Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Effort to Force States into New SNAP Conditions

Mirra Andreeva Seizes Grand Slam Glory, Ending Polish Qualifier’s Paris Dream

Swifties Hunt for Wedding Date: Rumours, Numerology and Venue Speculation

ISS Astronauts Shelter in SpaceX Dragon During Air‑Leak Crisis, Then Return

Ebola numbers dip, yet the threat remains high

Seven‑month‑old Palestinian baby killed in Israeli gunfire, health ministry reports

Sahara Tragedy: 49 Die of Thirst After Lorry Breakdown

US and Iran exchange strikes in Gulf in latest test of ceasefire

Becerra Advances to General Election for California Governor","description":"Former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra secured a place in California’s gubernatorial race, citing extensive public‑service experience and a promise to confront state challenges.","summary":"With 35 years in public office, Becerra outpaced rivals after Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit. He faces Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer in the upcoming general election.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/07f56ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5366x3890+0+0/resize/599x434!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6d%2Faf%2F6470587f33f3d465b12d815db60d%2F2577b7613963412aa0acaaee0a29e96d","text":"<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On election night, Democrat <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-becerra-race-campaign-393a6526b42c1be9ef523b7edae6d452\" style=\"color:inherit;text-decoration:underline;\">Xavier Becerra</a> advanced to the general election for California governor, presenting himself as the most qualified choice to lead the nation’s most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">Becerra emphasized his more than 35 years in public office – including roles as state attorney general and the U.S. health secretary – to argue he was the top candidate among a crowded field.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">“I am ready to lead the fight to uphold California’s promise to make sure we have the governance worthy of our gifts,” he said following the night’s results.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">It remained unclear who Becerra would face in the general election. His main rivals turned out to be Republican <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-hilton-republican-becerra-8bfb56b7938205687de5248a380c9ace\" style=\"color:inherit;text-decoration:underline;\">Steve Hilton</a>, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-steier-501f841f0e8c202c41a546172a53c5a4\" style=\"color:inherit;text-decoration:underline;\">Tom Steyer</a>, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign.</p>\n<img src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/07f56ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5366x3890+0+0/resize/599x434!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6d%2Faf%2F6470587f33f3d465b12d815db60d%2F2577b7613963412aa0acaaee0a29e96d\" alt=\"Steve Hilton speaking to reporters\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 0 16px;width:100%;height:auto;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">Becerra’s campaign had early struggles, but the shift began when Rep. Eric Swalwell was accused of sexual assault and withdrew from the race, opening space for Becerra to consolidate Democratic support.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">He pledged to keep California as a chief opponent to President Trump. As attorney general, Becerra filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration to climate policy.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">Campaign opponents scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID‑19 pandemic and the unaccompanied migrant children crisis of 2021, when Becerra’s Department of Health and Human Services ran shelters for the children.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">Critics highlighted inadequate living conditions in some shelters and concerns that authorities did not fully vet sponsors for the children.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">If elected, Becerra said he would declare states of emergency to tackle high energy costs and housing shortages, and freeze home insurance rates.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">California, one of the nation’s most diverse states, has historically elected mostly white male governors; Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;\">Gov. Newsom is barred by term limits from running for a third term.</p>

