Melania Trump Denied Ties to Jeffrey Epstein. the Question Remains: Why Now?

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Melania Trump’s seemingly out-of-the-blue statement Thursday denying affiliation with disgraced sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein left people still wondering Friday what prompted the public declaration at a time when the case had receded from the spotlight. Reading prepared remarks at the White House on Thursday, Melania Trump said she and her …

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Russian Strikes on Odesa Kill 2 Ahead of Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, local authorities reported, ahead of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter. A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment …

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Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh was reelected for a sixth term after official results showed him winning 97.81% of the vote in Friday’s election. Guelleh, 78, has ruled the small Horn of Africa nation of about 1 million for more than two decades. Last year, the country’s lawmakers scrapped presidential age …

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Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser Unveils Her Last Budget, Proposing to Cut Spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Friday unveiled her last budget before she steps down later this year, a $21.2 billion gross operating spending plan that is sure to spark battles on the District Council and Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers have shown a growing willingness to interject themselves into local affairs. Bowser’s …

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Toxic Mud? Hawaii’s North Shore Flooding Likely Diluted Pesticide Risk

In photo after photo, video after video, North Shore residents are painted in mud, scraping it off driveways, sweeping it out of kitchens and heaving it into trucks along with their household debris. With agriculture surrounding them, it’s impossible not to wonder: Are they exposing themselves to toxic farm chemicals amid the muck and sludge? …

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FAA Says Proper Use of Anti-Drone Lasers That Prompted Texas Airspace Closures Is Safe for Flights

Anti-drone lasers used near the southern border by the U.S. military and Homeland Security to combat cartel drones are safe and shouldn’t necessitate airport closures, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday after a review prompted by airspace closures in Texas earlier this year. The FAA and Defense Department have signed an agreement outlining the safety …

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Allies Yank Support for Swalwell’s California Governor Run After Sexual Assault Allegations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In a stunning political reversal, prominent supporters of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign for California governor withdrew their support Friday after the congressman denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. Swalwell did not immediately heed those calls, saying on social media that he would …

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