According to North Miami police, officers responded to an area near the 500 block of Northeast 132nd Terrace regarding a reported stabbing involving two men.

Police said after arriving at the scene, they found one of the men suffering from “injuries consistent with a stabbing.”

They said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the victim to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital for treatment.

Sky 10 flew over the scene around 11:45 a.m., where crime scene tape could be seen surrounding the area as North Miami police officers investigated.

Police said the person involved in the incident has been identified, but no arrests have been announced at this time.

They also confirmed that no additional information was immediately available regarding witnesses.

Detectives said the investigation “remains active and ongoing,” and a motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Building on her work helping foster children, Melania Trump said the new federal guidance will give child welfare agencies the ability to act as a guardian for children in foster care for the purposes of opening an account.

Melania Trump, speaking at a news conference at the Treasury Department, said the move “gives foster children the same chance at asset ownership and long-term wealth as every other child.”

The accounts will be open for contributions on July 4. To qualify for an account, a child must also be a U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers estimates that a Trump Account balance for a baby born in 2026 will be $5,800 by age 18 and $18,100 by age 28 if no other contributions are made.

The first lady said 23 governors have pledged to allow state agencies to begin the process of enrolling children in the program. “I urge every governor and business leader to help fund these accounts," she said.

There are roughly 330,000 children in the U.S. foster care system, according to the National Council for Adoption. One in 5 of them is at risk of homelessness after aging out of foster care, and only half gain employment by the time they are 24, says the National Foster Youth Institute.

“Those outcomes are unsettling but we refuse to accept them as inevitable,” Bessent told the news conference. “We are affirming that the American dream belongs to every child.”

A provision of Trump’s tax and spending legislation that he signed into law last summer created Trump Accounts. Under them, the Treasury Department gives $1,000 to babies so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the children can access the money when they turn 18.

Employers and billionaires across the country have pledged to make matching Trump Accounts contributions for employee benefits. Among them are Michael and Susan Dell, who announced a $6.25 billion donation, and hedge fund founder Ray Dalio and his wife, Barbara, who pledged $75 million for kids under 10 in Connecticut, where the Dalios live.

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Online jail records show Ashley Marie Hosendove, 32, faces a charge of disorderly conduct/breach of the peace.

According to court documents, a bench warrant was issued June 1 for Hosendove for an incident that occurred on March 12.

An arrest report states that Hosendove was the victim of a battery allegedly committed by her boyfriend that day.

But as her boyfriend was being taken into custody by police, Hosendove began to “shout and scream profanities” towards officers at the scene and refused to provide them with a form of ID, the report stated.

Police said Hosendove’s actions, which were captured on bodycam video, caused neighbors to gather outside.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday’s shooting was reported at about 2 a.m. at a home off Northwest First Court near 16^th Street.

Authorities said the girl, who was identified by a family member as Janova Park, suffered gunshot wounds to her stomach and torso and was rushed to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where she later died.

“We know that at the time of the shooting, there were three adults and two children -- the victim who’s 5 years old and her 4-year-old brother,” MDSO Detective Angel Rodriguez said Wednesday.

Detectives confirmed that Hosendove was among the adults inside the home at the time of the shooting.

Detectives said they’re still trying to determine how Janova was shot, including whether she may have accessed the gun herself or whether someone else shot her.

Local 10’s Hannah Yechivi spoke to Laticha Ellison, Janova’s grandmother, on Wednesday, who said the shooting could’ve been prevented.

“My grandbaby is 5 years old,” Ellison said through tears. “She’s only 5. It makes me angry because nothing like this should be able to happen, especially in your home — carelessness.”

Ellison described her granddaughter as “smart and sassy.”

Investigators said a gun was recovered inside the home and that they “are not looking for any individuals that may pose a threat to the community.”

Hosendove appeared in court Thursday morning and was ordered held on a $1,500 bond.

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According to the Hollywood Police Department, the May 20 crash happened at around 12:25 a.m. on North Ocean Drive near Hollywood Boulevard.

Police said the driver of a BMW, who has since been identified as Artiom Echiusciu, was going more than 100 mph when he crossed over the center median and struck the officer’s vehicle before getting out and running away.

Officer Luis Diaz suffered injuries considered serious but not life-threatening and was hospitalized, but is currently recovering, according to HPD.

Police said Echiusciu ordered a Lyft to help flee the scene, and eventually traveled all the way to Illinois where he was taken into custody on Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in Chicago.

Echiusciu, a Russian national who police said was in the country illegally, is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injuries, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing property damage, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and failure to register a motor vehicle.

He is in the process of being extradited to Broward County, authorities said.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Hollywood, el accidente ocurrió el 20 de mayo alrededor de las 12:25 a.m. en North Ocean Drive, cerca de Hollywood Boulevard.

La policía informó que el conductor de un BMW, identificado posteriormente como Artiom Echiusciu, circulaba a más de 100 mph cuando cruzó el separador central y chocó contra el vehículo del agente antes de salir del automóvil y huir corriendo.

Según la Policía de Hollywood, el agente Luis Díaz sufrió heridas consideradas graves, pero no mortales, y fue hospitalizado. Actualmente se encuentra en recuperación.

La policía indicó que Echiusciu solicitó un Lyft para ayudarlo a escapar de la escena y finalmente viajó hasta Illinois, donde fue arrestado el miércoles por la Fuerza Regional de Tareas de Fugitivos de los Grandes Lagos del Servicio de Alguaciles de Estados Unidos en Chicago.

Echiusciu, ciudadano ruso que, según la policía, se encontraba ilegalmente en el país, enfrenta cargos por abandonar la escena de un accidente con lesiones corporales graves, conducción temeraria causando lesiones corporales graves, conducción temeraria causando daños a la propiedad, conducir con una licencia suspendida, abandonar la escena de un accidente con daños a la propiedad y no registrar un vehículo de motor.

Las autoridades informaron que actualmente se encuentra en proceso de extradición al condado Broward.

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The fire started in the unit of Tavaras Calvin. Fortunately, neither Calvin, his wife nor their children were home at the time.

“Thankfully we weren’t home,” Calvin said. “Obviously the material things (we’re) not concerned about. Everything can be replaced, but it’s just a disheartening feeling to see what you do call home just go up in flames.”

Calvin said fire marshals believe the battery from his son’s Power Wheels toy car may have sparked the fire.

“The fire inspector said because we don’t have anything else electronic out here -- that was literally the only thing, and it wasn’t even connected to the actual toy,” Calvin said. “But the Power Wheels battery -- they’ve been known to be faulty and just catch fire and trigger something. He said it possibly could have been the heat -- we don’t know.”

According to Calvin, the fire shattered the patio window before spreading quickly through the inside of the two-bedroom unit, burning everything in its path.

“The television shattered,” he added. “It literally got into every room in the house, made it to the front door, the bathrooms, closet, everywhere.”

Calvin, his wife and their four children -- ages 9, 6, 5 and 3 -- recently booked a hotel room so they could reunite as a family after spending the last week living apart to stay close to work.

“I’m just thankful we weren’t home and no one got hurt and we’re all safe,” Calvin said. “That’s the most important thing.”

The American Red Cross’ Broward County chapter has been helping the family. Calvin said the organization has provided financial assistance.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family during their time of need.

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That’s because they say his older sister ― his guardian ― was forcing him to kneel on rice inside of a shed for hours.

According to the Florida City Police Department, the brother of Nataly Francelia Cruz, 26, went to the neighbor just before 4:45 p.m. and said he had been kneeling on the rice since around 11 a.m., saying “this is not the first time he has been punished this way when he misbehaves.”

“I observed minor injuries on his knees consistent with kneeling for a long time on a surface with rice,” an FCPD officer wrote in the report. “He also reported that while kneeling, he attempted to use the restroom inside the house but his sister refused to let him inside the house.”

Cruz, police said, has been taking care of the boy since their mother was deported.

A statement she made to authorities was redacted from the publicly-released report.

Police arrested Cruz on a child abuse charge and took her to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she was being held on a $2,500 bond as of Thursday morning.

The Honduran national also faces an immigration hold.

Esto se debe a que, según las autoridades, su hermana mayor —quien es su tutora— lo obligaba a arrodillarse sobre arroz dentro de un cobertizo durante horas.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Florida City, el hermano de Nataly Francelia Cruz, de 26 años, acudió al vecino poco antes de las 4:45 p.m. y dijo que había estado arrodillado sobre arroz desde aproximadamente las 11 a.m., agregando que “esta no es la primera vez que lo castigan de esta manera cuando se porta mal”.

“Observé lesiones menores en sus rodillas consistentes con haber permanecido arrodillado durante mucho tiempo sobre una superficie con arroz”, escribió un agente de la FCPD en el informe. “También informó que mientras estaba arrodillado intentó usar el baño dentro de la casa, pero su hermana se negó a permitirle entrar”.

La policía indicó que Cruz ha estado cuidando al menor desde que su madre fue deportada.

Una declaración que Cruz hizo a las autoridades fue censurada en el informe divulgado públicamente.

La policía arrestó a Cruz por un cargo de abuso infantil y la trasladó al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, donde permanecía detenida con una fianza de $2,500 USD hasta la mañana del jueves.

La ciudadana hondureña también enfrenta una retención migratoria.

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According to the Hialeah Police Department, the crash occurred around 4:10 a.m. near Southeast Fourth Avenue and East Okeechobee Road.

Investigators said a 37-year-old man riding a bicycle was struck by a driver in a black four-door vehicle. Police said the driver then continued southeast on East Okeechobee Road without stopping.

The bicyclist died from his injuries, authorities said.

Police said the suspect’s vehicle is believed to have noticeable front-end damage and is missing its passenger-side mirror.

They said a man arrived at Hialeah Police Department headquarters on Thursday and told officers he had been involved in a traffic crash earlier in the morning and did not stop.

Traffic homicide detectives were interviewing the man to determine whether he was involved in the fatal crash.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the Hialeah Police Department at 305-687-2525.

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Pino, 55, is facing manslaughter and vessel homicide charges in the death of 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez.

Prosecutors accuse Pino, then 52, of being reckless when he lost control of a 29-foot Robalo boat in the early evening hours of Sept. 4, 2022 and slammed it into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, killing Fernandez. Two other girls were seriously hurt, including 17-year-old Katerina Puig.

His defense team counters that the crash was merely an accident.

On Thursday, jurors visiting the FWC facility, escorted by deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, got a detailed look at the boat in question and could even board it to better understand the passenger positions of the girls on the day of the accident and where Pino was standing.

The jury members were able to see the exact location and the extent of the damage, giving them a different perspective from the videos and pictures they had seen in court court.

The field trip took about 40 minutes. They then went back to the courthouse after a lunch break with proceedings set to resume later in the afternoon.

Pino, de 55 años, enfrenta cargos de homicidio involuntario y homicidio por embarcación por la muerte de Lucy Fernandez, de 17 años.

Los fiscales acusan a Pino, entonces de 52 años, de actuar de manera imprudente cuando perdió el control de una embarcación Robalo de 29 pies durante las primeras horas de la noche del 4 de septiembre de 2022 y chocó contra una baliza de canal cerca de Boca Chita Key, causando la muerte de Fernandez. Otras dos jóvenes resultaron gravemente heridas, incluida Katerina Puig, de 17 años.

Su equipo de defensa sostiene que el accidente fue simplemente un hecho fortuito.

El jueves, los miembros del jurado que visitaron la instalación de la FWC, escoltados por agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, pudieron observar detalladamente la embarcación en cuestión e incluso abordarla para comprender mejor las posiciones que ocupaban las jóvenes el día del accidente y el lugar donde se encontraba Pino.

Los miembros del jurado pudieron ver la ubicación exacta y la magnitud de los daños, lo que les brindó una perspectiva diferente a la obtenida a través de los videos y fotografías presentados en la corte.

La visita duró aproximadamente 40 minutos. Luego regresaron al tribunal después de una pausa para almorzar, con los procedimientos programados para reanudarse más tarde en la tarde.

El accidente ocurrió cerca de la intersección de Southeast Eighth Avenue y Okeechobee Road.

Según la Policía de Hialeah, un hombre de 37 años que viajaba en bicicleta fue atropellado por el conductor de un vehículo negro de cuatro puertas. La policía indicó que el conductor huyó de la escena después del accidente.

Según los investigadores, el ciclista murió a causa de sus heridas.

La policía no ha divulgado información adicional sobre el vehículo, la víctima ni el conductor involucrado.

Cualquier persona con información sobre el caso debe comunicarse con el Departamento de Policía de Hialeah al 305-687-2525.

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The pioneering forecast team – the first group to issue seasonal hurricane outlooks, starting in 1984 – predicts 11 named storms and 5 hurricanes across the Atlantic in 2026, with 2 hurricanes reaching “major” Category 3, 4, or 5 status.

This is below the 30-year average of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 Category 3 or stronger hurricanes. Most noticeably, CSU’s predictions for Accumulated Cyclone Energy or ACE, a seasonal scorecard that considers storm intensity and duration, is reduced by about 40% compared to the 30-year average. The team also predicts the odds of a Category 3 or stronger hurricane hitting the U.S. in 2026 to be nearly cut in half from 43% (1880-2020 average) to 23%.

Though the pre-season predictions are heartening after a decade of mostly above-average or hyperactive Atlantic hurricane seasons, devastating hurricanes can strike even during down years. Hurricane Andrew was the only Category 3 or stronger hurricane to form in 1992 – a very inactive season with a meager 7 named storms – but its catastrophic impact on South Florida made it one of the costliest U.S. disasters on record.

El Niño officially arrives

Earlier today, NOAA and the National Weather Service officially declared El Niño conditions present in the eastern tropical Pacific.

The abnormal warmth across the main El Niño monitoring region used by NOAA (termed the Nino 3.4 region) is at record warmth for the time of year and so far the warmup is outpacing other strong El Niños that began in 2023, 2015, 1997, and 1982. El Niño conditions typically peak in the late fall or winter months.

Seasonal forecast models used to predict El Niño continue to suggest a historic and potentially record-setting El Niño in the works.

This rapid transition to El Niño is the primary reason we expect much lower-than-average activity this Atlantic hurricane season. Abnormally warm waters in the tropical eastern Pacific – especially during strong El Niños – increase wind shear (the difference in wind strength and direction with altitude) over the Caribbean and main development region of the Atlantic. Wind shear is a deterrent to organized tropical activity as it works to topple would-be storms.

Not surprisingly, seasonal forecast models are predicting the highest wind shear on record (back to 1981) for the Atlantic main development region this fall due to the strong El Niño conditions.

While El Niño can take on different flavors – such as El Niño Modoki (Japanese for “similar but different), where warming is concentrated in the central Pacific and Atlantic, hurricane activity is less affected like during the busy 2004 hurricane season – the current El Niño is as textbook as it gets and is considered a canonical or classical El Niño, with major impacts expected globally.

Chances for Gulf development remain low

As we’ve covered in this newsletter since last week, the now remnants of once Tropical Storm Cristina in the eastern Pacific are crossing over Central America and expected to merge with a tropical disturbance approaching from the west over the southern reaches of the Gulf and Bay of Campeche on Friday.

Forecast models continue to show only a narrow window for development tomorrow and Saturday before the system moves inland over northeastern Mexico by early Sunday.

It’s worth noting that a small handful of members from Google’s DeepMind machine learning-based hurricane model suggest residual spin could hang off the Texas coast into early next week and develop over the northern Gulf before being deflected eastward by an approaching cold front in about a week.

For now, these are outliers and not shown in the physics-based models. Even DeepMind’s newest 1,000-member hurricane ensemble indicates about a 10% chance of this scenario playing out.

Nevertheless, given DeepMind’s impressive performance last season, we’ll keep an eye on the trends in the days ahead.

El equipo pionero de pronósticos, el primer grupo en emitir previsiones estacionales de huracanes, a partir de 1984, predice 11 tormentas con nombre y 5 huracanes en el Atlántico en 2026, con 2 huracanes que alcanzarán la categoría “importante” de 3, 4 o 5.

Esto está por debajo del promedio de 30 años de 14 tormentas con nombre, 7 huracanes y 3 huracanes de categoría 3 o superior. Lo más destacable es que las predicciones de la CSU para la Energía Ciclónica Acumulada (ACE), un indicador estacional que considera la intensidad y la duración de las tormentas, se reducen en aproximadamente un 40 % en comparación con el promedio de 30 años. El equipo también predice que la probabilidad de que un huracán de categoría 3 o superior azote Estados Unidos en 2026 se reducirá casi a la mitad, del 43 % (promedio de 1880-2020) al 23 %.

Si bien las predicciones previas a la temporada son alentadoras tras una década de temporadas de huracanes en el Atlántico mayormente por encima del promedio o hiperactivas, los huracanes devastadores pueden azotar incluso en años de baja actividad. El huracán Andrew fue el único huracán de categoría 3 o superior que se formó en 1992, una temporada muy inactiva con apenas 7 tormentas con nombre, pero su impacto catastrófico en el sur de Florida lo convirtió en uno de los desastres más costosos registrados en Estados Unidos.

El Niño llega oficialmente

Esta mañana, la NOAA y el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional declararon oficialmente la presencia de condiciones de El Niño en el Pacífico tropical oriental.

El calor anormal en la principal región de monitoreo de El Niño utilizada por la NOAA (denominada región Niño 3.4) está alcanzando niveles récord para esta época del año y, hasta el momento, el calentamiento está superando a otros fuertes fenómenos de El Niño que comenzaron en 2023, 2015, 1997 y 1982. Las condiciones de El Niño suelen alcanzar su punto máximo a finales de otoño o en los meses de invierno.

Los modelos de pronóstico estacional utilizados para predecir El Niño siguen sugiriendo que se avecina un fenómeno de El Niño histórico y potencialmente sin precedentes.

Esta rápida transición a El Niño es la razón principal por la que prevemos una actividad mucho menor a la media durante esta temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico. Las aguas anormalmente cálidas en el Pacífico oriental tropical, especialmente durante los episodios intensos de El Niño, aumentan la cizalladura del viento (la diferencia en la fuerza y ​​dirección del viento con la altitud) sobre el Caribe y la principal región de desarrollo de huracanes en el Atlántico. La cizalladura del viento dificulta la actividad tropical organizada, ya que contribuye a disipar las tormentas potenciales.

Como era de esperar, los modelos de pronóstico estacional predicen la mayor cizalladura del viento registrada hasta la fecha (desde 1981) para la principal región de desarrollo del Atlántico este otoño debido a las fuertes condiciones de El Niño.

Si bien El Niño puede adoptar diferentes características, como El Niño Modoki (que en japonés significa “similar pero diferente”), donde el calentamiento se concentra en el Pacífico y el Atlántico centrales y la actividad de los huracanes se ve menos afectada, como durante la ajetreada temporada de huracanes de 2004, el El Niño actual es un ejemplo típico y se considera un El Niño canónico o clásico, con importantes repercusiones previstas a nivel mundial.

Las probabilidades de desarrollo en el Golfo siguen siendo bajas

Como hemos informado en este boletín desde la semana pasada, los restos de la antigua tormenta tropical Cristina, en el Pacífico oriental, están cruzando Centroamérica y se espera que se fusionen con una perturbación tropical que se aproxima desde el oeste sobre el extremo sur del Golfo y la Bahía de Campeche el viernes.

Los modelos de pronóstico siguen mostrando solo una ventana de tiempo muy estrecha para su desarrollo mañana y el sábado, antes de que el sistema se desplace tierra adentro sobre el noreste de México a primera hora del domingo.

Cabe destacar que un pequeño grupo de miembros del modelo de huracanes basado en aprendizaje automático DeepMind de Google sugiere que el giro residual podría permanecer frente a la costa de Texas hasta principios de la próxima semana y desarrollarse sobre el norte del Golfo antes de ser desviado hacia el este por un frente frío que se aproxima en aproximadamente una semana.

Por ahora, estos son casos atípicos que no se muestran en los modelos basados ​​en la física. Incluso el conjunto de modelos de huracanes más reciente de DeepMind, compuesto por 1000 miembros, indica una probabilidad de aproximadamente el 10 % de que se produzca este escenario.

No obstante, teniendo en cuenta el impresionante desempeño de DeepMind la temporada pasada, estaremos atentos a las tendencias en los próximos días.

In May, Amazon deforestation was 61.4% lower than in the same month in 2025, according to officials from the National Institute for Space Research, or INPE, and the Ministry of Environment.

Still, 370 square kilometers (nearly 143 square miles) of the rainforest were cleared. Deforestation over the same period fell 12% in the Cerrado, a savanna in central Brazil that has long been under pressure from the powerful agribusiness sector.

Environment Minister João Paulo Capobianco said that the figure is the lowest ever recorded for May, and that Brazil is on track to reach its lowest annual levels once the data is consolidated next semester.

He said that the month typically sees higher deforestation, because it marks the start of the Amazon’s dry season. In the 10 months from August 2025 to May 2026, deforestation in the Amazon already fell by 37.5%, compared with the same previous period.

On June 2, the Trump administration proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Brazil, saying that the world’s 10th-biggest economy engages in trade practices that are “unreasonable” and that “burden or restrict U.S. commerce.” The announcement came after an investigation by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that accused Brazil of illegal deforestation and unfair tariffs of its own, among other things.

Capobianco said that the deforestation figures “debunk the unfair and unfounded accusation by the United States, which cited deforestation to justify imposing tariffs.” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva nodded as he listened to the remarks.

Lula said that the Trump administration lied when they first imposed additional tariffs on Brazil last year, saying that the U.S. had a trade deficit.

“And now they raised questions about deforestation. They don’t understand the work we are doing to bring deforestation down to zero by 2030. This is not a decision by any COP or by the United Nations. It is a decision of our government,” the Brazilian president said, using the acronym for U.N. climate conferences.

“It’s a matter of justice, of Brazil’s contribution to the planet, fulfilling our obligation to avoid deforestation as much as possible. Preventing deforestation benefits Brazil, benefits the Amazon and benefits the world,” he said.

Deforestation is the leading driver of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming.

The Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, also plays a critical role in regulating the climate far beyond South America. Scientists warn that forest loss could accelerate global warming and disrupt agriculture as far away as the U.S. Midwest and parts of Europe.

After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until the 2019-2022 term of then President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized for weakening environmental protections. Under Lula’s administration, deforestation has fallen again, reaching its lowest level in a decade last year.

Despite gains in keeping forest standing, however, many other threats, ranging from climate change to potential legislation on the horizon, are putting the forest at risk.

Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years. All of this could be exacerbated this year with a strong El Niño, a cyclic warming of the equatorial Pacific, which causes higher temperatures and drier weather in the rainforest, conditions that worsen wildfires.

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.52% from 6.48% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Despite the increase, the average rate remains below 6.84%, where it was a year ago.

When mortgage rates rise they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, reducing their purchasing power.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Rates have been mostly trending higher since the conflict between the U.S. and Iran began in late February, disrupting the flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. That’s sent oil prices sharply higher, helping drive up inflation.

Expectations of higher oil prices as the war drags on have kept long-term bond yields elevated, causing mortgage rates to mostly trend higher.

The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note was at 4.53% in midday trading Thursday on the bond market, up from 4.47% a week ago. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

As recently as late February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had slipped just under 6% for the first time since late 2022. It’s hasn’t fallen below that threshold since. Two weeks ago, it climbed to 6.53%, its highest level since August 28.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, their mostly upward trajectory and uncertainty over how much higher they may go has kept many would-be homebuyers on the sideline this year.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes declined in the first three months of the year compared to a year earlier, extending a nationwide housing slump that dates back to 2022 when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales were essentially flat in April, but accelerated in May to their fastest pace since December.

Still, sales of existing U.S. homes continue to hovering close to a 4-million annual pace, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

Maybe it's the kind of contraption that has carried space aliens to the White House to force a meeting with America's leader.

But come closer and you'll see the contours of the eight-sided cage, 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter and shaped, with careful precision, like the MMA league's signature Octagon. That is, a STOP! sign flipped on its edge, with wire-mesh sides and padded corners fitted with different sponsors' logos: Morgan & Morgan, Bud Light, Dodge Ram, Corona Extra and Polymarket, which identifies itself as the world’s largest prediction market.

Overhead looms The Claw, a four-sided mass that arcs more than 90 feet (27 meters) into the air and features lights, speakers, thick snakes of wiring and four large screens so fans not seated right next to the Octagon can follow the cage fighting below.

Think more the four-sided, metal grabby thing that tries to grasp stuffed animals at a video arcade rather than what house cats have — hence the extraterrestrial vibes.

And surrounding all that are risers filled with gray folding chairs forming a temporary arena expected to seat 4,000-plus people for the seven UFC fights being staged on Sunday to celebrate the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing.

‘Quite attractive to a lot of people’

For non-UFC fans, all of this might be disorienting under any circumstances. But the temporary arena is covering nearly the entirety of the White House's South Lawn, where Marine One usually lands to ferry the president to out-of-town trips and gobs of kids scramble in the grass during the Easter Egg Roll every spring.

More than $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been poured into building the arena, according to a court filing from the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn and is contesting a lawsuit meant to block the event.

The White House says the UFC is covering the costs, though the filing states that seven agencies — including the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration — have “allocated significant resources and manpower.”

Fighters, their entourages and assorted support staffers are expected to take over the driveway and part of the West Wing when they're not fighting. But they'll enter the arena via curtained-off walkways with access to the Octagon.

They, as well as ordinary attendees of Sunday's spectacle, will have picturesque views of the White House's Executive Residence and its storied Truman Balcony on one side and the Washington Monument towering in the distance on the other. All of it will be accentuated by swirling spotlights, and perhaps even sweat and blood pouring off the fighters pummeling each other.

A packed pre-event schedule includes a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial with UFC chief Dana White and the fighters on Friday night.

There's also a ceremonial weigh-in for combatants on Saturday at the Ellipse, a park near the White House where organizers expect 120,000-plus visitors to watch Sunday night's proceedings on large screens after winning free tickets in a lottery.

Stunt athlete Travis Pastrana is also set to do a potentially death-defying backflip on a dirt bike on the White House lawn as part of the preshow extravaganza.

Trump has called the Octagon and its Claw “quite attractive to a lot of people.” He's even suggested that maybe the temporary structure could become permanent, like the Eiffel Tower, which he notes was originally built as part of the 1889 World's Fair but then was never taken back down.

Only the president knows how serious that suggestion really is.

The fights will go on rain or shine — despite a lack of covering

Work on the arena began May 20 and has continued for weeks. During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard. Giant cranes were carrying materials around overhead, though that was for the $400 million ballroom that Trump is building nearby, not the UFC fight.

The remaining grassy lawn around the arena, on the other sides of the White House, has been fitted with supplemental spotlights. But the grass that normally grows between the White House and the start of the risers for the arena is now gone, with nothing but dusty dirt that will need to be resodded when this is all over — unless the president really does decide to leave the arena up permanently.

There's also a large Freedom 250 logo standing between the White House and the arena. Nearby, crews removed the tables and yellow patio umbrellas from Trump’s refurbished Rose Garden and were power-washing that space, as well as the colonnade to the Oval Office, in preparation for the fights.

Sunday's event starts at 8 p.m. ET. As darkness falls, crews will illuminate The Claw in red, white and blue, and the mass of lights will offer projections that make it seem as though the entire structure has been enveloped in a twirling stars and stripes pattern.

The weather forecast calls for hot and muggy conditions with thunderstorms possible. The underside of The Claw's tower features an overhead cover that should keep the fighters reasonably dry should it rain — and Trump is also likely to watch from a protected, covered area.

But everyone else would almost certainly get wet.

White has vowed that even heavy lightning — when The Claw might make a conspicuous target for bolts — wouldn't stop the show.

“I don’t care if it snows," White said.

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According to Miami-Dade Animal Services, Louie arrived at the shelter in February along with several other dogs that had been living together in overcrowded conditions.

Staff members describe the 2 to 3-year-old mixed-breed dog as sweet, affectionate and easygoing around both people and other animals.

Shelter workers say Louie enjoys attention — especially belly and back scratches — and has earned positive reviews for his calm demeanor while waiting for adoption.

Those interested in adopting Louie or another pet can attend the Florida Mega Pet Adoption Event on Saturday at TY Park in Broward County.

Miami-Dade Animal Services, Broward County Animal Care, the Humane Society of Broward County and the Humane Society of Greater Miami will participate in the event, where adoption fees are expected to be waived.

More information about Louie and other adoptable pets is available by clicking here.

Según Servicios de Animales de Miami-Dade, Louie llegó al refugio en febrero junto con varios otros perros que vivían en condiciones de hacinamiento.

Los miembros del personal describen al perro mestizo, de entre 2 y 3 años, como dulce, cariñoso y tranquilo tanto con las personas como con otros animales.

Los trabajadores del refugio dicen que a Louie le encanta recibir atención, especialmente que le rasquen la barriga y la espalda, y que ha recibido comentarios positivos por su comportamiento calmado mientras espera ser adoptado.

Quienes estén interesados en adoptar a Louie o a otra mascota pueden asistir al Evento Mega de Adopción de Mascotas de Florida el sábado en TY Park, en el condado Broward.

Servicios de Animales de Miami-Dade, Broward County Animal Care, la Sociedad Humanitaria del Condado Broward y la Sociedad Humanitaria del Gran Miami participarán en el evento, donde se espera que las tarifas de adopción sean exoneradas.

Más información sobre Louie y otras mascotas disponibles para adopción está disponible haciendo clic aquí.

Los agentes de policía arrestaron a Anthony Gordon después de que detectives, con una orden de registro, encontraran $1.4 millones USD en efectivo y aproximadamente $5 millones USD en narcóticos en su vivienda, según el Departamento de Policía de Miami Gardens.

Correccionales de Miami-Dade registró el ingreso de Gordon, un delincuente convicto en Florida, poco después de las 7 a.m. del miércoles en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight, según registros de reclusos.

