According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes of South Dixie Highway near Southwest 127^th Avenue.

Troopers said the driver of the gray Tesla crashed into the back of the truck, which was part of a caravan of trucks driving slowly in the area, at about 20 mph.

The truck drivers had just finished working up the street before the crash occurred, authorities said.

Both women, who authorities said were in their late 20s or early 30s, were pronounced dead at the scene.

“That’s my son’s wife – one of those girls,” Constantine Allwood told Local 10 News. “I feel a way for her because she’s very young. She’s supposed to live out her life.”

The victims’ bodies were removed from the Tesla shortly after 7 a.m.

It’s unclear what caused the driver to crash into the back of the truck.

U.S. 1 was closed between Southwest 240th Street and 232nd Street after the collision.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that consumer prices rose 4.1% in May from a year earlier, the largest annual increase since April 2023. On a monthly basis, inflation was 0.4% last month, matching April’s increase and down from 0.7% in March.

The increase was largely driven by more expensive gas, as well as pricier semiconductors and other computer equipment that are in high demand for the AI buildout. Rising prices have caused the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to keep their key rate unchanged this year, a reversal from January when they had penciled in two cuts. Some economists forecast the central bank could lift rates this year instead.

New Fed chair Kevin Warsh last week underscored the central bank’s determination to drive inflation back to its 2% target, but he gave no sign of what steps the Fed might take. Some economists, however, now expect the central bank to increase rates this year. Those expectations have helped drive down share prices this week.

Oil and gas prices have fallen substantially since Trump agreed to a peace deal with Iran, but the conflict lifted gas prices to nearly $4.50 a gallon on average nationwide last month. They have since fallen back to $3.92 as of Thursday, according to AAA.

Excluding the volatile energy and food categories, core prices rose 3.4% in May compared with a year earlier, up from 3.3% in April and the largest increase since October 2023. On a monthly basis, they rose 0.3% from April to May, the same as the previous month.

The growth in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — marked a rebound from a sluggish 0.5% in the last three months of 2025 when a 43-day federal government shutdown weighed on the economy. Thursday’s numbers marked an upgrade from of Commerce’s previous first-quarter estimate of 1.6% growth.

Business investment surged, probably reflecting an investment boom in artificial intelligence. But consumer spending fell sharply from fourth-quarter 2025 and from Commerce’s previous estimate.

The U.S. economy — the world’s biggest — has continued to chug along despite the Iran energy shock. uncertainty. The American job market has proven especially resilient. Employers added an average 188,000 jobs a month from March through May after adding fewer than 10,000 a month in 2025 amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade and immigration policies.

Thursday’s report was the Commerce Department’s third and final estimate of first-quarter GDP growth. The first look at second-quarter economic growth is due July 30.

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 20 fell by 12,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 225,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of 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 evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 750 to 224,250.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending June 13 increased by 21,000 to 1.82 million.

For now, our computer models aren’t particularly bullish on tropical development odds, with Google’s DeepMind’s newest 1,000-member ensemble system showing only about a 10 percent chance of development from off the southeast U.S. to the northern Gulf for the latter part of next week.

Though the odds are low, it’s worth monitoring the trends, as waters are especially warm in the subtropical Atlantic east of Florida – at record to near-record warmth for the time of year – and wind shear will be less of a deterrent than in the main tropical belt where the subtropical jet will be slicing and dicing through would-be storms.

Additionally, if anything were to develop, it would be closer to land and likely steered back in the direction of the U.S. for the July 4^th holiday weekend.

For now, it’s not anything to worry about, but something we’ll want to check back on in the coming days and into next week.

Otherwise, as we’ve discussed in newsletters this week, the Atlantic will stay closed for business, with no development expected through the end of the month.

Leer en español

Officials said 38-year-old Precious Bland drowned the baby, claiming she was trying to baptize everyone in the house, on Aug. 23, 2021.

Bland’s 38-year-old husband and 16-year-old daughter were stabbed in the incident and survived.

“God is good. This doesn’t bring back my daughter,” she said Wednesday after the verdict. “I’m thankful. I love my children. Just ready to get my life back together, my husband and my children -- just move forward.”

Authorities discovered the victims at a home located on Northwest 99th Street near 30th Avenue, where they also found Bland suffering from stab wounds determined to be self-inflicted.

Bland’s attorney said she was suffering from a COVID-19 induced psychosis.

“From the first day that I was hired to represent Precious Bland, having done the research, because there’s so much that we don’t know about COVID, and this was one of the first cases in the country to go to trial on COVID-19 to the defense of murder,” said attorney Larry Handfield.

Four other children, all under the age of 11, were in the home at the time of the attack, but they were not harmed.

Leer en español

The 12-story condominium building collapsed in the early morning hours of June 24, 2021, while many residents were asleep inside. Ninety-eight people lost their lives.

During the Lighting of the Torch ceremony at Veterans Park, a torch was presented as a symbol of hope, resilience and remembrance.

“This torch is more than a light -- it is a promise, a promise that we will forever remember, that we will honor, that we will never allow these lives to be forgotten,” one speaker said.

A firefighter participating in the ceremony echoed that message.

“And let the light shine through all of us,” the firefighter said.

Only three people were rescued alive from the rubble following the collapse. Among them was Devin Gonzalez, who was 16 years old at the time. Her mother also survived.

Gonzalez lost her father in the tragedy.

“The rest of my family, my sister made it out because she wasn’t home that night, but my father was one of the 98 people that passed away, so he did not make it,” Gonzalez said.

Five years later, Gonzalez said the pain remains, but she hopes lessons learned from the collapse will help prevent a similar disaster from happening again.

“Yes, it’s angering and it’s hurtful, but to focus on the future, on things that we can do so that nothing like this ever happens again,” she said.

Among the speakers was Rachel Spiegel, daughter of Judy Spiegel, who died in the collapse.

“Five years since my mother went to sleep in the place that she called home and never came back,” she said.

Raquel Oliveira, the mother of Lorenzo Oliveira and wife of Alfredo Leone, both of whom passed away during the incident, also spoke.

“My son was 5 years old on that day,” she said. “From today on, I’ll have more time without Lorenzo than with him.”

A rescue expert from Israel, whose team specializes in locating people trapped in collapsed structures, said they worked around the clock to help in every way they could.

“We are honored to be able to help,” he said. “It’s a mitzvah to help the other, even if you don’t know the person. We are all humans and it doesn’t matter where we are. We are together to help each other -- one for all and all for one.”

For many first responders who spent weeks searching through the debris, the memories remain vivid.

“When we say we are never going to forget, we are never going to forget,” a firefighter said. “And those who were here — the thousands of first responders and community leaders that were here — we can never forget.”

The annual ceremony served as both a tribute to the 98 lives lost and a reminder of the lasting impact the collapse continues to have on families, survivors and the South Florida community.

Another remembrance ceremony at 88th Street and Collins Avenue in Surfside was held later in the morning.

The tragic anniversary comes after the National Institute of Standards and Technology released a report stating that the deadly destruction of the condominium actually started weeks before it collapsed into a pile of rubble in the middle of the night.

According to the report, two connections between garage columns and the pool deck started to fail around early June 2021. The combination of a structure design that did not meet building codes and alterations made to it over its 40 years meant that the other parts of the pool deck weren’t strong enough to withstand the extra load, leading to the type of slow-motion collapse.

A whistleblower who said she was fired without due process spoke to Local 10 News this week about what happened regarding City Manager Darvin Williams, who was previously fired by the city of Opa-locka for similar complaints.

Kerlyn McHenry said several staff members are working in fear.

She had served as interim director of Public Works for the city of North Miami Beach, where she was known as process-driven, methodical, and, according to a letter of recommendation, “innovative and results-driven” and “highly respected,” which is why she says she was stunned when she was suddenly demoted, then fired, after flagging a series of procurement and accounting concerns for Williams.

“It alluded to capital funds being misappropriated, which is not a true statement at all, and so once I forwarded that to the manager, of course within hours police officers as well as HR was at my door,” she said. “I was pretty scared. I didn’t think that it was warranted.”

Michael Pizzi is McHenry’s attorney who, on Monday, sent the city a notice of their intent to sue.

“A violation of the Florida Whistleblower Statute, abuse of power, and a variety of other violations of federal, state, and local statutes,” said Pizzi. “Right now, the city of North Miami Beach, Ms. McHenry, and other employees are really being terrorized by the new administration.”

Court records show Williams is named a defendant in other suits, including a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a former North Miami Beach employee who claims she was terminated without due process.

“It is a fear zone,” said McHenry. “Everyone’s afraid of Darwin Williams in the city of North Miami Beach.”

Williams hasn’t been with the city very long, formally installed in February.

Before that, he was with the city of Opa-locka.

In early-February, two days before he was formally sworn-in, Opa-locka’s Commissioner Natasha Ervin spoke in front of the North Miami Beach commission.

“After giving Darvin Williams a contract, everything went awry,” said Ervin. “Darvin terminated employees without due process. He even terminated one employee while he was away fulfilling his duty as an Army reservist. After firing Darvin Williams, it was discovered that he opened 17 bank accounts in the city’s name at a financial institution that we don’t do business with.”

In a memo dated on June 17, Williams told the mayor and city commission that in March, he assumed “additional responsibilities of interim chief financial officer.”

In May, Ervin filed a defamation suit against Williams, claiming he was falsely accused of a crime when she moved to hold him accountable. She is also represented by Pizzi.

“If the city of North Miami Beach commissioners had simply done a Google search, they would have known that this is what was going to happen,” said Pizzi.

Local 10 News reached out to Williams for comment but he had not replied as of the time of this story’s publication.

North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph, who was the only “no” vote against hiring Williams, released a statement to Local 10 News.

“The city commission faces a decision to stop Mr. Williams’ disruptive management decisions or remain silent and complicit while we continue to loose good and qualified employees. I was the only No vote against Mr. Williams’ hiring as City Manager because he publicly stated that he did not meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Despite my strong objections, the City Commission decided to allow Mr. Williams to prove himself or prove that my objections were correct and that his previous employer was right to fire him.”

North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph

MCHENRY NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE:

Claiming wrongful demotion and wrongful termination, the notice states: “Our client contends these actions were not isolated events but were part of a coordinated effort to remove her from employment in retaliation for her protected complaints and whistleblower activity while treating her differently than similarly situated male employees.”

FROM THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT:

“Plaintiff, Marline Monestime, brings this civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 to obtain legal recourse against the Defendants for the deprivation of her constitutionally protected property interest in her continued employment with the City of North Miami Beach without due process, in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

“WHEREFORE Plaintiff, Marline Monestime, demands the entry of a judgment in her favor and against Defendant, City of North Miami Beach, after trial by jury, declaring and determining that it violated her due process rights, reinstating her employment to the position she would have held, with all attendant wages and benefits, awarding her damages, lost past and future wages and employment-related benefits, mental anguish and emotional distress damages, awarding her attorney’s fees, costs, and all interest allowed by law, and such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.”

Trump harangued GOP senators face-to-face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues.

Also, congressional Democrats called for investigations Wednesday into renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as the ongoing drama over the president’s problem-plagued, $16 million rehabilitation project continued to roil the capital.

Heres' the latest:

Key inflation gauge jumps to 3-year high in latest sign of affordability challenges

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose to a new three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, a sign rising costs could pose political problems for President Trump as midterm elections near.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that consumer prices rose 4.1% in May from a year earlier, the largest annual increase since April 2023. On a monthly basis, inflation was 0.4% last month, matching April’s increase and down from 0.7% in March.

The increase was largely driven by more expensive gas, as well as pricier semiconductors and other computer equipment that are in high demand for the AI buildout. Rising prices have caused the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to keep their key rate unchanged this year, a reversal from January when they had penciled in two cuts. Some economists forecast the central bank could lift rates this year instead.

▶ Read more

Lawmakers demand answers as turmoil over Reflecting Pool repair continues

Congressional Democrats called for investigations Wednesday into renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as the ongoing drama over the president’s problem-plagued, $16 million rehabilitation project continued to roil the capital.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate demanded answers about the saga that’s been highlighted in the news cycle for weeks, even as the White House has repeatedly blamed — without evidence — unidentified vandals for peeling paint and other problems. Six people have been arrested, President Donald Trump said, without providing details, and a local wildlife nonprofit conducted necropsies on dead ducks found near the Reflecting Pool. The president has said the pool may need to be drained once again for additional repairs.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, challenged the Trump administration over no-bid contracts for work on the Reflecting Pool, saying they were awarded to vendors with previous relationships to Trump.

▶ Read more

Senate Republicans reject war powers resolution after Trump berates them at Capitol meeting

Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran held a late-night vote Wednesday to try to appease him, rejecting a war powers resolution a day after a similar measure passed.

Trump harangued GOP senators face-to-face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues and brought much of the chamber’s business to a halt. He exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure.

Hours later, though, Cassidy was invited to receive a personal briefing on the war at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff. Cassidy then returned to the Capitol to vote against a separate but nearly identical war powers resolution.

▶ Read more

In 2018, the music became a musical show.

Now, South Florida gets to experience the Tony Award-winning spectacle.

Much like Morrisette’s album, “Jagged Little Pill, the Musical” takes you on a journey.

Kimberly Doreen Burns plays the lead, Mary Jane Healy -- a role that Burns’ lived experiences helped her connect with.

From the Amatura Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the musical is brought to life by Slow Burn Theater, a local professional actors company that has leaned into diversity and the eclectic when it comes to its productions.

Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, is scheduled to receive a three-drug injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke for the 1992 stabbing death of his wife Karen.

If carried out, this would be Florida’s ninth execution to date this year following a record 19 executions in 2025. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

Court records show Spencer was arrested after choking and threatening to kill Karen Spencer in December 1991. While in jail, Dusty Ray Spencer called his wife and warned her that when he got out, he was going to finish what he started.

On Jan. 18, 1992, Spencer beat his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron when the boy tried to stop Spencer from attacking his mother, officials said. Then about a week later, the son responded to a commotion outside their home and found Spencer hitting his mother in the head with a brick, according to officials.

Court records show the teen tried to shoot Spencer with a rifle, but the gun misfired. Spencer threatened the teen with a knife, and the boy ran away to get help. When police arrived, they found Karen Spencer dead with several stab wounds to the chest.

Spencer was initially sentenced to death in 1992 after being convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. In 1994, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing after finding that the trial court had mishandled evaluating aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Spencer was resentenced to death the next year, and subsequent appeals have been denied.

Last week, the state Supreme Court rejected Spencer’s appeals. His attorneys had argued that he has health issues such as liver disease that pose a heightened risk of pain and suffering and argued that executing him at his advanced age would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

A final appeal was still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina and Texas tied for second with five executions each.

Another execution is scheduled in Florida for July 14. Dennis Sochor, 74, was convicted of killing a woman just hours into 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party.

All Florida executions are carried out by lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

According to an arrest report from the Medley Police Department, Michael Turro-Cabrera, 43, of Pembroke Pines, was arrested Tuesday on charges of grand theft of cargo under $50,000 and organized fraud.

His co-defendant, Yasmany Aguiar-Gonzalez, 39, remains at large.

According to police, the Apple products were stolen on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, 2025, while the items were supposed to be in the care of Turro-Cabrera, who at the time was a driver for FedEx Freight.

Police said FedEx Freight formally reported the thefts on Dec. 18, 2025, after Apple confirmed shortages totaling $22,507.28 on Nov. 28 and $8,658.20 on Nov. 29.

FedEx Freight confirmed that Turro-Cabrera was fired on Dec. 18, 2025, for “policy violations,” including unexplained extended stops and “timeclock manipulation” that was discovered during an internal review, the arrest report stated.

According to the report, surveillance video from Nov. 28 shows Turro-Cabrera making an unauthorized stop in a Pinecrest alleyway in his assigned FedEx Freight truck before a gray Dodge pickup truck arrived and backed up directly to the rear of the truck “in a manner consistent with a back-to-back cargo transfer.”

Police said the video “strongly suggests” that items were moved from the FedEx Freight trailer into the pickup truck before a white male drove away in the pickup truck.

According to the report, a phone records check revealed that Turro-Cabrera placed a call to Aguiar-Gonzalez at the exact time he arrived in the Pinecrest alleyway.

Police said FedEx Freight personnel reviewed the footage and identified the driver of the pickup truck as Aguiar-Gonzalez, who they said was a former driver of theirs who had also been terminated after working for the company for eight years.

“FedEx Freight does not tolerate illegal activity within our network,” a company spokesperson told Local 10 News in a statement after Turro-Cabrera’s arrest. “The security of our customers’ shipments is a top priority, and we fully cooperate with law enforcement on investigations. This individual is no longer employed by the company.”

Anyone with information about Aguiar-Gonzalez’s whereabouts is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Los equipos de rescate trabajan en las zonas más afectadas para liberar a personas atrapadas bajo los escombros.

Los terremotos de 7,2 y 7,5 grados de magnitud son los más fuertes registrados en Venezuela en más de un siglo y han causado daños en el principal aeropuerto del país y el colapso de decenas de edificios.

Aquí los últimos acontecimientos registrados en Venezuela:

Mandatarios latinoamericanos ofrecen su ayuda

Varios gobernantes de la región de signo conservador mostraron su solidaridad con Venezuela, sin importar las diferencias ideológicas. El presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, señaló que 300 miembros de equipos de rescate y paramédicos, junto con 50 toneladas de equipamiento, medicamentos y suministros de emergencia, estaban listos para viajar a Caracas.

El presidente argentino Javier Milei también dijo estar dispuesto a brindar ayuda humanitaria en coordinación con organizaciones internacionales, si fuera necesario. En tanto, el presidente chileno José Antonio Kast afirmó que su gobierno está dispuesto a coordinar el envío de ayuda humanitaria y a desplegar equipos de rescate en Venezuela, y lo mismo indicó el presidente de la República Dominicana, Luis Abinader.

Los mandatarios de Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; de Panamá, José Raúl Mulino, y de Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, también ofrecieron su ayuda.

Estados Unidos en contacto con Venezuela

El subsecretario de Estado Christopher Landau afirmó en X que “Estados Unidos se solidariza con el pueblo venezolano tras los devastadores terremotos" y está en contacto con las autoridades para movilizar ayuda. Y terminó su mensaje diciendo en español “¡Fuerza, Venezuela! ¡Estamos con vosotros!”.

Pasar la noche a la intemperie

Cientos de personas amanecieron el jueves en las cercanías de edificios que fueron evacuados.

María Cristina Díaz, una trabajadora de limpieza de 41 años, comentó que no pudo dormir en toda la noche y que se alojó en a la Plaza Candelaria, en el centro de Caracas, porque es uno de los pocos lugares despejados en las cercanías de su casa.

Las ciudades venezolanas carecen de puntos de reunión demarcados donde las personas pueden concentrarse después de un sismo.

“Teníamos miedo que los edificios se nos vinieran encima. Pasamos frío. Mi mamá, mi hija y yo no pegamos un ojo, pero no queríamos pasar la noche solas en casa”, comentó Díaz.

Otros pernoctaron en vehículos aparcados en las calles. Las autoridades han pedido que no regresen a las casas con daños estructurales.

Clases suspendidas

El Ministerio de Educación indicó en un comunicado la noche del miércoles que se han suspendido las actividades escolares en todo el país y que las escuelas serán utilizadas como centros de acopio y refugios para atender a las familias afectadas.

Van Hollen’s endorsement, shared first with The Associated Press on the day early voting begins in Michigan, makes him the first senator to back El-Sayed since Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed him shortly after he launched his campaign last year. It also comes on the heels of big wins for progressive challengers in New York U.S. House races on Tuesday.

The Aug. 4 race in Michigan has increasingly split Democrats along ideological lines, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow drawing support from other prominent senators.

Democrats will need to hold the Michigan seat if they want a shot at winning the majority this year. It opened by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement and former Rep. Mike Rogers has an uncontested path to the Republican nomination.

In an interview with the AP, Van Hollen said he believed El-Sayed was the “strongest” candidate who can win in November, and “the candidate who’s willing to take on the status quo.”

“When I say the status quo, I mean not just the lawless Trump administration, but take on the Democratic establishment that has not fought hard enough for working people," said Van Hollen.

Senate Democrats have split across the field

Schumer last week publicly backed Stevens, a fourth-term congresswoman from suburban Detroit who is seen as the more moderate candidate in the race. Stevens has also benefited from heavy outside spending, including nearly $8 million this month from United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

McMorrow, a state senator, has tried to carve out her own lane between Stevens and El-Sayed as an anti-establishment candidate with a reform-focused agenda. She has won endorsements from other senators, including Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, while also drawing millions in outside support.

El-Sayed, the former Wayne County health director, has run furthest to the left on issues including Medicare for All and halting all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, making him a favorite of the party’s progressive wing. He has campaigned with popular-yet-controversial streamer Hasan Piker, who has millions of followers online but has said things such as that “America deserved 9/11.”

Earlier this month, the United Auto Workers endorsed him, saying its members “want a fighter in Washington, D.C. who isn’t afraid to push forward a strong working-class agenda with moral clarity.”

Van Hollen said he believes El-Sayed is best positioned to compete in a battleground state because he is running on affordability and against what he described as a political system too influenced by wealthy donors and special interests.

“This is not about left versus right. This is about very concentrated economic and political power at the top, and everybody else,” Van Hollen said. “And he’s fighting for everybody else.”

El-Sayed praised Van Hollen after receiving the endorsement, calling it the “culmination of an ongoing conversation” and describing the senator as a “mentor.”

With progressives coming off a string of wins in New York, El-Sayed said the results reflected the same frustrations he has heard from voters across Michigan.

“It’s not surprising to me that candidates who buck that system win,” El-Sayed said. “I really hope that folks in D.C., like Chuck Schumer, decide to pay attention, finally.”

Tensions with Schumer come as Democrats debate their future

Asked whether backing El-Sayed amounted to a broader rebuke of Democratic leadership, Van Hollen said the endorsement was “not about personalities” but about backing a candidate who would take on both President Donald Trump and “the establishment Democratic Party” that he said is “too cozy with big money special interests.”

Van Hollen has not called on Schumer to step aside. Asked if he would be interested in leading Democrats in the Senate, Van Hollen told AP that he has “not thought about doing that.”

But his endorsement lands at a moment of growing friction between Democratic leadership and the party’s left flank over how aggressively to confront Trump and what kind of candidates can win in battleground states.

Those tensions were exacerbated earlier this month in Maine, where Schumer had backed Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic Senate primary before she suspended her campaign and progressive Graham Platner won the nomination.

Van Hollen has also been among the Senate Democrats urging the party to rethink its approach after the 2024 election. He framed his endorsement of El-Sayed at odds with leadership as a “difference of opinion with respect to which candidates will best connect with voters.”

“I think it's pretty clear that Abdul is the candidate who can build a grassroots movement and others are not," said Van Hollen.

The convention’s 2022 annual meeting passed a resolution apologizing to abuse survivors, several of them by name. It authorized reforms that included the creation of a database of credibly accused church workers.

It appeared to mark a reckoning within the SBC in tandem with the wider #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements — and a recognition that clergy sex abuse extended far beyond the much-publicized scandal in the Catholic Church.

But prominent survivors and advocates have largely given up trying to bring about change in the SBC after witnessing what they view as increasingly faltering efforts toward reform.

And now a counternarrative has reached the highest levels of convention leadership. Prominent Southern Baptists are promoting the view that although sexual abuse has occurred in the SBC, it never rose to a “crisis” level.

SBC president says issue of sexual abuse has been ‘weaponized’ and politicized

The SBC’s newly elected president, Florida pastor Willy Rice, has portrayed the 2022 report by consultant Guidepost Solutions as a “snipe hunt.” Rice said some people with political motives “weaponized” the issue against the large, conservative denomination.

Texas megachurch pastor Jack Graham, a former SBC president, similarly denied there was ever a “systemic sexual abuse crisis” in the denomination.

“The whole thing was a reckless hoax which has cost us not only millions of dollars but immeasurable damage to our witness,” Graham recently posted on the social media site X, alluding to costly lawsuits and impact on the SBC's reputation.

For survivors, such words are traumatizing but not surprising.

“For all those who watched us lead the reform, they also watched us get verbally attacked, maligned, bullied & in the end dropped,” survivor Tiffany Thigpen posted on X. She attended the 2022 annual meeting to advocate for reform but has avoided recent meetings.

Rice said churches should provide training on abuse prevention, report “any hint of illegal activity to the appropriate authorities” and care for victims.

The sexual-abuse reform effort “absolutely was weaponized, just like the #MeToo movement in the secular culture was weaponized,” Rice said. He drew a comparison with sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who denied them and characterized them as politically motivated.

Rice maintained that churches, like other youth-serving organizations, have learned much about the issue.

“To the degree that there have ever been times that Baptist churches or Baptist institutions did not handle abuse correctly, that has damaged our witness,” Rice acknowledged in a news conference at the conclusion of the SBC’s annual meeting earlier this month in Orlando, Florida. “We have tried very hard over the last several years to correct that.”

Rejecting the framing of sexual abuse as a crisis, once a marginal view in the SBC, is increasingly mainstream. Rice’s sole opponent for SBC president, Josh Powell, took a similar stance.

Rice was elected at an annual meeting where delegates also advanced a constitutional ban on SBC churches with women pastors, a measure requiring ratification next year.

Survivor says there's no political agenda for those speaking out about abuse

Christa Brown — a survivor of sexual abuse by an SBC pastor and longtime advocate for reforms — said that if anyone was politicizing the abuse issue, it was people involved in SBC power struggles, not the victims.

“For clergy sex abuse survivors, there has never been anything to gain in speaking out. To the contrary, it almost always comes with a heavy personal cost,” she said via email. “There's no political agenda.”

She added: “There is no place within the SBC where someone who was sexually abused by a pastor or church worker can safely report it and get a proper response. I’ve been working within this arena for over two decades, and this reality has not changed.”

The convention’s 2022 annual meeting authorized a database of church workers credibly accused of sexual abuse and the creation of a task force to oversee reforms. The task force was later discontinued without creating the database, due in part to liability concerns.

The issue was turned over to the denomination’s Executive Committee, which instead is referring churches to existing sex-offender databases while focusing on abuse prevention and education.

Brown said sexual abuse committed by clergy is uniquely traumatizing. Abusive faith leaders often manipulate the religious language of spiritual authority and forgiveness to manipulate the trust of a minor.

“Sexual abuse committed by clergy carries unique dynamics (and this is something that most SBC leaders just don’t seem to understand... or don’t want to understand),” she wrote.

Jules Woodson, a survivor who advocated for SBC abuse reforms at past meetings, said on X she has since needed to “step far away as it became apparent the #SBC has never been, & will never be, a safe place for me...A woman.”

2019 report ‘Abuse of Faith’ highlighted allegations of sexual abuse

SBC skeptics of the idea of a systemic abuse crisis often point to the numbers.

A 2019 report, “Abuse of Faith” by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, found that about 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers faced allegations of sexual abuse in the previous two decades, with more than 700 victims. The newspapers drew from publicly available records, such as arrests, lawsuits and confessions.

Skeptics said that for a denomination with more than 40,000 churches and millions of members, those numbers were lamentable but not symptoms of a widespread crisis.

But advocates note abuse often goes unreported, particularly when the perpetrator holds a position of authority and often receives protection from other church leaders.

By comparison, a landmark report on the Catholic Church, conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, benefited from access to internal church documents on cases that hadn’t gone public. It found that more than 4,000 priests were accused of abuse between 1950 and 2002, about 4% of those serving then.

“Given that publicly reported cases (which are based largely on criminal convictions) are the tip of the iceberg, people should be horrified at what the size of that tip reveals about how huge the whole of the SBC’s clergy sex abuse iceberg almost certainly is,” Brown wrote.

The Guidepost report concluded that survivors repeatedly met “resistance, stonewalling and even outright hostility from some” in the denomination’s Executive Committee. Leaders of major churches failed to report abusers to police or their congregations, the report said.

Two of those named in the Guidepost report sued the SBC for defamation; their cases are pending.

Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive. The women themselves described the actions as assaults or abuse in court depositions.

But advocates for survivors say there’s ample evidence of failures at high levels, even beyond Guidepost's criticisms of the Executive Committee. They cite the 2018 firing of influential seminary president Paige Patterson over his handling of rape allegations and the multiple abuse accusations against the late Paul Pressler, once a dominant force in SBC politics.

North Carolina pastor Bruce Frank, who chaired the Sexual Abuse Task Force formed in the wake of the “Abuse of Faith” report, said survivors understandably have given up on denominational reforms.

“We made some difference. It fell short of what a lot of people who suffered through that could reasonably expect,” said Frank, pastor of Biltmore Church, based in Arden, North Carolina.

He favored a database of credibly accused pastors to help prevent predators from moving to unsuspecting congregations.

“The bottom line is, how do you protect the most people in a loosely bonded, decentralized body, in a place that heavily relies on volunteers?” he said.

___

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 U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 6-to-3 decision that the claim by Exxon Mobil against the government of Cuba for confiscating their properties in the early 1960’s can proceed under the Helms-Burton law.

This clearly sets a precedent for the other 5,913 registered American companies to file legal procedures against the Cuban government.

June 22 update: Ramiro Valdes, one of the original Comandantes of the Cuban Revolution, dies

Ramiro Valdes, one of the original Comandantes of the Cuban Revolution, died in Cuba Sunday at the age of 94. He was the founder of the Ministry of the Interior, known for its repressive measures against the Cuban people. Valdes is credited for killing numerous Cubans who opposed the regime from the early days of the revolution. Most recently, he was responsible for training the security police in Venezuela.

June 19 update: Cuba approves 176 new economic measures

The National Assembly of the Cuban government approved 176 new economic measures Thursday to help jumpstart their moribund economy. Similar economic reforms were introduced when Raul Castro took over power from his brother, Fidel, but they failed because the government’s infrastructure could not implement them. Are these measures in time to save Cuba from a total economic disaster? Many economists even inside the island have come out and said that they are a bit too late.

On Thursday, the European Parliament approved a resolution sanctioning Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the leaders of the Cuban economic military conglomerate, GAESA. Finally, it suspended the existing agreement between the EU and Cuba.

June 17 update: Can President Trump afford another conflict?

Now that the U.S. and Iran have reached an agreement to stop the war, can President Donald Trump politically afford another conflict? This time it will be with Cuba -- a nation that will offer little military resistance to the U.S., but can also be a political trap for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s future run for the U.S. presidency.

June 11 update: Rubio announces sanctioning of CUPET:

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday afternoon the sanctioning of Cuba’s oil and gas company, Union Cuba Petroleo (CUPET). This company had been confiscated from American owners at the start of the revolution.

This is a sign that Cuba’s government has not shown any willingness to negotiate with the U.S. This action further chokes the regime who is running out of options as the socio-economic problems get worse each day that passes.

June 10 update: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits Guantanamo Bay for operational briefings

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba on Wednesday to receive updates and operational briefings on the base’s mission, according to the Pentagon.

According to Reuters, Hegseth flew into the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, marking the latest visit by a senior American official to the communist-led island as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to increase pressure on the Cuban government.

His trip comes less than two weeks after General Francis Donovan, the top U.S. military commander for Latin America, visited Guantanamo Bay and held discussions with a senior Cuban military official near the base’s perimeter.

Hegseth is the third high-ranking U.S. official to visit Cuba in recent months, highlighting Washington’s continued focus on the island amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.

June 8 update: What will be brought up during any future negotiations?

One of the issues that will certainly come up during any future negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba will be the 5,913 American companies, as well as Cuban-American properties, that were confiscated by the Cuban Revolution in the early 1960’s.

According to Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the Foreign Claims Office in the U.S. Department of Justice, the estimated values of these properties are in the billions.

June 3 update: Raúl Castro turns 95

Raúl Castro, the former president of Cuba, turns 95 years old Wednesday under the shadow of a criminal indictment from the U.S. and an uncertain future for Cuba with the legacy of his brother, Fidel Castro, on his shoulders.

Leer en español

June 1 update: Looking to the future: Should Cuban Americans invest in Cuba?

A few months ago, Cuba’s Vice Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, who is the grand-nephew of Raúl Castro, invited Cuban Americans in exile to invest in Cuba.

In 2019, the Cuban government amended their constitution to allow foreign investment. However, they did not change their laws to protect the investments.

