Israeli forces raid Gaza’s largest hospital, where hundreds of patients are stranded by fighting

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces raided Gaza’s largest hospital early Wednesday, where hundreds of patients, including newborns, have been stranded with dwindling supplies and no electricity, as the army extended its control across Gaza City and the north.

Shifa Hospital has become a symbol of the widespread suffering of Palestinian civilians during the war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted after the militant group killed some 1,200 people and seized around 240 captives in a surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel.

The hospital is also at the heart of clashing narratives over who is to blame for the thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in the besieged territory. Israel accuses Hamas of using Palestinians as human shields, while Palestinians and rights groups say Israel has recklessly endangered civilians as it seeks to eradicate the group.

Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, said Israeli tanks were inside the medical compound and that soldiers had entered buildings, including the emergency and surgery departments, which house intensive care units. It was not clear if he was speaking from inside the compound.

“The occupation forces stormed the buildings,” he said angrily over the phone. He said the patients, including children, are terrified. “They are screaming. It’s a very terrifying situation … we can do nothing for the patients but pray.”

Biden, Xi meeting is aimed at getting relationship back on better footing, but tough issues loom

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping head into their big meeting at a country estate on Wednesday hoping to stabilize U.S.-China relations after a period of tumult, but the U.S. president also is prepared to confront his counterpart on difficult issues such as trade, Beijing’s burgeoning relationship with Iran and human rights concerns.

The two leaders, who will meet on the sidelines of a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders, last spoke a year ago. Since then, already fraught ties between the two economic superpowers have been further strained by the U.S. downing of a Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the continental U.S. and over differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, China’s hacking of a Biden official’s emails and other incidents.

The two leaders are in California for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, but will hold their one-on-one talks at Filoli Estate, a country house and museum about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco, according to three senior administration officials. The officials requested anonymity to discuss the location, which had not yet been confirmed by the White House or the Chinese government due to tight security.

Both men are seeking to show the world that while the U.S. and China are economic competitors, they are not locked in a winner-take-all faceoff with global implications. Their relationship has been increasingly defined by differences over export controls, Taiwan and the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

Biden is expected to let Xi know that he would like China to use its sway over Iran to make clear that Tehran or its proxies should not take action that could lead to expansion of the Israel-Hamas war. The Biden administration also sees the Chinese, a big buyer of Iranian oil, as having considerable leverage with Iran, which is a major backer of Hamas.

House votes to prevent a government shutdown as GOP Speaker Johnson relies on Democrats for help

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to prevent a government shutdown after new Republican Speaker Mike Johnson was forced to reach across the aisle to Democrats when hard-right conservatives revolted against his plan.

Johnson’s proposal to temporarily fund the government into the new year passed on a bipartisan 336-95 tally, but 93 Republicans voted against it. It was the first time the new speaker had to force vital legislation through the House, and he showed a willingness to leave his right-flank Republicans behind — the same political move that cost the last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, his job just weeks ago.

For now, Johnson of Louisiana appeared on track for a better outcome. His approach, which the Senate is expected to approve by week’s end, effectively pushes a final showdown over government funding to the new year.

“Making sure that government stays in operation is a matter of conscience for all of us. We owe that to the American people,” Johnson said earlier Tuesday at a news conference at the Capitol.

The new Republican leader faced the same political problem that led to McCarthy’s ouster — angry, frustrated, hard-right GOP lawmakers rejected his approach, demanded budget cuts and voted against the plan. Rather than the applause and handshakes that usually follow passage of a bill, several hardline conservatives animatedly confronted the speaker as they exited the chamber.

UK top court says a plan to send migrants to Rwanda is unlawful because they would be at risk

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the government’s contentious plan to send some migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda is illegal, striking a major blow to a key policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government that has drawn international attention and criticism.

Five justices on the country’s top court said asylum-seekers would be “at real risk of ill-treatment” because they could be sent back to their home countries once they were in Rwanda.

Britain and Rwanda signed a deal in April 2022 to send some migrants who arrive in the U.K. across the English Channel to the East African country, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.

Britain’s government argues that the Rwanda policy will deter people from risking their lives crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and will break the business model of people-smuggling gangs. Opposition politicians, refugee groups and human rights organizations say the plan is unethical and unworkable.

No one has yet been sent to the country as the plan was challenged in the courts.

Labor abuse on fishing vessels widespread, with China topping list of offenders, report says

MIAMI (AP) — Hazardous, forced work conditions sometimes akin to slavery have been detected on nearly 500 industrial fishing vessels around the world, but identifying those responsible for abuses at sea is hampered by a lack of transparency and regulatory oversight, a new report concluded.

The research by the Financial Transparency Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that tracks illicit money flows, is the most comprehensive attempt to date to identify the companies operating vessels where tens of thousands of workers every year are estimated to be trapped in unsafe conditions.

The report, published Wednesday, found that a quarter of vessels suspected of abusing workers are flagged to China, whose distant water fleet dominates fishing on the high seas, traditionally lawless areas beyond the jurisdiction of any single country. Vessels from Russia, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea were also accused of mistreatment of fishers.

This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Tens of thousands of supporters of Israel rally in Washington, crying ‘never again’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of Israel rallied by the tens of thousands on the National Mall under heavy security Tuesday, voicing solidarity in the fight against Hamas and crying “never again.”

The “March for Israel” offered a resounding and bipartisan endorsement of one of America’s closest allies as criticism has intensified over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, set off by the bloody Hamas incursion on Oct. 7.

Overlooking a sea of Israeli and U.S. flags, the top Democrats in Congress — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies — came together on the stage with Republicans Mike Johnson, the House speaker, and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. They joined hands as Schumer chanted, “We stand with Israel.”

Yet underneath that projection of unity, Democrats are sharply divided over Israel’s course and its treatment of Palestinians. President Joe Biden now is urging Israel to restrain some of its tactics to ease civilian suffering in Gaza after voicing full-throated solidarity with the Israelis in the war’s early weeks.

A succession of speakers took the stage to denounce the Hamas attack and what they said was a virulent spread of antisemitism internationally, “an embarrassment to all civilized people and nations,” in the words of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who addressed the crowd by video from the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The Lion, the chainsaw and the populist: The rallies of Argentina’s Javier Milei

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Batman and the Joker, a man decked out in a full-body lion costume, and another whose head and arms have been replaced by chainsaws. This isn’t Carnival or Comic-Con, but rather the outlandish campaign rally for Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei.

In just a few short years, the right-wing populist Milei went from being a television talking head who garnered high ratings with his unrestrained outbursts against a “political caste” he blamed for Argentina’s perennial economic woes to a frontrunner for the presidency. He even dabbled in cosplay, dressing up as “General AnCap,” short for anarcho-capitalist, at a 2019 event.

Just as his candidacy started as a made-for-television spectacle, his followers picked up the baton and have often turned rallies into opportunities to show their devotion to their candidate using props that go viral on social media.

Shortly after he first appeared on television, the self-described libertarian grew a cult-like following among those drawn to his no-nonsense style. His appeal seems to lie in his ability to channel anger that Argentines feel against the ruling class amid red-hot triple-digit inflation and rising poverty.

Once seen as a sideshow in Argentine politics, Milei managed to parlay his success as a talking head into a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, Argentina’s lower house of Congress, in 2021. He then launched what looked like a long-shot presidential bid, but rocked Argentina’s political establishment when he received the most votes in the country’s August primaries, a national contest seen as a massive poll of voter preferences.

