Hamas releases new hostage videos as protesters demand cease-fire, hostage return
ABC News’ Tom Soufi Burridge reports on the latest in the Israel-Hamas war on “This Week.”
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ABC NewsPolice descend on UC Irvine campus as protesters occupy lecture hall
Tensions at the University of California, Irvine campus escalated Wednesday as a group of several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters entered a lecture hall and surrounded the building, according to school officials. The Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Department were called to the scene after the university called for mutual aid from local law enforcement agencies, UC Irvine said in an emergency update. Authorities were seen putting protesters in zip-ties and escorting them away from the main protest area.
- ABC News
Demonstrator to stand trial in the death of Jewish man at November Israel-Hamas war-related protest
A Ventura County judge ruled that a pro-Palestinian demonstrator will stand trial in the death of a Jewish man who was counter-protesting on a Thousand Oaks street in November. Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man, died from blunt-force head trauma following a confrontation with a counterprotester, amid simultaneous pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations last November, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office previously said. Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji is accused of striking Paul Kessler with a megaphone, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement.
- ABC News
3 dead after small plane crashes in Tennessee: Sheriff's office
Three people are dead after a small plane crashed in Tennessee on Wednesday, authorities said. A 911 caller reported an explosion around noon Wednesday in Williamson County that was believed to have been a possible plane crash, authorities said. It is unclear what caused the crash but it "does appear that the plane did break up in the air," Chief Deputy Mark Elrod with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said during a press briefing Wednesday evening.
- ABC News
Boat seized in connection with hit-and-run that killed Florida teen: Authorities
Ella Adler, 15, was struck by a boat while wakeboarding near Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne Saturday afternoon, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said. The boat that struck the teen did not stop, FWC said. Following a dayslong search, FWC said Tuesday it has a boat matching the description given by witnesses of the striking vessel in their custody.
- ABC News
American woman charged after ammunition found in baggage in Turks and Caicos on Mother's Day trip: Police
Police in Turks and Caicos have charged an American woman with ammunition possession -- a crime that carries a minimum penalty of 12 years -- after airport officials alleged they found illegal ammunition in her luggage. Sharitta Shinise Grier, 45, of Orlando, was visiting Turks and Caicos with her daughter for Mother's Day when, during a routine search at the Howard Hamilton International Airport Monday, officials claim to have found two rounds of ammunition in her bag, police said.
- ABC News
Pentagon report to show significant drop in unwanted sexual contact in military
There was also a drop in the number of sexual assault reports involving service members filed last year, according to the official. Every two years, the U.S. military carries out an anonymous survey that Defense Department officials believe is a better indicator of the prevalence of sexual assault in the military than the annual reports where victims may be reluctant to step forward to report a sexual assault. This year's survey indicated close to 29,000 reported unwanted sexual contacts an almost 19% reduction from the 35,800 reported in the survey carried out in 2021.
- ABC News
Debates offer candidates large, risky platform for contrast: ANALYSIS
The decision by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to debate twice before November's election offers both contenders their best opportunity yet to burnish what they view as advantageous contrasts -- with risks for each. "This is an important opportunity to both consolidate your base, but particularly for those swing voters, for those independent and undecided voters, it's an opportunity to remind them, to get people to focus in June on the campaign for those who may have not really been paying as close attention," said Democratic strategist Karen Finney, who worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. The agreement to the two debates, which came rapidly after Biden proposed the forums, comes ahead of a six-month sprint to Election Day.
- Good Morning America
Major disparities exist in women of color's access to breast cancer care, report finds
A major new report shows stark disparities in breast cancer care, with non-white Americans and those without health insurance far less likely to be up to date with recommended screenings. Women under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance are 50% less likely to be up to date with breast cancer screening, according to the findings of the 2024 AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024, released Wednesday by the American Association for Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization focused on breast cancer research. The report also found that between 2015-2019 Asian and Pacific Islander women had the highest increase in breast cancer occurrences among all racial and ethnic groups.
- Good Morning America
Groom surprises bride with 'I'm Just Ken' parody at wedding
Coles Prince chose to sing to his bride Jordan Prince a modified version of the hit song "I'm Just Ken" from the "Barbie" blockbuster, adjusting the lyrics and its chorus to "I'm Just Groom" instead. The wedding party also joined as backup dancers before the groom knelt down for the final few bars, and the couple shared a sweet kiss at the end. Ryan Gosling performed the original song at the 2024 Oscars in March and even released a holiday version of the single last December.
