceed 30 minutes, letting them know ticket price ranges, availability and whether new event dates have been added. Ticketmaster, which is owned by Beverly Hills, California-based concert promoter Live Nation, is the world's largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster said Monday's changes would bring North America in line with the rest of the world, where full ticket prices typically are displayed as soon as customers start shopping. SeatGeek, a platform for buying and selling original and resale tickets, said it also updated its features Monday to make "all-in pricing the default" setting. "Fans deserve pricing that's clear from the start," said SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger said. "We're proud to roll this out across our platform and encouraged to see the industry move in this direction." Ticketmaster has been in the hot seat since 2022, when its site crashed during a presale event for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers in order to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. Thousands of people lost tickets after waiting for hours in an online queue. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly that drives up U.S. ticket prices and asking a court to break them up. That case is ongoing. President Donald Trump is also eyeing the industry. In March, he signed an executive order that he said would help curb ticket scalping and bring "commonsense" changes to the way live events are priced. Under the order, the FTC must ensure "price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process" and take enforcement to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct. "Anyone who's bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years — no matter what your politics are — knows that it's a conundrum," said Kid Rock, who joined Trump in the Oval Office as Trump signed the order.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 19:06:16+00:00	[ "Georgia", "Tim Echols", "Keisha Sean Waites", "Jennifer Whitfield", "Data management and storage", "Fitz Johnson", "Georgia Watch", "The Southern Co.", "Daniel Blackman", "Elections", "Alicia Johnson", "Energy industry", "Peter Hubbard", "Hurricane Helene", "Business", "Liz Coyle", "Hurricanes and typhoons", "Lee Muns", "John Kraft", "U.S. Republican Party" ]	# Georgia Power agrees to hold rates steady, but that doesn't include hurricane recovery costs By Jeff Amy May 19th, 2025, 07:06 PM --- ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Power Co. announced on Monday that it has agreed to a plan with regulatory staff to hold base power rates steady through the end of 2028, although customer bills could still rise in 2026 or later because of the costs of rebuilding from Hurricane Helene and buying natural gas and coal. The five elected members of the Public Service Commission are scheduled to vote on the plan by July 1, according to a stock market filing. The commissioners, all Republicans, could reject or alter the plan, but negotiated agreements with staff historically have been very influential with commissioners. John Kraft, a spokesperson for Georgia Power, said holding rates steady is a benefit "of the extraordinary economic growth taking place in our state." "This stipulated agreement helps balance the affordability needs of our customers while ensuring Georgia Power remains equipped to continue its support of our state's incredible growth – which is good for all of our stakeholders," Kraft said in a statement. An agreement would allow Commissioners Fitz Johnson and Tim Echols to seek reelection this year without the threat of a rate increase hanging over their campaigns. Echols faces Republican challenger Lee Muns in a June 17 primary, with Democrat Alicia Johnson awaiting the GOP nominee in November. Democrats Daniel Blackman, Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Sean Waites are vying in the primary to face Fitz Johnson in the general election. Georgia Power is the state's only privately owned electrical utility, serving 2.3 million customers statewide. Last year, Georgia Power collected $11.3 billion in revenue and contributed $2.5 billion in profit to its parent, Atlanta-based Southern Co. The company predicts rapidly increasing demand from computer data centers. Georgia Power has said regular customers won't pay for power plants and transmission lines needed to electrify data centers, a pledge now backed up by commission rules. The company has said other customers would see "downward pressure" on rates because of data centers. Jennifer Whitfield, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, predicts customer bills will rise in 2026. That's because Monday's agreement calls for Georgia Power to file a separate plan next year to charge for $800 million in reconstruction costs after Helene. Whitfield also said Georgia Power might seek to charge more to pay for natural gas and coal to generate electricity. "For the last year and a half, we've been promised that data centers coming to Georgia were going to put a downward pressure on rates. And we imagined that downward pressure would apply to these increases for things like a billion-plus dollars of storm costs," Whitfield said. "But now, the downward pressure has dissolved. There is no downward pressure." Customers have seen bills rise sharply in recent years because of higher natural gas costs, construction projects including two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta, and other factors. A typical Georgia Power residential customer now pays more than $175 a month, including taxes. Liz Coyle, the executive director of consumer group Georgia Watch, said political reality dictates a freeze. "I think the reasons more than anything have to do with the company's awareness that their customers and members of the legislature are alarmed about the potential for another rate increase while customers are still reeling," Coyle said. The deal comes even as commissioners are still considering Georgia Power's three-year plan to generate enough electricity to meet the state's needs. Commissioners approved a mid-cycle rewrite of the current plan because of predictions for increased demand. Typically, a rate plan is approved after that integrated resource plan, ensuring the utility can pay for improvements. But Georgia Power and regulators previously extended a rate plan from 2016 to 2019. One thing the proposal would do is bolster the likelihood that Georgia Power will keep earning high profits. Under Georgia's regulatory system, the company earns a return on the money it invests. Georgia Power earns one of the highest rates of return in the country, set between 9.5% and 11.9%. Under the proposal, the utility could recoup up to $250 million in costs it would otherwise defer if its return falls below 10.5%. That makes it unlikely returns would fall below that level.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 23:49:04+00:00	[ "United Nations", "International trade", "Economic policy", "Brazil", "United Kingdom", "Government policy", "Tariffs and global trade", "Shantanu Mukherjee", "Business", "Mexico", "Transportation and shipping", "Donald Trump", "Economy" ]	# UN forecasts slower global economic growth By Edith M. Lederer May 15th, 2025, 11:49 PM --- UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations on Thursday forecast slower global economic growth this year and next, pointing to the impact of the surge in U.S. tariffs and increasing trade tensions. U.N. economists also cited the volatile geopolitical landscape and threats of rising production costs, supply chain disruptions and financial turbulence. "These days, there's so much uncertainty in the air," said Shantanu Mukherjee, director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division at the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. "It's been a nervous time for the global economy," he told reporters while launching the midyear forecast. "In January this year, we were expecting two years of stable — if subpar — growth, and since then, prospects have diminished, accompanied by significant volatility across various dimensions." The U.N. is now forecasting global economic growth of 2.4% this year and 2.5% next year — a drop of 0.4 percentage point each year from its projections in January. Last year, the global economy grew 2.9%. Mukherjee said the slowing is affecting most countries and regions, but among the most severely hit are the poorest and least developed countries, whose growth prospects have fallen from 4.6% to 4.1% just since January. "That translates into a loss of billions in economic output for the most disadvantaged of countries," which are home to over half the global population living in extreme poverty, he said. The world's developed and developing countries also are projected to suffer, according to the U.N. report. Economic growth in the United States is now projected to drop significantly, from 2.8% last year to 1.6% this year, it said, noting that higher tariffs and policy uncertainty are expected to weigh on private investment and consumption. China's growth is expected to slow to 4.6% this year from 5% in 2024 as a result of subdued consumer sentiment, disruptions in its export-oriented manufacturing companies, and continuing challenges in its property sector, the report said. The European Union's growth is forecast to remain the same this year as it was last year — just 1%, the report said, citing weaker net exports and higher trade barriers. The United Kingdom's economic growth of 1.1% last year is projected to fall to 0.9%. Weakening trade, slowing investments and falling commodity prices are also forecast to erode growth in other major developing economies, including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. India will remain one of the world's fastest-growing large economies, but the U.N. forecast said its growth is expected to drop from 7.1% in 2024 to 6.3% this year. The U.N.'s global economic growth forecast is lower than the International Monetary Fund's. On a more positive note, Mukherjee said the U.N. is expecting that bilateral negotiations will lead to lower tariffs, although he said they won't return to the levels before U.S. President Donald Trump's February announcement. Nonetheless, Mukherjee said, resolving uncertainties would help individuals and businesses move forward with economic decisions and that would have a positive impact on the global economy.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 13:56:55+00:00	[ "Robert Brooks", "Crime", "Homicide", "New York", "Utica", "Kathy Hochul", "Christopher Walrath", "Prisons", "New York City Wire", "William Fitzpatrick", "Legal proceedings" ]	# Prison guard who helped beat cuffed New York inmate to death pleads guilty to manslaughter By Michael Hill May 5th, 2025, 01:56 PM --- UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — A corrections officer pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday in the fatal beating of a handcuffed inmate at an upstate New York prison — an attack that was caught on video by guards' body cameras, sparked public outrage and led to charges against more than a dozen people. Christopher Walrath, 36, was one of six guards charged with second-degree murder in the Dec. 9 beating of Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter during a hearing at state court in Utica. The plea deal, which was the first agreed to by one of the six who were charged with murder, calls for Walrath to get a 15-year prison term. He will remain free on bail pending his Aug. 4 sentencing. Under questioning from Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, the special prosecutor, Walrath admitted that he and other guards assaulted Brooks. He also acknowledged that he put Brooks in a chokehold, that he struck the inmate's body and groin and that he lied to investigators about what happened. Walrath, who resigned from his guard job, appeared somber with his hands clasped in front of him as he answered questions with either "yes" or "correct." He and his attorney declined to comment while leaving court. Brooks began serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault in 2017 and was transferred to Marcy from a nearby lockup on the night he was beaten to death. Fitzpatrick said Brooks was beaten three times that night, the last of which was the attack caught on bodycam footage. "The reality is, he did nothing. It was welcome to Marcy," the prosecutor said of the reason for the beatings. He told reporters after the hearing that Walrath left his post to join in the attacks. "Sadly, just emblematic of a system and a problem that is persistent at that institution, and perhaps others as well," Fitzpatrick said. He said the plea deal was based on the evidence of Walrath's involvement in the beatings and the prosecutor's judgment that the blows Walrath inflicted on Brooks "were non-lethal." Fitzpatrick said it was possible the guilty plea would spur other guards to reach agreements, but that his office had not had recent discussions with the other defense attorneys. Brooks' son Robert Brooks Jr., who was at the hearing, said in a statement afterward that the guilty plea was "one important but modest step on the long road to justice for my father." "Now, Mr. Walrath's life is in the hands of prison officials. This must be a terrifying prospect for him and his family, knowing what staff is capable of, and how little the system values the lives of incarcerated people," the victim's son said. "I pray that Mr. Walrath has the opportunity in prison to rehabilitate himself, and come out a better man." In addition to the six guards who were charged with murder, three workers at the prison about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York City were charged with manslaughter and another was charged with evidence tampering. Three other prison workers have reached agreements but have yet to enter those pleas, according to prosecutors. In the bodycam videos, officers could be seen beating Brooks, who was on a medical examination table with his hands cuffed behind his back. They struck him in the chest with a shoe, lifted him by his neck and dropped him. Brooks died the next day. All the officers who were charged either resigned or were suspended without pay pending termination proceedings, state officials said. The beating drew widespread condemnation and calls for reforms. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said she was "outraged and horrified" by the videos, appointed a new superintendent for the prison. She also ordered state officials to initiate proceedings to fire 13 correctional officers and a nurse implicated in the attack. Fitzpatrick also is prosecuting guards in the fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi on March 1 at another Marcy lockup, the Mid-State Correctional Facility. Ten guards were indicted in that case last month, including two who are charged with murder. ____ Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 16:23:11+00:00	[ "Animals", "Hilton Head Island", "Veterinary medicine", "South Carolina", "Whales" ]	# Beached whale is euthanized on South Carolina resort island May 5th, 2025, 04:23 PM --- HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — A sperm whale that beached itself on a popular South Carolina resort island was euthanized late Sunday after veterinarians determined it was too sick to help. The 20-ton (18,000 kilogram) whale came ashore near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort on Hilton Head Island on Saturday afternoon, officials said. After veterinarians determined it was a juvenile whale and too emaciated to survive, they brought in a veterinarian from the University of Florida and special equipment to humanely sedate and then kill the animal, the town of Hilton Head Island said on social media. An examination, called a necropsy, was being conducted on the 31-foot (9-meter) whale on the beach to determine why it became ill and beached itself, officials said. The whale will then be buried on the beach, the town said. The island's sea turtle patrol and workers from the Georgia Aquarium's veterinary program kept towels and water on the whale as they awaited the special veterinarian team to arrive. Whales often beach themselves when sick or injured, according to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, which estimates about 2,000 whales come ashore each year. Most beachings result in the animal's death.
Associated Press News	2025-05-03 12:08:15+00:00	[ "Pete Hegseth", "Mike Waltz", "Marco Rubio", "Donald Trump", "Laura Loomer", "Poland", "Vladimir Putin", "George W. Bush", "National security", "Iraq", "Syria", "Florida", "Iran", "Government policy", "Heather Conley", "Tim Haugh", "Politics", "Mark Milley", "Steve Witkoff", "Elon Musk", "United States government", "Military and defense", "U.S. National Security Agency", "Jeffrey Goldberg", "U.S. Department of Defense", "Daniel Fried", "U.S. Republican Party", "Government programs" ]	# Waltz ouster adds to tumult in Trump's national security team By Eric Tucker and Aamer Madhani May 3rd, 2025, 12:08 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's removal of national security adviser Mike Waltz brings further disruption to a national security team that has already endured scrutiny over using the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations as well as mounting questions over the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the firing of the four-star general who led the National Security Agency. The staff shake-up comes as the administration confronts foreign policy issues that include Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear ambitions, a trade fight with China and conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine that have defied easy resolutions despite Trump's initial confidence that he could settle both wars quickly. But Waltz's departure also presents an opportunity for Trump to consolidate foreign policy in just a few hands, with the Republican president asserting even more power over decision-making and relying on a select group of people who have entirely embraced his "America First" agenda. Those influential voices include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Thursday was named to replace Waltz on an acting basis while Waltz was nominated as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "I would think he has just about what he wants" in terms of consolidated power, said William Banks, founding director of what is now called the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law. "There aren't many outliers." ## Gaining Trump's confidence or losing it Rubio may once have seemed an unlikely choice for such prominent positions given that the onetime Trump rival and hawkish conservative was derided by Trump as "Little Marco" during the 2016 presidential campaign. But since then, the former Florida senator has proved adept at aligning himself with Trump's foreign policy positions, presiding over a massive overhaul of the State Department while steering clear of some of the pitfalls that other national security leaders have encountered. Waltz, for instance, faced intense criticism in March after revelations that he added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a private text chain on an encrypted messaging app that was used to discuss planning for an airstrike against Houthi militants in Yemen. He also was considered to be part of a neoconservative wing of the Republican Party that had supported the war in Iraq and other U.S. military interventions abroad, including in Syria and Libya, that have now found disfavor in today's GOP. The former Florida congressman has advocated for further diplomatically isolating Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has viewed at moments with admiration. The Pentagon, too, has been a source of tumult, with Hegseth directing firings of top military officers and now ousting his own top civilian advisers in response to leak allegations. There are now multiple vacancies in key positions at a critical time for the military. Other missteps have included a broad edict for the military services to erase images celebrating diversity, leading to the brief removal of online content of prominent figures such as Jackie Robinson and causing a public outcry. Reports of Elon Musk being offering a classified Pentagon briefing on China and Hegseth posting airstrike plans in two Signal chats with dozens of people have spurred calls for the defense secretary's firing. But Trump has stood by him. Trump's national security team could be "charitably" described as "a work in progress," said Daniel Fried, a former U.S. ambassador to Poland and a National Security Council official under both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, citing what he said were concerns about coordination and portfolios. "I'm not saying that the Trump foreign policy team is doomed. But the lack of coordination, the lack of consistency, the sense of chaotic decision-making isn't just a media myth," Fried said. ## Trump's approach to foreign policy The national security adviser post, established in 1953, matters to the functioning of a cohesive government. That official is intended to serve as a hub in coordinating information, soliciting advice among agencies and developing policy recommendations for the president. But the argument for balance in policymaking is unlikely to resonate with Trump. Over the course of his career, he has claimed expert knowledge on everything from Islamic militants to taxes and technology. Heather Conley, a former deputy assistant secretary of state during the George W. Bush administration, said Trump often gives greater weight to advice and recommendations from television and social media than his senior advisers. "There is very little role for policy coordination because the president is clearly setting the policy on a daily, hourly basis," Conley said. The NSC didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Even as Trump has elevated Rubio, there are signs that Trump also has welcomed the input of a far-less conventional source: far-right activist Laura Loomer. Last month, she appeared to take credit for Trump's firing of Air Force Gen. Tim Haugh as head of the NSA and the Pentagon's Cyber Command after a 33-year career in intelligence and cyber operations. Loomer said she had raised questions to Trump about Haugh's ties to retired Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Trump's first term but later became a critic, and she questioned Haugh's loyalty. On Friday, Loomer said she recommended to Trump in a private meeting last month that he remove Waltz from his job. ## Changes from the first Trump administration The Waltz ouster notwithstanding, Trump has tried to project a more ordered administration than during his first term. Those four years were marked by big personnel changes among his national security leadership and bitter disagreements with officials he felt were trying to rein him in or box in his choices. He replaced three national security advisers, and fired an FBI director and secretary of state. He clashed with one defense secretary who resigned after differing with Trump over the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and dismissed another who broke with him over using the military during racial justice protests in 2020. The removal of a national security adviser with views not in perfect alignment with his own may help free Trump from some of the constraints he felt from government agencies in his first term. Yet at a moment when Trump is trying to find endgames to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza while trying to negotiate an Iran nuclear deal and waging a global tariff war, leaning on Rubio to serve in both roles may be suboptimal. Appearing Thursday night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity," Rubio centered his comments on the foreign policy news of the day — including the U.S. role in trying to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine — rather than on a leadership transition that now has him juggling two major positions. "The fact that Rubio has multiple titles may mean that his stock is rising, but not necessarily," Fried said. "And that's part of the problem. If it's not clear who is in charge and it's not clear where you go to get answers, that's not a recipe for leverage. It's a recipe for uncertainty and paralysis." _____ Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations, Stephany Matat in Tallahassee, Florida, and Tara Copp, Matthew Lee and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 13:56:05+00:00	[ "Israel", "2024-2025 Mideast Wars", "Foreign aid", "Gaza Strip", "Israel-Hamas war", "Israel government", "United Nations", "War and unrest", "Middle East", "Humanitarian crises", "Blockades", "Hamas", "International agreements", "Hostage situations", "Louise Wateridge", "Health", "Palestinian territories government", "Water shortages", "Politics", "Business", "Religion" ]	# UN official urges Israel to lift aid blockade of Gaza and calls it 'cruel collective punishment' By Elena Becatoros and Wafaa Shurafa May 1st, 2025, 01:56 PM --- JERUSALEM (AP) — The United Nations' emergency relief coordinator urged Israel on Thursday to lift its blockade of aid into the Gaza Strip, saying the halting of humanitarian aid amounts to "cruel collective punishment." The U.N. said thousands of Palestinians had breached a humanitarian field office in Gaza late Wednesday looking for aid. They took medicine and damaged vehicles in the melee but caused no injuries to staff. Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid from entering the territory since the end of a ceasefire in March, throwing Gaza into what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war. Israel has said the blockade and its renewed military campaign are intended to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages it still holds and to disarm. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. As Israel continued its strikes on the Palestinian enclave, another 18 people were killed and dozens more were wounded, Gaza's Health Ministry said. ## UN aid group reports looting in Gaza amid deprivation A United Nations aid group said its staff were safely evacuated after thousands of Palestinians breached its Gaza field office Wednesday evening and took medications. An official with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, called the looting "the direct result of unbearable and prolonged deprivation." ⁠"The looting, while devastating, is not surprising in the face of total systemic collapse. We are witnessing the consequences of a society brought to its knees by prolonged siege and violence," said Louise Wateridge, a senior emergency officer at the agency. The breach, which took place at an UNWRA training center and field office, also caused damage to agency trucks and buses, she said. No injuries were reported among the staff. Israel's war against Hamas has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry, including more than 2,200 in the six weeks since Israel shattered the ceasefire on March 18. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks which started the war. ## UN says 3,000 aid trucks backed up outside Gaza The United Nations says that more than 3,000 aid trucks with lifesaving supplies are backed up at the border outside Gaza. UNRWA said Thursday that the Israeli blockade means their trucks can't reach the 1 million children whose lives are in danger without them. The agency also said that about 660,000 Palestinian children are out of school because of the ongoing war. UNRWA said in an X post that "the crossings must reopen, and the siege must be lifted." Israel has been striking homes, shelters and public areas daily since ending a ceasefire in March. It also has cut off the territory's 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, for nearly two months. U.N. food stockpiles have run out and aid groups say thousands of Palestinian children are malnourished. Israel says its blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release hostages. However, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights warned this week that starving civilians as a military tactic constitutes a war crime. ## UN calls for lifting of blockade Tom Fletcher, the U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said Thursday that while the hostages should be released and should never have been taken in the first place, international law mandates that Israel allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. "Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip," he said in a statement. "Blocking aid starves civilians. It leaves them without basic medical support. It strips them of dignity and hope. It inflicts a cruel collective punishment. Blocking aid kills." The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has described severe shortages of food, water and medicine in Gaza as medical services collapse and charity kitchens shut down because of a lack of supplies. Hospitals have reported that cases of malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women are rising sharply, and most newborns are now being born underweight. Fletcher stressed that "the humanitarian movement is independent, impartial and neutral. We believe that all civilians are equally worthy of protection." He said that a recent proposal by Israeli authorities regarding ways to distribute aid "does not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support." Israel has proposed taking over aid distribution in Gaza or using private companies for the distribution. The United Kingdom joined calls for aid to be allowed into Gaza. "The healthcare system in Gaza is near collapse," the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office posted on X. "Aid supplies must be allowed in, medical workers protected, and the sick and wounded allowed to temporarily leave Gaza for treatment." ## Israeli strikes continue Israeli strikes in Gaza killed more than two dozen people from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, bringing the overall death toll since the war started to more than 52,400 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. More than 2,300 of the deaths have occurred since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, it said. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and militant deaths, but says more than half the dead have been women and children. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing details on those deaths. On Thursday afternoon, the ministry said the bodies of 18 people and 77 wounded people had arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours. The bodies of another eight people — including three children and three women — arrived at Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis, the hospital said later Thursday. ___ Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip.
