Associated Press News Briefs

The war in Gaza has wiped out entire Palestinian families. AP documents 60 who lost dozens or more

BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes are eradicating entire Palestinian families in Gaza, sometimes generations at a time, to a degree never seen before in previous conflicts there. An Associated Press investigation identified at least 60 Palestinian families where at least 25 people were killed between October and December. Several families have almost no one left to document the toll. It was the deadliest and most destructive period of the war. Israel says it takes measures to mitigate against civilian deaths. The International Court of Justice is considering whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The killing of families across generations is a key part of the case.

Israeli officials say Netanyahu has dissolved the War Cabinet after key partner bolted government

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the influential War Cabinet that was tasked with steering the war in Gaza. The War Cabinet was dissolved following the departure from the government of Benny Gantz, an opposition lawmaker who had joined the coalition in the early days of the war. He had demanded that a small Cabinet be formed as a way to sideline far-right lawmakers in Netanyahu’s government. Gantz, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were its members and made key decisions together throughout the war.

Biden's campaign announces a $50 million advertising blitz highlighting Trump's conviction

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign says it's using a $50 million advertising blitz targeting voters in battleground states to highlight the “stark contrast” between Biden and former President Donald Trump following Trump's New York felony conviction. The spending through the end of June includes boosting a new ad focusing on Trump's conviction. The campaign signals the Democratic incumbent is pushing harder than ever to make his Republican opponent’s legal woes an issue. Biden’s campaign said Monday it wants to clearly define the choice between the candidates ahead of their first debate in Atlanta on June 27. Trump's campaign says the contrast between Trump and Biden “will be very clear on the debate stage.”

AI experimentation is high risk, high reward for low-profile political campaigns

Text, photos, videos and audio created using artificial intelligence are increasingly making their way into campaigns for state and local office. AI deepfakes that misrepresent candidates often can do more damage in those races because campaigns have fewer staffers and less money to combat them, and because they typically draw less scrutiny. Yet some local candidates see AI as a force for good and an equalizer against more powerful or well-financed candidates. They can use it for the more mundane aspects of running a campaign, which frees them up to meet voters and participate in more community events.

Surgeon general asks Congress to require warning labels for social media, like those on cigarettes

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece for The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn’t make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore set to issue more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is scheduled to sign an executive order to issue more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions. The Washington Post reports the order to be unveiled Monday will forgive low-level marijuana possession charges for an estimated 100,000 people. The newspaper reports the Democratic governor says he sees the order as an opportunity "to right a lot of historical wrongs." Recreational cannabis was legalized in Maryland in 2023 after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022. Now, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis.

Muslims in Asia celebrate Eid al-Adha with sacrifice festival and traditional feast

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Muslims in Asia are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the biggest holidays in the Islamic calendar. The occasion commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith through slaughtering livestock and animals and distributing the meat to the poor. It’s a joyous occasion for which food is a hallmark where devout Muslims buy and slaughter animals and share two-thirds of the meat with the poor and it’s a revered observance that coincides with the final rites of the Hajj. The holiday was celebrated in much of Asia on Monday while Saudi Arabia and other places in the Middle East observed it Sunday. In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, Eid al-Adha includes local traditions.

CUNY, Michigan didn't adequately assess if Israel-Hamas war protests made environment hostile: feds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Michigan and the City University of New York didn't adequately investigate if campus protests and other incidents in response to the Israel-Hamas war created a hostile environment for students, faculty and staff. That's according to results of U.S. Education Department investigations announced Monday. The investigations are the first to reach a conclusion among dozens launched by the Education Department since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. The University of Michigan agrees to administer a climate assessment and revise its policies as necessary. The City University of New York system agrees to reopen or initiate investigations into discrimination complaints. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says, “Hate has no place on our college campuses."

US severe weather: Heat moves east, storms threaten Plains, snow falls in the Rockies

PHOENIX (AP) — Hot and cold extremes are expected in the U.S. Extreme weather that ranged from triple digit temperatures in the Southwest to unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest has been forecast over the U.S. into the early part of the week. Forecasters say mushy late season snow is headed to the Rocky Mountains and severe thunderstorms are developing from the northern Plains to the upper Midwest. More rain is anticipated in southern Florida, even as flood waters continue to recede there after days of intense rainfall. A fresh batch of tropical moisture is forecast to reach the central Gulf Coast in several days and shift toward the Gulf Coast by Tuesday.

A year after the Titan's tragic dive, deep-sea explorers vow to pursue ocean's mysteries

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The deadly implosion of an experimental submersible en route to the deep-sea grave of the Titanic last June has not dulled the desire for ocean exploration. Tuesday marks one year since the Titan vanished on its way to the historic wreckage site. The U.S. Coast Guard quickly convened a high-level investigation into the disaster, but officials said no results will be released for at least another two months. The implosion killed the submersible's operator, Stockton Rush, and four others. Family, friends and fellow sea explorers plan to hold both public and private ceremonies this week to honor the victims.