Jury in Trump hush money trial resumes deliberations after rehearing instructions, testimony
NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in former President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has resumed deliberations after asking to rehear potentially crucial testimony about the alleged scheme at the heart of the history-making case. The 12-person jury met for 4 1/2 hours of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict and returned to work Thursday. The jury reheard testimony from a tabloid publisher and Trump’s former lawyer and personal fixer. The jurors also revisited part of the judge’s instructions to them. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company. The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee denies any wrongdoing.
Reading the ‘tea leaves’: TV networks vamp for time during the wait for the Donald Trump verdict
NEW YORK (AP) — The phrase “tea leaves” was heard incessantly on television news networks as they waited out a Manhattan jury’s deliberations in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial. It was a reference to the attempts to read what was going on through signs that may or may not mean anything. The trial has been good business for the networks, and they weren’t about to leave with its conclusion near, even if it meant having hours to fill with speculation. Networks tried to interpret what the jury was thinking based on requests they sent to the judge, along with wondering what the ultimate verdict would mean for Trump’s campaign.
The Latest | Slovenia moves to recognize a Palestinian state as Israel fights in Rafah
Slovenia’s government has endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same. Thursday’s move comes just two days after Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state, which was condemned by Israel. In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians in the border city of Rafah reported heavy fighting Wednesday as Israel’s military widened its offensive in the south, seizing control of the entire length of Gaza’s border with Egypt. Beyond Rafah, Israeli forces are still battling militants in parts of Gaza that the military said it wrested control of months ago. It’s a potential sign of a low-level insurgency that could keep Israeli troops engaged in the territory.
Boeing tells federal regulators how it plans to fix aircraft safety and quality problems
Boeing has told federal regulators how it plans to fix the safety and quality problems that have plagued its aircraft-manufacturing work in recent years. The Federal Aviation Administration gave the company 90 days to produce a turnaround plan after one of its jetliners suffered a blowout of a fuselage panel during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The deadline for submitting the plan is Thursday. Boeing also is the subject of multiple civil and criminal investigations from the panel blowout. Whistleblowers accuse the company of taking shortcuts that endanger passengers, a claim Boeing disputes. A panel convened by the FAA found shortcomings in Boeing’s safety culture.
Lab-grown meat isn’t on store shelves yet, but some states have already banned it
Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. If some lawmakers have their way, it never will be. Earlier this month, both Florida and Alabama banned the sale of cultivated meat and seafood, which is grown from animal cells. In Iowa, the governor signed a bill prohibiting schools from buying lab-grown meat. Federal lawmakers are also looking to restrict it. It’s unclear how far these efforts will go. Some cultivated meat companies say they’re considering legal action, and some states shelved proposed bans after lawmakers argued they would restrict consumers’ choices. The U.S. first approved the sale of lab-grown meat a year ago.
Biden is said to be finalizing plans for migrant limits as part of a US-Mexico border clampdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is finalizing plans for a U.S.-Mexico border clampdown that would shut off asylum requests and automatically deny entrance to migrants once the number of people encountered by American border officials exceeded a new daily threshold. And President Joe Biden expected to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday. That word comes from four people familiar with the matter who weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Biden has been considering executive action since the collapse of a bipartisan-negotiated border bill this year. The number of illegal crossings has gone down recently but immigration remains a top concern in the 2024 election.
One Tech Tip: Want to turn off Meta AI? You can’t — but there are some workarounds
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If you use Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram. you probably noticed a new character pop up — answering search queries, entering your group chats and eagerly offering tidbits of information in your feeds. It’s Meta AI, and it’s here to help, at least according to Meta, whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls it “the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.” There is no button to turn off Meta AI on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or WhatsApp. But if want to limit it, there are some (imperfect) workarounds.
NRA can sue ex-NY official it says tried to blacklist it after Parkland shooting, Supreme Court says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has cleared the way for a National Rifle Association lawsuit against an ex-New York state official over claims she pressured companies to blacklist it following the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote Thursday “the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech.” The NRA says ex-New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo violated its free-speech rights while investigating NRA-endorsed insurance policies. The Supreme Court ruling reverses a lower-court decision tossing out the NRA’s suit against Vullo. The Fairfax, Virginia-based NRA says it’s “a landmark victory.” Vullo argues she rightly investigated NRA-endorsed insurance policies.
North Korea’s trash rains down onto South Korea, balloon by balloon. Here’s what it means
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea floated huge balloons to dump trashes like manures, cigarette butts, scrap cloth pieces and waste batteries across rival South Korea. It’s an old-fashioned, Cold War-style provocation that the country has rarely used in recent years. Many experts say the balloon campaigning is meant to stoke a division in South Korea over its conservative government’s hardline policy on North Korea. They also say North Korea will also likely launch new types of provocations in coming months to meddle in November’s U.S. presidential election.
Gift registries after divorce offer a new way to support loved ones
NEW YORK (AP) — For people putting a life back together after divorce, mundane household objects can be painful marital reminders. And in a practical sense, many items might have departed with the ex-spouse. Gift registries for divorce are a new way for loved ones to lend a hand, especially if they’re not quite sure how else to help. A rare divorce-specific registry, Fresh Starts, allows recipients to ask for items they need. Users say taking in gifts after divorce is a positive way to rebuild. It also allows friends and family to be present without taking sides, at least out loud. Fresh Starts has between 50,000 and 70,000 monthly users. Divorce registries are part of a trend toward breaking the stigma of broken marriages, along with divorce parties and formal divorce announcements.
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