AP-Newswatch

Netanyahu says he won’t agree to a deal that ends the war in Gaza, testing the latest truce proposal

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The viability of a U.S.-backed proposal to wind down the 8-month-long war in Gaza has been cast into doubt after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only agree to a “partial” cease-fire deal that would not end the war. His comments, made in an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli TV channel late Sunday, sparked an uproar from families of hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu’s comments did not deviate dramatically from what he has said previously about his terms for a deal. But they come at a sensitive time and could represent another setback for mediators trying to end the war.

Experts say Gaza is at ‘high risk’ of famine despite increased aid to the north

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A draft report from the leading international authority on hunger crises says an influx of aid appears to have eased conditions in northern Gaza for now. But it says the entire territory remains at “high risk” of famine after Israel’s offensive in Rafah caused displacement and the disruption of aid operations in the south. The draft report says nearly everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food and that more than 495,000 people are expected to experience the highest level of starvation in the coming months. The Associated Press obtained a draft of the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The final version is set to be released Tuesday.

Mass shootings across the US mark the first weekend of summer

The first weekend of summer brought a tragic yet familiar pattern for American cities wracked by gun violence. Mass shootings over the weekend left dozens dead or wounded at a party in Alabama, an entertainment district in Ohio and a grocery in Arkansas. It was the second straight weekend that saw an outbreak of mass shootings and across the U.S. It all left mayors in several cities marred by the shootings pleadings for help from the state and federal governments. Police in Montgomery, Alabama, say hundreds of rounds were fired at a crowded party early Sunday where nine people were wounded.

Midwest flooding collapses a rail bridge, forces evacuations and kills at least 1

A railroad bridge has collapsed during flooding in the Midwestern U.S. that has also forced water rescues, led to evacuations, caused at least one death and brought additional misery during a heat wave. The bridge connected North Sioux City, South Dakota, with Sioux City, Iowa, and collapsed into the Big Sioux River late Sunday. Heavy rain has caused flooding in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. Entire neighborhoods and at least one whole town in Iowa have been evacuated. More rain is expected this week. Forecasters also say a heat wave will continue early in the week in the Southeast, portions of the South and the Plains.

Young gay Latinos see a rising share of new HIV cases, leading to a call for targeted funding

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is years into an initiative to end the nation’s HIV epidemic by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars annually into certain states, counties and U.S. territories with the highest infection rates. African Americans continue to have the highest HIV rates in the United States overall. But a KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis shows Latinos made up the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men in 2022 compared with other racial and ethnic groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “HIV disparities are not inevitable.” Latino health policy advocates want the feds to declare a public health emergency in hopes of directing more money to prevention and treatment.

Car dealerships in North America revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

NEW YORK (AP) — Car dealerships across North America continue to wrestle with disruptions that started last week. CDK Global, a company that provides software for thousands of auto dealers in the U.S. and Canada, was hit by back-to-back cyberattacks on Wednesday. That led to an outage that continues to impact operations. Prospective car buyers have faced delays at dealerships or seen vehicle orders written up by hand. There’s no immediate end in sight, but CDK says it expects the restoration process to take several days to complete. On Monday, Group 1 Automotive Inc., a $4 billion automotive retailer, said that it continued to use “alternative processes” to sell cars to its customers.

The Texas Rangers are frustrating LGBTQ+ advocates as the only MLB team without a Pride Night

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have frustrated LGBTQ+ advocates for years as the only Major League Baseball team without a Pride Night. The June celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights known as Pride Month will come and go again without the Rangers participating. The Resource Center is an LGBTQ+ organization that has worked the Rangers in the past. Resource Center communications and advocacy manager Rafael McDonnell says it’s a “complicated relationship” with the Rangers. McDonnell and other advocates believe a change in ownership could have to be the catalyst for change. The Rangers tout several ways they work with the LGBTQ+ community and say they promote diversity and inclusion internally.

Russian region of Dagestan holds a day of mourning after attacks kill 20 people, officials say

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s southern region of Dagestan is holding the first of three days of mourning following a rampage by Islamic militants who authorities say killed 20 people, most of them police, and attacked houses of worship in apparently coordinated assaults in two cities. Sunday’s violence was the latest that officials blamed on Islamic extremists in the predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus. It also was the deadliest in Russia since March, when gunmen gunmen opened fire at a concert in suburban Moscow, killing 145 people. That attack was claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State group. but no group has taken responsibility for Sunday’s attacks in Dagestan’s cities of Makhachkala and Derbent. All five gunmen were reported killed.

Planned Parenthood says it will spend $40 million on abortion rights ahead of November’s election

WASHINGTON (AP) — Planned Parenthood’s political and advocacy arms will spend $40 million ahead of November’s elections to bolster the campaigns of President Joe Biden and leading congressional Democrats. The organization is betting that voters angry at Republican-led efforts to further restrict access to abortion can be the difference in key races around the country. The political entities of the nation’s leading reproductive health care provider and abortion rights advocacy organization shared the announcement with The Associated Press prior to its official release Monday. The effort will initially target eight states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and New York.