Biden aims for improved military relations with China when he meets with Xi

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to agree Wednesday to restore some military-to-military communications between their armed forces when they meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.

The plan is to revive the regular talks under what’s known as the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement, which until 2020 had been used to improve safety in the air and sea, said a U.S. official, who requested anonymity to preview the leaders’ expected announcement.

U.S. military leaders have expressed repeated concerns about the lack of communications with China, particularly as the number of unsafe or unprofessional incidents between the two nations’ ships and aircraft has spiked.

According to the Pentagon’s most recent report on China’s military power, Beijing has “denied, canceled or ignored” military-to-military communications and meetings with the Pentagon for much of last year and this year. The report warns that the lack of such talks “raises the risk of an operational incident or miscalculation spiraling into crisis or conflict.”

The U.S. views military relations with China as critical to avoiding any missteps and maintaining a peaceful Indo-Pacific region. Here’s a look at the often fraught relationship between the U.S. and Chinese militaries.

Asian economies must ramp up wind and solar power to keep global warming under 1.5C, report says

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — To meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), nine major Asian economies must increase the share of electricity they get from renewable energy from the current 6% to at least 50% by 2030, according to a report by a German thinktank released Wednesday.

Nearly a third of that renewable energy should come from wind and solar power, said the report by researchers of Berlin-based Agora Energiewende. A fifth would be hydropower and other clean sources and the remainder, fossil fuels.

The study analyzed energy plans of both developing nations like Indonesia and Vietnam where demand for energy is growing rapidly, and wealthier places like Japan and South Korea, which have among the highest burdens of per capita greenhouse gas emissions. It did not include China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon, or India, another major contributor.

A global temperature increase of 1.5C (2.7F) since pre-industrial times is considered a critical climate threshold beyond which risks of catastrophes rise. The world will likely lose most of its coral reefs, a key ice sheet could kick into irreversible melt, and water shortages, heat waves and death from extreme weather may surge, according to an earlier United Nations scientific report.

Agora Energiewende researchers found that Asian nations are united in their heavy reliance on fossil fuels and national plans are not aligned with ambitious climate pledges announced by their governments.

Many parents don’t know when kids are behind in school. Are report cards telling enough?

Nearly nine out of 10 parents believe their child is performing at grade level despite standardized tests showing far fewer students are on track, according to a poll released Wednesday by Gallup and the nonprofit Learning Heroes.

Report cards, which many parents rely on for a sense of their children’s progress, might be missing the whole picture, researchers say. Without that knowledge, parents may not seek opportunities for extra support for their children.

“Grades are the holy grail,” said Bibb Hubbard, founder and president of Learning Heroes. “They’re the number one indicator that parents turn to to understand that their child is on grade level, yet a grade does not equal grade-level mastery. But nobody’s told parents that.”

In the Gallup survey, 88% of parents say their child is on grade level in reading, and 89% of parents believe their child is on grade level in math. But in a federal survey, school officials said half of all U.S. students started last school year behind grade level in at least one subject.

In a report examining grade point averages and test scores in the state of Washington over the past decade, researchers found grades jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many districts had eased their grading policies to account for the chaos and hardship students were experiencing.

The post AP Information in Transient at 6:04 a.m. EST | Nationwide Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Autoworkers reach a deal with Ford, a breakthrough toward ending strikes against Detroit automakers

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says it has reached a tentative contract agreement with Ford that could be a breakthrough to end the nearly 6-week-old strikes against Detroit automakers. The four-year deal still has to be approved by 57,000 union members at the company. It could bring a close to the union’s series of strikes at targeted factories run by Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. The Ford deal could set the pattern for agreements with the other two automakers, although no other agreements were announced Wednesday.

Twitter takeover: 1 year later, X struggles with misinformation, advertising and usage decline

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One year ago, billionaire Elon Musk walked into Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters with a white bathroom sink and a grin, fired its CEO and other top executives and began transforming the social media platform into what is now known as X. X looks and feels something like Twitter, but the more time you spend on it the clearer it becomes that it’s merely an approximation. Musk has dismantled many core features of Twitter, but what X will become, and whether Musk can achieve his ambition of turning it into an “everything app” that everyone uses, remains unclear.

General Motors and Stellantis in talks with United Auto Workers to reach deals that mirror Ford’s

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis are meeting with United Auto Workers bargainers to see if they can reach a contract agreement that mirrors a deal signed with crosstown rival Ford. Nearly 17,000 striking workers at Ford left the picket lines when the agreement was announced Wednesday night and will return to work shortly. About 57,000 Ford workers still have to vote on the tentative deal. GM and Stellantis will have to follow the pattern set by Ford or it’s likely that UAW President Shawn Fain will add factories to its partial strikes that began on Sept. 15.

Many Americans say their household expenses are outpacing earnings this year, AP-NORC poll shows

NEW YORK (AP) — About two in three Americans say their household expenses have risen over the last year, but only about one in four say their income has increased in the same period. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. As household expenses outpace earnings, many are expressing concern about their financial futures. What’s more, for most Americans, household debt is rising or not going away. About half say they currently have credit card debt, 4 in 10 are dealing with auto loans, and about one in four have medical debt. Just 15% say their household savings have increased over the last year.

Grandpa Google? Tech giant begins antitrust defense by poking fun at its status among youth

WASHINGTON (AP) — Google is beginning its defense against a federal lawsuit accusing it of illegally thwarting competition for its ubiquitous search engine. Thursday’s testimony came from a top executive who talked about the precarious nature of the company’s success. Prabhakar Raghavan, a senior vice president at Google, testified at federal court in Washington as the tech giant defends itself in the biggest antitrust trial in the last 25 years. He described Google as a company beset by competitors  and sometimes derided by younger people as “Grandpa Google.” The Justice Department accuses Google of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain dominance in internet search.

US economic growth accelerated to strong 4.9% rate last quarter as consumers shrugged off Fed hikes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s economy expanded at a robust 4.9% annual rate from July through September as Americans defied higher prices, rising interest rates and widespread forecasts of a recession to spend at a brisk pace. The economy expanded last quarter at the fastest pace in more than two years — and more than twice the 2.1% annual rate of the previous quarter. Thursday’s report on the nation’s gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — showed that consumers drove the acceleration, ramping up their spending on everything from cars to restaurant meals.

Stock market today: World shares rebound following latest tumble on Wall Street. Oil prices gain $2

HONG KONG (AP) — World shares have advanced and oil prices jumped about $2 after the Israeli military said its troops and tanks had briefly entered northern Gaza. Shares rose in most major markets apart from Paris. U.S. futures also advanced. Worries that the latest Israel-Hamas war might lead to a wider conflict, disrupting oil supplies from elsewhere have been pushing oil prices higher.  On Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 1.2% for its ninth drop in 11 days. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.8% and the Dow sank 0.8%. Worries that the latest Israel-Hamas war might lead to a wider conflict, disrupting oil supplies from elsewhere in the region, have been pushing oil prices higher.

Norfolk Southern investing in more automated inspection systems on its railroad to improve safety

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk Southern has installed the first of what will be more than a dozen of a new generation of automated inspection portals on its tracks in Ohio — not far from where one of its trains derailed in February and spilled hazardous chemicals that caught fire. The new portals are equipped with high-speed cameras that will take hundreds of pictures of every passing rail car to help quickly identify defects on moving trains. The pictures are analyzed by artificial intelligence software. Other major railroads have invested in similar inspection technology to supplement — and where regulators approve it, replace — human inspections. University of Delaware railroad safety expert Allan Zarembski said it’s significant that Norfolk Southern is investing in so many of these portals.