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 21:03:08+00:00	[ "Elise Stefanik", "Robert Manuel", "United States Congress", "Jeffrey Armstrong", "Colleges and universities", "Wendy Raymond", "Antisemitism", "Education funding", "U.S. Republican Party", "Chicago", "District of Columbia", "Government budgets", "Congress", "Mary Miller", "Donald Trump", "Bob Onder", "Palestinian territories government", "Race and ethnicity", "Government and politics", "Protests and demonstrations", "Colombia", "Associated Press", "Ryan Mackenzie", "Education", "Politics" ]	# GOP lawmakers berate Haverford College leader at antisemitism hearing By Collin Binkley May 7th, 2025, 09:03 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of Haverford College was berated by Republican lawmakers in a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism Wednesday, with some suggesting the school should lose federal funding because of her refusal to discuss student discipline in the wake of pro-Palestinian protests. Wendy Raymond appeared alongside two other college presidents on Capitol Hill but was singled out as the only one who would not detail punishments for students and faculty accused of anti-Jewish bias. Asked repeatedly, Raymond said her institution does not publicize the outcomes of disciplinary processes. "I suppose it's your First Amendment right to be evasive, but it's also our right to decide that such institutions are not deserving of taxpayer money," said Republican Rep. Bob Onder of Missouri. Also appearing before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce were Jeffrey Armstrong of California Polytechnic State University and Robert Manuel of DePaul University. It was the latest in a series of hearings scrutinizing university presidents over their responses to allegations of anti-Jewish bias in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and a wave of protests that swept the nation's campuses. Unlike others that featured leaders of Harvard, Columbia and other elite institutions — with stumbles that later contributed to their resignations — this one intentionally focused on lesser-known schools. Republicans sought to look beyond the Ivy League to underscore the pervasiveness of antisemitism on U.S. campuses. The committee's leaders aimed to choose a diverse mix of colleges. Haverford is a small liberal arts school outside Philadelphia, founded by Quakers. DePaul is a Catholic university with an urban campus in Chicago. Cal Poly is a campus of 22,000 students in San Luis Obispo. For more than three hours, Republicans grilled the presidents over reports of anti-Jewish harassment on their campuses, ranging from social media posts to the physical attack of two Jewish students at DePaul. Democrats denounced the hearing, calling it political theater that does little to fight discrimination. The trio of presidents mostly struck a deferential tone, acknowledging some missteps while highlighting work to make students feel safer. Raymond and Manuel apologized for shortcomings, while Armstrong said "we have to do better" holding people accountable for prejudice. But while the presidents of Cal Poly and DePaul shared information on disciplinary action against antisemitism, Raymond refused. "We do not talk about those numbers publicly," she said when pressed on the question. She acknowledged some action had taken but declined to go further. It drew a searing rebuke from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., known for orchestrating fiery exchanges with former presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania that contributed to their resignations last year. "Respectfully, president of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of universities for their failure to answer straightforward questions," Stefanik said. Stefanik questioned Raymond over a professor's social media post describing the Hamas attacks as "imprisoned people breaking free from their chains." Raymond called it repugnant but refused to discuss individual cases. DePaul's president faced scrutiny over his handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment. Protesters took over a campus quad at the Chicago university for 17 days, causing $180,000 in property damage, according to the school. Police cleared the encampment and said they found knives, a pellet gun and other weapons. "My question is, if there is another encampment, are you taking it down that next day?" asked Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill. "Yes," Manuel said. Other Republicans endorsed the idea of funding cuts for schools that refuse to disclose punishments, saying Congress should explore the issue. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania said it should be a baseline for receiving funding. Republicans began the series of hearings in late 2023 and have routinely called education leaders to Capitol Hill to testify. Those called include chiefs of Harvard, Columbia, Penn, Northwestern University and the University of California, Los Angeles. The Trump administration has separately frozen billions of dollars in grants to colleges targeted by a federal antisemitism task force. Those targeted include Columbia, Penn and Harvard, which is suing to restore $2.2 billion in grants. The Education Department doubled down last week, saying Harvard is no longer eligible for new grants. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Associated Press News	2025-05-06 22:21:34+00:00	[ "Sharks", "Alabama", "Crime", "Kay Ivey", "Animal attacks", "Lulu Gribbin", "Fish" ]	# Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack May 6th, 2025, 10:21 PM --- MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new shark alert system, inspired by a teen who survived an attack last year, that warns beachgoers when a shark has bitten someone in the vicinity will be established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year. She lost her left hand and a portion of her right leg in the attack. Gribbin, now 16, visited the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to approve the warning system. She said she would not have been in the water if she knew a woman had been bitten just a few miles away about an hour earlier. "This bill will help prevent future attacks," Gribbin said last month about the legislation. "It's like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack." Gribbin was with Ivey as she signed the bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, in a private ceremony in the governor's office. "Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world," Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. "The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America." Supporters said the legislation will be an added measure of assurance for those headed to the beach. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will create rules for the new alert system, according to the legislation. An earlier version would have allowed an alert for an "imminent danger" when sharks are spotted near the shoreline. However, since sharks are commonly found in waters off Alabama and Florida, beach communities were concerned that would cause excessive alerts, causing panic and hurting coastal tourism. The alerts will only be issued along the Alabama coast. Supporters said they hope other states will pursue similar systems or that federal legislation will expand its use. Gribbin described the attack after speaking to a legislative committee last month. She and her friend had been diving for sand dollars and riding the Gulf waves when her friend screamed, "shark!" "My hand was bitten first. I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there," she recalled. "I couldn't feel it because of all the shock I was in. Then the shark latched onto my leg." Over 260,000 fans have been following her recovery on social media, including prosthetic leg fittings and physical therapy — as well as milestones such as going to a high school dance and her first trip back to the beach. Experts say attacks are rare despite sharks' prevalence in places like the Gulf. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites worldwide — including four fatalities — in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program.
Associated Press News	2025-05-01 23:14:55+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Muriel Bowser", "District of Columbia", "Politics", "Steve Warren", "Military and defense", "U.S. Department of Defense", "Dave Butler", "Fairs and festivals" ]	# Army plans for a potential parade on Trump's birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns By Lolita C. Baldor May 1st, 2025, 11:14 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — Detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on President Donald Trump's birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians, The Associated Press has learned. The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released. They represent the Army's most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element — a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed. The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday on June 14. While the slides do not include any price estimates, it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, aircraft and troops from across the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members. High costs halted Trump's push for a parade in his first term, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the Army's latest plans have raised concerns from city officials about damage to roads. Asked about plans for a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made. Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, added that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary. "We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us," said Butler. "We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned." Others familiar with the documents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been finalized, said they represent the Army's plans as it prepares for any White House approval of the parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There has been no formal approval yet. Changes to the plans have been made in recent weeks and more are likely. In a Truth Social post Thursday night that did not mention the June 14 plans, Trump wrote, "We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" He vowed to rename May 8, now known as Victory in Europe Day, as "Victory Day for World War II," and to change November 11, Veterans Day, to "Victory Day for World War I." ## What would go into the potential Army parade Much of the equipment would have to be brought in by train or flown in. Some equipment and troops were already going to be included in the Army's birthday celebration, which has been in the works for more than a year. The festival was set to involve an array of activities and displays on the National Mall, including a fitness competition, climbing wall, armored vehicles, Humvees, helicopters and other equipment. A parade, however, would increase the equipment and troops involved. According to the plans, as many as 6,300 of the service members would be marching in the parade, while the remainder would be responsible for other tasks and support. The Army's early festival plans did not include a parade, but officials confirmed last month that the Army had started discussions about adding one. The plans say the parade would showcase the Army's 250 years of service and foresee bringing in soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles. There would be seven Army bands and a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. And documents suggest that civilian participants would include historical vehicles and aircraft and two bands, along with people from veterans groups, military colleges and reenactor organizations. According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review. And it is expected that the evening parade would be followed by a concert and fireworks. One of the documents raises concerns about some limitations, which include where troops would be housed and "significant concerns regarding security requirements" as equipment flows into the city. It says the biggest unknown so far is which units would be participating. ## Trump has long wanted a big military parade In his first term, Trump proposed having a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Elysees that he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue. That plan was ultimately dumped due to the huge costs — with one estimate of a $92 million price tag — and other logistical issues. Among those were objections from city officials who said including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear up the roads. Trump said in a social media post in 2018 that he was canceling the event over the costs and accused local politicians of price gouging. This year, as plans progressed for the Army to host its birthday festival in Washington, talk about a parade began anew. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14 that would stretch from Arlington, Virginia, where the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are located, across the Potomac River and into Washington. Bowser at the time said she didn't know if the event was being "characterized as a military parade" but added that tanks rolling through the city's streets "would not be good." "If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads," she said. In 2018, the Pentagon appeared to agree. A memo from the defense secretary's staff said plans for the parade — at that time — would include only wheeled vehicles and no tanks to minimize damage to local infrastructure.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 20:54:13+00:00	[ "Barack Obama", "Donald Trump", "2020 United States presidential election", "U.S. Census Bureau", "Oregon", "Notable Deaths", "Patrick Thompson", "John H. Thompson", "John W. Thompson", "Politics", "Ron Jarmin" ]	# Former US Census Bureau director John Thompson, who guided preparations for 2020 head count, dies May 19th, 2025, 08:54 PM --- BEND, Ore. (AP) — John Thompson, who guided preparations for the 2020 census as director of the U.S. Census Bureau, has died. Thompson died May 9 at his home in Bend, Oregon. He was 73. Thompson was confirmed in 2013 as the Census Bureau's 24th director after being nominated by President Barack Obama. He departed in 2017 following the election of President Donald Trump to his first term but helped lay the groundwork for many of the innovations implemented in the 2020 head count. Those included the utilization of smart phones and the widespread use of online responses, which were instrumental in helping the bureau to navigate one of the most difficult censuses in U.S. history during the COVID-19 pandemic. "He guided preparations for the 2020 census, which became our nation's most automated and technically advanced ever," Ron Jarmin, the current acting director of the Census Bureau, said in a statement. "With his decades of experience as a public servant, he understood the importance of our agency's organizational health and made it a priority." After earning bachelor's and master's degrees at Virginia Tech, Thompson joined the Census Bureau in 1975 and rose to the position of associate director for decennial census programs, which put him in charge of all aspects of the 2000 census. He helped pioneer optical scanning and intelligent character recognition, which allowed handwritten items on census forms to be converted into responses, according to the statistical agency. The head count figures collected during the once-a-decade census are used to allocate states' congressional seats and Electoral College votes, and help determine the distribution of federal funding. Thompson left the Census Bureau in 2002 for more than a decade to work at the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center, eventually becoming its president and CEO. At NORC, Thompson was the project manager for the National Immunization Surveys, which was the the largest telephone social science survey in the United States at the time. "It would be hard to overstate John's influence on NORC and its people," Dan Gaylin, president and CEO of NORC, said in a statement. "John's confident, empowering, values-driven leadership enabled the people of NORC to see that future and make it a reality." After leaving the Census Bureau in 2017, Thompson became executive director of the Council of Professional Associations for Federal Statistics for a year before retiring in 2018. Thompson is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and three children. ___ The Associated Press and NORC are partners in the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which conducts survey research on a variety of topics.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 07:01:03+00:00	[ "Indigenous people", "Pope Francis", "Vatican City", "Juan Prez Gmez", "Paul Agustin Madimba", "Catholic Church", "Mexico", "Latin America", "Papal conclave", "Religion", "Arturo Lomel", "Felipe Arizmendi", "Africa", "Samuel Ruiz", "Democratic Republic of the Congo" ]	# Indigenous Catholics hope the next pope shares Francis' approach to Native people By María Verza May 5th, 2025, 07:01 AM --- SIMOJOVEL, Mexico (AP) — At a recent service in the remote southern Mexican community of Simojovel, Catholic and Mayan symbolism mingled at the altar as the deacon — his wife beside him — read the gospel in his native Tsotsil and recalled Pope Francis' teachings: work together for human rights, justice and Mother Earth. The scene in the small church in Mexico's poorest state, Chiapas, conveyed much of the message Francis delivered during his 2016 trip to the region and his other visits to far-flung locales, including the Amazon, Congo and the jungles of Papua New Guinea. It also illustrated what the world's Indigenous Catholics don't want to lose with the death of the first pontiff from the Southern Hemisphere: their relatively newfound voice in an institution that once debated whether "Indians" had souls while backing European powers as they plundered the Americas and Africa. "We ask God that the work (Francis) did for us not be in vain," Deacon Juan Pérez Gómez told his small congregation. "We ask you to choose a new pope, a new servant, who hopefully Lord thinks the same way." ## Empowering Indigenous believers Francis was the first Latin American pope and the first from the order of the Jesuits, who are known for, among other things, their frontline work with society's most marginalized groups. Although some feel Francis could have done more for their people during his 12 years as pontiff, Indigenous Catholics widely praise him for championing their causes, asking forgiveness for the church's historical wrongs, and allowing them to incorporate aspects of their Native cultures into practicing their faith. Among the places where his death has hit particularly hard are the lowlands of the Bolivian Amazon, which was home to Jesuit missions centuries ago that Francis praised for bringing Christianity and European-style education and economic organization to Indigenous people in a more humane way. Marcial Fabricano, a 73-year-old leader of the Indigenous Mojeño people, remembers crying during Francis' 2015 visit to Bolivia when the pope sought forgiveness for crimes the church committed against Indigenous people during the colonial-era conquest of the Americas. Before the visit, his and other Indigenous groups sent Francis a message asking him to push the authorities to respect them. "I believe that Pope Francis read our message and it moved him," he said. "We are the last bastion of the missions. … We can't be ignored." That South American tour came shortly after the publication of one of Francis' most important encyclicals in which he called for a revolution to fix a "structurally perverse" global economic system that allows the rich to exploit the poor and turns the Earth into "immense pile of filth." He also encouraged the church to support movements defending the territory of marginalized people and financing their initiatives. "For the first time, (a pope) felt like us, thought like us and was our great ally," said Anitalia Pijachi Kuyuedo, a Colombian member of the Okaira-Muina Murui people who participated in the 2019 Amazon Synod in Rome, where Francis showed interest in everything related to the Amazon, including the roles of women. Pijachi Kuyuendo, 45, said she hopes the next pope also works closely with Native people. "With his death, we face huge challenges." ## A wider path for the church Pérez Gómez, 57, is able to help tend to his small Tsotsil Catholic community in Mexico because the church restarted a deaconship program under Francis. Facing a priest shortage in the 1960s, the church pushed the idea of deacons — married men who can perform some priestly rituals, such as baptisms, but not others, such as conducting Mass and hearing confession. Samuel Ruiz, who spent four decades as bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas trying to improve the lives of Chiapas' Indigenous people, saw deaconships as a way to promote the faith among them and form what he called a "Native church." The deaconship initiative was such a hit in Ruiz's diocese, though, that the Vatican halted it there in 2002, worried that Ruiz was using it as a step toward allowing married priests and female deacons. The halt was lifted in 2014. Pérez Gómez, who waited 20 years before he was finally ordained a deacon in 2022, said he was inspired by Ruiz's vision for a "Native church." He said Francis reminded him of Ruiz, who died in 2011 and whom he credits with explaining the church's true purpose to him as "liberator and evangelizer." "Francis also talked about liberation," Pérez Gómez said, adding that he hopes the next pope shares that view. ## New ways to celebrate Mass It had been a half-century since the Vatican allowed Mass to be held in languages other than Latin when Francis visited Chiapas in 2016 and went a step further. During a Mass that was the highlight of his visit, the Lord's Prayer was sung in Tsotsil, readings were conducted in two other Mayan languages, Tseltal and Ch'ol, congregants danced while praying and Indigenous women stood at the altar. Chiapas was a politically sensitive choice for the Pope's visit, which wasn't easily negotiated with the Vatican or Mexican government, according to Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, who was then bishop of San Cristobal. In 1994, it saw an armed uprising by the Zapatistas, who demanded rights for Indigenous peoples. Getting the Vatican to allow Mayan rituals in the Mass was also tricky, but Arizmendi recalled that there was a helpful precedent: Congo. In 1988, the Vatican approved the first cultural innovation in a Mass, the so-called Zaire rite, which is a source of national pride and continental inclusion, said the Rev. Abbé Paul Agustin Madimba, a priest in Kinshasa. "It shows the value the church gives Africans." Francis cited the Zaire rite, which allowed some local music and dance to be incorporated into Mass, to argue for such accommodations with other Indigenous Catholics around the world. The decision was made not only to expand Catholicism, which is in retreat in many places, "but also a theological act of deep listening and conversion, where the church recognizes that it is not the owner of cultural truth, but rather servant of the gospel for each people," said Arturo Lomelí, a Mexican social anthropologist. It was the Vatican's way to see Indigenous rituals not as "threats, but rather as legitimate ways to express and live the faith," he said. ## 'No longer objects' On the Saturday after Francis' death, Pérez Gómez stopped by a church in the town near his village to pick up the Communion wafers he would give out during his service the next day. Because he's a deacon, he needs a priest to consecrate them for him ahead of time. He and his wife, Crecencia López, don't know who the next pope will be, but they hope he's someone who shares Francis' respect for Indigenous people. And they smile at the thought that perhaps one day, he could become a priest and she a deacon. "We are no longer objects, but rather people" and that is thanks to God and his envoys, "jtatik Samuel (Ruiz)" and "jtatik Francis," Pérez Gómez said, using a paternal term of great respect in Tseltal. ___ Associated Press writers Carlos Valdez in La Paz, Bolivia, Fabiano Maisonnave in Brasilia, Brazil, and Jen-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-03 14:35:49+00:00	[ "Yemen", "Donald Trump", "Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak", "Saleh Bin Braik", "Salem Saleh Bin Braik", "Ahmed Nagi", "Politics", "Rashad al-Alimi", "Houthis", "War and unrest", "Yemen government", "Rebellions and uprisings", "Egypt government", "United States Congress", "Humanitarian crises", "United States government" ]	# Yemen's internationally recognized prime minister resigns over a political dispute By Samy Magdy May 3rd, 2025, 02:35 PM --- CAIRO (AP) — The prime minister of Yemen 's internationally recognized government said Saturday he was resigning due to political struggles, underscoring the fragility of an alliance fighting Houthi rebels in the Arab world's most impoverished country. Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak announced the decision in a post on social media, attaching a resignation letter directed to Rashad al-Alimi, head of the ruling presidential council. The internationally recognized government is based in the southern city of Aden. Bin Mubarak, named prime minister in February 2024, said he was resigning because he was unable to take "necessary decisions to reform the state institution, and execute the necessary Cabinet reshuffle." Within hours of the announcement, the presidential council named Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik as prime minister, according to the state-run SABA news agency. The council also named Bin Mubarak as an advisor to the ruling body, without addressing his claims. Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said Bin Mubarak's resignation capped months of simmering tensions between the prime minister and the ruling council over the mandate of each party. He said Bin Bubarak was in part a scapegoat for the government's failure to address the towering economic challenges in the government-held areas, including soaring prices and repeated power outages. Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, when Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition intervened months later and has been battling the rebels since 2015 to try and restore the government. The war has turned into a stalemated proxy conflict. The seven-member presidential council was appointed in 2022 with the aim of unifying the anti-Houthi block, but has since been divided into two main blocs. One is loyal to council member Aydarous al-Zubaidi, who chairs the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, an umbrella group of heavily armed militias propped up by the United Arab Emirates since 2015. The second is loyal to Saudi Arabia and includes al-Alimi and Sheikh Sultan al-Aradah, the powerful governor of energy-rich Marib province. Bin Mubarak's resignation came as the United States has increased its attacks on the Houthis in Yemen. The U.S. military has launched nearly daily strikes in Houthi-held areas since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign against the rebels. The war has devastated Yemen and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. More than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed.
Associated Press News	2025-05-18 05:00:06+00:00	[ "Portugal", "Portugal government", "Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa", "Global elections", "Pedro Nuno Santos", "Elections", "Andre Ventura", "European Union", "Politics", "Voting", "Business", "Scandals" ]	# Portugal's election brings another minority government and a far-right rise By Barry Hatton May 18th, 2025, 05:00 AM --- LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal's president was due to convene the country's political parties for consultations on Monday, after a general election delivered another minority government as well as a strong showing by populist party Chega (Enough) that added momentum to Europe's shift to the far-right. The center-right Democratic Alliance, led by the Social Democratic Party, captured 89 seats in the 230-seat National Assembly to win Sunday's ballot. The outcome leaves it without a parliamentary majority, however, and vulnerable to opposition parties that ousted it two months ago in a confidence vote after less than a year in power. Portugal's third general election in three years provided little hope for ending the worst spell of political instability for decades in the European Union country of 10.6 million people. "The Portuguese don't want any more early elections," Luis Montenegro, the Democratic Alliance leader and incoming prime minister, said late Sunday in an appeal for opposition parties to let him serve a full four-year term. "We all have to be able to speak to each other and put the national interest first," he said. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has no executive power, is due to consult parties before inviting the election winner to form a government. ## Chega upsets Portugal's power dynamics Chega's result shook up the traditional balance of power in a trend already witnessed elsewhere in Europe with parties such as France's National Rally, the Brothers of Italy, and Alternative for Germany, which are now in the political mainstream. Chega leader Andre Ventura has appeared at events with the leaders of those parties in recent years. For the past 50 years, the Social Democrats and the center-left Socialist Party have alternated in power in Portugal. Chega collected the same number of seats as the Socialists — 58 — and could yet claim second place when four remaining seats decided by voters abroad are attributed in coming days. "The two-party system is over," Ventura, a lawyer and former soccer pundit, said. Chega competed in its first election just six years ago, when it won one seat, and has fed off disaffection with the more moderate traditional parties. Campaigning under the slogan "Save Portugal," it describes itself as a nationalist party and has focused on curbing immigration and cracking down on corruption. The Socialists, meanwhile, are without a leader after Pedro Nuno Santos said he was standing down after the party's worst result since 1987. The Democratic Alliance, which also includes the smaller Popular Party, lost a confidence vote in parliament in March as opposition lawmakers teamed up against it. That triggered an early election, which had been due in 2028. The confidence vote was sparked by a political storm around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's family law firm. Montenegro has denied any wrongdoing. Corruption scandals have dogged Portuguese politics in recent years, helping fuel the rise of Chega. But the party has recently fallen foul of its own lawmakers' alleged wrongdoing. One is suspected of stealing suitcases from the Lisbon airport and selling the contents online, and another allegedly faked the signature of a dead woman. Both resigned. ## Immigration and housing concern voters Chega owes much of its success to its demands for a tighter immigration policy that have resonated with voters. Portugal has witnessed a steep rise in immigration. In 2018, there were fewer than a half-million legal immigrants in the country, according to government statistics. By early this year, there were more than 1.5 million, many of them Brazilians and Asians working in tourism and farming. Thousands more lack the proper documents to be in Portugal. The Democratic Alliance government announced two weeks before the election that it was expelling about 18,000 foreigners living in the country without authorization. Though such a step is routine, the timing drew accusations that it was trying to capture votes from Chega. A housing crisis has also fired up debate. House prices and rents have been soaring for the past 10 years, due in part to an influx of white-collar foreigners who have driven up prices. House prices jumped another 9% last year, said the National Statistics Institute, a government body. Rents in and around the capital Lisbon, where around 1.5 million people live, last year saw the steepest rise in 30 years, climbing more than 7%, the institute said. The problem is compounded by Portugal being one of Western Europe's poorest countries. The average monthly salary last year was around 1,200 euros ($1,340) before tax, according to the statistics agency. The government-set minimum wage this year is 870 euros ($974) a month before tax.
Associated Press News	2025-05-12 19:49:44+00:00	[ "Middle East", "2024-2025 Mideast Wars", "Israel government", "Hostage situations", "Donald Trump", "Edan Alexander", "Hamas" ]	# Photos of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander released by Hamas May 12th, 2025, 07:49 PM --- DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Monday released an Israeli-American soldier who had been held hostage in Gaza for more than 19 months, offering a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that 21-year-old Edan Alexander was turned over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces, and had crossed into Israeli territory. Wearing shirts emblazoned with his name, Alexander's extended family gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the release. They chanted his name when the military said he was free. In Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, hundreds of people broke out into cheers. In Alexander's hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, hundreds of supporters packed the streets, holding signs with his image and listening to speakers blasting Israeli music. As they watched the news of his release on a large screen, the crowd hugged and waved Israeli flags. Since he was taken hostage, supporters there gathered every Friday to march for the release of remaining hostages. This is a photo gallery curated by Associated Press photo editors.