Gordon, también conocido como “Peanut”, fue liberado por última vez de prisión el 2 de diciembre de 2020, después de siete condenas en Miami-Dade y una en Broward, todas relacionadas con tráfico de drogas en 2013 y 2014, según el Departamento de Correcciones de Florida.

Gordon enfrenta 16 cargos: tráfico de propiedad robada, tráfico de cocaína, tráfico de fentanilo, tráfico de anfetaminas, tráfico de oxicodona, tráfico de drogas ilegales mientras estaba armado, 10 cargos de posesión de arma de fuego o municiones por un delincuente convicto y posesión de drogas sin receta médica.

Esta es una noticia en desarrollo.

Los organizadores indicaron que hay espacio suficiente para que unos 30.000 aficionados disfruten de las proyecciones en cuatro pantallas gigantes en el parque ubicado en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

“Todos son bienvenidos, de todas las edades... podrán ver los partidos gratis, mientras disfrutan de la música, el baile y la comida”, dijo el miércoles la alcaldesa de Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava.

Por motivos de seguridad, habrá detectores de metales y solo se permitirán bolsos transparentes. No se permiten bolsos de más de 30 cm x 15 cm.

También está prohibido vapear y fumar. Sillas, mantas, tiendas de campaña, patinetes, bocinas de aire comprimido, punteros láser e hinchables están incluidos en la lista de artículos prohibidos .

Excepto la comida para bebés, no se permite la entrada de alimentos ni bebidas del exterior. Los organizadores instalaron una larga fila de puestos de comida y bebida. El festival estará abierto todos los días hasta el 5 de julio.

Programa del festival

13 de junio : El festival para aficionados abre sus puertas de 14:00 a 24:00. Los partidos del Grupo A se juegan a las 15:00 (México contra Sudáfrica) y a las 23:00 (Corea del Sur contra la República Checa).

14 de junio : El festival de aficionados abre de 12:00 a 22:00. El partido del Grupo B , Canadá vs. Bosnia, es a las 15:00 y el partido del Grupo D , EE. UU. vs. Paraguay, es a las 21:00.

15 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 11:00 a 21:00.

16 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 14:00 a 24:00.

17 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 12:00 a 22:00.

18 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 11:00 a 21:00.

19 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 14:00 a 24:00.

20 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 12:00 a 23:00.

21 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 11:00 a 21:00.

22 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 12:00 a 20:00.

23 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 12:00 a 13:00.

24 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 14:00 a 21:00.

25 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 15:00 a 01:00.

26 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas de 14:00 a 23:00.

27 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 16:00 a 01:00.

28 de junio: El festival de fans abre de 13:00 a 22:00.

29 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche.

30 de junio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche.

1 de julio: El festival de fans abre de 11:00 a 23:00.

2 de julio: El festival de fans abre de 14:00 a 22:00.

3 de julio: El festival de fans abre de 13:00 a 21:00.

4 de julio: El festival de fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche.

5 de julio: El festival de fans abre de 15:00 a 23:00.

Para obtener más información sobre el festival, visite esta página.

Historias relacionadas

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• Director del FBI: La lucha contra el terrorismo será una prioridad absoluta durante la Copa Mundial de la FIFA.
• Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026, Grupo A: México jugará su partido inaugural el 11 de junio.

Seguimiento de los grupos de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA

• Grupo A
• Grupo B
• Grupo C
• Grupo D
• Grupo E
• Grupo F
• Grupo G
• Grupo H
• Grupo I
• Grupo J
• Grupo K
• Grupo L

La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado Monroe informó que arrestó a Aaron Tipsford, de Marathon, el miércoles.

Según los agentes, tuvieron contacto con Tipsford varias veces la noche del martes “debido a su comportamiento errático”, pero indicaron que no cumplía con los criterios para ser internado bajo la Ley Baker.

Después de que un familiar solicitara posteriormente una verificación de bienestar de Tipsford, los agentes dijeron que lo observaron conduciendo una SUV Honda alrededor de las 5:30 a.m. del miércoles cerca del marcador de milla 30 en Big Pine Key.

Las autoridades dijeron que durante una parada de tráfico, el “patrón de habla era anormal” y que “tenía dificultades para completar oraciones y llevaba una chaqueta pesada y guantes a pesar de las altas temperaturas”.

La temperatura máxima en Big Pine Key la mañana del miércoles fue de 84 grados.

Cuando los agentes le pidieron a Tipsford que mostrara su licencia de conducir, dijeron que huyó y comenzó a rebasar varios vehículos a velocidades de hasta 120 mph en la autopista U.S. 1.

Las autoridades dijeron que utilizaron ponchallantas varias veces contra el vehículo de Tipsford antes de que finalmente girara hacia la calle 39 en Marathon y chocara contra una roca antes de ser puesto bajo custodia.

La oficina del sheriff informó que una agente sufrió una lesión en la mano mientras desplegaba los ponchallantas y fue atendida el miércoles en el Hospital Jackson Memorial de Miami.

Tipsford enfrenta cargos por conducir bajo la influencia causando lesiones corporales graves, huir y evadir a las autoridades, resistirse al arresto, exceso de velocidad peligroso, daños criminales a la propiedad, posesión de marihuana y posesión de parafernalia de drogas.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, permanecía detenido sin derecho a fianza en la cárcel de Key West de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado Monroe.

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The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said they took Aaron Tipsford, of Marathon, into custody on Wednesday.

According to deputies, they made contact with Tipsword several times on Tuesday night “due to his erratic behavior” but said that he did not meet the criteria to be Baker Acted.

After a family member later requested a welfare check on Tipsword, deputies said they observed him driving a Honda SUV around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday near Mile Marker 30 on Big Pine Key.

Authorities said during a traffic stop, Tipsword’s “speech pattern was abnormal” and that “he had difficulty completing sentences and was wearing a heavy jacket and gloves despite warm temperatures.”

The high temperature in Big Pine Key on Wednesday morning was 84 degrees.

When deputies asked Tipsword to provide his driver’s license, they said he took off and proceeded to speed past several vehicles, reaching speeds of 120 mph on U.S. 1.

Authorities said they used tire spikes on Tipsword’s vehicle several times before he eventually turned onto 39th Street in Marathon and struck a boulder before being taken into custody.

The sheriff’s department said that a deputy suffered an injury to her hand while deploying the spikes and was treated on Wednesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

Tipsword is facing charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, dangerous/excessive speeding, criminal mischief with property damage, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

As of Thursday morning, he was being held at MCSO’s Key West jail facility on no bond.

“Did you realize that none of the characters look like our children?” he asked his wife, Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth.

Instead of simply pointing out the problem, the couple set out to change it. That observation eventually led to “Gracie’s Corner,” the educational music series inspired by their daughter Graceyn Hollingsworth that has attracted more than 6.3 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 10 billion views.

Now, “Gracie’s Corner” is headed to Disney+.

Disney announced Thursday that it has acquired the global streaming rights to the popular preschool series and will develop new original content with the Hollingsworth family. The deal includes global linear and streaming rights to more than 120 shorts and 18 themed compilations from the existing series.

Graceyn, 13, said she was “really ecstatic” when she learned Disney would become part of the show's next chapter.

“Disney, Disney. The one that makes all the princess movies and everything,” she recalled thinking. “It was really surprising.”

When will ‘Gracie’s Corner' premiere on Disney+?

“Gracie’s Corner” will debut Monday on Disney+ in the United States and select international markets, with 68 shorts and seven compilations available at launch. Additional shorts and compilations will roll out globally through 2026.

The acquisition adds “Gracie’s Corner” to Disney Jr.’s preschool lineup, which includes “Bluey,” “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “SuperKitties” and the recently launched “Sofia the First: Royal Magic.”

“‘Gracie’s Corner’ has made a real connection with families by meeting kids where they are, while still delivering the kind of joyful, enriching experience parents are looking for,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. “It feels very at home alongside the Disney characters and stories families already love, bringing together music, learning and participation in a way that really resonates with today’s preschoolers.”

The inspiration for ‘Gracie’s Corner'

The journey began in 2020 when the Hollingsworths, both university professors, were juggling virtual work and parenting from home during the early days of COVID-19. Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth, a licensed clinical psychologist, and her husband were teaching classes remotely while helping their children navigate online learning.

Like many parents, they relied on educational videos to keep their children entertained and engaged. But they quickly realized many of the characters their children watched did not reflect their own experiences.

At the time, Graceyn was in elementary school. The couple’s younger children were toddlers.

“We were like every other parent, putting them in front of what we could to entertain them,” Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth said.

The conversation sparked an idea that would eventually become a family business.

Sing-along show blends hip-hop, R&B and learning

The Hollingsworths created “Gracie’s Corner,” an animated sing-along series that reimagines nursery rhymes while blending literacy, math, science and social-emotional lessons with music inspired by hip-hop, R&B and other contemporary sounds. It features animated versions of Graceyn and her family. The show is designed to provide educational content that children can enjoy while also giving parents something they won't mind hearing repeatedly.

Success did not come overnight.

The family’s earliest videos attracted only a few hundred views, mostly from relatives and friends. But a phonics-focused song helped the channel gain traction, eventually transforming the project into one of YouTube’s most successful educational brands.

“It didn't always look like it would be successful in the beginning,” Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth said. “What we set out to do, we’re seeing it’s important for other families too.”

The channel’s growth eventually attracted attention from across the entertainment industry including Disney.

Javoris Hollingsworth recalled receiving a LinkedIn message several years ago from a Disney executive expressing interest in the series.

“I thought it was a prank,” he said. “There’s no way Disney is reaching out to us.”

The partnership marks another milestone for a family-built brand that has won four NAACP Image Awards, landed a book deal with HarperCollins and expanded into live entertainment through its sold-out national tour.

Why ‘Gracie’s Corner' appealed to Disney

For Disney, the deal also reflects the growing influence of creator-led programming in children’s entertainment and the ways young audiences increasingly discover content outside traditional television channels.

“Disney has always created stories and characters that families trust, and kids genuinely connect with,” Davis said. “As the ways preschool audiences engage with content continue to evolve, we see an opportunity to work with creators who understand the kinds of music-driven, participatory experiences kids return to again and again, and bring those voices into the Disney ecosystem in a way that is thoughtful, curated and true to our brand.”

Unlike many traditional acquisitions, “Gracie’s Corner” will continue to live on YouTube while expanding to Disney’s platforms.

Javoris Hollingsworth said maintaining ownership of the brand and ensuring its accessibility were important considerations as discussions moved forward. The arrangement also includes a development agreement that will allow Disney and the Hollingsworth family to create new original content together.

“We always wanted to make sure that our content is accessible and available to those who may not have access to some of the things that others have,” he said. “Disney respected that.”

— San Antonio wins and extends the series.

— New York wins and becomes NBA champions.

That's it. It's one or the other. After 1,321 games — 1,230 in the regular season, 84 in the playoffs, six more in the play-in tournament and one between the Spurs and Knicks that decided the NBA Cup — it really is that simple. If Wembanyama and the Spurs win in San Antonio, the season lives for at least one more game. If the Knicks win, all that'll be left in this season will be a parade.

The Spurs trail the series 3-1 and Wembanyama understands the reality. Of the previous 38 teams that trailed 3-1 in the NBA Finals, 37 wound up watching the other team celebrate the title. And if that bit of history didn't look daunting enough, the Spurs will try to climb out of this 3-1 hole after the biggest collapse in NBA Finals history — wasting a 29-point lead in a Game 4 loss at New York.

“I think it’s going to go one of two ways,” Wembanyama said shortly after Wednesday's 107-106 loss in Game 4, a game where the Spurs were outscored 55-25 in the final 21 1/2 minutes. “One of two ways. A bad one and a good one. The bad one would be giving up. The good one would be getting stronger through this, getting more together. I know this is what we’re going to do.”

Thursday was an off day for the teams, at least in terms of formal practices. Both sides are scheduled to practice in San Antonio on Friday, and then Game 5 is there on Saturday night — with the Knicks one win away from what would be their first championship in 53 years.

New York won Games 1 and 2 of the finals in San Antonio — rallying from double-digit deficits in both games — to take command of the series. The Knicks, with a win Saturday, would become the first team since Houston in 1995 to go 3-0 on the Spurs' floor in a single postseason series.

“Our mentality has to be 0-0, the way it’s been,” Knicks guard Jalen Brunson said, repeating the mantra he's cited time and time again in this postseason run. “It has to be that way, and I feel like us moving forward with that mindset can really benefit us. There's nothing to celebrate. It’s not over yet, not even close.”

It's common sense for the team with a 3-1 lead to hold off on celebrating. But in this case, there's also some truth to what Brunson is saying.

Yes, the 3-1 deficit has been proven to be virtually insurmountable in NBA history; the only team that successfully escaped its grip in the finals was LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, when they rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors for that title.

This series, however, isn't exactly a statistical runaway.

The Knicks have outscored the Spurs by a total of eight points over the four games. Shooting is basically even; the Knicks are at 44%, the Spurs at 43%. The Knicks have made 52 3-pointers, the Spurs 49. Free-throw percentage, Knicks 79%, Spurs 78%. The Knicks have three more rebounds and both teams have exactly 90 assists through four games.

“Just take this one game at a time,” said Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox, who took heavy criticism for electing to try a layup — which was blocked — in the final seconds of Game 4 instead of taking time off the clock with a one-point lead. “It obviously looks like a steep hill, but this is something that’s happened before. Take this thing one game at a time. We’ve been in a position to win all these games. We’ve been up double digits. We have to figure out what we need to do to be able to put some of these games away.”

It has been a baffling problem for the Spurs.

They led Game 1 by one with 1:51 left, then lost after the Knicks finished on an 11-0 run.

They had the ball in a tie game with 11 seconds left in Game 2, then lost after Wembanyama threw a pass that Stephon Castle never saw and became a turnover that led to Brunson's game-winning free throw.

And now, this — a 29-point lead wasted in Game 4, and they still led by one until Anunoby's tip-in with 2.1 seconds left.

"We have to try to put this behind us," Fox said.

If they don't, the Knicks' 53-year wait for a title could end Saturday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Hegseth estuvo en la Estación Naval de la Bahía de Guantánamo, donde se reunió con miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas de Estados Unidos destacados en la base.

Funcionarios informaron que también planea visitar el Comando Central de Estados Unidos en Tampa, que además alberga una gran comunidad cubanoamericana.

La presencia de Hegseth en Cuba se produce mientras Estados Unidos exige cambios drásticos en la isla y tras la acusación contra Raúl Castro en relación con el derribo de las avionetas de Hermanos al Rescate en 1996.

Estados Unidos ha bloqueado el suministro de petróleo hacia Cuba tras las amenazas del presidente Donald Trump de remover por la fuerza al régimen gobernante del país.

El mes pasado, un portaaviones estadounidense y su grupo de ataque, compuesto por aviones de combate y equipos de interferencia de radar, ingresaron al sur del Caribe, y el director de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA) visitó a funcionarios cubanos en La Habana.

En ese momento, el analista de Cuba de Local 10, Andy Gómez, dijo que sus contactos en la isla confirmaron que tenían acceso a drones con fines “defensivos”.

Eso ocurrió mientras el Comando Sur publicaba en redes sociales que había establecido un nuevo “comando de guerra autónoma”, mostrando un ejercicio militar realizado este año en Key West con sistemas autónomos, semiautónomos y no tripulados que, según indicó, se utilizan para contrarrestar amenazas en la región.

El lunes, el alto comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, Volker Türk, advirtió que la campaña de “máxima presión” de Estados Unidos, que ha incluido bloquear el acceso al petróleo para la isla comunista, está provocando una crisis humanitaria.

Sin embargo, el secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, atribuyó el debilitamiento económico y el creciente descontento a lo que describió como el largo legado de codicia, mala gestión y liderazgo corrupto en la isla, destacando además un conglomerado operado por las Fuerzas Armadas cubanas que, según dijo, priva a la población del acceso a los recursos necesarios para enfrentar la escasez de alimentos y el deterioro de la infraestructura.

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Officials recommend arriving at least two hours before kickoff to allow enough time for transportation, security screenings and stadium entry.

Tickets and Stadium Access

Only fans with valid match tickets will be allowed onto stadium property.

Those without tickets will not be permitted inside the stadium grounds or surrounding parking lots. Organizers also say there will be no designated watch parties or gathering areas outside the venue for people without tickets.

Fans should be prepared to pass through multiple security and ticket checkpoints before entering the stadium. A heightened law enforcement and security presence is also expected at every match.

Parking Information

Parking at Miami Stadium will be available only to fans who purchase parking passes in advance through FIFA.

Parking will not be sold at the stadium on match days, and only vehicles displaying valid FIFA-issued parking credentials will be allowed through traffic restrictions surrounding the venue.

Officials encourage fans to make parking arrangements early, as demand is expected to be high throughout the tournament.

Rideshare and Taxi Services

Fans using Uber, Lyft, taxis or similar services should be aware that rideshare vehicles will not be allowed to drop off passengers directly at the stadium.

Instead, rideshare users will be directed to designated transportation hubs away from the venue and will need to take a complimentary shuttle to Miami Stadium.

Organizers also warn that heavy demand after matches could result in longer wait times and increased rideshare fares.

Free Shuttle Service

To help move large crowds efficiently, free shuttle service will be available for ticket holders on match days.

Shuttles will run beginning about 3 1/2 hours before kickoff and continue operating for up to two hours after each match.

Pickup locations include:

• Hard Rock Hotel, 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood
• Golden Glades Park & Ride, 15890 Northwest Seventh Ave. in Miami
• Brightline Aventura Station, 19796 West Dixie Highway
• MLK Station, 6205 Northwest 27th Ave. in Miami

Fans must present a valid ticket for that day’s match before boarding a shuttle bus.

Those planning to park at a shuttle location will also need to secure parking through FIFA in advance.

Road Closures and Traffic Impacts

Drivers should expect significant traffic changes around the stadium on match days.

Several roads near Miami Stadium will be closed to vehicles without valid FIFA parking passes. Additional road closures are scheduled to begin during matches and remain in place until postgame traffic has cleared.

Officials are encouraging fans to leave early, allow extra travel time and review transportation plans before heading to the stadium.

Additional match-day information, transportation details and parking updates are available through FIFA’s official Miami World Cup resources.

Las autoridades recomiendan llegar al menos dos horas antes del inicio del partido para contar con suficiente tiempo para el transporte, los controles de seguridad y el ingreso al estadio.

Entradas y acceso al estadio

Solo los aficionados con entradas válidas para los partidos podrán ingresar a la propiedad del estadio.

Quienes no tengan entradas no podrán acceder a los terrenos del estadio ni a los estacionamientos circundantes. Los organizadores también indicaron que no habrá áreas designadas para ver los partidos ni zonas de reunión fuera del recinto para personas sin entradas.

Los aficionados deben estar preparados para pasar por múltiples controles de seguridad y verificación de boletos antes de ingresar al estadio. También se espera una mayor presencia de las fuerzas del orden y de seguridad en cada partido.

Información sobre estacionamiento

El estacionamiento en el Miami Stadium estará disponible únicamente para los aficionados que compren pases de estacionamiento por adelantado a través de la FIFA.

No se venderán pases de estacionamiento en el estadio los días de partido, y solo los vehículos que exhiban credenciales válidas de estacionamiento emitidas por la FIFA podrán atravesar las restricciones de tráfico alrededor del recinto.

Las autoridades recomiendan hacer los arreglos de estacionamiento con anticipación, ya que se espera una alta demanda durante todo el torneo.

Servicios de transporte compartido y taxis

Los aficionados que utilicen Uber, Lyft, taxis o servicios similares deben saber que estos vehículos no podrán dejar pasajeros directamente en el estadio.

En su lugar, los usuarios serán dirigidos a centros de transporte designados alejados del recinto y deberán tomar un servicio gratuito de transporte hacia el Miami Stadium.

Los organizadores también advierten que la alta demanda después de los partidos podría generar tiempos de espera más largos y tarifas más elevadas en los servicios de transporte compartido.

Servicio gratuito de transporte

Para ayudar a movilizar grandes multitudes de manera eficiente, habrá servicio gratuito de transporte para los poseedores de entradas los días de partido.

Los autobuses comenzarán a operar aproximadamente tres horas y media antes del inicio del partido y continuarán funcionando hasta dos horas después de cada encuentro.

Los puntos de recogida incluyen:

• Hard Rock Hotel, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood
• Golden Glades Park & Ride, 15890 Northwest Seventh Ave., Miami
• Estación Brightline de Aventura, 19796 West Dixie Highway
• Estación MLK, 6205 Northwest 27th Ave., Miami

Los aficionados deberán presentar una entrada válida para el partido de ese día antes de abordar el autobús.

Quienes planeen estacionar en alguno de los puntos de recogida también deberán obtener estacionamiento a través de la FIFA con anticipación.

Cierres de carreteras e impacto en el tráfico

Los conductores deben esperar cambios significativos en el tráfico alrededor del estadio los días de partido.

Varias carreteras cercanas al Miami Stadium estarán cerradas para vehículos que no cuenten con pases de estacionamiento válidos emitidos por la FIFA. También se prevén cierres adicionales durante los partidos y estos permanecerán vigentes hasta que el tráfico posterior al encuentro se haya despejado.

Las autoridades recomiendan a los aficionados salir temprano, prever tiempo adicional para el traslado y revisar sus planes de transporte antes de dirigirse al estadio.

Información adicional sobre los días de partido, detalles de transporte y actualizaciones sobre estacionamiento está disponible a través de los recursos oficiales de la FIFA para la Copa Mundial en Miami.

The FDA last month gave its first OK to fruit-flavored vapes — essentially endorsing them as a less-harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes. The decision came despite the agency’s longstanding position that such flavors appeal to children and must show extra health benefits to warrant approval for adults.

Health groups and Washington lawmakers quickly condemned the decision and have called for an explanation.

A six-page FDA memo released this week provides more details about the agency's rationale. In it, FDA regulators appear to sidestep previous statements about the risks of sweet vaping flavors while acknowledging shortcomings in the data submitted by vape manufacturer Glas Inc.

To meet federal standards, companies must show that their products benefit public health. In practice, that means demonstrating that their vapes help adult smokers switch or quit cigarettes, while not attracting underage use by teens.

Smokers who tried Glas vapes were much more likely to completely switch from cigarettes over the course of a three-month study, according to the memo.

But the data did not show “statistically significant differences” between adults using the company's mango and blueberry flavors and those using a tobacco-flavored e-cigarette.

That means the new vapes failed to meet the same bar as a handful of other flavored products previously sanctioned by the FDA, including menthol-flavored vapes from Juul and NJOY. Those companies showed that adults who used menthol were significantly more likely to cut down or quit cigarettes compared with those vaping tobacco flavors.

Elsewhere, FDA regulators explained that the Glas flavored vapes “did not have to demonstrate added adult benefit,” because young people were unlikely to use them. Glas requires users to unlock each e-cigarette with an age-verifying cellphone app.

The agency's authorization also runs counter to recent FDA guidelines advising companies that fruit and dessert flavors would have to meet “a high evidentiary burden" for adult use, given their risks to children. Tobacco-flavored products are not popular with teens and generally face lower regulatory hurdles at the FDA.

The FDA document is also unusual in its brevity.

Previous FDA memos on new vaping products typically run dozens of pages. For example, last year’s document authorizing Juul’s menthol e-cigarettes was more than 90 pages and included detailed scientific data from research involving 50,000 people.

The short memo on Glas does not include key details, such as how many smokers the firm studied.

Previously, the FDA almost always posted such memos immediately after announcing an authorization. The document on Glas appeared on the agency's website more than a month after regulators OK’d the products.

The agency has faced questions from members of Congress about the decision. Last month, 10 Democratic senators sent a letter to the agency requesting more information about the authorization, calling it a “shortsighted and reckless decision.”

The application from Glas, which also included menthol and tobacco-flavored vapes, followed a winding path to authorization. The small, Los Angeles-based company submitted a marketing request to the FDA in 2021.

In February, FDA scientists authorized several of the flavors. But that decision was blocked by a senior official reporting to then-FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, according to internal memos later released by the agency.

The mango- and blueberry-flavored products were finally OK’d during Makary’s last full week leading the agency. He resigned the post after months of criticisms from industry stakeholders, including tobacco companies that have lobbied President Donald Trump's Republican White House for looser regulations on vaping flavors.

A spokesperson for the company could not immediately provide comment when reached Thursday morning.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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The burglary happened on June 9 at an undisclosed business in Key West.

According to the Key West Police Department, the man they are seeking was caught on surveillance footage.

Authorities said he stole $420 worth of merchandise from the store.

Anyone with information or who thinks they recognize him is urged to contact Key West police at 305-809-1000.

El robo ocurrió el 9 de junio en un negocio no revelado de Key West.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Key West, el hombre que buscan fue captado por cámaras de vigilancia.

Las autoridades dijeron que robó mercancía valorada en $420 USD de la tienda.

Cualquier persona con información o que crea reconocerlo debe comunicarse con la Policía de Key West al 305-809-1000.

The jersey, by Colombian sportswear manufacturer Saeta, originally included a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803 on its front. The image was rejected during FIFA’s approval process.

Saeta said in a statement Wednesday that it would comply with the ban even though the design “was not intended as a political statement,” but rather as a “tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future.”

The jersey featured blue to mirror the sea and red for the nation's “strength and passion,” the sportswear maker said. Players wore the now-banned jersey in a warmup match against Peru last week. The original design was currently marked as sold out on the SaetaUSA online shop.

Similarly, the International Olympic Committee required the removal of an image of Haitian founding father Toussaint Louverture from Haiti’s opening ceremony uniforms for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, ruling that it violated Olympic rules barring political symbolism.

Haiti gained independence in 1804 and is widely regarded as the world’s first independent nation founded by formerly enslaved people after a successful slave revolt.

Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean, who designed the Olympic uniforms, came up with a creative solution: Painting over the figure, leaving just a horse against the background of tropical foliage. The designs were so much in demand that Jean later created a production version featuring the original Louverture image.

“Either way, Haiti has to be setting a record: Two rebukes from the highest international sports authorities in just a few months,” Jean told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Haiti opens World Cup play on Saturday against Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, then plays five-time champion Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Hace una semana, un gran incendio que provenía de un apartamento en el primer piso en Coral Springs llamó la atención de los vecinos.

El incendio comenzó en la unidad de Tavaras Calvin. Afortunadamente, ni Calvin, ni su esposa, ni sus hijos estaban en casa en ese momento.

“Gracias a Dios no estábamos en casa”, dijo Calvin. “Obviamente no estamos preocupados por las cosas materiales. Todo se puede reemplazar, pero es desalentador ver cómo lo que llamas hogar queda consumido por las llamas”.

Calvin dijo que los inspectores de incendios creen que la batería del automóvil de juguete Power Wheels de su hijo pudo haber provocado el incendio.

“El inspector de incendios dijo que, como no teníamos ningún otro aparato electrónico aquí afuera, eso era literalmente lo único, y ni siquiera estaba conectado al juguete”, dijo Calvin. “Pero las baterías de Power Wheels tienen antecedentes de presentar fallas y simplemente incendiarse y provocar algo. Dijo que posiblemente pudo haber sido el calor, no lo sabemos”.

Según Calvin, el incendio rompió la ventana del patio antes de propagarse rápidamente por el interior de la unidad de dos habitaciones, quemando todo a su paso.

Calvin, su esposa y sus cuatro hijos, de 9, 6, 5 y 3 años, reservaron recientemente una habitación de hotel para poder reunirse como familia después de pasar la última semana viviendo separados para mantenerse cerca de sus trabajos.

“Solo agradezco que no estábamos en casa, que nadie resultó herido y que todos estamos a salvo”, dijo Calvin. “Eso es lo más importante”.

La Cruz Roja Americana del condado Broward ha estado ayudando a la familia. Calvin dijo que la organización les ha brindado asistencia financiera.

La causa del incendio continúa bajo investigación.

Se ha creado una página de GoFundMe para ayudar a la familia durante este momento de necesidad.

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Bell is expected to become UF’s 14th president, pending ratification by the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees Florida’s public university system. The board is expected to vote on his ratification at its June 25 meeting.

Bell previously served as president of the University of Alabama from 2015 to 2025. Before that, he was provost and professor of engineering at Louisiana State University and dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas.

UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini called the unanimous vote “a resounding and undeniable show of support” for Bell, saying his experience and leadership will be important as UF works to climb higher in national rankings.

Bell was selected from among hundreds of potential candidates, according to Rahul Patel, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of UF’s Presidential Search Committee.

Bell holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. He is also known for research on natural gas and combustion engines and was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023, UF said.

Bell is expected to succeed Interim President Donald Landry. He was announced May 18 as the sole finalist chosen by UF’s 15-member Presidential Search Committee.

Se espera que Bell se convierta en el presidente número 14 de la UF, pendiente de ratificación por parte de la Junta de Gobernadores de Florida, que supervisa el sistema de universidades públicas del estado. Se espera que la junta vote sobre su ratificación en su reunión del 25 de junio.

Bell se desempeñó previamente como presidente de la Universidad de Alabama entre 2015 y 2025. Antes de eso, fue rector y profesor de ingeniería en la Universidad Estatal de Luisiana y decano de la Escuela de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Kansas.

El presidente de la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la UF, Mori Hosseini, calificó la votación unánime como “una demostración contundente e innegable de apoyo” a Bell, afirmando que su experiencia y liderazgo serán importantes mientras la UF busca ascender aún más en las clasificaciones nacionales.

Bell fue seleccionado entre cientos de posibles candidatos, según Rahul Patel, vicepresidente de la Junta de Fideicomisarios y presidente del Comité de Búsqueda Presidencial de la UF.

Bell posee un doctorado en ingeniería mecánica y una licenciatura en ingeniería nuclear de la Universidad Texas A&M. También es conocido por sus investigaciones sobre gas natural y motores de combustión, y fue incorporado al Salón de la Fama de la Ingeniería del Estado de Alabama en 2023, informó la UF.

