AP-Newswatch

Debby bringing heavy rain, flooding and possible tornadoes northeast into the weekend

LUCAMA, N.C. (AP) — Debby is now a post-tropical cyclone moving into the northeastern United States with soaking rains, flash flooding and the threat of tornadoes into the weekend. Accuweather’s chief meteorologist Jon Porter said the mid-Atlantic states and parts of New York and New England will see significant rainfall that could cause dangerous flooding into the weekend. The South Carolina town of Moncks Corner was hit early Friday by flash flooding. From eastern Virginia up to Vermont, an active stretch of tornadoes was also possible on Friday. Tornadoes spawned by Debby have leveled homes and damaged a school. The death toll has risen to 8.

Iran is accelerating cyber activity that appears meant to influence the US election, Microsoft says

NEW YORK (AP) — A new report from Microsoft finds that Iran is accelerating online activity that appears intended to influence the U.S. election. Friday’s report finds that Iranian actors have recently created fake news sites, impersonated activists and in one case targeted a U.S. presidential campaign official with an email phishing attack. Microsoft says the activity shows how Iran is laying the groundwork to stoke division and potentially sway American voters this fall. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia continues to pose the greatest threat for election disinformation, while Iran is expanding its efforts and China is proceeding cautiously. Iran’s United Nations mission denied that it plans cyberattacks or other interference in the U.S. election.

The latest battleground stop for Harris and Walz is Arizona, where a VP runner-up could still matter

PHOENIX (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate are campaigning in Arizona as the latest stop on their tour of battleground states. The Arizona swing is especially significant because Harris passed over the state’s junior senator, Mark Kelly, in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate. That may cost her a handful of votes in a state that President Joe Biden won by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2020. But the state is also chock full of Midwesterners who may warm to Walz. And Democrats say the same energy that’s greeted Harris at earlier stops on her battleground tour is present in Arizona.

Russia declares an emergency in Kursk, under attack by Ukraine. 12 killed in Russian strike on mall

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has declared a “federal-level” emergency in the Kursk region following a large-scale incursion from Ukraine and sent reinforcements. The announcement came four days after hundreds of Ukrainian troops poured across the border in what appeared to be Kyiv’s biggest attack on Russian soil since the war began. Authorities in eastern Ukraine meanwhile said a Russian plane-launched missile hit a shopping mall late morning Friday. At least a dozen people were killed and 44 others were wounded. The mall is located in a town’s residential area. Thick black smoke rose above it after the strike. Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin said it was “another act of terror by the Russians.”

Ferguson marks 10 years since Michael Brown’s death. While there’s some progress, challenges persist

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Michael Brown’s death was the catalyst for massive change starting in Ferguson, Missouri. Ten years later, those in the community cite significant progress, but say challenges remain. Every city leader was white in the majority-Black city in 2014. Today, the mayor, police chief, city attorney and other leaders are Black. The mostly-white police force of 2014 now has more officers that are Black than white. The municipal court system that once brought in millions of dollars in court fines and fees paid mostly by poor residents now collects only a fraction of that. But many acknowledge that race still divides the community of 18,000 residents.

Boxer Imane Khelif fights for gold to cap an Olympics filled with misinformed scrutiny

PARIS (AP) — Imane Khelif is one victory away from wrapping up her tumultuous Paris Olympics with a gold medal around her neck after enduring waves of online abuse over misconceptions about her sex. Khelif fights Yang Liu of China in the final of the women’s welterweight division. The vitriol against Khelif and fellow two-time Olympian Li Yu-ting of Taiwan stems from the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association disqualifying them from last year’s world championships. The sport’s governing body has been banned from the Olympics and claimed both fighters had failed murky eligibility tests for women’s competition. The International Olympic Committee has called the arbitrary sex tests imposed on the two boxers irretrievably flawed.

A win for the Harris-Walz ticket would also mean the country’s first Native American female governor

If Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz officially steps down later this year to accept the position of U.S. vice president, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would become the first Native woman to govern a state. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, became the highest ranking Native American statewide official in the country when she was elected to office in 2018, and she has helped shape Walz’s administration as one focused on improving tribal sovereignty and autonomy across Minnesota. She is one of several Indigenous women who have taken seats of power in the U.S. over the last decade, and many in Indian Country see her rise to power as an opportunity for increased Indigenous rights and visibility.

Israeli troops launch a new assault into Gaza’s Khan Younis as mediators push for cease-fire talks

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops have launched a new assault into the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The military says they’re targeting Hamas fighters who they claim still operate there despite repeated offensives. American, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have renewed their push for Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire deal. Israel said it would attend Aug. 15 talks called by the mediators. Evacuation orders triggered another exodus of Palestinians from eastern districts of Khan Younis. Israeli officials have said they believe Hamas’ newly appointed top leader, Yahya Sinwar, could be hiding there.

Hearing in Karen Read case expected to focus on jury deliberations

DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the Karen Read case are set to return to court with the focus expected to be on jury deliberations that led to a mistrial on charges she killed her police officer boyfriend. Read is accused of ramming into John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a January 2022 snowstorm. The defense contends four jurors have said the jury unanimously reached a not guilty verdict on second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly accident and were deadlocked on the remaining manslaughter charge. The hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

3rd person in custody over foiled plot targeting now-canceled Taylor Swift shows in Vienna

VIENNA (AP) — Austrian authorities have announced a third arrest in connection with the foiled conspiracy to attack three now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts even as disappointed fans charmed Vienna by trading friendship bracelets and singing the pop star’s songs in the streets. The main suspect planned to target onlookers gathered outside Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives during the concert on Thursday or Friday. Authorities say the scheme was inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Swift is set to travel to London’s Wembley stadium for five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.