Associated Press News	2025-05-09 05:04:31+00:00	[ "Pedro Sanchez", "Spain", "Spain government", "Europe", "Energy industry", "Power outages", "Renewable energy", "Nuclear power", "Ignacio Araluce", "Pedro Fresco", "Climate change", "Gilles Thonet", "Technology", "Sara Aagesen", "Climate and environment", "Climate" ]	# After Spain's blackout, questions about renewable energy are back By Suman Naishadham May 9th, 2025, 05:04 AM --- MADRID (AP) — The massive power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula on April 28 has reignited a debate in Spain over the country's plan to phase out its nuclear reactors as it generates more power with renewable energy. As people wait for answers about what caused the historic power cut, which abruptly disrupted tens of millions of lives, some are questioning the wisdom of decommissioning nuclear reactors that provide a stable, if controversial, form of energy compared to renewables, whose output can be intermittent. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has rejected such criticism, asking for patience while the government investigates what caused the grid's disconnection. He said that his government would not "deviate a single millimeter" from its energy transition plans. Here's what to know about the energy debate: ## What is nuclear power and why is it controversial? Nuclear power is a zero-carbon energy source formed from nuclear fission, when the nuclei of atoms are split into two or several parts, releasing energy. It accounts for about 10% of electricity generation worldwide, according to the International Energy Association. Many countries consider nuclear power critical to reaching their net-zero goals. But while nuclear reactors do not emit planet-warming greenhouse gases like gas- or coal-fired power plants, they produce radioactive waste that even advanced economies have struggled to dispose. ## Why does Spain want to decommission its nuclear reactors? Spain generated nearly 57% of its electricity in 2024 from renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower and solar, according to Red Eléctrica, the country's grid operator. About 20% came from nuclear power plants. In 2019, Sánchez's government approved a plan to decommission the country's remaining nuclear reactors between 2027 and 2035 as it expands its share of renewable energy even further. The country aims to generate 81% of its electricity by 2030 from renewable sources. Sánchez on Wednesday said that the four nuclear facilities that were online the day of the blackout did not help re-power the grid. Batteries and other methods help regulate changes in electricity supply from wind and solar. ## Why is Spain's renewables push being questioned now? While the cause of the sudden outage on April 28 is still unknown, the event has raised questions about the technical challenges facing electricity grids running on high levels of solar and wind. Solar and wind provided roughly 70% of the electricity on the grid moments before Spain lost 15 gigawatts of electricity — about 60% of its supply — in just five seconds. Electricity grids were designed for a different era, according to Gilles Thonet, deputy secretary general of the International Electrotechnical Commission, an industry group. "Traditionally, power flowed in one direction: from large coal, gas or nuclear plants to homes and businesses," Thonet said. "These plants provided not only electricity, but also stability. Their spinning turbines acted like shock absorbers, smoothing out fluctuations in supply and demand." In the days following the blackout, Google searches in Spain for "nuclear" spiked, according to data from Google Trends. Spain's nuclear lobby group Foro Nuclear said this week that the government should rethink its plan to decommission its nuclear reactors after the outage. Ignacio Araluce, its president, said the nuclear plants online before the outage "provide firmness and stability." ## Would more nuclear power have prevented a blackout? Others say it is too soon to draw conclusions about what role nuclear energy should play. "We do not know the cause of the oscillations," said Pedro Fresco, director general of Avaesen, an association of renewable energy and clean technology firms in Valencia. "Therefore, we do not know what would have allowed them to be controlled." Spain's grid operator last week narrowed down the source of the outage to two separate incidents in which substations in southwestern Spain failed. Environment Minister Sara Aagesen said earlier this week that the grid had initially withstood another power generation outage in southern Spain 19 seconds before the blackout. Sánchez in his speech to Parliament said there was "no empirical evidence" to show that more nuclear power on the grid could have prevented a blackout or allowed the country to get back online faster. In fact, the four nuclear facilities online on April 28 before the blackout were taken offline after the outage as part of emergency protocol to avoid overheating. He said that nuclear energy "has not been shown to be an effective solution in situations like what we experienced on April 28," and called the debate surrounding his government's nuclear phase-out plan "a gigantic manipulation." Gas and hydropower, as well as electricity transfers from Morocco and France, were used to get the country's grid back online.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 12:42:44+00:00	[ "China", "Retail and wholesale", "John David", "Government policy", "Economic policy", "International trade", "San Francisco", "Cars", "Tariffs and global trade", "Business", "Lydia Boussour", "China government", "Hospitality and leisure industry" ]	# Retail sales slow in April after a spending splurge as Americans sought to front-run tariffs By Christopher Rugaber and Anne D'Innocenzio May 15th, 2025, 12:42 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumers spent slightly more at retail stores last month after ramping up their shopping in March to get ahead of tariffs. Sales at retail stores and restaurants rose just 0.1% in April from March, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That is much lower than the previous month's 1.7% gain, which reflected a surge in car sales as consumers accelerated purchases ahead of President Trump's 25% duty on auto imports that went into effect this month. Last month's tiny increase after the March surge makes it harder to get a clear read on consumer spending trends and reflects the ongoing turmoil and uncertainty in the economy in the wake of Trump's stop-and-go tariff policies. Many publicly-traded companies have withdrawn or held off on the traditional practice of forecasting their revenues and earnings for the rest of this year because the economic landscape has become so chaotic. Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly gloomy about the economy's prospects, according to sentiment surveys, but it's not yet evident whether that will translate into reduced spending and slower economic growth. Yet many economists expect consumers will slow their spending in the coming months, as Trump's tariffs — including 10% duties on all imports — work their way through the supply chain to products on store shelves. Thursday's report "suggests that consumers pulled back after a rush to front-run tariffs," Lydia Boussour, senior economist at consulting firm EY-Parthenon, said in an email. "Looking ahead, consumers will continue to be more selective and cautious with their spending as inflation reaccelerates and interest rates remain elevated." All told, average U.S. tariffs are now roughly 15%, economists estimate, the highest since the 1930s, and likely to push up prices in the coming months. Those price hikes have already begun to appear. Increased prices began to show up on Walmart shelves in late April and then accelerated this month, but shoppers will feel the biggest impact starting in June and July when the back-to-school shopping season kicks in, said Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told The Associated Press. On a call to discuss quarterly earnings Thursday, CEO said that Walmart would do the best it could to keep prices low, "But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins." In April, sales were flat or down for many retailers, the government said: They plunged 2.5% at sporting goods stores, which saw prices jump last month, according to the government's inflation report earlier this week. Sales dropped 0.4% at clothing stores, while they ticked down 0.2% at health and personal care stores and slipped 0.1% at auto dealers. Gas station sales dropped 0.5%, even as prices declined 0.1%. The figures aren't adjusted for price changes. Still, there were signs that at least some Americans were willing to spend. Sales at restaurants and bars jumped a healthy 1.2% last month, a sign many consumers boosted their discretionary spending. And sales at home and garden centers jumped 0.8%, the biggest gain since 2022, which suggests Americans are pursuing more home renovations as elevated mortgage rates cooled home sales. Trump imposed sky-high tariffs on imports from China last month that fueled fears of a recession, higher inflation, and even the specter of empty shelves by the winter holidays. But on Monday the U.S. and China announced a deal that sharply reduced the duties, partly assuaging those concerns. Retailers still face a lot of uncertainty around tariffs and how shoppers will react to higher prices after several years of sharply rising costs. A government report, released Tuesday, showed that inflation cooled for the third straight month in April, though economists and many business owners expect inflation will climb by this summer. Trump had imposed massive 145% import taxes on Chinese goods last month, thought they were reduced to 30% for the next 90 days. China reduced its retaliatory duties to 10% from 125%. Retailers and importers had largely stopped shipping shoes, clothes, toys, and other items when the duties were so high, raising worries about empty shelves for the key back-to-school and holiday seasons. But many are now scrambling to resume shipping their goods from China while there is a pause in the trade war. While many retailers and suppliers are relieved with the reduced tariffs, they still face a lot of hurdles. For one, they're bracing for higher costs for shipping and freight as competition heats up to get their goods on shipping containers. San Francisco resident Elenor Mak, whose company Jilly Bing manufactures Asian American dolls in China, said she feels some relief that she has a more realistic path forward but the challenges are far from over. Mak is talking to her factories to see whether her dolls can be produced in time for the winter holidays, but she fears she will be at the back of the production line because she is a small business. She also is unsure about how to price her goods and said she is bracing for cost increases across the board, from third-party testing fees to freight costs. Before the tariff wars, her dolls had an average selling price of $68. She worries about sending confusing messages to shoppers: "How do you explain: 'We weren't going to restock—but now we might—and it could cost 30% more?'" she asked. "We're doing our best to plan, but we're still navigating a lot of unknowns." _____ D'Innocenzio reported from New York City.
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 20:35:36+00:00	[ "Pope Leo XIV", "Pope Francis", "Vatican City", "Social media", "Catholic Church", "Papal conclave", "Religion", "Pope Benedict XVI", "Donald Trump", "Technology", "JD Vance" ]	# Pope Leo XIV is back on social media, with a message of peace May 13th, 2025, 08:35 PM --- VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has taken over the Vatican's official social media handles, with a first Instagram post on Tuesday repeating the first words he said to the world as pope: "Peace be with you all!" The @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV post featured some of the photos that have documented the first days of history's first American pope. The Vatican said it was archiving the posts from Pope Francis ' 12-year papacy. On X, the new account didn't appear to be active Tuesday. The Vatican launched the @Pontifex handle in 2012 during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. It now comes in nine languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic, and Latin -- and counts a combined 52 million followers. Past popes didn't actually send the posts, which were curated by the Vatican. The former Cardinal Robert Prevost occasionally posted on X in an account started in 2011. It had been dormant since July 2023 but came back to life earlier this year to share criticism of Trump administration migration policies and comments by Vice President JD Vance. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 04:01:32+00:00	[ "Mike VanBlaricum", "Books and literature", "JWD-evergreen", "Lifestyle", "Henry Chancellor", "Fiction", "Soviet Union", "Entertainment", "Andrew F. Gulli", "London", "Business", "Nicholas Shakespeare", "Celebrity", "Ian Fleming" ]	# Rare Ian Fleming story features a Londoner named Bone, Caffery Bone By Hillel Italie May 14th, 2025, 04:01 AM --- NEW YORK (AP) — "James Bond" creator Ian Fleming didn't need to write about Cold War intrigue to consider the ways people scheme against each other. "The Shameful Dream," a rare Fleming work published this week, is a short story about a Londoner named Bone, Caffery Bone. Fleming's protagonist is the literary editor of Our World, a periodical "designed to bring power and social advancement to Lord Ower," its owner. Bone has been summoned to spend Saturday evening with Lord and Lady Ower, transported to them in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce. Bone suspects, with a feeling of "inevitable doom," that he is to meet the same fate of so many employed by Lord Ower — removed from his job and soon forgotten. "For Lord Ower sacked everyone sooner or later, harshly if they belonged to no union or with a fat check if they did and were in a position to hit back," Fleming writes. "If one worked for Lord Ower one was expendable and one just spent oneself until one had gone over the cliff edge and disappeared beneath the waves with a fat splash." "The Shameful Dream" appears in this week's Strand Magazine along with another obscure work from a master of intrigue, Graham Greene's "Reading at Night," a brief ghost story in which the contents of a paperback anthology become frighteningly real. Greene scholars believe that the author of "Our Man in Havana," "The End of the Affair" and other classics dashed off "Reading at Night" in the early 1960s when he found himself struggling to write a longer narrative. Strand Magazine is a quarterly publication that has run little-known works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and many others. Managing editor Andrew F. Gulli noted that the current issue was Strand's 75th and that he "thought it would be interesting for fans to read stories by these two midcentury literary icons side by side — writers whose approaches to the genre were markedly distinct: Greene, with his moral ambiguity and spiritual tension; and Fleming, with his glamorous take on espionage." Fleming, best known for such Bond thrillers as "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love," had a career in journalism spanning from the 1930s to the early 1960s, when he was well established as an author. For Reuters in the '30s, he wrote obituaries, covered auto racing in Austria and a Stalin show trial in the Soviet Union. After World War II, he served as foreign manager for the Kemsley newspaper group, a subsidiary of The Sunday Times. Fleming died of a heart attack in 1964, at age 56. Mike VanBlaricum, president of the Ian Fleming Foundation, says that Fleming was clearly drawing upon his own background for "The Shameful Dream." But biographers disagree over when Fleming wrote it. According to Nicholas Shakespeare's "Ian Fleming: The Complete Man," Fleming worked on the story in the early 1950s, based Lord Ower on his boss, Lord Kemsley, and based Bone upon himself. Lord Ower is sometimes referred to as "O," anticipating the spy chief "M" of the Bond novels. In "James Bond: The Man and His World," author Henry Chancellor theorizes that Fleming wrote the story in 1961, and may have been inspired by a dispute with Daily Express owner Lord Beaverbrook over rights to a James Bond comic strip. VanBlaricum speculates that Fleming wrote it in 1951, citing the author's reference to a Sheerline saloon, a luxury car that the UK stopped producing in the mid-1950s. "It is unlikely that Fleming would have used a decade-old car if the story were written in 1961," he says. "In either event, 'The Shameful Dream' was never published. It has been stated that Lord Ower too closely resembled Lord Kemsley." ___ The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Mike VanBlaricum's last name.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 13:09:12+00:00	[ "Television", "Judy Blume", "The Game", "Oprah Winfrey", "Michael Cooper", "Lamman Rucker", "Zendaya", "Entertainment", "Keith David", "Lynn Whitfield", "Los Angeles" ]	# Lovie Simone leads new series that adapts Judy Blume's 'Forever...' for TV By Alicia Rancilio May 5th, 2025, 01:09 PM --- While cutting together scenes for the new series "Forever," Mara Brock Akil, who has created shows like "Girlfriends," "Being Mary Jane," and "The Game," recalls asking her video editor to pause for a moment. Was there a problem? No. Akil was watching someone very right: the show's female lead, Lovie Simone. "I was like, 'Oh my God, not only is this girl beautiful, she's acting her (expletive) off," Akil said. It was a privilege to know that "something that I wrote is aligned with her moment." The title "Forever" may sound familiar because it shares a name with the Judy Blume novel first published in 1965, but frequently challenged by critics because it includes teen sexuality. This version is also a coming-of-age story but takes place in 2018 and 2019 instead of the 1960s, and the couple at the center of the story is Black. The series debuts Thursday on Netflix. "I think it does a good job at mimicking the energy and the intention of the book," said Simone who had not read "Forever..." prior to this job. The protagonists, Keisha and Justin (played by Simone and newcomer Michael Cooper Jr.), meet at a New Year's party, like in the book. The two knew one another as kids, but it's been years since they've seen each other, and now there are romantic sparks. Simone says that while yes, the show is about young romance and firsts, there's plenty of character development too. "It was like, 'Wow, I am the love interest, AND I have a story to tell while being the love.'" It's really nice to not just be the girlfriend," she said. Early on in filming, Simon and Cooper purposely kept their distance off screen to make their reacquaintance authentic. "In the beginning of the story, they hadn't talked in so long so, we didn't want to have too much rapport," she said. "We were like, 'OK. We're not gonna see each other too much ... We still kind of want to be strangers a little bit." Keisha is also grappling with betrayal by her ex-boyfriend who shared an intimate video of her that was seen by other students. She transferred schools to escape the bullying. Keisha is determined to be perfect in all things to get into Howard University and make her mother proud. That pressure to live up to high standards is a familiar one for many teens and "we can all relate to those feelings and how they make us feel," said Simone. Set in Los Angeles, the show was filmed in real neighborhoods giving it authenticity. The characters shop in the Fairfax District. Keisha lives in Crenshaw, and Justin's family lives in Park-Windsor Hills, an affluent African American neighborhood. Simone wasn't familiar with LA prior to filming. She grew up in New York and now lives in Atlanta. "I don't know too much about LA culture. I know the stigmas around it, but I don't know LA culture, and coming here and falling in love with the true LA culture was so amazing," she said. Simone began acting around age 9 and remains the only actor in her family. She has a twin sister, Yuri, a musician who goes by Reiyo The Giant. Simone's original dream was to be like Selena, Miley, Keke and Zendaya. "I really wanted to be the girl on Disney Channel with the neon wand, tracing out the logo," Simone said, adding that as she got older, she felt a pull to more serious stories. Her first big opportunity was the role of rebellious teen Zora on the OWN drama "Greenleaf, " about the family behind a popular megachurch. After the first season as a recurring character, Simone was bumped up to series regular. "That was college for me. It was four years with all of these 'GOATS' like Oprah Winfrey, Lynn Whitfield, Keith David, Lamman Rucker. "I learned how to react with a sense of grounded-ness. I really want to always fool myself. I know that we are acting for audiences, but I work to fool myself, to make myself believe that I exited myself and a new person came in." The experience also raised the bar for Simone's career goals going forward. "Now I can have a bit more discernment with my future projects because I've worked with all of these living legends," she said. If by chance "Forever" gets a second season, Simone says she would love to see Keisha's next chapter, even in a time jump post-college. "I just wanna know more about Keisha. I fell in love with her."
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 16:52:05+00:00	[ "San Diego", "Jacqueline Ma", "California", "Assault", "Crime", "Prisons", "Legal proceedings", "Criminal punishment", "Education", "Sexual assault", "Child abuse", "Law enforcement" ]	# Former teacher of the year gets 30 years in California prison for sexually assaulting students May 13th, 2025, 04:52 PM --- SAN DIEGO (AP) — A onetime county teacher of the year at a Southern California elementary school has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting two young boys on campus. Jacqueline Ma, who taught at Lincoln Acres Elementary in National City near San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of a lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. She was arrested in March 2023 after the mother of one of the victims reported inappropriate messages she found between her son and Ma on a family tablet. Investigators learned that Ma had groomed the boy for more than a year before she sexually abused him when he was 12 years old, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. Investigators also discovered that she had groomed and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy in 2020. "This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible and her actions are despicable," District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement last week. "Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects and her 30-year sentence is appropriate." Ma had taught in the district since 2013 and had a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in education, both from UC San Diego, according to her teacher of the year profile in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The award was given for the 2022-23 academic year by the San Diego County Office of Education.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 20:19:47+00:00	[ "Apple", "Inc.", "Berkshire Hathaway", "Financial markets", "Financial services", "Business", "OPEC", "Warren Buffett" ]	# How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 5/5/2025 By The Associated Press May 5th, 2025, 08:19 PM --- Stocks closed lower on Wall Street, breaking a nine-day winning streak. Crude prices fell to a four-year low Monday after the OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations said it plans to increase output. The S&P 500 slid 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%. Drops in Big Tech stocks like Apple helped pull the Nasdaq composite down 0.7%. Berkshire Hathaway slumped after legendary investor Warren Buffett announced over the weekend that he would step down as CEO by the end of the year after six decades at the helm. On Monday: The S&P 500 fell 36.29 points, or 0.6%, to 5,650.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 98.60 points, or 0.2%, to 41,218.83. The Nasdaq composite fell 133.49 points, or 0.7%, to 17,844.24. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 16.48 points, or 0.8%, to 2,004.26. For the year: The S&P 500 is down 231.25 points, or 3.9%. The Dow is down 1,325.39 points, or 3.1%. The Nasdaq is down 1,466.55 or 7.6%. The Russell 2000 is down 225.90 points, or 10.1%.
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 05:48:21+00:00	[ "Keir Starmer", "Nigel Farage", "England", "Donald Trump", "Sarah Pochin", "United Kingdom", "Conservatism", "Northern Ireland", "Global elections", "Voting", "Elections", "Elon Musk", "Politics", "Business", "John Curtice", "Andrea Jenkyns", "Mike Amesbury", "Karen Shore", "Government programs" ]	# UK local election results: Reform party snatches Parliament seat from Labour By Jill Lawless May 2nd, 2025, 05:48 AM --- LONDON (AP) — The hard-right party Reform UK led by Nigel Farage snatched a seat in Parliament from the governing Labour Party and won hundreds of local council seats from the opposition Conservatives in elections that Farage hailed Friday as a turning point towards ending the two parties' political dominance. Reform's Sarah Pochin was declared winner of the seat of Runcorn and Helsby in northwest England by six votes after a recount, defeating Labour candidate Karen Shore by the narrowest of margins. It was a significant defeat for Labour, which easily won the district in last year's national election. The special election was held because Labour lawmaker Mike Amesbury was forced to quit after he was convicted of punching a constituent in a drunken rage. Farage said that "it's a very, very big moment indeed" that shows Reform can win against both Labour and the right-of-center opposition Conservatives. "This marks the end of two-party politics as we've known it for over a century," he said. The Runcorn victory gives Reform, which garnered about 14% of the vote in the 2024 national election, five of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, compared to 403 for Labour and 121 for the Conservatives. But Reform appears to have momentum. National polls now suggest its support equals or surpasses that of Labour and the Conservatives, and it hopes to displace the Conservatives as the country's main party on the right before the next national election, due by 2029. ## A rebuff to Labour The local elections held Thursday in many areas of England were a sobering rebuff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's center-left Labour government, 10 months after it was elected in a landslide. Farage's party is targeting working-class voters who once backed Labour. Starmer's popularity has plunged as his government struggles to kick-start a sluggish economy. The government has raised the minimum wage, strengthened workers' rights and pumped money into the state-funded health system — but also hiked employer taxes and cut welfare benefits. Starmer said that he understood why many voters are discontented. "My response is: We get it," he said. "I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see." ## A blow to the Conservatives The results were an even bigger blow to the Conservatives, whose voters switched to Reform in droves. Reform, which didn't exist when these areas last voted four years ago, won more than 600 seats in the elections for 1,600 seats on 23 local councils, mostly at the Tories' expense. Reform won control of several county-level local authorities, including previous Conservative strongholds Staffordshire and Lincolnshire in central England, Durham in the north and Farage's home county of Kent in the southeast. Farage told supporters that the Conservatives "are over, they are finished, they have literally been gutted in these counties." Reform candidate Andrea Jenkyns, a former Conservative lawmaker, was elected mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire region of east-central England, and Reform also took the mayoralty of neighboring Hull. Labour retained three other mayoralties and the Conservatives won one. The victories will bring pressure for Reform to deliver on transport, garbage collection, potholes and all the other unglamorous demands of everyday politics. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who could now face a party revolt, said voters, who ejected the party from power last year, "are still not yet ready to trust us." ## Fragmented politics The results give only a partial snapshot of voter sentiment. Many areas, including London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, didn't hold elections. Turnout for local polls is typically much lower than in a national election. And Reform isn't the only story. The centrist Liberal Democrats made big gains in south and southwest England by winning more affluent, socially liberal voters away from the Conservatives. Reform UK is the latest in a series of parties led by Farage, a veteran populist politician who was crucial in taking Britain out of the European Union through a 2016 referendum. He is a charismatic but divisive figure who has said that many migrants come to the U.K. from cultures "alien to ours." Reform blends Farage's long-standing political themes — strong borders, curbing immigration — with policies reminiscent of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Farage said that he plans "a DOGE for every county" in England, inspired by Elon Musk's contentious spending-slashing agency. University of Strathclyde political scientist John Curtice said that the results showed that politics in Britain, long dominated by the two big parties, has fragmented. "Reform is now posing a big threat to both Conservative and Labour," he told the BBC. As to whether two-party dominance will continue, "the question mark on that has just got three or four times bigger," Curtice said.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 14:44:15+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Joe Biden", "Lawsuits", "Executive orders", "Kentucky", "Courts", "District of Columbia", "DC Wire", "Politics", "Legal proceedings", "Business", "Karen Henderson", "National security", "Justin Walker", "United States government", "Michelle Childs", "Internal Revenue Service" ]	# Appeals court clears the way for Trump's anti-union order By Lindsay Whitehurst May 19th, 2025, 02:44 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees while a lawsuit plays out. The Friday ruling came after the Trump administration asked for an emergency pause on a judge's order blocking enforcement at roughly three dozen agencies and departments. A split three-judge panel in the nation's capital sided with government lawyers in a lawsuit filed by unions representing federal employees. The majority ruled on technical grounds, finding that the unions don't have the legal right to sue because the Trump administration has said it won't end any collective bargaining agreements while the case is being litigated. Judge Karen Henderson, appointed by Republican President George H.W. Bush, and Justin Walker, appointed by Trump, sided with the government, while Judge Michelle Childs, appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, dissented. The government says Trump needs the executive order so his administration can cut the federal workforce to ensure strong national security. The law requiring collective bargaining creates exemptions for work related to national security, as in agencies like the FBI. Union leaders argue the order is designed to facilitate mass firings and exact "political vengeance" against federal unions opposed to Trump's efforts to dramatically downsize the federal government. His order seeks to expand that exemption to exclude more workers than any other president has before. That's according to the National Treasury Employees Union, which is suing to block the order. The administration has filed in a Kentucky court to terminate the collective bargaining agreement for the Internal Revenue Service, where many workers are represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. They say their IRS members aren't doing national security work. Other union employees affected by the order include the Health and Human Services Department, the Energy Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Communications Commission.