Se espera que Bell suceda al presidente interino Donald Landry. El 18 de mayo fue anunciado como el único finalista seleccionado por el Comité de Búsqueda Presidencial de la UF, integrado por 15 miembros.

El martes, los miembros del jurado escucharon a múltiples testigos, incluido el padre de la víctima, Andy Fernandez, quien describió haber abrazado a su hija por última vez antes de lo que calificó como una “hermosa tarde” que terminó en tragedia.

Los fiscales alegan que Pino, un desarrollador inmobiliario del sur de Florida, operaba una embarcación de 29 pies cuando chocó contra una baliza de canal cerca de Boca Chita Key durante el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo de 2022, causando la muerte de Lucy Fernandez, de 17 años, y dejando gravemente heridos a otros dos adolescentes.

Los testimonios también incluyeron a un pasajero de la embarcación, quien describió cómo la nave se volcó y el caótico desenlace en el agua, así como a un abogado civil que hizo referencia a declaraciones previas relacionadas con la investigación del accidente.

Los miembros del jurado fueron enviados a casa la tarde del martes y tenían previsto regresar la mañana del miércoles.

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According to the Miami Police Department, the initial investigation began on April 16 after a resident reported that several Amazon packages had been stolen from the front porch of his home. The stolen items were valued at approximately $111.

The victim told police the packages had been delivered earlier that morning. When he discovered they were missing, he reviewed footage from his Ring doorbell camera and saw an unknown man arrive on a black bicycle around 11:44 a.m.

Investigators said the video showed a man entering the property, taking the packages from the porch, placing them into a black backpack and riding away eastbound.

Based on the video evidence, police distributed a “Need-to-Identify” flyer in an effort to identify the suspect.

More than a month later, on May 28, officers located Jeyner Francisco Monzon, who they said matched the description of the package thief.

Authorities said Monzon was taken to Miami Police Headquarters for questioning before being arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

After Monzon’s arrest, more victims came forward regarding package thefts that occurred from March through May, authorities said.

Police said the thefts included packages that contained groceries, speakers worth about $1,000 and dog supplies, among other items.

The Miami Police Department is urging residents who may have experienced similar package thefts in the area to come forward and file a police report as the investigation continues.

Those who believe they were victimized may call the Miami Police Department’s General Investigations Unit at 305-603-6030. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Según el Departamento de Policía de Miami, la investigación inicial comenzó el 16 de abril después de que un residente reportara que varios paquetes de Amazon habían sido robados del porche delantero de su vivienda. Los artículos robados estaban valorados en aproximadamente $111 USD.

La víctima dijo a la policía que los paquetes habían sido entregados más temprano esa mañana. Cuando descubrió que faltaban, revisó las imágenes de la cámara de su timbre Ring y vio a un hombre desconocido llegar en una bicicleta negra alrededor de las 11:44 a.m.

Los investigadores dijeron que el video mostraba a un hombre entrando en la propiedad, tomando los paquetes del porche, colocándolos en una mochila negra y alejándose en dirección este.

Con base en la evidencia en video, la policía distribuyó un volante de “Necesitamos identificar” en un esfuerzo por identificar al sospechoso.

Más de un mes después, el 28 de mayo, agentes localizaron a Jeyner Francisco Monzon, quien, según dijeron, coincidía con la descripción del ladrón de paquetes.

Las autoridades dijeron que Monzon fue llevado a la sede de la Policía de Miami para ser interrogado antes de ser arrestado y trasladado al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight.

Después del arresto de Monzon, más víctimas se presentaron para denunciar robos de paquetes ocurridos entre marzo y mayo, dijeron las autoridades.

La policía indicó que los robos incluyeron paquetes que contenían comestibles, bocinas valoradas en aproximadamente $1,000 USD y suministros para perros, entre otros artículos.

El Departamento de Policía de Miami está instando a los residentes que hayan experimentado robos similares de paquetes en el área a que se presenten y presenten un informe policial mientras la investigación continúa.

Quienes crean haber sido víctimas pueden llamar a la Unidad de Investigaciones Generales del Departamento de Policía de Miami al 305-603-6030. También se pueden proporcionar denuncias anónimas llamando a Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.

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According to the report, Miami Beach police arrested Kihmanii McKenziee, of Miami, on Tuesday. She faces charges stemming from an incident reported on May 15.

According to police, the victim walked into the Miami Beach Police Department shortly before 9 a.m. on May 15 to report that he had been robbed at gunpoint and forced to drive against his will earlier that morning.

The victim told investigators he met McKenziee and another individual at Haulover Beach on the evening of May 14. He described both as “African American transgender females,” the report stated.

After meeting, the group agreed to go to an Airbnb located on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, authorities said.

According to the arrest report, the victim told detectives that he and McKenziee spent several hours together at the rental property and attempted to have intercourse before an argument broke out around 6:30 a.m.

“You wasted my night,” McKenziee told the victim, according to the report. “I could’ve been making money. If you don’t give me $200 right now, I’ll shoot you in the face.”

McKenziee allegedly pulled a gun from her purse and pointed it at the victim’s head while demanding money, authorities said.

Police said the victim reported that after initially refusing, he was punched multiple times and eventually surrendered $100 out of fear for his safety.

Investigators said McKenziee then allegedly ordered the victim to drive her home while continuing to point the gun at him. The victim told police he complied because he feared being harmed.

The victim drove onto northbound Interstate 95 during morning rush-hour traffic while McKenziee allegedly continued demanding money from him, according to the report. At one point, the victim said she struck him in the head with the gun, causing a minor laceration.

Police said the ordeal ended when the victim pulled onto the shoulder of the interstate and stopped the vehicle, at which time McKenziee exited the car and fled on foot.

During the investigation, the victim provided detectives with a phone number he said belonged to McKenziee. According to the report, the contact information was saved in his phone under the name “Kihmanii (Money) Miami.” A records check linked the number to McKenziee, police said.

Authorities also reviewed surveillance footage and identified McKenziee through prior law enforcement contacts, according to investigators.

Detectives said McKenziee was located Tuesday, driving in the 500 block of Northwest 95th Street in Miami. Police said a gray pistol was visible inside a purse on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

After taking McKenziee into custody, detectives reported observing tattoos that matched those seen in surveillance footage connected to the case. Investigators also said she was carrying a cellphone associated with the phone number provided by the victim.

McKenziee was arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She faces charges of armed kidnapping and armed robbery.

A separate arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office shows McKenziee also faces charges in connection with an incident in which she was accused of going to her ex-boyfriend’s home and forcing her way inside.

In that case, detectives said McKenziee arrived at the victim’s home in northeast Miami-Dade and pushed her way inside after the victim’s new girlfriend answered the door.

Deputies said the trio got into an argument before the victims agreed to call an Uber for McKenziee.

At one point, McKenziee grabbed the new girlfriend’s wrist, at which time her ex-boyfriend fired his gun at the ground in an attempt to get McKenziee to leave the area, authorities said.

Detectives said McKenziee fled the scene before deputies arrived.

In that case, she is facing charges of burglary with assault or battery and burglary of an occupied structure.

As of Thursday morning, McKenziee was being held at the Metrowest Detention Center without bond.

The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, the new name for the race held outside Barcelona, won’t be staged in 2027 as it starts being held every two years.

“It is probably going to be my last Barcelona race in Formula 1,” the 44-year-old Alonso told reporters at the track on Thursday.

Alonso quickly added he was not announcing his retirement, but the fact that the next Barcelona race will be in 2028 made it less likely he will take part.

He said in the coming months he will think hard about whether he is willing to keep racing next season while Aston Martin gives him a car that struggles to get him even near the top.

“I don’t have anything in mind, and after the summer I will take the decision to continue or not,” the Spaniard said. “But Barcelona is not happening next year, and if I don’t know what I am doing next year it is near impossible to know what I will doing two years from now.

“Every race I go to could be my last.”

Alonso is an icon of Spanish sports thanks to his world championships in 2005 and 2006, and he has remained one of the series' best drivers, even though he has never had the car to match his skills for several years.

His last F1 victory, No. 32, came in 2013 at this track in Montmelo. Few racing fans would then have imagined that Alonso, who remained sharp behind a wheel, would not stand atop a podium again.

Still, tens of thousands of his fans flock to the Spanish race to cheer him on each year.

This season he has just one point and was 18th out of 22 drivers.

And while Alonso said he was “at peace” with his career, it hurt not to be competitive.

“The hardest thing is to not win races and not be competitive,” he said. “If (this season) is the last, it is not affecting me. I am at peace now with myself and my career. I achieved a lot more than I ever dreamt when I was a kid."

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Según el informe, la policía de Miami Beach arrestó el martes a Kihmanii McKenziee, de Miami. Enfrenta cargos derivados de un incidente reportado el 15 de mayo.

Según la policía, la víctima entró en el Departamento de Policía de Miami Beach poco antes de las 9 a.m. del 15 de mayo para denunciar que había sido robada a punta de pistola y obligada a conducir contra su voluntad esa misma mañana.

La víctima dijo a los investigadores que conoció a McKenziee y a otra persona en Haulover Beach la noche del 14 de mayo. Describió a ambas como “mujeres transgénero afroamericanas”, señala el informe.

Tras conocerse, el grupo acordó ir a un Airbnb ubicado en Ocean Drive, en Miami Beach, dijeron las autoridades.

Según el informe de arresto, la víctima dijo a los detectives que él y McKenziee pasaron varias horas juntos en la propiedad de alquiler e intentaron tener relaciones sexuales antes de que surgiera una discusión alrededor de las 6:30 a.m.

“Me hiciste perder la noche”, le dijo McKenziee a la víctima, según el informe. “Pude haber estado ganando dinero. Si no me das $200 USD ahora mismo, te dispararé en la cara”.

McKenziee presuntamente sacó un arma de su bolso y la apuntó a la cabeza de la víctima mientras exigía dinero, dijeron las autoridades.

La policía indicó que la víctima reportó que, tras negarse inicialmente, fue golpeada varias veces y finalmente entregó $100 USD por temor a su seguridad.

Los investigadores dijeron que McKenziee presuntamente ordenó luego a la víctima que la llevara a su casa mientras continuaba apuntándole con el arma. La víctima dijo a la policía que obedeció porque temía resultar herida.

La víctima condujo por la Interestatal 95 en dirección norte durante el tráfico de la hora pico de la mañana mientras McKenziee presuntamente continuaba exigiéndole dinero, según el informe. En un momento dado, la víctima dijo que ella lo golpeó en la cabeza con el arma, causándole una laceración menor.

La policía dijo que la situación terminó cuando la víctima se detuvo en el arcén de la autopista y paró el vehículo, momento en que McKenziee salió del automóvil y huyó a pie.

Durante la investigación, la víctima proporcionó a los detectives un número de teléfono que dijo pertenecía a McKenziee. Según el informe, la información de contacto estaba guardada en su teléfono bajo el nombre “Kihmanii (Money) Miami”. Una verificación de registros vinculó el número con McKenziee, dijo la policía.

Las autoridades también revisaron videos de vigilancia e identificaron a McKenziee a través de contactos previos con las fuerzas del orden, según los investigadores.

Los detectives dijeron que McKenziee fue localizada el martes mientras conducía en la cuadra 500 de Northwest 95th Street, en Miami. La policía dijo que una pistola gris era visible dentro de un bolso en el asiento delantero del pasajero del vehículo.

Tras poner a McKenziee bajo custodia, los detectives informaron que observaron tatuajes que coincidían con los vistos en los videos de vigilancia relacionados con el caso. Los investigadores también dijeron que llevaba un teléfono celular asociado con el número proporcionado por la víctima.

McKenziee fue arrestada y trasladada al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight. Enfrenta cargos de secuestro a mano armada y robo a mano armada.

Un informe de arresto separado de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade muestra que McKenziee también enfrenta cargos en relación con un incidente en el que fue acusada de acudir a la casa de su ex novio y entrar por la fuerza.

En ese caso, los detectives dijeron que McKenziee llegó a la vivienda de la víctima en el noreste de Miami-Dade y se abrió paso a la fuerza después de que la nueva novia de la víctima respondiera a la puerta.

Los agentes dijeron que los tres se involucraron en una discusión antes de que las víctimas aceptaran pedir un Uber para McKenziee.

En un momento dado, McKenziee agarró la muñeca de la nueva novia, momento en el que su ex novio disparó su arma al suelo en un intento de hacer que McKenziee abandonara el lugar, dijeron las autoridades.

Los detectives dijeron que McKenziee huyó de la escena antes de que llegaran los agentes.

En ese caso, enfrenta cargos de allanamiento con agresión o lesiones y allanamiento de una estructura ocupada.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, McKenziee permanecía detenida en el Centro de Detención Metrowest sin derecho a fianza.

Los registros de la cárcel en línea muestran que Ashley Marie Hosendove, de 32 años, enfrenta un cargo de alteración del orden público/quebrantamiento de la paz.

Según documentos judiciales, una orden de arresto judicial fue emitida el 1 de junio contra Hosendove por un incidente ocurrido el 12 de marzo.

Un informe de arresto indica que Hosendove fue víctima de una agresión presuntamente cometida por su novio ese día.

Pero mientras su novio era puesto bajo custodia por la policía, Hosendove comenzó a “gritar y proferir obscenidades” contra los agentes presentes en la escena y se negó a proporcionar una identificación, señala el informe.

La policía dijo que las acciones de Hosendove, que fueron captadas por cámaras corporales, provocaron que vecinos se reunieran afuera.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO), la balacera fue reportada alrededor de las 2 a.m. del miércoles en una vivienda ubicada en Northwest First Court cerca de la calle 16.

Las autoridades dijeron que la niña, identificada por un familiar como Janova Park, sufrió heridas de bala en el estómago y el torso y fue trasladada de emergencia al HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, donde posteriormente murió.

“Sabemos que al momento de la balacera había tres adultos y dos niños: la víctima, que tenía 5 años, y su hermano de 4 años”, dijo el detective de la MDSO Angel Rodriguez el miércoles.

Los detectives confirmaron que Hosendove estaba entre los adultos que se encontraban dentro de la vivienda al momento de la balacera.

Los detectives dijeron que todavía intentan determinar cómo Janova recibió el disparo, incluyendo si pudo haber tenido acceso al arma por sí misma o si otra persona le disparó.

Hannah Yechivi, de Local 10, habló el miércoles con Laticha Ellison, abuela de Janova, quien dijo que la balacera pudo haberse evitado.

“Mi nietecita tiene 5 años”, dijo Ellison entre lágrimas. “Solo tiene 5 años. Me da rabia porque algo así no debería poder ocurrir, especialmente en tu propia casa, por descuido”.

Ellison describió a su nieta como “inteligente y atrevida”.

Los investigadores dijeron que recuperaron un arma dentro de la vivienda y que “no están buscando a ninguna persona que pueda representar una amenaza para la comunidad”.

Experts said the El Nino, a natural warming cycle, should further heat a globe already warming from fossil fuel pollution and will likely turbocharge extreme weather across the planet. Meteorologists forecast it will rival — or exceed — a record El Nino that began in 1997 and helped trigger billions of dollars in damage from heat waves, floods, droughts, tornadoes and wildfires.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially confirmed the existence of the El Nino, which is a warming of the Pacific near the equator that affects weather patterns across the globe. NOAA’s announcement said there’s a 63% chance that the El Nino will get so intense this late fall and early winter that it “would rank among the largest El Nino events in the historical record going back to 1950.”

The warm, deep waters of an El Nino affect weather patterns by bringing “a lot of extra heat to the surface, fueling a lot of extreme events for a lot of places around the world,” said Clark University climate scientist Abby Frazier.

She said, especially in the Pacific, “it can get dire very quickly.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described El Nino as an “urgent climate warning.”

“El Nino conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” Guterres said in a video message.

El Nino’s impacts spawn winners and losers

The weather pattern’s effects vary by region. El Nino often dampens — but doesn’t eliminate — Atlantic hurricane season activity, but increases it in the Pacific. So while the U.S. East and Gulf coasts may get a break, Hawaii and other islands are more in danger, Frazier said.

The drought-stricken Middle East could benefit, climate scientists said. Other places are looking at more danger. Parts of western South America — where the first El Ninos were noticed decades ago — often get heavy rain and floods, along with an extra warm summer. India faces more intense heat waves, while drought, wildfires and heat threaten Australia.

Northeastern Africa is likely going to get weather whiplash from intense drought to dangerously heavy rains, said Columbia University climate scientist and El Nino expert Muhammad Azhar Ehsan.

In the U.S., El Ninos can cause more intense storms with heavier rainfall in the South, but they also tend to generally benefit the U.S. agriculture industry, said Jon Gottschalck, operational branch chief at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Michael Ferrari, meteorologist and head of research at the investment research firm Moby, said conditions for grains and seed, especially soybeans, look favorable in 18 major growing states, but are more mixed when it comes to dairy and cattle.

The northern Rockies and Southwest — where there’s an “off the charts” snow drought — could get some strong summer rains, Gottschalck said. The biggest effect in the U.S. is often in the winter, when the south can get wetter and the Pacific Northwest warmer and drier.

But overall, temperatures raised by the weather pattern can dampen American economic growth, said Stanford climate economist Marshall Burke. Several climate scientists forecast that 2027 will be the hottest year on record because of lagging effects of this El Nino, which is expected to peak in the fall or winter.

“We have pretty clear evidence that the U.S. economy grows more slowly when temps are above normal,” Burke said.

Strong early signs

The weather extremes caused by an El Nino also depend on when it develops.

Usually El Ninos form in the summer, peak in the late fall or early winter, and peter out the next spring, scientists said.

However, Ehsan’s team forecasts that this El Nino will peak a month or two earlier based on strong early signs from recent weeks. Princeton University climate scientist Gabriel Vecchi said large El Ninos like these also tend to last longer.

The early indications — including warmer water pushing toward the surface of the Pacific — have been so strong and noticeable that forecasters have all been predicting the same ultra strong El Nino, Vecchi said, adding that El Nino forecasts often are all over the place at this time of year.

Scientists predict stronger El Ninos as the world warms from the burning of coal, oil and gas, Frazier and others said. But she said it is too early to say if this El Nino is part of that.

Even before it officially formed, this El Nino has gotten nicknames ranging from “super” to “Godzilla.”

“Instead of scared, we can ask people to be prepared,” Columbia’s Ehsan said

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

When they arrived in the parking lot, the officer arrested the husband on a bogus charge, said his wife, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity for her and her 48-year-old husband because she didn’t want to risk being detained as well or put either of their pending asylum cases at risk.

“He told us he was issuing a ticket because the dog had bitten him, but that wasn’t true because the officer never got out of the car,” she said. “He started making calls, arrested him, and waited 40 minutes” for federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to arrive and take her husband away.

Trump’s immigration crackdown has met with fierce resistance in Democratic-led sanctuary cities, where police are forbidden from assisting, elected officials have pushed back and local residents have tried to defend their migrant neighbors by whistling the alarm, recording cellphone videos and berating the masked federal agents viewed by many as an invading force.

That hasn’t been the case in Republican-led Florida, though, where 347 state and local agencies have signed on to take part in the crackdown and unleashed a flood of immigration arrests. Among them are police and sheriff’s departments, the Florida National Guard and the Highway Patrol, but also ones as seemingly unlikely as the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Lottery.

The surge in Florida immigration arrests during Trump’s second term has largely flown under the public’s radar, as many start as run-of-the-mill police traffic stops, the public seems more supportive of the initiative, and participating state and local agencies are roundly rejecting requests for arrest records and body camera video at the behest of the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration arrests more than triple

Nearly 39,000 immigrants were arrested in Florida in the 416 days beginning Jan. 20, 2025 — the start of President Donald Trump’s second term — through March 11, 2026, the last day for which data was available in a set provided to the University of California, Berkeley’s, Deportation Data Project and analyzed by the AP. During the preceding 416 days of the Biden administration, there were 11,088. On average, Florida recorded 93 daily arrests during that Trump-led period, trailing only the 239 recorded by Texas, which shares the nation’s longest border with Mexico.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed Florida’s push to partner with ICE through so-called 287(g) agreements, which bestow immigration enforcement powers on state and local law enforcement agencies, allowing them to interrogate immigrants in their custody and detain them for possible deportation. And they are under pressure to deliver, experts say.

“There’s a lot of officers who have been deputized, given immigration authority, and they are just looking for people,” said immigration attorney Vilerka Bilbao, who represents at least 23 clients detained by local police in the Jacksonville area. “They are arresting anybody — they need to show the numbers to DeSantis and the federal government.”

Officers stop vehicles for a “pretext reason” — such as a broken taillight or overly dark window tint — “and then you end up in ICE custody,” Bilbao said.

A father and son are deported

On Feb. 15, Lee County sheriff’s deputies detained a 44-year-old Guatemalan man and his 21-year-old son on the outskirts of Fort Myers. They approached the two in a store parking lot, told them their license plate was expired and ordered them out of their car even though its tags were valid until March 25, according to the older man’s wife and younger man’s mother.

The woman, a 40-year-old Guatemalan asylum-seeker who spoke on condition of anonymity for herself and her family over concerns for her safety and the safety of her three kids still with her in Florida, said her husband and adult son were detained and deported to Guatemala a week later, leaving behind her, her two underage sons and her daughter, who is an American citizen.

She said her husband and adult son had pending immigration court cases but were detained anyway. Her husband had attended three immigration court hearings but missed one because it was in Miami, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) south of Fort Myers, and he didn’t have the money to get there, she said. Her son, meanwhile, was seeking asylum, had a valid driver’s license and a work permit.

DHS disputes that the man and his son were legally in the U.S., saying they crossed the border illegally in 2017 and had a final order of removal from 2019.

In the case of the man walking his dog, DHS said he was arrested because he had two final orders of removal.

A test of Florida’s Sunshine Law

In both cases, the Florida agencies that initiated the stops — the Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office — refused to share the arrest reports and body camera footage with the AP, explaining that ICE requires them to forward all inquiries about immigration arrests to it.

ICE and DHS, its parent agency, declined to share the arrest reports and bodycam footage, with DHS explaining in a statement: “We are not going to disclose law enforcement sensitive intelligence.”

An ICE directive sent to the 287 (g) partners in Florida states that “information obtained or developed” under the agreements is “under the control of ICE” and cannot be released without federal approval.

The directive appears to violate the long-standing Florida Sunshine Law, which was passed in 1967 and presumes records are public unless specifically protected. The conservative state Legislature, though, has carved out exclusions in recent years.

It’s not just Florida

Although Florida is at the forefront of partnering in the crackdown, opening the “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Deportation Depot” immigration detention centers in the past year, participation in the 287(g) program has skyrocketed, going from 135 agreements in 20 states before Trump’s second term began to more than 1,700 in 41 states and territories.

DHS announced financial incentives for state and local law enforcement agencies, including salary reimbursement. This includes up to $7,500 for equipment for each officer participating in the agreements, and up to $100,000 for agencies to purchase new vehicles.

European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the Aug. 12 game between Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the Europa League winner. The game will be in Salzburg, Austria.

“Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement.

Artan got a hero’s welcome returning to Somalia on Wednesday, days after he was refused entry in Miami and questioned for 11 hours by U.S. authorities despite being picked by FIFA for World Cup duty. He was sent away on a flight to Turkey.

U.S. officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.

Artan's treatment heightened concerns about U.S. immigration policy around the World Cup that was criticized by the United Nations ' top human rights official on Wednesday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday it was powerless to prevent Artan's ordeal, and "we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.”

The 34-year-old referee was judged the best in Africa last season and worked the decisive game in the continent's Champions League final last month.

Čeferin said UEFA worked on the plan with the Confederation of African Football and its president Patrice Motsepe. Čeferin and Motsepe both are FIFA vice presidents.

"Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud," Motsepe said in the UEFA statement.

"This is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide,” Motsepe said, hours before his native South Africa opened the World Cup against co-host Mexico. They play at the storied Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

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But on Sunday, something was missing: a referee’s uniform.

Police said the uniform was stolen by Jordan Martinez, a security guard at the hotel, and the theft was caught on camera.

According to police, Martinez, 25, of Miami Beach, was brought into an interview room where he confessed to taking laundry bags that contained FIFA referee uniforms.

Police said Martinez told investigators that when he realized the bags contained official FIFA referee uniforms, he decided to keep them because he is a big soccer fan and wanted to wear one after the game.

“That’s insane,” one tourist from Iowa said. “I’m not even from here, I’m from Iowa. I don’t know why he’d steal a jersey from a referee.”

Investigators said equipment and property belonging to two FIFA officials were stolen.

“That’s kind of odd. Maybe he’s trying to sell it. I have no idea,” the tourist said.

Police did not provide further details about what Martinez planned to do with the referee’s uniform.

Authorities arrested Martinez Monday on a charge of third-degree grand theft.

He has since been released on bond.

Claude Corps, named for the company’s popular AI chatbot, will hire and embed 1,000 fellows trained in the use of Claude at a wide range of organizations for a year. Anthropic President Daniela Amodei told The Associated Press the company hopes the program will expand and become a pillar of its strategy to help humankind realize the benefits of AI while also managing its risks.

Amodei said Claude Corps will be evaluated after its first year to see if it should continue and expand.

“We’re hoping it’s a good idea that can take root and that other people can build on and learn from, whether that’s public or private,” Amodei said in an interview at Anthropic headquarters in San Francisco. “But I think my hope is that we’ll learn, the people who do it will learn, and we’ll be able to come back and do it again next time even better.”

Anthropic's commitment includes paying the Claude Corps members and providing at least 400 host organizations with a $10,000 grant and free credits to use Claude.

Anthropic says it wants to balance profits and social impact

Philanthropy is built into the way Anthropic’s co-founders believe the company should be run, Amodei said. Amodei, her brother Dario, who is Anthropic’s CEO, and the company’s five other co-founders have already pledged that they will donate 80% of their wealth. They established Anthropic as a public benefit corporation, a designation that for-profit companies select to balance financial goals and social impact.

Anthropic, which is valued at $965 billion, is moving toward going public on Wall Street, announcing earlier this month it submitted a confidential filing for an initial public offering.

Amodei, interviewed before the SEC filing, said she could not comment about IPO plans but said the company’s values are very clear to anyone looking to invest in it.

“There’s decisions and choices that we might make that might feel in conflict with just the pure commercial interests of the business and we’re going to be really open about that,” she said. “I think we have been very well served by our inclination to just be very honest about who we are because people who like that really like us. And for people, if it’s not what they like, they don’t work with us. And I think that’s actually better for everyone.”

Anthropic has been outspoken about the risks inherent to the breakthrough technology. It warned last week that companies should coordinate a way to pause development of advanced AI systems if humans risk losing control of the self-improving technology. It collaborated with Pope Leo XIV as he developed his encyclical on AI and the need for increased regulation. And it found itself in a high-profile fight with President Donald Trump’s administration when Anthropic refused to allow the U.S. military unrestricted use of its AI technology.

Amodei said Anthropic is an “unusual” company because its business teams and research teams are run separately.

“Sometimes research says things like ‘AI is doing bad things’ and we really want to be open about what those things are,” she said. “Because I don’t think there’s a way for the broader community that is the world to adapt to these changes if we don’t understand the challenges.”

Bella DeVaan, director of the Charity Reform Initiative at the progressive research organization the Institute of Policy Studies, said she is skeptical that any AI company will willingly set aside enough of its profits to support all the people affected by the adoption of AI.

“The fox can't guard the henhouse,” said DeVaan, who has studied the donations of the ultra-rich. “They can’t be responsible for their own regulation or for their own definition of what their altruistic mandate is. That has to be determined by the public.”

Like Pope Leo outlined in his encyclical, DeVaan is calling for more stringent government regulation of AI companies. Without government intervention, she worries AI will create a permanent underclass of workers. She said governments also need to do their own research about the potential benefits and harms of AI rather than leaving it up to the AI companies.

Anthropic announced separately Wednesday that it will donate $200 million to support an economic framework to help workers displaced by AI. It will start with investment into studying the issues created by AI adoption.

“We can’t understand what the societal disruption might look like if we don’t study it, publish it and talk about it,” Amodei said.

Claude Corps aims to enlist AI-minded people early in their careers

To create Claude Corps, Anthropic partnered with CodePath, the San Francisco-based nonprofit created to help first-generation and low-income students enter the tech workforce through higher education courses and career support.

CodePath CEO Michael Ellison said he had long been thinking about redesigning AmeriCorps to account for AI adoption. The federal agency for volunteer service was gutted by Trump administration cuts last year.

“I think we need programs that are meeting folks where they are when you’re looking at the traditional late adopters — from nonprofits to governments, to schools,” Ellison said. “We’re putting humans into the organizations that serve the majority of Americans as a way to bring them along and bring our communities along.”

He said CodePath will manage the initiative, which will accept fellowship applications through July 17. Ellison said the fellowship will be available to a wide range of young people early in their careers.

“We are intentionally trying to be extremely accessible,” he said. “We’re not requiring that you have a certain degree. We want the initial group of fellows to be representative of a broad section of the population in this country.”

Jennifer Blatz, CEO and president of StriveTogether, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit network that helps prepare young people for better economic opportunities, said she was thrilled her organization was chosen to host two Claude Corps fellows.

Though her nonprofit already uses AI to analyze some of the data it gathers on the impact of its programs, she hopes that Claude Corps can help standardize its usage in her organization and throughout its network, which spans 27 states. Blatz said she wants both her network and the people it supports to understand “AI is a tool – not the whole strategy.”

“AI can help us work smarter, but trust building and community collaboration, that’s a deeply human part of the work,” she said. “And that’s not going away just because we use this tool.”

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

In a statement released before a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said that “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.”

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, jointly owned by Canada and Michigan, was expected to open to traffic later this month.

The bridge's opening had remained in question for months after Trump, a Republican, in February demanded that Canada turn over at least half the ownership of the bridge to the U.S. federal government and agree to other unspecified demands in one of his many salvos over cross-border trade issues.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed, while downplaying any concerns.