Therefore, the risks to invest in Cuba remain greater than the opportunities.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez is Local 10’s Cuba Analyst. Gomez is considered one of the leading scholars on Cuba. He worked in higher education for 32 years before retiring from the University of Miami in 2012.

Leer en español

Jail records show Joseph Anthony Ciavarella faces charges including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the June 11 crash near Stirling Road and University Drive in Davie.

Authorities said the victim, a 55-year-old retired Hollywood police officer, was attempting to make a left turn into a shopping plaza when Ciavarella struck her vehicle.

Investigators determined Ciavarella was intoxicated and driving without headlights at the time of the crash.

Law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified the victim because sources told Local 10 News that her teenage child was in the vehicle and witnessed the crash.

“Obviously it was a tragic loss for all of us when we heard about it,” said Danielly De Andrade, a detective with the Hollywood Police Department. “She was actually my first supervisor, so I was able to work with her for a little bit.”

De Andrade said the retired officer spent about 15 years with the department.

“It’s very hard for us to hear one of our own actually get affected by this, but we see it every day, and we just urge the public to not drink and drive,” she said.

The victim’s husband also works in law enforcement, adding to the impact the loss has had on South Florida’s law enforcement community.

“This is a loss for our community,” De Andrade added. “This is something that hits home, not something you want to hear after they retire.”

Asked what he would remember most about the victim, De Andrade described her as “just a kind person, very kind, family oriented, very experienced.”

Davie police obtained an arrest warrant and took Ciavarella into custody on Friday.

He did not physically appear during court hearing that was scheduled for Monday, according to the Broward State Attorney’s Office.

A Broward County judge ordered Ciavarella to surrender his passport, wear a GPS monitor, remain within the tri-county area, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and undergo random testing twice a month.

The judge also set his bond at $252,000 and ordered him to remain at a rehabilitation hospital while receiving treatment for injuries he suffered in the crash.

The victim’s funeral was scheduled for Thursday.

Critics warn of doomsday scenarios out of a sci-fi thriller, while backers say AI will generate so much new wealth that no one should worry too much about millions of layoffs.

A new bipartisan nonprofit hopes to ensure that America can realize the economic gains promised by AI without its workers suffering.

RAISE US is starting with more than $500 million to deploy on new forms of education and training, putting a focus on partnering with states and major employers rather than the federal government.

Founded by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, the group aims to pilot programs and incentives to help American workers pivot to new careers in an economy that will increasingly be automated by artificial intelligence.

“We’re talking about a certain level of unemployment that could destabilize our country and our democracy,” Raimondo said in an interview. “If you want to lead the world in AI, you have to take action to make sure our democracy doesn’t crumble.”

The programs will first start in Arkansas, Maryland, Utah and Connecticut

The nonprofit is initially partnering with officials in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland and Utah, along with several of America's largest companies and charitable organizations. The group intends to develop policies that connect schools more closely to employers, so that layoffs can be replaced by the potential for new jobs with higher incomes. They also are exploring changes to corporate taxes and other incentives with the goal of keeping people working.

“Good things tend to happen when you convert have-nots into haves,” Holcomb said.

Among the companies serving as anchor partners with RAISE US are Amazon, Microsoft, Anthropic, the OpenAI Foundation and Bank of America. Other employers involved in the project include UPS, General Motors, Eli Lilly, Mastercard, chipmaker AMD, Cisco and IBM.

Raimondo, the former Democratic governor of Rhode Island who played a formative role in setting AI policy as the Biden administration’s commerce secretary, will be the nonprofit’s CEO.

The advisory board includes former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, billionaire investment manager Stephen Schwarzman, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and the economists David Autor, Erik Brynjolfsson and Raj Chetty.

AI has the potential to displace human workers from factories to offices

An April analysis by the Boston Consulting Group estimated that roughly half of U.S. jobs will be reshaped by AI over the next few years. The analysis said that as many as 25 million jobs could be eliminated in the U.S. over the next five years. Goldman Sachs, in March, separately released an estimate that a quarter of U.S. work hours could be automated by AI.

More than just a glorified search engine or a generator of video clips and novelty images, AI could fill roads with driverless trucks, create factories staffed by robots and supplant office workers, lawyers and doctors.

President Donald Trump has expressed little anxiety about the possibility of AI displacing human workers.

Asked on Tuesday ahead of touring a Mack Trucks factory in Pennsylvania if AI could cause truckers to lose their jobs, Trump told a reporter, “Right now, they’re not.”

The president has been banking on the buildout of AI data centers and power plants to drive hiring and overall economic growth. While AI-related investments have helped the economy, manufacturing has shed 68,000 jobs and the trucking transportation sector has cut 28,300 jobs since the start of Trump’s second term, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“We have, right now, so many jobs that are going to be available and the biggest problem we have is getting the people,” Trump said. “So we’re really doing spectacular.”

Experts say education systems and labor policies aren't built for an AI economy

AI experts have warned of gaps between the transformations that AI could create and a 20th century social safety net of unemployment insurance and four-year college that seems ill-prepared for the scope, scale and speed of the change.

“AI is now disrupting multiple sectors simultaneously, faster than any institution can respond,” said Vivienne Ming, a neuroscientist who has written the book, “Robot-Proof: When Machines Have all the Answers, Build Better People.”

Ming said that she agrees with an argument by economists that the wealth generated by AI could create demand for more workers that could offset any job losses. But she said the skills that matter in an AI economy go beyond professions such as plumbing or construction and involve curiosity and intellectual flexibility.

“Neither our education system nor our labor policies are building the foundational human capital that AI-era work actually requires,” she said.

Raimondo said the new nonprofit wants to use states as a vehicle for testing ideas that Congress can later embrace as policies, paving the way for the possibility of more profound changes to both the tax code and the educational system.

“I don’t have a lot of hope for bold action by Congress in the next few years on this issue, and I don’t think we can wait a few years,” she said. “I also think there are many examples in history that when the federal government does take action, they will look around at what has been working in states. I feel pretty confident that they will look at the work that we’ve done.”

In new overnight strikes, meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Thursday that Kyiv's forces hit two more Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the front line, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Ukraine.

Ukraine has in recent months stepped up its aerial campaign against Russian military installations and energy facilities. Its success has caused fuel shortages and disrupted army supply lines, stalling Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor after more than four years of fighting and rattling Russian officials.

Zelenskyy said in his daily address late Wednesday that Russia is moving more air defenses to the capital as well as to Valdai, a town some 500 kilometers (300 miles) northwest of Moscow where Russian President Vladimir Putin has a residence, and to protect the Kerch Bridge, a vital supply route connecting the Crimean Peninsula with the Russian mainland.

“In the Moscow region alone, they have amassed hundreds of launchers” for air defense missiles, Zelenskyy said. “Nearly 90 launchers have been redeployed to Valdai from other regions of Russia.”

It was not possible to independently verify Zelenskyy's claims, which portrayed the Russian leadership as caring more about protecting itself than other cities and towns in the vast country. Russian officials made no immediate comment.

Ukrainian drones have recently hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and Putin’s hometown. Ukraine is also trying to cut off Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia invaded and illegally annexed in 2014.

The changes, Zelenskyy suggested, would leave other parts of Russia vulnerable to Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated long-range drones, which can now fly more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles).

“There are many difficulties (for Russia), all because Putin refuses to end his war and to hear our proposals for a meeting, genuine negotiations, and a dignified peace,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy has accepted an unconditional ceasefire demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump but Putin has refused, and a year of U.S.-led peace efforts made no significant headway.

Trump praises Zelenskyy

Western officials and analysts say Ukraine’s prospects have improved after more than four years of a grueling war of attrition as its domestic development and production of cutting-edge drones pin down the bigger Russian army.

Trump, who previously has been critical of Zelenskyy, said Wednesday that the Ukrainian leader is “courageous” and “doing pretty well” in the war.

Zelenskyy said he won pledges of sustained foreign support when he attended a recent summit of G7 leaders, including Trump, and that promised aid will help further help Ukraine’s intensified campaign.

“Our operation, including the one concerning Crimea, has been carefully planned, and the way it is unfolding clearly demonstrates that if Ukraine receives exactly what we discussed with our partners at the G7 — and that depends on our partners’ decisions — we will quickly create conditions in which Russia will be forced to choose peace,” he said.

“We very much hope for a positive response from our partners,” Zelenskyy added. “They know exactly what we are talking about.”

Ukraine is wary of its neighbor Belarus

Belarus, whose manufacturing plants have played a key role in supporting Moscow’s war effort, appears to have turned off signal repeaters on its soil that Kyiv says were used to help guide Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. Moscow launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine from Belarus.

Zelenskyy demanded last week that Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north and also shares a frontier with Russia, remove the relay equipment that enabled Moscow's drones to strike western Ukraine. He threatened to take action against the relay stations, presumably with a military strike that could bring the countries into direct conflict.

Ukrainian intelligence has determined that the repeaters are now off, Zelenskyy said in a message sent to journalists.

Ukrainian military officials on Wednesday ordered a mandatory evacuation for the approximately 1,000 people still in the Chernihiv region bordering Russia and Belarus starting July 1.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is walking a fine line in the war.

“Lukashenko continues to stall and deflect the Kremlin’s intensified attempts to drag Belarus into the war in Ukraine while maintaining relatively neutral rhetoric towards Ukraine,” the institute said.

Ukrainian Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the armed forces, said last week that Ukraine is strengthening defenses on its northern border, including creating new army drone units there.

Russia targets Ukraine's civilian gas stations

Russia launched a ballistic missile and 90 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said.

One drone struck a gas station Thursday in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, injuring four people, said regional administration head Oleh Hryhorov, adding that Russian forces have attacked the region's gas stations 13 times in June alone.

A Russian overnight strike in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia injured one woman and damaged a gas station, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defenses downed 269 Ukrainian drones from late Wednesday until early Thursday.

Several Russian airports temporarily restricted flights overnight during drone attacks.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

The ban has been widely celebrated by advocates who hope Vermont’s move will prompt similar action in other states to prevent the neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements and affects about 1 million Americans.

“Vermont took the step to be the leader in this, and that’s significant because it shifts the conversation,” said Dan Feehan, with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research. “Now, ‘will your state be the last to ban it?’ becomes the question.”

However, for some farmers, the ban could potentially threaten their already slim profit margins. Attempts to prohibit paraquat’s use in other states where the chemical is more heavily used have repeatedly stalled.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing the safety of paraquat after saying there’s no clear link between the herbicide and Parkinson’s.

Syngenta, a Swiss chemicals company that has made paraquat for years, announced earlier this year that it would stop global manufacturing or selling of the chemical, but also defended the herbicide’s safety. Other companies continue to sell it.

“Despite decades of investigation and more than 1,200 epidemiological and laboratory studies of paraquat, no scientist or doctor has ever concluded in a peer-reviewed scientific analysis that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease,” the company said.

Paraquat is used widely in the US but banned in China and Europe

First introduced in the U.S. in 1964, paraquat became a popular weed killer for farmers.

It’s known as an extremely toxic chemical that is fatal if ingested and can cause chronic health problems on contact. Farmworkers are at particular risk, which has led the EPA to require special training for certified applicators of paraquat. The roughly hourlong training requires applicators to pass a 15-question quiz, and must be completed every three years.

It’s commonly used for protecting soybean, cotton and corn crops, but also for apples and grapes, according to the United States Geological Survey. As of 2018, the USGS reported more than 10 million pounds (4.5 million kilograms) of paraquat was used in the U.S., largely concentrated in the South, Midwest and California.

Despite its popularity, dozens of countries have banned the substance. The European Union and the UK banned paraquat in 2007. China banned domestic use of paraquat in 2017, along with Vietnam and Malaysia. Thailand issued a similar ban in 2019.

Health risks and links to Parkinson's

Defenders of using paraquat say the chemical is quickly absorbed by weeds, meaning that if rain falls — even after 30 minutes of application — it won't wash off into the soil. Companies like Syngenta say paraquat becomes immobilized once it touches soil. Yet there's disagreement over its harmful effects, with the Parkinson's community warning that people living near where paraquat is applied have increased risk of getting the disease.

Whether it causes Parkinson’s disease has been heavily debated and studied for years.

Dr. Philip Landrigan, an epidemiologist who directs a global health program at Boston College and has campaigned against human exposure to toxic chemicals, said multiple studies have shown that environmental factors, including exposure to pesticides like paraquat, can increase the risk for Parkinson's disease.

The Parkinson’s community considers the Vermont ban a significant victory.

“No matter how you slice and dice it, there’s no safe way to use paraquat,” said Ron McConnell, a Vermonter who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s after getting exposed to a different toxic substance at his work in 2017. “This law that Vermont just passed really is protecting the farmers that use it and the farmworkers that use it.”

The ban goes into effect Nov. 1, but the statute gives farmers using paraquat on fruit-producing orchards, berries and small fruit crops until 2030 to transition away from using the herbicide.

Vermont farmers are bracing for changes

Greg Burtt, owner of a family apple orchard and Republican Vermont lawmaker, considers paraquat a “critical tool” in his operation.

He says he believes the ban will place farmers like him at a competitive disadvantage to growers in other states who can continue using the more budget-friendly paraquat. There are alternative herbicides, but some farmers warn that those could involve chemicals that risk killing the plant if not applied carefully. Mechanical tilling, crop rotation and hand weeding are also options, but come with separate downsides, notably increased labor costs.

“There’s a reason why it’s an industry standard,” said Burtt, who's used paraquat for 20 years.

He's not worried about getting Parkinson's because he interpreted the research on the herbicide to be inconclusive.

“I wanna be the first person to make sure that it’s safe because I don’t wanna die young over farming,” Burtt said. “And so if anybody’s had to wrestle with these questions, it’s me.”

___

Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

Now, they're going on public display for the first time after a nonprofit organization paid a whopping sum of more than $7 million for the sketches after they ended up on an auction block following a family dispute over their ownership.

The four 1940s-era sketches titled “So You Want to See the President!” show people from all walks of life waiting to see President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. They depict U.S. senators, members of the military, the press and even a Miss America biding their time in the West Wing reception area, as they wait to be shown to the Oval Office.

The White House Historical Association spared no expense for the sketches to prevent them from being “lost forever,” such as to a private art collection, its president Stewart McLaurin told The Associated Press. The public will be able to see them through June 2027 at the historical association’s “The People’s House” education center near the White House, he said.

“And since they had been seen by the eyes of so many presidents and first ladies and senior White House staff and important visitors from around the world, we wanted the American people to see them," McLaurin said. “So we acquired them.”

The sketches had been put up for sale by a grandson of the White House official who received them as a gift from Rockwell.

Rockwell is famous for his scenes of American life

Rockwell, who became famous for his illustrations of everyday American life that graced covers of the Saturday Evening Post, spent hours at the White House people-watching from a chair in the West Wing lobby, McLaurin said.

But after his sketches were consumed by a fire that destroyed Rockwell's art studio in Vermont, he went back to the White House to collect more material.

“So it's really a combination of his memories from that first visit, the memories of the second visit,” McLaurin said. “And it is an array of these people representing the military and White House staff and members of Congress and the press corps and all kinds of people that literally, to this day, go through that space in the West Wing.”

The first of Rockwell's colorful sketches opens with scenes of the entrance gate, photographers waiting outside the White House entrance on West Executive Avenue and Stephen Early, a former AP journalist who became the third White House press secretary under Roosevelt, in a huddle with a group of journalists. Seated on red leather chairs and reading papers are members of the press and Rockwell, with a pipe in his mouth and legs outstretched.

The next scene shows Miss America — identified as Rosemary LaPlanche, the 1941 titleholder — in a yellow dress and her sash, sitting on a red sofa alongside her publicity man. A kilt-wearing Scottish officer also sits nearby as a Secret Service agent hovers.

U.S. Sens. Tom Connally, D-Texas, and Warren Austin, R-Vt., face each other in conversation as they sit on a red couch in the third sketch while a U.S. Navy “WAVES” officer looks on from a nearby chair. Gens. Joseph W. “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell and Edwin M. “Pa” Watson shake hands while being photographed, and an aide pushing Roosevelt's lunch cart is chased by Fala, the president's dog.

The final sketch shows more uniformed U.S military members huddled in conversation and, finally, an aide opening the door to the Oval Office, where the president is glimpsed.

“It's such a little aquarium of these people and we're like a fly on the wall as to what it was like at that particular period of time,” McLaurin said of the sketches.

They were a gift for Roosevelt's press secretary

Rockwell made the sketches for Early and gave them to him after they appeared in The Saturday Evening Post in November 1943, during World War II, McLaurin said.

Early, who died in 1951, had displayed them on the wall in his West Wing office and then kept them for many years after. In 1978, a family member turned the sketches over to the White House, where they were on display throughout the West Wing for more than four decades, sometimes in a hallway between the press offices that are mere steps from the Oval Office.

The family’s ownership dispute began in 2017 when Thomas Early, one of the press secretary’s sons, saw them on a wall in the White House while watching a television interview with President Donald Trump, according to court records.

William Elam III, a grandson of Stephen Early, said his mother received the drawings as a gift from her father, the press secretary, before he died, and that ownership had later passed to him.

The illustrations had gone to the White House in 1978 under an agreement that required they be returned to Elam upon request. The White House gave back the drawings in 2022.

A federal appeals court settled the dispute in May 2025, upholding a lower-court ruling in favor of Elam, according to court records. Elam put them up for sale.

Association says the sketches are ‘priceless’

Historians at the association have researched the people in the drawings to learn their stories, McLaurin said, and the exhibit will include a digital component that uses modern technology to bring the characters in the sketches to life.

The association is still figuring out what happens to the sketches after the exhibit ends in June 2027. They may be shown in other venues, and may eventually end up back in the White House, McLaurin said.

When the association learned the sketches were for sale, “our board affirmed that this is an acquisition that we should make,” he said.

McLaurin said the privately funded association, which was founded in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and receives no taxpayer dollars, had feared the sketches would sell for even more than the $7.25 million it paid for them. That is the most the association has ever paid for a work of art for the vast collection it holds as part of its mission to help the White House collect and display artifacts that represent American history and culture.

“In our view, these are priceless works,” McLaurin said.

La demanda, presentada por un grupo de ONGs y la ciudad de París, sostiene que la corporación francesa está infringiendo una ley de 2017 que exige a las empresas prevenir abusos de derechos humanos y riesgos ambientales. Es la primera vez que la llamada ley del deber de vigilancia corporativa se aplica al cambio climático.

Las organizaciones ecologistas Notre Affaire à Tous, Sherpa, ZEA y France Nature Environnement iniciaron el proceso en 2020.

Sostienen que TotalEnergies es uno de los mayores emisores históricos de gases de efecto invernadero y han pedido al tribunal que obligue a la empresa a reducir la producción de petróleo en un 37% y la de gas en un 25% para 2030. La demanda también pide que se paralicen todos los nuevos proyectos relacionados con los combustibles fósiles.

La decisión coincide con una brutal ola de calor en Europa. Las altas temperaturas afectaron también a Reino Unido y España, donde las agencias meteorológicas emitieron alertas rojas —como en Francia— sobre los riesgos del calor extremo para decenas de millones de personas.

La emblemática Torre Eiffel y el museo del Louvre se han visto obligados a restringir los horarios de visita, y los horarios escolares y del transporte se han visto afectados en todo el continente.

El cambio climático causado por el hombre está vinculado a fenómenos meteorológicos cada vez más extremos, y las proyecciones de la agencia climática de Naciones Unidas señalan que es probable que en los próximos cinco años se pulvericen más récords de calor.

Europa es el continente que más rápido se calienta en el mundo, con temperaturas que aumentan al doble de la media global desde la década de 1980, según el Servicio de Cambio Climático Copernicus de la Unión Europea.

Durante los últimos cuatro años, más de 200.000 personas en toda Europa murieron por causas relacionadas con el calor, y la mayoría de esas muertes eran evitables, indicó este mes la oficina para Europa de la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

La decisión será la última en una serie de fallos en casos sobre cambio climático. El año pasado, el máximo tribunal de la ONU, la Corte Internacional de Justicia, señaló que los países podrían estar infringiendo el derecho internacional si no adoptan medidas para proteger al planeta del cambio climático. En 2024, el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos dictaminó que las naciones deben proteger mejor a su población de las consecuencias del cambio climático.

En 2019, la Corte Suprema de los Países Bajos emitió la primera gran victoria legal para los activistas climáticos cuando los jueces dictaminaron que la protección frente a los efectos potencialmente devastadores del cambio climático era un derecho humano y que el gobierno tiene el deber de proteger a sus ciudadanos.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

The lawsuit, brought by a group of NGOs and the city of Paris, argues the French corporation is violating a 2017 law that requires companies to prevent human rights abuses and environmental risks. It is the first time that the so-called corporate duty of vigilance law is being applied to climate change.

Environmental groups Notre Affaire à Tous, Sherpa, ZEA, France Nature Environnement launched the proceedings in 2020.

They claim that TotalEnergies is one of the largest historical emitters of greenhouse gas and have asked the court to require the company to reduce oil production by 37 percent and gas production by 25 percent by 2030. The lawsuit also asks for a halt to all new fossil fuel projects.

The decision comes as Europe is in the midst of a brutal heatwave. Punishing temperatures extended to the United Kingdom and Spain, where weather agencies issued red alerts — like France — about the risks of extreme heat for tens of millions of people.

The iconic Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum have been forced to restrict visiting hours and school and transportation schedules have been interrupted across the continent.

Human-caused climate change is tied to increasingly extreme weather, and U.N. climate agency projections say the next five years are likely to shatter more heat records.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Over the last four years, more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes, and most of those deaths were preventable, the World Health Organization’s Europe office said this month.

The decision will be the latest in a series of rulings in climate change cases. Last year, the United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice, said countries could be in violation of international law if they fail to take measures to protect the planet from climate change. In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change.

In 2019, the Netherlands’ Supreme court handed down the first major legal win for climate activists when judges ruled that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change was a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens.

The development comes as Iran and the United States are increasingly debating the terms of the interim deal signed last week aimed at permanently ending the Iran war — from getting ships through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf to the future of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a 60-day period to iron out the details. Until that happens — during private talks — leaders from both countries will also continue to negotiate in public, raising the risks of derailing the shaky ceasefire in the region.

On a Middle East trip, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Thursday with Gulf Arab officials in Bahrain, the island kingdom home to the Navy's 5th Fleet, trying to assuage their concerns.

The flareup of fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants has threatened the deal. Israel launched an airstrike that killed two people in southern Lebanon Wednesday, the country’s state-run news agency said. It was Israel’s first airstrike on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire took effect on Saturday.

Tankers sail through Strait of Hormuz

The oil tankers, led by the Stoic Warrior vessel, sailed along the coast of the United Arab Emirates and then Oman on Thursday morning, passing by Oman's Musandam Peninsula fairly close to the shore — a route laid out by Oman and the International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency that oversees shipping at sea.

North of the route is the Traffic Separation Scheme corridor, in the center of the strait, where ships had moved through freely before the war, transporting about a fifth of all the world’s oil and natural gas.

However, at least one mine was sighted there after the Guard said that it mined the passage during the war, which started on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — and the threat of mines shuttered the route.

Though some ships had been getting out of the strait, with U.S. military support, the U.N. agency's effort is the latest to free trapped vessels. The shipping company Maersk said its container ship the Maersk Baltimore and another chartered vessel had also made it out of the strait on Thursday.

Last week, 125 vessels crossed the strait, up from 33 the week before, according to marine data and analysis firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Marine data firm Kpler reported 70 passages on Wednesday, the highest since March 1, the day after the war began.

Still, that is below the daily average of 130 or more from before the war.

“Opportunistic operators — and there are many of them — emboldened by the lower transit risk, or at least the perceived lower transit risk, have begun chasing the backlog of trapped cargoes that built up during the conflict,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at Lloyd’s List.

Iran issues a stark threat

The naval arm of the Revolutionary Guard, apparently reacting to the new IMO's route and the increased traffic, issued an angry warning Thursday, carried by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

“A few hours ago, without notice or coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some authorities announced a new route for ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is unacceptable and completely dangerous,” the Guard said.

“It is hereby notified to all that the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Iranian force said. "Vessel traffic outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited.”

“Violators will be dealt with,” it added, without elaborating.

There were no immediate reports of any incidents in the strait. On Wednesday, however, the Guard threatened one tanker over the radio, with a soldier warning “you are in range of my missiles and maybe (I) fire on you," according to the private security firm Ambrey.

Rubio says the US will ensure there are no tolls on ships

The U.S. secretary of state met with foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to assure them their interests would be protected in any agreement reached with Iran.

“There is no part in this deal that’s undertaken that in any way undermines the security, the stability or the prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region,” Rubio said.

He later told journalists the U.S. and Gulf allies would ensure there would be no fees charged on ships moving through the strait.

He also criticized Iran's hard-liners for going “on their official media and making all kinds of pronouncements” that he described as not true.

He said the U.S. wanted to make sure the Oman route continued for ships to transit the strait. “If that stops, then we’re going to have a problem," Rubio said.

The GCC countries have expressed reservations about the limitation of the U.S.-Iran deal signed last week, including conflicting claims over the strait and the fact that the memorandum of understanding does not specifically cover Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programs.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani thanked the U.S. for its support, saying that because of the agreement, “today we see a glimmer of hope for our region” but stressed that it was "critically important that Iran adheres to its obligations.”

Lebanon remains a flashpoint

Israel’s military said on Thursday that a reservist soldier was killed and another hurt in southern Lebanon, where troops are occupying swaths of the country. At least 37 soldiers have been killed in Lebanon or northern Israel during the fighting, as well one civilian defense contractor. Two civilians in northern Israel have also been killed.

Over 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes since this latest Israel-Hezbollah war began in March, two days after the Iran war started and when the Lebanese militant group fired at Israel.

___

Lee reported from Manama, Bahrain. Associated Press writers David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Los terremotos de magnitud 7,2 y 7,5 del miércoles por la noche, entre los más fuertes que han golpeado Venezuela en más de un siglo, pudieron sentirse en toda la región. El principal aeropuerto del país resultó dañado y fue cerrado, y se evacuaron edificios en lugares tan lejanos como la Amazonía de Brasil, a unos 1.700 kilómetros (1.050 millas) de la capital venezolana, Caracas.

Las transmisiones de televisión del jueves mostraron imágenes de rescatistas usando herramientas eléctricas para abrirse paso entre montones de escombros donde antes había edificios. Residentes aterrorizados de la capital salieron en masa a las calles y, tras los sismos, muchas personas caminaban entre los escombros buscando a los desaparecidos entre edificios colapsados y postes eléctricos caídos.

Imágenes en la televisora estatal mostraron a tres niños, cubiertos de polvo pero con vida, que recibían ayuda para salir de entre los escombros en el estado de La Guaira, que la presidenta encargada, Delcy Rodríguez, describió como una “zona de desastre” y una de las áreas más afectadas por los sismos debido al gran número de edificios colapsados.

Rodríguez, quien dio el balance de muertos más recientes a primera hora del jueves, dijo que las autoridades estaban trasladando equipos de rescate desde otras partes del país hacia La Guaira, que se encuentra en la costa al norte de Caracas. Señaló que los funcionarios intentaban aprovechar al máximo las horas de luz para acelerar los esfuerzos de rescate de personas que se cree que permanecen atrapadas bajo los escombros.

“Hay decenas de edificios colapsados", indicó Rodríguez, que describió "labores muy arduas de rescate para salvar las vidas”.

Un video compartido en internet parecía mostrar a decenas de personas, algunas acostadas en el suelo y otras en camas de hospital, recibiendo atención fuera de un hospital en La Guaira.

Aunque Venezuela se encuentra cerca de múltiples fallas, su posición a caballo entre las placas Sudamericana y del Caribe hace que los terremotos fuertes sean mucho menos comunes que en otras partes de América Latina.

Rodríguez pidió a las empresas que pusieran a disposición equipo pesado de construcción para las operaciones de rescate, y añadió que equipos de búsqueda y rescate certificados por las Naciones Unidas se dirigían a Venezuela para ayudar.

Dos fuertes sismos conmocionan a vecinos de Caracas

Durante los sismos, la gente evacuó edificios que oscilaban en Caracas, muchos visiblemente conmocionados al ver muros derrumbados que dejaban ver los muebles desde la calle. Columnas de polvo se elevaron en dos barrios típicamente concurridos de la capital.

El Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos dijo que el primer terremoto, con una magnitud de 7,2, tuvo su epicentro al oeste de Morón, en la costa caribeña del país, unos 170 kilómetros (105 millas) al oeste de Caracas. El sismo ocurrió a una profundidad de 22 kilómetros (unos 14 millas). Apenas un minuto después , el USGS reportó un segundo terremoto de magnitud 7,5, con una profundidad de 10 kilómetros (unas 6 millas) y un epicentro a 16 kilómetros (10 millas) al suroeste de Morón.

El ministro del Interior, Diosdado Cabello, instó a la gente a permanecer al aire libre, ya que las réplicas podrían dañar aún más las estructuras, y muchas personas permanecieron en las calles durante horas, algunas sentadas en el suelo abrazando a sus mascotas mientras el polvo se acumulaba a su alrededor. En el centro de Caracas, cientos de personas pasaron la noche apiñadas alrededor de parques, estacionamientos y otros espacios abiertos. Las autoridades advirtieron que no regresen a las casas con daños estructurales.

“Teníamos miedo que los edificios se nos vinieran encima”, dijo María Cristina Díaz, una trabajadora de limpieza de 41 años. “ Pasamos frío mi mamá, mi hija y yo. No pegamos un ojo; pero no quería pasar la noche solas en casa después de ese terrible temblor”.

“Terrible, lloramos, gritamos, afortunadamente estamos vivas”, acotó.

Díaz y su familia acudieron a la plaza Candelaria, en el centro de Caracas, porque es uno de los pocos lugares despejados en las cercanías de su casa.

Partes de la capital se quedaron sin electricidad y sin cobertura de celular, y los terremotos dañaron y obligaron a cerrar el Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar, el principal del país, dijo Rodríguez.

En Caracas se suspendieron los servicios de metro y de gas natural, dijo. Las clases también se cancelarán durante varios días, y el Ministerio de Educación dijo que algunos edificios escolares se usarían como refugios y centros de donación.

En la mañana del jueves, decenas de personas lidiaban con la falta de señal de celular en partes de Venezuela mientras recurrían a las redes sociales para localizar a familiares desaparecidos.

Varios gobiernos ofrecen asistencia

Rodríguez declaró el estado de emergencia en un mensaje a la nación a última hora del miércoles. Dijo que el gobierno estaba creando un fondo de reconstrucción de 200 millones de dólares para hospitales y viviendas dañados por los terremotos, y que había dado instrucciones a los ministros de Economía y Finanzas de que supervisaran la iniciativa.

Las ofertas de ayuda llegaron de países de todo el mundo.

El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, dijo que Estados Unidos “despliega de inmediato equipos de búsqueda y rescate, recursos médicos y ayuda humanitaria a Venezuela”.

“Tendremos toda una respuesta del gobierno”, dijo Rubio el jueves en Baréin. “Será grande. Será rápida. Será eficaz”.

Añadió que una de las pistas del aeropuerto internacional de Caracas se había agrietado en los terremotos, lo que complicaba aterrizar allí.

Rodríguez —quien se convirtió en presidenta encargada después de que una operación militar estadounidense capturara a su predecesor, Nicolás Maduro, y lo llevara a Estados Unidos para ser juzgado— agradeció al presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump. Dijo más tarde en una publicación en X que habló con Rubio por teléfono, pero no compartió detalles. También expresó su agradecimiento a los líderes de varias naciones que han enviado mensajes de apoyo y ofrecimientos de ayuda.

Ecuador ordenó la entrega de ayuda humanitaria, y Rodríguez dijo que Qatar, México y El Salvador ya habían enviado personal de rescate.

“Les enviamos toda nuestra solidaridad y nuestras oraciones. Fuerza Venezuela”, escribió en una publicación en X el presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, antes diametralmente opuesto al gobierno de Venezuela.

___

García Cano informó desde Bogotá, Colombia. Los periodistas de The Associated Press Clara Preve en Buenos Aires; Astrid Suárez en Bogotá, Colombia; Mauricio Savarese en Sao Paulo; Anna-Catherine Brigida, Megan Janetsky e India Grant en Ciudad de México; Cristina Fuentes-Cantillana en Madrid; y María Teresa Hernandez en Beijing contribuyeron a este reporte.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues and brought much of the chamber’s business to a halt. He exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure.