Europe’s central bank halts rate hikes as war in the Middle East casts a shadow over the economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank has taken a break from interest rate increases. The pause announced Thursday follows 10 straight hikes, dating back to July 2022. That record pace of hiking was aimed getting painful inflation under control. But now inflation is down, and the Israel-Hamas war is casting a shadow of uncertainty over the global economy. There are fears about rising oil prices. With that backdrop and concerns growing that high credit costs used to fight inflation might slow economic growth and tip Europe into a recession, the ECB held rates at a record-high 4%.

Will Ivanka Trump have to testify at her father’s civil fraud trial? Judge to hear arguments Friday

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial is turning to the question of whether his daughter Ivanka will have to testify. Friday’s court session is set to start with a hearing on the issue. Ivanka Trump has been dismissed from the case, and lawyers for her father, her brothers and their business contend that she shouldn’t have to testify. New York state lawyers say she should. They argue that the former Trump Organization executive vice president has relevant information. It’s unclear how soon she would testify if ordered to do so. Donald Trump is expected to testify at some point.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Enterprise SummaryBrief at 6:36 a.m. EDT | Nationwide Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

What’s that bar band playing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”? Oh, it’s the Rolling Stones!

NEW YORK (AP) — The Rolling Stones celebrated the release of their first collection of new original songs in 18 years with a club gig in Manhattan Thursday before a few hundred invited guests. The rock legends performed seven songs, four of them from the new “Hackney Diamonds” disc, which is out Friday. But they had time for a few favorites. “You might be familiar with this one,” singer Mick Jagger said before Keith Richards began the opening riff to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” instantly trumping the thousands of bar band versions of the song attempted in the 55 years since its release. Only this time, the band at the bar in New York’s Meatpacking district was the Rolling Stones.

Britney Spears’ book ‘The Woman In Me’ makes private details public, and public events personal

Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spear’s highly anticipated memoir “The Woman in Me” will be released Tuesday. In it, the pop superstar gives her personal take on events that have made headlines for decades. They include her relationship with Justin Timberlake and the emotional challenges of an abortion and painful breakup. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the book Thursday. The book also discusses the custody fight with ex-husband Kevin Federline that helped lead to a public meltdown that would end with the courts, and her father, taking control of her life. There is plenty of positivity in “The Woman in Me” too, including discussions of the origins of her hits and a dedication to her two sons.

Man who crashed into Chinese Consulate in San Francisco was armed with knife, crossbow, police say

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco police say a man who crashed a car at the Chinese Consulate earlier this month was armed with a crossbow and arrows and swung a knife at officers before a police sergeant killed him. San Francisco Police Acting Commander Mark Im says an officer opened fire after Zhanyuan Yang failed to comply with orders to get on the ground and swung his knife toward the officer and a security guard. A bystander calling 911 said Yang had a gun, but police did not find a gun on him. Police have not released a motive for the attack.

Southern California university mourns loss of four seniors killed in Pacific Coast Highway crash

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California university wrestling with the deaths of four seniors who were struck by a car sought to comfort students and faculty at a campus prayer service. The students at Pepperdine University’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts were remembered Thursday as “bright lights with promise and aspirations.” University President Jim Gash says the student body is in despair from the deaths. Authorities have arrested a 22-year-old driver on suspicion of manslaughter. Officials say he lost control of his BMW and hit at least six pedestrians after smashing into parked vehicles along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Will Smith joins Jada Pinkett Smith at book talk, calls their relationship brutal and beautiful

BALTIMORE (AP) — Will Smith joined wife Jada Pinkett Smith on stage as she promoted her new memoir in her hometown of Baltimore, pledging lifelong support for her. The appearance came just a week after she revealed that the couple had been separated since 2016. News outlets report that Smith told the crowd at the Enoch Pratt Free Library on Wednesday night that Pinkett Smith was his best friend on this planet and said he’d “show up for her and support her” for the rest of his life. Smith’s appearance was apparently a surprise for Pinkett Smith and came at the end of a talk about her book, “Worthy.”

Federal forecasters predict warm, wet US winter but less snow because of El Nino, climate change

The upcoming United States winter looks likely to be a bit low on snow and extreme cold outbreaks, with federal forecasters predicting the North to get warmer than normal and the South wetter and stormier. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Thursday winter outlook predicts a strong El Nino will heavily moderate and change the storm tracks of what America is likely to face from December to February. Most of the country is predicted to be warmer than normal with that warmth stretching north from Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska and Nevada, along with nearly all of California.

Bottle of ‘most sought-after Scotch whisky’ to come under hammer at Sotheby’s in London next month

LONDON (AP) — A bottle of what is being called “the most-sought after Scotch whisky” is set to be auctioned next month at Sotheby’s in London. Sotheby’s said Thursday that the 96-year-old bottle of single malt from distiller Macallan — The Macallan Adami 1926 — will come under the hammer in London on Nov. 18, with the price estimated between 750,000 pounds and 1.2 million pounds ($900,000 and $1.4 million). Advance bidding will begin Nov. 1. A version of The Macallan 1926 was sold by Sotheby’s in 2019 for 1.5 million pounds, a record for any bottle of wine or spirit.

Marine killed in homicide at Camp Lejeune; second Marine held for suspected involvement

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — A Marine has been killed in a homicide at Camp Lejeune and a second Marine is being held on suspicion of being involved. A statement from the North Carolina base says authorities took the Marine into custody about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday after an incident that occurred in a barracks room earlier in the evening. The statement called the death a homicide and described the other Marine as a suspect but didn’t provide any other details, including how the Marine died. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has assumed responsibility for the investigation.

Burt Young, Oscar-nominated actor who played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ films, dies at 83

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscar-nominated actor Burt Young has died. Young played Paulie, the angry, grumbling best friend and brother-in-law of Sylvester Stallone in six “Rocky” movies. His daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, tells the New York Times Young died Oct. 8 in Los Angeles at age 83. Young appeared in films including “Chinatown” and “Once Upon a Time in America” and on TV shows including “Miami Vice” and “The Sopranos.” But he was best known for playing Philadelphia meat packer Paulie Pennino starting in 1976’s original “Rocky.” Young earned a best supporting actor nomination for the role.

Prosecutors won’t charge ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor with sexual assault after NBA Finals incident

MIAMI (AP) — Former UFC champion Conor McGregor will not face sexual assault charges following an investigation of allegations that surfaced during the NBA Finals last June in Miami, his lawyer and police said. The probe examined claims by a woman that McGregor assaulted her in an arena bathroom after Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. The woman had accused McGregor of forcing her into the bathroom at the Kaseya Center in Miami and that security did nothing to help. The Miami Police Department confirmed that no charges will be brought.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Trending SummaryBrief at 2:06 a.m. EDT | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

9-year-old who vanished from New York state park found safe and man linked to ransom note arrested

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — A 9-year-old girl who vanished during a family camping trip in upstate New York has been found safe following a two day search. New York State Police said in a statement that Charlotte Sena was located Monday evening in good health and that a suspect was in custody. Gov. Kathy Hochul said law enforcement officers arrested 47-year-old Craig Nelson Ross Jr. in a trailer on his mother’s property and rescued Sena, who was also in the trailer. Hochul says Ross was identified as the suspect after he left a ransom note in the mailbox at Sena’s home. The governor named Ross as the suspect late Monday night and it wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer to comment on his behalf.

