AP-Newswatch

Slovakia’s populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded after a political event in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe. Doctors were still fighting for his life several hours after the 59-year-old pro-Russian leader was hit. That’s according to Defense Minister Robert Kalina, who spoke to reporters at the hospital where Fico was being treated. He said an operation on Fico was not yet complete. The government said five shots were fired outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova, nearly 140 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of the capital, where Fico was meeting with supporters.

Biden and Trump, trading barbs, agree to 2 presidential debates, in June and September

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to hold two campaign debates, on June 27 hosted by CNN and on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC. CNN says its debate will be held in its Atlanta studios and “no audience will be present.” The Democratic president earlier Wednesday announced he won’t participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that’s organized them for more than three decades. Biden proposed two debates with the Republican ex-president, excluding third-party candidates. Trump says, “Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!” CNN holds open the door to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s participation if he or any other third-party candidate meets polling and ballot access requirements.

Netanyahu fends off criticism at home and abroad over his lack of a postwar plan for Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fending off criticism that he is not planning for a postwar reality in the Gaza Strip, saying it’s impossible to prepare for any scenario in the embattled Palestinian enclave until Hamas is defeated. Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure from critics at home and allies abroad, especially the United States, to present a postwar plan for Gaza. Meanwhile, Palestinians are marking the 76th anniversary of mass expulsion from what is now Israel in the war surrounding the country’s creation in 1948. More than twice the number expelled have been displaced within Gaza in this war.

Lies, loyalty and a gag order upheld: Tuesday’s Trump hush money trial takeaways

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s defense attorneys have grilled prosecutors’ star witness in his hush money trial, portraying former attorney Michael Cohen as a media-obsessed liar who’s determined to see the former president behind bars. Cohen on Tuesday endured intense questioning by Trump’s legal team after providing pivotal testimony tying the presumptive Republican presidential nominee directly to the hush money scheme at the heart of the case. Cohen will return to the witness stand Thursday for more cross-examination before prosecutors rest their case. Trump denies any wrongdoing in the case, which he has portrayed as an effort to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign.

On the eve of his visit to China, Putin says Russia is prepared to negotiate over Ukraine

BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin is prepared to negotiate over the conflict in Ukraine in an interview with Chinese media. The remarks come on the eve of his visit to partner China that has backed Moscow in its invasion of its neighbor. Putin was quoted by Xinhua on Wednesday as saying that Russia has “never refused to negotiate” and that it seeks a “comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means.” His trip comes as Russian forces have pressed their offensive in northeast Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. China claims to take a neutral position in the conflict, but has backed Moscow’s contentions that Russia was provoked into attacking Ukraine by the West.

What is the celebrity ‘blockout’ over the war in Gaza?

NEW YORK (AP) — Some social media users are calling out celebrities for what they say is inaction in the face of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza — and they’ve taken to a “blockout” to pressure the stars to take a stand. For the blockout, users put a block on seeing any and all content from the accounts of certain celebrities on social media platforms including X, TikTok and Instagram. Some have posted about the celebrities they’ve blocked. Others have shared posts from users lambasting attendees of high-glamour events like the Met Gala and contrasting it with the situation in Gaza. Blockout participants say it’s a protest because the celebrities either haven’t spoken up or haven’t said enough against Israel’s actions in Gaza during its war with Hamas.

Fewer US overdose deaths were reported last year, but experts are still cautious

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the numbers Wednesday. CDC officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. The agency says about 107,500 people died of overdoses in the U.S. last year. That’s down 3% from 2022. It’s too soon to know what spurred the decline, but experts reacted cautiously. They say the decline as relatively small. They also note that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up afterward.

Driver said he smoked pot oil, took medication before Florida crash that killed 8 Mexican workers

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Investigators say a man with a long record of dangerous driving told them he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before he sideswiped a bus. Eight farm workers from Mexico were killed and dozens more were injured. Bryan Maclean Howard pleaded not guilty Wednesday to driving under the influence-manslaughter, and a judge denied bail. The Florida Highway Patrol says the 41-year-old drove his pickup into the center line on a two-lane road early Tuesday and hit the farmworker bus, causing it to veer off the road, strike a tree and flip over. Howard’s arrest report says he had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech after the crash.

Ukrainian troops pull out of some areas and Zelenskyy postpones foreign trips amid Russian offensive

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from some parts of the country’s northeast and were battling Russian troops in other areas. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy postponed all his upcoming foreign trips, underscoring the seriousness of the threat his soldiers are facing. Against that grim backdrop, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to reassure the ally of continuing American support. He announced a $2 billion arms deal Wednesday. Most of the money comes from a package approved last month. The top diplomat is in Ukraine as Russian troops press a new offensive in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

This, too, could pass: Christian group’s rule keeping beaches closed on Sunday mornings may end

OCEAN GROVE, N.J. (AP) — A big change may be coming to a Jersey Shore town that was founded as a religious retreat and prevents people from using the beach on Sunday mornings. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is being sued by the state of New Jersey and has removed the Sunday morning ban from its website under a section on beach rules. It has not responded to requests for clarification, and the state attorney general’s office says it is trying to determine the status of the case. New Jersey says the ban violates state beach access laws. But the association says it is within its rights to keep the shore calm on Sunday mornings.