Hours later, though, Cassidy was invited to receive a personal briefing on the war at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff. Cassidy then returned to the Capitol to vote against a separate but nearly identical war powers resolution.

“I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran. I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” said Cassidy, who lost reelection last month after Trump endorsed his opponent, in a post on X.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who has repeatedly voted with Democrats to halt the war, voted present this time “to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace,” he said on X. The measure failed 47-50-1 just before midnight on Wednesday, and the Senate then left town for a two-week recess.

It's unclear whether the move will be enough to appease Trump, who had called the Republicans “losers" for voting against his war and had called Cassidy a “lunatic” at the lunch after their tense exchange. But the vote was a clear signal to the president from Republican senators who still want to placate him, despite increasing tensions in recent weeks and his decision Wednesday morning to reverse himself and delay signing a housing bill that received overwhelming bipartisan support.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and a small group of his Senate GOP colleagues called Trump after the vote. Thune told reporters that the president was “pleased with the outcome."

Trump later thanked Thune in a social media post and noted that Cassidy and Paul had switched their votes. “This vote puts Iran on notice!” he wrote.

The war powers measure blocked by the Senate on Wednesday was on a separate track from the nearly identical resolution adopted on Tuesday, which had also been passed by the House. Both votes were largely symbolic, and the measures do not carry the full force of law.

Cassidy had sharp words for Trump

Invited by Florida Sen. Rick Scott to speak at a GOP luncheon in the Capitol, Trump had signaled ahead of time that he would use the closed-door meeting to push senators to pass his proof-of-citizenship voting bill. But the conversation was more focused on Tuesday’s vote on war powers.

Most Republicans stayed quiet. But Cassidy stood up and defended his vote.

“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on,’” Cassidy told reporters after the meeting. “This was supposed to last four weeks, it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved.”

The two men “went back and forth,” Cassidy said, and he “matched his tone and volume." Cassidy said that he eventually de-escalated, but he did not want to be bullied.

“I am voting for war powers until I get a briefing,” he said afterward.

Trump repeatedly told Cassidy to sit down, according to a person familiar with the private meeting who was not authorized to discuss it. At one point, the president called the senator a “lunatic."

Publicly, Trump said afterward that they had “a really great meeting." But he hinted at the discord.

“We like everyone in the room," Trump told reporters on his way out. "I don’t like a few people, but that’s OK.”

The luncheon capped weeks of friction between Trump and Senate Republicans and added a new layer of frustration as Tuesday's vote was the first time the Senate had adopted a war powers resolution on the Iran war. Trump made clear he was in no mood to compromise before it even started, calling off a scheduled signing ceremony on a housing bill that passed both chambers overwhelmingly this week and that GOP lawmakers were touting as an election-year achievement.

Trump reverses on housing bill

Republican senators were eager for a conciliatory meeting with the president after escalating tensions in recent weeks. But Trump upended their plans when he declared on social media just beforehand that he wouldn't sign the legislation until they send him the SAVE America Act, his bill to require proof of citizenship for all voters.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he doesn't know why Trump is holding the housing bill “hostage” for the voting bill that “will never pass in this Congress.”

“It makes no sense to me,” Tillis said as he walked into the luncheon.

Thune said the housing legislation, which aims to lower costs, is “an affordability issue,” and that ”eventually I hope he finds a way to sign it.”

It's unclear if Trump might veto the legislation or if the late Wednesday night vote will change his outlook. But by rejecting a public bill signing, Republicans worry that Trump is indicating a level of indifference to voters’ affordability concerns heading into November’s midterm elections.

Trump and Senate Republicans have been at odds

Trump's move on the housing bill is his latest reversal after weeks of being at odds with Senate Republicans.

Trump has blocked the Senate from confirming one of his own nominees, asked them to fund parts of his White House ballroom project despite opposition and forced them to defend the Iran war even as they question the strategy and endgame.

Trump has also helped whittle down his own support in the Senate after endorsing primary challengers to two GOP incumbents who were previously reliable votes for his agenda — Cassidy and Texas Sen. John Cornyn. Both men have become more critical of Trump since losing reelection.

“If we’re going to win the midterm elections, we need to get on the same page,” Cornyn said ahead of the meeting. “We’re not on the same page now, and that I think is dangerous.”

Trump pushes Thune on SAVE America Act

Trump has pressed Republicans for months to kill the Senate filibuster and focus on the proof-of-citizenship voting bill, even though Thune has repeatedly told him that neither has the votes.

While Thune remains popular in his conference and cordial with the president, he has spent much of his time lately telling Trump what he doesn’t want to hear. Thune said Tuesday that while Trump and some in their conference want to see the voting bill pass, “it’s just not realistic.”

Thune devoted weeks of floor time to the voting bill earlier this year and has said he supports it. But he has repeatedly said there aren’t enough votes to scrap the filibuster that triggers a 60-vote threshold to pass most bills in the 53-47 Senate. And Democrats are uniformly opposed to the bill.

“I think people at some point have to come to grips with that,” Thune said.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Oil prices slipped closer to where they were before the war with Iran began.

Qualcomm’s share price surged 11.5% in pre-market trading after the company announced it had raised its forecast for revenue this year to $40 billion from $22 billion. It also announced a new computer chip for data centers called Dragonfly C1000 CPU that Meta plans to use.

Micron Technology's shares jumped 17% in premarket trading after it upgraded its forecast and exceeded analysts' estimates.

The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.8%, while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.3%.

Germany's DAX advanced 0.7% to 24,904.98. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.5% to 8,429.37 and Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.3% to 10,495.81.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index surged 4.6% to a record close of 72,366.34 as traders snapped up shares in technology companies. Chipmaker Tokyo Electron's shares gained 7.8%, while chip testing equipment maker Advantest's shares soared 15%.

South Korea's benchmark, the Kospi, hit a new record, surging 5.4% to 8,930.30 after briefly topping 9,000. Samsung Electronics' shares gained 5.3% and SK Hynix leaped 13%.

Elsewhere in Asia, gains were more modest.

Taiwan's Taiex climbed 0.5% and the Sensex in India was up 0.7%.

The Shanghai Composite index picked up 0.2% to 4,120.28, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.4% to 23,076.91.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.7% to 8,748.70.

On Wednesday, stocks wavered to a mixed close on Wall Street as losses for several tech giants including Microsoft weighed on the market. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is less weighted with tech stocks, rose 10.4%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 0.4%.

Microsoft lost 2.3% and Oracle slumped 4.6%.

Many large tech companies have been behind Wall Street’s record-setting run throughout the year, but analysts have warned their valuations may have become stretched.

Google’s parent company Alphabet slipped 0.2%. The company is replacing Verizon in the Dow on Monday. Its inclusion in the S&P 500 means more to investors, however, because 401(k) accounts are much more likely to include an S&P 500 index fund than anything tied to the Dow.

Alphabet will become the fifth Magnificent 7 tech company to join the Dow. The others are Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia.

Oil companies had some of the biggest losses as prices fell while the U.S. and Iran negotiate a possible end to their war. Exxon Mobil fell 2% and Chevron lost 2.6%. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 3.8% to $73.87 a barrel. It has been trading below $80 in recent days but is still above the roughly $70 per barrel it was trading at in late February before the war began.

U.S. crude prices fell 3.9% to $70.34 a barrel.

Early Thursday, Brent was down 1.2% at $72.97 a barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude lost 1.2% to $69.51 a barrel.

Some of the bigger winners on Wall Street included homebuilders following approval of legislation beneficial to the industry. KB Home surged 16.7% and D.R. Horton jumped 6.7%.

The Federal Reserve will get an update on inflation later Thursday, when its preferred measure for prices is released. Economists expect the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, or PCE, to show that prices rose 4.1% in May. That would be the highest level in three years.

Inflation has been rising as tariffs raise costs for many goods. It worsened as the war pushed energy and shipping prices higher and that impact is expected to linger even as oil and gasoline prices fall.

In other dealings early Thursday, the U.S. dollar rose to 161.83 Japanese yen from 161.79 yen. The euro fell to $1.1354 from $1.1359.

Wednesday evening’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century and could be felt throughout the region. The country's main airport was damaged and closed, while buildings were evacuated in places as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

Television broadcasts Thursday showed rescue workers using power tools to work their way into piles of rubble where buildings once stood. Panicked residents of the capital were sent pouring into the streets, and after the quakes many people walked among the debris searching for the missing among collapsed buildings and toppled electric poles.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who gave the latest death toll early Thursday, said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which sits north of Caracas on the coast. Officials were trying to make the most of the daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under the rubble, she said.

Footage on state TV showed three children, covered in dust but alive, pulled from the rubble in La Guaira state, which Rodríguez described as a “disaster zone” and one of the areas hardest hit by the quakes because of the large number of collapsed buildings.

“Dozens of buildings have collapsed there ... and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives,” Rodríguez said.

Video shared online appeared to show dozens of people, some lying on the ground and others on hospital beds, being treated outside a hospital in La Guaira.

While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.

Rodríguez appealed to businesses to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, adding that search and rescue teams certified by the United Nations were on their way to Venezuela.

Caracas residents reeling from two strong quakes

During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings in Caracas, many visibly shocked when they turned back to see destroyed walls that left furniture visible from the street. Columns of dust rose in two typically busy neighborhoods in the capital.

“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, hit west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas. It had a depth of 22 kilometers (about 14 miles). Just a minute later, USGS reported a second 7.5 magnitude earthquake just a minute later, with a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) and an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moron.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage structures, and many people stayed on the streets for hours, some sitting on the ground hugging pets as dust gathered around them. In downtown Caracas, hundreds of people spent the night huddled around parks, parking lots and other open spaces. Authorities warned against returning to homes with structural damage.

“We were afraid the buildings would collapse on us,” said María Cristina Díaz, a 41-year-old janitor. “My mother, my daughter and I were cold. We didn’t sleep a wink; but I didn’t want to spend the night alone at home after that terrible earthquake.”

“It was awful. We cried, we screamed. Thankfully, we’re alive,” she added.

Díaz and her family rushed to Plaza Candelaria in downtown Caracas because it’s one of the few open areas near her home.

Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone coverage, and the earthquakes damaged and closed Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main airport, Rodríguez said.

In Caracas, subway services were suspended and natural gas shut off, she said. Classes will also be canceled for several days, and the Ministry of Education said some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers.

On Thursday morning scores of people battled with lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela as they took to social media to track down missing family members.

Several governments offered assistance

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday. She said the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes damaged by the earthquakes, and had instructed the economy and finance ministers to oversee the effort.

Offers of help poured in from countries around the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”

“We will have a whole government response,” Rubio said Thursday in Bahrain. “It will be big. It will be fast. It will be effective.”

He added that one of the runways at Caracas’ international airport was cracked in the earthquake, making landing aircraft there difficult.

Rodríguez — who became acting president after an American military operation captured her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, and brought him to the U.S. to stand trial — thanked U.S. President Donald Trump. She said in an X post later that she spoke with Rubio by phone without sharing details. She also expressed thanks to the leaders of various nations who have sent messages of support and offers of help.

Ecuador ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid, and Rodríguez said Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador had already sent rescue personnel.

“We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, once diametrically opposed to Venezuela’s government, wrote in a post on X.

___

Garcia Cano reported from Bogota, Colombia. Associated Press writers Clara Preve in Buenos Aires; Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia; Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo; Anna-Catherine Brigida, Megan Janetsky and India Grant in Mexico City; Cristina Fuentes in Madrid; and Maria Teresa Hernandez in Beijing contributed to this report.

Annual day of Ashoura commemorations are observed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram in the lunar-based Islamic calendar. In Shiite communities, Ashoura is viewed as a symbol of struggle against injustice and tyranny.

This year, Muharram and Ashoura follow the war in Iran, where the population is overwhelmingly Shiite, and an interim deal to end it. In Lebanon, many Shiites have been marking Muharram after the devastation inflicted during the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

“The gathering every year and the reaffirming of collective memory and collective grief allows every year for the story and the message to adapt to its current context,” said Noor Zehra Zaidi, an assistant professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who focuses on Shiite Islam.

A period of mourning, remembrance and deep resonance

Shiite Ashoura commemorations mark the death of Imam Hussein, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala, in present-day Iraq. He fought against the army of then Caliph Yazid, to whom Hussein had refused to pledge allegiance.

Hussein’s killing is seen as having cemented the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, which stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Muhammad’s successors as caliph, or leader. The Shiites wanted the caliphate to descend through Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law and Hussein’s father.

To Shiites, who make up the second-largest branch of Islam after the Sunni majority, the killing holds deep religious and historical resonance and plays a key role in shaping identity.

Gatherings, processions and grief rituals

In the U.S., many Shiites of various racial and ethnic backgrounds gather for assemblies where they typically listen to recitations of the Quran, elegies, lamentations and lectures.

"In many communities, emotional lamentation and weeping are considered acts of devotion because they express solidarity with the suffering (of) the Prophet’s household,” Zaidi said.

U.S. communities embody a lot of the diversity of rituals seen across the Shiite world, she said.

“Our community comes to life. It pulsates with a beautiful group unity, where everybody comes together,” said Adam Almaleky in Michigan. “It’s a program of self-development, self-purification, gaining closeness to God through Hussein.”

In Texas, 23-year-old Sakina Ali attends the gatherings, which are also held in other parts of the world, with four generations of her family. “We learn and we mourn,” she said, adding the atmosphere gives her goose bumps.

Around the world, mourning rituals of Muharram and Ashoura can include rhythmic chest-thumping or beating in unison and public processions. Some Shiites self-flagellate and draw their own blood in public mourning practices that are controversial, fervently upheld by some while shunned or opposed by other Shiites.

In Iraq, pilgrims converge on the holy city of Karbala, site of the battle and home to a shrine to Hussein. Large volunteer service stations there feed pilgrims, Zaidi said, adding that distributing food and drink is one of the most universal practices.

“One of the remarkable enduring features of Ashoura commemorations is the way that rituals and communities reflect local cultures, traditions and languages while still remaining centered on Karbala,” she said.

Some donate blood

As part of the Texas team of Who is Hussain, a London-based charity with teams in dozens of cities around the world, Ali has been helping organize a blood drive during this year's Muharram commemorations.

“It’s to save lives. It’s to do good in the name of Hussein,” she said. “Since this is such an emotional time and the community is coming out from everywhere … the impact is much bigger.”

Hussein, she said, "sacrificed his life … for morality and for justice,” adding, “If he did all of that, I can do good in my community as well, following his example.”

These blood drives happen elsewhere in the U.S. and beyond. Mustafa Jafri’s mosque in New Jersey has been organizing them for many years.

“We do it really to honor Imam Hussein and his companions and his family,” said Jafri, a physician and a board director at Masjid-e-Ali. “He gave his blood to stand against injustice and so we resonate and want to give our blood to save lives.”

It’s a practical way, he said, to translate some of Hussein’s values into action and to give back. The drives, he said, often also attract some non-Muslims from the community to donate blood.

Zaidi said the blood drives are a more modern phenomenon in Shiite commemorations.

Many say they draw inspiration and lessons from Hussein’s legacy

Jafri said it’s a time to reflect on how to better oneself and on "tackling injustices that are all throughout the world.”

Almaleky, team leader with Who is Hussain in Michigan, said that from Hussein, “I learn altruism. I learn principle. I learn dedication."

Even following tragedy, he added, “we continue to draw energy as a community, and no matter how difficult this world becomes, it doesn’t compare in the difficulty that the family of Hussein ibn Ali faced and Hussein and his companions faced.”

___

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.

Arnold, 23, is accused of being the “primary conspirator” before three men in their late teens were held at gunpoint, battered and pistol-whipped in February in Tampa, the city's police department said in a statement. Some of their belongings were stolen, police said.

Arnold is facing four counts of a weapon-related charge and four more counts of a charge related to kidnapping, harming or terrorizing, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest records.

Tampa police had already arrested six others suspected of being part of the targeted armed robbery. Two of them have pleaded guilty and the other four are being held without bond, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, which represents Arnold, said he denies being involved.

“There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations," White said in a statement. “Instead, the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.”

In early February, Arnold and a few of his friends had reported more than $250,000 worth of their property being stolen from an Airbnb in Largo, police said.

Arnold believed that two men in their late teens had been behind it, although investigators later determined this was not the case, police said.

Hours after reporting the theft, Arnold orchestrated the kidnapping and robbery, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Arnold and his friends worked to get the men, along with another, to an apartment on Feb. 4, police said. Initially, two of Arnold’s friends held them at gunpoint and hit them, while another streamed it to Arnold, police said. Later, when the assault was still going on, Arnold also came to the apartment, police said. His other friends stole some of the victims’ belongings, police said.

The victims reported the robbery to police.

“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands," State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement. "A dispute over missing property does not justify kidnapping, violence, or retaliation."

Arnold is a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions who was a first-round pick in the 2024 draft after playing at the University of Alabama. He is from Florida.

The Lions said in a statement Wednesday night that they were aware of the situation but would not be commenting at this time.

“Arnold is facing multiple felony charges which carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison,” according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

Arnold turned himself in to law enforcement on Wednesday. He is expected to make his first appearance in Hillsborough County court Thursday afternoon, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Swanson had a go-ahead RBI triple and four RBIs to cap the monster doubleheader and lead the Cubs to a sweep of the reeling New York Mets with a 10-5 win.

Swanson hit a three-run homer and a grand slam in the Cubs’ 10-3 victory in the opener. The 11 RBIs in a doubleheader are a franchise record, breaking the mark of 10 set by Hall of Famer Ron Santo on July 6, 1970.

The only other player in team history with a nine-RBI doubleheader is also a Hall of Famer — Billy Williams, who did it on Aug. 21, 1968.

“A dream come true, just being able to have your name next to those guys,” Swanson said. “It’s amazing and special.”

The 11 RBIs are tied for the third-most in a doubleheader. Nate Colbert had 13 RBIs for the San Diego Padres on Aug. 1, 1972, a mark equaled by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Mark Whiten on Sept. 7, 1993.

“Dansby had an incredible day of baseball offensively, for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s fun to see.”

Swanson also homered Tuesday night and has three homers and 15 RBIs in the first three games of the series, which is slated to conclude Thursday night.

The 15 RBIs are the most ever by a Cubs player in a series of four or fewer games since 1920, when the RBI became an official statistic, and are the most by a Chicago player in a series of any length since Kiki Cuyler, another Hall of Famer, had 15 RBIs in a five-game set in 1932.

The 15 RBIs over the last three games are also the most ever by a shortstop, breaking the mark of 14 RBIs set by Nomar Garciaparra with the Boston Red Sox from May 10-12, 1999. The only other Cubs player with at least 15 RBIs in a three-game span is Sammy Sosa, who had 16 RBIs from Aug. 10-12, 2002.

“I couldn’t tell you a game that I’ve had like this,” Swanson said. “It’s one that you honestly dream about.

“Just very, very grateful.”

The three-game surge snapped a lengthy slump for Swanson, who entered Tuesday hitting .178 with three homers and 14 RBIs in his last 48 games dating back to April 24. Swanson is batting just .202 with a .688 OPS this season — down considerably from his career marks of .251 and .732, respectively, entering 2026.

“You say process, process, process and stick to it, but every player is aware of how they’re producing and helping the team,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He’s been so consistent and persistent. That doesn’t guarantee results, but man, does it feel good when those come through.”

Yet with 11 homers and 46 RBIs through 80 games, Swanson is more than halfway to his fifth 20-homer season and almost halfway to his career-high of 96 RBIs, set during his final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2022.

“That’s why the game sometimes, like, drives you crazy,” Counsell said. “Because if you probably look at Dansby’s season right now, it’s kind of a normal season for Dansby. Maybe the batting average is a little bit low, but probably all the other numbers are right around where he’s been the last couple years. It’s just been peaks and valleys for him.

“The good times, you’ve got to take advantage of them. And when you have days like that and you’re kind of the primary driver of offense, that’s going to win your team games.”

___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Democratic leaders aren't so sure that's a good thing.

As progressives cheered across the nation, some of the most powerful Democrats in the country, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, downplayed the impact of Mamdani's victories on Tuesday, when the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor's slate of congressional candidates defeated three establishment favorites — including two incumbents — in primary contests. He had even more victories in state legislative races, where he successfully backed five other candidates.

It was a stunning sweep for Mamdani, just six months into his first term, that will expand his influence in Washington and Albany. The mayor said Wednesday that he hopes to export his policies and politics to other states, while demanding major changes across the Democratic Party.

“Working people are struggling across the country," Mamdani said. He added that he hopes to help “write a new chapter in our party’s history, where working people are back at the heart of that struggle. And I I believe that will be key in not just the midterms coming up in November, but also in the years to come."

The mixed reaction from Democratic leaders as they grappled with the fallout from Mamdani's success exposed the depth of the divide between the party’s progressive and establishment wings, who are at odds over how Democrats should govern — and how to win elections — over the final two years of the Donald Trump presidency.

Indeed, Democrats hope to avoid an all-out intraparty civil war ahead of the November midterms, especially with Republicans fighting amongst themselves over Trump's war in Iran, how to address the affordability crunch and the president's costly efforts to build a massive White House ballroom.

Democrats aren't sure which direction to take

The Mamdani resistance from senior Democrats was not subtle.

“The effort to nationalize New York is going to fail,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “What’s happening in New York will be really irrelevant by the time of the elections in November.”

Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, a vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition, was similarly dismissive, saying progressives were playing checkers while moderates were playing chess.

“No one in DSA is trying to win in a red-to-blue seat, or in a tough general election matchup,” Veasey said, referring to democratic socialist candidates.

Democrats' left flank said the party's latest nominees should be welcomed with open arms.

“What I would like to see, and what I think would be actually productive and beneficial, is a congratulations to these people, a commitment to welcome them in, to understanding the perspectives that they bring,” said Rep. Summer Lee, a 38-year-old progressive from Pennsylvania.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who campaigned alongside Mamdani and his allies last week, said New York's results sent a clear message.

“The American people, in New York and increasingly all over the country, are sick and tired of status quo establishment politics,” he said. “I think you’re gonna continue to see it.”

Trump saw an opportunity to stir the pot from the Oval Office, telling reporters that the Democrats were “going radical left” and Mamdani's choices are “really communist.”

He marveled at the defeat of Rep. Dan Goldman, a former top lawyer during Democrats' first impeachment of Trump. Goldman was defeated by Brad Lander, an ally of Mamdani.

“When they go more liberal than Dan Goldman, they’re really into Never Neverland,” he said.

‘Voters are just pissed off’

Mamdani backed three anti-establishment congressional challengers in a political gamble that his own team acknowledged was risky. He won them all.

Goldman, a two-term incumbent, was swiftly defeated by Lander, a former city comptroller.

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, was toppled by Mamdani’s most polarizing pick, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who once helped organize pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

Antonio Reynoso, the handpicked successor of U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, lost to another democratic socialist, Assembly Member Claire Valdez.

The entire Mamdani slate promised to “abolish ICE,” condemned Israel's “genocide” in Gaza and vowed to “tax the rich."

“Voters are just pissed off," Lander said in an interview. "They want people who show who they’re fighting for, and really get out and fight for things that matter in the lives of working people.”

Cheering the extent of Mamdani's success, progressive leaders called on the Democratic Party's leadership in Washington — and its next crop of presidential candidates — to adopt meaningful changes in the weeks and months ahead.

Indeed, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a potential presidential candidate, said it would be “silly” for his party not to draw meaningful conclusions from New York's results.

“The voters are clearly telling us they want us to be bolder — bolder in the policies we’re proposing and bolder in the tactics we use to fight authoritarians," he said.

And yet the Mamdani critics within the party were not hard to find.

Jeffries, who is in line to become the next House speaker if Democrats win the House majority this fall, reiterated his opposition to Mamdani’s slate in repeated interviews and media appearances.

“He’s got work to do in terms of the conversations that he’s going to have with members of Congress moving forward,” Jeffries, the No. 1 House Democrat jabbed, even as he said they have a good working relationship.

Republicans are paying attention

Giddy House Republican operatives vowed to weaponize Mamdani and his slate to undercut the Democratic brand in competitive midterm elections across the country, while other Republican officials warned their party to pay attention to this pivotal moment in the nation's politics.

“Republicans need to wake up. What we saw last night in New York can only be called one thing: a socialist uprising sweeping the Democrat Party,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio. “If Republicans don’t act now, we will lose this country as we know it.”

Meanwhile, Trump seemed to worry more about Mamdani’s growing national profile than his democratic socialist policies.

“Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists, and has received loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media. Congratulations Mr. Mayor!” the Republican president wrote on social media. “I went 16-0 last night, helping to elect wonderful American Patriots, and the Media doesn’t say a word.”

Meanwhile, Mamdani dismissed broader concerns that his success would undermine the Democratic Party's fight to win control of Congress this fall.

“We’ve heard from Republicans time and again that they’re going to try and make these candidates the face of the Democratic Party. To them, I say that we are ready for that," he said. “For far too long we have been told that it is not possible to fight for working people and win. These candidates have shown that they can.”

And yet some Democrats were clear-eyed about the work that lies ahead to bring the party together as new divisions flared in the wake of Mamdani's success.

“We have to respect the voters. They made their decision,” said Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont.

“The challenge that we have,” he continued, “is to build the different points of view together, all in service of helping people who are struggling to pay their bills to get more economic security. The challenge of unity is enormous. But that’s our challenge.”

___

Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Steven Sloan contributed to this report.

Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in A.D. 680 Imam Hussein was killed with his family and companions after refusing to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate.

The event cemented the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam and remains a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression and injustice.

The holiest day in the Shiite calendar

This year, Ashoura comes after months of war in Iran and Lebanon, homes to two of the world’s largest Shiite populations. Iran and the U.S. this week launched talks aimed at finalizing a fragile ceasefire agreement.

On the first day of the war, on Feb. 28, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The 86-year-old Khamenei was not just Iran’s top political leader. He also had a final say on all religious matters and was revered by millions of Shiites worldwide. Ashoura comes just days before his funeral procession.

The war also spilled over into Lebanon, where Iran’s key ally, the Hezbollah militant group, has been battling Israeli troops for months.

Hezbollah entered the fighting days into the war by firing rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Tehran. That sparked widespread Israeli aerial bombardment and a ground invasion that decimated large swaths of predominantly Shiite areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Ashoura comes as many of the more than one million displaced Lebanese people are trying to return to their villages in southern Lebanon. Cities and towns had held sermons and events in the buildup to the holy day surrounded by buildings reduced to rubble and ruins.

Ashoura is the holiest day in the Shiite calendar, marked by traditional mourning rituals that include chest-beating, elegies and lamentations. It is held on the 10th day of the month of Muharram.

Visitors arrive at Imam Hussein's shrine

In Karbala, the southern Iraqi city holy to Shiite Muslims, security was tightened as visitors arrived. Religious banners flew from the walls of Imam Hussein’s golden-domed shrine and actors played out scenes from the 7th century.

“We see all kinds of people here and they don’t lack food, drinks or services, thanks to God, despite the massive gathering,” Redha Nouri, who traveled from Ahwaz in Iran, said. “There will be more crowds coming tomorrow, but the Iraqi people are here and will serve them.”

Mourners observe the holy day in Iran

In war-stricken Iran, black-clad mourners filled streets, mosques and neighborhood religious halls across Tehran for a public holiday that brought much of the capital to a halt.

Shops were shuttered in many areas as processions of men beating their chests marched past and loudspeakers played elegies. Volunteers handed out tea and dates.

The previous evening mourners had gathering at the shrine of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini south of Tehran in a ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials, Iranian state media reported. Khomeini led the 1979 revolution that ushered in Iran’s Islamic republic.

In a social media post laden with an apparent message of resistance to the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Pezeshkian noted how Hussein taught people to stand against oppression, the temptation of power and the pursuit of self-interest.

“We should neither oppress, nor accept oppression, nor remain silent before it,” he wrote.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force, Gen. Esmail Ghaani, invoked the “spirit of Ashoura” in warning Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon or face defeat.

The annual ceremonies came as Iran’s leadership continues to draw on Ashoura’s language of sacrifice and resistance at a time of deep political and economic pressure.

The faithful in Lebanon attend sermons and visit graves

Families in the Lebanese coastal city of Tyre who lost relatives fighting with Hezbollah or working as paramedics wept during a sermon on the third day of Muharram. A cleric, who sat between portraits of current Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Kassem, compared the struggles the modern-day leaders faced in the war to that of Hussein and his companions in Karbala.

Banners in red and black bearing Hussein’s name were hung on every street.

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, many flocked to the grave of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in September 2024.

Security is raised in Pakistan to protect the Shiite minority

Elsewhere, Pakistan deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across the country following intelligence reports warning of possible militant attacks on Shiite Muslims, a minority in the predominantly Sunni country.

Although most Sunnis and Shiites live peacefully alongside one another, militant groups have repeatedly targeted Shiite communities, mosques, and religious gatherings in sectarian attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives.

As members of Pakistan’s Shiite minority prepare to take part in mourning processions, mobile phone service in some areas is expected to be suspended temporarily to help prevent attacks.

“Imam Hussein is a symbol of the highest struggle and sacrifice,” said Saadia Shah, 33, as she entered a congregation hall in the eastern city of Lahore with her two children. “His name gives us the courage to stand up to tyranny, to say what is right and oppose what is wrong.”

___

Associated Press journalists Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Ali Sadiq in Karbala, Iraq, contributed to this report.

The poll, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in February, highlights the obstacle course that U.S. adults navigate daily as they screen calls, ignore messages or try to puzzle out if that urgent request from their cellphone provider is legitimate.

A separate survey conducted by Gallup and the Stop Scams Alliance that was provided exclusively to the AP found that last year alone, about 1 in 10 U.S. adults said they or someone else from their household was deceived by a scammer into losing money or providing access to a financial account, with nearly half saying they lost more than $500.

That leaves many Americans feeling like they’re constantly at risk of falling for a scam, often without a sense of recourse. In both surveys, few victims said they reported the scam to the federal government or local law enforcement. Many victims didn't report the scam, Gallup found, because they didn't think it would make a difference in getting money back.

“You've got to be pretty sophisticated these days,” said Adam Pratter, 42. He has run into problems on dating apps — and once ended up sending money to a person who claimed they were overseas because of a military deployment and needed money to buy food. He realized it was a scam when the requests didn't stop.

Pratter thinks banks and social media companies have a responsibility to help people who have been scammed, but also believes the government needs to do more.

“If federal regulation wanted to step in and make deals with these companies to get these people their money back, they could,” he said.

For many Americans, scam attempts are constant

Americans are flooded with scam attempts, according to both surveys. More than half, 58%, of U.S. adults in the AP-NORC poll said they receive daily text messages, phone calls, emails, online messages or online advertisements that they suspect are scams, while the Gallup survey found last year that about 4 in 10 experienced attempted scams on a daily basis.

Porschel Smith, 22, gets multiple scam calls every day, and receives even more scam emails. Some of the scams are easy for her to identify. “They mention different types of programs that I know are nonexistent,” she said.

But sometimes she ends up engaging with the scammer before realizing that something is wrong. “Some of them hack your account and pretend as if they're someone that you know,” she said. “But then I get to asking questions and realize they're scams.”

Older people are more likely to say they receive scam attempts daily, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 7 in 10 U.S. adults ages 60 and older say they are contacted by a suspected scammer at least once a day, compared to about 4 in 10 Americans under 30.

Among those who have received suspected scam attempts, the AP-NORC poll found that outreach involving package shipments or banking were among the most common methods. About 4 in 10 people who were contacted by scammers say at least one of the attempts they received over the past few years were through Facebook or Facebook Messenger, while about 2 in 10 said they were on WhatsApp, and a similar share said they were on Instagram.

Around 30% of US adults say they've been scammed personally

The impact of scams is far-reaching. About half, 51%, of U.S. adults know someone personally — such as a friend or family member — who has ever lost money as the result of a scam, the AP-NORC poll found, while about 3 in 10 U.S. adults say they have personally been scammed into giving away money or personal information.

The Gallup survey found that about 1 in 10 U.S. adults said they or a member of their household was scammed out of money in 2025, with 6% saying they had been personally scammed.

