AP Top News at 2:17 a.m. EDT

Chased away by Israeli settlers, these Palestinians returned to a village in ruins

KHIRBET ZANUTA, West Bank (AP) — An entire Palestinian community fled their tiny West Bank village last fall after repeated threats from Israeli settlers with a history of violence. Then, in a rare endorsement of Palestinian land rights, Israel’s highest court ruled this summer the displaced residents of Khirbet Zanuta were entitled to return under the protection of Israeli forces. But their homecoming has been bittersweet. In the intervening months, nearly all the houses in the village, a health clinic and a school were destroyed — along with the community’s sense of security in the remote desert land where they have farmed and herded sheep for decades.

Israelis surge into the streets again in protest as the toll in Gaza grows

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Huge numbers of Israelis again poured into the streets to protest the government’s failure to secure the return of remaining hostages in Gaza, while hospital and local authorities said Israeli air raids in the territory killed more than a dozen people overnight into Saturday. The new protest came a week after one of the largest demonstrations of the war following the discovery of another six dead hostages in Gaza, and after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against pressure for a cease-fire deal and declared that “no one will preach to me.” “I think even those who were maybe reluctant to go out, who are not used to protest, who are sad but prefer to be in private space within their sadness, understood our voice must join together to one huge scream: Bring the hostages with a deal.

Mother of Georgia shooting suspect called school to warn of emergency, aunt says

The mother of the 14-year-old who has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of four people at his Georgia high school called the school before the killings, warning staff of an “extreme emergency” involving her son, a relative said. Annie Brown told the Washington Post that her sister, Colt Gray’s mother, texted her saying she spoke with a school counselor and urged them to “immediately” find her son to check on him. Brown provided screen shots of the text exchange to the newspaper, which also reported that a call log from the family’s shared phone plan showed a call was made to the school about 30 minutes before gunfire is believed to have erupted.

Trump threatens to jail adversaries in escalating rhetoric ahead of pivotal debate

MOSINEE, Wis. (AP) — With just days to go before his first — and likely only — debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump posted a warning on his social media site threatening to jail those “involved in unscrupulous behavior” this election, which he said would be under intense scrutiny. “WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again,” Trump wrote, again sowing doubt about the integrity of the election, even though cheating is incredibly rare.

Walz touts Democratic record of defending LGBTQ+ rights, says Harris will advance cause if elected

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz touted Vice President Kamala Harris’ record of defending LGBTQ+ rights on Saturday night, pledging to a supportive crowd that she will advance their cause if elected president. Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, headlined the national dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, which he praised as “the best party in the nation.” He entered the sprawling ballroom of 3,500 attendees to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” and a boisterous standing ovation from members of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ organization. He noted how Harris worked alongside President Joe Biden to issue executive orders protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people in health care, the military and education.

Venezuela says opposition presidential candidate González has left the country for asylum in Spain

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain, delivering a major blow to millions who placed their hopes in his upstart campaign to end two decades of single party rule. The surprise departure of the man who Venezuela’s opposition and several foreign governments consider the legitimate winner of July’s presidential race was announced late Saturday night by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. She said the government decided to grant González safe passage out of the country, just days after ordering his arrest, to help restore “the country’s political peace and tranquility.” Neither González nor opposition leader Maria Corina Machado have commented.

Authorities search for shooter along I-75 in southeastern Kentucky with up to 7 people hurt

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — A manhunt was underway early Sunday as police searched for a gunman in a rural area of southeastern Kentucky near Interstate 75, according to authorities who said up to seven people were hurt in the shooting and a vehicle accident that accompanied the violence. The shooting began just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday and was followed by an intense search for a suspect by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook that it was an “active shooter situation” and “numerous persons” were shot near the highway. In a video statement, London Mayor Randall Weddle said he was told seven people were hurt, but not all of those were wounded by gunfire.

Pope arrives in remote jungles of Papua New Guinea, brings in a ton of humanitarian aid and toys

VANIMO, Papua New Guinea (AP) — Pope Francis celebrated the Catholic Church of the peripheries on Sunday as he traveled to the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea, bringing with him a ton of medicine and toys and a message of love overcoming violence for the people who live there. Francis flew aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 transport plane from Port Moresby to Vanimo, on the northwest coast of the South Pacific nation, close to the border with Indonesia. There, Francis met with the local Catholic community and the missionaries from his native Argentina who have been ministering to them.

Villagers reluctant to say goodbye to one of Hong Kong’s last squatter settlements

HONG KONG (AP) — In months, Lo Yuet-ping will bid farewell to a centuries-old village he has called home in Hong Kong for more than seven decades. The Cha Kwo Ling village in east Kowloon is filled with small houses built from metal sheets and stones, as well as old granite buildings, contrasting sharply with the high-rise structures that dominate much of the Asian financial hub. Lo, 72, has spent his entire life here and is among an estimated 860 households required to move under a government redevelopment plan. He said he will miss the rich history, unique culture and warm interpersonal kindness that defined life in the village.

France wins gold in blind football at Paralympics under Eiffel Tower lights

PARIS (AP) — France defeated Argentina 3-2 on penalties under the lights of the Eiffel Tower for the gold medal in blind football on the penultimate day of the Paralympic Games. Frederic Villeroux scored the decisive spot kick to get the partisan home fans’ party underway after the teams drew 1-1 in normal time on Saturday. “It felt like the script of a film,” said Villeroux, who also made the breakthrough in the 12th minute when he rifled a shot inside the left post. Argentine star forward Maximiliano Espinillo replied from close range straight away after the French defenders failed to clear the ball.