Israel tries to contain fallout over ICC warrant requests after allies voice support for the move
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s foreign minister is heading to France to try to contain the fallout from the decision by the prosecutor of the world court to request arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. Several European countries, including key ally France, as well as Belgium and Slovenia, supported the move, exposing divisions in the West’s approach to Israel and deepening the country’s global isolation over its conduct in the war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’ visit starts Tuesday. He will also meet with his French counterpart and other senior officials. The meetings could set the tone surrounding the warrants — if they are eventually issued — and if they pose a threat to Israeli leaders in friendly countries.
Mourners begin days of funerals for Iran’s president and others killed in helicopter crash
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Mourners began gathering Tuesday for days of funerals and processions for Iran’s late president, foreign minister and others killed in a helicopter crash. For Iran’s Shiite theocracy, mass demonstrations have been crucial since millions thronged the streets of Tehran to welcome Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution. Whether President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others draw large crowds remains in question, particularly as Raisi died in a helicopter crash, won his office in the lowest-turnout election in the country’s history and presided over crackdowns on all dissent. Prosecutors have warned people over celebrating his death and a heavy security force presence has been seen on the streets of Tehran since the crash.
Defense witness who angered judge in Trump’s hush money trial will return to the stand
NEW YORK (AP) — A defense witness in Donald Trump’s hush money case whom the judge threatened to remove from the trial over his behavior will return to the stand Tuesday as the trial nears its end. Trump’s lawyers are hoping Robert Costello’s testimony will help undermine the credibility of a key prosecution witness, Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen. But Costello angered Judge Juan Merchan on Monday, prompting the judge to briefly kick reporters out of the courtroom to admonish him. The chaotic scene unfolded after prosecutors rested their case accusing Trump of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to bury stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign. Trump denies any wrongdoing.
Election deniers moving closer to GOP mainstream, report shows, as Trump allies fill Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Donald Trump makes a comeback bid to return to power, Republicans in Congress have become even more likely to cast doubts on President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. A new report from States United Action, a group that targets election deniers, says nearly one-third of the lawmakers in Congress supported in some way Trump’s bid to overturn the 2020 presidential results. Several more are running for election this year to the House and Senate. Lizzie Ullmer of States United Action says the public should have a “real healthy dose of concern.” It’s not happening just in Congress. Prominent election deniers also now run the Republican National Committee.
Trump or Biden? Either way, US seems poised to preserve heavy tariffs on imports
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Donald Trump agree on essentially nothing, from taxes and climate change to immigration and regulation. Yet on trade policy, the two presumptive presidential nominees have embraced surprisingly similar approaches. Which means that whether Biden or Trump wins the presidency, the United States seems poised to maintain a protectionist trade policy — a policy that experts say could feed inflation pressures. The protectionist tilt of the two presidential contenders reflects the widespread view that opening the nation to more imports — especially from China — wiped out American manufacturing jobs and shuttered factories. It’s an especially potent political topic in the Midwestern industrial states that will likely decide who wins the White House.
French president Emmanuel Macron is to visit violence-hit New Caledonia
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to New Caledonia, signaling French authorities’ growing confidence that reinforced security and emergency measures are bringing unrest on the French Pacific territory under control. Government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot announced the trip. “He will go there tonight,” she said Tuesday. The previously unannounced trip required a shake-up of Macron’s schedule. Instead of going to Normandy, he will be heading to the archipelago 10 time zones away from Paris, east of Australia, that has been gripped by deadly armed clashes, looting, arson and other mayhem. A state of emergency was declared by Paris last week and 1,000 reinforcements rushed in to bolster security forces that lost control of some parts of the capital, Nouméa.
Indian voters dissect Modi’s politics while traversing the country by train
ABOARD THE THIRUKKURAL EXPRESS, India (AP) — The Associated Press rode one of the longest trains in India — 1,800 miles from New Delhi to Kanyakumari — to interview voters about an election that will be decided in June. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to win and reappoint Prime Minister Narendra Modi — the leader for the past decade — for another five years. A man who runs a food stall said Modi isn’t doing enough for the poor. A Muslim man said Modi’s Hindu-centric policies are hurtful and divisive. But many passengers said they supported Modi, and credited him with improving India’s economy and its global image.
Corn, millet and … rooftop solar? Farm family’s newest crop shows China’s solar ascendancy
JINAN, China (AP) — China is the runaway leader in supplying the world with the hardware to gather solar power. Now it’s installing it at home at such a clip that the country’s grid is getting more than it can use in some places. That’s true in Shandong province, where Shi Mei and her husband decided a few years ago to supplement their farm income by buying a solar setup for their roof. Now they harvest the equivalent of $10,000 per year for the electricity that gets fed to the grid. Shi says “When the sun comes out, you make money.” Analysts and solar companies say the future will remain bright if China can quickly adapt to the oversupply.
World leaders plan new agreement on AI at virtual summit co-hosted by South Korea, UK
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — World leaders are expected to adopt a new agreement on artificial intelligence when they gather virtually Tuesday to discuss AI’s potential risks but also ways to promote its benefits and innovation. The two-day AI Seoul Summit co-hosted by the South Korean and U.K. governments is a follow-up to November’s inaugural AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are to meet other world leaders virtually Tuesday. An in-person meeting of digital ministers is slated for Wednesday. A senior Korean presidential adviser said the AI agreement will include the outcomes of discussions on safety, innovation and inclusivity.
1 dead, others injured after London-Singapore flight hit severe turbulence, Singapore Airlines says
BANGKOK (AP) — Singapore Airlines says a person has died aboard and others were injured when a London-Singapore flight encountered severe turbulence. Singapore’s Flight SQ321 from Heathrow was diverted to Bangkok and landed at 3:45 p.m. local time at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the airline announced in its Facebook page.
