AP-Newswatch

World Central Kitchen charity halts Gaza operations after Israeli strike kills 7 workers

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen, leading the charity to suspend delivery of vital food aid to Gaza. Israel’s offensive has pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation in the territory. Cyprus said Tuesday that ships that recently arrived were turning back. They have some 240 tons of undelivered aid. The country has played a key role in trying to establish a sea route to bring food to Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Tuesday that Israeli forces had carried out the “unintended strike.”

Forced from their Gaza home by Israeli troops, a family makes a frightening walk through a war zone

CAIRO (AP) — For days, Heba al-Haddad and her family huddled in their Gaza City home, watching Israeli troops drive their neighbors out of nearby buildings. Then in the dead of night, it was their turn. After blasting open their building entrance, troops stormed in and ordered them to leave. Witnesses say Israeli troops conducted a building-by-building expulsion of residents from nearby homes during the military’s two-week raid on Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital. For al-Haddad, her husband and kids and elderly in-laws, it meant a frightening walk through a war zone to southern Gaza.

Iran vows response after strike it blames on Israel demolishes consulate in Syria

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran and one of its key proxies have vowed to respond to a strike widely attributed to Israel that demolished Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus and killed eight, including two Iranian generals. Iran’s state TV reported Tuesday that the country’s Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making body, met late Monday and decided on a “required” response to the strike. The report said the meeting was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi, but provided no further details. Israel has repeatedly targeted military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon. Monday’s strike in Damascus signaled an escalation because it struck an Iranian diplomatic mission.

Donald Trump has posted a $175 million bond to avert asset seizure as he appeals NY fraud penalty

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has posted a $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud case, halting collection of the more than $454 million he owes and preventing the state from seizing his assets to satisfy the debt while he appeals. That’s according to a court filing made public Monday. A New York appellate court had given the former president 10 days to put up the money after a panel of judges agreed last month to slash the amount needed to stop the clock on enforcement. One of Trump’s lawyers says, “He looks forward to vindicating his rights on appeal and overturning this unjust verdict.”

Life has returned to Ukraine’s Bucha. But 2 years after the killings, some families can’t move on

BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) — Two years have passed since Russian forces withdrew from the Ukrainian suburb of Bucha and left exposed one of the worst atrocities of the war. Now there are signs of renewal and rebuilding in streets where bodies once lay. But some of those whose loved ones were killed say they are finding it impossible to move on. They say they are still waiting for Ukraine’s government to give members of local defense forces the status of military personnel. That would allow families to receive financial compensation. And shock still lingers. “Parents should not bury their children. It’s not fair,” one father says.

A 12-year-old student opens fire at a school in Finland, killing 1 and wounding 2 others

HELSINKI (AP) — A 12-year-old student has opened fire at a secondary school in southern Finland, killing one and seriously wounding two other students. Police said the suspect was later apprehened. Heavily armed police cordoned off the lower secondary school, with some 800 students, in the city of Vantaa, just outside the capital, Helsinki, on Tuesday morning. Police said both the suspect and the victims were 12 years old. The suspect was arrested in the Helsinki area later Tuesday with a handgun in his possession. The weapon used in the shooting was a registered handgun that was licensed to the suspect’s relative. The minimum age of criminal liability in Finland is 15 years, which means the suspect cannot be formally arrested.

Pope exposes confidential details of past conclaves and settles scores with Pope Benedict XVI’s aide

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has exposed the political “maneuvers” used to sway votes during the two most recent elections of popes in a book-length interview. The revelations are contained in “The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI.” In it, the Argentine pope reflects on his relationship with the late German pope and settles some scores with Benedict’s longtime aide. The book was written as a conversation with the correspondent for Spain’s ABC daily and was published Tuesday. It comes at a delicate time for the 87-year-old Francis. His frail health has raised questions about how much longer he will remain pope, whether he might follow in Benedict’s footsteps and resign, and who might eventually replace him.

Abortions are legal in much of Africa. But few women may be aware, and providers don’t advertise it

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — More than 20 countries across Africa have loosened restrictions on abortion in recent years, but experts say many women probably don’t realize they are entitled to a legal abortion. And some doctors and nurses say they’ve become increasingly wary of openly providing them. They’re fearful of triggering the ire of opposition groups that have become emboldened since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the nationwide right to abortion. A human rights treaty says all 55 countries of the African Union should grant the right to a medical abortion in cases of rape, assault, incest, and endangerment of health. But more than a dozen countries have yet to pass laws on access. Even in those with legislation, obstacles to access and accurate information remain.

College will cost up to $95,000 this fall. Schools say it’s OK, financial aid can numb sticker shock

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — As more than 2 million graduating high school students from across the United States finalize their decisions on what college to attend this fall, many are facing jaw-dropping costs that can be as much as $95,000. A number of private colleges — some considered elite and others middle-of-the-pack — have exceeded the $90,000 threshold for the first time this year as they set their annual costs for tuition, board, meals and other expenses. But the sticker price tells only part of the story. Many private colleges with large endowments are focusing more than ever on making tuition affordable to a range of students.

The women’s NCAA Tournament had center stage. The stars, and the games, delivered in a big way

Americans were in sports bars from coast to coast on Monday night, eyes glued to televisions and even movie screens. This wasn’t “Monday Night Football.” This was Monday Night women’s basketball. Caitlin Clark and Iowa topped Angel Reese and LSU. Paige Bueckers and UConn topped JuJu Watkins and USC. The rewards for Iowa and UConn were trips to this weekend’s Final Four. But the biggest winner might have been the women’s game, which seems to be soaring in popularity because of its star power. And Monday’s matchups did not disappoint.