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 03:27:09+00:00	[ "NVIDIA Corp.", "Financial markets", "China", "International trade", "Government policy", "Retail and wholesale", "Federal Reserve System", "Tariffs and global trade", "Economic policy", "Rick Gardner", "Business", "Advanced Micro Devices", "Inc.", "United Parcel Service", "American Eagle Outfitters", "Donald Trump", "General Motors Co.", "China government", "Alphabet" ]	# Stocks end mixed on Wall Street, holding on to most of the gains they made earlier in the week By Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga May 14th, 2025, 03:27 AM --- A choppy day of trading on Wall Street ended with a mixed finish for stock indexes Wednesday, as gains by several big technology stocks helped temper losses. The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% after wavering between small gains and losses much of the day. Most of the stocks in the index lost ground, but solid gains for several heavyweight technology companies like Nvidia helped counter a decline in health care and other sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.7%. Super Micro Computer surged 15.7% after signing a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabian data center company DataVolt. Advanced Micro Devices gained 4.7% after announcing a $6 billion stock buyback program. Nvidia rose 4.2% and Google parent Alphabet added 3.7%. Other big gainers included eToro Group, a retail trading platform for stocks and cryptocurrency. It rose 28.8% in its first day of trading. The market has been relatively steady since its surge on Monday, which came after the U.S. and China entered a 90-day pause in their trade war. The market gained some more ground on Tuesday after the government reported that inflation unexpectedly cooled across the country in April. Additional updates on inflation and retail sales are expected on Thursday. The benchmark S&P 500 index, which sits at the center many 401(k) accounts, has erased all its losses since President Donald Trump escalated his global trade war in early April. It has now also erased its losses for the year and is back to within 4.1% of its all-time high set in February. "The stock market's rally has legs, as the trade negotiation with China was seemingly the toughest one on the docket," said Rick Gardner, chief investment officer at RGA Investments. Trump has delayed a large swath of his most severe tariffs against America's trading partners, but some import taxes remain in place. Uncertainty over the path ahead continues to hang over businesses and consumers. The on-again-off-again nature of Trump's trade policy has left companies reluctant to make plans about investment and hiring and consumers nervous about spending. Businesses continue to trim or withdraw their financial forecasts as they face unpredictable trade policy and cautious consumers. American Eagle fell 6.4% after the retailer withdrew its financial outlook for the year citing "macro uncertainty." General Motors, UPS, Kraft Heinz and JetBlue are among the many companies representing a wide range of industries that have warned about the impact of tariffs and a weakening economy. More than 90% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported earnings for their latest quarter. The majority of companies have reported better-than-expected earnings, but forecasts for earnings growth during the current quarter have been broadly cut in half for companies in the index. The economy has already showed signs of slowing. It shrank 0.3% during the first quarter amid a surge of imports as businesses and consumers tried to stock up amid tariffs and policy uncertainty. Inflation remains a big concern. The latest data on consumer prices released Tuesday showed that tariffs haven't had much impact yet. But that could change as the impact of current tariffs make their way through supply chains and delayed tariffs potentially go into effect. Inflation has cooled to just above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, but the threat of higher prices on goods because of import taxes has heightened worries about inflation heating up. The U.S. on Thursday will release its April report for inflation at the wholesale level, which is what companies are paying for goods. Economists expect an easing of inflation there. The latest update Thursday for retail sales is expected to reflect a sharp drop to 0.2% in April from 1.4% the previous month. Retail giant Walmart will also report its latest financial results on Thursday and its financial forecasts will be closely watched. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.54% from 4.47% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which moves more closely with expectations for Fed action, rose to 4.06% from 4.00% late Tuesday. All told, the S&P 500 rose 6.03 points to 5,892.58. The Dow fell 89.37 points to 42,051.06, and the Nasdaq gained 136.72 points to 19,146.81. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Asia and were mixed in Europe.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 02:47:11+00:00	[ "Indigenous people", "India", "India government", "Climate change", "South Asia", "Sunita Muduli", "Climate and environment", "Associated Press", "Neha Saigal", "Purnima Sisa", "Climate" ]	# In India, Indigenous women and their 'dream maps' seek to protect lands from climate change By Sibi Arasu May 15th, 2025, 02:47 AM --- KORAPUT, India (AP) — At a small stream in India's eastern state of Odisha, Indigenous villagers catch eels and fish for a dinner celebrating an annual harvest festival. The bounty of communal farming, foraging and fishing marks the start of a new season. But the fish and other resources have been dwindling. "Nowadays, the rains come late, affecting our farming, leading to a decrease in production," said Sunita Muduli, a Paraja tribeswoman from Putpondi village. She stood on freshly tilled fields that would be sown again with millet before the increasingly unpredictable monsoon rains. The Indigenous Adivasis have lived in these villages for millennia. They continue traditional practices of farming millet and rice and foraging leaves and fruit from the forest to make plates, the local brew and more. With those practices under pressure from a changing climate, they are making their most significant effort yet to speak up for their community's needs, advocating for Indian authorities to protect and restore their lands as the nation of more than 1.4 billion people tries to adapt to a warming world. Women are leading the way. Muduli and others from 10 villages, with help from a local nongovernmental organization, have surveyed and mapped out resources that are dwindling and what needs restoring. Comparing state government data from the 1960s with their results, they found that common areas in many of their villages had shrunk by up to 25%. The women have created what are known as dream maps, showing their villages in their ideal states. The most prominent of their bright colors is green. Muduli and others plan to submit their maps and surveys to local government officials, the first step in requesting village development funds to preserve or restore their common areas. The women estimate that $2 million might be needed — an ambitious ask when India's poorer regions often struggle to secure and implement government projects. Still, the women believe they have a 50-50 chance of success. "We want to make sure these resources are available for our children," Muduli said. This is the first time that many of the women are formally leading an outward-facing community effort. They say it's giving them more confidence in speaking up about community needs. "Our forest contains an abundance of diverse resources. Unfortunately, rainfall has reduced, temperatures have risen and our forest cover has dwindled. However, once we acquire the rights we deserve, our priority will be to revitalize and flourish our forest," said Saita Dhangada Majhi of Pangan Pani village. They seek rights over their common lands that will require outsiders, including authorities, to seek villagers' permission to make any changes to them. India is among the world's most vulnerable countries to climate impacts. According to the 2025 Climate Risk Index, the country between 1993 and 2022 was subject to 400 extreme events — including floods, heat waves and cyclones — causing 80,000 deaths and economic losses nearing $180 billion. Odisha is one of India's poorest states and among the most vulnerable to climate impacts. A study by researchers from Odisha's Fakir Mohan University published in 2023 found that food production there had decreased by 40% in the last 50 years due to climate change. Most Indian farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture, with about half of all farmed land dependent on downpours. As the monsoons become more unpredictable, livelihoods are affected. India's Indigenous people feel those impacts the most as their traditions depend greatly on forests and natural produce, said Bidyut Bidyut Mohanty of the Odisha-based nonprofit Society for Promotion of Rural Education and Development. The organization helped the Odisha villages with the dream mapping process. Climate change is affecting "their very existence," Mohanty said, asserting that they have not contributed to the problem but are paying the price. The forest commons are "not only considered the lungs but are also a hidden kitchen for Indigenous communities," he said. The women's survey found that resources available a decade earlier had either dwindled or disappeared. In Muduli's village, the number of fruits such as mango, guava, java plum and Indian gooseberry had dropped drastically. Resources used to make traditional instruments and other items had become more rare. Climate experts said the Odisha project can be a model to be replicated across India and other nations. United Nations reports have said 80% of the world's biodiversity lies in regions controlled by Indigenous peoples. Women from marginalized and vulnerable communities are affected the most by climate change, and the Indigenous women of Odisha are an inspiration, said Neha Saigal, a gender and climate expert at Bengaluru-based Asar Social Impact Advisors who is familiar with the mapping project. "They are actually leading from the front," she said. Their work could be critical in deciding where India's efforts on climate change should be focused, Saigal added, noting that the country is working on a national adaptation plan. It is not clear whether the dream maps will become part of that plan. The women behind them say their project has given them formal understanding of what they and their communities have long known intuitively. They want to pass that on for generations to come. "Forest is our life," said Purnima Sisa of Badakichab village. "We have taken birth in this forest, and one day we will die in the forest. It is our life and livelihood." ___ Follow Sibi Arasu on X at @sibi123 ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Associated Press News	2025-05-10 04:15:16+00:00	[ "China", "Switzerland", "Donald Trump", "Scott Bessent", "Trump Media Technology Group", "Geneva", "China government", "International trade", "Switzerland government", "United States government", "United States", "Tariffs and global trade", "Business", "Politics", "Economy", "Karin Keller-Sutter" ]	# Tariff talks begin between US and Chinese officials in Geneva By Paul Wiseman, Didi Tang, and Jamey Keaten May 10th, 2025, 04:15 AM --- GENEVA (AP) — President Donald Trump said "great progress" was being made in ongoing U.S.-China talks over tariffs menacing the global economy, and even suggested a "total reset" was on the table as tariff negotiations are set to continue Sunday in Switzerland. No major breakthrough was announced in discussions that lasted over 10 hours between U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and a delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Still, Trump struck an upbeat tone. "A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner," the president wrote on his Truth Social platform. "We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!" He gave no further details, and officials at the White House also offered little information during and after the opening day of discussions. Trump's post followed an official telling The Associated Press that talks would continue Sunday. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, which could help stabilize world markets roiled by the U.S.-China standoff. They've been shrouded in secrecy, and neither side made comments to reporters as they left. In an editorial late Saturday, China's official Xinhua News Agency said the talks had come about "at the request of the U.S. side" — noting an earlier point of contention — and said China agreed to them "after taking full account of global expectations, national interests and appeals from U.S. businesses and consumers." "Whether the road ahead involves negotiation or confrontation, one thing is clear: China's determination to safeguard its development interests is unshakable, and its stance on maintaining the global economic and trade order remains unwavering," Xinhua said. "Talks should never be a pretext for continued coercion or extortion, and China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity," it added. Several convoys of black vehicles left the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, which hosted the talks aimed at de-escalating trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks took place. The opening day of negotiations were held in the sumptuous 18th-century "Villa Saladin" overlooking Lake Geneva. The former estate was bequeathed to the Swiss state in 1973, according to the Geneva government. Trump's assessment aside, prospects for a major breakthrough appeared dim when the talks opened. Still, there is hope that the two countries will scale back the massive taxes — tariffs — they have slapped on each other's goods, a move that would relieve world financial markets and companies on both sides of the Pacific Ocean that depend on U.S.-China trade. Trump last month raised U.S. tariffs on China to a combined 145%, and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125% levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the countries' boycotting each other's products, disrupting trade that last year topped $660 billion. And even before talks got underway, Trump suggested Friday that the U.S. could lower its tariffs on China, saying in a Truth Social post that " 80% Tariff seems right! Up to Scott.″ Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, noted it will be the first time He and Bessent have talked. She doubts the Geneva meeting will produce any substantive results. "The best scenario is for the two sides to agree to de-escalate on the ... tariffs at the same time," she said, adding even a small reduction would send a positive signal. "It cannot just be words." Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has aggressively used tariffs as his favorite economic weapon. He has, for example, imposed a 10% tax on imports from almost every country in the world. But the fight with China has been the most intense. His tariffs on China include a 20% charge meant to pressure Beijing into doing more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States. The remaining 125% involve a dispute that dates back to Trump's first term and comes atop tariffs he levied on China back then, which means the total tariffs on some Chinese goods can exceed 145%. During Trump's first term, the U.S. alleged that China uses unfair tactics to give itself an edge in advanced technologies such as quantum computing and driverless cars. These include forcing U.S. and other foreign companies to hand over trade secrets in exchange for access to the Chinese market; using government money to subsidize domestic tech firms; and outright theft of sensitive technologies. Those issues were never fully resolved. After nearly two years of negotiation, the United States and China reached a so-called Phase One agreement in January 2020. The U.S. agreed then not to go ahead with even higher tariffs on China, and Beijing agreed to buy more American products. The tough issues — such as China's subsidies — were left for future negotiations. But China didn't come through with the promised purchases, partly because COVID-19 disrupted global commerce just after the Phase One truce was announced. The fight over China's tech policy now resumes. Trump is also agitated by America's massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year. ## Trump slaps hefty tariffs on Switzerland In Switzerland Friday, Bessent and Greer also met with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. Trump last month suspended plans to slap hefty 31% tariffs on Swiss goods -- more than the 20% levies he plastered on exports from European Union. For now, he has reduced those taxes to 10% but could raise them again. The government in Bern is taking a cautious approach. But it has warned of the impact on crucial Swiss industries like watches, coffee capsules, cheese and chocolate. "An increase in trade tensions is not in Switzerland's interests. Countermeasures against U.S. tariff increases would entail costs for the Swiss economy, in particular by making imports from the USA more expensive," the government said last week, adding that the executive branch "is therefore not planning to impose any countermeasures at the present time." The government said Swiss exports to the United States on Saturday were subject to an additional 10% tariff, and another 21% beginning Wednesday. The United States is Switzerland's second-biggest trading partner after the EU – the 27-member-country bloc that nearly surrounds the wealthy Alpine country of more than 9 million. U.S.-Swiss trade in goods and services has quadrupled over the last two decades, the government said. The Swiss government said Switzerland abolished all industrial tariffs on Jan. 1 last year, meaning that 99% of all goods from the United States can be imported into Switzerland duty-free. ___ Wiseman and Tang reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 05:02:51+00:00	[ "Barack Obama", "Iran", "Benjamin Netanyahu", "Donald Trump", "Israel", "Joe Biden", "Israel government", "2024-2025 Mideast Wars", "Iran government", "Government programs", "Yoel Guzansky", "Politics", "Elections", "Humanitarian crises", "Nationalism", "Nuclear weapons" ]	# Netanyahu's campaign against Iran's nuclear program is muted with Trump in power By Tia Goldenberg May 2nd, 2025, 05:02 AM --- JERUSALEM (AP) — When the U.S. and Iran met for nuclear talks a decade ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against an emerging deal from the world's most public stages, including in a fiery speech to Congress seen as a direct challenge to the Obama administration as it was wrapping up the talks. Now, as the sides sit down to discuss a new deal, Netanyahu has fallen silent. Netanyahu sees an Iran with nuclear weapons as an existential threat to Israel, and he is just as wary of any new U.S. agreement with its archenemy that may not meet his standards. Yet he finds himself shackled with Donald Trump in the White House. Netanyahu is unwilling to publicly criticize a president who has shown broad support for Israel, whom he deems to be Israel's greatest friend, and who doesn't take well to criticism. He "can't do anything that goes against Trump. He's paralyzed," said Yoel Guzansky, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv-based think tank. Israel is in a position of power against Iran after a series of strategic achievements over the past 18 months in the wars that have shaken the Middle East. It thrashed Iran's allies in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and directly attacked Iran last year, neutralizing some of its key air defenses. Experts say Israel now has a window of opportunity for what could be an effective strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, with possibly less regional blowback. Yet Israel's leader was recently unable to galvanize Trump to prioritize a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities — which would likely hinge on U.S. military assistance to be successful. With the U.S. negotiating with Iran, Israel has little legitimacy to pursue a military option on its own. "Netanyahu is trapped," said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. "He was banking on Israel's position relative to Iran to improve under Trump. In practice, it's the opposite." ## Netanyahu hoped for alignment with Trump on Iran Netanyahu and his nationalist supporters hoped Trump's return to the White House would be advantageous because of his history of support for Israel. They thought that, under Trump, the U.S. might back a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. But Trump's approach to Iran — as well as on other issues, such as tariffs — has shown the relationship is more complicated, and that Trump's interests don't entirely align with Netanyahu's. Netanyahu has long accused Iran of developing a nuclear weapon and went on a global campaign against the Obama deal. He painted the nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel and the world, and said the agreement was too weak to contain it. Israel remains the Mideast's only nuclear-armed state, an advantage it would like to keep. With Netanyahu's strong encouragement, Trump backed out of the deal struck by Obama. And since returning to the White House, Trump has given Israel free rein in its war against Hamas in Gaza, been soft on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the territory and launched strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have attacked Israel since the start of the war. But now that the U.S. has returned to the negotiating table with Iran, Netanyahu would risk jeopardizing his good ties with the president if he were to publicly oppose one of his administration's key foreign policy initiatives. The last time Netanyahu crossed the temperamental Trump was when he congratulated Joe Biden for his election win in 2020. Trump was apparently offended by the perceived disloyalty, and their ties went into deep freeze. Israel is communicating to Washington its priorities for any deal. As part of that, it understood that should Israel choose to carry out a strike on Iran, it would likely be doing so alone — so long as negotiations were underway, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. ## Netanyahu is hoping for a strict deal on Iran's nuclear program In a speech in Jerusalem this week, Netanyahu said he had discussed his terms for a deal with Trump. He explained that it would need to dismantle all the infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program and that it should work to prevent Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering a bomb. "I said to President Trump that I hope that this is what the negotiators will do. We're in close contact with the United States. But I said one way or the other – Iran will not have nuclear weapons," he said. Netanyahu has said he would favor a strict diplomatic agreement similar to Libya's deal in 2003 to destroy its nuclear facilities and allow inspectors unfettered access. However, it is not clear if Trump will set such strict conditions — and Iran has rejected giving up its right to enrich. The Trump-led talks with Iran began earlier this month and have advanced to expert discussions over how to rein in Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from being able to obtain atomic weapons, should it choose to pursue them. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes, though some officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb. While Trump has said a military option remains on the table, and has moved military assets to the region, he says he prefers a diplomatic solution. Planned talks between Iran and the United States this weekend were postponed on Thursday. ## Netanyahu will also struggle to criticize a deal once one is clinched Since Trump scrapped the Obama-era agreement in 2018, Iran has ramped up its nuclear enrichment and increased its uranium stockpile. Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress against Obama's deal — at the invitation of Republicans — was made without consulting the White House. Obama did not attend. That was just one of many instances in which Netanyahu was seen as cozying up to Republicans, driving a wedge in what has traditionally been bipartisan support for Israel. That, coupled with Netanyahu's strained relationship with the Biden administration over Israel's conduct in Gaza, has meant that Netanyahu can't rely on Democratic allies to take up his cause. Still, Netanyahu would struggle to find any Republicans willing to publicly confront the president on this issue. And he himself will struggle to criticize a deal if one is clinched; instead, he might send surrogates like his far-right allies to do so, said Gilboa of Bar-Ilan University. But until then, Gilboa said, Netanyahu's best hope is that the talks fail. "That, for him, will be the best case scenario."
