Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (AP) — Hurricane Melissa has left widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. Mud, roofless buildings and water-logged debris dominated the landscape. At least dozens of deaths are known to have occurred, but the destruction has limited what information can be obtained from hard-hit areas. Melissa hit Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record and was still a major hurricane when it hit Cuba. The U.S. and others were sending aid supplies. Jamaica was trying to reopen airports to aid flights. Melissa had winds near 100 mph late Wednesday and was forecast to affect the Bahamas overnight into Thursday.
Federal Reserve cuts key rate yet Powell says future reductions are not locked in
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated. The move comes amid a fraught time for the central bank, with hiring sluggish and yet inflation stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. Compounding its challenges, the central bank is navigating without much of the economic data it typically relies on from the government. Fed Chair Jerome Powell also cautioned that further rate cuts weren’t guaranteed, citing the lack of economic reports and sharp divisions among 19 Fed officials who participate in the central bank’s interest-rate deliberations.
Trump and China's Xi are meeting in South Korea to try to roll back months of trade tensions
BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are meeting face-to-face today in South Korea. Tensions between the world's two largest economies have soared since Trump returned to office for a second term, and hiked import tariffs. China has retaliated by limiting exports of rare earth minerals, and shunning U.S. soybeans. The markets have been nervous but ahead of the meeting, officials from both countries signaled that there could be a detente. But the countries remain on a potential collision course as they compete to dominate manufacturing, develop AI technologies, and shape global affairs.
US determined to prevent the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire after overnight airstrikes
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip this week marked the most serious challenge yet for a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Gaza health officials said over 100 Palestinians were killed, including dozens of civilians. Israel said one of its soldiers was killed in an attack that helped prompt the fierce Israeli strikes. But by early Wednesday, the ceasefire had been restored almost as quickly as it had unraveled. President Donald Trump defended Israel’s actions but also made it clear that the U.S. expects the broader ceasefire to hold. The chain of events underscored the fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas after two years of war, but also showed how intent the U.S. is on keeping it going.
Appeals court blocks order requiring Bovino to brief judge on Chicago immigration sweeps
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court has blocked an order that required a senior Border Patrol official to brief a judge on Chicago immigration sweeps. The court intervened on Wednesday before Greg Bovino’s first late afternoon meeting with U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. She wanted daily briefings after seeing video and other images of confrontations between immigration agents and the public. Ellis' order was an unprecedented bid to impose real-time oversight on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Bovino is chief of the Border Patrol sector in El Centro, California, and is leading efforts in Chicago.
Jurors convict Illinois deputy of killing Sonya Massey but can't agree on first-degree murder charge
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois jury has convicted a sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 to report a suspected prowler. The jury announced the verdict against Sean Grayson on Wednesday. Grayson arrived at Massey’s home in Springfield after she reported a prowler early on July 6, 2024. Massey was holding a pan of hot water and Grayson’s attorneys argued that he was afraid she would throw it at him. Grayson faces a sentence of four to 20 years in prison or probation when he is sentenced Jan. 29.
Jury convicts California activist who took chickens from Perdue Farms plant
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jurors have convicted a California animal rights activist for taking four chickens from a major Perdue Farms poultry plant. Zoe Rosenberg was found guilty Wednesday of trespassing and conspiracy. She says she was rescuing the chickens but prosecutors say broke the law. The 23-year-old activist faces a maximum sentence of 4 1/2 years in jail. She was charged with one count of felony conspiracy, one count of trespassing to interfere with a business, one count of trespassing on land where an animal is behind held for human consumption, and one count of tampering with a vehicle.
Protests erupt after police raid in Brazil leaves 119 dead and draws accusations of excessive force
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A massive police raid on a drug gang embedded in low-income neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro that left at least 119 people dead is drawing protests for excessive force and calls for the Rio de Janeiro’s governor to resign. Dozens of favelas residents gathered in front of the state’s government headquarters shouting “assassins!” and waving Brazilian flags stained with red paint, a day after Rio’s deadliest raid and hours after families and residents laid dozens of dead bodies on a street in one of the targeted communities to show the magnitude of the operation. Questions quickly arose about the death count and the state of the bodies.
Paris prosecutor says 2 suspects in the Louvre jewel heist acknowledge their involvement
PARIS (AP) — A Paris prosecutor says two suspects in the Louvre jewel heist have admitted their involvement in the theft. They were handed preliminary charges for theft committed by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. They are believed to be the men who forced their way into the world’s most visited museum and took jewels valued at more than 100 million dollars. It took thieves less than eight minutes to steal the jewels in broad daylight on Oct. 19, shocking the world. The jewels have not been recovered.
Rozier and Billups will not receive NBA salaries while on leave in gambling cases, AP sources say
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier will not receive his salary while on leave due to his arrest on federal gambling charges. Nor will Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who has also been placed on leave by the league after his arrest on gambling-related charges last week. That's according to two people with knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because details were not released publicly. Both of their salaries are being withheld while the cases play out. Additionally, Rozier’s attorney says that a federal lien filed with regard to the player’s tax bill in 2021 was satisfied.