About half of people whose household experienced scams last year reported losing between $125 and $2,000, according to Gallup.

About 1 in 10 U.S. adults have been scammed multiple times, Gallup found.

“It's not easy. They know what they're doing," said Towonna Harris, 50. Her son was once contacted by scammers who promised to give him money for tuition if he authorized a nominal credit card charge, which quickly spiraled into a much bigger set of charges.

She's experienced other kinds of scams on a smaller scale, too. “I ordered some stuff. I never got it,” she said. “I thought it was a legitimate company. And then I saw all these reviews saying it was a scam.”

Few scam victims report to law enforcement

Virtually all U.S. adults believe that scams pose a “major” or “minor” threat to individuals in the U.S., but few think the government is doing enough to solve the problem. About 8 in 10 Americans say the government is “definitely” or “probably” doing too little to prevent scams, according to the Gallup survey, including large majorities of Republicans and Democrats.

When people are scammed, both surveys found that victims are much likelier to reach out to financial institutions than the federal government or local law enforcement. About half, 55%, of people who were scammed last year reported to a bank, credit union or other financial institution, the Gallup poll found, but only 18% contacted state or local law enforcement, while 13% reported to either federal law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.

Many victims don't make a report because they don't think it will help, or don't know where to go, Gallup found. Among people who were scammed in 2025, 75% said they didn't report because they thought it wouldn't make a difference in getting their money back, while 58% were uncertain where to report.

More broadly, Americans express very low confidence that they'd know how to report a scam to the government if they needed to. According to the AP-NORC poll, most Americans, 55%, say they are “extremely” or “very” confident that if they were scammed, they’d know how to report it to banks or credit card companies, but only about one-quarter are similarly confident that they’d know how to report to federal or state law enforcement.

Only about one-third of U.S. adults said they would know where to make a report if they lost $5,000 in a scam today, Gallup found.

Max Anderson, 23, said that his parents are small business owners who were the victims of a costly and complex scam. “A scammer successfully imitated one of their employees and changed their direct deposit information. This went on for about 3 months. It went to $15,000,” he said.

Eventually, Anderson's father got help from the FBI, he said.

“I do like that the government stepped in with my parents, and I feel like that's the way it should be,” he said. “It's a big enough problem at this point that it falls to the government and companies to do something about it.”

___

Associated Press reporters Mary Rajkumar, Juliet Linderman and Erika Kinetz contributed to this report. Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism student Molly Wallace contributed to this report.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,133 adults was conducted Feb. 19-23 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.

The Stop Scams Alliance-Gallup poll of 5,173 adults was conducted Jan. 8-Feb. 18 using a sample drawn from Gallup's probability-based Gallup Panel. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.

He clearly didn't listen.

Vinicius has four goals now in this tournament — only Lionel Messi, with five, has more — and the flashy Brazilian got two on Wednesday night in his team's 3-0 win over Scotland.

“Faith that I was going to improve, for the talent that I have … I was sure that at the right moment I would shine again with the Brazilian team shirt,” Vinícius said.

He wasn't wrong and is tied for second with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, right behind Messi.

“Nothing is better than going back to the World Cup, to the place where I always dreamed of being,” Vinicius said. “To be able to represent my family, to be able to represent a country as important as Brazil, I believe that there is nothing better.”

He also became the fifth member of an exclusive club of Brazilians to score in all three group stage games, and the first to do so since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did so in 2002.

“There were always times when I couldn’t show my football,” Vinícius said. “It brings a certain relief."

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti coached Vinícius at Real Madrid from 2021 to 2025. While guiding Vinícius to global stardom along the way, Ancelotti — who Vinícius calls the best coach in the world — won two Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey in that span.

And while wearing Brazil colors for Ancelotti, Vinícius has been completely reinvigorated. In 39 games for Brazil under previous coaches, Vinícius netted just six goals. In just 13 under Ancelotti, he has scored seven.

“I had no question in my mind of how far or well he’d come to this World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “It makes him happy to play for the national team. He’s doing a brilliant job.”

After his goal against Haiti in Brazil’s second World Cup game, Vinícius joked that he needs to listen to Ancelotti more.

“For sure when we get to the dressing room, he’ll say he knows a lot about football,” he said.

But so does Vinícius. And he promises to get even better.

“I will also evolve and improve in the competition,” he said. “And the hope only increases between us, between our fans and between our family.”

___

Zach Pascuzzi is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

___

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

The slur, which literally means male prostitute in Spanish, could be heard at the Azteca stadium toward the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.

The chant has cost Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines levied by FIFA. It rose to popularity roughly 25 years ago and is used to intimidate goalkeepers when they take goal kicks.

It went viral in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was heard again in Russia during the 2018 World Cup and four years later in Qatar. It has persisted despite attempts by the Mexican soccer federation to stop it.

Mexico had already advanced to the knockout phase as Group A winners ahead of the match against the Czech Republic.

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

Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday to complete wins in all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time.

The 22-year-old Chávez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in stoppage time.

“It was something very beautiful, and I’ll take it with me to the grave,” Chávez said of his goal. “I imagined it many times; I dreamed of this.”

Mexico's previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri's coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the national team.

After topping Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.

“Now comes the knockout stage; statistics and data don’t matter. We’re achieving things, but what lies ahead is what counts,” Aguirre said. “Neither the players nor I dwell on what we’ve just done; we’re thinking about what’s next.”

Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.

The match Wednesday included nods to Mexico’s past and future. Gilberto Mora, at 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups.

Mora said “it’s like a dream come true after everything I’ve worked for.”

“Now we have tough opponents ahead,” he added. “We’re going to keep working to stay on this path. We want to keep advancing because the Mexican national team can become champion.”

Mexico's triumph was marred, however, by the return of a homophobic chant by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.

The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three games.

Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chávez was one of five starters Wednesday who didn't start in the previous win over South Korea.

“Twenty-five of the 26 have played — that is no small detail — nor is it a small detail that everyone celebrates the goals,” Aguirre said.

Ochoa makes history in his likely farewell

Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes in regulation, plus stoppage time, in what's likely to be his last appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.

“Life — football — had this farewell in store for me, to cap it all off perfectly. For my part, I’ve left it all out there; I gave everything,” Ochoa said. “I leave with nothing left because I poured it all into my teams and the national squad.”

He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

“I felt Memo had to play (but) for how long? I never knew until I said, ‘This is the moment,’” Aguirre said. “These are coaching decisions, but it was a night for Mexico to honor its legend, Memo.”

Raúl Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis Ángel Malagón, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malagón's injury opened the door for Ochoa's return.

Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The previous record holder was Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was 37 when he played in South Africa in 2014.

After the match, the veteran goalkeeper kissed the goal post before kneeling down and was hugged by the rest of the squad.

“Regarding Memo’s appearance, we don’t know if he’s going to say goodbye or not, but it was a nice tribute for his six World Cups,” added Aguirre. “He is a legend — he is Mexican.” ___

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

Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute off a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which won all three of its group-stage games.

South Africa will take on Canada, the second-place finisher in Group B, in a knockout game Sunday at Inglewood, California.

Maseko had five total shots in the match and leads South Africa with eight shots in the tournament.

When Maseko was asked what he would tell his younger self about his accomplishment, the Mamelodi Sundowns forward said: “The one thing I would say is ‘keep dreaming.’”

South Africa had opened its World Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexico before using a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Czech Republic. It entered its final group-stage needing to defeat South Korea in order to advance. Bafana Bafana had failed to advance from the group stage in 1998, 2002 and as host in 2010.

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos described the faith he had in his team despite the difficult start to the tournament.

“The mentality in this group is amazing,” Broos said. “Everybody is working for everybody. We are not afraid of other teams.”

Sphephelo Sithole, who received a red card in the opening game against Mexico, also earned a start and helped South Africa keep a clean sheet.

“In the first two, three days, it wasn’t easy,” Sithole said. “I needed to pick myself up. I’m very proud of myself because I did.”

Maseko, who plays for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, missed two big chances early in the match before scoring the winner.

The 22-year-old received the ball from a cross on the right side of the box — cut inside — and struck the ball low with his left foot through a defender’s legs and into the bottom corner.

South Africa’s bench players ran across the sideline to celebrate with Maseko for his first World Cup goal.

When the final whistle was blown, the bench stormed the field and the players embraced each other.

“(The final whistle) for me was a rush of emotions not only because we won the game, but also because it will probably be one of the last games of my career,” the 74-year-old Broos said. “When you can end a career in this way, I think every coach dreams of it.”

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo raised some eyebrows when he decided not to start Son Heung-min, and instead bring him in as a substitute. He said that he preferred to bring Son onto the field when the South African defenders were lower on energy.

“If I knew the result beforehand, I probably would have made some different choices.” Hong said. “On the world stage like this, the responsibility is ultimately down to the head coach.”

South Korea opened this World Cup with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Czech Republic and lost to Mexico 1-0 in its second game. The Taegeuk Warriors could still advance in the tournament, pending the results of other games this week.

South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the knockout round in 2002, when it finished fourth overall. The Taegeuk Warriors also advanced out of the group stage in 2010 and 2022, both times reaching the round of 16.

___

Maya Koluder-Ramirez is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

___

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

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asked the state’s attorney general to examine whether the agency’s actions violated New Mexico law, an extraordinary challenge to a federal law enforcement agency at a time when fentanyl remains one of the country’s deadliest public health threats.

The request follows an AP investigation that found DEA agents repeatedly allowed major fentanyl shipments to continue moving through New Mexico between 2023 and 2025 rather than seize them immediately, as agents sought to build cases against higher-ranking traffickers. The governor’s call for a criminal review turns a debate over drug enforcement tactics into a question of whether federal agents themselves crossed legal lines while pursuing larger trafficking organizations.

Current and former DEA agents told AP the strategy amounted to a gamble with public safety in a state ravaged by the fentanyl epidemic and may have violated U.S. Justice Department rules intended to safeguard the public from a drug the White House last year designated as a “ weapon of mass destruction.”

“There are no words to describe how reckless and dangerous these decisions were,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “Make no mistake: the DEA knew people would die if these pills made it into New Mexico communities, and the agency let it happen anyway.”

The DEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the governor’s statement. The agency has contended it would not be plausible to seize every drug shipment and previously told AP in a statement “the investigative decisions at issue were lawful, reasonable under the circumstances and consistent with Department guidance.”

“Public descriptions suggesting that DEA knowingly permitted fentanyl to reach communities are false and fundamentally mischaracterize the facts,” DEA spokesperson Amanda Wozniak wrote in an email.

Alex Uballez, who served as U.S. attorney in New Mexico from May 2022 until February 2025, told AP that drugs went unseized at times due to his office’s limited resources and his belief that prosecuting larger organizations has a bigger impact than intercepting every suspected drug transaction.

It is not clear whether any fatal overdoses in the state can be directly attributed to the DEA strategy. While overdose deaths nationwide fell 14% last year, government data show New Mexico tallied a 21% spike.

“New Mexican lives are not the federal government’s cost of doing business,” the governor wrote in her statement. “I plan to hold the federal government accountable for this disaster and will explore every possible avenue of action against the federal government to right these wrongs.”

The AP investigation cited three current and former agents and government records, including an internal report of a 2023 delivery of 74,000 pills the DEA surveilled — but did not seize — at a mobile home park in Albuquerque.

DEA whistleblower David Howell, who filed a complaint drawing attention to the unseized fentanyl, spoke Wednesday with congressional staffers. Empower Oversight, a whistleblower advocacy group representing Howell, has asked the Senate Judiciary Committee and Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General to investigate the agent's allegations.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Ohio Republican, called Howell's revelations “a scandal of the highest order” and said in a post on X he plans to find out how many American lives were lost due to the DEA's inaction.

Meanwhile, victims groups also spoke out about DEA's inaction, saying its approach in New Mexico contradicts the agency's prominent “One Pill Can Kill” campaign that warns as little as a few milligrams of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose.

“Knowing the Justice Department had guidelines to seize the opioids whenever practical — and the fact these were ignored — is truly heartbreaking,” said Michael Glownia, who lost his daughter to fentanyl in 2023 and founded a nonprofit organization to support families suffering similar losses.

__

Mustian reported from Miami.

Record breaking amounts of the ugly, foul-smelling seaweed have been washing up on South Florida shores for months.

Scientists are loudly sounding the alarm over what’s become a growing, stinky, unsightly, dangerous and costly problem.

“This is the new normal,” said Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch research professor Brian Lapointe. “What we’re seeing here is truly a crisis.”

Sargassum is defined as a free-floating algae-like seaweed that drifts across the Atlantic and Carribbean oceans in massive mats, washing ashore in quantities unlike scientists have seen before, and it’s getting worse, already at more than 30 million tons.

“We have three more months of potential growth indicating that we could be seeing another record year this year,” said Lapointe.

Lapointe has tracked the spread of the brown seaweed since the Great Atlantic Sragassum Belt was first recognized in 2011. While sargassum has long been a natural part of the ocean ecosystem, the scale of today’s blooms is unprecedented.

“It stretches from the west coast of Africa across the tropical Atlantic, up through and around the Caribbean into the Gulf and the South Florida region,” he said.

For decades, scientists say sargassum has been fueled by nutrient-rich runoff carried into the Atlantic by major rivers, including the Congo and Niger in Africa, and the Orinoco and Amazon in South America.

“Deforestation in the Amazon, watershed and expansion of agriculture and fertilizer use,” said Lapointe. “All that runoff coming down and feeding Sargassum, particularly as these activities are affected by human activities.”

Rising global temperatures driven by the burning of fossil fuels is also supercharging the problem.

“It’s really a symptom of climate change and warming oceans and pollution building up in the ocean,” said Miami Waterkeeper CEO Rachel Silverstein. “And that together is causing these essentially blooms of algae.”

Using NASA satellite imagery, scientists are giving coastal communities a heads up on massive sargassum mats moving toward shore. Depending on where you are, the impact can vary widely.

Just because you don’t see mountains of sargassum on the beach doesn’t mean it’s gone.

Scientists say once the sargassum begins to break apart, the particles begin to sink below the surface and decompose on the bottom that can turn the water brown, and it can even deplete oxygen levels, increasing the risks for fish kills.

“At that point, it strips the oxygen out of the water and creates dead zones,” said Lapointe.

Just last week, fish kills were reported and documented on the ocean side of Key Largo.

“It really has a negative impact on water quality,” said Silverstein. “It’s coming ashore, it’s rotting, it’s causing increases in bacteria, it increases in nutrient levels that can have downstream impacts.”

As sargassum breaks down, it can add to elevated levels of enterococci, which is the bacteria used to measure fecal contamination in beach water.

High levels can force beaches to close.

“We’re seeing in many cases in South Florida, beach closures due to high levels of fecal indicator bacteria that are responding to the high nutrients,” said Lapointe.

And the costs are mounting, as millions of dollars have been spent on clean up, and millions more lost as tourists choose to stay away.

Because sargassum provides important habitat for marine life, state and federal regulations largely prevent large scale removal of sargassum at sea, leaving communities to deal with it once it reaches the shoreline.

Cities are already spending tens of millions of dollars a year to remove it, dispose of it, or bury it in the sand where it may actually be causing more problems.

As governments search for solutions to manage and repurpose the mounting seaweed, Lapointe says the problem won’t be solved on the beach.

It must be addressed at the source, by curbing nutrient pollution and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions warming our planet and ocean.

“If we do nothing, we’re going to continue to lose our natural resources,” said Lapointe. “The economic impacts are going to get worse as well as will the human health impacts. This is the new normal and like it or not, we’re going to have to adapt to it.”

And as the seaweed keeps coming, state and local officials are working with innovators to try and find scalable solutions to not just clean up the sargassum but to repurpose it and reduce its growing environmental and economic toll.

___

Esta es una galería de fotos seleccionada por editores de fotografía de AP.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Jonathan Rinaldi was arrested outside his home Wednesday and could face up to two years in prison if convicted. The 47-year-old ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for a council seat from Queens last year.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not generally protect fraudulent statements, but in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Rinaldi called it a matter of free-speech. He said he would not confirm or deny that he made the posts or generated the images at issue.

“I got arrested for social media posts,” Rinaldi said. “This is an issue that strikes at the heart of our First Amendment freedoms — not just for me, but for everybody.”

Among the false posts he's accused of having made — primarily on Facebook and Instagram — was one claiming an endorsement from the Queens Jewish Alliance. Prosecutors say the post used the authentic logo of the organization as well as a legitimate-looking endorsement sheet.

The complaint says the head of the Queens Jewish Alliance confronted him in a recorded phone call, and Rinaldi responded, “When you are trying to fight against the establishment, I have to use every available tool that’s at my disposal."

In another post, Rinaldi fabricated a New York Post story claiming that then-Council Member Robert Holden, a Democrat, had crossed the aisle to endorse him, the Queens district attorney said.

According to the charges, the fake story was accompanied by a doctored photo that appeared to show Holden shaking his hand — an image that Rinaldi prompted an AI platform to generate: “face swap the man on the left.”

“just change the face the head is ok they are both bald just change the face,” the prompt read, according to the charges.

“In today’s world it is important to hold people accountable for materially misrepresenting facts,” District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a news release. “As alleged, the defendant used AI to replace factual political support and launched fabricated attacks against his opponent as fact in a deliberate effort to mislead voters ahead of a City Council election.”

The rapid spread of AI has posed myriad problems for lawmakers, as they try to get a handle on increasingly realistic — but fake — images, from deepfake pornography to other types of fraud. Over half of states have regulated the use of AI in elections to protect voters from being misled; many require disclosure, and some have also adopted criminal penalties. Some have exemptions for clear satire.

A New York law adopted in 2024 requires disclosures of deepfakes in campaign materials and allows candidates who are targeted by them to go to court to block their dissemination.

Still, the accessible technology has punctuated U.S. races this year. In a GOP U.S. House primary in Kentucky, for example, an AI-created ad depicted Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie going on a romantic date and then to a hotel room with progressive U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.

The laws Rinaldi is accused of violating — third-degree forgery and possession of forged instruments — predate AI. Under New York law, a person commits third-degree forgery when they falsely make, complete or alter “a written instrument” with the intent to defraud, deceive or injure another. A “written instrument” is defined in part as written or printed matter, including online writings, conveying information “capable of being used to the advantage or disadvantage of some person.”

The district attorney's complaint alleges myriad instances of Rinaldi using AI to generate doctored photos, including some of his Democratic opponent, Lynn Schulman, appearing to wear a shirt that read “Hot Girls for Zohran.” The language of the prompt cited in the complaint suggests the reference to the city's Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was intended to hurt her support in the largely Jewish neighborhood of Forest Hills, where they were campaigning.

The district attorney said Rinaldi further posted AI-generated videos appearing to show endorsements from a police precinct and an elementary school — public institutions which do not allow political endorsements.

Rinaldi also was on the ballot in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for state Assembly, where he was trounced by incumbent Andrew Hevesi. During the campaign Hevesi accused Rinaldi of fraudulently submitting documents to change his party registration, rendering him ineligible for the primary.

Hevesi subsequently changed his party registration back. Rinaldi told The New York Times he denied having submitted the paperwork.

Haitians, who have been struggling with gang violence, had a reason to celebrate. Coach Sébastien Migné, a former player, made it happen.

In South Florida, Haitian Americans had a rallying cry, “Grenadye, alaso!” for “Warriors, advance!” Lenny Joseph and Wilson Isidor listened.

On Wednesday, during the 10th minute of a definitive match against Morocco, Joseph, 25, became Haiti’s first FIFA World Cup 2026 scorer.

Haiti had not scored a FIFA World Cup goal since the legendary Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff couldn’t stop Emmanuel Sanon from scoring in 1974 in Munich.

At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou also could not stop Joseph’s swift back-heeled flick at the near post.

Isidor, 25, made FIFA World Cup history with a goal from outside the box at the 43rd minute. The forward’s powerful shot flew into the top corner.

Jean-Kévin Duverne, a defender, delivered the two assists: A low cross pass to Joseph and a short pass to Isidor just outside the penalty area.

Morocco won 4-2, and Brazil won 3-0 against Scotland in Miami Gardens. Both advanced in Group C to the tournament’s Round of 32.

Although the road was over for Haiti after the June 19 match against Brazil, the stadium in Atlanta was full of Haitian fans. The team had also gained new fans from other countries.

In Colombia, the owner and employees of Saeta, a company that sponsored the Haitian players’ jerseys, were grateful. They had never displayed their brand at a FIFA World Cup before.

THE RISING STARS

Joseph and Isidor, who were both born in France, are both of Haitian descent.

Joseph was born in Paris. His father, Djimon Joseph, is of Haitian descent, and his mother is from Congo. He plays for the Hungarian club of Ferencváros.

Isidor was born in Rennes. His father is also from Haiti, and his mother is French. He plays for the English Premier League’s Sunderland A.F.C.

Duverne, who is of Haitian descent, was also born in Paris. He plays as a right-back for Belgian Pro League club Gent while on loan from French club Nantes.

More on the FIFA World Cup

• FIFA video: Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide
• FIFA video: Haiti trains before match with Morocco
• FIFA video: Match preview: Haiti vs. Morocco
• FIFA video: Haiti trains before match with Brazil
• How Brazil advanced to Round of 32 after 3-0 victory against Scotland
• Over 65,000 Brazilian and Scottish FIFA World Cup fans celebrate love of soccer at Miami Stadium
• About 30,000 FIFA World Cup fans join big Miami Bayfront Park watch party
• Dedicated World Cup fans arrive early to the Miami Stadium
• One and Only Exclusive: Feds allow behind-the-scenes look at Miami Stadium security during FIFA World Cup

The All-Star guard has been dealing with a back issue this season and left with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. She went back to the locker room and didn't return.

Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter when she was fouled shooting a 3-pointer in the second quarter. She fell to the ground and was rubbing her back as she stood up. In the first quarter she went back to the tunnel and returned to the bench wearing a wrap around her back.

She finished the game with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes.

The two teams met Monday night and there were six technical fouls called and one ejection. Clark picked up her fifth technical in that game. The team is petitioning the league to have it rescinded. The physical play continued on Wednesday. On one play in the second quarter, Clark fell to the court as she drove and as players went for the loose ball, Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas appeared on video to put her fist into Clark's neck.

No foul was called on the play, but the league could review it for a flagrant foul.

“It was egregious. The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it," said Fever coach Stephanie White. "You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that (expletive) still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.”

Clark has been listed on the injury report for most of the season with a back injury after she missed one game because of it. The Fever hadn't given her any injury designation for the game she didn't play and were warned by the league for not doing that.

Clark is currently second in All-Star fan voting that was released Wednesday behind teammate Aliyah Boston.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

For two weeks, teams from 48 countries have been taking turns daily. The FIFA Fan Festival has encouraged passionate patriotic displays.

Related story: Over 65,000 FIFA World Cup fans celebrate love of soccer at Miami Stadium

The tournament’s first phase involves matches within four-team groups. A match’s victory means a team advances with 3 points. David Ferrari said he couldn’t think of a better watch party.

“I’m feeling amazing. Here, it’s amazing. The people with good energy,” Ferrari said.

The Group C teams — Brazil, Haiti, Scotland, and Morocco — were all playing their last group-stage matches at 6 p.m. in Miami and Atlanta. Summer Roberts was cheering for Scotland.

“Honestly, it is boiling hot. I’m dripping with sweat. It’s too hot, I can’t handle it,” Roberts said.

Only two advanced to the tournament’s second phase: The Round of 32, which already included the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia.

Related story: Dedicated World Cup fans arrive early to the Miami Stadium

Brazilians arrived with four points to play against Scotland, which had three points, at the Miami Stadium. Brazil advanced with three more points after beating Scotland 3-0.

“It has been nerve-racking. I was expecting a hard game, and it has been,” said Daniella Bianchetti, who was rooting for Brazil. She added, “It’s awesome to feel the energy from the people ... It brings people together. People from different countries, you see, they are celebrating.”

Morocco arrived with four points and advanced with three more points after beating Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Related story: How Brazil advanced to Round of 32 after 3-0 victory against Scotland

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 4 p.m. on June 24 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 6 p.m. Scotland vs. Brazil match.

Related story: Ronaldinho says ‘let the magic begin’ after signing with Italian Serie C club Ravenna at age 46

Group C progress

JUNE 19: DAY 2

Brazil gets 3 points

• Game analysis: Matheus Cunha scores 2 goals as Brazil eliminates Haiti from World Cup with 3-0 win

Morocco gets 3 points

• Pre-game coverage: Scotland fans have descended on Boston for the World Cup, and bars are struggling to keep up

JUNE 13: DAY 1

Brazil and Morocco each get 1 point

• Game analysis: Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup opener behind Vinícius Júnior’s goal
• FIFA game video: Morocco’s Ismael Saibari scores
• FIFA game video: A Vinicius Jr. special!

Scotland gets 3 points after playing against Haiti

• Game analysis: Scotland marks 28-year World Cup absence with 1-0 victory over Haiti in Group C
• FIFA game video: Scotland’s John McGinn scores
• Pre-game story: Haiti’s long-awaited World Cup return comes with formidable challenge

Tournament’s schedule

June 25: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 26: There are six matcuphes: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 27: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 7:30 p.m. on June 27. Parking is free. Broward County is offering free Express bus transportation from the arena to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens, to FIFA World Cup ticket holders.

Round of 32 begins

June 28: There is a match at 3 p.m.

Miami watch party: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 29: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 30: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 1: There are three matches at noon, 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 2: There are three matches at 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 3: There are three matches at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Round of 16 begins

July 4: There are two matches at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 5: There are two matches at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens for the last day from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 6: There are two matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 7: There are two matches at Noon and 4 p.m.

Quarterfinals begin

July 9: There is a quarter-final match at 4 p.m.

July 10: There is a quarter-final match at 3 p.m.

July 11: There are two quarter-final matches at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 5 p.m. on July 11. Parking is free.

Semifinals begin

July 14: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 14 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

July 15: There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 15 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

Finals begin

July 18: The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 18 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 5 p.m. bronze final.

Sunrise ride to stadium: The Amerant Bank Arena has free parking for FIFA World Cup ticket holders who ride Broward County’s free Express bus transportation to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens.

July 19: The final match is at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 1 p.m. on July 19 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 3 p.m. final.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders for the final on July 19. Parking is free.

Related stories

• Key information for fans attending matches at Miami Stadium
• Security guard accused of stealing FIFA referee uniform from Miami Beach hotel

Track the 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

Diehard supporters of Brazil and Scotland took in every moment of their World Cup matchup.

“It’s been nerve wracking,” said Daniella Bianchetti. “I was expecting a hard game and it has been.”

Bianchetti is one of the tens of thousands who packed Bayfront Park for Wednesday’s Fan Festival.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s awesome to feel the energy from the people.”

The cheers, chants and songs heard during Friday’s festival are a great example of the heartbeat of the World Cup.

“I’m feeling amazing,” said attendee David Ferrari. “Here, it’s amazing. The people with good energy.”

Members of Scotland’s famed Tartan Army did their best to stay cool under the South Florida Sun.

“Honestly, it is boiling hot,” said Summer Roberts. “I’m dripping with sweat. It’s too hot, I can’t handle it.”

Fans traveled thousands of miles to be in South Florida for the World Cup, and now they’re connected through one shared passion.

“It brings people together,” said Bianchetti. “People from different countries, you see they are celebrating.”

Leer en español

Torrey Holston and Jose Romero were convicted in May of killing the 39-year-old.

In October 2019, Randazzo’s body was found near the Southern Seas Resort in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. His iPhone, sneakers, wallet and keys were taken after he was shot in the back of the head.

Although both men were found guilty of murder, they were not found guilty of possessing a gun or discharging a firearm.

“I think the jury was clear and unanimous on the involvement of both. It perhaps couldn’t find beyond a reasonable doubt who is the actual (gunman),” Judge Michael A. Usan said.

John Whalen was the fire chief in Coral Springs when Randazzo was hired.

He told Local 10 News the weight of losing Randazzo never faded, and he’s constantly thinking of the pain that his family feels.

“Chris was an amazing individual,” said Whalen. “He was larger than life. He would bear hug you.”

Romero’s attorney, Jim Lewis, told Local 10 in May that an appeal is being considered and said trying both men together was a “detriment.”

“We had always asked to be separate. Jose Romero was never alleged to carry a gun in this incident. The co-defendant was, so to some extent, we paid the price,” Lewis said.

Prosecutors were not seeking the death penalty in the case, but both men faced mandatory life sentences.

Like numerous others from his home state of Odisha in eastern India, Pradhan works in a power loom factory that produces polyester cloth in Surat, among the largest hubs for synthetic fabrics in the world. The 35-year-old is among the millions of workers in South Asia who endure appalling living conditions combined with hot, humid, poorly ventilated and incredibly loud factory floors as climate-driven extreme heat is only becoming worse across the region.

“I’m a poor person. I have come to Gujarat from Odisha, which is 2,000 kilometers away (1,242 miles), to work. We are poor people; we have to work to survive," says Pradhan.

As soon as he’s up, Pradhan uses the little free time he has to place a video call to his wife and two kids in Odisha. A few minutes later, after praying in front of a small picture of his god posted in a corner of the tiny room, he walks down a dark, narrow hallway to join others lined up to use the toilets and bathe with a bucket. Two toilets and a few taps and buckets are shared by up to 100 people each day.

Over 200 workers live on two floors that are essentially huge halls divided into plywood cubicles that each house up to 10 people. There is little ventilation apart from a few ceiling fans. Temperatures have already reached 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) this summer, making both the factories and the workers' housing feel stifling.

A few quick splashes of water later, Pradhan is on his way to the factory where he works, since arriving late might mean a cut in his daily wage.

Poorly cooled factory floors add to workers’ stress

At the factory, Pradhan's work includes placing polyester yarn on power looms, making sure the threads are not broken, checking that the bobbins that hold the yarn are in place and ensuring uniform fabric quality. Pradhan oversees up to 15 machines at a time, moving between them constantly in the deafening noise.

Pradhan says the sweltering heat means he works only in a sleeveless undershirt and shorts. He constantly drinks water and periodically squeezes sweat from his shirt, or else it gets heavy.

All the while, workers must remain vigilant around the fast-moving, heavy machinery.

“Even if we're tired, we have to be careful as sometimes people's fingers have been cut by the machine,” Pradhan says, adding: “If something happens to us, we will have to bear all the costs and we will also lose wages for the days that we can't work."

The noise is constant. Power looms can be as loud as 130 decibels, which is comparable to a firearm discharging nearby or a full-speed train passing a few feet away.

Most factories have little ventilation and only ceiling fans to cool the machines and workers. As temperatures outside soar, the workers whose shifts last as long as 12 hours say they sometimes experience dizziness, headaches and chronic fatigue.

Worker illnesses and even deaths due to heat and dehydration are common, says Siba Malik, a member of a power loom worker’s union in Surat. Reliable statistics can be hard to find, with experts saying that the nationwide toll of heat deaths is likely undercounted due to how death certificates are recorded.

Climate pressures driving internal migration

Most of Surat’s textile workers are migrants, and a large portion come from Odisha’s Ganjam district, among the most vulnerable regions in India to climate-driven disasters. Farming has become unreliable in Ganjam because of cyclones, floods and erratic weather, workers in Surat’s factories said. Water shortages and lack of infrastructure further limit their work options, driving them to move for factory jobs.

A 2023 report by a nonprofit estimates there are as many as 800,000 workers from Ganjam in Surat.

“There is nothing to do in our village,” says Seemanchal Sahu, another factory worker who has been in Surat for over 15 years. “If we had work there, we wouldn’t come here.”

Malik, a former worker, says the workers lack health insurance and other benefits, leaving them leaving them especially vulnerable. If they fall ill or get injured, their income stops immediately. He has been trying to organize workers to seek benefits and other rights as a group.

Malik says workers feel compelled to endure challenging conditions because they need the money. He says workers are typically paid either by how many meters of fabric they produce or a daily wage ranging from about 600 to 750 rupees ($6–8).

Nighttime heat and poor living conditions stifle workers

After finishing his shift around 7 p.m., Pradhan walks back to his room, but there is little relief. Nighttime temperatures in Surat have hovered around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Just as Pradhan comes back, some workers are getting ready to head out for the night shift. If the bathrooms are not too crowded, he typically tries to take another quick bucket bath. A dinner of lentils, white rice and vegetables such as eggplant or potato is served around 8:30 p.m. at the canteen below his room. Fish is available once a week.