Associated Press News	2025-05-03 00:04:03+00:00	[ "Eric Adams", "New York City", "Donald Trump", "Protests and demonstrations", "Law enforcement", "United States government", "Immigration", "United States", "New York City Wire", "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement", "Palestinian territories government", "Arthur Ago", "Politics", "Education" ]	# NYPD shared a Palestinian protester's info with ICE. Now it's evidence in her deportation case By Jake Offenhartz May 3rd, 2025, 12:04 AM --- NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's police department provided federal immigration authorities with an internal record about a Palestinian woman who they arrested at a protest, which the Trump administration is now using as evidence in its bid to deport her, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. The report — shared by the NYPD in March — includes a summary of information in the department's files about Leqaa Kordia, a New Jersey resident who was arrested at a protest outside Columbia University last spring. It lists her home address, date of birth and an officer's two-sentence account of the arrest. Its distribution to federal authorities offers a glimpse into behind-the-scenes cooperation between the NYPD and the Trump administration, and raises questions about the city's compliance with sanctuary laws that prohibit police from assisting with immigration enforcement efforts. Kordia, 32, was among the earliest people jailed in President Donald Trump's crackdown on noncitizens who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. She was detained during a voluntary check-in with immigration officials in Newark, New Jersey, on March 13, then flown to an immigration jail in Texas. Her arrest was announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security the next day in a statement that cited an expired visa and her role in "pro-Hamas protests." It remains unclear how immigration authorities were able to learn about Kordia's presence at the protest near Columbia last April. At the demonstration, police cited Kordia with disorderly conduct. But the charge was dismissed weeks later and the case sealed. ## What NYPD shared with ICE City law generally prohibits police from sharing information about arrests with federal immigration officials, although there are exceptions for criminal investigations. On March 14, an NYPD officer generated a four-page report on Kordia and shared it with Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. In an emailed statement, an NYPD spokesperson said the department "received a request from a federal agency related to a criminal investigation and shared relevant information in accordance with our sanctuary city policies." "The NYPD does not participate in programs that are designed for visa revocation or any civil immigration matter," the statement added. The department declined to say what the investigation entailed. Inquiries to the DHS and ICE were not returned. Legal experts and civil liberties advocates said the document reflected a worrisome level of information-sharing between the city and the federal government, which has conflated criticism of Israel with support for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group. "The intention of the sanctuary laws is to protect against this kind of collusion and pretextual information sharing," said Meghna Philip, the director of special litigation at the Legal Aid Society. "It seems to be a clear violation of the law," Philip added, "and raises questions about what guardrails, if any, the NYPD has around sharing information with a federal government that is seeking to criminalize speech." ## A low-profile protester Kordia grew up in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and moved to New Jersey in 2016 with her mother, an American citizen. She studied English at a local exchange program, but let her student visa expire because she believed her application for permanent residency was sufficient to remain in the country legally, according to her attorneys. Kordia's case stood out among those ensnared by Trump's crackdown. She was not an outspoken activist and had not publicly criticized Israel, either in social media posts or newspaper op-eds. She maintained no social media presence and did not appear on any of the public lists maintained by pro-Israel groups that seek to identify people who participate in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Her name was not mentioned in news reports about the demonstrations. While the Trump administration identified her as a Columbia student, she has never been affiliated with the university and was not enrolled in any college when she joined a protest in 2024 outside Columbia. Her attorneys said she was peacefully voicing her dissent against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which they said has killed over 100 of her relatives. A spokesperson for the NYPD declined to say when they were first approached by federal authorities or whether the March 14 report was the first time they had shared information about Kordia's arrest record. ## Surveillance and interrogations Beginning in early March, attorneys for Kordia say federal agents began interrogating members of her family and her neighbors. They also subpoenaed records from her MoneyGram account and "established a trace on her WhatsApp messaging account," her attorneys said in a court filing. "The investigation revealed nothing except that Ms. Kordia sent a single payment to a Palestinian family member in 2022, which itself is protected First Amendment" rights, the filing states. At an April 3rd hearing, the federal government pointed to Kordia's prior arrest for protesting as a reason she should not be released. An immigration judge found no evidence she had acted violently at the protest and agreed to grant Kordia a $20,000 bond, which her family paid. The government has appealed that decision, keeping her detained for now. In a petition seeking her release, attorneys for Kordia, a devout Muslim, said she had been denied halal meals since arriving at the jail. As a result, she has lost 49 pounds (22 kilograms) and fainted in the shower, according to facility records shared with her attorneys. "The government's entire argument that Ms. Kordia is a danger to the United States rests on a single summons for her participation in a demonstration," Arthur Ago, her attorney, said. "The only reason she's confined right now is because of her political viewpoint." ## Mayoral cooperation New York City Mayor Eric Adams has criticized the city's sanctuary protections, but insisted his administration had been meticulous about following them. When asked by the AP last month if the NYPD could turn over information to ICE about a summons issued to a protester, the mayor stressed it could only do so if there was a criminal investigation. "We're not allowed to collaborate for civil enforcement, period," Adams said, "We have no record that this happened," Adams added at the time. On Friday, the mayor's office clarified that Adams had been referring to a different instance of a noncitizen who was sought by immigration authorities after being arrested by the NYPD at a protest.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 21:35:55+00:00	[ "James Duane Ortley", "Crime", "Minneapolis", "Automotive accidents", "Evan Ramon Denny", "Shootings", "Joseph Douglas Goodwin", "Homicide", "Indigenous people", "Gun violence", "Race and ethnicity", "Brian OHara", "Organized crime", "Race and Ethnicity" ]	# Bail is set at $2 million for a man charged with killing four people in Minneapolis By Steve Karnowski May 5th, 2025, 09:35 PM --- MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The father of one of four people killed in a mass shooting that shook the Native American community in Minneapolis said Monday that it will take a long time to heal. Les Robinson said his 28-year-old son, LeRas Francis Rainey, seemed happy when he and some friends went to see James Duane Ortley last Tuesday. But prosecutors allege that Ortley, 34, shot Rainey and four other people in a car, killing all but one of them, in what investigators believe was a gang-related attack that later led to a retaliatory killing. The charges against Ortley, of Minneapolis, were updated Monday to four counts of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ortley, who was wearing a green suicide-prevention suit, said little during a hearing in which his bail was set at $2 million. The judge scheduled his next hearing for June 25. His lawyer didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. Prosecutors allege that Ortley was in the vehicle with the five victims late Tuesday when he shot each in the head. Investigators believe someone else killed a fifth person about 13 hours later and a few blocks away. According to the criminal complaint, Ortley and members of his family are associated with the Native Mob gang, which operates in Minneapolis and other parts of Minnesota. Authorities identified the three who died at the scene of the first shooting as Evan Ramon Denny, 27, of St. Paul; Joseph Douglas Goodwin, 17, of Minneapolis; and Merelle Joan White, 20, of Red Lake. Rainey died at a hospital Thursday. A 20-year-old woman who was shot in the face survived and helped police identify Ortley as a suspect. Authorities have given no details of a possible motive. But they allege in the complaint that Ortley was a friend or associate of at least one or more of the victims, who were at a family friend's Minneapolis home on the night of the shootings before they left with plans to pick up Ortley. Robinson, of Minneapolis, told reporters he was there when his son and the others went out that night. He said his son "left the house real happy. Like he's going to go visit his friends, and told us he'll be home in a couple hours. Never came back." Robinson said he had heard nothing more solid than rumors about what led to the shootings. Officials say all of the victims were Native American. Robinson, a member of the Red Lake Nation, said there's "a lot of sorrow" now in the local Native community. "It's a lot of frustration and all that," he said. "It's just (going to) take a long time to heal this situation." Asked what justice would look like for Ortley, Robinson replied: "What he's going through now, I know he's never going to get out of there." After law enforcement arrested Ortley at a Minneapolis apartment Thursday, a search turned up a .380-caliber firearm that was concealed under a sweatshirt and hidden under a coffee table, the updated complaint said. The gun matched multiple bullets and shell casings found at the scene, it said. The medical examiner identified the victim of the second shooting as Tiago Antonio Gilbert, 34, of Minneapolis. Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Thursday it was "entirely probable" that Wednesday's shooting was revenge for the first. But investigators were still working Monday to determine a link.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 19:30:12+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Ann Telnaes", "Evan Gershkovich", "Vladimir Putin", "Pulitzer Prize Awards", "Shootings", "Afghanistan", "Sudan", "News media", "Attempted assassination of Donald Trump", "Middle East", "DC Wire", "Gun violence", "New York City Wire", "Moises Saman", "Business", "Leah Binkovitz", "Stacy Kranitz", "Kimi Yoshino", "Iraq government", "David Bauder", "Jessica Gallagher", "Lizzie Presser", "Animation and comics", "Matthieu Aikins", "Alissa Zhu", "Assassinations", "Chuck Stone", "Pain management", "Legislation", "Raj Mankad", "Abortion", "United States government", "Lisa Falkenberg", "Gaza Strip", "Entertainment", "Sharon Steinmann", "Politics", "Jeff Bezos", "Books and literature", "Alexandra Lange", "Journalism", "Doug Mills", "Mark Warren" ]	# Pulitzers for journalism awarded, including coverage of Trump shooting By David Bauder May 5th, 2025, 07:30 PM --- NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times won four Pulitzer Prizes and the New Yorker three on Monday for journalism in 2024 that touched on topics like the fentanyl crisis, the U.S. military and last summer's assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. The Pulitzers' prestigious public service medal went to ProPublica for the second straight year. Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo and Stacy Kranitz were honored for reporting on pregnant women who died after doctors delayed urgent care in states with strict abortion laws. The Washington Post won for "urgent and illuminating" breaking news coverage of the Trump assassination attempt. The Pulitzers honored Ann Telnaes, who quit the Post in January after the news outlet refused to run her editorial cartoon lampooning tech chiefs — including Post owner Jeff Bezos — cozying up to Trump. The Pulitzers praised her "fearlessness." The Pulitzers honored the best in journalism from 2024 in 15 categories, along with eight arts categories including books, music and theater. The public service winner receives a gold medal. All other winners receive $15,000. The New York Times showed its breadth with awards honoring reporting from Afghanistan, Sudan, Baltimore and Butler, Pennsylvania. Doug Mills won in breaking news photography for his pictures of the Trump assassination attempt, including one that captured a bullet in the air near the GOP candidate. The Times' Azam Ahmed and Christina Goldbaum and contributing writer Matthieu Aikins won an explanatory reporting prize for examining U.S. policy failures in Afghanistan. Declan Walsh and the Times' staff won for an investigation into the Sudan conflict. ## A big milestone for a new local news outlet The Times was also part of a collaboration with The Baltimore Banner, whose reporters Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme and Jessica Gallagher won in local reporting for stories on that city's fentanyl crisis and its disproportionate effect on Black men. The Banner was created three years ago, with several staffers who had left the Baltimore Sun. "This is a huge milestone for us," editor in chief Kimi Yoshino said in an interview. "I told the newsroom today that never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be here at this moment. It is a testament to the power of local news, the need for local news and what journalists can do when they focus on important stories in our community." The Banner created a statistical model that it shared with journalists in cities like Boston, Chicago and San Francisco for stories there, she said. Reuters won for its own investigative series on fentanyl, showing how lax regulation both inside and outside the United States makes the drug inexpensive and widely available. inewsource.org in San Diego was a finalist in the illustrated reporting and commentary category for its stories on fentanyl. The New Yorker's Mosab Abu Toha won for his commentaries on Gaza. The magazine also won for its "In the Dark" podcast about the killing of Iraqi civilians by the U.S. military and in feature photography for Moises Saman's pictures of the Sednaya prison in Syria. The Wall Street Journal won a Pulitzer for its reporting on Elon Musk, "including his turn to conservative politics, his use of legal and illegal drugs and his private conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin," the Pulitzer board said. The Journal was also a finalist for its "cool-headed" reporting on the plight of Evan Gershkovich, who was imprisoned in Russia. ## A special citation for a career covering civil rights The Pulitzers also gave a special citation to the late Chuck Stone for his work covering the civil rights movement. The pioneering journalist was the first Black columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News and founded the National Association of Black Journalists. Mark Warren of Esquire won the feature writing prize for his portrait of a Baptist pastor and small-town mayor who died by suicide after his secret online life was exposed by a right-wing news site. Alexandra Lange, a contributing writer for Bloomberg CityLab won an award in criticism for "graceful and genre-expanding" writing about public spaces for families. The Houston Chronicle Raj Mankad, Sharon Steinmann, Lisa Falkenberg and Leah Binkovitz won the Pulitzer in editorial writing for its series on dangerous train crossings. The Associated Press was a finalist in breaking news reporting for its own coverage of the Trump assassination attempt, and in investigative reporting for its partnership with PBS FRONTLINE and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland and at Arizona State University for stories documenting more than 1,000 deaths at the hands of police using methods of subduing people that were supposed to be non-lethal. ___ David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 04:16:08+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Chuck Grassley", "Rand Paul", "Marsha Blackburn", "Thom Tillis", "Elon Musk", "District of Columbia", "U.S. Republican Party", "United States Senate", "Washington", "U.S. Democratic Party", "DC Wire", "Lawsuits", "Kevin Flynn", "U.S. Department of Justice", "Jr.", "Richard Durbin", "Michael Romano", "Government and politics", "Timothy Hale-Cusanelli", "Conservatism", "Activism", "Voting", "Government appointments and nominations", "Matt Blunt", "Ed Martin", "Legal proceedings", "Phyllis Schlafly", "Riots", "Politics" ]	# Trump's pick for top prosecutor in DC is testing Republican loyalty By Michael Kunzelman, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Mary Clare Jalonick May 2nd, 2025, 04:16 AM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — Most of President Donald Trump's top nominees have sailed through the Senate with little resistance. His pick to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation's capital could be an exception. Ed Martin Jr., a conservative activist with modest legal experience who has defended rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is testing Republican party loyalties as a deadline approaches for the Senate to decide whether to extend or end his brief but tumultuous tenure as leader of the country's largest U.S. Attorney's office. Martin's nomination faces vocal opposition from hundreds of veterans of the office that he is leading on an interim basis. Democrats are trying to tie up his confirmation vote. And Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they need more time to review his record. There were signs of trouble at a Judiciary meeting on Thursday as Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said it was his understanding that committee chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was going to announce "that we are not going to move forward on the Martin nomination." Grassley demurred, saying he would wait to talk about Martin until the committee scheduled a vote. But he said he was still going through hundreds of questions that the committee had posed to Martin, adding that some of his staff "had more questions" and wanted to meet with him in person. It was hardly a ringing endorsement of Martin, who hasn't spent much time in courtrooms but has been a devoted loyalist to Trump. Within days of taking office in January, Martin fired or demoted veteran attorneys who prosecuted Trump supporters for storming the U.S. Capitol. Before his appointment, he represented and helped raise money for Capitol riot defendants. He frequently appeared on Russian state media to parrot Trump talking points. He even published coloring books glorifying Trump's tweets. Martin hasn't responded to several Associated Press interview requests since he took office in January, including this week. Martin recently told NBC Washington that he is confident that Trump made the "right decision" in nominating him. He has touted his office's work tackling violent crime. And he has told lawmakers that his opinions won't influence his office decisions. "We have to keep the streets safe AND fight for America on the world stage. Amazing work and I am blessed to serve Donald Trump in this way," Martin wrote in a Substack post. ## Democrats want a rare hearing on Martin's nomination Any vote on Martin's nomination is bound to be split along party lines. But first, Democrats are calling for a rare hearing where they can grill him. The Judiciary panel traditionally does not hold confirmation hearings for U.S. attorneys, relying on questionnaires instead. Even if the committee were to approve Martin's nomination, it would face obstacles on the Senate floor. California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff placed a hold on the nomination, meaning Republicans would have to spend several days of floor time to confirm him. U.S. attorneys are generally approved in groups by a quick voice vote. Schiff last month said Martin "has consistently undermined the independence and abused the power of the U.S. Attorney's office in D.C." since taking office. Martin has touted endorsements from leading conservative figures, including Elon Musk, Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr. Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, also have expressed support. Paul in a post on X said he's confident Martin will "work to clean up DC and fight against the left's lawless judicial tyranny. Proud to support him as U.S. Attorney!" His supporters have said his record fighting conservative causes makes him the right person to lead the office that critics have claimed unfairly treated Jan. 6 defendants and should have been more focused on bringing down street crime. Weeks into the job, he announced a "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative to bring more gun cases in federal court, where penalties are stiffer. But a least one Republican member of the committee appears to have reservations. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who has expressed some concerns about Martin's Jan. 6 comments, said Thursday that he will meet with Martin next week. ## An advocate for Capitol rioters now leads the office that prosecuted them Trump appointed Martin the same week in January that he issued mass pardons to supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago. It was a morale-destroying choice for prosecutors who spent four years building cases against over 1,500 riot defendants, the largest investigation in Justice Department history. Martin was a leading figure in Trump's "Stop the Steal" movement. He spoke at a rally in Washington on the eve of the riot. He also represented three Jan. 6 defendants, which he ranked among the top 10 cases of his legal career on his committee questionnaire. Former federal prosecutor Michael Romano, who was detailed to help supervise Jan. 6 prosecutions, returned to his home office in the Justice Department before Martin arrived. And yet Martin tried to demote Romano to an entry-level position along with other senior prosecutors who worked on Capitol riot cases. "He appeared not to realize that I didn't work for him," said Romano, who recently joined a private law firm. "It was a moment that made my eyes roll." Martin served on the board of the nonprofit Patriot Freedom Project, which reports raising over $2.5 million to support Jan. 6 defendants. Last year, he presented an award to a Capitol riot defendant, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who openly espoused white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and photographed himself sporting a Hitler mustache. He referred to Hale-Cusanelli as a friend who is "an extraordinary guy." Martin told committee members that he condemns Hale-Cusanelli's hateful comments as "abhorrent and deplorable." He claimed he didn't learn about them until after he presented him with the award during an event at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. But Martin alluded to the controversy when he interviewed Hale-Cusanelli before the awards ceremony. Martin accused prosecutors of leaking photos of Hale-Cusanelli sporting the Hitler mustache to taint the jury pool. "Not your best moment, but not illegal," Martin said. ## Martin is no stranger to political controversies Critics have accused Martin of abusing his office — and his account on Musk's X platform — to intimidate potential targets of investigations. At least three medical journals received letters from Martin asking about "competing viewpoints." Another letter that he sent on office stationery accused Wikipedia of "allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public." Martin had a habit of getting ensnared in political controversies — and litigation — during his earlier forays into public service. Nearly two decades ago, he was chief of staff for then-Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt when he was sued by a former staff attorney who claimed he was fired in retaliation for complaining that the administration was destroying e-mails illegally. Martin was chairman of the Missouri Republican Party before becoming president of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum in April 2013. He co-authored a book about Trump with Schlafly, who died in 2016. Martin has referred to himself as one of the president's lawyers. His critics have call him unqualified and unfit for the job. "Ed Martin has less experience than a misdemeanor assistant does after a week in basic training. That's not an exaggeration," said Kevin Flynn, who worked as a prosecutor under roughly a dozen U.S. attorneys in Washington before leaving the office in 2023. "And he's not exactly learning on the job, either."
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 17:37:57+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Legislation", "Philanthropy", "Terrorism", "U.S. Republican Party", "United States House of Representatives", "District of Columbia", "Language", "Congress", "Business", "Government and politics", "Diane Yentel", "Michelle Roos", "Internal Revenue Service", "Thomas Kelley", "Politics" ]	# House Republicans look to help Trump strip nonprofits of tax-exempt status By Alexa St. John and Matthew Daly May 13th, 2025, 05:37 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — A proposal by Republicans in Congress would allow President Donald Trump's administration to remove the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that it says support terrorism, creating what some nonprofits say is an arbitrary standard to financially punish charities that advocate for issues that don't align with his agenda. Unusual language added Monday to a reconciliation bill from the House Ways and Means Committee — the tax-writing committee — would allow for terminating the tax-exempt status of groups the administration deems "terrorist supporting organizations." The language mirrors a bill from the last Congress that passed in the House but did not pass the Senate. The definition and criteria for determining whether or how an organization supports terrorism are unclear. The bill also targets nonprofits in other ways, echoing complaints by Trump, who has called the tax-exempt status a "privilege" that has been "abused." Trump has threatened to revoke tax-exempt status for groups that don't abide by his directives or agree with his views. GOP Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, who chairs the Ways and Means panel, said during debate on the bill last fall that members of Congress "have the duty to make sure that taxpayers are not subsidizing terrorism." Smith didn't immediately respond to a message seeking further comment Tuesday. House Republicans are conducting hearings this week for the so-called budget reconciliation process on various sections of the bill as a self-imposed Memorial Day deadline to pass Trump's tax breaks and spending cuts looms. Committees will then stitch the various sections together in what will become a massive package that is likely to include trillions of dollars in tax cuts. The provision in the Ways and Means bill would create a new way to strip tax exemptions granted by the Internal Revenue Service to charitable organizations. Churches and religious entities, universities, private foundations, political associations and other nonprofits such as labor groups are among those that often qualify as 501(c)(3). There are other 501(c) groups including (c)(4) trade unions, and (c)(6), including business groups. The exemption is powerful because the groups don't pay certain taxes and their donors get a federal tax deduction. ## Concern among advocacy groups The Ways and Means proposal would hand "unchecked power" to administration officials "to punish organizations that do not fall in line with the administration's ideology," sad Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, "without due process, without a third-party investigation and without public evidence." The previous bill faced backlash from a variety of groups warning it could be a way to punish those at odds with the administration. The new one faces similar concerns. "This is a five-alarm fire for nonprofits nationwide," said Lia Holland, campaigns and communications director at the nonprofit group Fight for the Future, which advocates free speech online. "Any organization with goals that do not line up with MAGA can be destroyed with a wink from Trump to the Treasury." Holland said the "terribly thought-out legislation" puts environmental, racial justice, LGBTQ+ and other groups at risk. The provision is one of several in the GOP bill causing concern for nonprofits and foundations, including one that would take away resources from foundations by increasing a tax on the income they earn from investing their endowments. Additionally, the bill would require that corporations give at least 1% of their taxable income to charity to receive a tax benefit. Any donations below that threshold would not be deductible. ## Trump's feud with nonprofits Trump has previously called the tax-exempt status a "privilege" that has been "abused," and he's already threatened to revoke it for those that don't abide by his directives or agree with his views. Most recently that's included Harvard University, which defied the administration's demands to limit on-campus activism. Trump froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to the school, moved to terminate $450 million more and questioned its tax-exempt status. Harvard has sued to stop the grant freeze. Michelle Roos, executive director of the Environmental Protection Network, which represents hundreds of former scientists and regulators, said last month "we all pay the price" when charitable organizations are silenced based on politics. For example, the move to revoke tax-exempt status could choke off funding for groups that urge greater action to promote clean air, water and land, work to help communities most affected by industrial pollution and advocate for projects and policies to combat climate change — among other issues. "It threatens the rights, health, and future of every community," Roos said in a statement. Last month, Trump said he could target environmental groups and the ethics watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Though past presidents have tried to influence and direct the IRS, presidents cannot order the agency to conduct tax investigations under a law passed by Congress in 1998. The IRS can examine an organization's tax-exempt status and can rescind it if it's not operating for charitable purposes as required. Still, the IRS' independence under Trump is in question. Speaking generally about the Trump administration's stance toward nonprofits before the bill was unveiled, Thomas Kelley, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, told The Associated Press it would devastate charitable groups if donations were no longer deductible. He also said most private grant-making foundations have internal policies that they give only to 501(c)(3) organizations. ___ St. John reported from Detroit. Associated Press writer Thalia Beaty contributed reporting. ___ Read more of AP's climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment. ___ Follow Alexa St. John on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at: [email protected]. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Associated Press News	2025-05-20 01:47:08+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Elizabeth Warren", "Legislation", "Mark Warner", "United States Senate", "U.S. Democratic Party", "U.S. Republican Party", "District of Columbia", "Politics", "Alphabet", "Inc.", "Business", "Technology" ]	# Senate advances legislation to regulate stablecoins By Mary Clare Jalonick and Alan Suderman May 20th, 2025, 01:47 AM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to move forward with legislation to regulate a form of cryptocurrency called stablecoins, two weeks after Democrats blocked the measure. Monday's 66-32 procedural vote keeps one of President Donald Trump's top legislative priorities on track for passage and highlights the growing political strength of the cryptocurrency industry, which spent heavily in last year's election and has amassed a large war chest for next year's midterms. Several Democrats reversed and voted to move forward with the legislation after negotiations with Republicans in recent days. The fate of the legislation, which would regulate how stablecoin issuers operate in the U.S., had been uncertain in recent weeks despite early bipartisan support. Senate Democrats blocked it earlier this month in part over concerns about how Trump and his family were benefiting from private crypto endeavors, including a newly launched stablecoin. Republicans won support from Democrats after strengthening regulations on foreign issuers, beefing up enforcement and barring large tech companies like Meta and Google from issuing their own stablecoins. The Senate will now consider the bill and could vote on final passage as soon as this week, depending on the number of amendments offered by Democrats and Republicans. Still, Democrats were divided on the legislation. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others have said the bill could help Trump enrich himself and needs stronger protections. "Unfortunately, the final bill does nothing — nothing — to rein in the President's crypto corruption," Warren said ahead of the bill's passage. She said the legislation would "accelerate Trump's corruption by supercharging the size of the stablecoin market" and make Trump "the regulator of his own financial product." Negotiators added tougher ethics rules for members of Congress and the executive branch, including preventing members of Congress from issuing stablecoins. But Warren and several other Democrats said it wasn't enough. "This Congress should be a check on the president," Warren said. The bill would aim to create a federal framework to regulate the stablecoin industry, which is currently governed by a patchwork of existing federal and state laws. Stablecoins are a fast-growing corner of the cryptocurrency industry that have produced enormous profits for some of the major players involved. They offer a buffer from cryptocurrency's notorious volatility because they are pegged to real-world assets, like U.S. dollars or gold. Typically, that means a single stablecoin is worth $1, making them a much more reliable digital asset for commercial transactions than other forms of crypto. The move to regulate the industry has been bipartisan, but Trump's involvement in the crypto industry complicated the legislation's path. Trump launched a meme coin earlier this year that has generated more than $320 million in fees for its creators, according to the blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. And he is set to attend a dinner May 22 that's open to almost anyone who buys enough of the coins. Another Trump-family linked crypto venture called World Liberty Financial recently announced that it was issuing its own stablecoin, called USD1. The stablecoin got a huge boost when World Liberty Financial announced last week that an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. A former skeptic turned zealous promoter, Trump has promised to usher in a golden age for the cryptocurrency industry. His administration has already taken many early actions without Congress to boost crypto, including establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve and undoing previous enforcement actions. But Trump needs Congress to get some of his and the deep-pocketed industry's top priorities passed, including enacting the stablecoin legislation. Democratic supporters of the legislation argued that Congress can't step aside just because of Trump's involvement in the market. "The stablecoin market has reached nearly $250 billion and the U.S. can't afford to keep standing on the sidelines," said Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, one of the lead Democratic negotiators on the legislation. "We need clear rules of the road to protect consumers, defend national security, and support responsible innovation."