US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas carjacked by three armed attackers about a mile from Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was carjacked Monday night by three armed attackers, his office says. Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement saying: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.” Hochberg said police recovered Cuellar’s vehicle. The Washington Post reported that the robbery happened at 9:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, about a mile from the U.S. Capitol.

Late-night shows return after writers strike as actors resume talks that could end their standoff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Late-night talk shows are returning after a five-month absence brought on by the Hollywood writers strike. As shows like “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” return to the air Monday, actors resumeD talks that could end their own strike. Colbert shouted “it feels good to be back” as he retook the stage for his taping. He will have Astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson on his first show back. Kimmel will host Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jimmy Kimmel will greet Matthew McConaughey to “The Tonight Show.” The writers last week struck a deal with an alliance of Hollywood’s biggest studios, streaming services and production companies.

Powerball jackpot rises to $1.2 billion after another drawing without a big winner

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion after no one beat the immense odds and won the giant prize. The winning numbers drawn Monday night were: 12, 26, 27, 43, 47 and the Powerball 5. The prize on the line for the next drawing Wednesday night has grown so massive because there have been 33 consecutive drawings since someone won the jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The $1.2billion jackpot is for a sole winner who takes an annuity, paid annually over 30 years. Winners taking the cash option would receive an estimated $551 million.

More than 100 dolphins found dead in Brazilian Amazon as water temperatures soar

SAO PAULO (AP) — More than 100 dolphins have died in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the past week due to a severe drought, and many more could be affected if water temperatures remain high. The Mamiraua Institute, a research group of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said two more dead dolphins were found on Monday in the region around Tefe Lake, which is key for mammals and fish in the area. Thousands of fish have also died, according to local media. Experts believe high water temperatures are the most likely cause of the deaths.

95-year-old painter threatened with eviction from Cape Cod dune shack wins five-year reprieve

PROVINCETOWN, Mass. (AP) — A 95-year-old painter and his family who were threatened with eviction from their dune shack at the Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts have won a reprieve. Lawyers for the painter worked out a deal with federal officials allowing Salvatore Del Deo and his family to continue living in the shack for another five years. The shack is one of a number dotting the more remote reaches of the seashore in Provincetown. Salvatore’s son Romolo Del Deo said the family fought the eviction citing their decadeslong connection to the shack. The family was abruptly evicted by the National Park Service during the summer when it opted to start a bidding process for some of the shacks.

Plane crash in Lake Placid kills 2, including former NFL player Russ Francis of Patriots, 49ers

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Former NFL tight end Russ Francis was killed along with another aviation enthusiast when their single-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from an upstate New York airport. The 70-year-old Francis and 63-year-old Richard McSpadden had taken off from Lake Placid Airport in a single-engine Cessna when it crashed Sunday afternoon in a corner of the airport. Francis was a first-round pick in the NFL draft in 1975 and played with the New England Patriots from 1975 to 1980. Francis joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1982, and was part of the team that won the 1984 Super Bowl. He rejoined New England in 1987 and retired the year after.

Brazil’s government starts expelling non-Indigenous people from two native territories in the Amazon

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s government has started removing non-Indigenous people from two native territories in a move likely to affect thousands who live in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The South American nation’s intelligence agency said in a statement that the goal is to return the Apyterewa and Trincheira Bacajá in Para state to original peoples. It did not say whether or not the expulsion of non-Indigenous people has been entirely peaceful. Indigenous groups estimate more than 10,000 non-Indigenous people living inside the two territories. ABIN said as many as 2,500 Indigenous people live in 51 villages within.

Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver

OTTAWA, Ill. (AP) — A 104-year-old Chicago woman is hoping to be certified as the oldest person to ever skydive after making a tandem jump from 13,500 feet in northern Illinois. The Chicago Tribune reports Dorothy Hoffner told a cheering crowd that “age is just a number” moments after she touched the ground Sunday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. She made the jump while tethered to a certified instructor. The Guinness World Record for the oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden. But WLS-TV reports that Skydive Chicago is working to have Guinness World Records certify Hoffner’s jump.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour is over. But it’s coming to movie theaters soon

NEW YORK (AP) — A documentary chronicling Beyoncé‘s just-concluded 39-city Renaissance World Tour will premiere in North American theaters Dec. 1, AMC Theaters announced Monday. The film adds a second pop star blockbuster to a fall slate of movies that’s been slightly thinned out by the ongoing screen actors’ strike. Like “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which debuts Oct. 13, “Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé” is being released directly by AMC, the movie theater chain, without studio involvement. Tickets will start at $22 plus tax.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:11 a.m. EDT | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Tropical Storm Ophelia moving inland over North Carolina as coastal areas lashed with wind and rain

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ophelia has made landfall on the North Carolina coast, lashing coastal areas with damaging winds and dangerous surges of water. The center of the tropical storm came ashore at around 6:15 a.m. near Emerald Isle with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. Life-threatening flooding caused by the weather system is forecast for parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. The storm promises a weekend of windy conditions and heavy rain in the mid-Atlantic region through Sunday, but is forecast to weaken after landfall.

The federal government is headed into a shutdown. What does it mean, who’s hit and what’s next?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics. It comes as Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands for deep cuts, force a confrontation over federal spending. While some government entities will be exempt, others will be severely curtailed. Social Security checks, for example, will still go out. But federal agencies will stop all actions deemed non-essential. And millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks. The shutdown will begin Oct. 1 if Congress is not able to enact a funding plan.

White House preparing for government shutdown as House Republicans lack a viable endgame for funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded. Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will return next week to start voting on the latest plan. He has just five days until the Sept. 30 deadline. A hard-right flank of Republicans has essentially seized control and is demanding spending cuts. McCarthy was unable to persuade his rebellious flank to approve a temporary funding measure to prevent closures. Instead, House Republicans will try Tuesday to pass some of the individual spending bills in a typically lengthy process.

Bribery case against Sen. Menendez shines light on powerful NJ developer accused of corruption

NEW YORK (AP) — The sweeping bribery case brought against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez includes allegations that he took cash and gold in exchange for interfering in a criminal case against a New Jersey real estate developer. The indictment says Menendez pestered the U.S. attorney for New Jersey and another top federal prosecutor about a bank fraud case involving his friend, developer Fred Daibes. In his home base of Edgewater, Daibes is widely credited with building out a “gold coast” of luxury high rises. An attorney for Daibes says he is confident his client will be “completely exonerated.” Menendez has denied any wrongdoing.

Many states are expanding their Medicaid programs to provide dental care to their poorest residents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A growing number of states are offering dental care to low-income adults who once had to rely on charity or the emergency room to treat their tooth problems. From Tennessee to Maine, lawmakers have agreed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars so adults on Medicaid, the federal health program, can get dental care. The federal government doesn’t require that states provide such care. But state lawmakers have come to embrace the idea that expanded oral care saves money and has other health benefits. Nearly 30 states have begun offering or expanded care in the past three years.

A month after Prigozhin’s suspicious death, the Kremlin is silent on his plane crash and legacy

A month after Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a suspicious plane crash, the Kremlin seems to be succeeding in keeping the demise of the profane and outspoken Wagner chief as low-key as possible. What caused Prigozhin’s private jet to plummet into a field northwest of Moscow is still a mystery. The Russian military leaders he tried to oust with his armed rebellion remain in power. His mercenary army is under new management. And President Vladimir Putin, whose authority was badly dented by the short-lived mutiny, seems as strong as ever, with Prigozhin’s fiery death sending a chilling message to anyone who dares to challenge him.