After eating quickly, Pradhan spends some time with other workers outdoors. Most nights, he sits at one of the tea stalls selling drinks and snacks outside his building, as sitting inside can be hot and stuffy. Eventually, he returns to his cubicle to try and sleep.

“It’s hot in our room also,” said Pradhan. “We are unable to sleep properly. We wake up three or four times at night.”

Despite these conditions, Pradhan can often spend one-fifth of his earnings on rent and food. He manages to send about 6,000 rupees ($63) every month to help with his family's expenses back home.

For Pradhan, who works seven days a week, every day in Surat follows a similar routine. He gets a rare break from the drudgery on holidays such as Diwali or the Odiya New Year when he travels back to Odisha.

In spite of the hardships, Pradhan hopes he can provide a different life for his children. He said he wants them to study and find stable jobs.

“I know how hard this work is,” he said. “I will not send my children to do this.”

___

Follow Sibi Arasu on X at @sibi123.

___

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 featherweight pair — orbiting a star 1,110 light-years away — are the biggest exoplanets found to have less density than cotton candy.

That makes them the lightest known planets of their size, said the University of Oxford's George Dransfield.

“These two planets have densities comparable to a nice blob of shaving foam, fresh from the can,” Dransfield said in an email. She and her team reported their findings Wednesday in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Dransfield suspects these fluffy, wispy worlds are probably white or blue, depending on whether the skies there are cloudy — no shades of cotton-candy pink. The planets are probably mostly hydrogen and helium, although it will take follow-up observations by NASA's Webb Space Telescope to confirm their chemical makeup.

Detected by NASA’s Tess satellite over the past decade, these two especially puffy-puffs orbit a star in the southern constellation Volans, known as the flying fish. The researchers studied the planets' orbits using telescopes on Earth to determine their density, from 1,110 light-years away. A light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers).

Jupiter, by comparison, is as much as 35 times denser than these two lightweights.

Considered rare in the cosmos, super-puffs are thought to form around the disk of gas and dust around a newborn star where there is more gas than dust. They shed much of the material over time, stripping down even more.

NASA's tally of worlds outside our solar system currently stands at nearly 6,300 confirmed. Fewer than 40 are super-puffs, according to Dransfield.

“Ultimately, by studying exotic systems containing rare planet types, we add further pieces to the puzzle of planet formation and learn more about our place in the cosmos," she said.

___

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.

More than 30 House representatives, both Democratic and Republican, streamed into the reception at the Longworth House Office Building to show their support, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D.-California; Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Ted Lieu, a California Democrat who serves as the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

"I love Taiwan," declared McCaul, as he welcomed Han. “It’s very important to me to say that the United States supports you, Mr. Speaker."

“The support for Taiwan is bipartisan and bicameral — both houses, both parties,” Pelosi said. “It’s about peace. It’s also about commerce in terms of keeping the ships able to travel here.”

Han, who is leading an eight-person parliamentary delegation, arrived in the nation's capital on Tuesday night after a stop in Phoenix, Arizona, where the chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is building new fabs and producing advanced chips crucial to powering the A.I. boom. TSMC is the poster child of Taiwan's importance to the U.S. economy.

The delegation met seven Democratic senators earlier Wednesday, including New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It wasn't clear if Republicans senators also met the visiting lawmakers.

The Democrats called on the Trump administration to move ahead with the $14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan without further delay. “We remain committed to maintaining close and friendly relations with Taiwan, providing Taiwan with arms for self-defense and supporting deterrence against growing coercion from the People’s Republic of China,” they said in a statement.

Taiwan, which Beijing claims to be part of the Chinese territory and vows to seize by force if necessary, is a highly thorny issue in U.S.-China relations. Washington is obligated by a domestic law to provide the island with sufficient hardware to fend off any invasion from the mainland. President Donald Trump, after his May trip to Beijing, has said he would be reviewing the $14 billion arms sales package, which Beijing strongly opposes. Trump also has suggested that the arms sales package could be a bargaining chip. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.

On Wednesday, several U.S. lawmakers showed their support for the arms sales package.

“I'm here today ... to affirm in the strongest terms that Taiwan is not a bargaining chip. It is an island of freedom. And we need to do all we can to preserve it,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D.-Texas. “ I believe we need to make available every weapon that Taiwan needs in its defense as quickly as it becomes possible.”

Lieu criticized the Trump administration for holding up the $14 billion package. “I urge the administration to reverse that and to allow their arms sale to proceed," he said.

Han, who is a member of Taiwan's opposition KMT party, in his speech complimented the U.S. for its achievements in the past 250 years and said the island, like the U.S., cherishes the value of freedom and democracy and that both sides shoulder the responsibilities of safeguarding the democratic system and of maintaining regional stability and peace.

Han touted the robust trade between Taiwan and the U.S. The island of 23 million people has surpassed Germany as the fourth-largest trading partner of the U.S., largely driven by the demand for Taiwan's advanced chips and other tech hardware.

Han also urged the U.S. to help Taiwan gain more international space. No country can have diplomatic ties with both Beijing and Taipei because of China's territorial claim over the island. Only 12 governments, including the Holy See, still recognize Taiwan's statehood. Beijing also has kept Taiwan out of many international organizations, including the World Health Organization.

“On the international stage, Taiwan feels very lonely in its heart," Han said. “I am here asking Taiwan's good friends in Congress ... to help us participate in global activities.”

Han is scheduled to leave on Friday for the inaugural nonstop flight by the Taiwanese carrier EVA Air between Washington Dulles International Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which has also been touted as proof of deepening U.S.-Taiwan ties.

JUNE 24: DAY 3

Brazil advanced with a 3-0 victory over Scotland at the Miami Stadium, and Morocco advanced with a 4-2 victory over Haiti.

• Vinícius Júnior scores 2 goals as Brazil beats Scotland 3-0 to reach World Cup knockout stage

JUNE 19: DAY 2

Brazil gets 3 points

• Game analysis: Matheus Cunha scores 2 goals as Brazil eliminates Haiti from World Cup with 3-0 win

Morocco gets 3 points

• Pre-game coverage: Scotland fans have descended on Boston for the World Cup, and bars are struggling to keep up

JUNE 13: DAY 1

Brazil and Morocco each get 1 point

• Game analysis: Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup opener behind Vinícius Júnior’s goal
• FIFA game video: Morocco’s Ismael Saibari scores
• FIFA game video: A Vinicius Jr. special!

Scotland gets 3 points after playing against Haiti

• Game analysis: Scotland marks 28-year World Cup absence with 1-0 victory over Haiti in Group C
• FIFA game video: Scotland’s John McGinn scores
• Pre-game story: Haiti’s long-awaited World Cup return comes with formidable challenge

Track the groups

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

Kevin Singh, 48, faces felony charges for stalking and intimidation, as well as a misdemeanor harassment charge. He was arrested Tuesday, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Cunningham, a player with the Indiana Fever, told investigators she had been staying at home more and having nightmares because of Singh’s continued messages, according to the affidavit. She was first made aware of Singh’s alleged online conduct in February, she said.

Singh's online behavior escalated that month and his conduct “became increasingly threatening after he was contacted by team security," the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.

According to an affidavit, Singh allegedly sent numerous messages — including explicit messages — on the social media platform X in April. One of the messages featured the text, “You're literally down the street from me!” After Cunnigham's team sent Singh a cease-and-desist letter on April 30, Singh sent more messages on X, making explicit and threatening comments, according to the affidavit.

In September 2025, Singh hand-delivered a package addressed to “Sophie” at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana Fever’s home arena, containing a letter and a Guns N' Roses T-shirt sprayed with men's cologne, according the affidavit.

“The internet has made it easier than ever to target, harass and intimidate others. Threats of violence, whether face-to-face or behind a keyboard, will be taken seriously,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “Coming forward is never easy, regardless of a person’s position or public profile. The victim is setting an example by speaking out."

A phone call to a number listed for Singh wasn't answered. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney yet.

Singh is currently on probation in Hendricks County, Indiana, after he pleaded guilty in July 2025 to two felony counts of invasion of privacy, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office said.

The incident comes after Cunningham's teammate, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, was the victim of stalking and harassing by a different man from Texas who was sentenced last year to 2 1/2 years in prison.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and occurred off the eastern coast of Iwate, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake had a depth of about 50 kilometers (30 miles), it said. The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a magnitude of 6.9.

The rattling occurred in the area where strong earthquakes have repeatedly been reported in recent months, including one that triggered a weeklong mega-quake caution advisory in December.

The quake, which struck Japan’s northeastern region during Thursday’s morning rush hour, also mildly shook Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages, according to top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara.

Footage on Japan’s NHK public television quoted its journalists from a number of strongly-hit towns, including Sendai and Morioka, saying they felt the shaking for a couple of minutes but have not seen any damages. Footage showed people commuting as usual.

Nuclear power plants and facilities, including Fukushima Daiichi, which was damaged by the 2011 massive quake and tsunami, and a spent fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori, have not reported any abnormalities from Thursday’s shakings, Kihara said.

Japan, which sits on the structure known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone areas.

The event, which will be a family-friendly community celebration, will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sedano’s supermarket located at 14524 SW Eighth St. in Miami.

There will be soccer-themed games, a live radio broadcast, food samples, non-alcoholic drink tastings and lots more.

In addition, attendees will have the chance to two tickets to a World Cup match taking place in Miami.

Other prizes will include soccer jerseys, Sedano’s gift cards and food baskets and other branded items.

U.S. CBP gave Local 10 News a behind-the-scenes look at their quiet efforts to screen the cargo delivered to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

“Food deliveries, merchandise, staging equipment, anything that is going to get offloaded, that needs to be screened by us,” U.S. CBP Officer Alexander Hernandez said at the stadium.

The U.S. CBP team at the stadium property used a “non-intrusive inspection,” or NII, portal to scan cargo trucks with X-ray and gamma-ray, without physically having to search and unpack.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies use deputized dogs, or K-9s, trained to detect explosives as an extra layer of security.

Security is tight, and the perimeter around the stadium is wide. Federal, state, and local law enforcement are working together. They learned from the chaos that erupted at the stadium during a Copa America match between Argentina and Colombia on July 14, 2024.

More coverage

• How Brazil advanced to Round of 32 after 3-0 victory against Scotland
• Over 65,000 Brazilian and Scottish FIFA World Cup fans celebrate love of soccer at Miami Stadium
• About 30,000 FIFA World Cup fans join big Miami Bayfront Park watch party
• Dedicated World Cup fans arrive early to the Miami Stadium

Leer en español

Samba didn’t silence the Tartan Army’s bagpipes, and the canary yellow jerseys didn’t drown the wool kilts. Nothing killed the joy. Not the expenses, the flights, the security screenings, the lines, nor the ticket checks.

Related story: How Brazil advanced to Round of 32 after 3-0 victory against Scotland

The demand for tickets was high. Entry-level resale prices ranged from $1,600 to $1,855. Tickets later averaged between $3,500 and $5,445. Premium seats reached $25,800.

Before the gates opened at 3 p.m. at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, fans who said they felt lucky to be there had made friendships, shared pictures, stories, and plenty of drinks.

Related story: Dedicated fans arrive early

Related story: A black jaguar oracle in Rio de Janeiro sniffs Brazil to beat Scotland in Group C challenge

After the 6 p.m. Group C matches ended about two hours later, only the two teams in the group with the most points advanced to the tournament’s next stage: The Round of 32.

Brazilians arrived with four points to play against Scotland, which had three points. After a 3-0 victory, Brazil advanced with three more points as the group’s winner.

Morocco arrived with four points and advanced with three more points after beating Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Related story: About 30,000 FIFA World Cup fans join big Miami Bayfront Park watch party

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 4 p.m. on June 24 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 6 p.m. Scotland vs. Brazil match.

Related story: Ronaldinho says ‘let the magic begin’ after signing with Italian Serie C club Ravenna at age 46

Group C progress

JUNE 19: DAY 2

Brazil gets 3 points

• Game analysis: Matheus Cunha scores 2 goals as Brazil eliminates Haiti from World Cup with 3-0 win

Morocco gets 3 points

• Pre-game coverage: Scotland fans have descended on Boston for the World Cup, and bars are struggling to keep up

JUNE 13: DAY 1

Brazil and Morocco each get 1 point

• Game analysis: Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup opener behind Vinícius Júnior’s goal
• FIFA game video: Morocco’s Ismael Saibari scores
• FIFA game video: A Vinicius Jr. special!

Scotland gets 3 points after playing against Haiti

• Game analysis: Scotland marks 28-year World Cup absence with 1-0 victory over Haiti in Group C
• FIFA game video: Scotland’s John McGinn scores
• Pre-game story: Haiti’s long-awaited World Cup return comes with formidable challenge

Tournament’s schedule

June 25: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 26: There are six matcuphes: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 27: 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.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 7:30 p.m. on June 27. Parking is free. Broward County is offering free Express bus transportation from the arena to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens, to FIFA World Cup ticket holders.

Round of 32 begins

June 28: There is a match at 3 p.m.

Miami watch party: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 29: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

June 30: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 1: There are three matches at noon, 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 2: There are three matches at 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 3: There are three matches at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Round of 16 begins

July 4: There are two matches at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 5: There are two matches at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Miami watch parties: The fan festival opens for the last day from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

July 6: There are two matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 7: There are two matches at Noon and 4 p.m.

Quarterfinals begin

July 9: There is a quarter-final match at 4 p.m.

July 10: There is a quarter-final match at 3 p.m.

July 11: There are two quarter-final matches at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 5 p.m. on July 11. Parking is free.

Semifinals begin

July 14: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 14 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

July 15: There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 15 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

Finals begin

July 18: The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 18 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 5 p.m. bronze final.

Sunrise ride to stadium: The Amerant Bank Arena has free parking for FIFA World Cup ticket holders who ride Broward County’s free Express bus transportation to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens.

July 19: The final match is at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 1 p.m. on July 19 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 3 p.m. final.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders for the final on July 19. Parking is free.

Related stories

• Key information for fans attending matches at Miami Stadium
• Security guard accused of stealing FIFA referee uniform from Miami Beach hotel

Track the 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

Vinícius scored two goals — one of them practically into an empty net to open the scoring — and five-time World Cup champion Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 on Wednesday, advancing to the knockout stage as the Group C winner.

Vinícius — who has a goal in all three of Brazil's group matches — scored in the seventh minute and again just before halftime, tying Norway's Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé with of France with four goals, one behind Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Matheus Cunha also scored for the Seleção, who reached the knockout rounds for the 15th consecutive World Cup. Morocco finished second in the group and also advanced, rallying to beat Haiti 4-2.

After a lackluster 1-1 draw against Morocco in its opener, Brazil — facing pressure to win its first World Cup title since 2002 — followed with a 3-0 win over Haiti, and coach Carlo Ancelotti said he saw gradual improvement from his team during the group stage.

“We are working to play the best that we can,” he said. “But the goal is not to play well. We know that playing well is easier to win, but the goal is to win. ... If we win the World Cup, we played well. If we don't win the World Cup, we played really bad.”

Taking advantage of an early Scotland mistake on Wednesday, Vinícius received a pass from 19-year-old striker Rayan and took a quick touch to get by goalkeeper Angus Gunn for an easy finish and a 1-0 lead. He capitalized on another miscue by the Scots later in the first half with a header from close range.

“It’s always important to be scoring goals,” Vinícius said in Portuguese. “It’s important to be playing great matches, and I managed to do that. I was able to perform very well and improve. Throughout my years with the national team, there were times when I couldn’t quite show my true game.”

Neymar entered as a substitute in the 76th, making his debut after a right calf injury sidelined him for Brazil's first two matches. The majority-Brazilian crowd at Hard Rock Stadium began chanting his name midway through the second half as he got off the bench and began doing warmup sprints on the sideline — and fans roared as he trotted onto the pitch.

“I think he deserved the opportunity to play, which is why I gave him the opportunity to play,” Ancelotti said through an interpreter. “I think he did well even though he played for just a few minutes.”

Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 130 international appearances. The 34-year-old forward appeared in each of the past three World Cups for Brazil, scoring eight goals.

Scotland is playing in its first World Cup since 1998 and has become one of the more interesting teams of the tournament. Its dedicated fans, known as the Tartan Army, brought a party atmosphere to the Boston and Miami areas ahead of their team's matches.

Scotland hasn't advanced past the group stage in nine tries.

“We knew they were a top side,” Scotland’s Nathan Patterson said. “They have massive threats. We were trying to nullify the threats — and obviously giving them easy goals is not what you need.”

___

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

From winning the U.S. Women's Open in California to playing in a pair at the Dow Championship in Michigan to brand-building for the sport in New York, the 27-year-old Korda has had little time for retreat.

If this is the price of stardom, well, she's willing to lean into it.

“I feel like in everything that you do in life — if you’re in the finance world, if you’re doing this — the more you put yourself into that position the more comfortable you get,” Korda said on Wednesday at Hazeltine National Golf Club. “I think the biggest change that I told myself I’m going to make is I’m just going to be authentic and be who I am. Either that comes across great or it doesn’t, but I just want to be genuine.”

Korda, whose prize money has passed $5.3 million this year, has won four of the nine tournaments she has entered with only one finish outside of the top 10. She leads the Vare Trophy race for the lowest scoring average on the LPGA by an average of 1.15 strokes over Hyo Joo Kim.

The only women to win the first three majors of a season are Inbee Park in 2013 and Babe Zaharias in 1950, when there were only three on the schedule. Now the final two majors are in Europe: the Evian Championship in France from July 9-12 and the Women’s British Open in England from July 30-Aug. 2.

With the Chevron Championship win in April already on her scorecard, Korda pulled out a one-stroke victory over Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez at the U.S. Women's Open this month. Fulfilling her commitment to playing with partner Olivia Cowan at the Dow Championship the following week required some self-discipline.

“I was very tired. Honestly, I couldn't go to sleep, and every single morning I woke up I didn't want to wake up,” Korda said. “I'm still a little tired from it.”

Then she was whisked away to New York for a whirlwind media tour on behalf of the LPGA, before heading home last week to recharge and refresh.

“It’s fun to be on a different stage in front of different people doing something that helps the game of golf and kind of puts us on a broader stage,” Korda said.

From a cameo on the "Today' show to a visit to the New York Stock Exchange to an appearance at Times Square, Korda relished last week the opportunity to show the lighthearted and self-described “dorky” side of her personality to more mainstream audiences.

“These are the types of things we need our athletes to do in order to have transcendent stars that cut through sports and find their way into culture,” LPGA Tour Commissioner Craig Kessler said. “She did it. She’s doing it.”

The major that was last held at Hazeltine on the suburban prairie southwest of Minneapolis in 2019, has a $13 million purse this year that's the largest in the history of women's golf.

“To see the evolution of where the women’s game was to what it is now, it is quite incredible,” Korda said. “You see that across every sport. You see that in tennis, right now in basketball, too. It is amazing to see the investment in women’s sports, and we are just really grateful for our partners continuously raising the bar.”

Hannah Green returns to Hazeltine in reflection on her 2019 win

Hannah Green, who's currently eighth in the world ranking, got her first tour victory at age 22 with a wire-to-wire win at the Women's PGA Championship when it last visited Hazeltine. That remains her only major title.

“There is definitely shots that I remember. I also remember some of the bad shots as well, which is sometimes not a great thing,” Green said. “But it’s nice to kind of relive those moments in the practice round. I do hit a lot further than I used to do back then.”

___

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

After winning hearts across social media, supporters had launched an effort urging organizers to allow the beloved bird to attend the match alongside his family. In less than two weeks, Merlín went from waddling through the streets of Mexico City during Mexico's opening victory to visiting the presidential palace. But on Wednesday, his proverbial flight was cut short.

Merlín was granted access to the Azteca Stadium grounds to film a segment with Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest television networks. Under strict security protocols, Merlín traveled comfortably inside a transport crate, accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, as curious fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the tournament’s most unexpected star. However, he could not remain for the match, as FIFA regulations prohibit animals from entering venues in order to safeguard their well-being.

A FIFA tournament spokesperson confirmed Merlín was permitted to enter the perimeter but not the stadium, and did not offer further comment.

“These last few days have been crazy, we’ll never stop being grateful for what we’ve experienced,” Gómez told The Associated Press. “Everyone is truly amazed by Merlín.”

Since his first appearance, Merlín has grown into a social media phenomenon and an international celebrity. Wearing a green Mexico jersey and proudly accompanying his family as they sell drinks throughout the city, the 2-year-old duck has become a familiar sight in the capital. Along the way, he has participated in interviews, visited television studios, mingled with supporters at the fan fest in Mexico City’s Zócalo, and even paid a visit to Netflix.

“He’s become our unofficial mascot for Mexico and the World Cup,” said Daniel Krauze, a fan outside the stadium who sported a duck hat. “I feel proud to wear Merlín the duck.”

Merlín has also found himself at the center of a trademark dispute, when at least two applications before Gómez's sought the rights to his name for exclusive commercial use. The registration was ultimately granted to Gómez.

Now, following hundreds of requests from fans, the family will finally be able to watch Mexico's national team live. Gómez described the occasion as a “very powerful emotion.”

And although the duck darling will not be cheering from the stands, she is convinced that Mexico’s most famous feathered supporter will still be bringing luck to El Tri: “Merlín is a lucky charm, and I know that, with him, the Mexican national team will win again today.”

___

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

Lawyers for Live Nation told the court on Monday that Trump and the company’s CEO, Michael Rapino, spoke about the antitrust lawsuit in February, but didn’t discuss “substantive terms” of any potential settlement.

They also said that White House lawyers were involved in some of the numerous in-person meetings, videoconferences, telephone calls and written communications between the company and the Justice Department in February and March.

Just days into the March trial, the Justice Department announced a settlement that most states refused to join, saying it did not go far enough to curb the company’s dominance over concert venues and ticketing for live events though Ticketmaster.

The trial continued, and a jury concluded several weeks later that the company was a monopoly that cost concertgoers and sports fans.

The White House declined to comment on Live Nation's disclosure, referring questions to the Justice Department, which didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The revelation comes as the Justice Department has faced criticism that its independence has been threatened by substantial oversight or interference from the White House and the president.

The Justice Department and dozens of states originally teamed up to bring the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation.

Among other things, the jury in New York found Ticketmaster’s anticompetitive practices led to people in 22 states paying an extra $1.72 per ticket, which the judge could order the companies to pay back.

State attorneys general who sued Live Nation said the verdict could potentially lead to lower ticket prices for music fans.

The federal government's settlement deal included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters, plus some new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues — potentially allowing, but not requiring, them to open doors to Ticketmaster competitors such as SeatGeek or AXS.

In April, Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict “is not the last word on this matter.”

The Americans have already won Group D to lock up a spot in the knockout stage and will face winless Turkey in Inglewood, California, on Thursday.

Christian Pulisic returned to training after missing a 2-0 win over Australia, but coach Mauricio Pochettino has to decide how much to use his star player in a game that's meaningless in the standings and the knockout stage right around the corner.

There are similar decisions to make with Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson. They're all on yellow cards and would miss the first knockout round game if they picked up a second against Turkey.

The U.S. has won consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since 1930. Its six goals in the first two matches are one short of the team record for a World Cup.

Turkey has yet to score a goal in its first World Cup in 24 years and is already eliminated.

Thursday will be the second day with six matches, including Germany looking to win its third straight game, Ivory Coast aiming to make the knockout stage for the first time and Ecuador needing a win to escape the group stage.

What to watch on June 25

— Curacao vs. Ivory Coast , 4 p.m. EDT in Philadelphia (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

— Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m. EDT in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

— Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m. EDT in Arlington, Texas (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

— Tunisia vs. The Netherlands, 7 p.m. EDT in Kansas City, Missouri (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

— Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m. EDT in Santa Clara, California (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

— Turkey vs. United States, 10 p.m. EDT in Inglewood, California (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

Ecuador faces must-win against Germany

Ecuador arrived at the World Cup on a 19-game winning streak.

It could face an early exit if it can't find a way to beat Germany in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Ecuador opened the World Cup with a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast on Amad Diallo's goal in the 90th minute and played to a scoreless draw against Curacao, the smallest nation in the World Cup.

That leaves Ecuador trailing both Germany and Ivory Coast in Group E with one point and needing to beat the Germans, who have already clinched the group but will be without defender Nico Schlotterbeck for the rest of the World Cup because of an ankle injury.

Ivory Coast on the cusp of knockout stage

Ivory Coast has a chance to make history in its fourth World Cup.

With a win already under their belt, the Elephants can clinch a spot in the knockout round for the first time with a win over Curacao in Philadelphia.

Ivory Coast pulled off a 1-0 win over Ecuador and had a halftime lead over Germany before losing 2-1. Ivory Coast's previous best chance to reach the knockout stage came in Brazil in 2014 when it opened with a win over Japan before losing the next two games.

Curacao still has an outside shot of reaching the knockout round, needing a win and some goal-differential help from Ecuador. Curacao has a goal differential of minus-6, thanks to an opening 7-1 loss to Germany.

Group F winner still up in the air

The Netherlands and Japan will be playing for the top spot in Group F on Thursday night — the Dutch play Tunisia, the Japanese face Sweden — but both teams have said they want no updates on each other as their games are progressing.

“You have to focus on making sure you win the match,” said Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, whose team has a record World Cup unbeaten streak of 14 matches, excluding penalty shootouts. “We would love to be first in the group and of course the result will have an impact on that, but that’s not the most important thing. Playing this game is the most important thing.”

The Netherlands and Japan both have four points and a plus-four goal differential. Sweden is at three points with its 5-1 loss to Dutch.

To finish first in the group, Sweden has to win and have the Netherlands do no better than a draw.

“It’s literally my first rodeo in terms of a World Cup so it’s going to be new to me,” Sweden coach Graham Potter said. “But yeah, it’s best for us to try to get the positive results and focus on that.”

Paraguay, Australia play for second in Group D

There’s plenty at stake in the final Group D match between Australia and Paraguay.

The Australians will clinch second place in the group and a spot in the knockout round with either a win or draw. Paraguay clinches second place with a win and is almost assured advancement as a third-place team with a draw. The situation will be more tenuous with a loss for either team, with goal differential likely deciding the fate.

The game is a bit of a full-circle moment for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who played his final international game as a player against Paraguay in a friendly 20 years ago when he scored his eighth international goal.

“I didn’t score many so I have to remind you of that,” Popovic said. “It was a special way to end my international career. To think that all these years later I’ll be the head coach and we’re up against Paraguay is special. That was a great day and hopefully tomorrow will a special day for Australia against Paraguay once more.”

Australia will be without defender Jacob Italiano and forward Mat Leckie, who are dealing with injuries.

Paraguay will be without midfielder Miguel Almiron, who is suspended after getting a red card for covering his mouth during a confrontation against Turkey. Mauricio will start in his place, coach Gustavo Alfaro said.

More World Cup news

— Switzerland wraps up first place in Group B at the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Canada

— Bosnia-Herzegovina boosts chances of advancing at World Cup with 3-1 win over Qatar

— Vinícius Júnior scores 2 goals as Brazil beats Scotland 3-0 to win its World Cup group

— Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine help Morocco rally to beat Haiti 4-2 at the World Cup

— Qatar’s Assim Madibo banned for 5 games after breaking the leg of Canada’s Ismaël Koné at World Cup

— 'Our idol is back': Neymar debuts in this World Cup as a sub for Brazil against Scotland

— Turkey coach Montella says he won’t resign after winless World Cup start, admonishes heckling fans

— Ivory Coast eyes knockout stage of World Cup with striker Elye Wahi expected back amid investigation

— Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha seeks new club after World Cup stardom, doesn’t rule out Brazil move

— Day 14 of the World Cup, in photos

Stats of the day

Switzerland has qualified for the knockout phase for the seventh consecutive time in major tournament football (World Cups and UEFA Euros).

___

AP sports writers Dave Skretta, Josh Dubow and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

___

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

Lawmakers who were at the meeting told The Wall Street Journal that Trump called the Republican from Louisiana a “Loser” and also targeted Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul over their support of the Iran War Powers Resolution.

A lawmaker who witnessed it described the severity of the shouting match as a “7 out of 10,” and their behavior as “two boys on recess that are yelling at each other over a foul,”according to Fox News. Trump also described Cassidy as a “lunatic,” according to CNN.

Trump “was wondering why people would vote for the War Powers Act. I asked him if that would be a rhetorical question, a real question. He said, ‘Real!’ And so, as we begin to speak, the president didn’t want to hear my question, interrupted me,” Cassidy told reporters. “I didn’t care to be interrupted. I felt like I was trying to get answers for the American people, and I’m not going to be bullied when I’m trying to get answers for the American people, and so it escalated.”

Trump reiterated threats that he was not going to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, if lawmakers didn’t pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act.

“If he chooses to hold up his own agenda because he wants action on the Save Act, that’s, I guess, his call. It is not helpful to him. It’s not helpful to the country, and it’s not moving the needle. If you don’t have the votes, sir, you don’t have the votes,” Murkowski told CNN.

The bipartisan bill to make homeownership more affordable targets corporate landlords by restricting large institutional investors from buying single-family homes to rent out.

“We at times have differences of opinion,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune about his relationship with Trump.

Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican appointed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to fill JD Vance’s vacancy, doesn’t think Trump is going to veto it.

“I am confident the president is going to sign the bill,” Husted said.

Democrats say Trump doesn’t care about affordable housing.

“He just cares about his priorities, and his priority right now is to make it harder for the American people to participate in our democracy,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona.

The Save America Act proposes more regulations on federal elections ahead of the midterms in November, and it also includes a provision that puts limits on transgender athletes.

With Sen. Rick Scott standing by his side, Trump described the meeting as “great” and said he is “very proud of the party” and added that negotiations with Iran were going “very well.”

“I don’t like a few people, but that’s okay,” Trump said. “I think you know who they are.”

Torres contributed to this report from Miami.

“It’s a little bit boring, no?” Pochettino said with a bemused grin. "They’re waiting for the perfect wave, and it never arrives.”

Pochettino is not a man who understands why anybody would want to wait. He would rather make the wave.

His energy and hunger propelled him out of Argentina to a successful playing career in Europe, followed by a swift transition to management at top clubs in England, France and Spain. He has spent his adult life in high-stakes situations, learning to thrive in the constant urgency demanded at soccer's highest levels.

So when this lifelong high-energy striver took over the U.S. team nearly two years ago, he expected to find a roster and a country that shared his desperate hunger for success leading up to their home World Cup.

Pochettino and his coaching team were stunned to learn otherwise.

“We were so naive when we signed our contract,” Pochettino said Tuesday night during a media roundtable in his office. “I think what we find after we sign, we misjudged the situation. It was worse than we really believed.”

Pochettino had never coached a national team before he took over the U.S. While he understood the obstacles inherent in a job featuring limited contact with his players, he didn't anticipate the scope of the rebuild that would be necessary in a program that had enjoyed only erratic success on the international stage.

The Americans had recently been eliminated from the 2024 Copa America in the group stage despite playing on home turf, leading to coach Gregg Berhalter's firing. Pochettino says he inherited a program saturated by complacency that didn't match his urgency.

“When we arrived here, we received a big punch, and we were knocked out for a while," Pochettino said. "Because we were so excited about that. It’s so close, the World Cup. Everyone is going to want to be involved and want to come to the national team, and it was the opposite.”

But after Pochettino understood the full scope of the job he had taken, he went to work on creating the culture he needed to see. He identified the players who would be most important to the Americans' success, and he sold them on giving their all to the project that is finally bearing fruit at this World Cup.

Pochettino's team has opened the tournament with back-to-back victories over Paraguay and Australia by a combined 6-1 score. That's a historic achievement for the U.S., which had never started 2-0 and has won only one knockout-stage match in its entire World Cup history.

The U.S. concludes group play Thursday night against Turkey in Southern California before hosting a round of 32 match in Northern California next week. The tactical savvy they've shown under Pochettino, along with a theoretically manageable draw, clearly indicate the Americans have a golden opportunity to make their most impressive World Cup finish since reaching the semifinals at the inaugural tournament in 1930.

But it took hard work over the past 20 months to make it happen, Pochettino says. The U.S. lost twice in the CONCACAF Nations League in March 2025, but Pochettino saw progress on building the culture and style necessary for the Americans to thrive on a bigger stage.