Alaska Ranger Dies After Falling Into Denali Crevasse

U.S. Inflation Rises to 3.8% – Regional Trends and Core‑Inflation Debate","description":"Quarterly CPI data shows a recent uptick to a three‑year high, with 3.8% in April. The article examines regional differences, the role of gasoline prices, and the debate over core versus headline inflation numbers.","summary":"Consumer prices in the United States climbed to a 3.8% annual rate in April, the highest in three years. While the headline CPI metric reflects that spike, core measures and regional data paint a nuanced picture. Analysts note that high gasoline prices, driven by the Iran‑related conflict, are a major contributor across both blue and red states. A look at the Pacific and East South Central regions shows how projected figures vary with state politics, but the trend of rising prices runs nationwide. Debates over the importance of core inflation—excluding food and energy—highlight the complexity of interpreting CPI versus the Fed’s preferred PCE metric. Experts such as Omair Sharif and Dallas and Cleveland Federal Reserve economists weigh in on the limits of alternative measures like trimmed means, underscoring that the latest data remain a concern for policy makers and consumers alike.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1524494138455-826b5a3ab59f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=600&q=80","text":"<h1 style=\"font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:0.5em;\">U.S. Inflation Rises to 3.8% – Regional Trends and Core‑Inflation Debate</h1>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">After a period of easing in 2024 and early 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has climbed to a 3.8% annual rate for April, the highest level in three years. The rise has squeezed most American budgets, impacting everything from fuel costs to grocery loads.</p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.4em; font-weight:bold; margin-top:1.2em; margin-bottom:0.6em;\">What Is Driving the Numbers?</h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">Fuel prices alone account for a large share of the inflation lift. The Iran‑related conflict has pushed gasoline costs up more than 40% nationwide, according to AAA, which in turn raises shipping and airfares. The effect reaches both blue and red states: gas in Texas rose 36% from a year ago, while California saw a 26% jump.</p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.4em; font-weight:bold; margin-top:1.2em; margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Regional Variations</h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">The inflation story differs by region. The Pacific region—primarily blue states such as California, Washington, and Oregon—reported a 3.5% CPI rise in April, below the national average. In contrast, the East South Central region—red‑state dominated by Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee—exceeded the national rate with a 4.5% increase. Even a traditionally low‑inflation region like West South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana) saw a jump to 3.2% from the pre‑pandemic 1%.</p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">An analyst from Inflation Insights, Omair Sharif, argues that “it’s not a blue‑state story; gas is going up in every state.” Indeed, the inflation mix reflects nationwide price moves, not partisan alignment.</p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.4em; font-weight:bold; margin-top:1.2em; margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Core Inflation vs. Headline – The Core Debate</h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy, rose from 2.5% in January to 2.8% in April. In the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, core inflation climbed to 3.3% in April from 3.1% in January. While headline CPI is high, the Fed and many economists focus on core figures as a more stable gauge.</p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, has cited a trimmed‑mean measure that suggests a “deep downward dive.” However, experts caution that this alternative index, the trimmed mean, can misrepresent inflation surges because it excludes large price changes. The Dallas Fed’s trimmed mean for PCE fell slightly from 2.5% to 2.3% at the start of the year, but the Cleveland Fed noted a recent uptick to 2.8%.</p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">The White House’s earlier report, using data from November 2024, found higher inflation in blue states, but that snapshot predates the Iran war and its gasoline spike, making the findings outdated.</p>\n<h2 style=\"font-size:1.4em; font-weight:bold; margin-top:1.2em; margin-bottom:0.6em;\">Policy Implications</h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">With inflation hovering above the Fed’s 2% target and regional spikes driven by supply‑chain pressures, policymakers face a dilemma between moderating price growth and avoiding job‑market damage. The dissonance between headline and core rates complicates monetary‑policy decisions, as the Fed must gauge whether market inflation expectations are firmly anchored.</p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\"><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p>\n<ul style=\"margin-top:0; margin-left:1.5em;\">\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:0.4em;\">April CPI reached 3.8%, up from 3.5% in March.</li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:0.4em;\">Gasoline costs drive the rise across both blue and red states.</li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:0.4em;\">Core CPI and PCE show a moderate increase, but trimmed‑mean figures are contested.</li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:0.4em;\">Regional variation highlights that no single state group dominates the inflation picture.</li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom:0.4em;\">Policy makers must weigh the trade‑off between curbing inflation and supporting employment.</li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"margin-top:1em;\">For further analysis of inflation data and its implications, consult the latest reports from the Federal Reserve, the Department of Labor, and independent economists, many of whom are increasingly leveraging quantum‑enhanced data science to parse the complex web of price signals.</p>

Putin Rejects Zelensky’s Call for Face‑to‑Face Talks, Stakes His Position on War’s Outcome

Colorado Court Orders New Trials for Paramedics Convicted in Major Police-Paramedic Incident

