Headline News from The Associated Press
AP Headline News - May 09 2024 22:00 (EDT)
P.P. News, I'm Ben Thomas. Benjamin Netanyahu says a U.S. threat to withhold some arms will not prevent Israel from continuing its offensive in Gaza. But Sagar Magane reports the White House's warning, an all-out assault on Rafa, would hand Hamas a strategic victory. The town is Hamas's last major Gaza stronghold, and it's where more than a million Palestinian civilians are sheltering, and as efforts to reach a ceasefire continue. "Any kind of major Rafa ground operation would actually strengthen Hamas's hands." White House national security spokesman John Kirby says more civilian deaths in Rafa would only help Hamas's leader make a case against Israel. "More ammunition for his twisted narrative here." It's unclear if the president's threat to withhold aid would change Israel's calculus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will stand alone if need be. Republicans like Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton say they shouldn't have to, and are blasting the president for abandoning a key ally. "Joe Biden's de facto position is for a Hamas victory over Israel." Sagar Magane Washington. "Second day of testimony from Stormy Daniels produced another request for a mistrial. The judge rejected it. Meanwhile Trump's attorneys are challenging the gag order on him, seeking a fast decision in an appeals court. An appeals court has ruled Hunter Biden's federal gun case should move forward, setting the stage for a trial next month in Delaware. Harvey Weinstein is staying in prison in New York. Weinstein will be retried for rape after his 2020 conviction in New York was dismissed. California had requested Weinstein be transferred there to serve a 16-year sentence for a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles. I'm Arjiz Araleta. An employment claims were up last week. Mortgage rates eased, stocks closed with gains, and Hawaii health officials say testing on West Maui residents shows no evidence of widespread lead exposure from last summer's wildfires. This is AP News. Two backcountry skiers were killed and one was rescued after an avalanche in the mountains outside of Salt Lake City. Lisa Dwyer has details. "As officials develop plans on how to retrieve the bodies, Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster Craig Gordon says in the past three days, there was over 30 inches of snow with over three inches of water in big and little cottonwood canyon." "Dan's heavy snow. This isn't the kind of snow that makes our license plates famous." Gordon says that the area is not for beginners. "Very serious terrain. It steepens north facing. The crew that was up there would have to be experienced. This isn't the type of zone that you just stumble on." Gordon also says. "This was like a cold mid-winter storm. The problem is for the snowpack right now, in the spring, avalanche conditions can change in an instant." Sound courtesy? KTVX. I'm Lisa Dwyer. And I'm Ben Thomas, AP News.