He persevered in his plans after the U.S. didn't win the Gold Cup without Christian Pulisic in the summer of 2025, and he agrees with his players who have cited the fall of 2025 as a turning point for the American squad.

That stretch included a famously pugnacious friendly with Australia in which Pochettino challenged his players at halftime to raise their level of competitiveness. It also included a team talk last November in which he first used the phrase that has become one of the team's slogans: “Why not us?”

“And then they were ..." Pochettino says while making a shocked face. "'Why not us?' It was like a motto for us to say, ‘We can. If we believe we can, we can do. If we work hard, we can do. If we change our mindset, we can do.’”

“Why not us?” is emblazoned on the back wall of Pochettino's office, along with numerous additional quotes and sayings hand-written on the wall by the coach: “Heart turns effort into belief, and when everything hurts, heart keeps us fighting together," and “When people believe in each other, impossible dreams become possible.”

Pochettino's American chapter has changed him in small ways. He has been surprised by both ends of the American palate, from Chick-Fil-A to Whole Foods grocery stores, and he has developed an appreciation for country and soul music — everyone from Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley to Teddy Swims.

The soccer world doesn't expect Pochettino to stay with the U.S. team forever, and he has already been linked with European club jobs leading up to this tournament. Pochettino says his coaching team hasn't ruled out staying with the U.S. past the World Cup, but those discussions will wait until they see just how far this team can go.

“It’s difficult to describe or know your future,” Pochettino said. “But when you are here, I think it’s difficult now to see yourself living in another place, because for sure, we will miss it if one day we don’t stay here in this country."

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

El Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés) indicó que los terremotos que se produjeron durante la tarde tuvieron una magnitud de 7,1 —luego actualizada en 7,2— y una magnitud de 7,5 y que se sucedieron con un minuto de diferencia.

En un breve discurso a la nación el miércoles por la noche, la presidenta interina Delcy Rodríguez informó que los sismos causaron daños en varios estados, pero no proporcionó cifras sobre viviendas y edificios dañados, heridos o fallecidos.

Los terremotos dañaron gravemente el principal aeropuerto del país, el Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar, lo que obligó a su cierre, añadió, y anunció la suspensión de clases durante varios días.

“Instamos a nuestra población a mantener la calma”, dijo Rodríguez. “Instamos a la unidad”.

Rodríguez también solicitó a todos los profesionales de la salud del país que se presentaran en los hospitales para atender a los heridos.

En el estado Falcón, el gobernador Víctor Clark informó que 32 personas habían sido hospitalizadas y 15 permanecían atrapadas cuatro horas después de que los sismos sacudieran el país.

El USGS indicó que el epicentro del primer sismo se situó al oeste de la localidad de Morón, situada en la costa caribeña del país, a unos 168 kilómetros al oeste de Caracas. El terremoto tuvo una profundidad de 13 kilómetros. Un poco más tarde, informó de un terremoto aún más fuerte que tuvo una profundidad de 10 kilómetros y su epicentro se situó a 16 kilómetros al suroeste de Morón.

Vecinos aterrados

Los residentes de la capital venezolana salieron de los edificios que se zarandeaban y permanecieron en el exterior, muchos visiblemente conmocionados al ver muros enteros derrumbados que dejaron muebles a la vista desde la calle. También se observaron columnas de polvo en dos barrios normalmente concurridos de la capital.

"Esto fue aterrador, nunca habíamos vivido un temblor tan fuerte; por suerte nuestro edificio resistió. Espero que no repita no sé si resista otro tan potente”, dijo Jaime García, oficinista de 37 años que acababa de regresar junto a su esposa y dos hijos de un balneario cercano a la capital venezolana, donde acudieron para aprovechar el día festivo.

Fallas en Internet, cortes eléctricos y ruptura de tuberías de agua se registraron en varios sectores de Caracas.

El ministro del Interior, Diosdado Cabello, informó que el sismo se sintió en varios estados y agregó que en el barrio capitalino de Altamira se registraron situaciones “alarmantes” con viviendas y edificios derrumbados. Instó a la población a permanecer al aire libre.

La gente permaneció en las calles durante horas, incluso después de la puesta de sol. Algunos se sentaron en el suelo abrazando a sus mascotas mientras el polvo se acumulaba a su alrededor.

Héctor Ricci, residente en Caracas, dijo que el primer temblor “empezó de forma discreta” y luego “fue creciendo” hasta que al final la gente tuvo que salir de sus casas y reunirse en la calle.

Primeras reacciones

La líder opositora venezolana María Corina Machado, ganadora del Premio Nobel de la Paz 2025, expresó en X sus condolencias. “Mi corazón, mi abrazo infinito y mis oraciones están con cada hogar venezolano en estas horas de angustia”.

Edmundo González, el candidato de la oposición en las elecciones presidenciales de Venezuela de 2024, afirmó en la misma red social que muchos venezolanos seguían sin poder ponerse en contacto con sus familiares ni evaluar la magnitud de los daños tras los terremotos. "La incertidumbre se convierte en otra capa de angustia, y no es la caída de una red: es el bloqueo sistemático y prolongado de información que viven los venezolanos".

Estos terremotos se encuentran entre los más fuertes que han sacudido Venezuela en más de un siglo. El temblor de San Narciso de 1900 tuvo una magnitud de 7,6 y el terremoto de Sucre de 2018 una magnitud de 7,3.

Los temblores se sintieron en la vecina Colombia, especialmente en la región Caribe y en el nororiente del país, sin que se hayan reportado daños ni víctimas. La Dirección General Marítima colombiana aclaró en un comunicado que no hay alerta de tsunami para la costa Caribe de Colombia.

En Brasil fueron evacuados edificios en Manaos, Belém y Macapá, todas ellas ciudades de la Amazonía.

El Centro de Alerta de Tsunamis del Pacífico de Estados Unidos emitió una alerta de tsunami para las Islas Vírgenes. Las autoridades de la República Dominicana también lo hicieron para la isla.

Aunque Venezuela se encuentra cerca de múltiples fallas, su ubicación a caballo entre las placas sudamericana y caribeña hace que los terremotos sean mucho menos frecuentes que en otras partes de América Latina.

Ofrecimiento de ayuda

El presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, indicó en X que su gobierno había ofrecido asistencia a Venezuela a través de su Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. Añadió que 300 rescatistas y paramédicos, junto con 50 toneladas de equipos, medicamentos y suministros de emergencia, estaban listos para viajar a Caracas.

El gobierno de Chile expresó su solidaridad con el gobierno y el pueblo venezolano tras el terremoto, y afirmó estar dispuesto a brindar asistencia humanitaria y de búsqueda y rescate si se le solicitara.

—————

García Cano informó desde Bogotá, Colombia. Anna-Catherine Brigada colaboró desde Ciudad de México, Clara Preve desde Buenos Aires y Jorge Rueda desde Caracas.

Thursday will feature a sun/cloud mix, plus haze as a hint of Saharan dust hangs in the air. There could be a few showers along the east coast during the morning. Afternoon storms that develop will tend to favor inland areas of South Florida. Indeed, it will be another hot, humid day. Temperatures will make a run for the low 90s-- factor in the humidity and it will feel like the triple digits.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Caracas.

In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures on the number of homes and buildings affected, or on injuries or fatalities.

The earthquakes damaged the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, severely enough to lead to its closure, she said, adding that classes were being canceled for several days.

“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said. “We urge unity.”

Rodríguez also asked all health care professionals in the country to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured. The Ministry of Education late Wednesday said some schools would be used as shelters and donation centers.

In the coastal state of Falcon, Gov. Víctor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized and more than four hours after the earthquake there were still 15 people trapped.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2. Its epicenter was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).

The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and its epicenter was 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón.

The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 p.m. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.

‘We all had to leave our houses'

People remained on the streets for hours, even after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets. Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone signal.

“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.

Rodríguez, who declared a state of emergency, said subway and natural gas services in Caracas were canceled. She also urged Venezuelans to report any damages through a government app.

The lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the distress of many families, particularly those among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country during its protracted crisis.

Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado, in exile after leaving Venezuela in December, took to X to send prayers and wish strength to Venezuelans.

“May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time,” she said on X.

Impact felt throughout Venezuela

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured in the earthquake and asking motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”

He also urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.

“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Gamas said. “We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”

Expressions of support posted on social media

Reaction poured in swiftly on social media, with offers of help from various governments including the United States, Chile and El Salvador.

“The US stands with the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of this evening's devastating earthquakes,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X. “We're in touch with the authorities and mobilizing assistance.”

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, once diametrically opposed to Venezuela’s government, said he had offered aid Wednesday night on a post on X.

“We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” Bukele wrote.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said he had ordered the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to help respond to the emergency.

“Ecuador will respond with the speed and commitment this moment demands because, despite our enormous differences, humanity must always guide the actions of a leader,” Noboa wrote.

Earthquake impacts the region

Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapá in Brazil's Amazon were evacuated, according to reports on TV Globo.

The quakes also were felt in Colombia’s Caribbean and northeast regions, but there were no reports of damages or injuries.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several tsumani alerts in the wake of the earthquakes that were quickly lifted.

Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela.

While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates make earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.

Along the Pacific coast — in Mexico and Chile, for example — earthquakes are frequent. Those two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, which is responsible for 90% of earthquakes, according to the USGS.

___

Garcia Cano reported from Bogota, Colombia. Associated Press writers Clara Preve in Buenos Aires, Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo and Anna-Catherine Brigida and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Leer en español

The crash was reported just before 7:30 a.m. in the area of Northwest 122^nd Street and 27^th Avenue, near a school bus transportation center.

Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News shows the bus driver preparing to turn onto 27th Avenue.

The scooter rider and bus driver both stop. But just as the child on the scooter kicked off, the bus rolled forward, colliding with the scooter.

Detective Samantha Choon, with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, said the scooter struck the side of the school bus.

The boy was seen limping off the roadway as good Samaritan Nelson Ortiz exited the bus to check on him.

“I went across the street, and I see the scooter and the kid lying down by the tree,” Ortiz told Local 10’s Roy Ramos. “I went over there and I asked the kid if he was alright, and he said, ‘Yeah, you need to call somebody.’”

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials told Local 10 that they transported the child to a trauma center after the crash.

“He had a little bruises and rub marks on his face and stuff like that, but I heard that the truck ran over his foot,” said Ortiz.

As the child continues to recover from those injuries, investigators are working to determine who had the right of way at the time of Wednesday’s collision.

According to Miami-Dade County Public Schools, no students were onboard the bus at the time.

A nearby business owner told Local 10 that this isn’t the first time an accident has occurred in front of the transportation center, as a scooter was struck by a bus just a couple months ago.

Just hours after refusing to sign a bipartisan housing bill that Republicans hoped would boost their election-year prospects, the president was attending a private lunch Wednesday with the Senate GOP. Trump wondered aloud how anyone could have voted for a war powers resolution a day earlier that seeks to block further U.S. military action against Iran.

Cassidy, one of the four Republicans who backed the measure, was ready with an answer.

“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what's going on,'” Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, recounted to reporters afterward. “This is supposed to last four weeks. It's lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved.”

Things deteriorated from there.

When Cassidy told Trump he would continue voting for war powers resolutions until there's a congressional briefing on developments in Iran, the senator recalled that Trump “did not particularly care for my comments” and “raised his voice.”

Trump repeatedly told Cassidy to sit down, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private meeting. At one point, the president called the senator a “lunatic," the person said.

Cassidy acknowledged losing his temper, which he said was “not appropriate.”

“But I again matched his tone and volume," Cassidy said, before recalling that he eventually sat down. “And so I sat down and tried to de-escalate. I guess my point is, though, that the American people need to know more than we're being told.”

Within hours, Cassidy was invited to the White House to receive the briefing he had requested with Vice President JD Vance and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff. Cassidy then stood down, returning to the Capitol and casting a late-night vote against a similar war powers resolution. This time, Republicans blocked the measure.

“I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran,” Cassidy posted on X. “I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns.”

A remarkable exchange between a GOP senator and Trump

Still, the back-and-forth was a remarkable exchange between a two-term Republican senator and a president from his own party. It's a departure from the posture many congressional Republicans have adopted during Trump's second term as they mostly avoid criticizing him in public while expressing frustration in private.

And the comments reflected the growing unease among congressional Republicans about the durability of their thin majorities on Capitol Hill in this year's elections, particularly in the turmoil of the Iran war. And it reflected the long-festering enmity between Trump and Cassidy that came to a head this year.

Trump effectively ended Cassidy's political career by backing a Republican rival in Louisiana's Republican primary. Cassidy last month became the first incumbent senator in 14 years to lose a primary, driven largely by his vote to convict Trump in the impeachment trial for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Cassidy said Trump brought up his election defeat as they argued. He described the president's comments as part of “whatever comes to mind as to demean another person.”

Before his losing the primary, Cassidy spent much of his time trying to make amends, largely supporting the president's policies and nominees. He has taken a tougher stance since losing his primary, freed from having to face Republican voters who remain loyal to Trump.

“It does not appear, although I don’t know for sure, that the course of (the Iran war) is going the way that we were told,” Cassidy said. “And so I make no apologies for standing up to the president, if you will, trying to demand that more information be shared with the Senate, and more information be shared with the American people.”

Republicans try to play down the episode

Cassidy's colleagues didn't offer robust support, with Trump in the room, though Cassidy said they didn't have much of a chance.

“The president just kind of talked and talked and talked and talked and talked,” Cassidy said.

The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment on Cassidy’s characterization of the meeting and some Republicans tried to play down the clash.

“Y'all act like no one ever yelled at each other,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, told reporters.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican and former college football coach, described the encounter as “halftime talk” in the aftermath of the senator's defeat.

“Probably needed to be said, end of the day,” he said. “I think they got a lot of — both of them — got a lot off their chests.”

Others noted dryly that the meeting had been advertised as a chance for Trump and the Republicans to get on the same page.

“That was quite a unity message,” said Sen. John Cornyn, the Texas Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger just weeks after Cassidy.

Asked if he was being sarcastic, Cornyn stepped into an elevator and let the doors close.

___

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate demanded answers about the saga that's been highlighted in the news cycle for weeks, even as the White House has repeatedly blamed — without evidence — unidentified vandals for peeling paint and other problems. Six people have been arrested, President Donald Trump said, without providing details, and a local wildlife nonprofit conducted necropsies on dead ducks found near the Reflecting Pool. The president has said the pool may need to be drained once again for additional repairs.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, challenged the Trump administration over no-bid contracts for work on the Reflecting Pool, saying they were awarded to vendors with previous relationships to Trump.

National Park Service projects undertaken at Trump’s behest in the Washington area “have been marked by blatant corruption, a shocking lack of transparency, disregard for legal requirements and apparent incompetence,” Blumenthal wrote Wednesday in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Jessica Bowron, the acting Park Service director.

“Rushed no-bid contracts given to unqualified vendors with previous relationships to the president resulted in a reflecting pool more covered with algae than before, with freshly painted chunks of paint peeling from the bottom to float on the pool’s surface,” Blumenthal said.

The nation's capital “will now celebrate America's 250th birthday with an empty reflecting pool, a testament to incompetence and corruption,” he added.

Two contracts for Reflecting Pool repairs

Ohio-based Green Water Solutions was given a $1.7 million contract to install a water-purification system in the Reflecting Pool, while Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings was awarded $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor.

Both contractors have ties to Trump entities, said California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

“Donald Trump’s disastrous renovation of our national reflecting pool is his latest failed vanity project,” Garcia said, calling the projects a waste of taxpayer money.

Trump pledged to beautify the century-old Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations, draining its water and directing the bottom to be painted a color he dubbed “American flag blue.” But since the site was restored, its water has been plagued by an algae bloom and pieces of the new coating have appeared to be peeling off the bottom.

Without evidence, Trump has repeatedly blamed the peeling paint on vandalism, including a “350-foot gash” in the liner, as the administration faces a self-imposed deadline to complete the renovation before July 4th. Trump also has said the federal government would release images to substantiate his claim.

Trump said Wednesday that “sick people” had used razors and box cutters to slice portions of the lining. He wasn’t sure if the pool draining would come before or after the July 4 holiday, during which tens of thousands of people will be at the National Mall.

The U.S. Park Police posted surveillance footage Wednesday evening and asked for help “identifying the individual depicted here in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation.” The grainy, 30-second video appears to show a person kneeling down, reaching into the reflecting pool and removing something from the water. Police said it was taken Friday afternoon.

A White House spokeswoman it’s “a shame that Democrats do not think the capital of the greatest nation in the history of the world deserves to be safe and beautiful.”

Trump “generously spearheaded the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has long been plagued with algae and leaked 16 million gallons of water per year. The president’s efforts to beautify our nation’s capital are supported by Americans across the country and should be praised by both Republicans and Democrats,″ spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.

A spokeswoman for Green Water Solutions, also known as Greenwater Services, said Wednesday the company uses devices called nanobubblers to infuse ozone into the water to kill algae and bacteria. The process is “functioning perfectly” and the water looked clear and blue Wednesday, after rain muddled it Tuesday, spokeswoman Erin Kramer said.

“The water is clear. What is visible is the sediment on the pool floor, a natural part of the remediation process when the algae dies,” she said. In a lake or river, that sediment is absorbed, but in a pool it needs to be vacuumed, she said.

The company is owned by John Cafaro, a Trump donor who lives near Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private club in Florida.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which spread blue sealant across the pool’s concrete floor, is owned by Curtis “Eddie” Wood. The company said this week it has identified some areas in the Reflecting Pool that require repairs, adding that the work will done once the pool is drained. It was unclear when that will happen.

What's next for Reflecting Pool remains murky

Amid the calls for investigations, Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado called for Trump to personally reimburse American taxpayers for the pool renovations, which he called “a national embarrassment.”

Americans expect their tax dollars “to fix roads, support schools and protect our public lands,” Hickenlooper wrote in a letter to Trump. “They do not expect to bankroll failed presidential vanity projects. The bill for this fiasco should only belong to you, Mr. President.”

___

Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard contributed to this story.

Prosecutors called the crime an act of terrorism and said the eight were linked to the leftist militant group antifa. The defendants’ attorneys denied any antifa ties and family members expressed shock and anger over the stiff sentences.

Benjamin Song, the Marine reservist who was convicted of opening fire during the July 4 demonstration outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas, was sentenced to 100 years in prison, the maximum punishment. The seven others sentenced in Fort Worth courtrooms received prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.

“I am livid,” said Lydia Koza, whose wife, Autumn Hill, was sentenced to 50 years in prison. “The government wants to take her entire life away because she attended a protest. Nobody died.”

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, one of two judges overseeing the proceedings, said what happened wasn’t a protest but “an assault on democracy.” All but one of the eight defendants sentenced Tuesday were convicted on terrorism charges.

“The need to deter this type of conduct is high,” O’Connor said.

The case drew attention beyond Texas as critics warned it could have wide-reaching impact on protests and First Amendment free-speech rights. The Justice Department called it the first sentencing of “defendants affiliated with” antifa after President Donald Trump last fall signed an executive order designating it as a domestic terrorist organization.

Prosecutors link protesters to antifa

Trump issued the order even though there is no domestic equivalent to the State Department’s list of foreign terror organizations. Antifa is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for far-left militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.

“The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

Prosecutors told jurors during the trial that the group’s actions — including bringing firearms, first aid kits and wearing body armor — were signals of nefarious intent.

Attorneys for the defendants have said there was no planned ambush and that protesters who brought firearms only did so for their own protection. They argued the gathering was planned as a late-night demonstration with fireworks to show support for immigrants being held at Prairieland before gunshots broke out.

Prosecutors have said Song had yelled, “get to the rifles” and opened fire, striking a police officer who had just pulled up to the center.

Some defendants say they weren’t part of the planning

Phillip Hayes, Song’s attorney, rejected characterizations that the protesters were extremists and said his client will appeal the 100-year sentence.

“This is a bunch of kids and young adults who really have a really big heart and really wanted their voice to be heard,” Hayes said. “It was never intended that anybody get hurt. It was never intended that any shots would be fired.”

Prosecutor Frank Gatto urged the judge to impose stiff penalties.

“People with that kind of extremist beliefs need extra time in prison,” Gatto said. “They believe violence is justified.”

Defendants and their family members pleaded for leniency.

Autumn Hill said the gathering “seemed more like a party to me than anything else” and that she and others who participated “didn’t expect or want any violence or destruction of property to occur.”

Hill’s attorney, Cody Cofer, told the judge that there was no evidence she had a gun, nor that she believed in violence to achieve change. He said that after fireworks were set off, she was so conscientious that she made sure to pick up the trash left behind before leaving.

Chris Tolbert, defendant Savanna Batten’s attorney, has said that his client didn’t bring a firearm, spray paint or fireworks to the center, nor did she participate in the planning of the demonstration.

Hill and Batten both received 50-year sentences.

Another defendant, Daniel Sanchez Estrada, was not at Prairieland the night of the shooting or involved in the planning, his attorney Christopher Weinbel said. Sanchez Estrada, who is married to another of the defendants, was convicted only on charges of concealing documents.

Weinbel said his client just moved a box of his own belongings of artwork, poetry, journals and zines after the shooting. Nothing in the box was illegal, Weinbel said.

Sanchez Estrada was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Other defendants previously pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists rather than take their case to trial.

Last week, federal prosecutors charged 15 people with impeding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota. They claimed the demonstrators were members of antifa who conspired against the federal government to block arrests and deportations by setting up blockades around government buildings and throwing chunks of ice at federal vehicles, among other actions.

___

Marcelo reported from New York. Associated Press journalist Kendria LaFleur contributed.

The development, confirmed to The Associated Press by a Pentagon official, comes amid a growing, weekslong, flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force's boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base that has sickened nearly 300 people. However, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not cleared for public release, maintained that the permission to mandate the vaccinations was unrelated to the outbreak.

When Hegseth first announced the repeal of the flu vaccine mandate in April, citing “medical autonomy” and religious freedom, he allowed the services to ask for exceptions — or permission to keep the vaccine mandatory — within 15 days of the rollout.

The Pentagon official explained that the decision on those exceptions were being finalized earlier in June and the timing with the outbreak at Lackland was just a coincidence. Only 40% of the new trainees moving through the bootcamp at Lackland opted to receive the shot once it became optional, a source familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The person spoke on the conditional of anonymity because the information was not cleared for public release.

The base handles roughly 700 new recruits every week, according to Air Force figures, and the close quarters environment has long been recognized as being conducive to the spread of disease.

Recruits are exposed to high stress, low sleep, and close contact conditions for weeks. They typically sleep together in large, open rooms, shower communally, and conduct much of their instruction and inspections in close contact.

The Lackland outbreak, which is now roughly three weeks long, has produced 275 confirmed cases of the flu, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro said in a social media post. Castro's district includes part of the base on which the Air Force boot camp resides.

The new outbreak is “not unusually concerning,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert and emeritus professor at the University of Michigan.

Flu is mainly a problem in the late fall and winter – “flu season,” as it is known. But flu viruses routinely circulate at lower levels in warmer months, too.

Concentrated flu outbreaks can occur in the spring and summer, but tend to be seen mainly on military bases, cruise ships and other settings where a lot of people are gathered together indoors, Monto said.

If you want to prevent flu outbreaks, “it is especially necessary to vaccinate when there are group settings,” Monto said.

In a statement to the media, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, confirmed that exceptions were granted to the Army, Navy, and Air Force as well as the National Security Agency and the Defense Health Agency but wouldn’t offer further details.

However, both Army and Navy officials have said that they have also asked for permission to make the shot mandatory for certain broad groups that include troops deploying overseas, healthcare workers, and child care workers.

Families Fighting Flu, an advocacy organization, cheered any change to increase vaccinations.

“For decades, the military prioritized the health and safety of troops and the public by requiring flu vaccine for recruits. It’s unfortunate that more than 200 individuals at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas became ill when that requirement was rescinded.” said Michele Slafkosky, the organization’s executive director, in a statement.

“This updated guidance from the military will save lives,” he added.

Según un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade (MDSO), la novia de Devarious Holloway acudió a una estación de la MDSO el sábado para denunciar un incidente ocurrido el día anterior entre ella y su novio.

Los agentes indicaron que la víctima afirmó que Holloway le envió un mensaje de texto alrededor de las 7 p.m. del viernes diciendo: “Sal afuera. Mi mamá quiere hablar contigo”.

La víctima dijo que se sintió confundida porque sabía que la madre de Holloway había fallecido en 2017, según el informe.

De acuerdo con el informe, la mujer caminó hacia un vehículo estacionado frente a su casa y vio a Holloway de pie junto al automóvil.

Los agentes indicaron que Holloway se acercó a la víctima y le preguntó: “¿Entonces ya terminamos?”.

Según el informe, la víctima caminó hacia la casa de su hermana, ubicada en la misma propiedad, creyendo que Holloway la seguiría, pero dijo que rápidamente se dio cuenta de que él había entrado a su propia vivienda.

El informe señala que la víctima entró a su casa y Holloway le lanzó el teléfono celular, “sin golpearla, pero impactando la puerta”.

Luego la sujetó por los hombros, la empujó sobre un sofá y le dio un puñetazo en el labio inferior cuando ella intentó levantarse, informaron las autoridades.

Los agentes dijeron que Holloway después pateó a la víctima en la pierna derecha antes de que ella corriera a su habitación y cerrara la puerta con llave.

Según el informe, Holloway comenzó a patear la puerta del dormitorio, lo que provocó que el marco se rompiera.

Después continuó preguntándole a la víctima sobre el estado de su relación mientras ella le pedía repetidamente que le devolviera su teléfono, informaron las autoridades.

De acuerdo con el informe, Holloway salió de la vivienda, pero regresó poco después y continuó discutiendo con la víctima antes de golpearla en el pecho, provocándole enrojecimiento y rompiendo la cadena que llevaba puesta.

Holloway enfrenta cargos de agresión y daños a la propiedad.

Un equipo de Local 10 News estaba en la escena cuando Holloway fue liberado del Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center tras pagar una fianza de $1,150 USD.

Fue visto saliendo de la cárcel con una sudadera con capucha gris, una mascarilla y gafas.

El reportero de Local 10 News Jeff Derderian le preguntó a Holloway sobre los cargos y si golpeó a la presunta víctima. Holloway no respondió a ninguna de las dos preguntas.

El Departamento de Policía de Miramar emitió un comunicado a Local 10 el martes en el que confirmó que Holloway ha sido “puesto en licencia administrativa” mientras se desarrolla una investigación interna.

El Departamento de Policía de Miramar fue notificado por la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade de un incidente fuera de servicio que involucra al sargento Devarious Holloway.

El Departamento reconoce el asunto mencionado y ha iniciado una revisión administrativa exhaustiva de acuerdo con los procedimientos departamentales establecidos. El sargento Holloway ha sido puesto en licencia administrativa a la espera del resultado de esa revisión.

El Departamento de Policía de Miramar se mantiene firme en su compromiso con el profesionalismo, la rendición de cuentas y la conducta ética, y abordará este asunto a través de los canales correspondientes.

Departamento de Policía de Miramar

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Joseph Anthony Ciavarella enfrenta cargos que incluyen homicidio por DUI y homicidio vehicular en relación con el accidente ocurrido el 11 de junio cerca de Stirling Road y University Drive, en Davie.

Las autoridades informaron que la víctima, una ex policía de Hollywood retirada de 55 años, intentaba girar a la izquierda para entrar a un centro comercial cuando Ciavarella impactó su vehículo.

Los investigadores determinaron que Ciavarella estaba intoxicado y conducía sin las luces encendidas al momento del accidente.

Las agencias del orden no han identificado públicamente a la víctima porque fuentes informaron a Local 10 News que su hijo adolescente iba en el vehículo y presenció el accidente.

“Obviamente fue una pérdida trágica para todos nosotros cuando nos enteramos de lo ocurrido”, dijo Danielly De Andrade, detective del Departamento de Policía de Hollywood. “De hecho, ella fue mi primera supervisora, así que tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con ella durante un tiempo”.

De Andrade dijo que la ex oficial trabajó alrededor de 15 años en el departamento.

“Es muy duro para nosotros saber que una de los nuestros fue afectada por esto, pero lo vemos todos los días y solo le pedimos al público que no conduzca bajo los efectos del alcohol”, dijo.

El esposo de la víctima también trabaja en las fuerzas del orden, lo que aumenta el impacto que la pérdida ha tenido en la comunidad policial del sur de Florida.

“Esta es una pérdida para nuestra comunidad”, añadió De Andrade. “Esto nos toca de cerca; no es algo que uno quiera escuchar después de que alguien se retira”.

Al ser preguntada sobre qué recordará más de la víctima, De Andrade la describió como “simplemente una persona amable, muy amable, orientada a la familia y con mucha experiencia”.

La policía de Davie obtuvo una orden de arresto y detuvo a Ciavarella el viernes.

Según la Fiscalía Estatal de Broward, Ciavarella no compareció físicamente durante la audiencia judicial programada para el lunes.

Un juez del condado Broward ordenó a Ciavarella entregar su pasaporte, usar un monitor GPS, permanecer dentro del área de los tres condados, abstenerse de consumir drogas y alcohol, y someterse a pruebas aleatorias dos veces al mes.

El juez también fijó su fianza en $252,000 USD y ordenó que permanezca en un hospital de rehabilitación mientras recibe tratamiento por las lesiones que sufrió en el accidente.

El funeral de la víctima está programado para el jueves.

Las autoridades informaron que Precious Bland, de 38 años, ahogó a la menor el 23 de agosto de 2021, al asegurar que intentaba bautizar a todas las personas que se encontraban en la vivienda.

Durante el incidente, el esposo de Bland, también de 38 años, y su hija de 16 años fueron apuñalados, pero sobrevivieron.

Las autoridades encontraron a las víctimas en una vivienda ubicada en Northwest 99th Street, cerca de la 30th Avenue, donde también hallaron a Bland con heridas de arma blanca que, según la investigación, ella misma se había provocado.

En la casa también se encontraban otros cuatro menores de 11 años o menos, quienes resultaron ilesos.

El edificio residencial de 12 pisos se derrumbó durante la madrugada del 24 de junio de 2021, cuando muchos de sus residentes dormían. En la tragedia murieron 98 personas.

Durante la ceremonia Lighting of the Torch (Encendido de la Antorcha), se presentó una antorcha como símbolo de esperanza, resiliencia y memoria.

“Esta antorcha es más que una luz; es una promesa. Una promesa de que siempre recordaremos, honraremos y nunca permitiremos que estas vidas sean olvidadas”, expresó uno de los oradores.

Un bombero que participó en la ceremonia reforzó ese mensaje.

“Y que esa luz brille a través de todos nosotros”, dijo.

Solo tres personas fueron rescatadas con vida de entre los escombros tras el colapso. Entre ellas estaba Devin Gonzalez, quien tenía 16 años en ese momento. Su madre también sobrevivió.

Gonzalez perdió a su padre en la tragedia.

“El resto de mi familia... mi hermana sobrevivió porque esa noche no estaba en casa, pero mi padre fue una de las 98 personas que fallecieron. Él no logró salir”, relató.

Cinco años después, González aseguró que el dolor continúa, pero espera que las lecciones aprendidas tras el colapso ayuden a evitar que una tragedia similar vuelva a ocurrir.

“Sí, da rabia y duele, pero debemos enfocarnos en el futuro y en las cosas que podemos hacer para que algo así nunca vuelva a suceder”, afirmó.

Un especialista israelí en rescates, cuyo equipo está entrenado para localizar personas atrapadas en estructuras colapsadas, recordó que trabajaron día y noche para ayudar en todo lo posible.

“Es un honor poder ayudar. Es una mitzvá ayudar al prójimo, incluso si no lo conoces. Todos somos seres humanos y no importa dónde estemos. Estamos juntos para ayudarnos unos a otros: uno para todos y todos para uno”, señaló.

Para muchos de los socorristas que pasaron semanas buscando entre los escombros, los recuerdos siguen muy presentes.

“Cuando decimos que nunca vamos a olvidar, es porque nunca vamos a olvidar. Y quienes estuvimos aquí —los miles de socorristas y líderes comunitarios— jamás podremos olvidar”, expresó un bombero.