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 06:06:59+00:00	[ "Russia", "Vladimir Putin", "Moscow", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy", "Xi Jinping", "China", "Germany", "Ukraine", "Sergey Lavrov", "JD Vance", "Luiz Incio Lula da Silva", "Russia government", "China government", "Drones", "Russia-Ukraine war", "War and unrest", "Ukraine government", "Politics", "Telegram", "Russia Ukraine war", "Sergei Sobyanin", "International agreements" ]	# Ukrainian drones target Moscow as foreign leaders arrive for Red Square parade By Alex Babenko and Katie Marie Davies May 7th, 2025, 06:06 AM --- Attacks by Ukrainian long-range drones caused flight disruption at Moscow's main airports for a third straight day on Wednesday as Russia prepared to receive the Chinese president and other foreign leaders for the annual Victory Day military parade in Red Square. Russian flag carrier Aeroflot on Wednesday morning canceled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow. More than 140 Aeroflot flights also were delayed because of what officials described as the Ukrainian drone threat and amid heightened security measures around the Victory Day events. Russian air defenses repelled an attack by nine drones close to the Russian capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in the early hours of Wednesday. In the evening, Sobyanin reported thwarting 15 more drones targeting Moscow, as flights were restricted in Moscow's airports once again. Though Ukrainian drones have targeted Moscow in the past, the sustained attacks appeared designed to disrupt preparations for the 80th anniversary celebrations marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War II — Russia's biggest secular holiday of the year. The repeated assaults could unnerve Russians, who have been told by President Vladimir Putin that the more than three-year war with Ukraine is going well, as well as potentially embarrass him in front of his illustrious guests. Security is expected to be tight for Friday's centerpiece parade. Foreign dignitaries, including China's President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrived on Wednesday. Russia plans a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to coincide with the celebrations in Moscow. In March, the United States proposed a 30-day truce in the war, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin has held out for ceasefire terms more to its liking. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the U.S. appreciated Ukraine's willingness for a ceasefire, but the U.S. is trying to move beyond that. "What the Russians have said is 'a 30-day ceasefire is not in our strategic interests.' So we've tried to move beyond the obsession with the 30-day ceasefire and more on the, what would a long-term settlement look like?" he said. Vance said that the next steps are to have the Russians and Ukrainians directly negotiating. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last weekend that his country cannot provide security assurances to foreign officials planning to visit the Moscow events. Russia could stage provocations and later attempt to blame Ukraine, he said. "Our position is very simple: we cannot take responsibility for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation," he said. "They are the ones providing your security, and we will not be offering any guarantees." Zelenskyy said that he had instructed Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to advise foreign delegations against visiting Russia during this period. ## Russian flight restrictions Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia and its Kaliningrad exclave, announced plans to close their airspace to the planes carrying Serbia's and Slovakia's leaders to Moscow this week for the celebrations out of safety concerns, officials there said. "Who could deny that in such a quite active cyber background … that somebody will not use this as a possible provocation to create problems and risks for the flight of these people through the Republic of Lithuania," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Wednesday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in comments to Russian state TV, called the move "a disgrace." Flight restrictions across Russia because of Ukrainian drone threats, including temporary closures at airports in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and elsewhere, affected at least 350 flights and at least 60,000 passengers, the Russian Tour Operators Association said. Russian public holidays in early May, including the days around Victory Day, is a popular time for many Russians to go on vacation and travel abroad. Xi's visit to Russia is his third since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Xi last visited in Moscow in March 2023 on a trip that offered an important political boost to Putin just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine. He also traveled to the Russian city of Kazan in September 2024 for a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies. The Kremlin announced Tuesday that Putin will travel to China at the end of August and beginning of September. Since Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor, Moscow has drawn closer to China as Western countries have sought to isolate Putin diplomatically. Russia has become increasingly dependent economically on China because of Western sanctions. ## Residential buildings hit Meanwhile, Russia launched a ballistic missile and a barrage of drones at Ukraine's capital before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least two people in apartment buildings, Ukrainian officials said. Eight people were also wounded in the attack, including four children, the Kyiv City Military Administration said in a post on Telegram. Russian planes also dropped two glide bombs on a village in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, killing two women, regional administration head Vadym Filashkin said. Russia launched a total of four ballistic missiles and 142 drones at Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy said. At least one of the ballistic missiles and 28 drones were recorded in Kyiv's airspace, authorities said. Air defense forces shot down the missile and 11 drones. A five-story residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district in the center of the capital was hit by drone debris, sparking a fire in several apartments where the victims were found, he said. Four people, including three children, were hospitalized, while others received treatment on site. In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a fire broke out across multiple upper-floor apartments of a nine-story building after an impact of drone debris, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. Five people were rescued from the blaze. ___ Michelle L. Price in Washington, Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Lithuania, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to change "Beijing" to "Putin" being isolated diplomatically by the West.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 16:46:22+00:00	[ "United Kingdom", "King Charles III", "Entertainment", "Alan Kennett", "Andrew Stokes" ]	# Britain's V-E Day parade draws thousands near Buckingham Palace May 5th, 2025, 04:46 PM --- London (AP) — Britain marked Monday the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, honoring the men and women who fought during World War II. The day featured a procession by members of the British armed forces, accompanied by troops from Ukraine and the U.K.'s NATO allies. Alan Kennett, who landed in northern France on D-Day, accepted the salute from Garrison Sgt. Major Andrew Stokes in front of an audience that included King Charles III, signaling the parade to begin. The parade followed a route from the Houses of Parliament, through Trafalgar Square and down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 05:26:52+00:00	[ "Israel", "Israel government", "Donald Trump", "Gaza Strip", "Gaza", "Benjamin Netanyahu", "Foreign aid", "2024-2025 Mideast Wars", "Middle East", "Hamas", "War and unrest", "International agreements", "Humanitarian crises", "Jens Laerke", "Government and politics", "Hostage situations", "Einav Zangauker" ]	# Israel plans to seize Gaza under a new plan, officials say By Tia Goldenberg and Sam Mednick May 5th, 2025, 05:26 AM --- TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel approved plans Monday to seize the Gaza Strip and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time, two Israeli officials said, a move that, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations there and likely draw fierce international opposition. The new plan, which was approved in an early morning vote by Israeli Cabinet ministers, also calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza's south. That would likely amount to their forcible displacement and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis. Details of the plan were not formally announced, and its exact timing and implementation were not clear. Its approval came hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. The plan may be another measure by Israel to try to pressure Hamas into making concessions in ceasefire negotiations. A third person, a defense official, said the new plan would not begin until after U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his expected visit to the Middle East this month, allowing for the possibility that Israel might agree to a ceasefire in the meantime. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans. Later Monday, the Israeli military targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeida with a punishing round of airstrikes. The strikes came a day after the Iranian-backed rebels launched a missile that hit Israel's main airport. The rebels' media office said at least six strikes hit the Hodeida port. Other strikes hit a cement factory, the rebels said. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after a decades-long occupation and then imposed a blockade on the territory along with Egypt. Capturing and potentially occupying the territory again for an indefinite period would not only further dash hopes for Palestinian statehood, it would embed Israel inside a population that is deeply hostile to it and raise questions about how Israel plans to govern the territory, especially at a time when it is considering how to implement Trump's vision to take over Gaza. Since Israel ended a ceasefire with the Hamas militant group in mid-March, Israel has unleashed fierce strikes on the territory that have killed hundreds. It has captured swaths of territory and now controls roughly 50% of Gaza. Before the truce ended, Israel halted all humanitarian aid into the territory, including food, fuel and water, setting off what is believed to the be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel says 59 captives remain in Gaza, although about 35 are believed to be dead. Israel's offensive has displaced more than 90% of Gaza's population and, Palestinian health officials say, killed more than 52,000 people there, many of them women and children. The officials do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count. At least 42 people were killed by Israeli strikes from Sunday through Monday afternoon, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. The Israeli military offered no immediate comment on the strikes. ## Israel is trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday cabinet ministers had decided on a "powerful operation in Gaza," including "a movement of the population to protect it." The plan also imposes Israeli control over aid distribution. Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its own use or to distribute to strengthen its rule in Gaza, though Israel has not provided evidence. A spokesman for the U.N. humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, denied there was significant diversion of aid, saying the U.N. employs "a solid system to monitor and prevent" such theft. The officials said Israel was in touch with several countries about Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population, under what Israel has termed "voluntary emigration." That proposal has drawn widespread condemnation, including from Israel's allies in Europe, and rights groups have warned it could be a war crime under international law. For weeks, Israel has been trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas to get the group to agree to its terms in ceasefire negotiations. But the measures do not appear to have moved Hamas away from its negotiating positions. The previous ceasefire was meant to lead the sides to negotiate an end to the war, but that has remained elusive. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas' governing and military capabilities are dismantled. Hamas, meanwhile, has sought an agreement that winds down the war without agreeing to disarm. Israel's expansion announcement angered families of hostages who fear that any extension of the conflict endangers their loved ones. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which supports families, urged Israel's decision-makers to prioritize the hostages and secure a deal quickly. At a Knesset committee meeting Monday, Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage, called on soldiers "not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons." Some reservists have indicated they will refuse to serve in a war they increasingly view as politically motivated. ## Israel wants to prevent Hamas from handling aid The defense official said the plan would "separate" Hamas from the aid by using private firms and by using specified areas secured by the Israeli military. The official added that Palestinians would be screened to prevent Hamas from accessing the aid. According to a memo circulated among aid groups and seen by The Associated Press, Israel told the United Nations that it will use private security companies to control aid distribution in Gaza. The U.N., in a statement Sunday, said it would not participate in the plan as presented, saying it violates its core principles. The memo summarized a meeting between the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, called COGAT, and the U.N. It was written by a group briefed on the meeting and sent Sunday to aid organizations. According to the memo, under COGAT's plan, all aid will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, on approximately 60 trucks daily, and be distributed directly to people. Some 500 trucks entered Gaza every day before the war. The memo said that facial-recognition technology will be used to identify Palestinians at logistics hubs and text message alerts will notify people in the area that they can collect aid. COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ## The UN accuses Israel of wanting to control aid as a 'pressure tactic' After Israel said it was going to assert more control over aid distribution in Gaza, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sent an email to aid groups, urging them to reject any "draconian restrictions on humanitarian work." The email, which OCHA sent Monday to aid groups and was shared with the AP, further stated that there are mechanisms in place to ensure aid is not diverted. Earlier, OCHA said in a statement that the plan would leave large parts of the population, including the most vulnerable, without supplies. It said the plan "appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic — as part of a military strategy." Aid groups have said they are opposed to using any armed or uniformed personnel to distribute aid that could potentially intimidate Palestinians or put them at risk. Hamas decried Israel's efforts to control distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza as a violation of international law. In a statement Monday, the militant group said the effort is "an extension of the starvation policy" adopted by the Israeli government in Gaza. ___ Mednick reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, and Josef Federman contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 19:15:18+00:00	[ "Illinois", "Illinois state government", "Seth Allen Cohen", "Richard Durbin", "Janice Schakowsky", "Politics", "Elections", "Seniors", "Donald Trump", "Daniel Biss", "Laura Fine" ]	# Illinois Democrat Schakowsky won't seek Congress reelection in 2026 after 14 terms By Sophia Tareen May 5th, 2025, 07:15 PM --- CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky announced Monday that she won't seek reelection next year after 14 terms, making her the latest longtime Illinois Democrat to announce a retirement from Congress. "For the remainder of my term, and beyond, I vow to continue taking every opportunity possible to fight for my community and my country," Schakowsky, 80, said in a statement. "I will do everything in my power to secure equal rights for all, an economy that works for everyone, not just the rich, universal health care, reproductive rights, environmental protections and climate security, and so much more." Her announcement comes less than two weeks after Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, announced he won't seek a sixth term in 2026. Schakowsky announced the news Monday during an annual luncheon she hosts in Chicago. Attendees included Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who lost a Democratic congressional primary to Schakowsky in 1998. A former Illinois state legislator and onetime public school teacher, Schakowsky became a congresswoman in 1999. She has been easily reelected in contests since then, including in November when she defeated Republican Seth Allen Cohen, who served in the U.S. Marines. In recent years, Schakowsky has focused on health care, immigration and issues affecting senior citizens. She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She's also been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and skipped both of his inaugurations. Schakowsky said Monday that she's most proud of her work to help draft the Affordable Care Act, consumer protections and legislation to help senior citizens. Her term ends in January 2027. The heavily Democratic 9th District includes Chicago neighborhoods along Lake Michigan and a mix of wealthy and middle-class suburbs north and northwest of the city. Before Schakowsky's announcement, one person had already declared a 2026 run. Kat Abughazaleh, 26, is a progressive political influencer and journalist who raised more money than Schakowsky in the quarter that ended in March, bringing in $379,000 to Schakowsky's roughly $213,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings. However, Schakowsky still has more than double the cash on hand with $877,000. Other potential candidates are Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, a former state lawmaker, and two state legislators, Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Laura Fine.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 15:55:46+00:00	[ "Michel Hotin", "Government programs", "San Juan", "Xavier Lefort", "Politics" ]	# Quarrel forces closure of town on French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe May 5th, 2025, 03:55 PM --- SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The mayor of a small town on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe shuttered government agencies, cancelled classes and halted municipal services on Monday following a spat with city council officials who have called for an emergency meeting. The closures in Le Gosier, a town of roughly 26,000 people located on the island's southern coast, are expected to last until Wednesday, according to an order issued by Mayor Michel Hotin. The spat began in late April when Hotin, who was newly elected, failed to receive support from opposition city council members to create a general delegation. The delegation would act as an executive branch, including a general manager and other officials who would have the power to authorize contracts and make other decisions on behalf of Hotin. Hotin has said that the ongoing stalemate has effectively blocked him from managing Le Gosier because without a general delegation, all decisions would require a council vote. Hotin defended the closures in a statement, saying he cannot renew essential public contracts of state employees without a delegation. On Monday, Guadeloupe's prefect, Xavier Lefort, said he would file an appeal before an administrative court to suspend Hotin's order. Guadeloupe is an administrative department of France, and the prefect is the top departmental official on the island. Lefort also urged Hotin to take emergency measures to reopen the town and meet immediately with the council so it could authorize Hotin to renew or award public contracts absent a delegation.
Associated Press News	2025-05-11 05:05:40+00:00	[ "Europe", "Edi Rama", "Sali Berisha", "Albania", "Donald Trump", "European Union", "Corruption", "Global elections", "Kaja Kallas", "Voting", "Politics", "Elections", "Lutfi Dervishi" ]	# Albanians vote in election after a campaign dominated by uphill efforts to join the EU By Llazar Semini May 11th, 2025, 05:05 AM --- TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanians voted Sunday in parliamentary elections after a boisterous campaign dominated by the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term in office. Polls closed at 7 p.m. Sunday and vote counting is expected to conclude within 48 hours in an election in which 140 lawmakers will be selected to four-year terms. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.8 million people has about 3.7 million eligible voters. For the first time, those in the diaspora — about 191,000 so far this time — could vote, casting their ballots by mail. Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years, sticking to its ambitious pledge while battling conservative opponents with public recriminations and competing promises of pay hikes. Opening up the election to voters abroad for the first time has added to the volatility, along with the appearance of new parties, a shift in campaigning to social media and a recent TikTok ban. Voting was largely peaceful, with just a few skirmishes involving candidates and supporters around the country. Officials put preliminary voter turnout at 41.4%, 4% lower than it was in 2021. "For the most part, excluding some sporadic cases, the process has been in line with the rules and standards," said Ilirjan Celibashi, the head of the Central Election Commission. ## Black and blue baseball caps Rama, 60, who secured the start of EU membership negotiations last October, highlighted achievements in infrastructure and justice reform in his campaign. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is pressing Albania to continue reforms — particularly in governance and anti-corruption efforts — to stay on track for EU membership. Rama's main challenger is Sali Berisha, 80, a former president and prime minister, who argues that Albania still isn't ready for EU membership. He started the campaign borrowing from U.S. President Donald Trump's slogan, which he changed to "Make Albania Great Again," but eventually settled on "Grandiose Albania." Berisha wore a blue baseball cap marked with a No. 1, the party's position on the ballot. Rama sported a black cap emblazoned with the Socialist Party's No. 5. Berisha claimed they had won in all the traditional center-right areas, adding that counting should not take place under pressure. "Nothing can change. People have spoken decisively," he said. ## Economic and tourism pledges Economic concerns have been central to the campaign. The Socialists say they will accelerate a tourism boom, from 10 million arrivals in 2024 to 30 million by 2030, diversifying destinations by expanding infrastructure projects. The Democrats argue that the government's dismal performance has driven more than 1 million Albanians to leave the county over the past decade. After casting his ballot, Berisha called on Albanians to vote "for themselves, for their children, their pensions and salaries, employment, business, their farm." Both parties made similar promises on minimum pensions, an average monthly salary and a minimum wage – all about 20% or higher than current levels. But analyst Lutfi Dervishi considered that scenario unlikely. "It's a campaign without debate and results without surprises," he said. "Elections won't shake up the current scene — neither the system nor the main actors." ## Corruption and justice Despite Albania's significant improvement in Transparency International's corruption index — rising from 116th in 2013 to 80th in the ranking in 2024 — corruption remains the country's Achilles' heel and a stumbling block for European integration. Sweeping judicial reforms launched in 2016 with support from the EU and U.S. led to investigations and prosecutions of senior officials. Several former ministers, mayors and high-ranking officials have been jailed, while others face ongoing investigations. Despite promises of cleaner governance, both major parties are fielding candidates facing corruption allegations. Berisha himself has been charged with corruption and is awaiting trial. While Rama's Socialists take credit for the reformed judiciary, Berisha has vowed to dissolve it, describing it as a tool of the Rama government's selective justice. ## TikTok and the 'swamp owl' Social media has become a primary vehicle for campaigning. Rama hosted daily Facebook livestreams to engage with voters. Berisha followed suit, though less frequently. The government has imposed a 12-month ban on TikTok, citing concerns over incitement and online bullying. Opposition parties condemned the move as censorship. A code of conduct introduced by the Albanian ombudsman to encourage ethical campaigning fell flat as political discourse grew increasingly toxic. Rama described Berisha as a "swamp owl" — a metaphor for graft — while Berisha branded Rama as a "chief gangster." More than 570 international observers monitored this year's parliamentary election. They have planned a news conference Monday afternoon.
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 09:52:11+00:00	[ "Syria", "Iraq", "Ahmad al-Sharaa", "Baghdad", "Bashar Assad", "Abu Mohammad al-Golani", "Iraq government", "Arab League", "Politics", "Indictments", "Al-Qaida", "Rebellions and uprisings", "Syria government", "Terrorism", "Islam" ]	# Syrian president will not attend Arab summit in Baghdad after invitation triggers divisions By Ghaith Alsayed May 13th, 2025, 09:52 AM --- DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will not attend an Arab League summit in Iraq this week and the country's delegation will be headed by the foreign minister, the president's office said Tuesday. A short statement released by the office of President Ahmad al-Sharaa did not give a reason why he will not attend the summit but an invitation by the Iraqi government last month trigged sharp political divisions in Iraq. The summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on Saturday. Al-Sharaa and his interim government in Syria have been scrambling to establish ties with countries across the Middle East in a bid to ease skepticism about his former ties to al-Qaida and to convince Washington to lift crippling economic sanctions on the battered country. Attending the Arab Summit would have been a major symbolic diplomatic victory for Damascus as well, as Al-Sharaa struggles to deal with opponents in the countries, largely from non-Sunni Muslim minority groups, as he tries to exert state authority across Syria. Al-Sharaa took power after leading a lightning rebel offensive that unseated his predecessor, Bashar Assad, in December. Since then, he has positioned himself as a statesman aiming to unite and rebuild his country after nearly 14 years of civil war, but his past as a Sunni Islamist militant has left many — including Shiite groups in Iraq — wary. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. During Syria's conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside Assad's forces, making al-Sharaa a particularly sensitive figure for them.
Associated Press News	2025-05-16 21:38:30+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Immigration", "U.S. Department of Defense", "Military and defense", "United States government", "District of Columbia", "United States", "Tricia McLaughlin", "Associated Press" ]	# DHS asks for 20,000 National Guard troops for immigration roundups By Tara Copp and Rebecca Santana May 16th, 2025, 09:38 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has asked for 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with immigration roundups across the country, and the Pentagon is reviewing the unusual request, a U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press. DHS asked for the troops to help carry out President Donald Trump's "mandate from the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens," department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said. She said DHS will "use every tool and resource available" to do so because the "safety of American citizens comes first." Unlike the troops deployed at the southern border, these National Guard units would come from the states and be used to assist in deportation operations in the interior of the country. How the troops would be used may depend on whether they remain under state governors' control. Under the Posse Comitatus Act, troops under federal orders cannot be used for domestic law enforcement, but units under state control can. The addition of 20,000 National Guard troops would provide a huge boost to immigration enforcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the DHS agency responsible for immigration enforcement in the interior of the country, has a total staff of about 20,000 people spread across three divisions. Enforcement and Removals Operations, which is the division directly responsible for arresting and removing people who do not have the right to stay in the country, has a total staff of roughly 7,700 people, including a little over 6,000 law enforcement officers. It was unclear why the request was made to the Defense Department and not to the states. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Trump has been carrying out a wide-ranging crackdown on illegal immigration, issuing a series of executive orders designed to stop what he has called the "invasion" of the United States. The U.S. already has as many as 10,000 troops under state and federal orders along the U.S.-Mexico border, including some who are now empowered to detain migrants they encounter along a newly militarized narrow strip of land adjacent to the border. So far, these troops have largely been limited to providing airlift, bolstering the wall, surveillance and administrative support to free up border agents for arrests or detentions. Along the newly militarized zone, troops have put up warning signs and accompanied border agents but left the detention of migrants crossing the border to other agencies. In New Mexico, where the new militarized zone was first created, federal magistrate judges have started dismissing national security charges against migrants accused of crossing the southern U.S. border through the newly designated military zone, finding little evidence that they were aware of the zone. The request for 20,000 troops was first reported by The New York Times. ___
Associated Press News	2025-05-04 04:10:35+00:00	[ "Soviet Union", "Vladimir Putin", "War and unrest", "Russia Ukraine war", "Veterans", "Valentina Efremova" ]	# AP PHOTOS: On Victory Day, veterans recall the Soviet Union's sacrifice in World War II May 4th, 2025, 04:10 AM --- MOSCOW (AP) — When she heard the news of Nazi Germany surrendering 80 years ago, Valentina Efremova couldn't believe the devastating war was over. Efremova, now 101, was a teenager when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. She ended up serving as a nurse in field hospitals on the front and remembers the horrors of the fighting all too well. "When wounded soldiers our age were brought in, I cried. It hurt. I felt so sorry for them. They called me 'little sister.' But I pulled myself together. I came from a very disciplined family," she told The Associated Press from Yakutsk in eastern Siberia. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people in what Russians call the "Great Patriotic War" -– a staggering toll that left a lasting imprint on the nation's collective memory. Many who served were teenagers when the war began: nurses, communications specialists laying wire under fire, or new recruits deployed to Europe. Some fought in the Far East after Germany's surrender, in final battles against Japan. The portraits featured here are of veterans who served in the Soviet military before the breakup of the USSR who are from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. They were field medics, scouts, radio operators and sappers who dug anti-tank trenches. Some stayed in the military after the war, while others returned home to civilian lives. Still Russia's most significant secular holiday, Victory Day on May 9 honors the enormous wartime sacrifices of the Soviet Union. It also serves as a platform for the Kremlin to promote its own brand of patriotism. President Vladimir Putin, who has led Russia for 25 of the 80 years that have passed since the end of the war, has made Victory Day central to his rule, using it to frame and justify what the Kremlin calls it "a special military operation" in Ukraine. —- This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press News	2025-05-16 11:43:17+00:00	[ "Microsoft Corp.", "European Union", "Washington", "Eurocopa 2024", "Business", "Technology", "Government regulations", "Sabastian Niles", "Legal proceedings", "Email and messaging", "European Commission" ]	# Long-running EU antitrust case of Microsoft Teams appears to be nearing an end By Sam Mcneil May 16th, 2025, 11:43 AM --- BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union regulators will seek public comment on proposed changes from Microsoft for Teams, signaling the U.S. company may be nearing the end of a long-running antitrust case targeting its messaging and videoconferencing app. Microsoft had previously offered some modifications including unbundling Teams from its Office software suite in an attempt to head off the antitrust probe shortly after it was opened by the EU two years ago. But those proposals didn't satisfy the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's top competition enforcer, which accused Microsoft last year of potentially abusive behavior. The Commission said Friday that it will now seek feedback on fresh commitments Microsoft has made to resolve the competition worries. That includes making the Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software packages available at a discount without Teams, and letting customers switch between packages without Teams. The company is also promising to make it easier for rival software to work with Teams and for users to move their data from Teams to to competing products. The commission said in a press release that it "invites all interested parties to submit their views" on Microsoft's proposals. If everyone is satisfied, they would become legally binding. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is "hopeful" the Commission will "in the following months adopt a final decision closing its investigation," Microsoft s vice president in charge of European government affairs, Nanna-Louise Linde, said in a blog post. Microsoft's commitments would be in force for up to 10 years, the Commission said. The company could incur fines worth up to 10% of its annual global revenues — which could run into tens of billions of euros — if it fails to honor them The Teams investigation dates back to 2020, when Slack Technologies, which makes popular workplace messaging software, filed a complaint. Slack, owned by business software maker Salesforce, alleged that Microsoft was abusing its market dominance to eliminate competition — in violation of EU laws — by illegally combining Teams with its Office suite, which includes Word, Excel and Outlook. Salesforce President Sabastian Niles said the latest announcement "affirms that Microsoft's anticompetitive practices with Teams have harmed competition and require a binding, enforceable, and effective remedy. We will carefully scrutinize Microsoft's proposed commitments." ___ AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed from London.
