Headline News from The Associated Press
AP Headline News - May 15 2024 21:00 (EDT)
Peking News, I'm Ben Thomas. An assassination attempt in Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Beetsow shot multiple times and taken to a local hospital for surgery. His deputy prime minister telling BBC it looks like he will survive. The 59-year-old populist has been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond. A suspect is in custody and the interior minister says the attack had a clear political motivation. Charles Stella Desma has more. President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival of PM Robert Fiko, said in a televised statement, a physical attack on the prime minister is first of all an attack on a person. But it's also an attack on democracy. Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we've been witnessing in society leads to hateful action, she says. Please, let's stop it. I'm Charles to the Desma. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's postponing his foreign trips as Russian troops press their new offensive in the northeastern Harkiv region. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's in China for a two-day state visit, declaring he's prepared to negotiate over the war. Orville Shell at the Asia Society says Beijing's claim of neutrality doesn't hold up. You cannot straddle a thing like an invasion of another country if you're not willing to condemn it. But worse, if you're willing to hug it out with the leader of the invader, namely Russia and Putin. President Biden and former President Trump have agreed to hold two debates, June 27 on CNN, in September 10 on ABC. Trump's Hush Money Trial resumes tomorrow with Michael Cohen back on the witness stand. And Senator Bob Menendez's trial is underway. The AP's Larry Newmeister. A prosecutor said that gold bars and cash found in the home he shared with his wife in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, were the result of bribes from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator to carry out acts on their behalf that would help them make money. This is AP News. In Alberta, Canada, there's hope shifting winds may push a dangerous wildfire away from the oil sands out of Fort McMurray. Lisa Dwyer has details. A day after thousands were evacuated, officials say that everyone should remain vigilant. Our highest priority right now is the wildfire south of Fort McMurray. Alberta wildfire information manager, Christy Tucker. It is out of control and is now nearly 21,000 hectares in size. Officials are hopeful that favorable winds can help push that wildfire away from the oil sands area. Less than one millimeter of rain fell on the wildfire overnight. Active fire behavior is expected today, but it should be less than what we saw yesterday thanks to cooler temperature and weaker winds. Evacuation orders for the area are likely to remain in place until at least May 21st. Sound courtesy, CTV. I'm Lisa Dwyer. And I'm Ben Thomas, AP News.