La ceremonia anual sirvió como homenaje a las 98 vidas perdidas y como recordatorio del profundo impacto que el colapso sigue teniendo en las familias, los sobrevivientes y la comunidad del sur de Florida.

Este aniversario ocurre después de que el Instituto Nacional de Estándares y Tecnología (NIST) publicara un informe en el que concluye que el proceso que llevó al derrumbe comenzó semanas antes del colapso.

Según el informe, dos conexiones entre las columnas del estacionamiento y la plataforma de la piscina comenzaron a fallar a principios de junio de 2021. La combinación de un diseño estructural que no cumplía con los códigos de construcción y las modificaciones realizadas al edificio durante sus 40 años de existencia provocó que otras partes de la plataforma de la piscina no pudieran soportar la carga adicional, lo que derivó en un colapso progresivo.

Otra ceremonia conmemorativa se llevará a cabo este miércoles a las 10:00 a.m. en la intersección de 88th Street y Collins Avenue, en Surfside, y será transmitida en vivo.

La samba no ahogó las gaitas, ya que el Ejército Tartán y sus faldas escocesas de lana invadieron el Hard Rock Stadium en Miami Gardens.

Las puertas del estadio se abrieron a las 3 de la tarde. Los aficionados habían llegado temprano para pasar por un control de seguridad, varias colas, largas caminatas, un viaje en autobús y la revisión de las entradas.

La demanda de entradas fue alta. Los precios de reventa iniciales oscilaron entre 1600 y 1855 dólares. Posteriormente, el precio promedio de las entradas se situó entre 3500 y 5445 dólares. Los asientos premium alcanzaron los 25 800 dólares.

Noticia relacionada : Un oráculo jaguar negro en Río de Janeiro presiente que Brasil vencerá a Escocia en el desafío del Grupo C.

Tras los partidos del Grupo C que comenzarán a las 18:00, los dos equipos con más puntos avanzarán a la siguiente fase del torneo: los dieciseisavos de final .

Brasil llega con cuatro puntos y Escocia con tres. Independientemente del ganador del miércoles por la noche en Miami, ambos podrían clasificarse. Haití disputará su último partido del Mundial contra Marruecos en Atlanta, Georgia.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 14:00 a 21:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Fiesta para ver el partido en Miami Beach: Las puertas se abren a las 4 pm del 24 de junio en The Bandshell, en 7275 Collins Ave., para el partido entre Escocia y Brasil que comienza a las 6 pm.

Noticia relacionada : Ronaldinho dice “que empiece la magia” tras fichar por el Ravenna, club italiano de la Serie C, a los 46 años.

Progreso del Grupo C

19 DE JUNIO: DÍA 2

Brasil consigue 3 puntos

• Análisis del partido : Matheus Cunha anota 2 goles y Brasil elimina a Haití del Mundial con una victoria por 3-0.

Marruecos consigue 3 puntos.

• Cobertura previa al partido : Los aficionados escoceses han llegado a Boston para la Copa del Mundo y los bares están teniendo dificultades para dar abasto.

13 DE JUNIO: DÍA 1

Brasil y Marruecos obtienen 1 punto cada uno.

• Análisis del partido: Brasil remonta para lograr un empate 1-1 contra Marruecos en su debut en el Mundial gracias al gol de Vinícius Júnior.
• Vídeo del partido de la FIFA : Ismael Saibari de Marruecos anota.
• Vídeo del juego FIFA : ¡Un especial de Vinicius Jr.!

Escocia consigue 3 puntos tras jugar contra Haití.

• Análisis del partido : Escocia celebra su 28.º aniversario de ausencia en la Copa del Mundo con una victoria por 1-0 sobre Haití en el Grupo C.
• Vídeo del partido de FIFA : John McGinn de Escocia anota.
• Historia previa al partido : El tan esperado regreso de Haití a la Copa del Mundo conlleva un desafío formidable.

Calendario del torneo

25 de junio : Seis partidos: Grupo E , Curazao vs. Costa de Marfil, partido a las 16:00 h. Grupo E , Ecuador vs. Alemania, partido a las 16:00 h. Grupo F , Túnez vs. Países Bajos, partido a las 19:00 h. Grupo F , Japón vs. Suecia, partido a las 19:00 h. Grupo D , Turquía vs. Estados Unidos, partido a las 22:00 h. Grupo D , Paraguay vs. Australia, partido a las 22:00 h.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre de 15:00 a 01:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

26 de junio : Hay seis partidos: Grupo I , Noruega vs. Francia, partido a las 15:00 h. Grupo I , Senegal vs. Irak, partido a las 15:00 h. Grupo H , Cabo Verde vs. Arabia Saudita, partido a las 20:00 h. Grupo H , Uruguay vs. España, partido a las 20:00 h. Grupo G , Nueva Zelanda vs. Bélgica, partido a las 23:00 h. Grupo G , Egipto vs. Irán, partido a las 23:00 h.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 14:00 a 23:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

27 de junio : Seis partidos: Grupo L , Panamá vs. Inglaterra, partido a las 17:00 h. Grupo L , Croacia vs. Ghana, partido a las 17:00 h. Grupo K , Colombia vs. Portugal, partido a las 19:30 h. Grupo K , Congo vs. Uzbekistán, partido a las 19:30 h. Grupo J , Argelia vs. Austria, partido a las 22:00 h. Grupo J , Jordania vs. Argentina, partido a las 22:00 h.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 16:00 a 01:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Fiesta para ver el partido al amanecer : El Amerant Bank Arena, un recinto cubierto, organiza una fiesta gratuita para quienes tengan entrada a las 19:30 h del 27 de junio. El estacionamiento es gratuito. El condado de Broward ofrece transporte gratuito en autobús exprés desde el estadio hasta el Miami Stadium, también conocido como Hard Rock, en Miami Gardens, para los poseedores de entradas para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA.

Comienza la ronda de 32.

28 de junio : Hay un partido a las 15:00.

Fiesta para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 13:00 a 22:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

29 de junio : Hay tres partidos a la 1 pm, 4:30 pm y 9 pm.

Fiestas para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

30 de junio : Hay tres partidos a la 1 pm, a las 5 pm y a las 9 pm.

Fiestas para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

1 de julio : Hay tres partidos a las 12:00, a las 16:00 y a las 21:00.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre de 11:00 a 23:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

2 de julio : Hay tres partidos a las 15:00, 19:00 y 23:00.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 14:00 a 22:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

3 de julio : Hay tres partidos a las 14:00, 18:00 y 21:30.

Eventos para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans se celebra de 13:00 a 21:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

Comienza la ronda de octavos de final.

4 de julio: Hay dos partidos a la 1 pm y a las 5 pm.

Fiestas para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre sus puertas desde el mediodía hasta la medianoche en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

5 de julio : Hay dos partidos a las 16:00 y a las 20:00.

Fiestas para ver el partido en Miami : El festival para fans abre sus puertas el último día de 15:00 a 23:00 en Bayfront Park, en 301 Biscayne Boulevard.

6 de julio : Hay dos partidos a las 15:00 y a las 20:00.

7 de julio : Hay dos partidos a las 12:00 y a las 16:00.

Comienzan los cuartos de final

9 de julio : Hay un partido de cuartos de final a las 16:00.

10 de julio : Hay un partido de cuartos de final a las 15:00.

11 de julio : Hay dos partidos de cuartos de final a las 17:00 y a las 21:00.

Fiesta para ver el partido al amanecer : El Amerant Bank Arena, un recinto cubierto, organiza una fiesta gratuita para quienes tengan entrada a las 17:00 horas del 11 de julio. El aparcamiento es gratuito.

Comienzan las semifinales

14 de julio : El festival de aficionados ha finalizado. Hay un partido de semifinales a las 15:00.

Fiesta para ver el partido en Miami Beach: Las puertas se abren a las 3 pm el 14 de julio en The Bandshell, en 7275 Collins Ave., para el partido de semifinales.

15 de julio : Hay un partido de semifinales a las 15:00.

Fiesta para ver el partido en Miami Beach: Las puertas se abren a las 3 pm del 15 de julio en The Bandshell, en 7275 Collins Ave., para el partido de semifinales.

Comienzan las finales

18 de julio : El partido por el tercer puesto se jugará a las 17:00.

Fiesta para ver la final en Miami Beach: Las puertas se abren a las 3 pm del 18 de julio en The Sandbowl, detrás de The Bandshell, en 7275 Collins Ave., para la final de bronce de las 5 pm.

Viaje al amanecer al estadio : El Amerant Bank Arena ofrece estacionamiento gratuito para los poseedores de entradas para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA que utilicen el servicio de autobús exprés gratuito del condado de Broward para llegar al Miami Stadium, también conocido como Hard Rock, en Miami Gardens.

19 de julio : El partido final es a las 15:00.

Fiesta para ver la final en Miami Beach: Las puertas se abren a la 1 pm del 19 de julio en The Sandbowl, detrás de The Bandshell, en 7275 Collins Ave., para la final que comienza a las 3 pm.

Fiesta para ver el partido al amanecer : El Amerant Bank Arena, un recinto cubierto, organiza una fiesta gratuita para ver la final el 19 de julio para los poseedores de entradas . El estacionamiento es gratuito.

Historias relacionadas

• Información clave para los aficionados que asistan a los partidos en el Estadio de Miami.
• Un guardia de seguridad fue acusado de robar un uniforme de árbitro de la FIFA de un hotel en Miami Beach.

Rastrea los grupos

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

Miami announced they have exercised a team option on guard Pelle Larsson.

Last season, Larsson’s second in the NBA, he played in 70 games for the Heat, averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes per game.

He shot 49.6% from the field and 79.7% from the free throw line.

The Heat made a big splash earlier this week, agreeing to acquire superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks for a hoard of players and draft picks, including Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware.

The White House supported the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, but on Wednesday Trump canceled the signing ceremony for the bill, saying he would not sign the measure until Congress passes legislation that would require proof of citizenship for all voters.

Here’s what to know.

How significant is this housing legislation?

The measure is the culmination of months of negotiations by lawmakers who combined dozens of bills meant to address how housing affordability for both renters and aspiring homeowners in the U.S. has grown increasingly out of reach for many Americans.

The bill would reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, speed up the construction process and curb the influence of corporate landlords by limiting their ability to purchase single-family homes.

Still, it's not a silver bullet for all the factors that contribute to reduced housing affordability, including lack of construction labor, rising insurance costs and years of subdued wage growth relative to sharply rising rents and home prices.

Even so, the bill has drawn broad support from the real estate industry, including organizations representing homebuilders and apartment complex owners, as well as housing advocates.

“We need more homes built, and legislation that removes construction barriers is exactly what the market needs right now,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. "Homebuyers who were hoping for relief may have to wait even longer, and in a market already starved for inventory, that’s a tough pill to swallow.”

What led lawmakers to pass the first major housing legislation in decades?

Housing has grown into a hot-button issue among voters in recent years as homeownership and rents in many areas have become less affordable for many Americans.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. While sales accelerated in May to their fastest pace since December, they continue to hover close to a 4 million annual pace, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2 million, limited partly by elevated mortgage rates.

Years of soaring home prices, especially in the early part of this decade when rock-bottom mortgage rates fueled a buying frenzy, have left many would-be homebuyers frozen out of the market. And a chronic shortage of homes for sale nationally, due partly to years of below-average new home construction, has helped prop up home prices even in a multiyear sales slump.

Home prices have increased 54% nationwide since 2020, and last year the median existing single-family sales price was nearly five times the median household income, according to researchers at Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Renters, meanwhile, have seen little improvement in affordability. While the median U.S. monthly rent has been declining for nearly three years, it was still 17.2% higher in May than before the pandemic, according to data from Realtor.com.

What if the bill doesn't become law?

One of the biggest hurdles to homeownership has been an imbalance between supply and demand in many parts of the country.

When there are fewer homes on the market, that helps prop up home prices even during a slowdown. Conversely, during times when mortgage rates are low, buyers end up competing for fewer homes, which drives up prices.

The housing bill would help increase the supply of housing, particularly when it comes to smaller, more affordable starter homes.

It amends existing regulations to boost construction of manufactured homes, which tend to be more affordable than other types of newly built homes, and expand access to government-backed loans to include construction of standalone dwellings a homeowner can rent out.

The bill also provides new dollars for communities to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing, and provides guidelines for communities that want to reform outdated zoning regulations, which often limit larger housing developments.

“It won’t make housing more affordable overnight, but in the coming years we will see more construction of town homes, multifamily housing, and ADUs,” notes Fairweather, saying the additional supply "will relieve the pressure on home prices, and make it easier for homebuyers to break into the market.”

What about renters?

The legislation includes a broad set of provisions, including an expansion of government rental assistance and affordable housing construction programs , and measures aimed at encouraging state and local governments to make it easier to build new homes and apartments, including federal funding to places exceeding the median rate of homebuilding.

In addition, the bill would raise limits on the number of public housing units that can receive financing for renovations and codify a recovery program to help expedite funds to communities rebuilding after disaster.

It also requires new renter protections.

“Families are struggling under the heavy weight of housing costs that have climbed for decades,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "There’s no time to waste. Without federal action, America’s housing shortfall will continue to grow, falling another 2 million units behind in the next five years.”

What happens if the bill signing is held up for weeks or longer?

While hailed as a significant step, the federal government's power to dictate things like how many homes are built or rents is limited, given that most of the regulations on construction, such as zoning laws, and other facets of real estate are determined by local and state governments.

So, even if the bill is delayed, it's not like it would have had an immediate impact on local house prices, for example. But it would set back the clock on new construction projects that might not otherwise get the go-ahead.

“The sooner this bill becomes law, the sooner builders and homebuyers will benefit from its downstream effects,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “Even if the president were to sign this bill immediately, many of the provisions will take time to impact builder planning and projects in the pipeline, so there is going to be a delay before consumers feel the impacts of this legislation either way.”

What happens next?

Trump's decision to not sign the legislation into law Wednesday could end up just temporarily delaying the measure from taking effect.

The House passed the bill in a 358-32 vote on Tuesday and the Senate passed it 85-5 on Monday. That level of support is what's colloquially called a veto-proof majority.

Still, if Trump were to veto the measure, the Senate and the House would have to vote again to override the veto.

It may not come to that.

Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump earlier in the day and was confident the president would sign the bill.

“The president, when we go through the details of the bill, he’s going to understand that it’s a good product,” Johnson said.

Republican state Sen. Thomas Pischke of Dell Rapids represents a deep red district outside Sioux Falls and is seeking a third term in November. He faces two felony counts of knowingly submitting a falsified or forged document.

Pischke turned himself in to the Minnehaha County Jail on Tuesday and was released on a promise to appear for all future court dates, the sheriff's office said. An initial hearing is set for July 7.

Pischke has agreed to step away from his duties in the party, including serving on the executive board of the Minnehaha County Republicans, as the case plays out, said Jim Eschenbaum, chair of the South Dakota Republican Party.

“It’s a bad optic for the party,” Eschenbaum said Wednesday. “I’m disappointed that this has happened. But we also have to just be honest about what’s going on, you know, and deal with it.”

The Associated Press left email messages this week for Pischke and his attorney seeking comment.

If convicted of a felony, Pischke would not be able to hold a position with the state Republican Party, Eschenbaum said. It is unclear whether Pischke would be able to serve in the Legislature. State law says any person convicted of perjury, bribery or an infamous crime may not serve in the Legislature.

The Associated Press left phone messages Wednesday with the Legislative Research Council and state Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr seeking clarification.

Jessica Meyers, vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said any official who interferes with a public process should be held accountable.

“We believe in free and fair elections at every level of the political process," she said.

The biennial Republican Party state convention begins Thursday, but Pischke will not be there. At the convention, precinct committee people serve as delegates and voting members to determine party leadership and help set the party's agenda. Outside the convention, committee people perform duties in their communities like contacting and registering voters.

The charges against Pischke came after a monthslong investigation into the filings. The county auditor's office had identified 16 forms for precinct committee positions with suspected fraudulent signatures and discrepancies with registered voting addresses.

The auditor’s office called the nominees on the suspected fraudulent forms, and the majority said they didn’t fill them out. None were put on the ballot during the June Republican primary, according to Eschenbaum.

Pischke admitted to filling out his own form at the auditor's office to run for precinct committeeman but he denied filling out forms for others, the affidavit stated. He won the position in June, according to the auditor's office.

The investigation uncovered DNA evidence matching Pischke on envelopes containing the forms and used surveillance video to identify a vehicle near a mail drop box that was registered to Pischke.

Pischke ran unopposed in GOP Senate primary. He is facing Bryan Breitling, a former Republican state lawmaker who is running as an independent, in the November general election.

Breitling said Tuesday that he entered the race because the district needs a senator with integrity.

“These charges are the latest on a long list of poor judgments made by the senator,” he said.

Según un informe de arresto, Nelson Mauricio Aviles, de 61 años y residente de Fontana, fue arrestado poco después de la 1:30 a.m. en Twist, ubicado en 1057 Washington Ave.

La policía indicó que los oficiales respondieron al club nocturno después de que Aviles reportara que personal de seguridad lo había amenazado con un cuchillo.

Según el informe, Aviles parecía estar “altamente intoxicado”, presentando dificultad para hablar con claridad, problemas para mantener el equilibrio, sudoración excesiva y un fuerte olor a alcohol.

Los investigadores indicaron que Aviles se identificó repetidamente como agente del FBI y presentó una credencial del Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos del Condado de Los Ángeles que lo identificaba como “especialista en desarrollo de personal”.

El informe señala que la credencial no contenía ninguna indicación de afiliación con el FBI.

Según la policía, Aviles continuó insistiendo en que era agente del FBI y afirmó que contactaría a un socio del FBI e iniciaría una investigación interna contra Club Twist.

Los oficiales indicaron que no pudo presentar ninguna credencial del FBI ni documentación que respaldara esas afirmaciones.

El gerente del club nocturno dijo a los oficiales que Aviles había estado causando disturbios dentro del establecimiento al gritarles a clientes y empleados, afirmar repetidamente que era agente del FBI e intentar involucrarse en confrontaciones verbales y físicas con otras personas, según el informe.

El gerente indicó que Aviles fue retirado del establecimiento, señala el informe.

La policía informó que, mientras los oficiales investigaban, Aviles interrumpía repetidamente y exigía que le devolvieran su credencial o que lo arrestaran.

Cuando los oficiales intentaron detenerlo, Aviles presuntamente agitó los brazos, se zafó y se negó a colocar las manos detrás de la espalda, informó la policía. Finalmente, los oficiales lograron esposarlo sin más incidentes, según el informe.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que enfrenta un cargo por hacerse pasar falsamente por un oficial, un cargo por alterar el orden en un establecimiento y un cargo por resistirse a un oficial sin violencia.

Aviles compareció el miércoles ante la jueza de circuito de Miami-Dade, Mindy Glazer, quien determinó que existía causa probable y ordenó su liberación bajo palabra en los tres cargos. Los cargos conllevaban una fianza total de $3,150 USD.

También se le ordenó mantenerse alejado de Twist.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report, Nelson Mauricio Aviles, 61, of Fontana, was arrested just after 1:30 a.m. at Twist, located at 1057 Washington Ave.

Police said officers responded to the nightclub after Aviles reported that security personnel had threatened him with a knife.

Aviles appeared to be “highly intoxicated,” displaying slurred speech, difficulty maintaining his balance, excessive sweating and a strong odor of alcohol, according to the report.

Investigators said Aviles repeatedly identified himself as an FBI agent and presented an identification card from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services identifying him as a “staff development specialist.”

The report states that the card contained no indication of any affiliation with the FBI.

According to police, Aviles continued to insist he was an FBI agent and claimed he would contact an FBI partner and initiate an internal investigation into Club Twist.

Officers said he was unable to provide any FBI credentials or documentation supporting those claims.

The nightclub’s manager told officers that Aviles had been causing a disturbance inside the business by yelling at patrons and employees, repeatedly claiming to be an FBI agent and attempting to engage in verbal and physical confrontations with others, according to the report.

The manager said Aviles was removed from the establishment, the report states.

Police said that while officers were investigating, Aviles repeatedly interrupted and demanded that officers either return his identification card or arrest him.

When officers attempted to take him into custody, Aviles allegedly flailed his arms, pulled away and refused to place his hands behind his back, police said. Officers were ultimately able to handcuff him without further incident, according to the report.

Jail records show he is facing one count each of falsely impersonate an officer, disorderly conduct of an establishment and resisting an officer without violence to his person.

Aviles appeared in bond court on Wednesday before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer, who found probable cause and ordered him released on his own recognizance on all three charges. The charges carried a total bond amount of $3,150.

He was also ordered to stay away from Twist.

The Office of Management and Budget sent the supplemental spending request on Wednesday. It arrived just hours after President Donald Trump assailed Republican senators during a private lunch — engaging in a shouting match with one — over their votes to approve a war powers resolution that would halt further hostilities.

The request is mostly for expenses incurred by the Defense Department as part of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led attack on Iran. But it also includes a range of other items, including $11.1 billion toward economic assistance for American farmers, $1.4 billion for the Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa and $500 million to support ongoing efforts “to complete restoration and construction projects in and around Washington, D.C.”

“I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible,” said OMB Director Russ Vought in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “President Trump is asking taxpayers to clean up his messes, to the tune of $87.6 billion.”

“After dragging America into a reckless war, he now wants Congress to hand him tens of billions more to paper over the damage — while families are still paying higher prices.”

There may not be enough support in Congress to pass war funds

It’s unclear how quickly the House and Senate could act on the White House’s request, or if Congress takes up the matter at all. The funding faces a difficult path because many lawmakers could view any votes as a reflection of test of their support for the war effort.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday briefing House GOP lawmakers from the conservative Republican Study Committee on the Pentagon’s budgetary needs. The White House is seeking as much as $1.5 trillion in defense spending in this year’s budget, a nearly 50% increase over previous levels.

But many lawmakers have complained they have yet to receive any formal briefing from the administration on the Iran war, nearly four months after it was launched, and as Trump’s team is now working to secure a fragile ceasefire and bring an end to the conflict.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the request is not merely to pay for “the president’s disastrous war, but an attempt to secure tens of billions of additional dollars for unrelated Pentagon priorities.”

Murray said she would review to ensure servicemembers are taken care of, “but I will not rubberstamp tens of billions more for this disastrous war of choice.”

Yet the White House was clear to include provisions to interest lawmakers from various regions, including $1 billion to assist “the final design and construction of a modernized Penn Station in New York City,” which would be of interest to Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Ca., who chairs the panel’s subcommittee on Defense, said in a joint statement, "President Trump’s request reflects the reality that our defense strength must be maintained, not merely demonstrated.”

Money for farmers, the Ebola outbreak and other needs included

The bulk of the request, $67 billion, is to replenish the Pentagon from the Iran war. The largest portion of that defense funding, $21 billion, would go to weapons and munitions, with another $17.3 billion for operational costs and $12.1 billion for other classified programs. Funds are also requested to cover fuel costs, drone manufacturing and cybersecurity.

The money for farmers would provide $10 billion in economic assistance to row and specialty crop farmers and $1.1 billion specifically to Florida agriculture producers who suffered losses from this past year’s winter storms.

The package also includes a collection of policy proposals that the administration strongly supports, and which are certain to raise interest among lawmakers.

Among them, the package proposes revisions to federal regulations of hemp products that have long been in dispute, changes to the year-round sales of renewable fuels and lifting of restrictions around federal investment support in Venezuela.

The administration is also requesting $550 million to prevent and detect the Ebola virus in Congo, where an outbreak has killed more than 250 people. Another $800 million would go to provide humanitarian assistance to the region.

The Swiss got goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi to beat Canada 2-1 on Wednesday and win Group B. Switzerland will get a week of rest before returning to Vancouver to face one of the eight best third-place finishers on July 2.

“I think that we deserve to be where we are right now,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “In three days from now, we will know the opponent of the next match, and now we have the possibility to watch this tournament, and to watch the matches, and we will take what we will get.”

Canada dropped to second place in the group and will play in the knockout round for the first time in team history. But the Canadians had been hoping for a win or a draw on Wednesday so they would play their round-of-32 match on home soil.

Instead, Canada will travel Inglewood, California, to play Sunday against South Africa, which beat South Korea 1-0 Wednesday night in Monterrey, Mexico, to finish second in Group A.

“We wanted to be here in Vancouver, but we still have a massive opportunity ahead of us to find a way to still electrify the nation, even though it’ll be from Los Angeles,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said.

After Manzambi came off the bench and scored two goals in Switzerland’s 4-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, he earned a spot in the starting lineup against Canada. The 20-year-old midfielder became the youngest player to score two goals off the bench in the World Cup and is among the breakout young stars of the tournament.

Vargas broke through for Switzerland about 40 seconds into the second half with a strike that sailed past sliding Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, hit the post and went into the net.

Breel Embolo then crossed the ball to Manzambi, whose shot went through the hands of Crépeau to put the Swiss up 2-0 in the 57th minute. The goal quieted the red-clad sellout crowd, which included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.

Canada pulled a goal back in the 76th. Promise David scored with a volley on his first touch of the game about a minute after he came on as a substitute. But despite a flurry of chances, the Canadians couldn't find the second goal to keep them at home.

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka had a chance in the scoreless first half but his free kick in the 37th minute and sailed over the net as he let out a yell.

Ali Ahmed had one of Canada’s best attempts of the first half in the 42nd minute, but his shot to the near post was smothered by Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

On Thursday, Canada won its first World Cup match, 6-0 over Qatar, and put itself in position to advance. But the historic victory was bittersweet because Ismaël Koné was stretchered off with a broken left leg. Koné was at Wednesday’s game on crutches.

The Swiss opened the World Cup with a lackluster 1-1 draw against Qatar before they routed Bosnia with a flurry of late goals. Considered the favorite in Group B, Switzerland has played at the last five World Cups and advanced to the round of 16 in the past three.

“We needed some time to get really into this tournament, for many nations that was the case,” Yakin said. “There were big teams who won against small countries, so we really needed to get into this tournament fast, and the way we play football now, I’m very happy with that.”

Canada, making its third World Cup appearance, opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Bosnia.

“We have to give our team a lot of credit. We’ve had a lot of injuries, we’ve had a lot of adversity, we’ve had a lot of injuries, we’ve had to manage a lot of different situations,” Marsch said. “We still got a really good point in the first game, we had a fantastic performance against Qatar and on another day, even though we go down 2-0, maybe we get a goal and maybe we win the group. It was just a matter of fine margins.”

Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 in the other Group B match Wednesday and could still advance as a third-place team. Qatar was eliminated.

___

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

The annual stress test measures whether a bank’s capital, a financial cushion it uses to absorb losses, would remain at healthy levels even after hundreds of billions of dollars in projected losses. The tests are required under the Dodd-Frank Act, the law passed after the 2008 financial crisis that nearly brought down the global financial system.

The 2026 scenario that the Fed used is similar to the one they used last year. In the Fed's scenario, unemployment would rise from 5.5% to 10% and the U.S. economy would contract 4.6%. Housing prices would fall 30% from their current levels and the stock market would plunge 58%.

The scenario would result in the nation’s 32 biggest banks facing $708 billion in loan losses, but the overall capital ratio of these banks would fall only 1.6 percentage points, from 12.8% to 11.2%. By law and regulation, these large banks' common equity Tier 1 capital ratio must remain above 4.5%, plus additional buffers that vary by bank.

The stress test applied only to the nation's most systematically important banks, those whose failures would bring significant turmoil to the financial system.

A bank that performed poorly on the stress test could face higher capital requirements, which could limit its ability to pay dividends or buy back stock. Banks typically announce their plans for dividends and share repurchases after the Fed releases the stress-test results. Shortly after the Fed's announcement, JPMorgan Chase said it would increase its quarterly dividend to $1.65 a share from $1.50 a share, and intends to buy back an additional $50 billion in stock.

Even with Adams now far from elected office and facing no charges himself, that saga continues.

On Wednesday his former chief of staff, Frank Carone, was arrested on federal charges alleging that he accepted $120,000 in bribes in exchange for steering a multimillion-dollar migrant shelter contract to a Queens hotel. Three others, including Carone’s brother, were also indicted. All have pleaded not guilty.

Another of Adams' closest allies, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, is still fighting separate bribery charges, which include allegations that she exchanged political favors for cash, diamond earrings and a speaking role on a TV show.

And Adams himself was indicted on bribery charges in 2024, accused of taking illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials and providing political favors to them in return. Adams, a Democrat, denied any wrongdoing and those charges were later dropped at the behest of the Trump administration.

Here is a look at some of the criminal investigations that cast a pall over the nation's largest city during Adams' tumultuous tenure and its aftermath:

Corruption probe launched early in Adams' mayoral term

Soon after Adams took office in January 2022, federal agents quietly began a corruption investigation into his campaign. It spilled into public view in the fall of 2023, when authorities seized his phones as he was leaving an event. A year later, federal prosecutors brought fraud and bribery charges against him.

The indictment accused Adams of allowing Turkish officials and other businesspeople to buy his influence with illegal campaign contributions and steep discounts on overseas trips. Among the favors he allegedly provided in return was accelerating the opening of Turkey's diplomatic building in New York, prosecutors said.

Adams denied wrongdoing and insisted, without evidence, that the Biden administration had politically targeted his administration because of his criticism of its immigration policy.

But soon after President Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025, Justice Department leadership ordered Manhattan federal prosecutors to drop the case, arguing that it was hindering the mayor’s ability to assist Trump's immigration crackdown.

The investigation severely wounded Adams' efforts last year to seek reelection. He skipped the Democratic primary and got on the ballot as an independent, but eventually ended his campaign early.

Top adviser accused of trading influence for diamond earrings and a TV show cameo

As former chief adviser, Lewis-Martin was perhaps the only city official with more direct access to Adams than Carone.

In 2024 she too was indicted for allegedly trading her influence for bribes worth more than $100,000 from those with business before the city. Lewis-Martin has denied wrongdoing.

In one instance, prosecutors said, Lewis-Martin agreed to quash a planned bike lane near a Brooklyn soundstage at the request of the studio’s owners in exchange for perks including a promised role on the police drama “Blue Bloods.”

In a separate scheme, prosecutors said, she accepted diamond earrings and cash from two real estate developers and then helped to speed up approvals of their projects, at times overriding safety concerns from city regulators.

Her attorney Arthur Aidala — who is also representing Carone — has said she was simply helping constituents cut through the city’s thick red tape.

The case against Lewis-Martin was brought by the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Other allies resigned but have faced no charges

Many who departed Adams' administration under a cloud of scandal — often after having their devices seized and homes searched by federal agents — have not faced charges.

Among them: an adviser to the Chinese community who handed a potato chip bag full of cash to a reporter after an Adams campaign event; the former police commissioner, whose twin brother was accused of extortion by a Brooklyn bar owner; and Adams’ schools chancellor and deputy mayor, also brothers, whose third brother ran a consulting firm that connected clients with city officials.

Each has denied wrongdoing, and none has been charged with a crime.

Federal authorities have declined to disclose the purpose of their searches and whether any of the investigations remain active.

Some low-level associates pleaded guilty to charges involving illegal campaign funds

Even after the charges against Adams were dropped, prosecutors continued to pursue cases against some of the lower-level operatives involved in the indictment.

One, a Brooklyn real estate magnate, was sentenced to a year of probation last summer after pleading guilty to working with a Turkish government official to funnel illegal donations to Adams' 2021 campaign.

And in November an Adams aide who served as his liaison to the city's Muslim communities was sentenced to three years of probation for soliciting illegal campaign funds.

Before handing down that sentence, Judge Dale Ho, who also presided over the case against Adams that was dismissed, likened the mayor's absence to an “elephant in the room.”

“There’s a notable absence here of the person at the apex of the pyramid,” he said.

___

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

Leer en español

The viral video from MLB came after a dog who watched another pup score a hot dog in the stands during Monday’s game vs. the Texas Rangers during the top of the seventh inning at loanDepot Park.

It's tough seeing others live out your dream 🐶🌭 pic.twitter.com/iMSgfb2AaN

— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2026

The reward for the dog?

A dream day at the ballpark.

Now the question is: what are the odds fans can help track him down and make that special day happen?

Call 305-480-2525 if you have information on the dog’s whereabouts.