Associated Press News	2025-05-08 22:47:03+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "Jeanine Pirro", "District of Columbia", "Pete Hegseth", "Andrew Cuomo", "Joe Biden", "New York", "DC Wire", "New York City Wire", "Ed Martin", "Mario Cuomo", "Politics", "United States government", "Arts and entertainment", "United States Senate", "O.J. Simpson", "Activism", "Courts", "Conservatism", "Albert Pirro", "Entertainment" ]	# Trump says he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as DC federal prosecutor By Michael Kunzelman May 8th, 2025, 10:47 PM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation's capital after abandoning his first pick for the job. Pirro, who joined Fox News in 2006, cohosts the network's show "The Five" on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York's Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the county's elected district attorney. Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nation's largest U.S. Attorney's office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position earlier Thursday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was naming Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., but didn't indicate whether he would nominate her for the Senate-confirmed position on a more permanent basis. "Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself," Trump wrote. Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. "He's a terrific person, and he wasn't getting the support from people that I thought," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He later added, "But we have somebody else that will be great." Martin's leading role in Trump's "Stop the Steal" movement was demoralizing for subordinates who spent four years prosecuting over 1,500 riot defendants only to see the president pardon them en masse. Pirro has her own connection to the baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud. In 2021, voting technology company Smartmatic USA sued Fox News, Pirro and others for spreading false claims that the company helped "steal" the 2020 presidential election from Trump. The company's libel suit, filed in a New York state court, sought $2.7 billion from the defendants. Pirro is the latest in a string of Trump appointments coming from Fox News — a list that includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend." "Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington," a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement. Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump's first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background. Martin had never served as a prosecutor or tried a case before taking office in January. Martin has stirred up a chorus of critics during his brief but tumultuous tenure in office. He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases. He posted on social media about potential targets of investigations. And he forced the chief of the office's criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. Martin's temporary appointment is due to expire May 20. Pirro, a 1975 graduate of Albany Law School, has significantly more courtroom experience than Martin. She led one of the nation's first domestic violence units in a prosecutor's office. After her elected terms as a judge and district attorney, Pirro briefly campaigned in 2005 as a Republican to unseat then-Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton before announcing that she would would run for New York attorney general instead. She lost that race to Andrew Cuomo, son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. Pirro became an ubiquitous television pundit during O.J. Simpson's murder trial, often appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live." During her time on Fox News, she has frequently interviewed Trump. In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirro's ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 19:39:25+00:00	[ "Gustavo Petro", "Colombia", "Vatican City", "Pope Leo XIV", "Diplomacy", "Politics", "Rebellions and uprisings" ]	# Colombia's president suggests Vatican could host new peace talks with rebel group By Manuel Rueda May 19th, 2025, 07:39 PM --- BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said on Monday that he is contemplating a new round of peace talks with the nation's largest remaining rebel group, and suggested that the talks could take place in the Vatican. Petro's statement came after he attended an audience with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican, which has not commented on the suggestion that it could host peace talks between Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army, or ELN, a group with around 5,000 fighters that was founded in the late 1960s. "I spoke with the Pope about what can be done for the Vatican to hold the new peace talks," Petro said in a video posted on X. He added that the ELN wants to keep talks in Cuba and Venezuela, but suggested that the Vatican could be a more suitable venue for negotiations. "I think this is the place, where we can recall the theory of effective love," Petro said, referring to one of the founding principles of the rebel group. The ELN has not commented on Petro's proposal. Colombia's government suspended peace talks with the ELN in January after the group staged a series of deadly attacks on villages in the northeast Catatumbo region, that forced more than 50,000 people to flee their homes. Petro, who was a member of another rebel group during his youth, has accused the ELN's leadership of becoming "greedy" criminals and of betraying their revolutionary ideals. "They have replaced the banners of change and transformation, for the banners of Mexican drug cartels," Petro said on Monday. The ELN was founded by activists and union leaders inspired by the Cuban revolution and by a Catholic movement known as liberation theology, that calls on the faithful to dismantle social and economic structures that cause inequality and poverty. The group has also had members of the clergy among its ranks, including Camilo Torres, a prominent priest who joined the ELN shortly after it was founded and was killed in a battle with the Colombian army. During his presidential campaign, Petro promised to make peace with the ELN "within three months" of taking office. Three years on, his government is struggling to pacify rural areas, where the ELN and several other groups are fighting over territory that was abandoned by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the large guerrilla group that made peace with the government in 2016. Colombia's Catholic Bishops Conference has called on the government and the ELN to resume negotiations so that violence can decrease in rural areas, where crimes like the forced recruitment of children, and the murders of human rights leaders are on the rise.
Associated Press News	2025-05-03 15:46:23+00:00	[ "Cincinnati", "Ryan Hinton", "Mike DeWine", "Ohio", "Law enforcement", "Rodney Hinton Jr.", "Connie Pillich", "Automotive accidents", "Shootings", "Homicide", "Gun violence", "Teens", "Michael Wright", "Teresa Theetge", "Charmaine McGuffey", "Police brutality" ]	# Man whose son was killed by Cincinnati police now charged in death of deputy By John Seewer May 3rd, 2025, 03:46 PM --- A man who struck and killed a county deputy with his car Friday is the father of a teen who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer a day earlier as officers were responding to a call about a stolen car, police said. Authorities said the crash appeared to be intentional. The driver of the car, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was charged with aggravated murder in the deputy's death, police said. Hinton appeared in court Saturday, with a wall of deputies standing at the back of the room. A prosecutor said evidence and witnesses will show that Hinton drove directly at the deputy in an attempt to kill him. A judge ordered that Hinton be held until another hearing on Tuesday. An attorney representing Hilton said in court that he has no prior felonies and understands it's a serious charge, WLWT-TV reported. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement that he was "sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence." Just a few hours before the crash, Hinton and other family members met at the police chief's office Friday morning and watched a police body camera video showing an officer shoot the teen, said Michael Wright, an attorney hired by the family of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. Rodney Hinton could not make it through the entire video and did not say a word, said Wright, who is not representing Hinton on the crash charges. "He was distraught, he was upset," Wright said Saturday. In a statement issued later on behalf of Ryan Hinton's family, the law firm offered heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the deputy who was killed. The firm called it "an unimaginable tragedy" for the community and said the teen's family was heartbroken by the events and devastated for the deputy's family. The Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati on graduation day when he was hit by a car that drove into an intersection, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said. Authorities did not identify the deputy, who retired from the department a few months ago but was continuing to work off-duty assignments, said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. "He was so well-liked and so well-known," McGuffey said. "What a tremendous loss we have all suffered." Authorities said the circumstances of the crash were being investigated. "If the facts show this act was intentional, as the charge suggests, I will throw the full force of the law at the perpetrator," Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement Friday. Ryan Hinton was shot twice and killed by police Thursday during a chase. The officer who fired told investigators that the suspect pointed a gun at him, said Cincinnati's police chief. Police showed photos during a news conference Friday of a semiautomatic handgun that they said he was carrying and another gun that was found in the car. One officer could be heard in body camera video released by police saying "he's got a gun, he's got a gun" before several shots were fired as Ryan Hinton was running behind an apartment complex. While the blurred images did not clearly show Hinton pointing a gun as he and the officer were running, Theetge said the officer told investigators that he had the firearm in front of him, it was pointed at the officer and the officer feared for his life. There was no indication that Hinton fired at police before he was shot, she said.
Associated Press News	2025-05-07 09:26:31+00:00	[ "Indonesia", "Funerals and memorial services", "Business", "Evacuations" ]	# A dump truck crashes into a minibus in Indonesia, killing 11 kindergarten teachers By Slamet Riyadi May 7th, 2025, 09:26 AM --- YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A dump truck crashed into a minibus on a downhill road in Indonesia's Central Java province, killing 11 people, all of them kindergarten teachers, officials said Wednesday. The truck, loaded with construction materials, collided with the minibus before crashing into a house in Kalijambe village, in Purwerjo district. The minibus was carrying a group of teachers from Magelang district who were attending a funeral in Purworejo district, the local disaster management agency said in a statement. "The truck allegedly lost control and hit the minibus," said Andry Agustiano, the Purworejo police chief. He added the police officers immediately opened an investigation. Several ambulances transported the bodies and other injured victims, including the truck driver and the owner of the house, to a nearby hospital. Road accidents are common in Indonesia because of poor safety standards and infrastructure. On Tuesday, a bus carrying 34 passengers sped out of control on and overturned in Indonesia's West Sumatra province, killing at least 12 people. Last year, a bus carrying 61 students and teachers returning from an outing to a high school in Depok, just outside Jakarta, slammed into cars and motorbikes after its brakes failed, killing 11 students and injuring dozens of others. __ Associated Press journalist Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
Associated Press News	2025-05-05 14:53:40+00:00	[ "Delaware", "New York City", "New York City Wire", "Droughts", "Rohit T. Aggarwala", "Business" ]	# Massive repair job on leaky NYC aqueduct will take a few more years to finish By Michael Hill May 5th, 2025, 02:53 PM --- A $2 billion project to fix a massive leak in a water tunnel that supplies about half of New York City's water that was already paused recently due to drought conditions, won't be completed for a few more years, city officials said Monday. Department of Environmental Protection officials have been planning for years to temporarily shut down a section of the Delaware Aqueduct north of the city to address the leak of up to 35 million gallons per day, almost all of it beneath the Hudson River. The planned eight-month shutdown will allow workers to hook up a bypass tunnel that has been constructed under the river. City officials announced the shutdown of the aqueduct last fall, timing the cutoff of water from the Catskill region for when seasonal demands are lower. But the work was paused in November due to a drought warning and low levels in the city's other reservoirs. The delay means the environmental agency will have to enter into a new contract for the construction work. Officials also remain concerned about below-average precipitation and plan to upgrade the aqueduct's pumps. So they don't expect the project to be completed until after 2027. "A new contract must take every contingency into account to ensure we meet our critical responsibility of providing the highest quality water possible to nearly 10 million New Yorkers every day, without exception," Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said in a prepared release. The aqueduct is the longest tunnel in the world and carries water for 85 miles (137 kilometers) from four reservoirs in the Catskill region to other reservoirs in the northern suburbs. It serves more than 8 million New York City residents. The sprawling system also serves some upstate municipalities.
Associated Press News	2025-05-13 04:05:02+00:00	[ "Mark Geragos", "Legal proceedings", "Crime", "Los Angeles", "Homicide", "California", "Nathan Hochman", "Prisons", "Kitty Menendez", "Michael Jesic", "Diane Hernandez", "Jonathan Colby", "George Gascn", "Jose Menendez", "Erik Menendez" ]	# Judge reduces Menendez brothers' murder sentences, putting them a step closer to freedom By Jaimie Ding May 13th, 2025, 04:05 AM --- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Erik and Lyle Menendez will have a new shot at freedom after 35 years behind bars for murdering their parents, a judge ruled Tuesday. The ruling from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers' sentences from life in prison without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. The state parole board must decide whether to release them. The judge's decision followed months of pushback from prosecutors who opposed resentencing, arguing the brothers hadn't taken adequate responsibility for their crimes. Ultimately prosecutors did not call any witnesses, saying they had presented all of their evidence. The defense turned to family members and those who knew the brothers since their conviction to speak to their character and rehabilitation. The brothers also addressed the court via video as family members listened on tearfully. Most of the brothers' family members, including aunts and uncles, have long supported their bid for freedom. "On Aug. 20, 1989, I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification," Lyle Menendez said, choking up as he addressed the room. "The impact of my violent actions on my family ... is unfathomable." ## A fast decision Jesic issued his decision immediately after the brothers spoke. The hearing was slated to last two days, but Jesic made his decision in one, offering the brothers new hope after years of unsuccessful appeals and attempts to win freedom in a case that has captured public attention from the start. The brothers were convicted in 1996 for murdering their father, Jose Menendez — a powerful record executive — and their mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time. While defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. While the sentence reduction is a major win for the brothers, defense attorney Mark Geragos said he had been seeking to have their charges reduced to manslaughter, which would have allowed them be immediately released. The judge did not go that far. "I'm not saying they should be released; it's not for me to decide," Jesic said. "I do believe they've done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance." The brothers have an appearance before the parole board on June 13 as part of a risk assessment report ordered by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to aid in his clemency decision. Erik Menendez also spoke about taking responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family. "You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better," he said. The judge said he was especially moved by a letter from a prison official who supported resentencing, something the official had never done for any incarcerated person in the 25 years of his career. ## Defense witnesses spoke of brothers' character The defense called several of the brothers' cousins, a former judge and a former fellow inmate to the witness stand to testify that the brothers were not only rehabilitated but helped others. Prosecutors cross-examined the witnesses but didn't call any of their own. "We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough," said Anamaria Baralt, a cousin. "They are universally forgiven by our family." Diane Hernandez, a cousin who also testified during the brothers' first trial, spoke about the abuse she witnessed in the Menendez household when she lived with them. "When Jose was with one of the boys … you couldn't even go up the stairs to be on the same floor," Hernandez said of the brothers' father. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly. "They are a real family," said Mark Geragos, the brothers' lead attorney, after the hearing. "Real people who have lived through unimaginable horrors. And I'm hopeful and glad that we're one huge step closer to bringing the boys home." Los Angeles County prosecutors argued against the resentencing. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said the brothers had not taken complete responsibility for the crime. Geragos emphasized that the purpose of resentencing is to "encourage rehabilitation," not relitigate the original crime. "We have evolved," Geragos said. "This is not the '90s anymore. We have a more robust understanding of a lot of things." ## Former district attorney and fami The previous LA County District Attorney George Gascón had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. Since their conviction, the brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for fellow people in prison, his office said in a petition. A former judge who said he considered himself tough on crime, Jonathan Colby, told the court that spending time with the brothers and witnessing their growth made him believe in rehabilitation. Anerae Brown, who had been formerly incarcerated, cried as he testified about how the brothers helped him heal and eventually be released through parole. "I have children now," he said. "Without Lyle and Erik I might still be sitting in there doing stupid things." ___ This story has been updated to correct the ruling was issued Tuesday, not Friday, fixes the spelling of Baralt's first name and corrects that the defense attorney, not the judge, wanted the charges reduced to manslaughter.
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 02:00:43+00:00	[ "Middle East", "Donald Trump", "Eric Trump", "Karoline Leavitt", "Saudi Arabia", "Qatar", "Dubai", "United Arab Emirates", "Dar Global", "Steve Witkoff", "Timothy P. Carney", "The Boeing Co.", "Military and defense", "Government and politics", "Jon Hoffman", "Donald Jr.", "Hussain Sajwani", "Government policy", "Nintendo Co.", "Ltd.", "Business", "United States government", "Zach Witkoff", "Saudi Arabia government" ]	# Trump's Middle East visit comes as his family business ties there grow By Will Weissert May 14th, 2025, 02:00 AM --- WASHINGTON (AP) — It's not just the "gesture" of a $400 million luxury plane that President Donald Trump says he's smart to accept from Qatar. Or that he effectively auctioned off the first destination on his first major foreign trip, heading to Saudi Arabia because the kingdom was ready to make big investments in U.S. companies. It's not even that the Trump family has fast-growing business ties in the Middle East that run deep and offer the potential of vast profits. Instead, it's the idea that the combination of these things and more — deals that show the close ties between a family whose patriarch oversees the U.S. government and a region whose leaders are fond of currying favor through money and lavish gifts — could cause the United States to show preferential treatment to Middle Eastern leaders when it comes to American affairs of state. Before Trump began his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. had already traveled the Middle East extensively in recent weeks. They were drumming up business for The Trump Organization, which they are running in their father's stead while he's in the White House. Eric Trump announced plans for an 80-story Trump Tower in Dubai, the UAE's largest city. He also attended a recent cryptocurrency conference there with Zach Witkoff, a founder of the Trump family crypto company, World Liberty Financial, and son of Trump's do-everything envoy to the Mideast, Steve Witkoff. "We are proud to expand our presence in the region," Eric Trump said last month in announcing that Trump Tower Dubai was set to start construction this fall. The presidential visit to the region, as his children work the same part of the world for the family's moneymaking opportunities, puts a spotlight on Trump's willingness to embrace foreign dealmaking while in the White House, even in the face of growing concerns that doing so could tempt him to shape U.S. foreign policy in ways that benefit his family's bottom line. ## Nowhere is the potential overlap more prevalent than in the Middle East The Trump family's business interests in the region include a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country's sovereign wealth fund. The family is also leasing its brand to two new real estate projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, in partnership with Dar Global, a London-based luxury real estate developer and subsidiary of private Saudi real estate firm Al Arkan. The Trump Organization has similarly partnered with Dar Global on a Trump Tower set to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and an upcoming Trump International Hotel and luxury golf development in neighboring Oman. During the crypto conference, a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi announced it had chosen USD, World Liberty Financial's stablecoin, to back a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Critics say that allows Trump family-aligned interests to essentially take a cut of each dollar invested. "I don't know anything about it," Trump said when asked by reporters about the transaction on Wednesday. Then there's the Saudi government-backed LIV Golf, which has forged close business relationships with the president and hosted tournaments at Trump's Doral resort in South Florida. "Given the extensive ties between LIV Golf and the PIF, or between Trump enterprises more generally and the Gulf, I'd say there's a pretty glaring conflict of interest here," said Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the libertarian think tank the Cato Institute. He was referring to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has invested heavily in everything from global sports giants to video game maker Nintendo with the aim of diversifying the kingdom's economy beyond oil. Trump said he did not talk about LIV Golf during his visit in Saudi Arabia. The president announced in January a $20 billion investment for U.S. data centers promised by DAMAC Properties, an Emirati company led by billionaire Dubai developer Hussain Sajwani. Trump bills that as benefiting the country's technological and economic standing rather than his family business. But Sajwani was a close business partner of Trump and his family since long before the 2016 election. ## White House bristles at conflict of interest concerns Asked before he left for the Middle East if Trump might use the trip to meet with people tied to his family's business, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was "ridiculous" to "suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit." "The president is abiding by all conflict of interest laws," she said. Administration officials have brushed off such concerns about the president's policy decisions bleeding into the business interests of his family by noting that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children. A voluntary ethics agreement released by The Trump Organization also bars the firm from striking deals directly with foreign governments. But that same agreement still allows deals with private companies abroad. In Trump's first term, the organization released an ethics pact prohibiting deals with both foreign governments and foreign companies. The president, according to the second-term ethics agreement, isn't involved in any day-to-day decision-making for the family business. But his political and corporate brands remain inextricably linked. "The president is a successful businessman," Leavitt said, "and I think, frankly, that it's one of the many reasons that people reelected him back to this office." Timothy P. Carney, senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said he doesn't want to see U.S. foreign policy being affected by Trump's feelings about how other countries have treated his family's business. "Even if he's not running the company, he profits when the company does well," Carney said. "When he leaves the White House, the company is worth more, his personal wealth goes up." ## Promises of US investment shaped Trump's trip His family business aside, the president wasn't shy about saying he'd shape the itinerary of his first extended overseas trip on quid pro quo. Trump's first stop was Saudi Arabia, just as during his first term. He picked the destination after he said the kingdom had pledged to spend $1 trillion on U.S. companies over four years. The White House has since announced that the actual figure is $600 billion. How much of that will actually be new investment — or come to fruition — remains to be seen. The president is also stopping in the UAE, which has pledged $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next 10 years, and in Qatar, where Trump says accepting the gift of a Boeing 747 from the ruling family is a no-brainer, dismissing security and ethical concerns raised by Democrats and even some conservatives. ## Trump's Middle East business ties predate his presidencies Trump's first commercial foray in the Middle East came in 2005, during just his second year of starring on "The Apprentice." A Trump Tower Dubai project was envisioned as a tulip-shaped hotel to be perched on the city's manmade island shaped like a palm tree. It never materialized. Instead, February 2017 saw the announced opening of Trump International Golf Club Dubai, with Sajwani's DAMAC Properties. Just a month earlier, Trump had said that Sajwani had tried to make a $2 billion deal with him, "And I turned it down." "I didn't have to turn it down, because as you know, I have a no-conflict situation because I'm president," Trump said then. This January, there was a beaming Sajwani standing triumphantly by Trump's side at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, to announce DAMAC's investment in U.S. data centers. "It's been amazing news for me and my family when he was elected in November," Sajwani said. "For the last four years, we've been waiting for this moment."
