June 9, 2025 5:10 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces have seized a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists on board, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and protest Israel’s blockade and wartime conduct, said the activists had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces.” Israel said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels.
June 8, 2025 5:08 am
China has reported its exports to the United States fell 35% in May from a year earlier, straining the economy, as trade talks with Washington were due to start in London. Customs data released Monday showed total exports rose 4.8% in May from a year earlier, much lower than economists’ forecasts and down sharply from an 8.1% jump in April. Its imports declined 3.4% year-on-year, leaving a trade surplus of $103.2 billion. China’s exports to the U.S. fell 9.7% in May to June. Exports to the U.S. sank even after U.S. President Donald Trump struck a deal with Beijing in early May to delay imposing stiff tariff hikes to allow time for talks.
June 9, 2025 1:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, an electrifying musician, songwriter and showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and ’70s, has died. He was 82. His time on top was brief, from roughly 1969 to 1971, but his influence on music and culture lasted for decades after. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash. From early hits as rousing as their titles —“I Want To Take You Higher,” “Stand!” — to the sober aftermath of “Family Affair” and “Runnin’ Away,” Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it wanted to hear the message. (Photo: AP)
June 8, 2025 7:41 am
WPXI — A state of emergency has been declared for Allegheny County after severe weather caused flooding throughout the area. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato declared a countywide disaster emergency Saturday as people continue to clean up damage caused by flash floods that happened on Friday. The county said Monroeville, Penn Hills, Pitcairn, White Oak, McKeesport, North Versailles, Wall Borough and parts of Plum were among the communities hit the hardest. Five swift-water teams were sent to White Oak, McKeesport and North Versailles to help assess damage. Three rescues were conducted on Friday. Allegheny County said two of those happened at homes in North Versailles. Another was from a vehicle on Route 48 in White Oak. Officials said multiple landslides are under investigation. The state of emergency allows the Allegheny County Emergency Services Coordinator to “coordinate all emergency response efforts, take necessary actions to reduce the impact of this disaster, assist in restoring essential services, and implement all emergency response measures deemed necessary.” Allegheny County is also authorized to take any necessary actions to make repairs and ensure safety after the flooding. That includes hiring temporary workers, renting equipment, purchasing supplies and entering into emergency contracts. The American Red Cross and the County Department of Public Works are already working together.
June 8, 2025 8:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected a Republican appeal and left in place a Pennsylvania court decision allowing people to cast provisional ballots when their mail-in votes are rejected for not following technical procedures in state law. The court released the decision Friday, after an “apparent software malfunction” sent out early notifications about orders that had been slated to be released Monday. A technological error also resulted in an opinion being posted early last year. The justices acted in an appeal filed by the Republican National Committee, the state GOP and the Republican-majority election board in Butler County. Pennsylvania’s top court ruled last year that the county must count provisional ballots that were cast by two voters after they learned their mail-in ballots were voided because they arrived without mandatory secrecy envelopes. Pennsylvania Democrats had urged the court to stay out of the case. (Photo: AP)
June 8, 2025 7:56 am
(AP) – President Donald Trump says he’s deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles to respond to immigration protests, over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. It’s not the first time Trump has activated the National Guard to quell protests. In 2020, he asked governors of several states to send troops to Washington, D.C. to respond to demonstrations that arose after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Here are some things to know about when and how the president can deploy troops on U.S. soil. (Photo: AP)
June 8, 2025 7:57 am
(AP) – Russian officials say that Moscow is still awaiting confirmation from Kyiv on a planned exchange of 6,000 bodies of soldiers killed in action and is accusing Ukraine of delaying the process. Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin, a Russian negotiator, said on Sunday that Russia delivered 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian troops to a border site and is receiving “signals” the transfer may be postponed until next week. The swap was agreed during direct talks in Istanbul, though both sides have since accused each other of undermining the plan. Ukraine has denied a date was agreed and accused Russia of manipulating facts and submitting incorrect repatriation lists.
June 8, 2025 7:59 am
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — This year’s Boulder Jewish Festival is being reimagined to focus on community healing. That comes after an attack during a weekly gathering of a group that has been calling for Hamas to release Israeli hostages. The cultural celebration kicks off Sunday morning at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall — the same location where police say a man yelled “Free Palestine” and threw Molotov cocktails at the demonstrators. The man, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged with attempted murder and other crimes in a Colorado court. The festival will center the demonstrators’ cause — raising awareness of the 58 people believed to still be in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
June 7, 2025 5:12 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A large Russian drone-and-missile attack has targeted Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, killing at least three people and injuring 21. Local Ukrainian officials said the attack on Saturday included deadly aerial glide bombs. Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia struck with 215 missiles and drones overnight, and Ukrainian air defenses shot down and neutralized 87 drones and seven missiles. Kharkiv’s mayor Ihor Terekhov said the barrage also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. The intensity of the attacks over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal anytime soon days — especially after Kyiv recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprising drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia.
June 7, 2025 5:11 am
A three-judge appeals court panel ruled against The Associated Press in its continuing bid to restore full access to covering events involving President Donald Trump. The panel granted the president a stay of a lower-court ruling that he had improperly punished the AP for the content of its speech — in this case not renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Trump’s liking. Two judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with Trump’s contention that a president has the discretion to invite whatever reporters he wants to cover him in small spaces like the Oval Office, Air Force One or Mar-a-Lago.