Wanted: A very good boy

Reward: a dream day at @loanDepotpark https://t.co/KusIXAjURi pic.twitter.com/fn6tOdx65w

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 23, 2026

Security camera footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around the crime scene. One of them bore a striking resemblance to Batman, wearing black clothing, a black ski mask and what looked like a black poncho that blew in the wind like the superhero’s cape. That person is seen tripping over debris and falling on the floor while attempting to direct the backhoe.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said the suspects’ “efforts to remove the vault proved futile, after the arm of the backhoe sustained damage” during the incident early Wednesday.

The suspects were able to move the cash machine to the sidewalk with the backhoe, which police said they stole from a nearby beach. But after the backhoe’s arm stopped working – and their combined efforts to lift the cash machine onto a small truck also failed – the suspects gave up and sped off in what police said was a stolen vehicle.

The detached cash machine remained in the open, with authorities later responding to the scene in Tobago, the smaller of the twin-island nation. Based on the security video timestamp, the failed attempt lasted over 10 minutes all while a state of emergency remains in effect.

The video of the attempted robbery quickly went viral. Memes popped up on social media, callers on morning radio talk shows made fun of the failed robbers and a local newspaper headlined its story, “‘Batman’ and robbing.”

Trinidad and Tobago recently extended its state of emergency by three months, until September, as authorities struggle with violent crimes.

Leer en español

According to an arrest report, the suspect was identified as Pyram Gounot, 54, of Miramar.

Jail records show he is facing two counts of resisting an officer without violence and is no longer in custody.

Police said the incident began around 11:45 p.m. Sunday near the 12000 block of Saint Andrews Place, where an officer observed Gounot driving a Toyota pickup truck at a “high rate of speed” and initiated a traffic stop.

Investigators said Gounot exited the vehicle and ran from the officer on foot. They said he allegedly ran up a flight of stairs to the front door of his second-floor apartment.

According to the report, after the officer ordered him to return downstairs to his vehicle, Gounot again fled, running up a different stairwell.

While pursuing him, the officer fell while turning a corner, struck a concrete wall and suffered a cut to his head that required medical treatment, the report states.

Police said Gounot then entered his apartment and refused to come outside.

They said Gounot’s daughter came out of a bedroom at the home and informed officers that her father is a BSO deputy.

BSO’s Public Corruption Unit was contacted and assisted with surveillance of Gounot, according to the report.

Authorities said that later Monday morning, a woman drove him to the BSO Public Safety Complex in Fort Lauderdale, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Police said Gounot declined to be interviewed.

A BSO spokesperson told Local 10 News that Gounot has served as a detention deputy with the agency since March 11, 2002. Following his arrest, he was placed on administrative investigative leave with pay, the spokesperson confirmed.

The release of birth dates, driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers is not covered by a law cited by the U.S. Justice Department, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 opinion, upholding the decision of a federal judge in Lansing, Michigan.

In addition to Michigan, judges so far have rejected efforts in Maryland, Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. In Georgia, a judge dismissed a lawsuit because it had been filed in the wrong city, prompting the government to refile elsewhere.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said the federal government only could receive a list of registered voters, similar to any member of the general public.

The Trump administration said it wants the personal information of voters to ensure that Michigan is complying with federal election law. In a court filing, it cited “anomalies” and other complaints.

Attorneys for Michigan, however, said the government has other goals, including the creation of a national voter file and sharing information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to see if noncitizens have signed up and voted.

At least 13 states have either provided or promised to hand over their voter registration lists to the government, according to the Brennan Center for Justice and Associated Press reporting: Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed Monday, accuses gas station giants including Marathon and Circle K of violating California’s antitrust law through Kalibrate, a fuel-pricing software system used across the world. The plaintiffs describe Kalibrate as the “central nervous system for a conspiracy to extinguish retail price competition among gas stations.”

According to the lawsuit, Kalibrate helps “coordinate high prices” and even discourages its users from pricing their gas lower than competitors, saying that doing so would trigger a “downward spiral.”

“Kalibrate promises that if gas stations surrender their pricing decisions and competitively sensitive cost and volume data to Kalibrate Fuel Pricing, the software will enable them to avoid competing with other area stations and to charge higher prices to consumers,” the lawsuit said.

Californians already pay some of the highest gas prices in the nation, and prices have surged across the globe since the start of the Iran war.

The lawsuit is the latest to accuse software companies of driving up the cost of living for millions in the U.S. Other examples include the Department of Justice's lawsuit against RealPage, which has been accused of helping landlords drive up rent prices, and the DOJ's lawsuit against Agri Stats, a data-sharing company accused of helping the meatpacking industry inflate grocery prices. The DOJ has settled both of those lawsuits in the past year, though various state attorneys general are still pursuing lawsuits against RealPage and numerous property management companies.

Concern over algorithmic pricing prompted Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year to sign a bill saying that state antitrust law applies to pricing algorithms, helping to pave the way for this week's lawsuit.

Kalibrate is headquartered in Manchester, England, and operates in more than 70 countries. It did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The lawsuit accuses Kalibrate of facilitating cartel-like collusion. Only this time, instead of competitors making a secret deal “over cigars in a smoky back room,” the price-fixing is done through AI, according to the lawsuit.

“As technology has advanced, so too have the mechanisms available to competitors to fix prices without the cigars, the smoke, or even the room,” the lawsuit says.

Among the examples the lawsuit lists is a “restoration” tool that helps “nearly all gas stations in an area raise their prices contemporaneously and by a large amount.”

According to the lawsuit, research into algorithmic fuel-pricing software found average price increases of about 6 cents per gallon, rising to as much as 30 cents per gallon in markets where many stations use the technology.

“Because of the volume of fuel sold across California, a single cent increase at the pump will drain a whopping $134 million from California drivers’ wallets every year across the state,” the lawsuit says.

The defendants in the lawsuit — which also include BP, Speedway, EG America, Walmart and Albertsons — collectively operate more than 1,700 gas stations in California, according to the lawsuit. None of them immediately responded to a request for comment.

The lawsuit seeks to represent California drivers who bought gas at stations using Kalibrate software since June 2022.

Four-time league MVP A'ja Wilson is third about 11,000 votes behind Clark. The Las Vegas Aces star led the initial fan ballots. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is fourth, about 18,000 votes behind Wilson. New York's Breanna Stewart was next. Wilson and Bueckers were the top two vote getters after the first set of returns.

Fan ballots end Saturday night.

Rounding out the top 10 were Jessica Shepard of Dallas, Angel Reese of Atlanta, Gabby Williams of Golden State, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana and Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles.

After all votes are tallied, players will be ranked by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups — fan votes, player votes and media votes. Fan vote counts 50% while media and player votes are 25% each.

Each player’s score will be calculated by averaging their weighted rank from all three areas. The four guards and six frontcourt players with the best score will be named as starters for the All-Star Game which will be played on July 25 in Chicago.

Once the starters are chosen, the league's head coaches will select the 12 reserves. The 15 head coaches will vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position regardless of conference. Coaches can't vote for their own players.

New this year, two WNBA legends will serve as honorary general managers and choose the two teams from the pool of All-Stars. Previously the top two fan vote-getters would serve as captains and choose the teams.

The two head coaches will be determined by the teams with the two best records following games on July 10.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Según un informe de arresto, el sospechoso fue identificado como Pyram Gounot, de 54 años y residente de Miramar.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que enfrenta dos cargos por resistirse a un oficial sin violencia y que ya no permanece bajo custodia.

La policía indicó que el incidente comenzó alrededor de las 11:45 p.m. del domingo cerca de la cuadra 12000 de Saint Andrews Place, donde un oficial observó a Gounot conduciendo una camioneta Toyota a “alta velocidad” e inició una parada de tráfico.

Los investigadores dijeron que Gounot salió del vehículo y huyó del oficial a pie. Indicaron que presuntamente subió un tramo de escaleras hasta la puerta principal de su apartamento en un segundo piso.

Según el informe, después de que el oficial le ordenó regresar a su vehículo, Gounot volvió a huir, esta vez subiendo por otra escalera.

Mientras lo perseguía, el oficial cayó al doblar una esquina, se golpeó contra un muro de concreto y sufrió una cortadura en la cabeza que requirió atención médica, señala el informe.

La policía indicó que Gounot luego entró en su apartamento y se negó a salir.

Según las autoridades, la hija de Gounot salió de una habitación de la vivienda e informó a los oficiales que su padre era un agente de la BSO.

La Unidad de Corrupción Pública de la BSO fue contactada y colaboró en la vigilancia de Gounot, según el informe.

Las autoridades dijeron que más tarde, la mañana del lunes, una mujer lo llevó al Complejo de Seguridad Pública de la BSO en Fort Lauderdale, donde fue detenido sin incidentes.

La policía informó que Gounot se negó a ser entrevistado.

Gideon Sa’ar, ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Israel, anunció el miércoles en hebreo que sostuvo una conversación telefónica con De la Espriella, a quien describió como “un verdadero amigo del pueblo judío” y de Israel.

“El presidente electo reiteró en nuestra conversación su compromiso, que también expresó durante la campaña electoral de su país, con la alianza entre Israel y Colombia, que será más fuerte que nunca”, escribió Sa’ar en X en hebreo.

De la Espriella, de 47 años, quien ha dicho que planea abrir una embajada colombiana en Jerusalén, respondió a la publicación de Sa’ar tanto en inglés como en español en X.

“Colombia restablecerá y fortalecerá su relación con el Estado de Israel como nunca antes”, escribió De la Espriella. “Israel puede contar con Colombia como un amigo leal y un aliado firme. Que Dios bendiga a nuestras dos naciones”.

Durante su campaña, De la Espriella, quien se identificó como un ex ateo convertido al catolicismo, estableció vínculos con pastores de megaiglesias y contó con el respaldo de partidos políticos de la derecha cristiana.

Colombia reconoció al Estado de Israel en 1949 y abrió una embajada en Tel Aviv en 1957. Un acuerdo de libre comercio entre ambos países entró en vigor en 2020. El presidente Gustavo Petro cambió esa relación.

Durante la guerra entre Israel y Hamás, Petro acusó a Israel de genocidio, retiró la delegación diplomática de Colombia en 2024 y anunció el fin del acuerdo de libre comercio a principios de este año.

Iván Cepeda, el candidato de izquierda que contaba con el apoyo y respaldo de Petro, reconoció su derrota frente a De la Espriella, quien lo venció por un punto porcentual, o cerca de 251,000 votos.

De la Espriella, quien tiene ciudadanía estadounidense y colombiana, celebró su victoria como “El Tigre” la noche del domingo en Barranquilla. Cepeda, de 63 años, y Petro, de 66, exigieron un recuento y pidieron un mayor escrutinio.

“Ejerceremos una oposición democrática, vigilante y constructiva”, dijo Cepeda durante su discurso de reconocimiento de derrota.

De la Espriella también planea que Colombia se una al “Escudo de las Américas” del presidente Trump, también conocido como la Coalición de las Américas contra los Carteles, después de juramentarse como el 48.º presidente de Colombia el 7 de agosto en Bogotá.

Reportes relacionados

• El candidato progresista reconoce la derrota en las elecciones presidenciales colombianas ante un aspirante ajeno al sistema respaldado por Trump.
• La votación en Colombia podría reconfigurar el futuro de la Amazonía a medida que cambian los vientos políticos en América Latina.

Leer en español

Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, announced on Wednesday in Hebrew that he had a phone conversation with De La Espriella, whom he referred to as a “true friend of the Jewish people” and Israel.

“The president-elect reiterated in our conversation his commitment, which he also expressed during his country’s election campaign, to the alliance between Israel and Colombia that will be stronger than ever,” Sa’ar wrote on X in Hebrew.

De la Espriella, 47, who has said he planned to open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem, responded to Sa’ar’s post in both English and Spanish on X.

“Colombia will restore and strengthen its relationship with the State of Israel like never before,” De la Espriella wrote. “Israel can count on Colombia as a loyal friend and steadfast ally. May God bless our two nations.”

During his campaign, De la Espriella, who identified as a former atheist who converted to Catholicism, connected with pastors from megachurches and had the backing of Christian-right political parties.

Colombia recognized Israel’s statehood in 1949 and opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in 1957. A free trade agreement between the two countries went into effect in 2020. President Gustavo Petro changed that.

During the Israel-Hamas war, Petro accused Israel of genocide, recalled Colombia’s diplomatic delegation in 2024, and announced the end of the free trade agreement earlier this year.

Iván Cepeda, the left-wing candidate who had Petro’s support and endorsement, conceded to De la Espriella, who defeated him by 1 percentage point, or about 251,000 votes.

De la Espriella, who has U.S. and Colombian citizenship, celebrated his victory as “El Tigre” on Sunday night in Barranquilla. Cepeda, 63, and Petro, 66, demanded a recount and pushed for more scrutiny.

“We will exercise a democratic, vigilant, and constructive opposition,” Cepeda said during his concession speech.

De la Espriella also plans to have Colombia join Trump’s “Shield of the Americas,” also known as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, or ACCC, after he is sworn in as the 48th president on Aug. 7 in Bogotá.

Related reports

• Progressive candidate concedes Colombian presidential election to Trump-endorsed outsider
• Colombia’s vote may reshape the Amazon’s future as political winds shift across Latin America

Una vez que falló la primera conexión, dijeron que otros elementos de la terraza de la piscina quedaron encargados de soportar sus cargas, pero no eran lo suficientemente fuertes para soportarlas.

“Cuando las estructuras de los edificios se diseñan de acuerdo con los códigos y estándares requeridos, tienen márgenes contra la falla, lo que significa que deberían poder soportar mucha más carga de la que se espera que soporten”, dijo Judith Mitrani-Reiser del Instituto Nacional de Estándares y Tecnología (NIST). “En el caso de Champlain Towers South, estos márgenes contra la falla eran demasiado estrechos desde el inicio”.

Las investigaciones del NIST son realizadas por equipos nacionales de seguridad en la construcción, y aunque el laboratorio federal de investigación ha producido investigaciones completas sobre fallas estructurales de gran escala —incluido el incendio del club nocturno Station y el ataque al World Trade Center— lo ocurrido en Surfside fue una primera vez incluso para ellos, ya que fallas de edificios previas que han estudiado tenían causas evidentes, como tormentas, incendios o un ataque terrorista.

Glenn Bell del NIST explicó parte de lo que su investigación descubrió.

“Desviaciones severas y generalizadas del diseño estructural original del edificio respecto a los códigos y estándares de la época”, dijo.

Según un informe del administrador municipal de 2021, el edificio hermano del condominio, Champlain Towers North, fue diseñado “por la misma firma de ingeniería y construido al mismo tiempo”, lo que genera preguntas sobre si tiene las mismas fallas originales de diseño y construcción.

Allyn Kil-Shimer, de KCE Structural Engineers, es el ingeniero estructural contratado por la ciudad para ayudar con su investigación independiente sobre el colapso. También buscó pistas en el cercano Champlain Towers North.

“Champlain Towers North nos pidió que evaluáramos su edificio para asegurarnos de que no tuviera problemas similares a los que encontramos en Champlain Towers South”, dijo Kil-Shimer.

“Lo hicimos durante aproximadamente un año y medio, y encontramos los mismos, si no más, defectos de diseño y deficiencias de construcción en la estructura de Champlain Towers North que los que habíamos encontrado incluso en Champlain Towers South, así que con la propiedad de Champlain Towers, el grupo de condominios de Champlain Towers North, que ahora se llama Ocean Waves, esencialmente instalamos una serie de apuntalamientos de emergencia en muchos lugares, y diseñamos el diseño estructural para la remediación necesaria para atender esos problemas”, añadió.

Kil-Shimer dijo que, trabajando con los propietarios del edificio, comenzaron el proceso de remediación.

“Comenzamos la construcción, los contratistas iniciaron la construcción en ese momento, contratistas que seleccionamos de expertos de todo el país, y obtuvimos permisos de la ciudad de Surfside”, dijo. “Ha pasado un año y casi dos años, y esencialmente todas las deficiencias estructurales de construcción y diseño en Champlain Towers North que encontramos, tanto al investigar Champlain Towers North como al investigar Champlain Towers South, han sido remediadas satisfactoriamente en Champlain Towers North”.

También se le preguntó si es seguro vivir allí.

“En esencia, ahora tengo 86 años y tengo bisnietos, yo los dejaría vivir en el edificio”, añadió. “Por todo lo que hemos encontrado, el edificio es estructuralmente sólido y no solo cumple con la mayoría de los códigos que existen hoy, lo cual no es obligatorio, ahora cumple como mínimo con los códigos estructurales de construcción que existían cuando los edificios fueron diseñados”.

“Absolutely not,” Usher told The Associated Press. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing as a performer. That’s who I see. He works hard for his fans, and his fans support him.”

Brown has remained one of R&B’s biggest stars despite years of legal troubles and controversy. Last year, he pleaded not guilty in London to charges stemming from an alleged 2023 assault at a nightclub after previously being released on bail to continue touring. He also pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault for attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna.

For Usher, their North American tour — which kicks off Friday in Denver — represents something much bigger than two of R&B's brightest stars sharing a stage.

The 33-date tour follows blockbuster solo runs for both artists. Fresh off headlining the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024, Usher’s “Past, Present, Future” tour sold more than 1.1 million tickets across North America, while Brown’s “Breezy Bowl XX” grossed nearly $300 million.

“It’s not about me and my brother coming together,” Usher said. “We come together in support of our fans of R&B.”

Throughout the interview, Usher repeatedly returned to one message: R&B has helped shape modern music while rarely receiving equal recognition.

“It deserves to be in a stadium,” he said. “It is not just for theaters. It is not just for arenas. We do this … too. We are major too. R&B is major too.”

Usher said the tour also honors the artists who laid the foundation for the genre, citing Buddy Bolden, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Prince, Luther Vandross, along with influential figures including Earth, Wind & Fire and Babyface.

“We’re carrying it over there for them,” he said.

Rather than viewing the tour as a competition between two of the genre’s biggest performers, Usher said rehearsals have reflected the admiration they have for one another.

“When we run through the show, I look over and I see Chris standing up doing my portion and dancing,” he said. “When it would be my time, I’d be standing up rooting him on. I love his music. I am encouraged by his music in the same way I feel like he’s been encouraged and inspired by mine.”

Usher said the partnership fulfills a vision that dates to Brown’s earliest days in the music business.

“When he first started his career, having been there as a mentor, a person to support what he did, some portion of my 25-year-old self was kind of like, ‘Man, I’m still building. Let’s someday get to the point where there’s an opportunity for us to share the stage together,’” he said.

Now, Usher believes the collaboration could inspire more artists to rethink touring together.

“There is power in numbers,” he said. “After this becomes the success that I know it’s going to be, you will see more collaborations. You will see artists beginning to understand, ‘Wait a minute. We actually serve more of our fans when we bring them together, as opposed to trying to do it all by ourselves.’”

The women's tournament is set to start June 24, 2027, hosted by a South American country for the first time. Brazil hosted the men's World Cup in 1950 and 2014.

“I think that the host country, it sleeps and breathes football. So, I think just the energy you’re going to see from the public, the general public, and obviously the teams touching down in Brazil, I mean, it’s such a unique, special country,” FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis said at an event Wednesday in Miami. “I think the same energy you’re going to feel right now when you bring the world together, and you have an incredible product in women’s football, I mean, the level of quality the players is so extraordinary that I think, honestly, it will be an epic showcase of football and fandom.”

In addition to Miami, a countdown event was also held in Rio de Janeiro. Even in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Wednesday's World Cup match between Switzerland and co-host Canada, video signage flashed with ads for the upcoming women's tournament.

All eight cities that will host women's matches next year also hosted men's games in 2014: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador.

Qualification for the tournament has already begun. Brazil, which has an automatic spot as host, has never won the women's tournament and it remains to be seen whether Marta, the six-time FIFA world player of the year, will be on the national team. The 40-year-old Marta has never won a major international tournament.

Thirteen other teams have also qualified, including Australia, Philippines, Japan, North Korea, China, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain and Denmark.

“There is only one year left until the moment that will be marked in the history of our country. For the CBF (Brazilian soccer confederation) and for all Brazilians, it is a source of great pride to host the Women’s World Cup," federation president Samir Xaud said in a statement. “It will be an opportunity to show the world our passion for football and, above all, the strength of Brazilian women’s football. We are certain that this will be a transformative World Cup, capable of inspiring girls in all regions of Brazil and leaving a lasting legacy.”

The first Women's World Cup was hosted by China in 1991. The United States has won the most titles with four. Spain won the last title in 2023 at the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Women's soccer has experienced exponential growth in the past decade, with new leagues, increasing viewership and revenues. The Women's World Cup in Brazil will be the last with 32 teams. In 2031 the event will include 48 teams, like the men's tournament.

The 2031 World Cup is expected to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. The formal decision will likely be announced in November.

“I think when we went to 32 there was some noise, are we’re ready, are there going to be blowouts? We saw an incredibly competitive landscape. We saw debutantes making the knockout rounds. I think the global game is accelerating so fast that countries are closing the gap a lot faster," Ellis said. “Our job is to make sure teams come in there as prepared and ready as they can, so we have the most competitive World Cup. So I think the growth of the game is accelerating rapidly, and I think by 2031 we certainly will have a very competitive World Cup.”

___

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

El resultado electoral en Colombia se produce mientras Perú parece estar a punto de elegir a Keiko Fujimori como presidenta tras una votación muy reñida. Mientras tanto, Brasil se prepara para una elección presidencial que podría llevar al país de vuelta hacia la derecha si Flávio Bolsonaro, hijo del expresidente Jair Bolsonaro, derrota al presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Las elecciones plantean la posibilidad de que los países con las mayores porciones de la Amazonía se orienten hacia políticas que pongan mayor énfasis en el crecimiento económico, las industrias extractivas y los esfuerzos por combatir el crimen organizado y reafirmar el control del Estado en regiones remotas.

“Hay una alineación interesante, particularmente en la región andina y en la cuenca amazónica en general”, señaló Elizabeth Dickinson, subdirectora para América Latina del International Crisis Group, refiriéndose a una creencia cada vez más difundida entre algunos gobiernos de que el desarrollo económico y la conservación pueden impulsarse de manera simultánea.

Los resultados electorales en Colombia mostraron que de la Espriella, quien recibió el respaldo del presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, derrotó a Iván Cepeda, un legislador respaldado por el presidente saliente Gustavo Petro, por 1 punto porcentual, o casi 251.000 votos. Cepeda reconoció la derrota el miércoles.

La selva amazónica se extiende por gran parte del norte de Sudamérica y ayuda a frenar el cambio climático al absorber grandes cantidades de dióxido de carbono, un gas de efecto invernadero que calienta el planeta. Desde hace años, los científicos han advertido que la pérdida continua de bosque podría empujar a distintas partes de la Amazonía hacia un punto de no retorno, más allá del cual grandes áreas podrían dejar de regenerarse como selva tropical.

Alrededor del 40% del territorio colombiano se encuentra dentro de la cuenca amazónica. En el gobierno de Petro, el país se consolidó como uno de los defensores más destacados a escala mundial de la protección de la selva y de una transición para alejarse de los combustibles fósiles.

Desarrollo económico y la Amazonía

Durante su campaña electoral, de la Espriella —apodado “El Tigre”— prometió reactivar el sector petrolero de Colombia, respaldó el fracking, un método para extraer petróleo y gas de formaciones rocosas subterráneas, y sostuvo que el país debería aprovechar más sus recursos naturales para impulsar el crecimiento económico. Defensores del medio ambiente advierten que ampliar la producción de petróleo y gas podría socavar los esfuerzos por reducir emisiones y aumentar la presión sobre zonas ambientalmente sensibles.

De la Espriella representa un marcado contraste con Petro, quien se opuso a nuevos contratos de exploración de combustibles fósiles y buscó posicionar a Colombia como una voz líder a nivel internacional en temas climáticos.

Perú, que alberga la segunda mayor porción de la selva amazónica después de Brasil, parece cerca de elegir a Fujimori. Al igual que de la Espriella, Fujimori ha dado señales de apoyar la expansión de la minería y otras industrias como motor del crecimiento económico, mientras grupos ambientalistas han expresado su preocupación por las posibles implicaciones para los bosques y las comunidades indígenas.

Brasil, que concentra aproximadamente el 60% de la Amazonía, se prepara para una contienda presidencial que podría tener grandes implicaciones para la protección del bosque. La elección llega después de que el país registrara un fuerte aumento de la deforestación durante el régimen de Bolsonaro, seguido de descensos bajo el presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a medida que se reforzó la fiscalización ambiental.

La experiencia de Brasil muestra que las prioridades del gobierno pueden tener un impacto medible en la Amazonía, afirmó Cristiane Mazzetti, responsable de deforestación cero en Greenpeace Brasil.

“La administración electa fija prioridades presupuestarias, ocupa cargos en el gobierno y da forma a regulaciones para facilitar o dificultar la explotación depredadora y los delitos ambientales”, manifestó. “El resultado de esto es medible, como lo evidencia la tasa de deforestación en la Amazonía brasileña”.

El respaldo de Trump a de la Espriella en Colombia proviene de un mandatario estadounidense que ha revertido políticas climáticas, ha promovido la expansión de la producción de petróleo y gas y retiró a Estados Unidos del Acuerdo de París de 2015, el pacto internacional destinado a limitar el calentamiento global.

Sergio Guzmán, director de Colombia Risk Analysis, dijo que las preocupaciones ambientales podrían competir cada vez más con las demandas de inversión, producción de energía y crecimiento económico.

“Muchas de las preocupaciones de los ambientalistas sobre las emisiones y el fracking pasarán a un segundo plano frente a algunas de las preocupaciones económicas sobre la autosuficiencia energética, la inversión local y extranjera directa en petróleo, gas y minería”, afirmó.

Minería ilegal y comunidades indígenas

La minería ilegal de oro se ha convertido en uno de los mayores impulsores de la destrucción ambiental en distintas partes de la Amazonía, al contaminar ríos con mercurio, talar bosques y generar miles de millones de dólares para grupos criminales.

Dickinson indicó que muchos gobiernos han adoptado respuestas más duras frente a la minería ilegal, un tema que se ha vuelto cada vez más central en la política ambiental de la región.

“Es muy difícil estar en desacuerdo con la idea de ir tras la minería ilegal, una de las industrias más perjudiciales para la cuenca amazónica”, señaló, añadiendo que los gobiernos a menudo se han centrado en incautar equipos o retirar a mineros de sitios específicos, en lugar de desmantelar las redes criminales y financieras que están detrás.

“Lo que realmente no hemos logrado es la capacidad de hacer frente a los autores intelectuales de estas operaciones”, afirmó.

Decisiones que afectan territorios indígenas

Julio Cusurichi, un destacado líder indígena de la región amazónica de Perú, afirmó que las comunidades indígenas seguirán organizándose y pugnando por una mayor participación en las decisiones que afectan sus territorios.

“La biodiversidad, nuestros territorios, nuestro conocimiento y nuestra sabiduría pueden ayudar muchísimo al tema del cambio climático”, afirmó. “En nuestros territorios hemos demostrado que hacemos una gobernanza no solamente para nuestros pueblos, sino también para el planeta.”

En toda la Amazonía, las tierras indígenas con frecuencia suelen superponerse con áreas objetivo para la minería, el desarrollo petrolero y proyectos de infraestructura. Desde hace tiempo, organizaciones indígenas sostienen que, por lo general, los gobiernos no consultan adecuadamente a las comunidades antes de aprobar proyectos.

Dickinson señaló que las tensiones por la autonomía indígena y los proyectos extractivos se han vuelto cada vez más visibles en países como Perú y Ecuador.

Diversos analistas dicen que algunos de los indicadores más claros del enfoque ambiental de la administración de de la Espriella serán cómo maneje los procesos de consulta indígena, las licencias ambientales y las decisiones sobre nuevos proyectos de petróleo, gas y minería en ecosistemas sensibles.

“Permitir respirar a la humanidad”

Guzmán dijo que los planes de de la Espriella para aumentar la presión militar sobre grupos criminales y, potencialmente, reanudar la fumigación aérea de cultivos de coca, la planta utilizada para producir cocaína, también podrían tener consecuencias para las comunidades amazónicas.

Durante mucho tiempo, la fumigación aérea ha sido un tema controvertido en Colombia. Sus partidarios la ven como una herramienta para combatir el narcotráfico, mientras que sus críticos sostienen que puede dañar la vegetación circundante, afectar fuentes de agua y alentar a los cultivadores de coca a despejar nuevas áreas de bosque y adentrarse más en zonas remotas de la Amazonía.

Otros advierten contra la idea de asumir que las protecciones ambientales se debilitarán inevitablemente.

Los tribunales, el Congreso, las organizaciones indígenas y las instituciones ambientales de Colombia siguen siendo influyentes, mientras que los avances en el monitoreo satelital hacen cada vez más difícil ocultar la deforestación y el daño ambiental, dijeron analistas.

En Leticia, ciudad amazónica de Colombia, Arnaldo Rufino, un residente indígena ticuna, dijo que muchos habitantes temen que políticas que incentiven una mayor extracción en la selva puedan hacerse a costa del propio bosque.

Afirmó que los líderes políticos deberían centrarse en proteger la biodiversidad y la Amazonía, en lugar de impulsar proyectos que corren el riesgo de aumentar las presiones ambientales.

“Eso significa talar los árboles que permiten respirar a la humanidad”.

___

La cobertura climática y ambiental de The Associated Press recibe apoyo financiero de múltiples fundaciones privadas. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido. Encuentra los estándares de la AP para trabajar con organizaciones filantrópicas, una lista de las fundaciones y las áreas de cobertura que financian en AP.org.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans' historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up.

Pulisic said he nearly played in the U.S.' 2-0 victory over Australia last Friday but was held out to get closer to full fitness for the games ahead. He has returned to practice with his teammates this week after working out on his own last week before the trip to Seattle.

“I'm hoping to play a part in (the match against Turkey), for sure,” Pulisic said before the U.S. training session Wednesday at Great Park. “I’ll discuss that with my coaches and the medical staff. Obviously not a good chance I’ll probably go and play 90 (minutes) right away after you come back and miss a game, but we’ll see.”

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino didn't reveal his plan Wednesday for Pulisic in the match against Turkey, which is meaningless for both teams. The Americans are locked into first place in their group, while Turkey has been eliminated from knockout-round contention.

"Pulisic is talking with the medical (staff)," Pochettino said in an afternoon news conference at SoFi Stadium. “We have to decide if it’s possible to play from the beginning, or maybe play from the bench and play the second half.”

Pochettino did indicate that his players who have already received yellow cards — Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Tyler Adams — are unlikely to play, at least as starters.

“For the guys that have yellow cards, it’s not necessary to take another yellow card and not be available for the next stage,” Pochettino said. “It’s a normal, easy answer not to play with them from the beginning.”

Pulisic hopes the plan includes at least some playing time for him as the U.S. ramps up for its Round-of-32 match in Santa Clara, California, on July 1. While Pulisic's calf injury robbed him of one chance on the World Cup stage, he felt certain he wouldn't be out for long.

“I never feared anything worse,” Pulisic said. “I was pushing, and I was really close to trying to be available for the last game, for sure. I did feel a little something (against Paraguay), but I definitely was able to push through in the first half and just get me through. But yeah, it wasn’t quite ready, but it wasn’t anything where I feared anything worse than what it was.”

With no stakes for the U.S. against Turkey, Pochettino seems likely to provide some rest to key players in his starting lineup while giving a few of his reserves possibly their only opportunity to hit the field. That sounds great to Richards, who thinks some time off wouldn't be a hindrance.

“Our trainings are pretty intense," Richards said. "I think fitness won't be an issue. I don't think sharpness will be, either. Obviously it's good to keep into some sort of rhythm, but I think these guys deserve it if they get the chance (Thursday). I think we'll be fine when it comes to the next game.”

Pulisic was visibly excited as a spectator during the Americans' win in Seattle, celebrating along with his teammates as they capably handled a second straight opponent for their team's first consecutive World Cup victories since 1930. The U.S. offensive performance without its most accomplished attacking player, particularly in the first half against Australia, pleased Pulisic greatly.

“It’s not surprising to me,” Pulisic said. “I see what this team can do. We have depth. We have really strong players in a lot of positions. I don’t need to do everything. It’s such a strong team. These guys, everyone has each other’s backs. That’s what so fun about it, and to see the way the team performance that we’ve put in, especially the way we’ve started the games, has been fun to watch.”

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup