Israel dismisses 2 officers over deadly drone strikes on aid workers in Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military has dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in drone strikes in Gaza that killed seven aid workers on a food-delivery mission. The military said a retired general's investigation into the killings found the officers mishandled critical information and violated the army’s rules of engagement. The results of the investigation marked an embarrassing admission by Israel, which faces growing accusations from key allies, including the U.S., of not doing enough to protect civilians. It was not clear whether the punishments and an apology would calm an outcry over the deaths of the workers or reassure aid groups it was safe to resume operations. The food charity called it an important step but said systemic change is needed.
Blinken says Israeli offers to increase flow of aid to Gaza are welcome but may not be sufficient
LEUVEN, Belgium (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that measures the Israeli government has announced to expand the flow of aid into Gaza are welcome but may not be enough to meet the Biden administration’s demands for dramatic improvements in humanitarian conditions in the territory. Blinken said Friday that opening more border crossings, if fully implemented, has the potential to surge assistance to Palestinians caught in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. However, the U.S. also wants to see tangible steps to bolster the protection of civilians and aid workers. Blinken called for an independent investigation into the killing earlier this week of seven aid workers in Israeli airstrikes, which sparked international outrage.
After six months of war, Israel's isolation grows with no end in sight
JERUSALEM (AP) — When Israel declared war against Hamas last October, it stood unified at home and enjoyed broad backing from around the world following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic militant group. Six months later, Israel finds itself in a far different place: bogged down in Gaza, divided domestically and isolated internationally. The risk of a broader regional war remains real. And despite Israel’s fierce military onslaught, Hamas is still standing, even if it's significantly weakened. The offensive has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis. Yet Israel has not presented a postwar vision that would be acceptable to its partners, and cease-fire talks remain at a standstill.
Iran vows to 'punish Zionist regime' over deadly strike on Iranian consulate attributed to Israel
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has warned that “our brave men will punish the Zionist regime." He was escalating threats of retaliation Friday against Israel for an airstrike that killed seven of the group’s members, including two Iranian generals, earlier this week. The strike, widely attributed to Israel, destroyed the consular section at the Iranian embassy in Syria. The attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound was a significant escalation in what has been a long-running shadow war between the two archenemies, and Israel has been bracing for an Iranian response. The Tensions flared against the backdrop of the six-month-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and raised renewed fears of a widening regional conflict.
Former Trump officials are among the most vocal opponents of returning him to the White House
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has called the former president a “threat to democracy” and says he won't vote for him in 2024. Former Vice President Mike Pence has declined to endorse his former running mate. His former national security adviser John Bolton has described him as “unfit to be president.” As Trump seeks the presidency a third time, he’s being shadowed by a chorus of people who served in his administration who have become sharp critics, some offering dire predictions about his return to power. While past presidents may have occasional detractors or public critics among those who served them, the stark messages from many former Trump insiders are very unusual.
US employers added a surprisingly robust 303,000 jobs in March in a sign of economic strength
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers delivered another outpouring of jobs in March, adding a sizzling 303,000 workers to their payrolls and bolstering hopes that the economy can vanquish inflation without succumbing to a recession in the face of high interest rates. Last month’s job growth was up from a revised 270,000 in February and far above the 200,000 economists had forecast. By any measure, it amounted to a strong month of hiring, and it reflected the economy’s ability to withstand the pressure of high borrowing costs resulting from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. With the nation’s consumers continuing to spend, many employers have kept hiring to meet steady customer demand. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.8% from 3.9% in February.
New mass graves in Rwanda reveal cracks in reconciliation efforts, 30 years after the genocide
HUYE, Rwanda (AP) — New mass graves are still being found in Rwanda, 30 years after the country's genocide in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsi were killed by extremist Hutu in massacres that lasted over 100 days. It's a stark reminder as the nation marks the grim anniversary next week not only of its determination to reconcile with the past but also of the challenges it faces in aiming for lasting peace. Every new discovery traumatizes survivors all over again. The head of a prominent genocide survivor’s group and several other Rwandans said the discoveries underscore that more needs to be done for true reconciliation.
Cleanup begins as spring nor'easter moves on. But hundreds of thousands still lack power
Snow showers are lingering as the cleanup begins following a major spring storm that brought heavy snow, rain and high winds to the Northeast. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Maine and New Hampshire. Well over a foot of snow and gusty winds were reported in many parts of northern New England by Thursday evening. Some areas got closer to 2 feet. The National Weather Service says low pressure meandering through the Gulf of Maine will mean continued snow showers over northern New York, New England, and the spine of the Appalachians in West Virginia from Friday into Saturday.
Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have been in each other's orbit for years. The Final Four beckons
CLEVELAND (AP) — Two of college basketball's biggest stars will face off when Iowa and Caitlin Clark meet UConn and Paige Bueckers in the Final Four. Clark is a two-time National Player of the Year trying to guide the Hawkeyes to their first NCAA championship. Bueckers has returned to form this year after dealing with knee injuries that cost her most of two seasons. Clark and Bueckers grew up in the Midwest often facing off in AAU tournaments or playing alongside each other for Team USA. They say they don't view themselves as rivals but instead feel their rising stardom is symbolic of the increased exposure of the women's game.
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