Cracks in Western wall of support for Ukraine emerge as Eastern Europe and US head toward elections

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Once rock-solid, the support Ukraine has received from its biggest backers for its defense against Russia is showing cracks. Political posturing in places like Poland and Slovakia, where a trade dispute with Ukraine has exacerbated tensions, and Republican reticence in the United States about Washington’s big spending to prop up Ukraine’s military have raised new uncertainties about the West’s commitment to its efforts to expel Russian invaders more than 18 months into the war. U.S. and Polish officials have sought to play down any tiff that some say plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With temporary status for Venezuelans, the Biden administration turns to a familiar tool

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration’s grant of temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans already in the United States may complicate its messaging abroad. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned in May that anyone contemplating a journey to the U.S. would be swiftly deported if found to be in the country illegally. But his expansion of Temporary Protected Status this week applies to Venezuelans who arrived by July 31. Critics say it encourages others to come, figuring that warnings against illegal entry ring hollow. But others say Venezuelans will come with or without prospects for temporary status.

Meet Lachlan Murdoch, soon to be the new power behind Fox News and the Murdoch empire

For Lachlan Murdoch, this has been a long time coming — assuming, that is, his moment has actually arrived. On Thursday, his father Rupert Murdoch announced that in November he’s stepping down as the head of his two media companies: News Corp. and Fox Corp. That will finally put Lachlan Murdoch in the top job for a chairman of News Corp. while remaining the chief executive at Fox Corp., the parent of Fox News Channel. But in Murdoch World, nothing is ever written in stone. Rupert, now 92, has long had a penchant for building up his oldest children in order to set them against one another, often flipping the table without notice.

Ronald Acuña Jr. joins exclusive 40-40 club with 40th home run of the season for Braves

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. has joined baseball’s exclusive 40-40 club by hitting his 40th home run of the season for the Atlanta Braves to go along with his 68 stolen bases. The only other players to have at least 40 homers and 40 steals in the same year were Alfonso Soriano for Washington in 2006, Alex Rodríguez for Seattle in 1998, Barry Bonds for San Francisco in 1996, and Jose Canseco for Oakland in 1988. Acuña connected off Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin leading off the top of the first inning. It was his 34th career leadoff homer and eighth this season. The 25-year-old Acuña was already the only player in major league history with 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in one season.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 8:52 a.m. EDT | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who made desperate escapes from flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as fires raced toward their homes, in interviews at evacuation centers Thursday. Officials confirmed that emergency management records show no indication that the warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire wiped out the town of Lahaina. Maui County says 55 people were killed in the devastating Maui wildfires, and the death toll will likely continue to rise. Gov. Josh Green says search and rescue operations are continuing, and officials expect it will become the state’s deadliest natural disaster since a 1961 tsunami killed 61 people on the Big Island.

Judge Chutkan will hear arguments in protective order fight in Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election conspiracy case against Donald Trump will hear arguments over a request by prosecutors for a protective order seeking to bar the former president from publicly disclosing evidence shared by the government. Prosecutors have raised concerns Trump may reveal sensitive case information they’re legally obligated to hand over to the defense. The protective order sought by special counsel Jack Smith’s team has become an early flashpoint in the case accusing the Republican of illegally scheming to cling to power after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Friday’s hearing will be the first time the lawyers appear before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

With hundreds lost in the migrant shipwreck near Greece, identifying the dead is painfully slow

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Nearly two months after a dilapidated fishing trawler crammed with people heading from north Africa to Italy sank in the central Mediterranean, killing hundreds, relatives are still frantically searching for loved ones among the missing and dead. As many as 750 people are believed to have been on board. Only 104 survived and 82 bodies were recovered. By early August, around half the recovered bodies had been identified through a painstaking process combining DNA analysis, fingerprints and interviews with survivors and relatives. For some still searching for lost relatives, the lack of a body to bury means they still hold out hope, however improbable, that their loved one is alive.

Two years after fall of Kabul, tens of thousands of Afghans languish in limbo waiting for US visas

ISLAMABAD (AP) — When the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 it airlifted tens of thousands of Afghans to safety. But two years later, tens of thousands of others are still waiting to be resettled. They are Afghans who helped the war effort by working with the U.S. government and military, or as journalists and aid workers now at risk under the Taliban. Processing of U.S resettlement programs for Afghans has moved painfully slowly. In the meantime, many of the applicants who have fled Afghanistan are swiftly running through savings, living in limbo in exile.

Ecuador arrests 6 Colombians in slaying of presidential candidate as violence weighs on nation

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s transformation into a major drug trafficking hub and the ensuing three-year surge of violence is weighing on the nation following the killing of a presidential candidate whose life’s work was to fight crime and corruption. Six Colombian men were arrested Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of Fernando Villavicencio on Wednesday in the capital, Quito. He was not a front-runner in the race, but his assassination in broad daylight less than two weeks before the special presidential election underscored the challenge Ecuador’s next leader will face in any attempt to curb gangs and cartels whose activities have claimed thousands of lives.

Two rival robotaxi services win approval to operate throughout San Francisco despite safety concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators have approved an expansion that will allow two rival robotaxi service to operate throughout San Francisco at all hours. The vote by the state’s Public Utilities Commission came despite reservations from city officials and residents spurred by erratic behavior that resulted in unmanned vehicles blocking traffic, including the path of emergency vehicles. The regulators voted to approve rival services from Cruise and Waymo to operate the around-the-clock service. It will make San Francisco first major U.S. city with two fleets of driverless vehicles competing for passengers against ride-hailing and taxi services dependent on humans to operate the cars.

Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school. All told, an estimated 6.5 million additional students were chronically absent. That’s according to data compiled by Stanford University education professor Thomas Dee in partnership with The Associated Press. The analysis is based on the most recent data available, from 40 states and Washington, D.C. It provides the most comprehensive accounting of absenteeism nationwide. The absences come on top of time missed during school closures. They cost crucial time in classrooms as schools work to recover from massive learning setbacks.

More evacuations considered in Norway where the level in swollen rivers continues to rise

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Authorities are on standby to evacuate more people in southeastern Norway, where huge amounts of water, littered with broken trees, debris and trash, are thundering down the usually serene rivers after days of torrential rain. The level of water in swollen rivers and lakes continued to grow Friday despite two days of dry but overcast weather, flooding abandoned houses, coating cars in mud and swamping camping sites. In one of the most affected places where a river running through a town had gone over its banks, authorities were thinking about moving more people downstream out of fear of landslides. Norway’s prime minister and king were planning to visit affected sites.

A rocket with a lunar landing craft blasts off on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft has blasted off on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years, racing to land on Earth’s satellite ahead of an Indian spacecraft. The launch from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport in the Far East of the Luna-25 craft to the moon is Russia’s first since 1976 when it was part of the Soviet Union. The Russian lunar lander is expected to reach the moon on Aug. 23, about the same day as an Indian craft. The Russian spacecraft will take about 5.5 days to travel to the moon’s vicinity, then spend three to seven days orbiting before heading for the surface.

EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says it could soon launch a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic smoke following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The Environmental Protection Agency this year is set to review risks posed by a handful of chemicals and is considering those used for plastic production as a key benchmark. Vinyl chloride is used to make PVC plastic pipes and toys and is among chemicals eligible for review. The EPA says a risk evaluation would take at least three years. Environmental and public health groups have long pushed to ban the chemical.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 7:26 a.m. EDT | Nation appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Kyiv is said to have launched a major push against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Kyiv has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from southeastern Ukraine as part of its weeks-long counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle in the country’s southeast. That’s according to Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts. One Western official says the surge in firepower and manpower has been centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks at multiple points along the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Ukraine is deploying its Western-supplied advanced weapons and Western-trained troops against the deeply entrenched Kremlin’s forces who invaded 17 months ago.

