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Aid trucks have commenced their journey into Gaza from southern Israel through an innovative agreement to circumvent the Rafah crossing with Egypt. This strategic move comes after Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing earlier this month. Egypt has refused to reopen its side of the Rafah crossing until the control of the Gaza side is handed back to Palestinians. Under mounting pressure from the U.S. and Israel, Egypt has agreed to divert traffic through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing, which serves as Gaza’s primary cargo terminal. However, accessibility to this crossing has been severely limited due to the recent conflicts linked to Israel’s offensive in Rafah. Despite Israel’s claim of allowing hundreds of trucks to enter, United Nations agencies have raised concerns about the safety and efficiency of retrieving aid on the Gaza side.
Tornado Causes Damage in Texas and Oklahoma
A tornado has touched down and crossed an interstate in Texas, resulting in significant damage and potential injuries as scattered severe storms pass through Texas and Oklahoma. Forecasters have issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for various parts of both states. An official in Denton County, Texas, reported damage to homes, power lines, and trees caused by the tornado, which also led to overturned tractor-trailer trucks halting traffic on Interstate 35. The National Weather Service’s office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued a warning for an area north of Oklahoma City, urging residents to seek shelter immediately. Additionally, an excessive heat warning has been issued for South Texas, with the heat index forecasted to reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit over the holiday weekend.
UN Estimates Death Toll in Papua New Guinea Landslide
The International Organization for Migration has revised its estimate of the death toll from a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea to over 670. The chief of the U.N. migration agency’s mission in the South Pacific island nation stated that the updated death toll is based on calculations by Yambali village and Enga provincial officials, indicating that more than 150 homes were buried by Friday’s landslide. The earlier estimate had suggested 60 homes were affected, while local officials initially reported the death toll at 100 or more. As of Sunday, only five bodies and a part of a sixth victim’s leg have been recovered.
Trump Faces Booing at Libertarian Convention
Former President Donald Trump encountered repeated booing while delivering a speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention in Washington. Many attendees in the crowd shouted insults during his speech, criticizing his handling of federal deficits and alleged ties to the pharmaceutical industry’s COVID-19 vaccine development. Upon taking the stage on Saturday night, Trump faced a divided audience, with some supporters cheering and chanting “USA! USA!” while others expressed their discontent. This rare instance presented Trump with detractors, a departure from his usual rallies in front of largely supportive crowds.
Chile Accuses Volunteer Firefighter of Causing Deadly Forest Fire
A Chilean judge has ordered the detention of a volunteer firefighter and a former forestry official on allegations of planning and igniting a massive forest fire that resulted in 137 fatalities and displaced 16,000 individuals in February. The court in Valparaiso ruled on Saturday that the two suspects can be held for 180 days pending investigation. The primary suspect, Francisco Mondaca, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter, is accused of physically starting the fire, with flares and fireworks reportedly found in his vehicle. The second suspect, Franco Pinto, a former employee of the National Forest Corporation, is accused of orchestrating the crime.
Disney Composer Richard M. Sherman Passes Away at 95
Richard M. Sherman, one half of the renowned pair of brothers who contributed to classic Disney songs, has passed away at the age of 95. Alongside his late brother Robert, Sherman co-wrote numerous iconic tunes for Disney movies such as “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” including the globally recognized “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. confirmed Sherman’s demise on Saturday, attributing it to age-related illness. The Sherman brothers clinched two Academy Awards for their work on Disney’s 1964 hit “Mary Poppins,” with Robert Sherman’s passing occurring in London in 2012.
Chinese and Japanese Leaders Meet in South Korea
Leaders from China and Japan have arrived in Seoul for separate meetings with South Korea’s president, setting the stage for a trilateral gathering. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are scheduled to engage in bilateral talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. The trilateral meeting, slated for Monday, marks the first such gathering in over four years. While no major announcements are anticipated from this meeting, the resumption of high-level trilateral discussions signifies the trio’s commitment to improving regional relations.
National Spelling Bee Highlights Indian American Success
Indian Americans have dominated the Scripps National Spelling Bee, with 28 of the last 34 champions hailing from this community since 1999. The majority of these winners are children of immigrants who arrived in the United States on student or work visas. The experiences of first-generation Indian Americans and their accomplished children underscore the economic prosperity and cultural influence of the nation’s second-largest immigrant group. The upcoming bee, commencing on Tuesday at a convention center outside Washington, is expected to feature several Indian American contenders vying for the championship.
PGA Golfer Grayson Murray Passes Away at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray has tragically passed away at the age of 30. The PGA Tour and his management firm, GSE Worldwide, confirmed Murray’s death on Saturday, although details surrounding his demise remain undisclosed. Murray, who secured victories at the Sony Open earlier this year and the Barbasol Championship in 2017, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial after opening with a 68 and being 5 over for his round. His sudden death has cast a somber shadow over the golfing community.
Rare Blue-Eyed Cicada Spotted in Illinois
As the 2024 cicada emergence unfolds in Illinois, a rare blue-eyed female Magicicada cassini cicada was sighted at The Morton Arboretum in suburban Chicago. The blue-eyed cicada, a unique specimen, was observed by a fortunate few before being released back into its natural habitat to join its red-eyed counterparts. According to the collections manager of the Department of Entomology at the Smithsonian Institute, while the blue-eyed cicada is uncommon, its exact rarity remains incalculable. The periodic cicadas, emerging every 13 or 17 years, are beginning to appear in select locations across northern Illinois, with both the 13-year and 17-year broods converging in the southern region of the state.
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2. AP News Summary.
