May 13, 2024 5:12 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces are battling Palestinian militants across Gaza, including in parts of the devastated north that the military said it cleared months ago. Neighboring Egypt has issued its strongest objection yet to Israel’s growing offensive on the southern city of Rafah, saying it intends to formally join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Rafah is considered the last refuge in Gaza for more than a million civilians as well as Hamas’ last stronghold. Israel says it must invade to dismantle Hamas and return scores of hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.
May 13, 2024 5:15 am
Despite pro-Palestinian protests roiling some U.S. college campuses this spring, graduation ceremonies are going off largely peacefully so far. Only about 30 students at Duke University stood up against comedian and pro-Israel entertainer Jerry Seinfeld, who received an honorary doctorate Sunday. The vast majority of the 7,000 students there took no overt action as the crowd let out a mix of cheers and boos. At Emerson College in Boston, some students took off their graduation robes and left them on stage. A few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters tried to block access to Sunday evening’s commencement for Southern California’s Pomona College.
May 13, 2024 5:13 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his troops are locked in intense battles with the advancing Russian army in two border areas. He said “fierce battles” are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers try to push back a significant Russian ground offensive. Analysts say the Kremlin’s forces are aiming to exploit Ukrainian weaknesses before a big batch of new military aid for Kyiv from the U.S. and European partners arrives on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months. Meanwhile, the death toll from a Russian apartment building collapse blamed on Ukrainian shelling rose to 15.
May 12, 2024 8:50 am
SAMASTIPUR, India (AP) — Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies are casting their ballots as the country’s gigantic, six-week-long election edges past its halfway mark. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term with an eye on winning a supermajority in Parliament. Monday’s polling in the fourth round of the multi-phase national elections offers crucial seats for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra and Bihar states. Most polls predict a win for Modi’s BJP, which is up against a broad opposition alliance. The staggered election will run until June 1 before votes are counted on June 4. Almost 970 million voters will cast their ballots in this election, more than 10% of the world’s population.
May 13, 2024 8:49 am
LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A tiny, low-priced electric vehicle called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling. The car, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around $12,000 in China. But it drives well and is put together with craftsmanship that rivals U.S.-made electric vehicles that cost three times as much. Tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles probably will keep the Seagull away from America’s shores for now. But the rapid emergence of low-priced EVs from China could shake up the global auto industry in ways not seen since Japanese makers arrived during the oil crises of the 1970s.
May 12, 2024 8:21 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Crews are preparing to conduct a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. The explosives are expected to be detonated Sunday. The steel span landed on the bow of a massive container ship that lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support columns shortly after leaving Baltimore on March 26. Since then, the ship has been stuck amid the wreckage and Baltimore’s busy port has been closed to most maritime traffic. The controlled demolition will allow the Dali to be refloated and restore traffic through the port.
May 12, 2024 8:22 am
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Schools across the U.S. are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence and video cameras to spot guns. Some states are considering multimillion-dollar grant programs for the technology. But many of those bills have been written with specific criteria so only one software provider can qualify. That company is ZeroEyes, which was founded a few years ago by military veterans. The chair of the National Council of School Safety Directors says the technology is good. But he has concerns about state laws giving preference to providers of particular security platforms.
May 12, 2024 8:40 am
BOSTON (AP) — The first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died nearly two months after he underwent the procedure. Rick Slayman underwent the procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital in March. The hospital’s transplant team says it is deeply saddened by Slayman’s passing and offered condolences to his family. They say there is no indication he died as a result of the transplant. Slayman’s family thanked his doctors, saying their efforts gave them seven more weeks with him. They say their memories from that time will remain in their minds and hearts.
May 12, 2024 8:34 am
(AP) – The Cannes Film Festival rarely passes without cacophony but this year’s edition may be more raucous and uneasy than any edition in recent memory. When the red carpet is rolled out Tuesday, the 77th Cannes will unfurl against a backdrop of war, protest, potential strikes and quickening #MeToo upheaval in France. Festival workers are threatening to strike. The Israel-Gaza war is sure to spark protests. Russia’s war in Ukraine remains on the minds of many. Being prepared for anything has long been a useful attitude in Cannes, but that may go doubly so this year. Befitting such tumultuous times, the film lineup is full of intrigue and question marks.
May 12, 2024 8:15 am
(WPXI) – Parishioners inside a Washington County church had a shake-up after a tornado lifted the roof of the building while they were in service. The National Weather Service said a tornado passed through Union Township from 6:05 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. While it was in the area, Washington County officials say it hit a church. Pastor Ken Barner said about 100 people, including babies, were inside at the time. “I go out and I see debris flying all over the auditorium, so I immediately tell everybody to go down into the basement,” he said. The pastor’s wife Rhonda, who is the worship leader at Crossroads Ministries, was singing on stage, mid-song, when she heard the noise. “I saw the lights were flickering and I saw they went out,” Rhonda Barner said. “I thought I heard the windows start to shatter, and then the sound was like a train coming through and more windows were shattering. ‘ The pastor said powerful winds ripped the roof off the office building that’s connected to the church. The tornado then took out the steeple throwing it about 50 feet into the parking lot crushing cars. The pastor said it was a miracle no one was seriously hurt. “There’s no way we should be here,” Ken Barner said. “God was with us. I explained to our people that God’s promise is to take care of his people and today we believe that God did that.” Services were not held at the church Sunday but were streamed on Facebook. Anyone who needs assistance after the tornado is encouraged to go to Trax Farms.