- Good Morning America
New inflation data could signal cheaper grocery prices, more discounts, expert says
As Americans continue to experience sticker shock with volatile food costs, a slight ease of inflation last month could provide relief for consumers' wallets -- particularly at the grocery store. Food prices rose at a much slower pace than overall inflation since the same time last month, the Department of Labor shared Wednesday in the latest consumer price index findings. The food at home index -- food purchased at grocery stores -- declined by 0.2%, while the food away from home index -- everything from takeout to dining at restaurants -- rose 0.3% over the month, according to the Department of Labor.
- ABC News
Slovakian prime minister in life-threatening condition after assassination attempt
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in life-threatening condition after being shot in the abdomen in an assassination attempt on Wednesday, government officials said. Fico, 59, was shot five times outside a government building in the town of Handlova, according to Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok. Fico was conscious following the shooting, government officials said at an earlier press conference.
- ABC News
Sen. Bob Menendez 'put his power up for sale,' prosecutor claims in bribery trial
Sen. Robert Menendez "put his power up for sale" and "betrayed the people he was supposed to serve," a prosecutor claimed Wednesday at the start of the New Jersey Democrat's federal bribery trial in New York. The defense meanwhile introduced Menendez "not as an agent of the Egyptian government" but as "an American patriot" who "took no bribes." Menendez has pleaded not guilty to 16 federal charges including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction.
- ABC News
After trying week, RFK Jr. brings Nicole Shanahan on campaign trail for rare appearance
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent a week dogged by self-damaging rhetoric, leaving him to defend the state of his health and scramble to rework his position on abortion after facing dissent from within his own campaign. The campaign delivered boxes of signatures to the Texas Secretary of State's Office, a spokeswoman for whom told ABC News the campaign's petition is "under review." Kennedy touted the accomplishment at an Austin rally alongside his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, whose appearance itself was noteworthy, as the California lawyer had maintained a reclusive approach to the campaign trail since she was announced as Kennedy's running mate in late March.
- Good Morning America
Kevin Costner speaks out on 'Yellowstone' drama: 'All I did was protect myself'
Kevin Costner is opening up about all the drama behind the scenes of "Yellowstone." "I didn’t shoot 5B," Costner said of the second half of the show's fifth season. "Yellowstone" aired the first half of its fifth season from November 2022 to January 2023.
- ABC News
Wildfire smoke could impact US again as Canada braces for another fiery summer
With numerous wildfires burning across Canada, including about 40 that remain out of control, meteorologists said conditions are stacking up for a replay of last year's fire season when thick smoke wafted down to the United States, turning the skies over New York City orange and its air quality hazardous. More than 130 wildfires are now burning in multiple provinces of Canada, mostly in the western part of the country, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Earlier this week, smoke from the Canadian wildfires drifted across the border into the United States, prompting Minnesota officials to issue the state's first air quality alert of 2024.
- ABC News
Senators unveil 'roadmap' for government-funded AI research, regulation
A bipartisan group of senators, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on Wednesday unveiled a "roadmap" for lawmakers aimed at guiding Congress on regulating artificial intelligence. The document called for a hefty increase in funding for AI innovation to be worked into Congress' annual funding process -- funding to the tune of $32 billion over several years, an amount recommended by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Schumer said that separate funding, perhaps additional billions, will likely also be needed in coming years to address defense and national security concerns related to artificial intelligence.
- Good Morning America
Ana Huang picks 5 books to read in celebration of AANHPI Month
Ana Huang has picked out 10 books that she recommends to read in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Huang is a New York Times, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author. Best known for her "Twisted" series, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance with deliciously alpha heroes, strong heroines, and plenty of steam, angst, and swoon.
- Good Morning America
Biden, Trump agree to ABC News and CNN debates
President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, are set to face off in an ABC News presidential debate in September. Trump and Biden said they have both agreed to a prime-time debate at ABC News studios on Sept. 10. Before that, they will participate in a CNN debate on June 27 in Atlanta.
- Good Morning America
The Victoria's Secret fashion show is making a return for fall 2024
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is making a comeback after a five-year hiatus. On Wednesday, the company announced on Instagram that the iconic show would be returning this fall. While there hasn't been an exact date announced just yet, the company did share in a release that the runway show will reflect who the brand is today as well as what fans of the lingerie brand have come to know and love about the event — wings, glamour music and more.
- Good Morning America
Walgreens announces it will sell generic version of over-the-counter Narcan
Walgreens Boots Alliance announced Wednesday that it plans to sell its own generic version of the overdose reversal drug Narcan. Narcan is given as a nasal spray and the active ingredient in the medication -- naloxone -- can quickly restore breathing if someone is experiencing an opioid overdose and if it is administered in time. In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan to be distributed without a prescription -- a milestone advocates have said will make it easier to save lives amid the country's ongoing opioid epidemic.