AP-Newswatch

First shipment of aid to the US-built floating pier in Gaza departs from Cyprus

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A shipment of humanitarian aid has left a port in Cyprus and is on its way to the U.S-built pier in Gaza, the first delivery to the newly built ramp, according to Cyprus’ foreign minister. The U.S. vessel, loaded with much needed humanitarian assistance, departed from the Larnaca port with the aim of transferring as much aid to Gaza as possible through the maritime corridor. The trip comes some two months after U.S. President Joe Biden gave the order to build the large floating platform several miles off the Gaza coast. The relief is desperately needed, with the United Nations saying people in Gaza are on the brink of famine and as Israeli troops ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.

Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he will not supply offensive weapons that Israel can use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there. Biden, in an interview Wednesday with CNN, says the U.S. is still committed to Israel’s defense and will supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms. But he says that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.” The interview marked Biden’s toughest public comments yet about the potential Israeli military operation and followed his decision to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel last week.

House rejects Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, but chaos lingers

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-line Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has tried and failed to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. But the resounding rejection by Democrats and Republicans does not end the political chaos. Greene is among Donald Trump’s biggest supporters in Congress and stood on the House floor Wednesday to read a long list of “transgressions” she said Johnson had committed as speaker. Colleagues booed in protest. Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise countered by calling for a vote to table Greene’s motion. An overwhelming majority kept Johnson in his job. But any lawmaker can try to remove the speaker. And Trump says there “may very well be” another bid to do so.

Storms threaten the South as a week of deadly weather punches through the US

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) — Forecasters are warning a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could march through parts of the South. Thursday’s forecast comes a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed three people in Tennessee and North Carolina. The storms continue a streak of torrential rain and tornadoes this week from the Plains to the Midwest and now the Southeast. At least four people have died since Monday. More than a quarter-million customers lack power across several states. Thunderstorms with torrential rains led to a flash flood emergency and water rescues northeast of Nashville.

Guns are being stolen from cars at triple the rate they were 10 years ago, a report finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The rate of guns stolen from cars in the U.S. has tripled over the last decade, making them the largest source of stolen guns in the country. That’s according to an analysis of FBI data by the gun safety group Everytown. The rate of stolen guns from cars climbed nearly every year and spiked during the coronavirus pandemic along with a major surge in weapons purchases. The findings are in a report provided to The Associated Press that analyzed FBI data from 337 cities in 44 states. The director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the alarming trend underscores the need for Americans to safely secure their firearms.

Russia celebrates victory in World War II as Putin accuses the West of fueling global conflicts

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia wrapped itself in patriotic pageantry for Victory Day, as President Vladimir Putin celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II by hailing his forces in Ukraine and blasting the West for fueling conflicts around the world. Putin has turned the holiday into a pillar of his nearly quarter-century in power and a justification of his military action in Ukraine. Even though few World War II veterans are still alive 79 years after Berlin fell to the Red Army, the victory over Nazi Germany remains the most important symbol of the country’s prowess. The Soviet Union lost about 27 million people in the war, an estimate that many historians consider conservative. Thursday’s festivities honor that sacrifice.

Civilian casualties rise in Myanmar’s civil war as resistance forces tighten noose around military

BANGKOK (AP) — Six months into an offensive against Myanmar’s military government, opposition forces have made massive gains, but civilian casualties are rising sharply as regime troops increasingly turn toward scorched-earth tactics in the Southeast Asian country’s bitter civil war. There is pressure on all fronts from powerful militias drawn from Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups and newer resistance forces. Troops are retaliating with air, naval and artillery strikes on hospitals and other facilities where the opposition could be sheltered or aided. About 1 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the offensive and more than 1,000 civilians have been killed.

Holy Year or holy mess, Vatican and Rome begin dash to 2025 Jubilee with papal bull, construction

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is crossing a key milestone in the runup to its 2025 Jubilee with the promulgation of the official decree establishing the Holy Year. Pope Francis is presiding over a ceremony Thursday in St. Peter’s Basilica for the formal reading of the papal bull. The event also kicks off the final seven-month dash of preparations and public works projects to be completed by Dec. 24, when Francis opens the basilica’s Holy Door and formally inaugurates the Jubilee. For the Vatican, the Holy Year is a centuries-old tradition of pilgrims visiting the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul. For the city of Rome, it’s a chance to take advantage of public funds to carry out long-delayed public works projects.

Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame’s journey across France

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Torchbearers are carrying the Olympic flame through the streets of France’s southern port city of Marseille a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship. The torch began its 11-week journey across the country with about 10,000 bearers passing through more than 450 towns until the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris on July 26. Former soccer player Basile Boli, who played with the Marseille team in the 1990s, kicked off Thursday’s relay from the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica. Basketball player Tony Parker also took his turn in the relay. One of the torchbearers is Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska. It’s an expression of solidarity with Ukraine as well as a symbolic gesture marking Europe Day,