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 21:00:45+00:00	[ "Georgia", "Adalberto Jordan", "Voting", "Black experience", "National", "Voting rights", "Abha Khanna", "U.S. Democratic Party", "Politics", "U.S. Republican Party", "Steve Jones", "Stephen Petrany", "Ari Savitzky", "Brad Raffensperger" ]	# Challengers argue Georgia's new maps still harm Black voters By Jeff Amy May 15th, 2025, 09:00 PM --- ATLANTA (AP) — Challengers on Thursday told a federal appeals court that Georgia lawmakers are still violating Black voters' rights after redrawing the state's congressional and legislative maps. If judges uphold the challenges, they could order different district lines to be used in Georgia for the rest of the decade, making it possible that more districts would elect candidates favored by Black voters — usually Democrats. The voting rights groups argued in three cases that lawmakers created additional majority-Black districts, but didn't do enough to address the harms suffered in the areas where they proved at trial that there was illegal vote dilution. For state Senate and House maps, the area in question is in Atlanta's southern suburbs. For the congressional map, it's in areas north and west of downtown Atlanta. But lawmakers drew in Black voters in other parts of the metro area to make new Black-majority districts. "Going to a different part of Atlanta to create opportunities for Black voters is not sufficient," said Ari Savitzky, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union representing those challenging state legislative maps. Lawyers for the state, defending the current maps, say that the state has complied with a court ruling ordering new maps and that the challengers can't demand new districts in exact locations. Stephen Petrany, Georgia's solicitor general, says the challengers are really trying to elect more Democrats, and that the court shouldn't let them use the lawsuits to do that. "Are these the right number of districts? Yes. Are they in the right area? Yes," Petrany told judges. "That is the end of this case." Judge Adalberto Jordan said any decision on redrawing maps would wait until after a ruling on a separate challenge to U.S. District Judge Steve Jones' original decision by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In that case, argued in January, Raffensperger contends that Jones' decision should be overturned and the state should revert to the maps that lawmakers drew in 2021 before Jones ruled they were illegal under the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Section 2 of that law protects minority voters. The challengers have a steep climb. Jones ruled in 2023 after a trial that lines were drawn to illegally dilute Black votes. But he accepted maps drawn by lawmakers in special session as fixing the illegalities. For the three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the map, the judges must rule that Jones abused his discretion. Jones rejected claims that the new maps didn't do enough to help Black voters. Jones said he couldn't interfere with legislative choices, even if Republicans moved to protect their power. But challengers say Jones was too deferential to lawmakers even when he had already found they had acted illegally. Jordan repeatedly pushed the challengers on how many of the affected voters had to be included in new districts. Lawyers for the challengers said there was no set standard, but that Georgia lawmakers hadn't done enough. Abha Khanna, representing challengers in two lawsuits said the new map "laundered Black voters across districts deftly to create the illusion of new opportunities." While the maps created additional Black-majority districts, they also locked in Republican advantages. In a state where GOP candidates in competitive races win at best 53% or 54% of the vote statewide, Republicans hold 64% of congressional seats, or 9 of 14. They hold 59% of state Senate seats, or 33 of 56. The state House is a little closer to parity, with Republicans holding 100 of 180 seats, or 56%. If the current maps are not overturned, Georgia is likely to use them through the 2030 state elections.
Associated Press News	2025-05-19 07:59:36+00:00	[ "France", "Italy", "Spain", "Portugal" ]	# Flights cancelled and delayed at Paris-Orly airport after traffic control systems break down May 19th, 2025, 07:59 AM --- PARIS (AP) — France's civil aviation authority said some flights were still being cancelled and others delayed on Monday at Paris-Orly airport, one day after air traffic control systems suffered a breakdown that caused substantial disruption. "The situation is improving," the authority, known as DGAC said, in a statement. Airlines have been asked to reduce flights by 15% on Monday — down from a 40% reduction on Sunday. "Despite these preventive measures, delays are expected," the statement said. The DGAC didn't provide details on the cause of the breakdown. Paris-Orly airport serves domestic and international flights, including to most European countries and the United States. Flights to Italy, Spain, Portugal and southern France have notably been cancelled on Monday. More than 33 million passengers traveled through Paris-Orly airport last year, about half the number at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, according to figures released by the operator Aeroport de Paris.
Associated Press News	2025-05-14 07:53:50+00:00	[ "Military and defense", "Plane crashes", "Hiroaki Uchikura", "Japan", "Tokyo", "Japan government" ]	# Japan grounds military training aircraft after crash leaves 2 crew members missing By Mari Yamaguchi May 14th, 2025, 07:53 AM --- TOKYO (AP) — Japan grounded most of its aging military training aircraft on Wednesday after one of the planes crashed minutes after take off. Two crew are missing after the T-4 training aircraft operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force crashed after taking off from Komaki Air Base, in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi, officials said. The force said the plane was lost from radar two minutes after departure. The authorities are searching for the missing aircraft and its crew in an area near a reservoir known as the Iruka pond, officials said. The reservoir, in the city of Inuyama, is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of the air base. The military has grounded temporarily nearly 200 T-4s until the cause of the accident is identified and safety checks and training are carried out, Hiroaki Uchikura, the air force chief of staff, told a news conference late Wednesday. The crashed plane was a 36-year-old T-4 operated out of Nyutabaru Air Base, in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki. It was not fitted with a voice recorder or a flight data recorder. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani earlier Wednesday told reporters that parts of the aircraft have been found at the crash site. Officials were also preparing to collect fuel apparently leaked from the aircraft and floating in the reservoir, Nakatani said. Lifesaving equipment and helmets of the crew were also found, Uchikura said. Witnesses told the NHK national broadcaster that they heard a loud noise like thunder, followed by sirens of police cars and fire engines. The T-4 was returning to Nyutabaru air base after its crew had earlier helped deliver a F-15 fighter jet to Komaki Air Base for scheduled maintenance, Uchikura said. A captain with more than 1,000 hours of flight experience had piloted the F-15, while a first lieutenant piloted the T-4. Both were in the T-4 on their way back to Komaki when the incident happened. The crash is the latest in a series of defense aircraft accidents in recent years. In April 2024, two SH-60K navy reconnaissance helicopters crashed during nighttime anti-submarine training near Torishima island, about 600 kilometers south of Tokyo, leaving all eight crewmembers dead. In 2023, an army UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter on a reconnaissance mission crashed off a southern island of Miyako, with the loss of 10 crew.
Associated Press News	2025-05-15 09:55:45+00:00	[ "Sicily", "United Kingdom", "Italy", "Angela Bacares", "Jonathan Bloomer", "Boat and ship accidents", "Judy Bloomer", "Coastlines and beaches", "Simon Graves", "Mike Lynch" ]	# Extreme wind blamed for sinking of superyacht off Sicily last year, British probe says By Pan Pylas May 15th, 2025, 09:55 AM --- LONDON (AP) — The superyacht of British tech magnate Mike Lynch, which capsized last August off the coast of Sicily at the cost of seven lives, was knocked over by "extreme wind" and could not recover, British investigators said Thursday. Billionaire entrepreneur Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, were among the dead when the 56-meter (184 feet) Bayesian sank Aug. 19 last year. The boat trip was a celebration of Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the U.S. in June. In an interim report on the disaster, Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said the boat was "vulnerable" to winds that were even lighter than the ones that tipped it over. The report was based on "a limited amount of verified evidence" as a criminal investigation by Italian authorities has restricted its access to the wreck and other pieces of evidence, it said. The agency, which is investigating the disaster because the Bayesian was registered in the U.K, said the "vulnerabilities" were "unknown to either the owner or the crew," as they were not included in the stability information book carried on board. The report stated that the Bayesian was sailed to the site where it sank the day before in order to "shelter" from forecast thunderstorms. It said the disaster occurred at 4:06 a.m. local time, when wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (81 mph.), "violently" knocking the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds, It said that at the time of the incident, the vessel was in a "motoring condition" with its sails lowered, while the centerboard, which is used to help stabilize it, was in a "raised" position. "You have the wind pushing the vessel over and then you have the stability of the vessel trying to push the vessel back up right again," said Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator. "And what our studies found was that they show that the Bayesian may have been vulnerable to high winds and that these winds were likely to have been evident at the time of the accident." Inquest proceedings in the U.K. are looking at the deaths of Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. The others who died in the sinking were U.S. lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel. Fifteen people, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. A project to move the Bayesian into an upright position and lift it to the surface has been paused since May 9 when a diver died during underwater work. Recovery work is set to resume from Thursday. Further details such as "escape routes" will be included in the final report, according to Graves. "Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events," he said. No date has been set for when the final report will be published.
Associated Press News	2025-05-18 15:53:03+00:00	[ "Georgia", "Leon Jones", "Shootings", "Crime", "Gun violence" ]	# Three people fatally shot at central Georgia bar By Associated Press May 18th, 2025, 03:53 PM --- MACON, Ga. (AP) — Four people were fatally shot and eight others injured in less than 48 hours in a central Georgia city this weekend, including one shooting at a bar where three people died. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office was investigating the fatal shooting of three people who were killed in the parking lot outside of the Midtown Daiquiri Bar and Grill in Macon, Georgia, on Sunday after 12 a.m. Bibb County chief coroner Leon Jones identified the victims as Jedarrius Meadows Jr., 28; Javonta Faulks, 32; and Javarsia Meadows, 24. Six other people were injured and are in stable condition, according to Jones. "It's frustrating and its depressing to see the killing," said Jones, who also runs a local organization that tries to prevent gun violence. "We were doing so good, but this week alone we've had five homicides." All three deceased men were pronounced dead outside the bar at approximately 1:10 a.m. Deputies are investigating the shootings. Less than 24 hours earlier, a 25-year-old man was fatally shot at a graduation party on a residential block, the sheriff's department said. That victim was identified as Jaurice Markel Haywood, according to the Bibb County coroner. Two other men were injured and transported to a local hospital, including a 24-year-old man who was in critical condition. The sheriff's department didn't say whether anyone had been arrested in connection with either of the shootings. Macon-Bibb County is in central Georgia and has a population of just under 160,000 people, according to the U.S. Census.
Associated Press News	2025-05-12 12:10:36+00:00	[ "Indonesia", "Indonesia government", "War and unrest", "Military and defense" ]	# Expired ammunition explodes during disposal in Indonesia, killing 13 people By Niniek Karmini May 12th, 2025, 12:10 PM --- JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An explosion during the disposal of expired ammunitions in Indonesia's West Java province on Monday killed at least 13 people, including four soldiers, military officials said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. Members of the Indonesian army were carrying out the disposal of unusable and expired ammunition — which had been stored in a a military warehouse center — in an environmental conservation area in Sagara village of Garut district. The initial explosion was shortly followed by another blast, said Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, the Indonesian military spokesperson. Nine civilians and four army members were killed, Sianturi said, adding that several other people were being treated for various injuries. The cause of the incident is still being investigated, with a focus on whether the standard procedure for ammunition disposal was followed, Sianturi said. The location — vacant land under the management of West Java's Natural Resources Conservation Agency — is far from residential areas and often used for munitions disposal. However, such activities often attract the attention of nearby residents, who often take metal fragments, copper or scrap iron from grenades and mortars, Sianturi said, "And there might be an unexpected second explosion after that." Local television footage showed an explosion lighting up the sky and thick black smoke, followed by a second blast a few minutes later. Another video showed ambulances evacuating the injured victims and the dead.
Associated Press News	2025-05-16 08:08:59+00:00	[ "Donald Trump", "International agreements", "Russia", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy", "Vladimir Putin", "Ukraine", "Marco Rubio", "Friedrich Merz", "Keith Kellogg", "Hakan Fidan", "Emmanuel Macron", "Albania", "Keir Starmer", "Donald Tusk", "Prisoner exchange", "United States government", "Poland government", "Russia government", "United States", "Russia-Ukraine war", "Poland", "Russia Ukraine war", "Politics", "Dmitry Peskov", "Ukraine government", "Andriy Yermak", "Vladimir Medinsky", "Andrei Belousov" ]	# Russia and Ukraine to hold their first peace talks in 3 years By Hanna Arhirova, Andrew Wilks, and Lorne Cook May 16th, 2025, 08:08 AM --- ISTANBUL (AP) — The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow's 2022 invasion ended after less than two hours Friday, and while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back against such a truce, which remains elusive. "We haven't received a Russian 'yes' on this basic point," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhii said after the talks. "If you want to have serious negotiations, you have to have guns silenced." But Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky pronounced himself "satisfied with the outcome," adding that Moscow was ready to continue contacts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland. In a post on X from a European leadership meeting in Albania, he urged "tough sanctions" against Moscow if it rejects "a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings." In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such swap. Both sides also discussed a ceasefire and a meeting between their heads of state, according to chief Ukrainian delegate, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said both sides agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state meeting, which Russia took under consideration. "The pressure on the Russian Federation must continue," said Serhii Kyslytsia, Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister and part of Kyiv's delegation. "We should not really relax at this point." ## New, 'unacceptable conditions' During the talks, a senior Ukrainian official said Russia introduced new, "unacceptable demands" to withdraw Ukrainian forces from huge swaths of territory. The official, who was not authorized to make official statements, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The proposal had not been previously discussed, the official said. The Ukrainian side reiterated it was focused on achieving real progress — an immediate ceasefire and a pathway to substantive diplomacy — "just like the U.S., European partners, and other countries proposed," the official added. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tykhii confirmed the Russian delegation "voiced a number of things that we deem unacceptable," but added: "This is something that Russians usually voice, and we were keeping to our line." The two sides sat opposite each other at a U-shaped table in the Dolmabahce Palace but remained far apart in their conditions for ending the war. Trump, who has pressed for an end to the conflict, said he would meet with Putin "as soon as we can set it up." "I think it's time for us to just do it," Trump told reporters in Abu Dhabi as he wrapped up a trip to the Middle East. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks by urging participants "to take advantage of this opportunity," adding it was "critically important that the ceasefire happens as soon as possible." In a social media post, Fidan called the POW swap as a "confidence-building measure" and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. ## Zelenskyy seeks European unity Zelenskyy was in Tirana, Albania, with leaders of 47 European countries to discuss security, defense and democratic standards against the backdrop of the war. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. "Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war," Zelenskyy said on X, posting a photo of the leaders during the call, the second for the group since May 10. Speaking to reporters after the call with Trump, Starmer said the Russian position "is clearly unacceptable." While he didn't say what the Europeans' response might involve, some of them pressed for new sanctions, with the European Union likely to adopt new measures as soon as Tuesday. Macron said it was "unacceptable that, for a second time, Russia hasn't responded to the demands made by the Americans, supported by Ukraine and the Europeans. No ceasefire, and therefore no meeting at a decision-making level. And no response." Merz said diplomatic efforts so far "have unfortunately failed because of Russia's lack of readiness to take the first steps in the right direction now." "But we will not give up," he added. All three said Kyiv and its allies in Europe will continue to coordinate their efforts. ## Diplomatic maneuvering Both countries engaged in diplomatic maneuvering this week as they tried to show Trump that they are eager to negotiate, although he expressed frustration with the slow progress and threatened to punish foot-dragging. On Thursday, Putin spurned an offer by Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level delegation. Ukraine has accepted a U.S. and European proposal for a full, 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has effectively rejected it by imposing far-reaching conditions. Commenting on a possible Trump-Putin meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to indicate that momentum for such a summit is building. He told reporters that top-level talks were "certainly needed," but added that preparing a summit would take time. ## Fighting continues in Ukraine Russia, meanwhile, is preparing a fresh military offensive, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov was in Minsk to discuss joint military drills in September and deliveries of new weapons to Belarus. Zelenskyy has warned that the military buildup in Belarus, which borders NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, could serve as a cover for future attacks. A Friday drone attack on the northeastern city of Kupiansk killed a 55-year-old woman and wounded four men, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.. Russia's invasion has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, the U.N. says, and razed towns and villages. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have died, and likely a larger number of Russian troops, officials and analysts say. One Ukrainian soldier told AP he wasn't hopeful about the talks. "I don't think they will agree on anything concrete, because summer is the best time for war," said the soldier, who used the call sign "Corsair" in accordance with Ukrainian military rules. "The enemy is trying to constantly escalate the situation." But he said many of his comrades "believe that by the end of the year there will be peace, albeit an unstable one, but peace." Before the talks, Ukrainian officials met with national security advisers from the U.S., France, Germany and the U.K. to coordinate positions, the senior Ukrainian official told AP. The U.S. team was led by retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, while Umerov and presidential office chief Andriy Yermak represented Ukraine, the official said. A three-way meeting between Turkey, the U.S. and Ukraine also took place, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said. The U.S. side included Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as Kellogg. On Thursday, Rubio said he believed a breakthrough was only possible is a meeting between Trump and Putin. ___ Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Associated Press News	2025-05-02 21:36:40+00:00	[ "Elon Musk", "Tesla", "Inc.", "District of Columbia", "Donald Trump", "Denmark", "Europe", "Texas", "Austin", "Finance Business", "Eurocopa 2024", "Protests and demonstrations", "FinancialBusiness", "Business", "Department of Government Efficiency", "Seth Goldstein", "Italy government", "U.S. government shutdown", "Morningstar", "Auto industry" ]	# Musk's next task? Reviving Tesla in Europe where sales have plunged by more than half in a year By Bernard Condon May 2nd, 2025, 09:36 PM --- NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla sales plunged by more than half last month in several European countries in a sign that Elon Musk could struggle to revive the company after he shifts from his Washington work to running the automaker again. Tesla sales collapsed in April by more than two-thirds from a year earlier in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, according to auto groups and government agencies Friday. Sales at the Austin, Texas, company dropped by 59% in France and 38% in Norway. The countries are not major drivers of sales overall, but they are the first to report April results and thus a foretaste of possible trouble elsewhere as Tesla reels from protests and boycotts over Musk wading into politics. In Germany, where he told voters their country was lost if they didn't vote for a candidate widely derided for her extreme views, sales plunged 62% in the first three months this year. German sales for April are not out yet. Financial analysts covering Tesla are worried about the Musk backlash but caution it's not clear exactly how much to blame politics for the hit. Other factors suppressing sales include Tesla's aging model lineup and new offerings from rival electric vehicles makers, such as China BYD. Tesla also had to shut down factories for several weeks this year while upgrading its best selling Model Y sport utility vehicle, pinching supply. And the company is still waiting for European regulators to approve its partial self-driving features in its cars, a big selling point in the U.S. and China. "We could see sales come back once they get it," said Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein, though he added about the April figures, "It's never a good thing when you have large sales declines like this." The disappointing numbers come a little over a week since Musk told investors on a first-quarter conference call that he would be stepping back from his work in Washington as President Donald Trump's chain-saw wielding cost-cutting czar. Musk has shut down whole government departments as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and thrown tens of thousands of public workers out of their jobs. On the call, Musk said he would be spending only one or two days a week on DOGE work starting in May, acceding to demands that he refocus on his job as Tesla's chief executive officer. The stock has been rising since that announcement despite crumbling financial figures. Profits in the first quarter fell 71%. The sales hit in April was the worst in Sweden, where Mobility Sweden said they fell 81%. That was followed by a 74% plunge in the Netherlands and a 67% drop in Denmark, according to the Dutch trade association BOVAG and Mobility Denmark respectively. The Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council reported a 38% drop in that country. One bright spot: Tesla was able to sell more cars in Italy, according to an Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation report, registering a 3% gain for the month.
Associated Press News	2025-05-12 11:33:05+00:00	[ "Newark", "Pittsburgh", "Donald Trump", "Voting", "District of Columbia", "Rachel Martin Golman", "School boards", "Democracy", "Kamala Harris", "Elections", "Tony Moreno", "Thomas West", "Politics", "Makaila Nyambe", "Daniel Hart", "Laura Brill", "Breanna Quist", "Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux" ]	# In Pittsburgh, candidates face their future voters By Gary Fields and Ayanna Alexander May 12th, 2025, 11:33 AM --- PITTSBURGH (AP) — At Perry Traditional Academy, students took time out from classes on a recent Thursday to listen quietly in the school auditorium while a small group of their classmates questioned the four candidates running in Pittsburgh's upcoming mayoral primary. The topics covered an array of issues important to the teens: policing, school funding and youth involvement in their administrations. The forum, coordinated by the Allegheny Youth Vote Coalition working with Pittsburgh Public Schools, was the eighth held at a public high school in the city, all designed to get the youngest and future voters involved in elections. After the candidates left, they had a short oral civics test on elections, with prizes for correct answers. What's happening in Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County is part of a national trend. Young people have consistently turned out to vote at lower rates than older Americans. Civic organizations are hoping to reverse that by getting teenagers engaged in public debate before they are even eligible to vote, seeing it as foundational to the future of U.S. democracy. A Pew Research Center analysis found that voters under the age of 30 made up 15% of voters in the 2020 election and 27% of nonvoters, a slight improvement in both categories over 2016, when that demographic was 13% of all voters and 33% of nonvoters. Voters were also much older than nonvoters, on average, in the 2018 and 2022 midterm elections, according to Pew. ## Allowing teens to have a voice in local elections Among the groups leading the effort nationally is the Civics Center, which works with high schoolers to run voter registration drives and hold forums that are geared toward raising their participation in elections. Others, such as The Gem Project Inc., in Newark, New Jersey, have pushed for students to be able to register and cast ballots in local elections before they turn 18. Last year, the Newark City Council dropped the minimum voting age to 16 for school board elections, making it the first municipality in the state and the second largest city in the country to do so for any election. Oakland was the largest city in the U.S. to lower its voting age in 2020, but teens voted for the first time last year. Breanna Quist, 18, and one of the recent registrants in Newark, said the push was especially important to her because it allowed students to vote for an office, school board, that directly affects them. "This just shows how young people should always just take action. They shouldn't be fearful. They should always advocate for what they believe is right," she said during an interview at a voter registration town hall earlier this year. Nishani Ward, 16, said it was an inspiration when Newark lowered the voting age for local elections. "Doing this right now, I'm more likely to do it in the future and do it more routinely in the future," she said. Media reports said turnout among 16- and 17-year-old registered voters in the April school board election was less than 4% but outpaced the overall turnout. ## Helping young people learn their role in democracy In some places across the country, young people have had success when demanding a greater voice in political decisions. They've argued that voting adults don't always consider them or their needs when casting their ballots. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states and the District of Columbia allow 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the time of a general election to vote in primaries. Even though the youth vote tends to bend left politically, this might be a good time to reconsider the minimum age because it's become less predictable, said Daniel Hart, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University who has studied lowering the voting age. Data from AP VoteCast, a survey of interviews with registered voters in all 50 states, found that Democrat Kamala Harris had a slight edge over Republican Donald Trump among young voters, but young men swung to the right for Trump even if they didn't agree with him on all issues. The Allegheny Youth Vote Coalition held two vote huddles in 2024, drawing students from throughout the county. They learned about the electoral process and held more than 20 voter registration drives, said Rachel Martin Golman, senior director of social impact of the National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh and a coalition member. During a workshop earlier this year, one student attendee asked why the candidates didn't come speak to them, Golman said: "And we all thought, yes, why not, and worked to make it happen." Laura Brill, the founder and CEO of the Civics Center, a Los Angeles-based coalition member, said the point is that "most teens today have few opportunities to consider their important role in our democracy." She said engaging the candidates directly is "the kind of formative experience we believe has been missing from high schools for decades and has undoubtedly led to the low rates of engagement we see among the up-and-coming voters." ## 'You are the future' At Perry, the students in the audience didn't shy away from asking questions important to them and their peers. Makaila Nyambe, 17, asked each mayoral candidate about funding for schools, while fellow junior Deahmi Mobley questioned how they might establish a good relationship between law enforcement and teens. Previous forums at other schools included questions on other issues, including how each candidate would implement diversity, equity and inclusion into their administrations. Trash, homelessness and public safety came up constantly, along with a disagreement over whether more school spending would improve academic performance. Infrastructure, road repairs and cuts to public transit also generated discussion. The students listened closely when all four candidates talked about neighborhood policing and building relationships -- and about the importance of young people at such a forum. "You are the leaders we have been waiting for," said one of the mayoral candidates, retired Pittsburgh police detective Tony Moreno. "You are the future of Pittsburgh," said another candidate, Thomas West, a business owner and former television news producer. "You are the future of America." Stalea Chapman, a 17-year-old senior, said afterward she was glad the candidates were taking the students seriously and reaching out to them because their futures are intertwined with politics and policies, especially now. "It is a lot of pressure being young and seeing what the economy is turning to and what's going on in the world," she said. "It's frightening for young people because we want to be successful." ___ Alexander reported from Newark, New Jersey. Associated Press Polling Editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this article. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about the AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press News	2025-05-08 02:07:22+00:00	[ "Associated Press" ]	# The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists By The Associated Press May 8th, 2025, 02:07 AM --- May 7, 2025 From front-page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today's top photos chosen by Associated Press photo editors. ____ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

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