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Immigration Policy","description":"A district court invalidates executive action that barred immigrants from 39 countries following the National Guard shooting.","summary":"A U.S. district judge ruled that a Trump‑era policy that stalled asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship applications for immigrants from dozens of countries was unlawful. The decision reaffirms that the federal government cannot arbitrarily restrict lawful immigration pathways.","image":"https://assets.apnews.com/be/f8/b6e03475d10f72fed1454b37b36d/dfd40743be8c42ee883cb2ab9aed564a","text":"<p>Boston (AP) – A federal judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members that made it harder for immigrants from dozens of countries to stay and enter the U.S.</p><p>U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. said the policy “threw the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States into indeterminate legal limbo,” and accused the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of ignoring the law.</p><p>He wrote that USCIS “claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of ‘national security’ that mask anti‑immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision‑making.” He added that these actions were “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”</p><p>A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p><p>The policies enacted after the National Guard shooting meant that immigrants from 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries have been “categorically barred” from receiving final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications.</p><p>“This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case. “These unlawful policies caused enormous harm to families, workers, asylum‑seekers, and communities across the country who were left in limbo, unable to work, access protections or move forward with their lives.”</p><p>The policies apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is within the Homeland Security Department and approves applications for immigrants to work and become citizens. The agency often grants asylum only to those already in the United States when they apply. Immigration judges grant asylum to those who are stopped at the border; the ruling does not affect them, nor the policies that sparked the lawsuit.</p><p>It is part of an ongoing effort by the administration to tighten U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, in what critics say unfairly prevents travel for people from a broad range of countries. The administration suggested it would expand the restrictions after the arrest of an Afghan national suspect in the <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-dc-c5785dd8920d2d1ac7d71fab769faf5f\">shooting of two National Guard</a> troops over Thanksgiving weekend.</p><p>In its motion to dismiss, which the court denied, the government argued that Congress gave the executive branch broad authority over immigration policy, including “the entry of aliens into the United States as well as discretion within the statutory scheme to confer as well as withdraw various discretionary benefits.”</p><p>“This case rests on a remarkable premise: that a federal court should prevent an agency from issuing the very policy guidance that provides government personnel with the guardrails necessary to ensure consistent, non‑arbitrary, and individualized decision‑making consistent with federal law,” the government wrote in its brief.</p><p>Immigration groups celebrated the ruling.</p><p>“This ruling sets a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress and cannot arbitrarily bar immigration benefits on the basis of national origin by fiat,” said Jamal Abdi, president at the National Iranian American Council. “Fortunately, this is still a nation of laws, and those who uphold America’s values have recourse to challenge and push back on such discriminatory, arbitrary policies.”</p><p>Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads a coalition that supports Afghan resettlement efforts called #AfghanEvac, said the ruling was a “significant victory for the rule of law and for thousands of Afghan allies and other immigrants who followed every requirement asked of them.”</p><p>“Just this week in Dallas and Fort Worth, we met people who feared losing jobs because delayed work‑permit renewals threatened their livelihoods, families who postponed education, travel and homeownership because they did not know when their cases would be resolved, and future Americans who had expected to become citizens only to see their applications stall without explanation,” VanDiver said.</p>

Acting Icon James Handy Murdered in Los Angeles; Suspect Arrested

Los Angeles Jury Awards $176 Million to Parents in Hit‑and‑Run Case","description":"A Los Angeles jury awarded 176 million dollars to the parents of two brothers who were killed when a socialite’s car struck them in a crosswalk. The case involved former Olympian Rebecca Grossman and ex‑Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson.","summary":"In a landmark hit‑and‑run case in Los Angeles, a jury awarded $176 million in wrongful‑death and emotional‑distress damages to the parents of brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander after criminal convictions of Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson for negligent driving. Grossman has received a 15‑year‑to‑life sentence and Erickson faces a similar review for punitive damages.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/7766865/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fbc%2F14%2F07cbbc37d3fa57cfba7e1029ee74%2Fd42e8609f2644b2d9ffe3651b527b7ab","text":"<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles jury has awarded $176 million to the parents of two young brothers who were killed in a hit‑and‑run collision on September 29, 2020. The fatal crash occurred when the vehicle of socialite Rebecca Grossman struck 11‑year‑old Mark Iskander and 8‑year‑old Jacob Iskander in a Westlake Village, California crosswalk.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">The jury held both Grossman – who later pleaded guilty in a felony criminal trial – and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson to be negligent. Damages were awarded for wrongful death and emotional distress inflicted upon the Iskander family, which includes parents Nancy and Karim.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second‑degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit‑and‑run driving. She is a co‑founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and the wife of a prominent burn surgeon.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">In the civil trial, the Iskander parents’ attorney, Brian Panish, argued that Grossman and Erickson were driving recklessly after drinking margaritas together while dating. He contended that Grossman drove 73 mph (123 kph) in a area with a 45 mph (72 kph) limit, that Erickson was also behind her and speeding, and that the collision was “totally preventable.”</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">Grossman’s own attorney, Esther Holm, maintained that she was not intoxicated and was instead distracted by the presence of the Iskander mother, who had suddenly ducked out of the way of Erickson’s oncoming vehicle. Holm insisted that Grossman “did not see the children” because her attention was diverted.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">Erickson’s attorney, Jeff Braun, acknowledged the tragedy but said that the boy’s deaths were not caused by any contact from his vehicle.</p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;\">The court is scheduled to resume on Friday to decide whether punitive damages will be added to the $176 million verdict. The Iskander family says the settlement was “not enough” to cover the loss of their children and calls for greater accountability in the justice system.</p>

Hartford Officer Charged for Fatal Shooting During Mental Health Crisis

ICE Ends Tracking of Detainee Deaths After Release, Raising Transparency Concerns

Fally Ipupa Becomes Congo’s National Order of the Leopard Amid Global Music Momentum

Virginia Man Sentenced for Wife’s Murder, Plotted Scheme with Au Pair