“There is no big drama. If it takes a little longer it will take a little bit longer, but this will benefit Canadians, Americans, business, tourists, residents for decades and decades to come,” Carney said on his way into Parliament.

Invitations for the bridge’s opening went out this week following a conversation between Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

“This project is a powerful example of bipartisan and international cooperation, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony when it happens,” a statement from Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy said.

The bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, would be a vital economic artery between Canada and the United States. It is named after the late Canadian hockey great, who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

The construction project was negotiated by Rick Snyder, the former Republican governor of Michigan, and paid for by Canada to help ease congestion at the existing Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. Work has been underway since 2018.

But what if people have qualities both unmistakably human and essential to career success that AI could not easily replace them?

Some workplace experts argue that with more businesses adopting AI tools, soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making are worth cultivating to help employees become indispensible.

Across industries and occupations, “the skills that are most resistant to displacement by AI are the ones that are the most distinctly human,” Maria Flynn, president and CEO of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit focused on workforce development, said. “Some of those things are relationship building, conflict resolution, the ability to guide and motivate other people and ethical judgment.”

Even in job listings for technical roles such as IT support, organizations say they're looking for candidates who communicate well and take leadership initiative, Flynn said.

“We started to use the term ‘durable skills’ and think about them as capabilities that really are durable, in that they hold their value across economic shifts and technological change and labor market disruption,” she said. “And we think, especially now, in this time of AI advancement, that it’s the durable skills that really make a worker genuinely valuable at work, regardless of what tools and technology are available.”

Here are five skills to cultivate based on the areas where experts say humans still hold an edge over artificial intelligence.

Empathy

Interpreting body language and reading between the lines to decipher what wasn’t explicitly communicated are skills that many people find are best performed by humans. They also inform the ability to show empathy, and being sensitive to the feelings of others is a sought-after trait in workers.

Marco Iansiti, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, said he saw that firsthand during a hospital stay.

“A nurse has incredibly human impacts. Feeling, relating to the patient, the type of care that is so important,” Iansiti said. “I remember times when I was sick in the hospital and the nurse was like the godsend. Would I have let a robot do the same thing? No. There was a human connection there that I found very valuable.”

Where AI could be helpful in a hospital setting is by taking on mundane tasks such as paperwork, freeing up time for nurses to provide compassionate patient care, he said.

“There’s a lot of systems that are being deployed now that I think are very effective in doing this and essentially release healthcare workers to do the things that they should be doing and do best.”

Nurturing relationships

Building strong personal ties with colleagues, clients and stakeholders remains a prized skill that experts say artificial intelligence models have difficulty replicating. Salespeople, for example, have files or databases with information they've learned about their clients from interacting face-to-face.

"You have people that have trusted you and have bought products from you for the last 10 years. That has value and that’s hard to transfer to artificial intelligence,” Iansiti said.

Interpersonal skills also are invaluable when conflicts arise. “Having that human in the loop to manage those expectations, to ease any ruffled feathers, to build the type of relationships that are needed, to expedite good work, is still going to be critical,” Flynn said.

Conflict resolution is a must-have quality for managers, said Colleen Adler, director analyst in the human resources practice at the Gartner consulting firm.

“People do still have managers, and managers and leaders impact the way they feel, and co-workers impact the ways we feel as well," Adler said. "There is still a tone to AI that does not yet mimic human connection. That could change; I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Work environments are rapidly changing and many employees feel like they're lurching from one difficult dynamic to another, Adler said. While AI agents can't help workers feel better about that uncertainty, strong leaders can help their teams, she added.

Critical thinking

Artificial intelligence models collect information and produce responses but can generate inaccuracies, so it's important to second-guess its output. Developing deep knowledge about your field can help you notice when the AI-generated results on topics from your industry are incorrect, said Amalia Kaufman, course developer and instructor at the University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education.

“You have to have the cognition and the critical thinking and the subject matter expertise to make sense of it, and to know when it’s wrong,” Kaufman said. “You have to check your facts.”

In a study published in the journal Science, researchers at Stanford tested 11 popular AI systems and found that artificial intelligence chatbots were prone to flattering and validating the feelings of users, affirming a user's actions 49% more often than humans did. Taking a step back and applying critical thinking skills when reading results generated by AI can help combat the tendency for it to be overly agreeable with its users.

Having a conscience

The ability to distinguish right from wrong, or listen to one's inner conscience, is a skill that is innately human, experts said.

Sometimes, people rely on sensations in their bodies to help guide their decision-making. “Gut feelings are something you feel in your gut," Iansiti said. “It’s not just a pattern of information that’s going through your brain. It is actually an emotional reaction that is intrinsically different from the way that AI operates. At least this generation of AI.”

When life-or-death decisions have to be made, such as when to use lethal military force, “do you want something that does not have human emotion, it does not have a body attached with the intelligence?” Iansiti asked. “AI can fake having a conscience because it’s read about what a conscience is, but it doesn’t have a conscience.”

People can build parameters, or guardrails, into artificial intelligence models to help AI agents make ethical decisions, he said. But human input is still required.

“It’s very hard to design a model that’s ethical for everything. It’s much better to build it around a specific use case. Say hiring,” Iansiti said.

Judgement calls

Ethical questions aren't the only ones that AI is less equipped to handle for now. The capacity to come up with creative ideas and make decisions in ambiguous situations — while mapping out strategies or developing a brand identity, for example — is another important human skill, experts said.

"We don’t believe that’s something that’s going to be replicated by artificial intelligence,” said Heather Stefanski, chief learning and development officer at management consulting firm McKinsey. "If we’re all just using the AI answer to problem-solve, how are you really going to be distinctive?”

Humans make judgment calls based on a constellation of knowledge and lived experiences, Flynn said. Artificial intelligence draws from a lot of data but doesn't necessarily work well in gray areas, Flynn said. For now, the ability to see all angles of an issue and add context remains a form of intelligence that people possess to a greater extent than AI, she said.

“The things that make us uniquely human to me are going to continue to be the things that help our society thrive in productive ways,” Flynn said. “And making sure that we are calling those things out, paying attention to them, making sure those are attributes that folks can name and articulate and feel good about, is going to be key as we all navigate a rapidly changing future.”

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Share your stories and questions about workplace wellness at cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health at https://apnews.com/hub/be-well

The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — jumped 6.5% from May 2025. It rose 1.1% from April, as it did the previous month. Wholesale gasoline prices surged by more than 23% from April to May, and nearly 70% from a year earlier.

Inflationary pressures, intensified by the energy shock caused by the Iran war, are frustrating Americans five months before midterm elections that will determine whether President Donald Trump's Republicans keep full control of Congress.

Gasoline prices have been falling in recent days, but the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has been above $4 since March, according to motor club AAA. And the U.S. driving season, which pushes prices higher each year, has just begun.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core wholesale prices rose 0.4% from April and 4.9% from May 2025.

The wholesale inflation numbers came out a day after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, most in three years. Gasoline prices were up nearly 41% from May 2025. Airfares were up almost 27%.

Inflation is running well ahead of the Federal Reserve's 2% target. The central bank is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged as its meeting next week. But financial markets expect the Fed could raise rates by the end of the year in an effort to curb price increases.

Wholesale prices can offer an early look at where consumer inflation might be headed. Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably health care and financial services, flow into the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, index.

Stephen Brown, chief North America economist at Capital Economics, wrote that the producer prices “that feed into the PCE price calculation rose by much more than we expected ... It supports our view that the Fed will hike interest rates toward the end of the year.’’

After the United States and Israel attacked Feb. 28, Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, causing the biggest disruption in oil supplies in history. Energy prices rocketed. S&P Global Energy warned Thursday that U.S. crude oil inventories are drying up as the summer driving season approaches.

“The bottom line is that U.S. inventory levels remain above estimated minimum operating thresholds,'' said S&P Global Energy's Aaron Brady. “However, with continued disruption to Middle East flows, draws are likely to extend into the third quarter, even in the event of a near-term diplomatic resolution.'' More big, sustained drops in inventories ”would likely signal entry into a ‘danger zone’ for the U.S. refining system.”

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Hegseth was at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Wednesday, where he met with U.S. service members who are stationed there.

The Department of Defense shared video of Hegseth meeting with troops.

“We are taking back our hemisphere,” he said. “Look at Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro, who thought he could flaunt the United States of America. He found out in about 45 minutes in the middle of the night.”

Officials said he also plans to pay a visit to U.S. Central Command in Tampa, which is also home to a large Cuban American community.

Hegseth’s presence in Cuba comes amid the U.S. calling for dramatic changes on the island and the indictment of Raúl Castro in connection to the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue plane shootdown.

The U.S. has blocked oil from reaching Cuba following threats by President Donald Trump to remove the country’s leadership regime by force.

Hegseth told troops that the future of Cuba is in the hands of Trump and Cuban leadership.

“Be prepared for whatever our commander in chief asks us to do on behalf of defending the American people,” he said.

Last month, a U.S. aircraft carrier and its strike group of fighter jets and radar-jamming equipment entered the southern Caribbean and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency visited Cuban officials in Havana.

At the time, Local 10’s Cuba analyst, Andy Gomez, said his contacts on the island confirmed they had access to drones for “defensive purposes.”

That came as SOUTHCOM posted on social media that it has established a new “autonomous warfare command.” The post showed a military exercise in Key West earlier this year of its autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned systems which they said are used to counter threats in the region.

Now, Gomez said it seems to him the U.S. might be trying to follow what he called the “Venezuela plan.”

“The period of time for Venezuela is going to be very different from Cuba, so we have to wait and see,” he said.

On Monday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that America’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which has included blocking oil access to the communist island, is leading to a humanitarian crisis.

But U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has blamed economic weakening and growing unrest on what he has described as the island’s long legacy of greed, mismanagement and corrupt leadership, calling attention to a Cuban military-operated conglomerate which he said is starving the people from access to the money needed to address food shortages and crumbling infrastructure.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid for the week ending June 6 rose by 4,000 to 229,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still considered a healthy level. It's also more than the 216,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could further squeeze a flagging labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. For comparison, about 1.5 million jobs were added in 2024.

U.S. employers delivered a surprising 172,000 new jobs in May and the economy is averaging 188,000 job gains in the three months since the Iran war began in late February. That’s the best three months of hiring since early 2024. The unemployment rate remains historically low at 4.3%.

Job openings also rose in April as employers posted 7.6 million vacancies, up from 6.9 million in March and the most since May 2024.

The government reported Wednesday that rising gas prices — triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s southern border — pushed U.S. consumer inflation in May to 4.2%, its highest level in three years. Despite recent declines, prices for oil and gas remain elevated, which can squeeze consumers’ budgets and make businesses think twice about hiring.

With inflation well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, most analysts expect officials at the U.S. central bank to stand pat on its benchmark interest rate when they meet next week. That meeting will be the first with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who replaces Jerome Powell after his eight-year run as the U.S. central bank’s leader.

Lower interest rates can boost the economy and hiring, but also tend to stoke inflation, leading a number of Fed policymakers to say they are actually willing to consider an interest rate hike this year. That could potentially help bring inflation down, but higher borrowing costs generally make businesses more reluctant to hire.

Optimism over artificial intelligence has also injected a degree of uncertainty about the job market due to the investment required to develop it and because the powerful technology could alter or even replace some jobs.

Among the companies that have cut jobs recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 4,250 to 219,000.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending May 30 jumped by 24,000 to 1.8 million, slightly more than analysts predicted.

By Thursday afternoon, the court had not yet released a decision, said Naji Abbas, director of prisoners and detainees at Physicians for Human Rights — Israel, a nonprofit group.

Hussam Abu Safiya, who served as director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, became of the face of health workers struggling to treat patients throughout the Israel-Hamas war. He led the facility through an 85-day siege by the Israeli military, releasing videos in which he pleaded for help. Fourteen doctors from Gaza are still being held in Israeli prisons, PHRI said.

In a screen grab from his brief appearance on Wednesday, Abu Safiya, 53, was shown handcuffed and sitting in white prison garb. His face was pale and gaunt and he had lash-like marks on both arms. Multiple clips circulating on social media from the court showed Israeli officials quickly turning the video off as people jostled to see the doctor.

His lawyer, Nasser Odeh, can be heard in the video telling Abu Safiya that onlookers cannot see him, saying guards turned off the monitor and they are waiting for the judge to enter and decide whether to allow his image back on screen.

“Many people are present to show solidarity and support. The media is also both inside and outside the court,” Odeh said in the video.

Journalists' footage of the brittle doctor spread on social media, prompting renewed calls for his release. The Israeli military has said Abu Safiya is being investigated on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza. Medical staff and international aid groups that have worked with Abu Safiya have denied those claims.

According to PHRI, he was recently placed in solitary confinement, a move his son, Elias Abu Safiya, said in a video posted on social media was made shortly after his appeal. Israel has yet to charge Abu Safiya with a crime.

“How can a person be punished for seeking to know why he was detained?” the younger Abu Safiya asked.

A son of the doctor was killed earlier in the war

Israel’s Justice Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. The Israeli Prison Service denied claims that the doctor, a trained pediatrician, was being mistreated. In a statement, it said all detainees receive professional medical care and any allegations of abuse or mistreatment made through official channels are examined.

After the hearing Wednesday, Odeh said he had a message from the doctor.

“I am a pediatrician who provides medical care to patients, the wounded, and the most vulnerable in the Strip,” Odeh said, relaying the doctor’s words. “I carried out my work in accordance with international law and humanitarian standards. My detention is unjust and arbitrary.”

In the weeks leading up to his imprisonment, Abu Safiya fought to maintain his composure as Israeli forces surrounded the hospital, releasing grainy video dispatches from the facility under siege. When a drone strike killed Abu Safiya’s son near the hospital, the doctor spoke with tears in his eyes.

“Everything we have built, they have burned,” he said, his voice cracking. They killed my son. ... I buried my son in the hospital yard.”

The war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023, after the Gaza-based militant group led an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage. Since then, nearly 73,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry is staffed by medical professionals and the United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties.

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Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

The ECB’s rate-setting council raised its benchmark rate to 2.25% from 2%, where it had been for a year. The move comes ahead of rate-setting meetings next week at the Fed, the Bank of Japan, and the Bank of England.

Oil prices have risen sharply due to Iran choking off the flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the sea passage for a fifth of the world’s oil and fuel products during normal times. Raising rates aims to dampen the consumer price inflation fed by higher costs for products made from crude such as gasoline, diesel fuel, cooking gas and heating oil.

International benchmark Bent crude was trading at around $93 per barrel on Thursday, up from around $73 on the eve of the war. That has helped push inflation to 3.2% in May in the 21 countries that use the euro currency, above the ECB’s target of 2%.

But ECB policymakers must also consider the impact of higher borrowing costs on an economy showing only mediocre growth. That has led analysts to think Thursday’s hike will be a one and done affair, aimed mainly at signaling to financial markets that the bank is determined not to get behind the curve if inflation spirals higher.

The bank's future decisions depend to a great extent on how long energy prices remain elevated and how high they go, ECB President Christine Lagarde said at a post-decision news conference. She said the bank was “well positioned to navigate the uncertainty caused by the war” and would “closely monitor the situation and follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach.” She said the bank was “not pre-committing to a particular rate path.”

She said oil prices were expected to “lift inflation further over the summer” and that inflation was expected to remain “well above target” into the first half of next year. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed to most ship traffic for 103 days now.

Central banks in Australia and the Philippines have raises rates since the start of the war, and attention is focusing now on decisions in larger economies. For its part, the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged when it meets next week with new chair Warsh, appointed earlier this year by President Donald Trump.

Warsh advocated for rate cuts last year and Trump repeatedly attacked Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, for not cutting borrowing costs deeply enough. Yet with inflation jumping to a three-year high as gas prices have spiked in the wake of the Iran war, even Trump and his officials have started to shift their focus more to a push to keep rates unchanged.

The Fed is likely to change the statement it issues after each meeting by removing language that had suggested that its next move would be a cut. That would open the door for a rate hike down the road. Many Fed officials have warned that if inflation doesn’t begin to cool soon, a rate hike may be necessary by the end of the year.

Raising benchmark rates influences what lenders charge throughout the economy, increasing the cost of borrowing money to buy things and thus dampening demand for goods. Higher central bank rates can send interest costs higher for home purchases, investment in new factories, and government borrowing.

The ECB may be able to get by with only one or two increases because the inflationary surge may be milder than feared, said Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank.

That is because consumers burned by the post-pandemic spike in inflation are in no mood to pay higher prices, leaving businesses little choice but to swallow higher energy costs: “The pass-through of higher energy and input prices to final consumption will be limited due to a lack of ability and willingness of consumers to actually pay for these higher prices,” he wrote in an emailed comment.

——

Rugaber reported from Washington.

The U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second day, pushing the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war.

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have rattled the Middle East. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which hit countries in the region that host American bases.

Here's the latest:

Hazardous materials units respond to the Pentagon

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazardous materials team was responding to an unknown issue and parts of the Pentagon were under a shelter-in-place order while officials investigate.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Thursday. “The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area.”

The Arlington County Fire Department also sent units, including its hazardous materials team, according to a posting on its X account. Questions to the media office were referred to the Pentagon.

Iranian student says hope dwindles as attacks escalate

A 25-year-old student in northern Iran says Iranians are fearing “chaos” amid the war with the U.S. and Israel and multiplying crises at home.

The student, who lives in the city of Babol, said many Iranians are struggling to afford groceries in the face of mass job losses and triple-digit food inflation. He spoke on the condition of anonymity out of security fears.

“Everything is going wrong and there is no hope among the people,” the student added.

The student first spoke to The Associated Press before the war when he participated in widespread anti-government protests. He now says his chief concern is that Iran “maintain territorial integrity and deterrence” in the face of attacks by the U.S. and Israel.

— Amir-Hussein Radjy

Tensions persist over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post that the U.S. would extract funds from frozen Iranian accounts to offset the costs of damage to American allies as well as any tolls Iran imposes on ships seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Beyond the deadlock over the strait, the two sides also remain at odds over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran insists its nuclear efforts are peaceful. The U.S. and Israel fear Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium could be used to build an atomic weapon. That was a main reason they cited for going to war Feb. 28.

Trump doesn’t back down on Bill Pulte

After bipartisan pushback to Pulte’s temporary appointment as director of national intelligence, Trump said last week that he would not permanently nominate him to the position. But Democrats, and some Republicans, want his appointment pulled immediately and for Trump to nominate a replacement that can be confirmed by the Senate.

On Tuesday, though, Trump announced that Pulte would not only take over as acting director — he’d also start earlier than expected, on June 19.

One of several possible replacements could be Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s ambassador to Canada and a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The White House has reached out to Hoekstra about the job and conversations are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the outreach who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

— Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Seung Min Kim

GOP leaders lobbied the White House, to no avail

Congressional Republicans have lobbied Trump all week to quickly nominate a permanent replacement for director of national intelligence. But he said he needs more time to do so.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House.

Trump has said he’s interviewing five candidates for his pick to lead the agency permanently, after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the president has made it very clear that Pulte will serve a “very short term — a sort of renovation role” to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence be “renovated and downsized.”

But Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee led by Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said in a letter to the president that Pulte is a “uniquely poor choice” to serve even in the acting capacity.

House vote to extend FISA spy tool fails and it could lapse as Friday deadline looms

A rare lapse in a law that allows the United States to gather intelligence abroad appears likely after the House failed Thursday to temporarily extend the program, in a protest of President Trump ’s refusal to name a permanent head of the nation’s intelligence agencies.

Trump has doubled down on his temporary pick for director of national intelligence, federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, even though Pulte has little experience for the job. Democrats say they won’t support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless the Republican president withdraws Pulte’s appointment and nominates a permanent replacement.

The House vote collapsed in bipartisan fashion, with some Republicans and nearly all Democrats rejecting the temporary measure. The Senate may try its own vote later Thursday, but hopes are dimming to prevent what could be an unprecedented lapse in the surveillance tool. The law expires Friday at midnight.

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Homeland security secretary defends decision on a World Cup referee from Somalia

Markwayne Mullin said he wouldn’t get into specifics on why the Somali referee was prevented from entering the U.S. to officiate at the World Cup. But Mullin said the government wasn’t going to admit people believed to have “criminal ties.”

“I’m not going to get into why we denied this individual, but there’s a reason why this person was denied,” Mullin said during a news conference.

Mullin said the department is also in close consultation with FIFA and explains their decisions in a case like this.

“We talk to FIFA and their directors constantly. Anybody that was denied, we made the case for and showed them why they were denied,” Mullin said.

“We did a phenomenal job on getting as many people cleared as we could, but some people just can’t clear,” he said.

Iran says US attacks have made the ceasefire `meaningless’

American strikes on Iran that lasted into Thursday morning appeared more intense and widespread than the day before.

Tehran released little information on the extent of the damage and said it fired back at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, as it had the previous day.

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have rattled the Middle East. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which hit countries in the region that host American bases.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that the U.S. attacks had “effectively rendered the ceasefire ... meaningless,” without saying it was abandoning it.

Trump weighs trying to seize Iran’s main oil terminal

Kharg Island — located on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — is the beating heart of Iran’s oil industry, through which 90% of its exports pass. It’s important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock.

It was unclear how serious Trump was about his threat to seize it.

“My preference has always been to take Kharg Island,” Trump said in an interview Thursday on Fox News. “I don’t know that America has the stomach for it to be honest.”

American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island because of its close proximity — about 33 kilometers (21 miles) — to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.

Trump indicated in the interview that he remains averse to sending U.S. forces into Iran. “We could walk in there tomorrow. We could take soldiers — I don’t want to have boots on the ground. But if I wanted to we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the place.”

Cuban official comments on Hegseth’s visit to the island nation

Cuba’s representative to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberón, reacted Thursday to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit the previous day to the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay in eastern Cuba.

“The future of #Cuba —a sovereign and independent country— belongs solely and exclusively to the Cuban people and government”, Soberón wrote in a social media post.

“Anyone who believes that Cuba’s future lies in other hands is completely and utterly mistaken,” added the diplomat, who accompanied his message with a photograph of Hegseth in front of his troops, officially released by the United States.

Hegseth’s visit to the eastern portion of the island, which is controlled by the United States, comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Havana.

Opening of Canada-US bridge in Detroit that Trump threatened to block is delayed

The opening of the Canadian-U.S. bridge across the Detroit River that President Trump previously threatened to block has been delayed due to “outstanding issues.”

In a statement released Thursday ahead of a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.”

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US jobless aid filings rise to 229,000 last week, remain historically low despite Iran war headwinds

The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid for the week ending June 6 rose by 4,000 to 229,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still considered a healthy level. It’s also more than the 216,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

The four-week moving average of jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, rose by 4,250 to 219,000.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending May 30 jumped by 24,000 to 1.8 million, slightly more than analysts predicted.

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Trump says US will hit Iran ‘very hard,’ threatens to take ‘total control’ of its oil industry

The president on Thursday said the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” threatening in a social media post to “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries, including the key Kharg Island, in the “not too distant future.”

The post came after the U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second day, pushing the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war. The American attack, which lasted into Thursday morning in Iran, appeared more intense and wider than the day before.

Iran released little information on the extent of the damage and said it fired back at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, as it had a day before.

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Trump family-linked resort in Albania faces opposition

A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania.

Thousands of protesters are taking to the streets in nightly protests, blowing whistles and holding up cardboard cut-outs of flamingos — one of the protected migratory bird species that could see their habitats threatened by the proposed luxury resort.

The government says the development on the Adriatic coast would be transformational for the former communist nation as it seeks to enter the high-end tourism market and pushes for European Union membership.

But the venture, spanning an abandoned island and a nearby stretch of seafront on Albania’s southern coast, has drawn opposition from environmental campaigners and critics of longtime Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.

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Judge rejects watchdog’s bid to block Trump administration’s $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a government watchdog’s request for a court order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from forging ahead with a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government.

But the judge ended a hearing by issuing a “fair warning” to Trump’s administration: “Don’t play possum with this court,” U.S. District Judge Richard Leon told a government attorney.

Leon ruled from the bench in favor of the administration, which argued that the watchdog’s lawsuit is moot because acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress earlier this month that the government is scrapping its plans for the fund. Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said he accepts Blanche’s representation for now.

The judge’s refusal to issue a temporary restraining order isn’t the final word on the fate of the government’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Leon said he will consider a separate request by the plaintiffs — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington — for a preliminary injunction that would block payouts from the fund on a more permanent basis.

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FISA spy program at risk over Trump’s pick of Pulte for director of national intelligence

A rare lapse in a law that allows the U.S. to gather intelligence abroad is growing more likely after Trump resisted calls from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to immediately name a permanent head of the nation’s intelligence agencies.

Trump has doubled down on his temporary pick for director of national intelligence, Federal Housing Finance Regulator Bill Pulte, even though he has little experience for the job. Democrats say they won’t support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless the president withdraws Pulte’s appointment and nominates a permanent replacement.

The House will try early Thursday to approve a short-term FISA extension, but passage is unlikely. The Senate may follow suit, hoping to prevent what could be an unprecedented lapse in the surveillance tool.

The impasse could soon result in limitations on what intelligence the U.S. government can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The law expires on Friday at midnight.

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$60M and 7 federal agencies required to stage Trump’s UFC fight at White House

Trump’s planned UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn has required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies, hundreds of staff working onsite daily and at least $60 million, according to a legal filing that offers a glimpse into the preparations.

The event is part of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and is scheduled for the weekend with the main attraction — seven mixed martial arts matches — on Sunday.

That is, if a judge doesn’t halt the proceedings, which is sought by two Virginia residents in a federal lawsuit against the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn.

The agency filed a rebuff of the request Tuesday in court, and, in it, laid out the operations for the event.

“Well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended,” the document read, adding that the money came from the UFC and groups affiliated with it.

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Trump has a new, surprising take on the higher cost of living: ‘I love the inflation’

Trump Wednesday showed how he had learned to stop worrying about inflation and simply, in his own words, “love” it.

Asked about the new report that the consumer price index in May had jumped 4.2% over the last year, the president took a surprisingly optimistic tack with the challenging news. Trump didn’t dismiss the affordability issue as a “hoax” that was started by Democrats, as he has done previously. Nor did he claim that he was bringing down the cost of living.

Instead, after the government said that inflation spiked to the highest level since April 2023, Trump praised the numbers.

“You know what I really love?” Trump said. “I love the inflation.”

It was an unexpected take given that voters ahead of the November midterm elections have ranked the economy as a top concern — and have given Trump low marks on that issue. Within minutes of his on-camera comment, Democrats quickly rushed to promote it on social media.

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Iran responds to a second day of US strikes by firing at Gulf states and Jordan

The U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second day, pushing the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war.

The American attack, which lasted into Thursday morning in Iran, appeared more intense and wider than the day before, but Tehran released little information on the extent of the damage. An Indian official said a U.S. attack on an oil tanker allegedly trying to violate Washington’s blockade on Iranian ports killed three Indian mariners, underscoring the danger to seafarers.

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have rattled the Middle East. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which hit countries in the region that host American bases.

The new exchange of fire came as efforts to negotiate an end to the war appeared stuck, with Trump warning that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations.

▶ Read more

Healey told Starmer in a letter that the government’s Defense Investment Plan falls “well short of what is required at this dangerous time.”

Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the Defense Ministry and the Treasury.

Critics say defense spending boost is too little, too late

Starmer has pledged to boost U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and 3% by 2035. But many in the military say that isn't fast enough.

“You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Healey wrote in his resignation letter.

He said that the spending plan put forward by the Treasury, and presented to him on Monday, would see defense spending rise to just 2.68% in 2030, after hitting 2.6% next year.

Healey said that isn't enough with growing demands on defense and British military commitments, citing the Iran war, Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine and threats from Moscow.

“I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation,” he said.

Gen. Richard Barrons, who helped lead a defense review that underpins the investment plan, said the government is “actively going backwards” by refusing to fund its own review.

“It diminishes the U.K.’s standing within NATO, weakens our credibility with allies, and increases our vulnerability to the realities of 21st century conflict,” he said. “Allies and adversaries alike will be paying attention.”

The government said it was delivering “the largest sustained boost to defense spending since the Cold War.”

“This country is safer because of the decisions Keir Starmer has made and we will continue to act in our national interest,” it said in a statement.

Healey is considered a safe pair of hands

Healey has been U.K. defense secretary since the Labour Party government was elected in July 2024, and he's regarded as a capable and serious minister.

He has played a key role in bolstering international support for Ukraine and assembling a multinational coalition to help guarantee security if a ceasefire is reached. Healey also has helped spearhead a maritime security force that would help keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping if the Iran war ends.

The United Kingdom and other NATO member nations have faced pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to increase military spending. Trump has long questioned the value of the military alliance and complained that the United States provides security to European countries that don’t pull their weight.

The U.K. military is also seeking to reverse years of decline in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia, which fully invaded its neighbor Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and increasingly tests the defenses of European nations with overt and covert activity.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, informed of Healey's resignation by The Associated Press during a news conference in Brussels, said that Healey is someone “I respect very much.”

“What we are seeing all over the alliance is countries increasing their defense investments, and of course it is not easy, because in the end there is always a trade-off with other expenses, which are also important,” Rutte said.

Healey’s resignation is likely to further stoke talk that Starmer’s days as prime minister are numbered. Already bruised by a series of missteps since Labour returned to power less than two years ago, Starmer has faced calls within his party’s ranks to stand down.

In a sign of his waning authority, Starmer appears to have been unable to bridge the gap between Healey’s department and Treasury chief Rachel Reeves over defense spending.

Olivia O’Sullivan, head of the U.K. in the World program at the Chatham House think tank, said the resignation “significantly undermines Starmer,” especially since the prime minister has had “a relatively assured track record on defense and foreign affairs.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is widely expected to challenge Starmer for the leadership, if he returns to Parliament in a June 18 special election.

Justin Crump, a former British tank commander who heads security consultancy Sibylline, said Healey's resignation “should not have been allowed to occur in a well-run government.”