Bluffing or not, Putin’s declared deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus ramps up saber-rattling

Sometime this summer, if President Vladimir Putin can be believed, Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus, closer to Ukraine and onto the doorstep of NATO’s members in Central and Eastern Europe. The declared deployment of the weapons onto the territory of its neighbor and loyal ally marks a new stage in the Kremlin’s nuclear saber-rattling over its invasion of Ukraine. Neither Putin nor his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, said how many were moved — only that Soviet-era nuclear arms depots in the country had been readied to accommodate the weapons, and that Belarusian pilots and missile crews have been trained to use them. The U.S. and NATO haven’t confirmed the move and doubts remain.

Trump once condemned the Jan. 6 rioters. Now he’s become one of their biggest supporters

NEW YORK (AP) — The day after Jan. 6, 2021, then-President Donald Trump denounced the rioters who had violently stormed the Capitol building. Two and a half years later, his public characterizations have dramatically changed. Since leaving office, Trump has downplayed the violence, lionized the rioters as patriots and spread false claims about who was involved. He’s not only vowed to pardon a “large portion” of Jan. 6 defendants if he wins a second term in the White House, but he has also fundraised for them, met with their families and collaborated on a song that became a surprise iTunes hit.

Hunter Biden’s plea deal on hold after federal judge raises concerns over the terms of the agreement

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The plea deal in Hunter Biden’s criminal case unraveled during a court hearing Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns about the terms of the agreement that has infuriated Republicans who believe the president’s son is getting preferential treatment. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. He had been expected to plead guilty after making an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation.

Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s president

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Mutinous soldiers in the African nation of Niger claim to have overthrown the democratically elected president, announcing on state television that they have put an end to the government over the country’s deteriorating security. The announcement Wednesday night comes after a day of uncertainty as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. Threats to Bazoum’s leadership would undermine the West’s efforts to stabilize Africa’s Sahel region, which has been overrun with coups in recent years. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020.

Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record temperatures persist

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to announce new steps to address the extreme heat that has threatened millions of Americans, most recently in the Southwest. The White House says officials are working on improved weather forecasts and more accessible drinking water. The leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as the mayors of Phoenix, Ariz., and San Antonio, Texas, will participate in the event with Biden. Both cities have seen long stretches of broiling triple-digit temperatures.

Church sex abuse revelations are an unwelcome diversion as Pope Francis visits scandal-hit Portugal

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis is making a five-day visit next week to Portugal, where a scandal that erupted earlier this year over Catholic Church sex abuse is still simmering. A panel of experts reported in February that at least 4,815 Portuguese boys and girls had been abused since 1950. Before those findings, senior Portuguese church officials maintained there had been only a few cases of clergy sex abuse. Church officials have hesitated over such central issues as reparations for victims and whether to suspend active members of the clergy named in the panel’s report. The scandal is unfinished business in Portugal, where Francis will attend World Youth Day. Hundreds of thousands of people are due to attend.

Accused of bomb threats they say they didn’t make, family of Chinese dissident detained in Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — The wife and daughter of exiled Chinese dissident Gao Zhi are in detention on immigration charges in Thailand, after a series of bomb threats made in their names against airports, luxury hotels and the Chinese embassy in Bangkok derailed the family’s plan to join Gao in the Netherlands. The threats appear to be part of Beijing’s increasingly sophisticated efforts to harass Chinese dissidents living overseas and their families. While parts of the story Gao Zhi and his son told couldn’t be independently confirmed, their predicament echoes accounts by other Chinese dissidents who believe Chinese authorities are making bomb threats in their names to control their political activities.

How many transgender and intersex people live in the US? Anti-LGBTQ+ laws will impact millions

New laws targeting LGBTQ+ people are proliferating in GOP-led states, but the conversations often lack a clear understanding of how many people will be directly affected. Data collection on the number of LGBTQ+ people living in the U.S. has been relatively scant. The best data currently available comes from UCLA’s Williams Institute and a KFF/The Washington Post poll. Those studies show there are between 1 and 2 million adults in the U.S. who identify as transgender. Most advocacy groups estimate that 1.7% percent of people are born intersex, which means they have genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female.

Elon Musk wants to turn tweets into ‘X’s’. But changing language is not quite so simple

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk may want to send “tweet” back to the birds, but the ubiquitous term for posting on the site he now calls X is here to stay — at least for now. For one, the word is still plastered all over the website formerly known as Twitter. With “tweets,” Twitter accomplished in just a few years something few companies have done in a lifetime: It became a verb and implanted itself into the lexicon of America and around the world. Upending that takes more than a top-down declaration, even if it is from the owner of Twitter-turned-X who also happens to be one of the world’s richest man.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 5:13 a.m. EDT | Nation appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Heavy rains flood the streets of Chicago, forcing NASCAR to abandon a downtown street race

CHICAGO (AP) — Heavy rains have flooded the streets of Chicago, forcing the cancellation of a NASCAR race through downtown. The National Weather Service said up to 6 inches of rain fell in the Chicago suburbs by midday. The Illinois State Police said portions of Interstate 55 and Interstate 290 were closed due to flooding and at least ten cars were trapped in water near Pulaski Road, a major north-south thoroughfare in the city. NASCAR announced that the Xfinity Series race, which was scheduled to finish in the city’s downtown area, was canceled due to weather.

The web designer quoted a client in the Gay Rights Supreme Court ruling as denying having made a request for a wedding site

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado web designer who was allowed by a US Supreme Court ruling to refuse to create a wedding website for gay couples had cited a request from a man who said he never asked to work with her. The contested motion was not the basis for the federal lawsuit preemptively filed by web designer Lorie Smith seven years ago. But as the case progressed, her attorneys referred to it as Colorado state attorneys pressed Smith on whether she had reasonable cause to sue. The revelation detracts from Smith’s victory. Friday’s ruling is widely seen as a setback for gay rights.

Affirmative Action for Whites? Admissions for older universities are being put to the test again

WASHINGTON (AP) — Following a Supreme Court decision removing racial segregation from the admissions process, colleges are under renewed pressure to end traditional preferences, the practice of favoring applicants with family ties to alumni. Long seen as a benefit to the white and wealthy, opponents say it is no longer sustainable in a world where there is no counterbalance to positive action. President Joe Biden suggested that colleges should reconsider this practice after the court ruling, saying the preferences of the tried and true “expand privilege rather than opportunity.” For critics of outdated approvals, the renewed debate over regulatory equity offers an opportunity to win public opinion over to their cause.

Car crashes into New Hampshire restaurant, injuring dozens, man stuck in bathroom

LACONIA, NH (AP) — Rescue workers in New Hampshire say a car crashed into a busy restaurant, injuring more than a dozen people. The Laconia Fire Department said the vehicle struck the Looney Bin Bar & Grill just after 12:40 p.m. Sunday. Restaurant owner Michelle Watson says the car crushed a man in the bathroom. Rescuers transported 14 people with leg injuries, cuts and bruises to hospitals and treated 20 others at the scene. Watson said everyone jumped in immediately to make sure people were okay, but the damage to the building was significant and she wasn’t sure when it would reopen.

