AP News Summary at 12:35 p.m. EDT
2 jurors dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold ex-president in contempt
NEW YORK (AP) — Two jurors in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial were dismissed Thursday, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate. The dismissals reduce to five the number of jurors who have been seated for the first-ever criminal trial of a former president. The setbacks in the selection process emerged during a frenetic morning in which prosecutors also asked for Trump to held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week, while the judge in the case barred reporters from identifying jurors’ employers after expressing privacy concerns.
The Latest | A second seated juror dismissed by judge from Trump's hush money trial
NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection in Donald Trump's hush money trial has encountered new setbacks as two seated jurors were excused — one for backtracking on whether she could be impartial and the other over concerns about whether he was truthful about whether he had ever been accused or convicted of a crime. Attorneys now need to pick 13 more jurors to serve on the panel that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president. The case is the first of Trump’s four indictments to reach trial. Trump is accused of falsifying internal business records and making payoffs to two women as part of a scheme to bury stories he worried would hurt his 2016 campaign.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia as he aims to undermine and marginalize the candidacy of independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The decision to highlight the Kennedy family endorsement on Thursday, more than six months from Election Day, is an indication of how seriously Biden’s team is taking the threat of the threat of a long shot candidate using the Kennedy name to siphon support from the incumbent. Kennedy writes on social media that his family is “divided in our opinions but united in our love for each other.” He says his campaign is about “healing America.”
US and UK issue new sanctions on Iran in response to Tehran's weekend attack on Israel
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and U.K. have imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran as concern grows that Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East. The Thursday action targets entities and and people in Iran involved in drone production. The sanctions were meant to hold Iran accountable for its weekend attack and to deter further such activity. But the practical impact is likely to be limited because many of the targeted companies already were subject to U.S. sanctions and the individuals singled out for new sanctions are unlikely to have assets in U.S. jurisdictions.
Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive
JERUSALEM (AP) — Jews around the world will soon celebrate Passover, recounting the biblical story of their exodus from Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery. But for many Israelis it’s hard to fathom honoring an occasion focused on freedom, when friends and family are still in captivity. For many Jews, no matter how observant, Passover is a time to unite with family to eat and drink around what’s known as a Seder table, remembering how the Jews persevered through harsh times. But this year, when Passover begins on Monday, many families are torn on how to celebrate, or if it’s worth acknowledging at all.
Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream, thanks to Modi's decade in power
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Hindu nationalism was once a fringe ideology in India, and now it is mainstream. Nobody has done more to advance this cause than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He's one of India’s most beloved and polarizing political leaders. And no entity has had more influence on his political philosophy and ambitions than a paramilitary, right-wing group founded nearly a century ago and known as RSS. Experts say Modi’s spiritual and political upbringing from the RSS is the driving force in everything he’s done as prime minister over the past 10 years. That period has seen India become a global power and the world’s fifth-largest economy. Modi is campaigning for a third term in the general election starting Friday. He and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are expected to win.
Climate change concerns grow, but few think Biden's climate law will help, an AP-NORC poll finds
A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows 45% of U.S. adults say they've become more concerned about climate change over the past year. That includes roughly 6 in 10 Democrats and one-quarter of Republicans. President Joe Biden’s signature climate change policy was intended to address some of those fears. The Democratic president's Inflation Reduction Act invests billions of dollars in incentives for consumers and businesses to move toward clean energy sources. Biden points to this climate agenda as a success during his reelection campaign. The poll suggests that although the law has already affected some Americans, it’s not widely known and may not be the electoral boost Biden wants.
Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected. A large majority got only the minimum award and had to file individual lawsuits to recover more. However, attorneys familiar with the issue say only one person has received a settlement after suing — and that took extraordinary luck and effort. Judges have dumped plaintiff experts. BP has fought every case. And lawyers sometimes have done a poor job representing clients. The entire sprawling process has left those who jumped into action after the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history stranded.
United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nation
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates is struggling to recover from the heaviest recorded rainfall ever to hit the desert nation, as its main airport worked to restore normal operations even as floodwater still covered portions of major highways and roads. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, allowed global carriers on Thursday morning to again fly into Terminal 1 at the airfield. The UAE, a hereditarily ruled, autocratic nation on the Arabian Peninsula, typically sees little rainfall in its arid desert climate. However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms on Tuesday, causing massive flooding.
NFL draft has potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round
The 2024 NFL draft has the potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round. No draft has seen more than 19 players on offense chosen in the first round. That happened three times, most recently in 2009. Many draft experts are predicting more than 20 offensive players will go in the first round and some have up to 25. The AP’s final mock draft had 22 going in the first round, including 10 offensive linemen, six wide receivers, five quarterbacks and one tight end. Only once in the past 57 years have the first seven picks all been offensive players. That happened in 2021.
The Associated Press