“It just further underlines a lack of control here, a lack of clarity, a lack of resolution, a gap between words and delivery,” he said.

___

Associated Press journalists Mark Carlson in Brussels and Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.

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Authorities said the girl, who was identified by a family member as Janova Park, suffered gunshot wounds to her stomach and torso and was rushed to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where she later died.

“We know that at the time of the shooting, there were three adults and two children -- the victim who’s 5 years old and her 4-year-old brother,” said MDSO Det. Angel Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the agency. “Detectives are going to be here for quite some time, taking part in this investigation. They’re going to make sure that no stone is left unturned, and right now we’re just asking for prayers from the community.”

The shooting happened inside a home on Northwest First Court.

Deputies said they were called to the home around 2 a.m. after shots were fired.

They also confirmed that Janova’s mother was among those inside the home at the time of the shooting.

Detectives said they’re still trying to determine how Janova was shot, including whether she may have accessed the gun herself or whether someone else shot her.

Local 10’s Hannah Yechivi spoke to Laticha Ellison, Janova’s grandmother, who said the shooting could’ve been prevented.

“My grandbaby is 5 years old,” Ellison said through tears. “She’s only 5. It makes me angry because nothing like this should be able to happen, especially in your home — carelessness.”

Ellison described her granddaughter as “smart and sassy.”

Investigators said a gun was recovered inside the home and that they “are not looking for any individuals that may pose a threat to the community.”

Crime scene tape remained up outside the home later Wednesday morning as investigators continued to process the scene.

Brandon, who lives in Rockwell, North Carolina, is worried that new Medicaid work requirements starting next year could jeopardize her health coverage. She had expected to qualify for a medical frailty exemption, but new guidance introduced by President Donald Trump's administration last week has thrown that into question.

The interim final rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services means being sick with extreme exhaustion and memory challenges related to her treatments may not be enough for Brandon to evade the new work requirements. She will have to attest and later prove that those symptoms “significantly impair” her ability to fulfill the mandates.

If the government doesn’t accept her case, she could lose her coverage and the twice-monthly maintenance chemotherapy that keeps her multiple myeloma in remission. Working is “outside of the realm of possibility for me,” she said in an interview.

“I was always a push-through-it person — you know, ‘Oh, you’re tired. Push through,’” Brandon said. “It’s hard to explain to people you can’t push through it.”

Health analysts have sounded the alarm about the Republican Trump administration’s newest guidance, which differs from what states had been expecting. Experts said it will put more Americans at risk of losing health insurance and force states to scramble in their already harried efforts to implement the changes on time.

“This will mean more paperwork for Medicaid patients — specifically for the sickest Medicaid patients,” said Adrianna McIntyre, a professor at Harvard University’s school of public health. That, she said, "is going to push in the direction of more people needlessly losing coverage.”

Medical frailty rules may mean paperwork nightmares for sick people

The new Medicaid restrictions, which Democrats have criticized, were part of Trump’s big tax and policy law in 2025. The change affects those covered through an expansion in most states that gave more lower-income people access to the government’s safety net healthcare program.

Expansion enrollees age 19 to 64 will have to show that they work or do community service at least 80 hours a month or are in school at least half the time. There are exceptions for those considered medically frail or in addiction treatment programs, among others.

Last week’s announcement from CMS caught states off guard with a new definition of medical frailty. The law had said medically frail people include those who have substance use disorders, disabilities or serious medical conditions. But the CMS rule went further, saying someone’s condition must “significantly impair” their ability to work, volunteer or attend school at the rates required in the law for them to be granted an exemption.

In 2027 and once in 2028, the patient can attest that they meet this definition. But when they try to renew coverage in 2028, they’ll need to prove it.

Advocates said it is unclear what kind of documentation could prove that point. They said doctor notes may be required — something some providers don’t feel comfortable writing. Medicaid enrollees fighting disease may carry the bureaucratic burden.

Brandon, who tried to prove she couldn’t work to access disability benefits during her active cancer treatment and failed, said she’s worried about the hoops she and other patients may need to jump through.

“It’s not that easy — you may have to go through four doctors,” Brandon said. “If you’re already battling an illness like this, you don’t have the physical or the mental or the emotional energy to do that all the time.”

States and advocates are confused by the government's approach

States have been planning to use Medicaid claims data and other data sources to automatically exempt eligible enrollees whenever possible.

On a call with reporters last week, the CMS administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, endorsed that approach, saying he hoped most people would be helped "without ever having to talk to anybody.”

Asked to clarify how the rule should be implemented, the agency told The Associated Press in an email that it “chose not to allow states to categorically exclude individuals from work requirements based solely on a diagnosis or condition type.” For renewal in 2028, it said, “verification through claims data or other documentation will generally be required.”

But state Medicaid officials and consultants said Medicaid claims data doesn’t prove someone is significantly impaired from working, and they don’t know of any existing data that does. That has left them confused about how to honor the government's rule.

“States are going to be asked to make a determination using information that doesn’t exist in their systems,” said Kinda Serafi, a partner at the legal and consulting firm Manatt Health who is working with states to make the changes.

One state, Nebraska, started the new Medicaid work requirements ahead of schedule. But it used diagnostic codes to identify people who are medically frail, and therefore will likely have to rework its system, said Sarah Maresh, healthcare access program director at the advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed.

Maresh said she was concerned doctors in the rural state who are already reluctant to take Medicaid patients may stop.

“They’re already drowning in paperwork, so to require them to do an additional step of certifying whether someone is able to work, I think is concerning,” she said.

Preparing for the Jan. 1 kickoff of the new policies is an immense and expensive task. A $200 million federal allotment is flowing to states to help, and CMS has partnered with technology companies to provide free and discounted services, but the tab for the additional technology requirements and more staff is likely to exceed $1 billion, according to an AP analysis. That extra cost will be borne by a mix of federal and state tax dollars.

Republicans say the rules will save Medicaid for those who need it most

Democrats have slammed the Medicaid work requirements as attacks on healthcare coverage for struggling Americans.

Republicans promoting the new rules, though, say they are commonsense measures to eliminate government freeloading and preserve benefits for people who need them most. Oz last week, citing a report by the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank, said able-bodied people on Medicaid spend an average of 6.1 hours a day “watching TV or just hanging out.”

“This is a concern, not a criticism,” he said. “Work requirements are going to turn this around, we hope."

Current enrollees who don’t meet the work requirement threshold said that’s a misrepresentation of their experience.

Mids Meinberg, a 42-year-old freelance writer from New Jersey who lives with chronic depression and diabetes, said that even with his health issues, he’s proud to have found a meaningful career. But his conditions make him unable to work 80 hours a month. He said he thinks there are many people with disabilities who are “too disabled to work but not disabled enough for the state to think they can’t work.”

Brandon, in North Carolina, said she wants the government to understand that she’s “not just sitting around wasting time or being a drain on society.”

“I’m pouring into my grandchildren,” she said. “We’re valuable, and we can still contribute to our communities even if it’s not working.”

But is time finally up for the BBC science fiction series that has entertained generations of fans?

The British broadcaster has canceled a Christmas special previously announced for later this year, and showrunner Russell T. Davies has confirmed his exit.

Davies had been due to write the Christmas episode, announced when the last season ended in May 2025.

The BBC said Wednesday that it, Davies and production company Bad Wolf “have collectively decided not to go ahead” with the Christmas episode. The broadcaster said it was determined “to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show.”

It said it would put out a tender for production companies to work on the series. A deal between the BBC and Disney+ to co-produce and distribute the show ended in 2025 after two seasons.

First broadcast in 1963, “Doctor Who” follows the adventures of a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels in the Tardis, a time-and-space machine that from the outside resembles a mid-20th century British police telephone box.

Its longevity is due in part to its premise: the central character can regenerate into a new body when the old one wears out, so the show can outlive any individual star. More than a dozen actors have played the role, most recently Ncuti Gatwa.

Davies, who revived the show in 2005 after a 16-year hiatus and returned as showrunner in 2022, said the Christmas episode had not been written and no actor had been approached to play the central role of the Doctor.

Davies, who has also written dramas including “Queer as Folk,” “It’s a Sin” and the recent “Tip Toe,” said the show’s future was “unpredictable” in an Instagram post.

“You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who … but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!” Davies wrote. “It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who — exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future.”

Job Listing: Associate Producer

Responsibilities:

Oversee the complete preparation of newscast including writing stories and coordinating with: reporters, executive producers, assignment desk staff and production department. The producer will also coordinate the program in the control room. Must be able to use knowledge of current events to participate in editorial process and write scripts.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of television news
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends and holidays
• Ability to work in a fast-paced high-energy environment with daily deadlines and changing priorities
• 3-5 years’ experience as a writer or producer in a commercial news operation required
• College degree in journalism or broadcasting preferred
• News computer knowledge necessary

***All of the essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this posting.

***We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, or political affiliation. Any offer of employment is conditioned on successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks. A valid driver’s license is required.

Please follow link below to apply for Associate Producer Position:

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Chris Schenk

Executive Producer

WPLG/TV

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Pembroke Park, FL 33023

cschenk@wplg.com

No phone calls please.

SpaceX is likely to become the biggest IPO ever, with proceeds of around $75 billion. SpaceX hopes to become the first company to send people to Mars. In fact, part of Musk’s future compensation depends on SpaceX eventually establishing a colony of at least 1 million people on the red planet.

Why SpaceX is going public now

In a video conference on Musk's social media platform X, he told JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon that people have suggested for the last 10 years that he take SpaceX public. He's doing it now because the company plans to put 100,000 next-generation Starlink satellites into orbit. Deploying AI data centers in space is a “massive new growth base and you need capital for that,” he said.

Going public provides access to the capital that SpaceX needs. But it also exposes it to more scrutiny from shareholders and more regulatory oversight. That includes filing quarterly financial reports, which critics say incentivizes short-term thinking over longer-term planning and creates unnecessary costs for a company. Securities regulators are currently soliciting public comment on a proposal to require public companies to file the financial reports only twice every year.

How the IPO impacts the company

Musk will hold the majority of a special class of shares, giving him control over decisions related to company strategy, finances and personnel. On the latter, because of his ownership of most of these Class B shares, the only person who can fire Musk as CEO ... is Musk.

The company credits Musk with being the “driving force” behind its growth, innovation and success. But what happens if Musk is no longer in the picture? SpaceX warns that the loss of Musk could disrupt its ability to execute its strategy as well as hurt its “reputation and relationships with customers, partners and other stakeholders.”

The company also warns that finding a replacement with the same skills and experience as Musk would be time-consuming, if not nearly impossible. As Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote Wednesday, “At the end of the day Musk is SpaceX and SpaceX is Musk.”

Some big investors are unhappy. Officials from pension funds for firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York sent a letter to SpaceX last month decrying some of the provisions in its IPO, including the “super voting shares,” mandatory arbitration of shareholder claims instead of the possibility of lawsuits and how much power Musk will hold over the company.

They said they could become owners of SpaceX stock because they hold index funds, which automatically buy stocks after they get included in certain indexes.

What could make or break SpaceX

Currently in the test phase, the gigantic reusable Starship rocket is key to SpaceX realizing Musk's ambitions. Much of the commercial space business hinges on SpaceX developing Starship’s capability to be fully reusable and hearty enough for a quick turnaround between flights. If that doesn't happen, SpaceX warns that putting data centers and satellites in space will take longer and cost more money, meaning it risks customers bailing on the company.

Analysts say that by pioneering reusable rockets, SpaceX has established a clear lead on competitors such as Blue Origin, led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The Starlink satellite business competes with, among others, AST SpaceMobile – which is relying on a SpaceX rocket to send its latest generation of satellites into orbit next week.

The prospectus filed last week says SpaceX’s biggest potential market is the sale of business-oriented artificial intelligence products designed to transform how people get work done. It’s an opportunity SpaceX predicts would be worth $22.7 trillion if it could somehow dominate rivals like Anthropic, OpenAI and Microsoft in a highly competitive industry. But the prospectus shows no clear path to profitability for the xAI business, which merged with SpaceX earlier this year.

Why Wall Street is paying attention

If the SpaceX IPO is as successful, the stock could quickly join the Nasdaq 100, a widely followed index that tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies in the composite. That's important because some popular funds, such as the $460 billion QQQ exchange-traded fund, mimic the index and will automatically buy whatever is listed in the index.

Nasdaq recently changed its rules to allow select companies to enter the Nasdaq 100 after just 15 trading days.

S&P Dow Jones Indices, on the other hand, is sticking to established and more traditional thresholds that will not allow SpaceX or other companies with gargantuan IPOs faster entry into its S&P 500 index. That means even high-profile companies will still need to wait for their stocks to trade a full 12 months before they can enter the index.

Companies want to be in the S&P 500 in particular because it's arguably the most important index on Wall Street, with trillions of dollars either mimicking it exactly or benchmarked against it. Vanguard's VOO fund that tracks the S&P 500 has roughly $950 billion invested in it, for example.

The 44-year-old Williams' doubles partner, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw from the draw on Thursday because of a knee injury she sustained in a singles match against Karolina Pliskova in the last 16 on Wednesday.

In her first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open, Williams teamed up with Mboko to beat third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the grass-court event on Tuesday. They were scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals.

Williams is set to play doubles at the Berlin Open in Germany next week. Her partner has yet to be announced, though British newspaper The Times of London reported it was Karolina Muchova.

Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles — including seven at Wimbledon — before stepping away from the game, saying at the time she was “evolving” away from tennis rather than "retiring."

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This story has been corrected to say Mboko was injured in the last 16 of the singles, not the last 32

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The billionaire owner of the Head sports goods business lost a 65-64 vote to Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein who got a four-year term to lead the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

Eliasch also loses his membership of the International Olympic Committee, one of the most exclusive clubs in world sport. The 100-plus invited members include royal family members, former government leaders, industrialists, sports officials, athletes and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

In his concession speech, Eliasch aimed an allegation at the Olympic body and urged FIS to protect its independence before congratulating Ospelt.

“The IOC tried to influence the outcome of today’s vote. Against this we must stay firm,” Eliasch said.

He also stood in the IOC presidential election won by Kirsty Coventry 15 months ago.

In a statement on Thursday, the IOC congratulated Ospelt on his win without directly addressing Eliasch's claim, adding: “We thank Mr. Johan Eliasch for his work as FIS president and IOC member.”

The FIS congress in the Serbian capital Belgrade started with shows of power by 75 member federations; the votes hinted at problems ahead for Eliasch.

The agenda was changed on an 88% vote to bring the presidential election forward as the first item of business. The weighted voting used by FIS gives two or three votes to established ski nations instead of a one-member-one-vote system by other federations such as soccer body FIFA.

Then there was a 60% vote to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting, which seemed to reflect some mistrust in the FIS administration.

The 64-year-old Eliasch served as FIS president for five years that were marked by constant sparring with ski nations including Austria and Switzerland over issues such as his management style and spending of the ski body's cash reserves.

A dual citizen of Sweden and Britain, Eliasch was not supported by either of those national federations to stand for re-election. He complied with FIS rules by getting a passport and nomination from the country of Georgia.

The new president

FIS rules mean Ospelt becomes president officially one day after the election, leaving Eliasch to oversee the rest of the congress business of what was now his last day in office.

“It’s been a great privilege to serve you,” said the outgoing president, who had said the election would be a win-win as he could “get my life back” if he lost. “Either way I am very happy.”

Ospelt, who has been a member of the Eliasch-chaired FIS council, said he would start his new job with “great joy and humility.”

“I will be the president for all of you. Let’s be united,” he said.

Ospelt does not immediately become an IOC member, though he would probably be invited to join as head of the sports body that oversees about half of the medal events at each Winter Olympics.

___

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

The helicopter crashed Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, apparently because of a technical fault, according to Pakistan’s military. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.

An Associated Press reporter counted 22 coffins draped in Pakistan’s national flag at a funeral ceremony.

Witnesses and regional officials said the remains of the soldiers were recovered from the badly burned wreckage. The dead included a colonel and two army majors, according to two security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Among those attending the funerals was regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.

According to the officials, the soldiers had been traveling to carry out security duties after a call for a march on Muzaffarabad by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently banned alliance of various groups.

Authorities have not indicated any connection between the planned protest and the crash.

Pakistan has deployed additional security forces across the region, where tensions have been high since the weekend after members of an outlawed group attacked police and security personnel, killing four officers.

Military helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Pakistan.

In September, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians.

Bruel, 67, denies the allegations.

He was brought Wednesday before four investigative judges at the court in Nanterre, in the western suburbs of Paris, following a two-day police custody.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said the formal investigation concerns allegations of rape in 2008 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, attempted rape in 2010 in Brussels, and sexual assault and sexual harassment in Perpignan, in southern France, and Ajaccio, Corsica, both in 2019.

The judicial investigation also continues into other allegations of rape, attempted rape and sexual harassment between 2010 and 2019 in three French cities and in Nyon, Switzerland, according to prosecutors.

Some allegations that had previously been dismissed without further action were reexamined and included in the case, the prosecutor’s office said.

Bruel was released under judicial supervision and barred from leaving France. He was ordered to surrender his passport, undergo psychological treatment and post bail of 500,000 euros ($576,760). He is also prohibited from contacting his accusers or members of their families and from entering massage parlors, where some of the alleged offenses are alleged to have occurred.

Bruel’s lawyers said in a statement the singer would cooperate fully with the investigation and remains available to the judicial authorities.

In recent weeks, a series of media reports, notably by French investigative website Mediapart, brought into public attention allegations by multiple women spanning several decades against Bruel, prompting additional complaints to be filed.

Prosecutors said accusations by other women that appear to be barred by the statute of limitations have nevertheless been attached to the case file so investigating judges can gain a broader understanding of the allegations. Complaints filed in other jurisdictions could later be added to the Nanterre investigation.

Bruel became one of the biggest stars in the French-speaking world in the late 1980s and 1990s. His popularity was so intense that French media coined the term “Bruelmania,” drawing comparisons with Beatlemania.

Hit songs from his 1989 second album have became part of French popular culture, addressing universal themes including love, heartbreak, nostalgia and childhood and bringing together generations of fans. Bruel later built a parallel acting career, appearing in dozens of film and television productions.

Last month he canceled all shows planned this summer in France, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium and at the end of the year in Canada.

Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammad were arrested shortly after the Aug. 17, 2015, bombing of the Erawan shrine, which is a popular tourist destination, particularly for visitors from China.

The men were charged with a variety of offenses, including murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of explosive materials. They allegedly were linked by video, fingerprints and other evidence to the bombing.

Four judges presided over the ruling at Bangkok South Criminal Court. The court ruled the two were found guilty due to overwhelming evidence against them and were unable to provide substantial evidence proving otherwise.

After the judges left the courtroom, Mieraili shouted in broken Thai that he rejected the ruling and was innocent.

“I mourn for Thailand,” he said. “I did not receive justice … I ask Thai people to help me.”

Mieraili learned Thai while in detention, according to his lawyer. He also speaks English and on Thursday was asked to translate the proceedings into Uyghur for Bilal because only an English interpreter was available in court. The trial was repeatedly delayed because of difficulties finding suitable translators.

Chuchart Kanpai, one of the defense lawyers, said they will appeal as there are still several aspects of the case that were not taken into consideration.

The two men allegedly confessed during the initial questioning but pleaded not guilty when the trial began in 2016. The proceedings originally took place in a military court before the case was transferred to the civilian Bangkok South Criminal Court in 2019.

The men said they suffered mistreatment and torture in jail after their arrests. But the judges said Thursday there was no evidence of torture and that investigators did not appear to have coerced the confessions.

China on Thursday said it welcomed the verdict.

“The terrorist bombing that year killed 20 people, including seven Chinese citizens, and injured more than 100 others. The perpetrators were utterly inhumane and guilty of heinous crimes," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian said. “China supports Thailand in conducting the trial in accordance with the law and severely punishing the perpetrators.”

Several human rights groups have criticized the procedures and the lengthy trial. In 2023, the International Federation for Human Rights based in France submitted a petition to the United Nations alleging numerous violations of human rights and due process, including the lack of a legal basis for the arrests and discriminatory treatment.

Authorities identified 17 suspects in connection to the blast but only three were apprehended. Charges against a Thai woman were dropped in 2024 due to lack of evidence.

Police said they believe Mieraili detonated the bomb minutes after a backpack containing the device was allegedly left at the shrine by Bilal, who also is known as Adem Karadag.

Thai authorities have said the bombing was revenge by a people smuggling gang whose activities had been disrupted by the police. Thailand cracked down on human traffickers earlier in 2015 after abandoned camps for Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar and economic migrants from Bangladesh were found in the jungles along the Thai-Malaysia border.

However, some analysts suspect the bombing was the work of Uyghur separatists angry that Thailand had forcibly repatriated scores of Uyghurs to China in July 2015. Many Uyghurs try to escape persecution and tight control in China with the help of professional smugglers.

Thailand deported 40 Uyghur asylum seekers back to China in 2025, which drew international criticism.

The shrine’s popularity among Chinese tourists lent support to the theory that the bombing had a political element.

___

Associated Press writer Huizhong Wu contributed to this report.

The fire broke out at around 5 a.m. on the third floor of a residential building in the Magaluf area, according to the Civil Guard, a Spanish law enforcement agency. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Residents tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze, which spread to the rest of the building, especially toward the upper floors, it added. The flames were extinguished about two hours later.

Four people remained hospitalized, local authorities said in a statement on their website. About 20 residents were affected by the fire, it added. Nearby hotels will provide temporary housing for affected residents.

One of the deceased was a 58-year-old Argentine citizen, and the other was a woman who hasn't yet been identified, the Civil Guard said. They were in two separate apartments.

The floor where the fire started was cordoned off, along with the levels directly above and below it, authorities said.

Magaluf, a popular beach and nightlife destination among young British and German tourists, is located on the coast of Calvià, 22 kilometers (nearly 14 miles) west of Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Mediterranean archipelago.

Local authorities declared two days of mourning following the tragedy.

Mexicans milling through the busy Hidalgo metro station pointed and laughed, occasionally snapping pictures of the face-lift that has become the subject of a cascade of internet memes.

The cosmetic makeover that authorities have attempted to give the capital as visitors arrive from around the globe also has become a symbol of criticisms that the government is prioritizing its superficial appearance for World Cup fans over fixing critical structural issues that have long plagued the city.

“People make fun of it because it's a failed aesthetic, it doesn't make a lot of sense,” said Silvia Escamilla, 28, who was hustling to work among a crowd of Mexican commuters. “All these renovations are like putting makeup on the city, because the infrastructure they could actually invest in just isn’t there.”

Decorations cover the problems

For weeks, Mexico City workers have plastered walls and metro cars with cartoon axolotls, the mole salamander that has become a city mascot. They also have painted bridges purple and planted Mexican marigold flowers typical of Day of the Dead celebrations in November.

The 22 million residents of the sprawling capital, known as Chilangos, have jokingly referred to the renovations as the city's “axolotlization.” They have posted videos of flooded underpasses next to freshly painted murals of axolotls and crumbling stairs and potholes painted bright purple.

Hidalgo station, in the heart of the downtown, has perhaps become the subject of more memes than anywhere else in the city.

When city workers installed the chandelier near the metro entrance and rows of Victorian wall lamps in May, social media users were quick to joke that authorities were trying to make the gritty metro system look like it was in a European city.

Social media creators mock the changes

Residents began to show up at the station in elegant dresses in videos layered over Mozart music. One social media influencer descended the marble stairs dressed as the Beast from the classic Disney cartoon “Beauty and the Beast.” Another arrived as Napoleon Bonaparte in a white wig and French military uniform.

“May you have an elegant metro connection,” one social media influencer said as he strolled through throngs of commuters dressed in a tuxedo and top hat. Another filmed herself selling pink dresses aboard one of the metro trains, yelling to passengers that the items matched the “etiquette” of Metro Hidalgo.

Many more posed next to marble floors and walls torn up by construction ahead of the soccer tournament being hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The humor highlights larger issues

The crush of jokes amused Mexicans for weeks, but also cut to the core of a deeper problem in the city, said Aldo Solano Rojas, an art historian in Mexico City who has criticized the remodel.

Failures to prioritize issues like the metro's crumbling infrastructure and holes in the major municipal roadways show the government “doesn't understand the real needs of the city,” he said.

“State presence, at its best, is reflected in well-maintained sidewalks and adequate transportation infrastructure that doesn't collapse every day,” Solano Rojas said. “It's not reflected in frivolous, superficial axolotl murals while the streets are flooding.”

The criticisms come in the midst of wider social unrest in Mexico City as the country's teachers union, families of Mexico's 130,000 missing people and a range of other social movements use the proximity to the event to pressure authorities.

The government also has faced accusations of displacing sex workers and street vendors in an effort to clean up the streets. Despite the tensions, city workers on Wednesday were still racing to complete construction ahead of the opening ceremony and first match.

Mirna Baranco looked fondly on the renovations, but the 46-year-old laughed at the chandelier over Hidalgo construction workers. She nudged her boyfriend and pointed.

“I've already seen it all over the place on Facebook, but not in real life,” she said.

Baranco understood the criticisms, but said she didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing that authorities were making changes to be more attractive to international visitors. The World Cup has helped push local governments to make needed renovations, even if some look a little out of place, she said.

The changes show that “Mexico isn't just how others stereotype us, as a country with narcos,” Baranco said. “Mexico has a lot to give the world.”

Leo issued an impassioned plea to recognize the dignity of migrants from the port of Arguineguín, in the Canary Islands. In 2020, the port was dubbed “dock of shame” because of the squalid conditions migrants were forced to live in for months during a spike in arrivals.

“Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border,” Leo said, with rescue ships docked behind him and a simple wooden cross made from a shipwrecked migrant boat nearby.

Leo is spending the final two days of his weeklong trip to Spain in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula and a key point of entry for migrants who make the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa.

He is fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis to visit the islands to commemorate the thousands of lives lost at sea.

With two migrants standing by him, Leo threw a bouquet of flowers into the sea. The gesture recalled one Francis made in 2013, at the start of his pontificate, when he visited another migration flashpoint in Lampedusa, Sicily and denounced the “globalization of indifference” that the world showed migrants.

A visit to the ‘dock of shame’

The Canary Islands have long been a stepping stone for migrants trying to reach Europe from West Africa and Morocco. Some experts consider the Atlantic route they take to get here more deadly than the more well-known central Mediterranean smuggling route from Libya and Tunisia to Italy.

Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000. Following pressure and deals between the European Union, Spain and the governments of several West African nations, arrivals have fallen dramatically, with just over 3,000 people landing there in the first five months of 2026.

Upon his arrival, Leo went straight to the port in Arguineguín, where in 2020 arrivals reached such numbers that migrants were forced to sleep on the dock in makeshift camps in the open air.

Many spent weeks just a blanket and no showers. Potential asylum seekers had no proper access to legal advice and some people were held for weeks, much longer than the three days that the law allowed. The ombudsman later forced the government to shutter the makeshift camp and relocate the migrants in hotels that had been emptied by COVID-19.

A challenge to uphold dignity

At the port on Thursday, Leo sat under a shaded platform while a fierce midday sun baked down on the migrants and aid workers. He heard testimonies from rescue workers, humanitarian workers and the personal story of a Nigerian victim of human trafficking. Nearby a banner, recalling the port's former nickname, rebaptized it “Dock of Hope.”

“Dear migrants, before saying anything else to you, I want to bow before your dignity,” Leo said to them, bowing his head slightly.

Addressing the Nigerian woman and other women who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution, Leo assured them: “If others have put a price on your body, know that God has never ceased to recognize your inestimable worth,” he said.

He urged countries of origin to create the security and economic conditions so people are not forced to flee, and for transit countries to protect migrants so they don’t fall prey to smugglers. And he appealed to the “conscience of Europe, which cannot claim to uphold human dignity while growing accustomed to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic becoming unmarked graves.”

In one of the most powerful speeches of his pontificate, dedicated entirely to migration, Leo listed the rights of migrants to flee or remain. But he didn't mention the right of nations to control their borders or limit asylum requests as he has done in the past. And significantly, he insisted that if one is Christian, one cannot ignore the plight of migrants.

“May history not accuse us of turning the pain of those who suffer into a common sight along our shores,” he said. “Today, here by the sea, every individual that arrives asks us what remains of our humanity. Sooner or later, it will be known whether we protected life or whether we yielded to indifference.”

Among the migrants waiting for Leo was Mame Amandou Neang, a 56-year-old who arrived in the Arguineguín port from Senegal earlier this year.

“This is a great honor,” said Neang. “We hope that if we see him, all our problems will stay behind us, we will forget our problems, because we have many things to forget for the moment.”

The International Organization of Migration’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded some 6,600 deaths on the Atlantic route from West Africa since it began keeping record in 2014. But it admits their estimate is a vast undercount due to the lack of information on the route and the phenomenon of “invisible shipwrecks.”

Since 2020, Spanish migrants rights group Walking Borders estimates more than 25,000 dead or missing trying to reach the Canary Islands.

Leo follows in Francis' footsteps in prioritizing migrants

Francis had made the plight of refugees a hallmark of his papacy, following the Gospel mandate to “welcome the stranger.”

Leo has followed suit, insisting especially on the dignity of migrants in his native United States amid the Trump administration’s crackdown and mass deportation program.

Next month, on July 4, the American pope will spend U.S. Independence Day on the island of Lampedusa, where Francis in 2013 first denounced the “globalization of indifference” the world shows migrants.

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Winfield reported from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Brito contributed from Barcelona, Spain.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The summit of some of the world's richest nations from June 15-17 in the French town of Evian-les-Bains on Lake Geneva is meant to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances.

In nearby Geneva, Switzerland, business owners and local leaders want to avoid a repeat of violent protests that smashed storefronts on the sidelines of the G8 summit in 2003, when Russia was in the club of nations.

Protests are nothing new around such elite gatherings. This time, activists want to demonstrate frustration with Trump’s leadership on issues as diverse as tariffs, the war in Iran and the climate, or even highlight his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Authorities in Geneva and activist groups including environmentalists, feminists and foes of capitalism are facing off over the right to protest and the right to protection from those who target symbols of corporate and political power.

“As the G7 meets in Evian, France, to plan the destruction of peoples, the exploitation of life and the domination of bodies, let us organize our resistance against fascism and imperialism,” the No G7 coalition of anti-capitalism groups said in its call for a “large-scale internationalist mobilization against this meeting.”

Businesses have been boarding up storefronts in Geneva, a center for United Nations offices, while some institutions like the World Trade Organization, which faced anti-capitalist protests in Seattle in the 1990s, are closing offices and instructing staff to work remotely.

Switzerland, a rich Alpine country, is not among the G7 membership that includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S.

G7 also brings airspace restrictions

France and Switzerland have struck a military cooperation agreement on G7 summit security. The arriving leaders will pass through the airport in Geneva, which is 95% surrounded by France and connected to the rest of Switzerland by a strip of land.

The Swiss government said the army will deploy some 4,000 personnel to support police. Operations will include airspace restrictions, patrols on Lake Geneva and roadway restrictions. Seven of the 35 roadway border crossings will remain open. Geneva also is closing a major park where activists wanted to congregate.

France will deploy more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security in the summit area just over the border. Over 800 French border control officers will be active, up from about 60 normally.

France also has introduced special permits for residents of Evian, perhaps best known for its bottled water, and environs while cordoning off a zone around the Hotel Royal where the leaders will meet.

There is an authorized march on June 14. Public gatherings not previously planned are banned.

Cedric Dupont, a professor of international relations at the Geneva Graduate Institute, said authorities were “overreacting” with such stringent security measures that will impact the economy and people, alluding to the long lines at the border during the COVID crisis.

“It seems that they have not learned the lesson,” he said, noting that protesters can find their way to Geneva by traveling from other parts of Switzerland. “It’s just creating more problems than actually solving them.”

Residents and businesses prepare for disruption

Over 110,000 cross-border workers commute daily from France to Geneva, France's Foreign Ministry says.

French authorities have advised people to postpone nonessential travel and work from home when possible.

Lake crossings by boat, also used by commuters, have been moved from Evian to other ferry landings outside restricted areas. Recreational water activities, including paddleboarding and swimming, will be allowed outside the summit area as the summer season begins, authorities said.

The Geneva canton, or state, has set up a 6 million Swiss franc ($7.6 million) fund for businesses that incur damage related to G7 protests.

“Unrest cannot be ruled out,” authorities have said.

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Corbet reported from Paris.

Italian prosecutors are investigating Montgomery, Alabama-based Caddell Construction, a major builder of U.S. diplomatic missions. Two of its managers in Italy were arrested this month on suspicion of labor exploitation, one while boarding a flight to leave the country and another planning to flee, prosecutors said.

The investigation is led by prosecutor Paolo Storari, who also has spearheaded probes into sweatshops supplying luxury brands. So far only Caddell has been named as a target, not any of its subcontractors.

The consulate probe was launched about six months ago and involves some 70 workers, mostly from India. Prosecutors allege Caddell illegally deducted room and board from wages and forced them to work 10-hour days, six days a week. Some were paid as little as 500 euros (less than $580) monthly after room and board were deducted, prosecutors said. Minimum wage for construction workers in Milan starts at 13.39 euros (over $15) an hour, according to the Cassa Edile benefits fund.

Caddell and the U.S. State Department said they are investigating the allegations and cooperating with Italian authorities.

The consulate project is part of a construction boom in Milan over the past two decades that has modernized the skyline and raised the international profile of Italy’s fashion and finance capital.

Workers describe unpaid wages and threats

The AP spoke to four workers from Kenya and one from India at a trade union center where officials were organizing assistance, including legal help and housing. The workers provided documentation and spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation and to protect the ongoing investigation.

The Kenyan workers said they had been hired by Caddell after working on a multi-million-dollar extension of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

Two showed employment letters on Caddell stationery signed by a company representative promising annual salaries topping 25,000 euros (nearly $29,000).

They said they were not paid anything close to that and were threatened by human resources personnel at the job site after they questioned management.

“When you go to the office to ask any question, you are being told, ‘Either you work or you will be returned to your country. That’s the amount you are supposed to be paid,’’’ one Kenyan electrician said. He added that he was paid just 800 euros ($925) a month after being promised 2,300 euros ($2,660).

Another Kenyan electrician said he was threatened with defamation after presenting an AI summary of Italian labor law and was told the 25,000 euros in the employment letter was “for visa purposes,” not a promise of payment.

US government and Caddell say they are investigating

The State Department said it is investigating the allegations made by prosecutors and that U.S. law enforcement is working with Italian authorities.

“The U.S. government does not tolerate labor exploitation,” the department said in a statement.

Caddell said it was “fully cooperating” with Italian authorities and conducting its own “comprehensive inquiry into this matter to ensure all our global subcontractors and consultancies are in compliance with all labor standards and legal requirements.”

“Caddell is committed (to) treating and paying workers fairly. We will continue to work with authorities in good faith to ensure the welfare of those who work on this important project,” the company said in a statement.

More than a decade ago, Caddell paid millions to the U.S. government to settle allegations it made false claims to gain access to government incentives. Caddell did not reply to a request for comment on that case.

Fired workers seek help

All five of the workers who spoke to the AP, ranging in age from their late 20s to early 50s, said they were fired without cause this year. One of them said he returned from visiting family in Kenya to find that he no longer had a job or place to stay.

Four of the workers were trained electricians, including the Indian worker whose resume showed he had more than a decade of experience working for other companies in Persian Gulf countries.

The Indian worker said he was promised a monthly salary of 2,500 euros (nearly $3,000). Instead, he had a pay slip showing his actual pay amounted to around 500 euros (less than $580) per month. It listed an hourly wage of 1.55 euros ($1.80).

The Kenyans said they reached out to authorities after learning of the investigation.

“I believe in justice,” one said. “Also the workers there should not be afraid. They should come and speak up.”

Two said they are currently sleeping in parks, while one is staying with a friend. One said he had been offered a job at a Caddell site in another country but declined after his treatment in Milan.

Caddell is a major diplomatic contractor

Caddell became a leader in building U.S. diplomatic missions when the State Department launched a major security upgrade after the 1998 bombings of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya killed more than 250 people.

“Very few contractors can meet the strict requirements to even bid on secure work necessary for diplomatic facility projects,” Caddell said on its website marking its 40th anniversary in 2023. At that point, the firm counted 39 projects in its embassy portfolio valued at $7.4 billion. It has added four projects since then.

The Milan consulate campus is being built on a 10-acre (40,000-square meter) site at a former shooting range. The current U.S. Consulate is in a high-rise building designed by acclaimed Italian architect Gio Ponti.

Plans for the campus called for about 500 “locally employed workers,” according to the U.S. State Department. The project includes restoration of a century-old building, along with a five-story consulate building, restored gardens, a reflecting pool and a large outdoor gathering area.

Work is continuing under court supervision. Workers no longer have their room and board deducted. They are limited to 45 hours and guaranteed two days off a week.

Pay records appear to bolster allegations

The pay stubs presented by the workers listed apparent charges of 510 euros (around $590) a month for housing and more than 300 euros (around $350) monthly for food. But those deductions only account for a portion of the difference between the promised wages and actual pay.

Unions intend to seek damages for the workers to recover at least what they earned “through hard work and commitment,” said Laura Malguzzi, a labor representative at the Fillea Cgil union federation representing construction workers.

Malguzzi said she was surprised that the pay stubs presented by the workers appeared to document the alleged exploitation. Union experts are still studying the documents, which do not conform to Italian standards, and could not verify their origins.

“They probably had in their minds the absolute certainty that they were untouchable,’’ Malguzzi said.

The Kenyan workers said they begrudgingly accepted a $200 monthly salary in Nairobi, where unemployment is rampant. But they expected better from a U.S. company operating in Europe.

“They can just hire you, and you just go running,” one worker said of the company. “Because you are poor you have nothing. And you have nothing you can do.”

And make no mistake: Those 4 1/2 seconds will never be forgotten by the Knicks. Or by the San Antonio Spurs.

The situation: Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Knicks down by one in a game where they trailed by as many as 29 points. They call timeout with 5.7 seconds left, just as Jose Alvarado nearly committed a backcourt violation that would have cost the Knicks the basketball.

Here's how it happened.

5.7 seconds left ... the play begins

The timeout comes and New York's Josh Hart is distraught. He blamed himself for missing an assignment at the other end, which allowed San Antonio’s Stephon Castle to hit two free throws that put his team up 106-105.

“I’m sitting there just hoping my guys make a play,” Hart said.

OG Anunoby inbounds the ball for the Knicks. The Spurs elect to not have a defender impede his vision, using all five of their players to guard the four who were moving about for New York. Jalen Brunson shakes free of a couple of defenders, including the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, the league's Defensive Player of the Year, and catches the inbounds pass near midcourt.

4.3 seconds left ... Brunson shoots

Brunson takes one dribble and lets a shot fly from about 31 feet, over Wembanyama's outstretched left arm. The shot, in the air for about 1.2 seconds, misses and hits the rim. It's short, and the ball bounces off the iron into the air.

Anunoby — with nobody in his path — sprints from the out-of-bounds spot into the lane, just in case.

“I just went and crashed,” Anunoby said. “Tried to get a tip-dunk or something. The ball went over my head, so I couldn’t really dunk it. So, I tried to tip it in softly.”

With 2.5 seconds left, Anunoby leaps. The Spurs have a few Knicks boxed out, including Karl-Anthony Towns. But Anunoby is unnoticed and gets in front of the Spurs' Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell.

“I was contesting the first shot,” Wembanyama said. “Turned around and saw him up there. That’s all I saw.”

2.0 seconds left ... Anunoby tips the ball

Anunoby throws his right arm into the air as he leaps, just out of the reach of the airborne Vassell. He gets his thumb and a couple of fingers on the ball, hoping to knock it back toward the rim — which he does.

“Right hand from God,” Towns called it.

Anunoby falls to the floor. The ball gets over the front of the rim. Brunson's fist goes into the air. The Garden waits.

1.2 seconds left ... ‘Bedlam here at The Garden!’

Announcer Mike Breen thought Brunson's 3-point shot would be good. In the end, Breen yelled “Bedlam here at the Garden! They can't believe it!” as Anunoby's shot went through the net.

Hart — who also missed a go-ahead layup in the final moments — will never be able to thank him enough.

“I’ve got a special shoutout for OG, man,” Hart said. “He saved me, at least for this game, a lifetime of regret.”

Had the rebound of Brunson's miss bounced in a different direction, Anunoby wouldn't have gotten there.

“Bounced off the rim the right way,” Harper said. “He tipped it in the right way. It went in. I could play, ‘Wish I could have did this, wish I could have did that.’ But at the end of the day, he tipped the ball, and it went in.”

The one-point lead matched the Knicks' biggest all night.

It was all they needed.

“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I’m not you guys. You guys know better than me. But it was just unbelievable.”

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Reynolds reported from Miami.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and take “total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries, including the vital Kharg Island oil terminal, in the “not too distant future.”

The American leader's latest threats came as efforts to negotiate an end to the war appeared stuck. Trump has voiced his frustration with the stalled negotiations, warning earlier in the week that Tehran would “pay the price” for taking too long to reach a deal.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned in a social media post Thursday that “wrong strategies and impulsive decisions” would wreak havoc on energy markets and “create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years.”

Iran’s monthslong stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies, driven up fuel prices and made food and other basics more expensive well beyond the region.

The U.S. and Iran traded strikes for a second straight day Thursday after reaching a tenuous ceasefire more than a month ago. While the strikes have increased tensions in the region, they have been more limited compared to the early weeks of the war and negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing.

Trump’s threats on Thursday, while stark, represented his latest verbal escalation in the Iran war. In April, he warned Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” if it didn’t agree to his terms, before extending a ceasefire.

Trump weighs trying to seize Iran's main oil terminal

Kharg Island — located on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — is the beating heart of Iran’s oil industry, through which 90% of its exports pass. It is important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock.

It was unclear how serious Trump was about his threat to seize it.

“My preference has always been to take Kharg Island,” Trump said in an interview Thursday on Fox News. “I don’t know that America has the stomach for it to be honest.”

American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island because of its proximity — about 33 kilometers (21 miles) — to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.

Trump indicated in the interview that he remains averse to sending U.S. forces into Iran.

“I don’t want to have boots on the ground," Trump said. "But if I wanted to we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the place.”

Trump compared his threat to take over Iran's oil industry to how the U.S. assumed control of Venezuela’s oil sector after capturing then-president Nicolás Maduro in January.

Iran says US attacks have made ceasefire `meaningless'

Back-and-forth strikes rattled the Middle East for the third time this week. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which targeted countries were U.S. troops are based.

The U.S. military's Central Command said airstrikes ending early Thursday targeted Iran's military surveillance, communications and air defense sites.

Explosions echoed around Iran’s capital, as well as the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said sites hit included a manufacturing complex, a military barracks and a local Guard base outside Tehran.

Tehran said it fired back at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

Kuwait closed its airspace for several hours but did not report any damage. Jordan said it intercepted 20 Iranian missiles fired toward a base hosting U.S. troops, though no one was hurt.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said an 11-year-old girl was hurt and cars and homes were damaged by debris from intercepted Iranian strikes.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. attacks had “effectively rendered the ceasefire ... meaningless,” without saying it was abandoning it.

Tensions persist over Iran's nuclear program, Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post that the U.S. would extract funds from frozen Iranian accounts to offset the costs of damage to American allies and any tolls Iran imposes for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Beyond the deadlock over the strait, the two sides also remain at odds over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran insists its nuclear efforts are peaceful. The U.S. and Israel fear Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium could be used to build an atomic weapon.

Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must also end fighting in Lebanon between its ally militia Hezbollah and Israel. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears intent on pursuing his goal of destroying the militant group.

Iranian student says hope dwindles as attacks escalate

A 25-year-old student in northern Iran says Iranians are fearing “chaos” amid the war with the U.S. and Israel and multiplying crises at home.

The student, who lives in the city of Babol, said many Iranians are struggling to afford groceries in the face of mass job losses and triple-digit food inflation. He spoke on the condition of anonymity out of security fears.

“Everything is going wrong and there is no hope among the people,” the student added.

The student first spoke to The Associated Press before the war when he participated in widespread anti-government protests. He now says his chief concern is that Iran “maintain territorial integrity and deterrence” in the face of attacks by the U.S. and Israel.

US fires on another merchant ship to enforce blockade

The U.S. military's Central Command said Thursday that it struck a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker attempting to evade the American blockade on Iranian ports. It said the M/T Jalveer was transporting Iranian oil when it was disabled late Wednesday after its crew failed to obey U.S. orders.

It's the ninth merchant vessel the U.S. military says it disabled to enforce the blockade.

Three Indian sailors were killed when American forces struck the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello on Tuesday, India's minister overseeing ports and shipping said Thursday on X.

U.S. Central Command said American forces issued warnings before firing on the ship, which it accused of trying to evade the blockade.

The leader of the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency, condemned the attack.

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Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weissert, Collin Binkley, Michelle L. Price and Konstantin Toropin in Washington; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Victoria Eastwood and Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo; and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.

The 7.8 magnitude offshore quake, one of the strongest to hit the Philippine archipelago in a half century, struck Monday off the southern province of Sarangani and has left at least 47 people dead and injured 688 with 31 still missing.

More than 45,000 people remained displaced, about half in emergency shelters, after the quake damaged more than 12,600 houses in farming towns and cities. Many were still too traumatized to return home due to aftershocks, provincial officials said.

Sarangani reported 20 dead from the quake, the highest toll from the affected provinces, mostly due to a landslide that buried houses in the coastal town of Glan, according to the government's Office of Civil Defense, which deals with major disasters.

Glan Mayor Victor James Yap said power has not been restored to his province and 10 of 31 villages in his town of more than 100,000 people remained inaccessible mostly due to landslides. He asked the government to immediately deploy air force helicopters to deliver food and other aid to the stricken areas.

“We need food and water but it’s difficult to transport them to some of our villages which remain isolated,” Yap told DZMM radio network. “Choppers are needed to transport food because people there are already very hungry.”

A key access road to the town has been reopened and will allow the delivery of fuel as early as Thursday, but the town remained without power and cellphone services were still spotty, according to Yap.

The Office of Civil Defense said more than 26 million pesos ($426,000) worth of food packs, cash and other aid have been provided so far and 180 government and military planes, helicopters, ships and trucks have been deployed to respond to the disaster.

About 3,400 government and military personnel were involved in search efforts for the missing, debris-clearing in roads, damage assessment and other disaster-mitigation work, it said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday visited the hard-hit city of General Santos city, where he inspected damaged hospitals and schools and discussed recovery efforts. He ordered the release of 100 million pesos ($1.6 million) for the repair of the partly collapsed city hall and 50,000 pesos ($820) for the families of each of the victims who died in the quake.

Most of the deaths from the quake were caused by falling debris from collapsed buildings and landslides in Sarangani, the coastal city of General Santos, and the outlying provinces of South Cotabato and Davao Occidental.

Two swimmers drowned and one remained missing off General Santos after being swept out to sea shortly after the quake hit. Waves of up to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) above tide level were measured in the country’s south and smaller waves washed ashore in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan.

The earthquake was one of the strongest to hit the country since an 8.1 magnitude quake and tsunami on Aug. 17, 1976, that killed about 8,000 people.

The Philippines is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.

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Associated Press journalist Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila, Philippines.

There's an argument to make for each — or perhaps all. To get to the bottom of it ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Associated Press asked a few of the performers behind World Cup songs past and present. It's a list that includes Shakira — who, alongside Afrobeats star Burna Boy, is responsible for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai” — as well as Colombian singer J Balvin, Wyclef Jean and newcomer Nora Fatehi.

Shakira unites cultures

Before “Dai Dai,” the Colombian superstar co-wrote and performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” featuring Freshlyground, the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.

“Fútbol is a thing that unites so many cultures and people of different walks of life,” she told the AP. “The big responsibility of making a World Cup song is that you’ve got to make a song that represents people’s feelings, emotions, and passion.”

“So you've got to write that song, in a way, understanding that it has to be global. It has to encompass so many cultures and represent so many in one tune,” Shakira continued. “That, in a way, has helped me craft those songs in the past.”

But beyond those conceptual ideas, Shakira has some specific sonic suggestions as well.

“I feel like a good World Cup song needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs. It also has that kind of energy,” she says. “That's a must.”

J Balvin makes the case for a hook

Colombian singer J Balvin is one-fourth of Coca-Cola’s official song for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a reimagination of Van Halen’s “Jump” that also features drummer Travis Barker, pop/R&B singer Amber Mark and guitarist Steve Vai. He says any song — not just a World Cup anthem — must engage listeners right off the bat.

“Nowadays, with the music and every type of music — it doesn’t matter if it’s the World Cup, if it is a reggaeton or hip-hop (song) — you know, people’s attention (span) is only like five seconds. And that’s the reality. I’m not judging — you've just got to do it with all the love,” he says.

But a World Cup anthem specifically? That should match the intensity of a soccer game. “Fútbol brings us together, with all different highs and lows,” he says. “All these different emotions happen in one game.” The song should have the same energy.

Newcomer Nora Fatehi thinks World Cup anthems are for winners

The Canadian Moroccan singer-songwriter Nora Fatehi is featured on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup album with “Siir, Siir,” a collaboration with French artist Vegedream and Bangladeshi American DJ Sanjoy.

“It needs a great beat because we’re here to dance and we need to celebrate,” she says of a World Cup anthem.

But beyond that, Fatehi, who is best known for work in Bollywood films, says that when you hear it, “You feel like you’re winning, or you’re gonna win, or you won. That’s the emotion it needs to evoke.”

For “Siir, Siir,” she says, “what we were after was finding an emotion. So, the minute you hear that song, it should make you feel like you’ve conquered the world. It should make you feel motivated. It should be aspirational. That’s what it should feel like.”

Wyclef Jean aims for unity

Wyclef Jean, the Fugees multi-hyphenate, co-wrote and performed “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” for the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, with guitar guru Santana, the late EDM icon Avicii and Brazil's beloved singer-songwriter Alexandre Pires.

“The topline? It has to electrify the stadium,” Jean says. “You literally have to feel the entire stadium shaking.” If you don't — the anthem won't fly.

“I don’t know any World Cup song that don’t have amazing rhythm and amazing movement,” he says.

Though many nations are represented in the identity of his song's performers — Brazil, Sweden, Haiti, Mexico and the U.S. — Jean says he doesn't “think like necessarily you need to have five different artists to make a global anthem.”

“Whether they come from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, any part of the world, the Caribbean — people gravitate towards culture,” he says. “And what I love best about World Cup is that before it has a language, it has an energy and a vibe. It has absolutely nothing to do with a language.”

A good hook, a strong melody that anyone can sing along to — that's what's key.

But “Dar um Jeito” has a strong message of unity, adding to its anthemic quality. “Resilience is a very important word,” he says of the song's message. Jean says it was written for “boys and girls all over the world,” particularly those in rural areas.

The aim was a Bob Marley-style “Get Up, Stand Up,” “where the messaging in the song is not being preachy, but it’s a message of hope,” he says. “If you keep fighting the good fight, you’re gonna get to that stadium. And ain’t nobody gonna stop you.”

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Some of them aren’t too enthusiastic.

“I think they’re all a waste of time,” said Shirley Prior on the choice of candidates in Makerfield, where a special election on June 18 has drawn interest from journalists around the world. That level of attention is all-but unheard of for a midterm by-election to fill one of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

If Andy Burnham from the center-left Labour Party wins, there’s a strong chance he will replace embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader of both party and country. He's up against Reform UK, a hard-right party hoping to prove that this longtime Labour stronghold is fertile ground for its anti-immigration message, with potentially seismic consequences for British democracy.

This district has elected Labour lawmakers for 120 years, but Burnham is not a shoo-in. Reform, led by the veteran anti-immigration politician Nigel Farage, won 24 of the 25 council seats up for grabs in local elections in this area last month.

“I always voted Labour because my dad, my grandad, everybody voted Labour then,” Prior said. “I’ve never done that for a lot, a lot of years.”

Immigration is a top issue

The election is taking place amid heightened tensions over immigration. A stabbing in Belfast this week, for which a Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder, triggered violent protests in Northern Ireland in which cars and houses torched.

In the constituency’s main town of Ashton-in-Makerfield, 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of London, some voters echo Reform claims that recent arrivals are straining housing and public services.

“Immigration’s too high, all the services are being put under pressure and Labour just keep inviting more and more people into the country and it’s the taxpayer who has to pay for them,” said retiree Phil Arrowsmith.

Annual net migration to the U.K. reached more than 900,000 in 2023, under the previous Conservative government, before falling to 171,000 last year.

That decline has done little to boost a Labour government that has floundered since winning election in July 2024.

Starmer has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living, and been hamstrung by repeated missteps, including his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

A dismal performance in local elections last month sparked a clamor from Labour lawmakers for Starmer’s resignation. He has refused, but Cabinet minister Wes Streeting quit so he can run in a leadership contest that could come soon.

Burnham, the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, also harbors leadership ambitions, but needs a seat in Parliament if he wants to challenge Starmer. An opening emerged when Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for Makerfield, stepped down to trigger a special election.

Burnham said he understands that voters are “fed up” and calls the large Reform UK vote “a cry for real change” that Labour must heed.

The ‘King of the North’ eyes power in London

The Makerfield constituency is a capsule of British history, a collection of former coal-mining communities turned commuter suburbs. The slag heaps and slum housing in the area described by George Orwell in his 1937 book “The Road to Wigan Pier” have been replaced by suburbs of tidy modern houses amid Victorian workers’ cottages, interspersed with farmers’ fields.

Though far from the city center, it is part of Greater Manchester, and Burnham gets honks and thumbs’ ups from passing drivers as he walks down the street in his smart-casual uniform of dark jeans with a navy blue shirt and jacket.

The 56-year-old has been mayor of the region of 3 million people since 2017, a period that has seen central Manchester boom, with skyscrapers blooming on postindustrial sites. Many residents praise him for championing the city, and for taking a piecemeal public transport system under municipal control as the Bee Network.

For a decade and a half before that he was a lawmaker in Parliament, and a minister in Labour governments. He doesn’t emphasize that part of his CV, preferring the outsider status that has seen him nicknamed the King of the North.

“What we’ve built in Greater Manchester needs to go national,” Burnham told reporters during a campaign event this week. “I know what it is to turn places around.”

Many predict a close contest

The campaign is an odd mix of the local and the international. Some voters cite immigration as a top concern. Others mention struggling main street shops, potholes and petty crime.

Burnham’s main rival is Reform UK candidate Rob Kenyon, a 41-year-old plumber and local councilor who came second to Labour here in the 2024 national election. He says he’s an unpolished regular bloke, though opponents have criticized him over crude, sexist and anti-vaccine comments on social media.

Reform voters are also being targeted by Restore, an even more hardline anti-immigration party.

Michael Poultney, a retired teacher and Labour supporter, thinks the unpopularity of Starmer’s government means Burnham faces a stiff challenge.

“Without his personal vote, I think we would struggle,” he said. “Keir Starmer has done reasonably well on the international stage, but the government are yet to be in control of the economy.”

Burnham insists he is running for the people of Makerfield, not his own ambition, and is not taking victory for granted.

“I am making no assumptions beyond the 18th of June,” Burnham said.

But he stressed that “this is a change byelection.”

“I will take the fight for the changes I want to see in politics as far as I can take it,” he said.

Vance Boelter was charged with murdering Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and with shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. Boelter came to their doors in the early hours of June 14, 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car. The Hortmans’ golden retriever was so gravely injured that it had to be euthanized.

John and Yvette Hoffman sat in the courtroom's gallery Thursday along with members of the Hortman family as the events of that night were described in great detail. Boelter repeatedly said a simple “yes” as his federal defense attorney questioned him about his actions, including whether he pressed a gun to Melissa Hortman’s head and fired.

At times, there were brief sobs coming from the gallery.

Boelter, wearing his orange jail sweatshirt and sweatpants, followed along as U.S. District Judge John Tunheim talked through each of the six charges and the potential sentences they carried. Tunheim did not set a date for sentencing. Boelter is facing an agreed-upon sentence of two life terms, plus 40 years.

Boelter, 58, was captured near his home in rural Green Isle the day after the shootings following what prosecutors have called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history. He also faces state charges, which have been on hold pending the resolution of his federal case.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis notified the court Wednesday that the Justice Department would not seek the death penalty against Boelter in accordance with a proposed plea agreement, and the court set the change-of-plea hearing for Thursday.

Minnesota abolished capital punishment in 1911 and has never had a federal death penalty case. Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, said the federal plea deal would not affect Boelter’s state charges, including two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder. Boelter also faces state charges of impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty.

While the Trump administration has pushed for greater use of capital punishment, there were questions about whether Boelter’s case would qualify for the death penalty under federal law.

Prosecutors have called the shootings political. When they announced the federal indictment in July, they released a rambling handwritten letter they say Boelter wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel in which he confessed to the attacks. However, the letter didn’t make clear why he targeted the Hortmans or the Hoffmans.

In some messages to media, Boelter referenced a vague and cryptic “investigation” he had been carrying out, sometimes suggesting it was about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Friends described Boelter as an evangelical Christian and occasional preacher and missionary, who held politically conservative views and had been struggling to find work.

John Hoffman said in a lawsuit filed against Boelter in April that his left arm and hand likely would never fully recover, and that he also had permanent injuries to his digestive and urinary systems.

Yvette Hoffman was left with permanent physical weakness, the lawsuit said, while their adult daughter, Hope Hoffman, who was there and called 911 but was not shot, suffered severe psychological trauma.

Jeffery Lee, 49, is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Thursday. However, a federal judge on Tuesday ruled that nitrogen executions are unconstitutional and blocked the state from using the method to put Lee to death. The state filed an appeal Thursday asking the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling and allow the execution.

“If that ruling stands, it would be unprecedented in American history. Not only does it portend the first-ever permanent ban on a legislatively enacted method, but it would expand the concept of cruelty well beyond the bounds of the Eighth Amendment,” lawyers with the Alabama attorney general's office wrote. The Supreme Court has never ruled that a state's execution method violates the Constitution.

The case has put a spotlight on the nitrogen execution method and the sharp disagreements over its use.

The execution method involves strapping a respirator to the person’s face and replacing breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death from a lack of oxygen. Nitrogen has been used in eight executions in the United States — seven in Alabama and one in Louisiana. Lee was scheduled to be the ninth person put the death by nitrogen.

U.S. District Judge Emily Marks ruled Tuesday, after an appeals court reversed her initial finding that the method was constitutional, that Lee had shown by a “preponderance of the evidence that the protocol constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.” The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision Wednesday night, rejected Alabama's request to stay the ruling. The court earlier said the three minutes that it could take for an inmate to lose awareness is an “intolerable” time frame, “given the suffering that would likely take place under Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia protocol.”

During the previous Alabama nitrogen executions, the inmates shook, pulled at the restraints and exhibited labored breathing. During the state’s last execution by nitrogen gas, 30 minutes elapsed between Anthony Boyd exhibiting signs of being impacted by the gas and state officials closing the curtain to the viewing room to signal the execution was complete.

The state has maintained that the method is constitutional and causes no more suffering than other execution methods.

Lee’s attorneys said Alabama is attempting to move forward with an execution method that courts have found unconstitutional. His supporters have urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to commute his sentence to life imprisonment, which is the sentence that jurors at his trial had recommended.

“Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wants to execute Jeffery Lee under a death sentence the jury rejected using a nitrogen gas method that two federal courts have ruled unconstitutional. This execution is simply too flawed to move forward,” Lee’s lawyers said in a Wednesday statement.

