AP-Newswatch

Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza’s Rafah ahead of an expected assault

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli army has ordered some 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. That signals that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and would further complicate efforts to broker a cease-fire. The looming operation in Rafah has raised global alarm and Israeli’s closest allies have warned against it. More than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering in the city and a high number of deaths is feared. On Monday, the United Nations agency serving Palestinian refugees said it would not comply with the evacuation order. Israel has described Rafah as the last significant Hamas stronghold after some seven months of war, and has repeatedly said the invasion is necessary to defeat the Islamic militant group.

Macron sets trade and Ukraine as top priority as China’s Xi Jinping pays a state visit to France

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed China’s Xi Jinping for a two-day state visit to France. The leaders first discussed trade issues in a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Macron recently denounced trade practices of both China and the U.S. as shoring up protections and subsides while Europe’s industry remains open and is stuck in overregulation. Macron also seeks to press Xi to use his influence on Moscow to move toward ending the war in Ukraine. Xi’s state visit marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries and follows Macron’s trip to China in 2023. After his stop in France, Xi will head to Serbia and Hungary.

As China and Iran hunt for dissidents in the US, the FBI is racing to counter the threat

WASHINGTON (AP) — American officials say foreign countries like China and Iran intimidate, harass and sometimes plot attacks against political opponents and activists in the U.S. A series of cases brought by the Justice Department shows the frightening consequences that geopolitical tensions can have for ordinary citizens as governments historically intolerant of dissent inside their own borders are increasingly keeping a threatening watch on those who speak out thousands of miles away. The practice of governments harassing dissenters is known as transnational repression, and U.S. officials say there’s been an alarming rise in cases. China denies that it engages in the practice.

Nervous about falling behind the GOP, Democrats are wrestling with how to use AI

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden campaign and top Democrats are wrestling with how best to use artificial intelligence, exposing the party’s anxiety over falling behind Republicans in the race to deploy technology that could transform the future of elections. Democratic strategists say they are nevertheless treading carefully in embracing tools that disinformation experts warn could pose a threat to democracy. So far, they say, AI is primarily helping them find and motivate voters and to better identify and defeat disinformation.

Russia announces nuclear drills after Western officials talk of deepening involvement in Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Ministry says it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons. The announcement Monday came days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine. The ministry says the drills are in response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.” It was the first time that Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, though its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons have a lower yield compared to massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles intended to obliterate entire cities.

Heavy rains ease around Houston but flooding remains after hundreds of rescues and evacuations

HOUSTON (AP) — Floodwaters have closed some Texas schools after days of heavy rains pummeled the Houston area and left hundreds of people in need of rescue. Authorities say a 5-year-old boy died after riding in a car that was swept away in fast waters. Forecasters expect storms to begin tapering off in southeastern Texas on Monday. But high waters have closed some roads and left residents facing lengthy cleanups in neighborhoods where rising river levels led to weekend evacuation orders. Houston is one of the most flood-prone metro areas in the country. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dumped historic rainfall that flooded thousands of homes and resulted in more than 60,000 rescues.

On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could

BRETTEVILLE-L’ORGUEILLEUSE, France (AP) — D-Day veteran Charles Shay is about to take part next month in the 80th celebrations of the landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany occupation. Then a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic, the Penobscot tribe citizen from Maine says he was ready to give his life. He also sought to save as many as he could. Now 99, he’s spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication. Nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the U.S., Canada and other nations who landed on June 6, 1944 on the Normandy shores. Shay said he did his job and “did not have time to worry” about his situation of being there and perhaps losing his own life.

With help from AI, Randy Travis got his voice back. Here’s how his first song post-stroke came to be

With artificial intelligence, country music star Randy Travis has his voice back. In 2013, the Travis was hospitalized with viral cardiomyopathy and later suffered a stroke. He now has aphasia, a condition that limits his ability to speak. It’s why his wife Mary Travis assists him in interviews. It’s also why he hasn’t released new music in over a decade, until now. “Where That Came From” is a new composition, developed using an AI model built from vocal samples across his career. “We were so excited,” said Mary Travis in an exclusive interview with AP, while seated next to Randy. “All I ever wanted since the day of a stroke was to hear that voice again.”