President Biden scrambles to save his reelection with a trip to Wisconsin and a network TV interview
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden is fighting to save his endangered reelection effort as he holds a rally in Wisconsin and sits down for a network television interview there. His every answer is sure to be scrutinized for evidence of his competency and fitness to run for office. The interview on Friday with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos could be a watershed moment for Biden. The questioning is expected to be intensive and probing, and Biden’s team says he’s been preparing aggressively. Meanwhile, his reelection campaign is pairing his in-person events with a fresh $50 million ad campaign this month.
Federal Reserve highlights its political independence as presidential campaign heats up
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is highlighting the importance of its political independence at a time when Donald Trump, who frequently attacked the Fed’s policymaking in the past, edges closer to formally becoming the Republican nominee for president. On Friday, the Fed released its twice-yearly report on its interest-rate policies, a typically dry document that primarily includes its analysis of job growth, inflation, interest rates and other economic trends. This time, the Fed used the report to stress the vital need for the central bank to operate independent of political pressures.
What we learned from the UK’s general election that will shape politics over the coming years
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. has its first change in government in 14 years after the Labour Party won a resounding victory in a general election. It is the Conservative Party’s biggest defeat ever. The new government faces huge challenges, including fixing the country’s sluggish economic and social malaise resulting in part from the U.K’s exit from the European Union, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and several Conservative Party scandals. Among the things that we have learned from this election: the country’s two main parties are not as dominant as they used to be; no election has seen this many Cabinet ministers lose their seats in Parliament; Labour’s stance on the war in Gaza has lost it votes; and Labour is back in favor in Scotland.
US says troops are leaving Niger bases this weekend and in August after coup
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military commander in Niger says all American forces and equipment will leave a small base in the West African country this weekend and fewer than 500 remaining troops will be out of a critical drone base in August. The departures come ahead of a Sept. 15 deadline set in an agreement with the new ruling junta. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman said Friday a number of small teams of 10-20 U.S. troops, including special operations forces, have moved to other countries in West Africa. The bulk of the other forces will go, at least initially, to Europe. Ekman spoke in an interview from the U.S. embassy in Niamey.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro indicted for alleged money laundering for undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia
SAO PAULO (AP) — The indictment of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association in connection with undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia marked the far-right leader’s second formal accusation with more potentially in store. Two sources with knowledge of the case confirmed Thursday’s indictment by Federal Police, which followed another formal accusation in May against Bolsonaro for allegedly falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Brazil’s Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the latest indictment, which dramatically raises the legal threats facing the divisive ex-leader.
Wrestler Kyle Snyder looks to become fourth American to win two Olympic gold medals
Kyle Snyder already has one of the best resumes ever for a U.S. wrestler, and he’s just now hitting his prime. He became the youngest American wrestler ever to win Olympic gold during the 2016 Games, then he claimed silver at the Tokyo Games. He was a three-time NCAA champion at Ohio State who has won three world championships. Now 28, he looks to add to his legacy. If he wins gold at the Paris Olympics in the 97 kilogram freestyle category, he would join George Mehnert, John Smith and Bruce Baumgartner as the only two-time American gold medalists.
Beryl batters Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as Texas officials urge coastal residents to prepare
TULUM, Mexico (AP) — Beryl was battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula while officials in Texas urged coastal residents to prepare as the storm moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. Beryl hit Mexico near the resort town of Tulum as a Category 2 hurricane but weakened to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center expects Beryl to regain hurricane strength once it reemerges into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where it is forecast to head toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Some Texas counties have already issued voluntary evacuation orders in low-lying areas.
Candidates in pivotal French legislative elections make final push in torrid campaign ahead of vote
PARIS (AP) — Candidates in France’s pivotal and polarizing legislative elections are making their last push for the second and decisive round of voting after a three-week campaign marked by hate speech, verbal abuse and physical attacks. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin says his ministry has registered 51 verbal and physical attacks against candidates, their deputies or their supporters during campaigning for the high-stakes parliamentary elections that end on Sunday. Thirty thousand police officers will be deployed Sunday to ensure the results “are respected whatever they may be,” Darmanin said in an interview with French broadcaster BFM on Friday.
7 Palestinians killed in West Bank by an Israeli raid and airstrike in the Jenin area
JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian authorities say seven people have been killed during an Israeli military operation in the area of the West Bank city of Jenin. That’s where the Israeli military said it had been carrying out “counterterrorism activity” that included an airstrike. The military said Israeli soldiers had “encircled a building where terrorists have barricaded themselves in” and the soldiers exchanged fire with those inside, while an airstrike had “struck several armed terrorists” in the area. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a total of seven people had been killed Friday. The Islamic Jihad militant group named four of the dead as its members.
Wisconsin Supreme Court changes course, will allow expanded use of ballot drop boxes this fall
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court is changing course and will allow officials to place ballot drop boxes around their communities in this fall’s elections in the presidential swing state. The court ruled in 2022 that absentee ballot drop boxes could be used only in election offices and no one other than the voter could return a ballot in-person. Liberal justices gained control of the court last year, prompting a progressive voter group to ask the court to reconsider that ruling. The court ruled 4-3 on Friday that placing a ballot in a drop box equates to delivering it to a local election clerk regardless of where the box is located.