“We remain hopeful that Governor Ivey will intervene,” they added.

A jury convicted Lee of two counts of capital murder for killing Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson while robbing a pawnshop on Dec. 12, 1998. Prosecutors said Lee entered Jimmy’s Pawnshop with a sawed-off shotgun and shot Ellis, the owner of the store, and Thompson, a store employee.

A jury voted 7-5 that Lee should receive a sentence of life imprisonment. However, a judge overrode that recommendation and sentenced Lee to death. Alabama in 2017 ended the practice of judicial override and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.

Marks did not block the state from using its other authorized execution methods, lethal injection and the electric chair. However, it is unclear if the state could swiftly change the method.

A lawsuit brought by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and other plaintiffs challenges the process used by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration to eliminate an income cap and co-pays for childcare assistance before the Legislature had a chance to weigh in or approve funding.

“This is executive overreach. The program was launched unlawfully,” said Rodriguez, who lost his party’s nomination in New Mexico’s recent primary.

The state’s childcare agency disputes that, arguing in court filings that lawmakers have since “expressly authorized” and funded the expansion, rendering the lawsuit moot. Lujan Grisham signed legislation in February enshrining the program into law provided state finances remain healthy.

District Judge Elaine Lujan could issue a ruling Thursday on whether the lawsuit can proceed. A potential pause to the program would put thousands of New Mexican families back on the hook for daycare payments and create a headache for businesses.

Ilene Harding, who runs seven daycare centers in the Albuquerque area, said the expansion has boosted enrollment and streamlined billing.

“We’ve always been financially solvent, but it’s given us stability,” Harding said.

The challenge comes as New Mexico looks to cement its place as the first U.S. state to cover all working families’ daycare bills regardless of income. But the stakes extend nationwide as policymakers from New York to California look for models to reduce costs for families and expand public investment in childcare.

New Mexico’s program, which is financed in large part on revenue from oil and gas production in the state, was among the nation's most generous before November’s expansion, waiving costs for families making up to 400% of the federal poverty rate or roughly $132,000 per year for a family of four.

Legislative analysts already have raised questions about the sustainability of New Mexico's expanded program, noting earlier this year that the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department started overspending just weeks into the November launch.

The state agency acknowledged at the time that enrollment grew faster than expected, leading to higher costs, but disputed that it was over budget.

Trump has doubled down on his choice of Bill Pulte for acting director of national intelligence, even though the federal housing finance regulator has little experience for the job. Democrats say they will not support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless the Republican president withdraws Pulte's appointment and nominates a permanent replacement.

The House vote collapsed in bipartisan fashion, with some 20 Republicans and nearly all Democrats rejecting the temporary measure, 198-218. The Senate may try its own vote later Thursday, but hopes are dimming to prevent what could be rare lapse of spy powers. The law expires on Friday at midnight.

The impasse could soon result in limitations on what intelligence the U.S. government can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. While the provision has expired briefly before, this would be the first lengthy lapse, at a time when the U.S. and Iran are engaged in missile strikes that are testing a fragile ceasefire in the war.

A lapse would not automatically deprive the government’s authority to conduct surveillance, but could open the door to court challenges of the program. That could lead to stale intelligence, lawmakers said, including the type of information included in the president’s daily briefing.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke with Trump within an hour of voting and was assured that Pulte would only serve temporarily and that president would “very soon” name a permanent nominee.

“We have done everything we possibly can,” said Johnson, R-La., who blamed Democrats for the breakdown and refusing to recall lawmakers back to Washington as they left for weeklong recess. “It is detestable, it is dangerous, it is going to jeopardize the security of this country.”

Democrats said Trump and the Republicans are the ones putting national security at risk by installing Pulte to the job. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Pulte has “weaponized” his position in the federal government to go after Trump's critics.

Jeffries said it was a window into the White House's thinking that Trump “could put Bill Pulte forward and the country wouldn’t react adversely to it.” He said the president must ”come to the table and demonstrate leadership so we can reopen good faith negotiations about how best to extend surveillance authority.”

Trump has stuck with Pulte as the acting head and said wants Pulte to begin downsizing intelligence agencies.

GOP leaders lobby the White House, to no avail

Congressional Republicans have lobbied Trump all week to quickly nominate a permanent replacement. But he said he needs more time to do so.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House, but on Thursday he blamed Democrats for the FISA impasse.

“Now this critical tool is set to go dark on Friday, and what the consequences of that will be, we cannot predict,” Thune said.

Trump has said that he won't let Democrats “extort us” and that he is interviewing five candidates for his pick to lead the agency permanently, after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.

The president wants Pulte to serve in a "sort of renovation role,” Johnson said, to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence be “renovated and downsized.”

But Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee led by Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said in a letter to the president that Pulte is a “uniquely poor choice” to serve even in the acting capacity.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers skeptical of Pulte have pointed to his lack of intelligence experience and also his record at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In the position, he has been linked with criminal referrals over allegations of mortgage fraud by public officials Trump sought to punish, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Lisa Cook, a board member of the Federal Reserve.

“He has distinguished himself only as someone who will do or say anything to stay in your good graces,” Himes and the other lawmakers wrote, "qualities that are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs.”

FISA will lapse at midnight Friday

Section 702 of FISA allows agencies such as the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets overseas without a warrant.

While members of both parties who cite privacy issues have long wanted to limit the authority, there was broad bipartisan support to renew it, especially after Republicans and Democrats recently worked out a compromise bill.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has worked with Republicans on the compromise legislation to renew the authority. But he called Pulte’s appointment to replace Gabbard “a live hand grenade” disrupting the process.

Warner said the only way he’ll support a short-term extension of the surveillance law is if the principal deputy director of national intelligence, Aaron Lukas, is the acting leader during the duration of that extension.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have warned the administration to prepare “for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection.”

Trump doesn't back down on Pulte

After bipartisan pushback to Pulte’s temporary appointment, Trump said last week that he would not permanently nominate him to the position.

On Tuesday, though, Trump announced that Pulte would not only take over as acting director but that he would start earlier than expected, on June 19.

One of several possible replacements could be Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s ambassador to Canada and a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The White House has reached out to Hoekstra about the job and conversations are ongoing, according to a person familiar with the outreach who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

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Associated Press reporters Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freking and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

This time, the contest was won by populist insurgent Randy Villegas. But what sets the outcome apart from similar primary battles is the stakes.

This wasn't a fight over a safe Democratic seat. Villegas will be the standard bearer against Republican Rep. David Valadao, one of the most promising targets for Democrats desperate to retake the U.S. House majority and slow down President Donald Trump.

The November race will test the theory, popular on the left, that voters will flock to progressive, anti-establishment candidates even in places that have traditionally favored Republicans.

“A populist message isn’t just for blue districts or certain parts of the country," said Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the Working Families Party, one of the progressive groups that backed Villegas. “It can win anywhere people feel like politics is not working for them.”

"More than ever, voters across the political spectrum want candidates who are willing to stand up to power,” Mangla said.

The National Republican Congressional Committee dismissed Villegas' chances, even though the state's Democratic leaders recently redrew the district to make it easier to flip this year.

“Democrats know Villegas can’t beat Congressman David Valadao, as he embraces the same failed policies that have made California more expensive, less safe, and harder for working families in the Central Valley," said spokesperson Christian Martinez.

Progressives want a shot in key races

The Villegas victory comes during an election season in which substantial parts of the Democratic base are rejecting the candidates that party bosses see as their best shot at winning power in Congress.

Graham Platner overwhelmingly won the Democratic Senate primary in Maine this week after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's preferred nominee, Gov. Janet Mills, dropped out with lackluster support weeks before the election.

A combat veteran and oyster farmer, Platner has never held elected office before, and he's endured controversies over past relationships with women, inflammatory online posts and a since-covered tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol.

In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens is entangled in a three-way contest for the Democratic Senate nomination against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed. The primary is Aug. 4, and El-Sayed recently scored a major endorsement from the United Auto Workers union, a political powerhouse in the state that is home to the U.S. auto industry.

And in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is in a fierce battle with U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who is backed by labor unions, LGBTQ groups and moderate Democrats ahead of the primary on Aug. 11.

Another test will come on June 30 in Colorado, where progressive Manny Rutinel faces establishment-backed Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary to take on Republican Rep. Gabe Evans. Like Valadao, Evans is a top target for Democrats. And like the California race, the Colorado contest hinges on questions about who is most electable in November.

Democrats try to unite around their nominee

Valadao finished first and Villegas second in California's primary, in which the top two candidates move on to the general election.

When early voting began about a month before the primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took the unusual step of publicly signaling support for Jasmeet Bains, a doctor and state Assembly member who had lined up support from a bevy of elected officials, unions and health care groups.

“Dr. Jasmeet Bains has fought on the frontlines of health crises and built a track record of delivering for the Central Valley," DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement at the time. She did not criticize Villegas, but the public support for his rival was a powerful signal to Democratic donors and activists that the party believed Bains was a stronger candidate. Congressional leaders and the party apparatus they control rarely wade overtly into contested primaries for open seats.

The decision to back Bains infuriated many on the left, who saw it as another example of Washington insiders being out of touch with both the Democratic base and disaffected voters who helped power Trump’s victories.

“I think the moderates are wrong. People don’t want status quo, pro-corporate candidates,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a progressive group that grew out of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. “They want people who are going to shake things up."

Now that Villegas won, Democrats in Washington now insist he's a strong candidate who is well-positioned to defeat Valadao. They point to the grassroots support that propelled him through the primary and the combined 59% that the Democrats got in the primary, significantly more than the 41% who voted for Valadao, though many more voters will turn out for the general election.

If the snub created tension between Villegas and his party, both sides buried it by Wednesday and presented a united front. California members of Congress, including some who had backed Bains, issued effusive statements, and he was magnanimous in return.

“We’re all in to elect Randy and flip this seat,” said Anna Elsasser, a spokesperson for the DCCC, the arm of the Democratic Party focused on winning House races. The district is “a must-win seat for the House majority, and we are confident in winning with Randy as the Democratic nominee,” she added.

The way the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar looks at it, when he's on the mound, his job is to throw the ball. It's up to the guys behind the plate to decide whether to challenge an umpire's call of a ball or a strike.

That deference might have cost Ohtani and the Dodgers in a stunning 9-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles was cruising when Ohtani went out for the seventh inning for just the third time this season. The Dodgers led by five thanks to Ryan Ward's first career grand slam, and Ohtani seemed poised to win his fifth straight start.

Then things unraveled, a rarity for the two-time defending world champions and the greatest player in the game.

Pirates rookie Tyler Callihan singled. Jake Mangum reached on a swinging bunt. Still, Ohtani and the blister on his right hand that is temporarily limiting the number of split-fingered fastballs he throws felt like he was in pretty good shape when Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe stepped to the plate.

Ohtani quickly fell behind 3-0, with the first and third pitches borderline calls on 98 mph fastballs that home plate umpire Felix Neon ruled balls. Catcher Dalton Rushing didn't challenge, and with just one challenge remaining, Ohtani decided it probably wasn't worth the risk.

Lowe quickly made Ohtani pay, turning on a fastball down the middle for a two-run double that ended Ohtani's night (on the mound anyway) and set the stage for a five-run rally against the Dodger bullpen in the eighth that gave the Pirates perhaps their most unlikely win of the season.

Ohtani, who allowed season highs in hits (six), runs (four) and earned runs (three), couldn't help but think afterward that he should have tapped the top of his cap earlier in the at-bat so the ABS system could take a look.

“I usually let the catchers make that determination," he said. “But looking back, I think situationally, how important it was that at-bat, looking back I think I could have done a few challenges.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called challenging pitches an “inexact science” and, like Ohtani, is fine leaving it in the hands of the players with the best view in the stadium. And, if the umpire's call was confirmed, it meant Los Angeles would be out of challenges heading into the final innings.

Besides, how often does Ohtani and the Los Angeles bullpen blow a five-run lead? Not often. Even after Lowe's double and an error by third baseman Max Muncy that allowed Lowe to score, the Dodgers were still up two heading into the eighth.

Los Angeles entered the night a tidy 36-3 when leading after seven. Callihan — who hit the first homer of his career earlier in the game with a 427-foot shot off Ohtani — gave the Pirates the lead with a three-run blast in the eighth. Spencer Horwitz then added a two-run homer to give Pittsburgh the kind of cushion it needed after Ohtani delivered a two-run home run of his own in the top of the ninth to cut the deficit to one.

“You’re not going to face too many guys like that,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “There’s one. It’s ridiculous what he’s able to do.”

Even if Ohtani showed small glimpses of vulnerability during his first-ever start at PNC Park. Ohtani acknowledged shaking off Rushing a few times, something he attributed to not working with the Los Angeles reserve catcher that often.

“It’s something you just have to have a conversation here and there and be on the same page,” Ohtani said.

The two could be working together more often in the near future after Roberts announced postgame that starter Will Smith is heading to the 10-day injured list with a neck injury.

Ohtani will have nearly a week off until his next scheduled turn in the rotation. Though the work never really stops. Roberts said the plan is for Ohtani to lead off as usual during Thursday's series finale rather than give him a break after — statistically anyway — his toughest day on the hill this season.

That's just the way Ohtani wants it.

“I’m always going to be prepared to play tomorrow,” he said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

The National Weather Service said it received more than a dozen reports of tornadoes Wednesday across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois. Trees and utility wires were reported down across the region.

In Des Moines, Iowa, a 54-year-old man died at a homeless encampment in a park after being hit by a tree that “broke apart and fell during strong storms,” police said in a statement. The man was found critically injured Thursday morning and died at the scene, authorities said. There were no immediate reports of other deaths or injuries from the storms.

Severe weather was expected to continue in the region on Thursday, while the Northeast and mid-Atlantic were bracing for high heat and humidity as well as a slight risk of strong storms through Friday, according to the weather service.

Storm damages animal shelter in Illinois

Residents of Springfield, Illinois, believe a tornado touched down in their area late Wednesday. Two buildings at the Animal Protective League animal shelter in Springfield were heavily damaged, but none of the nearly 150 cats and 28 dogs housed there were injured, said Deana Corbin, the group's executive director.

“It pretty much wiped out our shelter facility, took the roofs off both of our buildings,” Corbin said. “It’s a miracle. We were so blessed to not have any injuries of either people or animals.”

The community pitched in to take in all the cats and dogs temporarily, including a local animal control center, veterinarians and residents, she said.

Damage also was reported at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield.

Weather service meteorologist Frank Pereira said the frontal system that produced the storms, including high winds and hail, was moving eastward Thursday, fueled by cool air from Canada clashing with warm, humid air from the South.

“Going forward, we’re expecting another area of severe weather to develop across portions of the central Plains, Midwest, particularly from Iowa, northern Missouri, northeastward through the Great Lakes,” Pereira said. “Again, it’s all tied into a pretty well-defined frontal system.”

Tornado warnings were issued in Iowa north of Des Moines on Thursday as strong storms hit the area.

Record high temperatures expected along East Coast

Potentially dangerous heat and high humidity also was forecast Thursday and Friday for a swath of the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, where daily high record temperatures could be broken in numerous places, the weather service said. Temperatures in the mid-90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius) were expected, but with the humidity it could feel like 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or more, the service said.

Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency for Thursday and Friday, activating cooling centers, home visits by field teams, outreach to people experiencing homelessness and other services. New York City officials were also urging residents to take precautions, including drinking plenty of water and finding a cool place to stay if they do not have air conditioning.

Wednesday storms moved into the Chicago area in the afternoon, downing trees and damaging some buildings.

Severe weather wreaks havoc on air travel, power lines

The two major Chicago airports, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport, temporarily put all flights on hold in the evening due to thunderstorms. A similar ground stop was issued at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York due to thunderstorms.

By Wednesday evening, more than 1,000 flights going into and out of Chicago had been delayed or canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website.

Air traffic appeared to return to normal Thursday morning, with only 25 flight cancellations nationwide, although there were 300 delays, FlightAware reported. But the Federal Aviation Administration said it expected thunderstorms to cause more flight delays Thursday.

Strong winds blew part of the roof off an apartment building in the Chicago area, forcing residents to leave, according to NBC 5 Chicago. Elsewhere, barns collapsed in Wisconsin and buildings were crushed in rural northern Missouri, photos and video online showed.

More than 300,000 customers had no electricity in the Midwest on Thursday, down from about 390,000 earlier in the morning. There were nearly 190,000 outages in Illinois, down from 226,000 earlier the morning. A large number of outages in Cook County, including Chicago, had been fixed. Another 74,000 homes and businesses were without power in Michigan, according to poweroutage.us.

Commonwealth Edison Company, which provides electric service across northern Illinois, said the storms had downed poles and wires.

“We know how difficult and frustrating it is to be without power, and we truly appreciate your patience,” the company said in a post on X early Thursday morning. “Right now, more than 100 crews are working around the clock to safely and efficiently restore service after this unique storm brought widespread damage and challenging conditions across our service area.”

The storms soaked Rate Field in Chicago before Wednesday night’s game between the White Sox and the Atlanta Braves.

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The story has been updated to correct the name of the White Sox stadium to Rate Field, from Guaranteed Rate Field.

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Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

The exchange came shortly after the U.S. launched a second round of airstrikes overnight Thursday. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

The new assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end the war appeared to have stalled, with Iran insisting it would maintain its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Talks have also faltered because of Israel's attacks against the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. On Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other.

In a first exchange of missile fire from Iran and airstrikes by the U.S. on Wednesday, Iranian missiles were launched at missiles at Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Those came in the wake of American strikes in reprisal for the shooting down of a U.S. helicopter in the strait.

The U.S. Central Command said it completed its latest round of airstrikes just before the sun rose Thursday in Iran. It said the strikes targeted military surveillance, communications and air defense sites and were carried out by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy. It did not elaborate on the damage done by the strikes.

Explosions from the strikes echoed around Iran’s capital, Tehran, as well as in the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the strait.

Here's the latest:

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Thursday saying the U.S. attacks had “effectively rendered the ceasefire ... meaningless,” without saying it was abandoning it.

Iran's says US attacks have rendered ceasefire meaningless

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Thursday saying the U.S. attacks had “effectively rendered the ceasefire ... meaningless,” without saying it was abandoning it.

Pakistan expresses concern over tensions

Pakistan on Thursday expressed deep concern over rising tensions between the United States and Iran and urged both sides to adhere to a ceasefire understanding, saying Islamabad would continue efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy.

“Pakistan reaffirms its support for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told a news briefing in Islamabad.

India says 3 Indian mariners killed on tanker hit by US military

An Indian official says three Indian mariners were killed on board a tanker targeted by the U.S. military over allegedly violating America’s blockade on Iran.

Indian Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced the three mariners’ killing on X in the attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello.

“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after two bodies were recovered,” he wrote. It wasn’t clear where the third body was.

The U.S. military’s Central Command had accused the Settebello of having “violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.” It fired into the ship’s engine room to stop it.

Kuwait closes its airspaces as it intercepts incoming fire

Kuwait says it has closed its airspace over ongoing Iranian attacks and said flights were being diverted to alternative airports, without elaborating.

Flights had been circling outside of Kuwait for some time before the announcement after it said its air defenses were firing.

Kuwait International Airport had taken a direct Iranian hit in recent days, which killed one person and wounded dozens.

Kuwaiti air defenses fire at incoming missiles, Bahrain sounds alerts

Kuwait's military said its air defenses were firing Thursday morning after Iran threatened retaliation for U.S. airstrikes overnight. Bahrain separately sounded its missile alert sirens in the island kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters.

Anthony Gordon and his girlfriend, Danette Young, appeared before a judge Wednesday after prosecutors said the case led to the largest drug seizure in the history of the Miami Gardens Police Department.

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Police officers arrested Gordon after detectives with a search warrant found $1.3 million in cash and about 42 kilograms of drugs at his home, according to the Miami Gardens Police Department.

“What began as a home invasion robbery investigation quickly revealed a major narcotics operation hidden in plain sight,” Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement.

Police officers also arrested Danette Young shortly before 12:4 p.m. on Tuesday at the house along Northwest 174 Street, near 37 Avenue, according to a police officer’s arrest report.

The case stems from a deadly shooting at the couple’s Miami Gardens home. Police said a man attempted to rob Gordon. Investigators said Young ran to a neighbor for help, and that neighbor shot and killed the suspect.

Miami-Dade corrections booked Gordon, a convicted felon, and Young, 58, on Wednesday morning at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records.

Gordon, also known as “Peanut,” was last released from prison on Dec. 2, 2020, after seven convictions in Miami-Dade and one in Broward — all related to drug trafficking in 2013 and 2014, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

Gordon faced 16 charges: Dealing in stolen property, cocaine trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, amphetamine trafficking, Oxycodone trafficking, illegal drugs trafficking while armed, 10 counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of drugs without a prescription.

Young faced eight charges: Cocaine trafficking, trafficking marijuana while armed, trafficking Oxycodone while armed, amphetamine trafficking, dealing in stolen property, fentanyl trafficking, illegal drugs trafficking while armed, and possession of drugs without a prescription.

Both Gordon and Young remained in jail Wednesday night.

Police have not identified the man who was killed or the neighbor who intervened.

Supporters of the Florida Safe Seas Act say the goal is to make beaches safer for swimmers. Critics argue there is no scientific evidence to support that claim and warn the bill could jeopardize an industry that generates more than $300 million annually.

“It’s definitely concerning because shark ecotourism in this area is a very important part of our landscape here,” said Kristopher Lynn, owner and operator of Calypso Charters in Palm Beach County.

Lynn is one of about 25 South Florida dive operators who offer people an opportunity to see sharks up close.

“People being able to come out and responsibly and safely see these animals is really important, not just for shark conservation, but for ocean conservation,” said Dr. Michael Heithaus, a marine biologist and shark researcher.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Florida Safe Seas Act, which would prohibit shark feeding in U.S. waters for any purpose other than fishing or harvesting sharks.

“We’re using limited amounts of chum. We’re not putting a large amount of bait in the water to attract sharks. We’re just basically going down there and checking them out,” Lynn said.

The bill claims shark-feeding practices condition sharks to associate humans with food and increase the likelihood of shark encounters. Marine researchers and conservationists dispute that claim, saying there is no science proving a connection.

“This is a bill dressed as a conservation and safety effort, when in reality the only thing it is conserving is the pockets of the fishing industry,” said shark advocate and conservationist MJ Algarra.

For years, the fishing industry has reported a rise in depredation, when sharks eat a catch before an angler can bring the fish onto a boat.

“Probably 15 to 20 times a year that you’ll get chased, probably five to 10 times a year that you’ll get eaten. And that’s not something that would ever happen in the last five years,” said Capt. Dean Panos of Double D Charters.

Many anglers argue the shark diving industry is making the problem worse. Shark advocates contend that concern is the real motivation behind the bill.

“I don’t believe that this bill helps with safety, other than the safety of the fishermen trying to bring their catch onto the boat,” Algarra said.

Commercial shark dive charters operate more than three miles offshore in federal waters. Meanwhile, shark fishing from shore remains legal in Florida, and the bill would still allow baiting to harvest sharks.

Opponents of the legislation question why an activity taking place miles offshore would be restricted while an activity that could attract sharks closer to swimmers would remain legal.

“Obviously, the hotspot for convergence and conflict between swimmers and sharks would be right here on the beach, not three miles off the shore,” said Spencer Roberts, a shark researcher and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School.

Roberts also criticized state opposition to local shark fishing restrictions, including a Miami Beach ordinance passed in February banning shark fishing from shore. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has said such ordinances conflict with state laws and regulations.

“If FWC is so concerned about the law, I hope that they will enforce their shark handling laws,” Roberts said.

Florida law prohibits removing certain shark species from the water or delaying their release for any reason, including taking photographs. Roberts claimed enforcement has been lacking.

“In 2025, FWC issued one citation across the whole state for illegal shark handling. My team of coders and shark biologists identified over 130 on Instagram in a random sample,” he said.

The debate has alarmed conservationists like Jim Abernathy, who has spent 44 years diving with sharks and advocating for their protection through education and conservation efforts.

“What’s at stake right now is the collapse of our ocean ecosystems. The shark’s role is to maintain the health and balance of the entire ocean,” Abernathy said.

“77% of all sharks and rays are listed with some type of endangerment, so in my eyes shark management has failed. We are in a last-ditch effort of preservation,” he added.

The Florida Safe Seas Act is now being considered by the Senate.

Meanwhile, another shark-related proposal, the SHARKED Act, sponsored by Florida Senator Rick Scott, is also drawing attention. The bill calls for research into reducing shark depredation incidents and does not rule out killing sharks as a management tool.

A group of activists met on Wednesday outside of the FIFA headquarters in Coral Gables to demand that organizers keep immigration law enforcement out.

“We don’t need the perception around the world of this place not being welcoming to tourists,” said Billy Corben, a documentary filmmaker.

Related report: Activists demonstrate outside Coral Gables FIFA office over potential of ICE at World Cup

Yareliz Mendez Zamora, an activist with the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker-founded organization, said she was afraid.

“My fear is that people end up separated from their families,” Mendez Zamora said.

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with two Group A matches. Mexico plays against South Africa at 3 p.m., and South Korea plays the Czech Republic at 11 p.m.

On Friday, the Group B, Canada vs. Bosnia, match is at 3 p.m. and the Group D, U.S. vs. Paraguay, match is at 9 p.m.

FIFA Fan Festival Miami and games schedule

June 13: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are three matches: The Group B, Qatar vs. Switzerland, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Brazil vs. Morocco, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Haiti vs. Scotland, game is at 9 p.m.

June 14: The fan festival opens from Noon to 10 p.m. There are five matches: The Group D, Australia vs. Turkey, game is at Midnight. The Group E, Germany vs. Curaçao, game is at 1 p.m. The Group F, The Netherlands vs. Japan, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, game is at 7 p.m. The Group F, Sweden vs. Tunisia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 15: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are four matches: The Group H, Spain vs. Cape Verde, game is at Noon. The Group G, Belgium vs. Egypt, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, game is at 6 p.m. The Group G, Iran vs. New Zealand, game is at 9 p.m.

June 16: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are three matches: The Group I, France vs. Senegal, game is at 3 p.m. The Group I, Iraq vs. Norway, game is at 6 p.m. The Group J, Argentina vs. Algeria, game is at 9 p.m.

June 17: The fan festival opens from Noon to 10 p.m. There are five matches: The Group J, Austria vs. Jordan, game is at Midnight. The Group K, Portugal vs. Congo, game is at 1 p.m. The Group L, England vs. Croatia, game is at 4 p.m. The Group L, Ghana vs. Panama, game is at 7 p.m. The Group K, Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 18: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are four matches: The Group A match, The Czech Republic vs. South Africa, is at Noon. The Group B, Switzerland vs. Bosnia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Canada vs. Qatar, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A match, Mexico vs. South Korea, is at 9 p.m.

June 19: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are four matches: The Group D, U.S. vs. Australia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Morocco, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Brazil vs. Haiti, game is at 8:30 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. Paraguay, game is at 11 p.m.

June 20: The fan festival opens from Noon to 11 p.m. There are three matches: The Group F, Netherlands vs. Sweden, game is at 1 p.m. The Group E, Germany vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Curaçao, game is at 8 p.m.

June 21: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are five matches: The Group F, Tunisia vs. Japan, game is at Midnight. The Group H, Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at Noon. The Group G, Belgium vs. Iran, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, game is at 6 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Egypt, game is at 9 p.m.

June 22: The fan festival opens from Noon to 8 p.m. There are four matches: The Group J, Argentina vs. Austria, game is at 1 p.m. The Group I, France vs. Iraq, game is at 5 p.m. The Group I, Norway vs. Senegal, game is at 8 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Algeria, game is at 11 p.m.

June 23: The fan festival opens from Noon to 1 a.m. There are four matches: The Group K, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 1 p.m. The Group L, England vs. Ghana, game is at 4 p.m. The Group L, Panama vs. Croatia, game is at 7 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Congo, game is at 10 p.m.

June 24: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are six matches: The Group B, Switzerland vs. Canada, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Bosnia vs. Qatar, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Morocco vs. Haiti, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Brazil, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A, South Africa vs. South Korea, game is at 9 p.m. The Group A, Czech Republic vs. Mexico, game is at 9 p.m.

June 25: The fan festival opens from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. There are six matches: The Group E, Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Germany, game is at 4 p.m. The Group F, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, game is at 7 p.m. The Group F, Japan vs. Sweden, game is at 7 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. U.S., game is at 10 p.m. The Group D, Paraguay vs. Australia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 26: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are six matches: The Group I, Norway vs. France, game is at 3 p.m. The Group I, Senegal vs. Iraq, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at 8 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Spain, game is at 8 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Belgium, game is at 11 p.m. The Group G, Egypt vs. Iran, game is at 11 p.m.

June 27: The fan festival opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. There are six matches: The Group L, Panama vs. England, game is at 5 p.m. The Group L, Croatia vs. Ghana, game is at 5 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Portugal, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group K, Congo vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group J, Algeria vs. Austria, game is at 10 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Argentina, game is at 10 p.m.

June 28: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 10 p.m. There is a match at 3 p.m.

June 29: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are three matches at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

June 30: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are three matches at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

July 1: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. There are three matches at Noon, 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

July 2: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. There are three matches at 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.

July 3: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 9 p.m. There are three matches at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

July 4: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are two matches at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

July 5: The fan festival opens for the last day from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are two matches at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 6: The fan festival is closed. There are two matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 7: The fan festival is closed. There are two matches at Noon and 4 p.m.

July 8: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 9: The fan festival is closed. There is a quarter-final match at 4 p.m.

July 10: The fan festival is closed. There is a quarter-final match at 3 p.m.

July 11: The fan festival is closed. There are two quarter-final matches at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

July 12-13: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 14: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

July 15: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

July 16-17: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 18: The fan festival is closed. The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m.

July 19: The fan festival is closed. The final match is at 3 p.m.

For more information about the festival, visit this page.