According to media reports, four people were injured in an explosion in a building in downtown Tokyo

TOKYO (AP) — An explosion at a building in Tokyo’s Shimbashi business district has shattered windows and belched smoke, injuring four people, ministry officials say. According to the Tokyo Fire Department, the blast happened Monday at a restaurant on the second floor of an eight-story building. Two people inside were injured and two pedestrians were hit by broken glass. A local owner, who was among the injured, told police the explosion occurred when he lit his lighter, NHK said. Further information, including the cause, was not available so far.

Elon Musk imposes daily limits on reading posts on Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk has capped the number of tweets Twitter users can see each day. He described the restrictions as an attempt to prevent unauthorized tapping of potentially valuable data from the social media platform. The site now requires users to log in to view tweets and profiles. That’s a change in longstanding practice that allows anyone to read the babble. The restrictions could result in users being banned from Twitter for a day after scrolling through several hundred tweets. Thousands of users complained on Saturday that they could not access the site. Musk said after facing backlash that he will raise the thresholds on how many tweets accounts can read per day.

Prosecutor in Hunter Biden case denies retaliation against an IRS agent who spoke with the House GOP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal prosecutor leading the investigation into President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has dismissed claims that he was prevented from pursuing criminal charges in Los Angeles and Washington. And the investigator denies retaliating against an IRS official who disclosed details of the case. US Attorney David Weiss in Delaware responds in a letter to Republicans in the House of Representatives. Weiss is defending the lengthy investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial dealings, which ended last month with an appeal to the Justice Department likely sparing Biden a stint behind bars. Weiss also makes it clear that the case is an ongoing criminal investigation and he has little else to divulge at this time.

Passengers were stuck because United Airlines canceled their flights. The CEO took a private plane

The United Airlines CEO apologizes for jumping on a private plane this week while thousands of his airline’s customers were stranded because their flights were cancelled. CEO Scott Kirby said Friday that taking a private jet was the wrong decision. He says it was insensitive to United Airlines customers waiting to get home and he apologizes to customers and airline employees. He promises to do better in the future. Kirby took a private flight from New Jersey to Denver on Wednesday. United canceled 750 flights that day. That’s a quarter of his schedule.

The tallest flagpole in the world. A small town in Maine. An idea intended to unite people divides them

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine (AP) – In the United States, many people think bigger is better. But some residents of a small Maine community are reluctant to measure patriotism by the size of a flagpole. Located on the eastern tip of the state, Maine’s Down East region is where sunlight kisses the east coast of the United States for the first time each day. This is where the vast wilderness and the sea meet. It’s also where a patriotic family proposed the world’s tallest flagpole — one that would be taller than the Empire State Building, with a giant American flag at the top. The proposal should unite people around the flag and create jobs. Instead, community and cultural hotspots are exposed.

Friends and family gather for Houston rapper Big Pokey’s funeral

HOUSTON (AP) — Family and friends gathered over the weekend for the funeral of Houston rapper Big Pokey, a founding member of pioneering group Screwed Up Click. Pokey, who was born Milton Powell, died June 18 at the age of 48 after collapsing while performing in Beaumont, east of Houston. The Houston Chronicle reports that attendees at his Saturday service at Houston’s Fountain of Praise church included Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and rappers Paul Wall, Trae Tha Truth and Slim Thug. Pokey was known for hits from Texas and the Gulf Coast like “Ball N’ Parlay”, “Who Dat Talking Down” and a verse about DJ Screw’s freestyle called “June 27th”.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Trending SummaryBrief at 11:31 a.m. EDT | Nation appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

France is rioting for the fifth time over the killing of a teenager by police, amid signs the violence is waning

PARIS (AP) – Young rioters clashed with police and aimed a burning car at the home of a mayor as France sparked the fifth night of riots by the police killing of a teenager. Overall, overnight violence on Saturday appeared to have eased compared to previous nights. Police made 719 arrests across the country by early Sunday following a mass deployment of security forces aimed at quelling France’s worst social unrest in years. The crisis poses a new challenge for President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership. It also reveals the deep-rooted dissatisfaction in low-income areas with discrimination and lack of opportunities. The 17-year-old, whose death caused a stir on Tuesday, was buried in a Muslim ceremony on Saturday.

Two people were killed and 28 injured, including three critically, in a shooting at a block party in Baltimore, police said

People also read…

BALTIMORE (AP) — A mass shooting killed two and injured 28 victims, including three who are in critical condition, according to Baltimore police. Acting Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department Richard Worley says there were a total of 30 victims in the shooting, which he says took place just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday at a block party in the Brooklyn Homes neighborhood at the 800 block of Gretna Avenue . Worley says all of the victims were adults. Nine victims were transported by ambulance and 20 victims were taken to area hospitals with injuries from the shooting. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has asked anyone with information about the shooting to help investigators.

Moms for Liberty’s focus on statewide school races leads to political conflict with teachers’ unions

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The “parental rights” group Moms for Liberty wants to expand its efforts to elect school board candidates in 2024 and beyond and get involved in other educational competitions. The group’s co-founder said during their annual summit in Philadelphia that Moms for Liberty will use its political action committee to get involved in school board elections, state education board elections and elected principal elections. These efforts will face opposition from teachers’ unions and others on the left, who view the group as a toxic presence in public education. Even if there is a presidential election in 2024, the school board elections will continue to be among the most contentious political debates next year.

Russia launches first drone attack on Kiev in 12 days and all are shot down

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian officials say Russia has launched a drone attack on the capital Kiev. It was the first such attack of the war in 12 days. The head of Kyiv’s municipal government said Sunday that all Iran-made Shahed-type exploding drones had been spotted and shot down. The surrounding Kiev region was also attacked. The Kyiv regional government reported that one person was injured by falling debris from a destroyed drone. Officials from the Ukrainian capital did not provide details on the number of drones that attacked the city. However, Ukraine’s Air Force said the Russians fired eight Shahed missiles and three Kalibr cruise missiles across the country.

Elon Musk imposes daily limits on reading posts on Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk has capped the number of tweets Twitter users can see each day. He described the restrictions as an attempt to prevent unauthorized tapping of potentially valuable data from the social media platform. The site now requires users to log in to view tweets and profiles. That’s a change in longstanding practice that allows anyone to read the babble. The restrictions could result in users being banned from Twitter for a day after scrolling through several hundred tweets. Thousands of users complained on Saturday that they could not access the site. Musk said after facing backlash that he will raise the thresholds on how many tweets accounts can read per day.

The 2024 Republican presidential nominee field continues to grow. So why aren’t there more women?

CHICAGO (AP) — Republicans continue to rush into the presidential race in 2024. More than a dozen candidates are battling for the party’s nomination in what is proving to be the most diverse Republican presidential field of all time. But among them is only one woman. This is Nikki Haley, a former UN Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina. America has never had a female commander in chief, and Republicans have historically focused less on voting for female candidates in general than the Democratic Party. And while women make up more than 50% of the population, they are underrepresented in public office, be it in city halls, state legislatures or in Washington.

Are you facing a high medical bill? Go ahead with a plan—and these tips

A huge medical bill can trigger a wave of panic, but experts say patients should approach the problem with a plan. The amazing bill that came in the mail might not be what you end up paying. Errors or slow insurance payments could have increased this total. If correct, financial assistance or other assistance may be available to correct it. Actions to take include double-checking the numbers, possibly enlisting outside help, and thinking carefully about a payment plan. Sometimes a simple phone call can clear things up. Don’t ignore the bill.

