US paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S. That’s according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, according to the official, with the focus of U.S. concern being the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting. More than 1 million civilians are sheltering in Rafah after evacuating other parts of Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas, which came after the militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza but a United Nations agency says no aid has yet entered. The key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby. An Israeli tank brigade seized the nearby Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt early Tuesday, and it remained closed. The limited incursion does not appear to be the start of the full-scale invasion of the crowded southern city that Israel has repeatedly promised. The U.S. has urged Israel not to launch a full-on assault on Rafah because it would worsen Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, and it paused a shipment of bombs to its close ally last week over those concerns.
Inside the courtroom where Trump was forced to listen to Stormy Daniels
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump squirmed and scowled, shook his head and muttered as Stormy Daniels described the unexpected sex she says they had in a hotel nearly two decades ago. It was a story Daniels has told before. This time, Trump had no choice but to sit and listen. Years in the making, the in-person showdown between the former president and the porn actor happened Tuesday in a New York courtroom that has been the stage for Trump’s hush money trial. Trump denies her claims and has pleaded not guilty in the case. Trump is charged with falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep quiet.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
MEULABOH, Indonesia (AP) — In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat that was carrying Rohingya refugees when it capsized off Indonesia. The U.N. says another 67 passengers, including at least 28 children, were killed. The Associated Press has interviewed eight surviving passengers who provided the first insights into what happened on board and why the boat capsized. They say the Indonesian captain and crew sexually assaulted four women and girls and grew angry when others refused to join the captain in his bedroom. Passengers say the captain then deliberately capsized the boat before fleeing with three crew members. Police say murder charges aren’t being considered. They’ve charged four people with people smuggling but haven’t found the captain.
Russia launches a ‘massive’ missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s president says Russia has launched a massive nighttime attack on energy facilities across Ukraine, targeting seven regions with more than 50 missiles and drones. Officials say the bombardment blasted targets in areas including Kyiv and parts of the south and west, damaging homes and the country’s rail network. Three people, including an 8-year-old girl, were injured. Russia has repeatedly pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the war that is stretching into its third year and has claimed thousands of lives. By taking out power, the Kremlin’s forces aim to rob Ukrainian manufacturing of its energy supply, especially military plants, and crush public morale.
US and Philippine forces sink a ship during largescale drills in the disputed South China Sea
LAOAG, Philippines (AP) — U.S. and Philippine forces, backed by an Australian air force surveillance aircraft, have unleashed a barrage of high-precision rockets, artillery fire and airstrikes and sank a mock enemy ship as part of largescale war drills in and near the disputed South China Sea that have antagonized Beijing. Military officials and diplomats watched the display of firepower from a hilltop on Wednesday. Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over China’s increasingly assertive actions to defend its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea. Last year, the Philippines approved a wider U.S. military presence in the archipelago. China opposed the move, which puts U.S. forces across the sea from Taiwan. The Philippines countered it has the right to defend its sovereignty.
Storms battering the Midwest bring tornadoes, hail and strong winds
DETROIT (AP) — Severe storms have battered parts of the Midwest, unleashing a curtain of heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes in the region. Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak came a day after a deadly twister ripped through a small Oklahoma town and killed at least one person. Forecasters warned that the storms could could spill out of the region Wednesday morning. Tornadoes were spotted after dark Tuesday in southwestern Michigan, northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. Two of them blitzed a Michigan city near Kalamazoo and left more than 20,000 without power on Tuesday night. But officials say there weren’t any serious injuries immediately reported.
Some colleges that had been permissive of pro-Palestinian protests begin taking a tougher stance
CHICAGO (AP) — Police in riot gear blocked access to the University of Chicago’s Quad early Tuesday. President Paul Alivisatos acknowledged the school’s role as a protector of freedom of speech but his message to the university community also took on an enough-is-enough stance. Just over 2,600 people have been arrested on the campuses of 50 colleges and universities since April 18, according to figures based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies. Not all schools are taking such an approach. The president at Wesleyan University has commended the on-campus demonstration as an act of political expression.
The Olympic torch is being welcomed in French port city of Marseille with fanfare and high security
MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Paris Games organizers are promising “fantastic” celebrations to welcome the Olympic torch in the southern city of Marseille. The arrival Wednesday of a majestic ship carrying the flame from Greece is expected to draw a huge crowd around Marseille’s Old Port, which is under high security. The flame was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. It left Athens aboard a three-mast ship named Belem and spent 12 days at sea. Marseille’s mayor said the city is proud and all efforts were made to ensure security. Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou will be the first carrier of the flame in France.
Fans are following Taylor Swift to Europe after finding Eras Tour tickets less costly there
LONDON (AP) — Thousands of Taylor Swift fans are following her across the pond after missing out on her U.S. concert tour last year or being put off by marked-up ticket prices. Swift is kicking off the 18-city Europe leg of her Eras Tour on Thursday. The Paris arena where she is performing says Americans bought 20% of the tickets. The Chamber of Commerce in Stockholm says about 10,000 people are coming from the U.S. for her shows. Some fans say they justified the expense after noticing that tighter restrictions on ticket fees and resales in Europe made flying overseas to see Swift no more costly and potentially cheaper than catching her closer to home.