Related stories

• FIFA World Cup Fan Festival to open Saturday at Bayfront Park
• Feds warn against flying drones at stadium on 7 FIFA World Cup game days
• FBI director: Counterterrorism to be a top priority during FIFA World Cup
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A: Mexico to play opener on June 11

Track FIFA World Cup groups

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Organizers said there is enough room for about 30,000 fans to enjoy watch parties at four massive screens at the park at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

“Everyone is welcome, all ages ... they will be able to watch the games for free, while they are enjoying the music, the dancing, the food,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said on Wednesday.

For security, there will be metal detectors, and there is an “only clear bags” policy. Bags larger than 12 inches by 6 inches are not allowed.

Vaping and smoking are also banned. Chairs, blankets, tents, scooters, air horns, laser pointers, and inflatables are all included in the list of prohibited items.

Except for baby food, outside food and beverages are not allowed. Organizers included a long line of food and drink vendors. The festival will open every day until July 5.

The matches start on Thursday when the Group A matches are at 3 p.m., Mexico vs. South Africa, and at 11 p.m., South Korea vs. Czech Republic.

On Friday, the Group B, Canada vs. Bosnia, match is at 3 p.m. and the Group D, U.S. vs. Paraguay, match is at 9 p.m.

Festival and games schedule

June 13: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are three matches: The Group B, Qatar vs. Switzerland, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Brazil vs. Morocco, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Haiti vs. Scotland, game is at 9 p.m.

June 14: The fan festival opens from Noon to 10 p.m. There are five matches: The Group D, Australia vs. Turkey, game is at Midnight. The Group E, Germany vs. Curaçao, game is at 1 p.m. The Group F, The Netherlands vs. Japan, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, game is at 7 p.m. The Group F, Sweden vs. Tunisia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 15: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are four matches: The Group H, Spain vs. Cape Verde, game is at Noon. The Group G, Belgium vs. Egypt, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, game is at 6 p.m. The Group G, Iran vs. New Zealand, game is at 9 p.m.

June 16: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are three matches: The Group I, France vs. Senegal, game is at 3 p.m. The Group I, Iraq vs. Norway, game is at 6 p.m. The Group J, Argentina vs. Algeria, game is at 9 p.m.

June 17: The fan festival opens from Noon to 10 p.m. There are five matches: The Group J, Austria vs. Jordan, game is at Midnight. The Group K, Portugal vs. Congo, game is at 1 p.m. The Group L, England vs. Croatia, game is at 4 p.m. The Group L, Ghana vs. Panama, game is at 7 p.m. The Group K, Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 18: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are four matches: The Group A match, The Czech Republic vs. South Africa, is at Noon. The Group B, Switzerland vs. Bosnia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Canada vs. Qatar, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A match, Mexico vs. South Korea, is at 9 p.m.

June 19: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight. There are four matches: The Group D, U.S. vs. Australia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Morocco, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Brazil vs. Haiti, game is at 8:30 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. Paraguay, game is at 11 p.m.

June 20: The fan festival opens from Noon to 11 p.m. There are three matches: The Group F, Netherlands vs. Sweden, game is at 1 p.m. The Group E, Germany vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Curaçao, game is at 8 p.m.

June 21: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are five matches: The Group F, Tunisia vs. Japan, game is at Midnight. The Group H, Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at Noon. The Group G, Belgium vs. Iran, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, game is at 6 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Egypt, game is at 9 p.m.

June 22: The fan festival opens from Noon to 8 p.m. There are four matches: The Group J, Argentina vs. Austria, game is at 1 p.m. The Group I, France vs. Iraq, game is at 5 p.m. The Group I, Norway vs. Senegal, game is at 8 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Algeria, game is at 11 p.m.

June 23: The fan festival opens from Noon to 1 a.m. There are four matches: The Group K, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 1 p.m. The Group L, England vs. Ghana, game is at 4 p.m. The Group L, Panama vs. Croatia, game is at 7 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Congo, game is at 10 p.m.

June 24: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are six matches: The Group B, Switzerland vs. Canada, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Bosnia vs. Qatar, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Morocco vs. Haiti, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Brazil, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A, South Africa vs. South Korea, game is at 9 p.m. The Group A, Czech Republic vs. Mexico, game is at 9 p.m.

June 25: The fan festival opens from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. There are six matches: The Group E, Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Germany, game is at 4 p.m. The Group F, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, game is at 7 p.m. The Group F, Japan vs. Sweden, game is at 7 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. U.S., game is at 10 p.m. The Group D, Paraguay vs. Australia, game is at 10 p.m.

June 26: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are six matches: The Group I, Norway vs. France, game is at 3 p.m. The Group I, Senegal vs. Iraq, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at 8 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Spain, game is at 8 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Belgium, game is at 11 p.m. The Group G, Egypt vs. Iran, game is at 11 p.m.

June 27: The fan festival opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. There are six matches: The Group L, Panama vs. England, game is at 5 p.m. The Group L, Croatia vs. Ghana, game is at 5 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Portugal, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group K, Congo vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group J, Algeria vs. Austria, game is at 10 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Argentina, game is at 10 p.m.

June 28: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 10 p.m. There is a match at 3 p.m.

June 29: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are three matches at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

June 30: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are three matches at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

July 1: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. There are three matches at Noon, 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

July 2: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. There are three matches at 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.

July 3: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 9 p.m. There are three matches at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

July 4: The fan festival opens from Noon to midnight. There are two matches at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

July 5: The fan festival opens for the last day from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. There are two matches at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 6: The fan festival is closed. There are two matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 7: The fan festival is closed. There are two matches at Noon and 4 p.m.

July 8: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 9: The fan festival is closed. There is a quarter-final match at 4 p.m.

July 10: The fan festival is closed. There is a quarter-final match at 3 p.m.

July 11: The fan festival is closed. There are two quarter-final matches at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

July 12-13: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 14: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

July 15: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

July 16-17: The fan festival is closed, and there aren’t any matches.

July 18: The fan festival is closed. The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m.

July 19: The fan festival is closed. The final match is at 3 p.m.

For more information about the festival, visit this page.

Related stories

• Feds warn against flying drones at stadium on 7 FIFA World Cup game days
• FBI director: Counterterrorism to be a top priority during FIFA World Cup
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A: Mexico to play opener on June 11

Track FIFA World Cup groups

• Group A
• Group B
• Group C
• Group D
• Group E
• Group F
• Group G
• Group H
• Group I
• Group J
• Group K
• Group L

The S&P 500 added 0.3%, coming off a back-to-back drop that yanked it back to where it was in early May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 313 points, or 0.6%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher.

AI stocks helped lead the market, as they have since last week then they went from roaring to records to suddenly turning lower. The big concern is whether such stocks shot too high, too fast because of AI mania, and they’ve been careening up and down, sometimes hour by hour.

Marvell Technology climbed 2.6%, for example. It’s coming off a manic stretch where it plunged 16.7%, soared 9.6% and then fell more than 5% for two straight days. Just before that, it had a one-day surge of 32.5% that was its best in history when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested it could be “the next trillion-dollar company.” It was worth a bit more than $190 billion at the time.

Companies involved in the making of chips jumped to some of the market's biggest gains. Lam Research rose 8.2%, and KLA climbed 8.4%.

That helped offset a drop of 11.6% for Oracle. It reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, but it also said it expects to raise $40 billion in cash this fiscal year through borrowing and sales of its stock. That comes after it raised $48 billion last fiscal year to help pay for AI investments.

Other companies’ stocks have also been punished recently for announcing heavy spending on AI, as the question remains whether all the investment can produce the profits and productivity that AI proponents are promising.

Oil prices, meanwhile, drifted following the latest fighting in the war with Iran, which has hurt the flow of oil deliveries from the Persian Gulf. President Donald Trump threatened to launch major strikes on Iran and seize control of its oil industry.

The United States and Iran have launched attacks over the past several days after a more than monthlong tenuous ceasefire. While the strikes have escalated tensions in the region, they have been more limited compared to the early weeks of the war and talks aimed at extending the ceasefire are ongoing.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, added 0.3% to $93.30 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude oil recovered an earlier decline and rose 1% to $90.96 per barrel.

High oil prices have sent inflation painfully upward, and a report on Thursday showed that prices at the U.S. wholesale level increased by more in May than economists expected. The effect is worldwide, and the European Central Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to raise interest rates in response.

Higher rates can keep a lid on inflation. But they also simultaneously slow entire economies and undercut prices for all kinds of investments, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. They hit investments seen as the most expensive in particular, and some critics are calling AI a bubble where investment inflated too far.

The Federal Reserve will make its own decision on interest rates next week under its new chair, Kevin Warsh. He was appointed by Trump, who has been pushing for lower interest rates. But the widespread expectation is that the Fed will keep its main interest rate steady next week.

If anything, traders see the Fed as more likely to raise rates at least once by the end of the year, according to data from CME Group. Not only is inflation still above the Fed's target, the U.S. job market also looks to remain solid.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.52% from 4.55% late Wednesday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia.

London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.5%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

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AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

The restart of No. 6 reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station earlier this year was meant to spur a movement to bring more nuclear reactors online. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is one of three plants whose cooling pools will be full in five years, according to the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan.

“Without solid (fuel management) plans, our power generation will stall sooner or later,” Kashiwazaki-Kariwa General Manager Takeyuki Inagaki said.

After decades of seeking permanent storage for highly radioactive spent fuel, the government is considering Minamitorishima, a remote Pacific island south of Tokyo. But the selection has faced skepticism and criticism stemming from Japan's arbitrary actions on spent fuel and radioactive waste management.

Only 15 of Japan’s 54 reactors have restarted since the March 2011 Fukushima disaster, when a 9.0 earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast and a subsequent tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, or TEPCO. About 160,000 people fled from Fukushima and some areas remain unlivable.

Kashiazaki-Kariwa, also run by TEPCO, was shut down after the Fukushima disaster as part of a nationwide nuclear power stoppage.

The spent fuel in a cooling pool at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 6 reactor, which is 88% filled, can be seen from a top-floor observation area. TEPCO has installed filtered venting systems and devices to prevent hydrogen explosions among additional safety measures based on lessons from Fukushima.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing to bring more nuclear plants online, resulting in more spent fuel. Without a viable permanent storage plan, there are worries that reactors will have to close when storage space runs out.

Fuel recycling plan has stalled

There are two options for dealing with spent nuclear fuel: direct disposal as waste or recycling to extract plutonium and uranium for reuse.

Japan insists on recycling, saying it will help the resource-poor nation's energy needs while reducing the toxicity and volume of radioactive waste. But a reactor designed for plutonium reuse, a key part of the recycling, has failed. Reprocessing also won’t be able to handle all the spent fuel, adding to a plutonium stockpile that already is large enough to arm thousands of atomic bombs.

Experts say Japan should also consider the direct disposal option.

As of December 2025, cooling pools at 17 Japanese nuclear power plants held more than 17,000 tons (15,422 metric tons) of spent fuel, using nearly 80% of total storage capacity, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Beyond the large amount of radioactive waste from normal reactors, Japan also “has to deal with massive and largely unknown high-level nuclear waste from the Fukushima disaster,” said Lila Okamura, a Senshu University professor and expert on environmental politics and nuclear waste management.

Choosing a final disposal site for spent fuel and building a facility would require 100 years and tens of thousands of years to monitor the storage deep underground. For a generations-long project, Japan should plan carefully and not rush the current plan that is full of uncertainties, Okamura said.

A remote island is a possibility

Weeks after Kashiwazaki-Kariwa's No. 6 reactor came back online for the first time in 14 years since the Fukushima disaster, Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa approached Ogasawara village to request a feasibility study for a high-level radioactive waste site on Minamitorishima, an island administered by Ogasawara, which is part of Tokyo.

“With a lot of spent fuel accumulating at nuclear power plants across the country, a final disposal of radioactive waste is a crucial challenge that must be resolved,” Akazawa said in a letter to Ogasawara Mayor Masaaki Shibuya.

The government-owned Minamitorishima, about 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) south of Tokyo, has no permanent residents. The Japanese army is constructing a firing range for long-range, surface-to-ship missiles as a deterrent to China. The island also has deep sea deposits rich with rare earth minerals.

“The move seems political,” said Satoshi Takano, a member of a government panel looking at final disposal of spent fuel. “There will be little opposition from a government-owned remote island.”

Some experts say the island, which sits on a geologically stable tectonic plate, could be suitable. Many residents on Ogasawara and two nearby islands raised concerns about safety and tourism.

“I was baffled when I heard about the plan,” Ogasawara assembly member Yusuke Hirano told an assembly meeting. “I think nuclear waste is incompatible with islands that are a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site.”

Struggling to find a final disposal site

Finding a community willing to host a highly radioactive dump site has been difficult, even with a raft of financial enticements. Minamitorishima is the fourth location to have a feasibility study since the government started looking in the early 2000s.

The whole review process will take about two decades. Municipalities participating in the first stage can receive up to 2 billion yen ($12.8 million) in government subsidies. The next stage would bring up to 7 billion yen ($44.7 million). Funding details for a final study haven't been disclosed.

The world’s first final disposal site for spent nuclear fuel is set to open in Finland later this year. Britain, Germany and the United States have abandoned reprocessing largely because of high costs and technical challenges, while several other countries are discussing plans for direct disposal sites.

Inagaki, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa general manager, said TEPCO is transferring spent fuel from No. 6 reactor to other reactors at the plant with more space, but the utility hopes to resume shipments to a dry cask storage in northern Japan as a near-term solution. Other utilities with nearly full pools have announced plans to build dry-cask storage at their plants.

Many residents worry about Japan's growing stockpile because high-density storage of spent fuel could also increase overheating risks.

Mie Kuwabara, a civil activist in Niigata, wondered “where will it go next?”

“It's irresponsible to accelerate restarts and produce more spent fuel without deciding its final destination,” said Kuwabara, who also is skeptical about using Minamitorishima.

“It's like saying that it's OK to put a facility there because nobody is around to complain if there is a problem,” Kuwabara said. “It's scary.”

Swift wore a blue T-shirt with “Stevie Knicks” printed in orange lettering and was seated courtside on Wednesday night next to Ben Stiller. She attended along with singers Este and Alana Haim, who also had Knicks-related references on their shirts: “Knickole Kidman” and “Knickleback.”

They were joined midway through by third Haim sister Daniella, and the quartet witnessed the biggest comeback in finals history as the Knicks rallied from a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 on OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.

Swift jumped around in celebration, waving a rally towel after leaving the court for the bowels of the Garden. She may be back soon.

Less than a year after their August engagement announcement, reports of Swift and Kelce’s impending nuptials have reached a crescendo. TMZ and the New York Post’s Page Six recently started insisting Swift and Kelce will marry at the Garden in early July, despite their close connections to everywhere from Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Cleveland and Rhode Island.

Swift and the Haim sisters were among several celebrities in the house, including Tate McRae and Hailey Bieber, and regulars like Timothée Chalamet and Spike Lee. Swift and Kelce attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers, not far from where the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is from in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

This is the latest sporting event for Swift, who along with Kelce also attended a game during the NHL's Stanley Cup Final a year ago in Sunrise, Florida.

The Madison Square Garden wedding reports remain unconfirmed, and a spokesperson for Swift has not responded to The Associated Press’ requests for comment about the wedding plans. The arena’s calendar of upcoming events lists nothing from June 29-July 6.

Swift first performed at Madison Square Garden in 2009, during her “Fearless” tour, and she celebrated her 30th birthday at the arena 10 years later as part of iHeartRadio’s “Jingle Ball.” She has since graduated to larger venues when she swings through the New York area; her Eras tour shows were just across the river at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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AP Entertainment Editor Mallika Sen contributed to this report.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson must also pay $1.17 million in punitive damages.

That is in addition to the $176 million in damages for wrongful death and emotional distress that jurors ordered Grossman and Erickson to pay parents Nancy and Karim Iskander last week, after finding them negligent in the deaths of Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8.

“This verdict sends a clear message that everyone must be held accountable when their selfish actions put innocent lives at risk,” Brian Panish, the Iskander family's attorney, said in a statement Wednesday.

Erickson's attorney, Jeff Braun, said they respected the verdict.

“In the coming days, we will review the verdict with our client and discuss the appropriate path forward,” Braun said in a statement. “Today, however, our focus is on acknowledging the extraordinary loss the Iskander family has endured. We extend our sincere condolences to them and continue to keep them in our thoughts.”

Grossman's attorney, Esther Holm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to serve 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in a separate criminal trial. She is a co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and the wife of a prominent burn doctor.

The boys’ parents also filed lawsuits in civil court against both Grossman and Erickson, who was driving ahead of her when the Iskander brothers were killed. That trial began in April.

The deadly crash occurred on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, a city on the western edge of Los Angeles County.

Panish, the Iskander family’s attorney, argued that Grossman and Erickson were both driving recklessly after drinking margaritas together. The two were dating at a time when Grossman and her husband were separated.

Panish said Grossman was driving 73 mph (117 kph) when her car struck the boys in a crosswalk on a road where the posted speed limit was 45 mph (72 kph).

He said Grossman was following Erickson, who was also speeding and narrowly missed the family.

Holm, Grossman's attorney, denied that her client was intoxicated. She said Grossman was distracted when she saw the boys’ mother dive out of the way of Erickson’s vehicle.

Braun, Erickson's attorney, called the boys’ deaths a tragedy but emphasized that the vehicle he was driving “made no contact with the children.”

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Prosecutors allege Pino, a South Florida real estate developer, was operating a 29-foot boat when it struck a channel marker near Boca Chita Key during Labor Day weekend in 2022, killing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez and seriously injuring two other teens.

On Wednesday, Cecilia Pino, the wife of the 55-year-old, took the stand.

“(Lucy Fernandez) died because your husband crashed into that channel marker, right?” said Laura Adams during her direct examination.

After a pause, Cecilia Pino defied Adams by resisting her framing of the incident in her response: “She died because there was an accident.”

She told jurors she wasn’t looking when Pino drove the boat at nearly 50 mph into the channel marker.

“I was looking at my phone, trying to send a text to the moms ― a video, the video of the girls dancing,” Cecilia Pino said.

Pino was not asked whether her husband consumed alcohol the day of the crash, but did say she filled an insulated Yeti cup with prosecco and Chambord, a berry liqueur, for herself.

When asked how many of those she had consumed, she answered “one or two”. She was not cross examined by the defense.

A body camera worn by a marine patrol officer with what was then the Miami-Dade Police Department showed chaos unfolding at golden hour: Pino and teens who were thrown from the vessel were picked up by a good Samaritan. Two of them lay unconscious. By then, Fernandez was on another vessel. Pino could be seen in pink and white trunks.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Deputy Robert Brutto said he saw Pino later that night with a bandage on his head. He told the defense he didn’t notice any signs of impairment.

Brutto said he also traveled nearly 50 miles an hour down Cutter Bank that day. The state pointed out critical differences, however, between the deputy’s actions and Pino’s.

“Were your emergency lights activated as you were heading up to Boca Chita?” prosecutor Laura Adams asked.

“Yes,” Brutto replied.

Adams followed up, “Did you have teenagers who had been drinking on your police boat with you?”

“No, we did not,” he replied.

Adams asked, “Did you have two beers while you were on your shift that day?”

“No, I did not,” the deputy said.

More body camera footage was played, including that of Fernandez after she was pulled from beneath Pino’s vessel and brought onto a good Samaritan boat. The sight of her on a backboard being worked on by first responders was difficult for members of Fernandez’s family to look at. Some were seen crying or covering their eyes as the video played in court.

Jurors on Thursday are set to take a field trip to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission site where they will be able to look at the damaged boat.

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On Tuesday, jurors heard from multiple witnesses, including the victim’s father, Andy Fernandez, who described hugging his daughter for the last time before what he called a “beautiful afternoon” turned tragic.

Testimony also included a passenger on the boat, who described the vessel capsizing and the chaotic aftermath in the water, as well as a civil attorney who referenced prior statements tied to the crash investigation.

Jurors were sent home late Tuesday afternoon and were scheduled to return Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct two misquotes. The word “right” was mistakenly attributed to Cecilia Pino, rather than the prosecutor, and a quote from Brutto regarding emergency lights has been corrected to note that he responded affirmatively.

The event is part of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and is scheduled for the weekend with the main attraction — seven mixed martial arts matches — on Sunday.

That is, if a judge doesn't halt the proceedings, which is sought by two Virginia residents in a federal lawsuit against the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn.

The agency filed a rebuff of the request Tuesday in court, and, in it, laid out the operations for the event.

“Well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended,” the document read, adding that the money came from the UFC and groups affiliated with it.

The octagon

It's the eight-sided cage that surrounds the sometimes bloodied combatants and sits at the center of the constructed arena on the South Lawn.

It's expected to hold 4,000 spectators, with another 120,000 visitors — who swung tickets from an online lottery — anticipated to watch from the nearby Ellipse.

The installation began on May 20, and the Secret Service worked with the UFC to screen between 20 and 30 trucks of equipment — as well as between “700 and 900” staff — that came in daily for the installation.

The document does not specify the extent of government resources spent on the project, but said that seven agencies, including Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration, have “allocated significant resources and manpower."

The schedule

It’ll kick off Saturday with a ceremonial weigh-in at the Ellipse, and then on Saturday, there will be a concert by the country group, Zac Brown Band.

A UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest will be ongoing through the weekend, with “interactive experiences,” live shows, celebrity appearances, “exclusive on-stage moments,” meet and greets, live music and interviews with the athletes.

Sunday night is when the seven bouts kick off. At the close, Trump is scheduled to fly to France for the G7 summit.

Disassembly of the installations will begin the next day, and is expected to be entirely removed by June 23.

The athletes' Epsom salt baths

There are fourteen athletes competing, and their training is rigorous.

Preparations start months in advance, working toward more intense weight cutting and diet alteration in the final week that can include fasting, extreme sauna use and hot Epsom salt baths.

They could be shaving as many as 20 pounds before weigh-ins, which is designed to keep the competition fair between similarly weighted combatants.

Lawsuit calls it ‘corrupt’

It was filed on Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of the two Virginia residents and argues that Trump’s authorization of the event violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands.

One of the attorneys, Brendan Ballou, characterized it as a “corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain."

The National Park Service pushed back on that claim, but also detailed the event's preparations to make a point.

“All these hopes could be dashed at the very last moment," it read, "by the whim of two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else.”

Here's where things stand on the eve of the World Cup opener:

Several venues have sold out, but there are seats available for most games

On the eve of the tournament, 29 games were sold out (with wheelchair seats available for some of those) and 75 had tickets remaining, including both semifinals, all four quarterfinals, five round of 16 matches and 14 of 16 games in the new round of 32. That’s in addition to unreleased knockout-stage tickets that won’t be available until FIFA knows which teams have advanced to specific matches.

Many of those available tickets are in the high-priced category one and category two levels added by FIFA in April.

Several hundred seats, all costing four figures, were available for the semifinal in Arlington, Texas, but just over 20 were on sale for the Atlanta semifinal on FIFA's official tickets site.

There aren't many relatively cheap seats left

Category three seats, the lowest-priced category, remained for just three matches. Two of those were high-priced to begin with.

Those lower-priced tickets for the U.S. opener against Paraguay on Thursday at Inglewood, California, could be bought for $1,120 — but just two remained. Other available prices for the game were $4,105, $2,735, $2,330 and $1,645. More than 100 tickets were listed as available.

Category three also was available for Canada's opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday at Toronto for $980 along with seats at $2,240 and $1,645.

Category three seats priced at $180 remained for just one match, Egypt vs. Iran at Seattle on June 26, and more than 370 were on sale. Several hundred tickets also were available at $1,000, $875 and $550.

More tickets will become available closer to match days

Infantino that “there are always tickets on sale.”

In addition to tickets given back to FIFA, the governing body holds back seats.

“We also need always to keep some tickets for those teams who qualify for the additional rounds,” he said.

There are some better deals available on resale markets

FIFA has its own resale marketplace, where it collects 15% from both the buyer and seller.

In addition, other resale sites such at StubHub and SeatGeek have tickets for sale.

FIFA's resale site has tickets for the Paraguay-U.S. game starting at $661.25 and SeatGeek starting at $920. England's game against Croatia at Arlington, Texas, on June 17 started at $880 on Seat Geek and $850 on FIFA.

Tickets for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, started at $7,986 on SeatGeek, $8,775 on StubHub and $9,085 on FIFA.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

San Francisco trailed 9-1 before rallying for five runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth to stun the Nationals and avert a three-game sweep.

Big league teams trailing by at least eight runs in the eighth inning or later had lost 4,291 consecutive games since Cleveland stormed back from 10-2 down to beat Tampa Bay 11-10 on May 29, 2009, per Sportradar.

Matt Chapman had four hits, including two home runs — his second coming as part of back-to-back homers with Rafael Devers in the eighth to set up the comeback.

Jung Hoo Lee singled to extend his hitting streak to 18 games for the Giants, the longest active stretch in the majors.

Luis Arraez and Chapman hit consecutive doubles to begin the ninth. Devers walked and Lee singled to load the bases before Eldridge, who grew up a Nationals fan in Northern Virginia, drove a 2-0 slider from Mitchell Parker (2-3) into the right-field arcade for the rookie's fourth home run.

Lee raised his arms in celebration before the ball went over the wall.

James Wood hit his 18th home run for Washington. Daylen Lile added four hits, and Curtis Mead also homered on a day when every Nationals starter had a hit while seven players drove in at least one run.

Washington, which had already clinched its fifth consecutive road series win, was on the verge of finishing a 5-1 trip before collapsing in the ninth.

Reiver Sanmartin (1-0) retired six batters to earn the win. He gave up Mead's leadoff homer in the ninth that made it 10-6, but that insurance run wasn't enough for Washington.

Wood got the Nationals going in the third when he crushed a high 3-1 fastball from starter Robbie Ray and sent it over the center-field fence.

Washington scored three runs in the sixth and added three more in the seventh before the Giants rallied.

Ray allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Up next

Nationals: RHP Zack Littell (6-4, 4.76 ERA) faces the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

Giants: Had not announced a scheduled starter for Friday’s home game against the Chicago Cubs.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Montgomery capped a 2-for-5 night with a game-ending, two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 win over Atlanta Braves. He became the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off homer in his debut, joining Billy Parker (1971), Josh Bard (2002), Miguel Cabrera (2015) and Carlos Pérez (2023).

Montgomery was still buzzing hours after his 343-foot, opposite-field shot cleared the fence in left field.

“I don't know if I would be considered calmed down at this point,” Montgomery said. “Just been enjoying it, sharing it with my family.”

White Sox manager Will Venable said he isn't worried about the 23-year-old getting ahead of himself after one game.

“We haven't had anybody with a debut like that, but I think he's as grounded as they come,” Venable said. “This is a guy that has really high expectations of himself. I'm sure he envisioned himself doing this, what he did last night. To be honest, his idea of what he can do in this league is as high as anybody else's. It was exactly what he expected.”

Montgomery didn't slow down Wednesday night, hitting two doubles and scoring the first run in a 2-1 win over the Braves.

“He just goes up there with extreme confidence, putting really good swings on pitches,” Venable said. “I think his swing decisions have been great. He's a very talented hitter and for him to come up and be so comfortable and be locked in and show what he's able to do early has been awesome.”

Montgomery spent the start of his second day of his big league career responding to the text messages he continues to receive — “The number shrinks and grows as I answer them, but more come in,” Montgomery said — and spending time with his parents and family, who were sitting behind home plate Wednesday night.

His mother, Gretchen Montgomery Willock, posted a video of the family celebration in the stands that went viral on social media. On Wednesday, she posted, “Let me tell you about a dream I had last night.”

“It's not really something you can imagine,” Montgomery said. “You just kind of go into it with your expectations and do whatever the game brings.”

One of the top prospects in the White Sox organization, acquired from the Red Sox in the December 2024 trade that sent Garrett Crochet to Boston, Montgomery was hitting .315 for Triple-A Charlotte. He became the 12th White Sox rookie to debut this season, the second-highest total before the All-Star break since the 1944 Cincinnati Reds had 13, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The influx of youth has helped the White Sox go 29-18 since April 17, second only to the New York Yankees (30-17), despite injuries to Munetaka Murakami and Everson Pereira. among others. The White Sox are 5-4 since Murakami, a rookie from Japan who leads the team with 20 homers, injured his right hamstring on May 29.

Colson Montgomery joined that list Tuesday. He is day to day with a sore back and was not in the lineup Wednesday. The second-year shortstop, a relative veteran of 135 MLB games, said his younger teammates are feeding off each other to pick up the slack.

“You get up here, and it's like, these are my boys, my teammates, this is nothing new,” Colson Montgomery said. “That's why a lot of our young rookie guys are coming up here and they're thriving because they're just being themselves and they know they can be themselves. ... We have a lot of guys in the minor leagues who are coming up and they’re ready to show their impact.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

It’s an emerging technology that is becoming increasingly popular. AI chatbots can help with certain tasks, but they also come with concerns.

“The new models are very powerful. The problem with that is that it increases the risk,” said Dr. William Leever, a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Leever said newer AI chatbots are more unpredictable and more engaging than past models.

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that about one in five people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 21 reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice.

Among those who sought advice from AI chatbots, nearly 43% did so at least monthly, and about 92% said the advice was somewhat or very helpful.

“It feels like they’re being supported. It feels like they’re being understood because these models are very good at mimicking human empathy,” Leever said. “But in reality, they’re just pattern recognition robots.”

Leever said artificial intelligence can be harmful when it replaces real help and human connection.

He said parents and caregivers need to talk openly about mental health and practice what he calls “co-prompting,” where they work through AI interactions alongside their teens to help interpret and verify the information.

He also said it’s important to set boundaries.

“You can let them use the AI with the direct guidance and supervision they need to actually understand what they’re dealing with,” Leever said.

The warning comes at a critical time. According to a new survey from Common Sense Media, nearly half of all children have not had conversations with their parents about AI safety.