Transgender woman challenges societal norms by applying to enter Miss Venezuela beauty pageant

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans’ enthusiasm for beauty pageants is unprecedented and Miss Venezuela — the crown jewel of them all — may be the only event that can unite a deeply divided country. But behind the cheers and applause for the women vying for the coveted title lies a deeply conservative society with little or no tolerance for any disregard for heteronormative standards. Sofia Salomón is ready to challenge that. The influencer and the model have applied to take part in this year’s competition. If accepted, she will be the first transgender woman to attend. She says her participation could bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community. The winners of “Miss Venezuela” then enter the “Miss Universe” pageant, and the global competition was opened to transgender contestants in 2012.

What you should know about the origins and traditions of the 4th of July holiday

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Fourth of July is essentially Americana: parades and cookouts and cold beers and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics also make it a particularly dangerous vacation, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Nonetheless, fireworks remain the focus of Independence Day, a holiday that has been invoked for 247 years. The holiday celebrates the unanimous acceptance by the Second Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document heralding the separation of the colonies from Britain. A year later, according to the Library of Congress, an impromptu celebration of the anniversary of American independence was held in Philadelphia. However, throughout the emerging country, celebrations of the holiday only became commonplace after the War of 1812.

Fanfare, golf and boos marked the 4th of July for US Presidents. Zachary Taylor’s was the worst

WASHINGTON (AP) — Throughout history, July 4th has been a day for some presidents to declare their independence from the public. They have retired to the beach, the mountains, the golf course, the farm, or the ranch. Other presidents have come to the fore on Independence Day. Teddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands of people to his Fourth of July oratory. In 2019, Donald Trump assembled the war machine in a celebration usually about military force. In 2021, Joe Biden raised eyebrows as he gathered hundreds of people for a holiday event that took place when the coronavirus pandemic was far from over.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Be the first to know

Get local news in your inbox!

The post AP Information Abstract at 10:25 a.m. EDT appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Elon Musk imposes daily limits on reading posts on Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk has capped the number of tweets most Twitter users can see each day. He described the restrictions as an attempt to prevent unauthorized tapping of potentially valuable data from the social media platform. The site now requires users to log in to view tweets and profiles. That’s a change in longstanding practice that allows anyone to read the babble. The restrictions could result in users being banned from Twitter for a day after scrolling through several hundred tweets. Thousands of users complained on Saturday that they could not access the site. Musk said after facing backlash that he will raise the thresholds on how many tweets accounts can read per day.

After several turbulent days, flight disruptions are easing despite concerns over 5G signals

Learn more from the Citrus County Chronicle

Airline passengers, who have suffered tens of thousands of weather-related flight delays this week, got a welcome respite from the headache on Saturday, despite concerns over possible disruption from the rollout of new 5G wireless systems near major airports. Data compiled by tracking service FlightAware shows that flight delays and cancellations have declined from the spikes seen earlier in the week. Another tracking service shows that the cancellation rate in the US is around 1% on Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the US Department of Transportation said air traffic has returned to “near normal” levels.

How the Supreme Court Student Loan Decision Affects You

NEW YORK (AP) — The Supreme Court has ruled that the Biden administration exceeded its powers in attempting to eliminate or reduce student loan debt, effectively nullifying the $400 billion plan. The court’s decision means that barring an order from Congress, these Americans can expect to be paid beginning in October. Still, borrowers concerned about their budget have options. For example, the government has other loan relief programs that are still in effect even after Biden’s plan has been scrapped.

Apple is now the first publicly traded company, valued at $3 trillion

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is now the first public company to close a trading day with a market value of $3 trillion. This marks another milestone for a tech giant that has transformed society with a range of products that are stunningly profitable. Apple shares ended Friday up 2.3% at $193.97, taking its market value to $3.04 trillion. Apple is one of the few tech companies, including Microsoft and chipmaker Nvidia, to have helped the S&P 500 post a nearly 16% gain in the first half of the year.

Nokia renews patent license agreement with Apple for 5G and other technologies

HELSINKI (AP) – Network infrastructure and 5G technology provider Nokia has signed a new long-term patent license agreement with Apple to replace the current deal between the two companies, which expires at the end of the year. The deal, which allows Apple to use the Finnish company’s technology in its products, covers Nokia’s inventions in 5G and other technologies. The terms of the contract remain confidential. Nokia expects to begin generating revenue related to the agreement in January 2024, and the company said the agreement is consistent with its long-term guidance released in the first quarter.

Sánchez is visiting Kyiv on the day Spain begins the EU presidency to underscore the bloc’s support for Ukraine

MADRID (AP) – Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has kicked off Spain’s six-month presidency of the European Union with a lightning visit to Kiev to underscore the bloc’s support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion. Sánchez arrived in the Ukrainian capital by train from Poland early on Saturday. The Spanish government said he would address Ukraine’s parliament at 08:30 GMT (4:30 a.m. EDT) and then meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two will hold a press conference around 10:30am GMT (6:30am EDT). Zelenskyy announced the visit on Thursday in an address to European leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels. He emphasized the symbolism of the visit and the importance of the next six months for Europe.

The King of the Netherlands apologizes for his country’s role in slavery on the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery

AMSTERDAM (AP) — King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has apologized for his country’s role in slavery and asked for forgiveness on the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies. During an emotional speech on Saturday, the king said he had commissioned a study into the role of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau in slavery. Recent research found that the king’s ancestors earned what is today’s equivalent of $595 million from it. Willem-Alexander said, “I beg your pardon for the apparent inaction in the face of this crime against humanity.” On July 1, 1863, slavery was abolished in Suriname and the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean. Most of the enslaved workers were forced to work on the plantations for another decade.

Russian attacks in Ukraine claim three dead and 17 wounded. Spain emphasizes European support for Kyiv

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian officials have reported that three people were killed and 17 others wounded by Russian shelling in the east and south of the country. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s visit to Kiev began on Saturday as a sign of continued support from Madrid and the European Union for Ukraine’s fight to evict invading Russian forces from its sovereign territory. Sanchez told Ukraine’s parliament, “We will be by your side for as long as necessary.” Sanchez also promised further shipments of heavy weapons, including Leopard tanks. At a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sanchez announced that Spain would continue to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, including four Leopard tanks and armored personnel carriers, as well as a portable field hospital.

The Russian media watchdog blacklists media associated with mercenary boss Wagner

Russia’s media regulator has blacklisted at least five media outlets linked to Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and blocked their websites in Russia. The move came a week after Wagner militants seized control of a Russian military headquarters and invaded Moscow in what appeared to be an attempted insurgency. Since Saturday, websites of the RIA FAN news agency and four online news portals controlled by Prigozhin’s media holding Patriot have appeared in the Communications Inspectorate’s online register of blacklisted websites. Unconfirmed reports in Russian news outlets on Friday claimed that Prigozhin himself ordered Patriot’s closure. He and his fighters evaded prosecution and were granted sanctuary in Belarus last week.

The Supreme Court rules for a designer who doesn’t want to create wedding websites for gay couples

WASHINGTON (AP) — The conservative majority of the Supreme Court has ruled that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The decision is a defeat for gay rights. The court ruled Friday 6-3 in favor of designer Lorie Smith, despite a Colorado law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith argued that the law violated her right to free speech. Smith’s opponents warned that a win for her would allow a number of companies to discriminate against customers. Judge Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court’s six conservative justices that the First Amendment envisions the United States where people “have the freedom to think and speak what they choose.”

preparation zone

Receive updates and player profiles ahead of Friday’s high school games, as well as Saturday’s recap with stories, photos and videos. Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

Sign up today

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Enterprise SummaryBrief at 5:48 a.m. EDT | NASCAR & Racing Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.