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Deportees sent
to Liberia
HARBEL, Liberia (AP) -- The United States has carried out its first deportation under an agreement for Liberia to accept up to 1,200 people who are not from the African country. It is one of the Trump administration’s largest efforts yet to deport people to countries other than their own.
The 20 deportees arrived Thursday at Roberts International Airport outside Monrovia. Liberian authorities say deportees will include African nationals as well as nationals from North America, South America and the Caribbean.
They can seek asylum in the West African country if they wish.
Illegal trade
found in Gaza
CAIRO (AP) -- The smuggling of goods restricted by Israel into Gaza has boomed. Items from cigarettes and iPhones to fuel and solar panels make their way to the territory devastated by war.
Palestinians face inflated prices for groceries and batteries. Hospitals turn to smugglers for medicine and equipment. Israeli soldiers and other middlemen are accused of pocketing millions.
That’s all according to an Associated Press investigation based on court documents and interviews with traders, truckers and officials. Most spoke on condition of anonymity over safety concerns and the trade’s illegal nature. Smuggling is vital to Gaza’s economy. Cigarettes and tobacco make the top profits. Residents long for price relief. Israel’s military says it takes smuggling seriously, working to prevent it.
Hawaii readies
for storm
HONOLULU (AP) -- Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days. Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, covered roads in mud and left thousands of homes without power.
Now forecasters are warning another tropical storm could form in the Pacific and approach the islands this weekend. Meteorologists say the system could dump up to 15 inches of rain across the Big Island and trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
Democrats
nix Chicago
(AP) -- Democrats have narrowed the list of potential host cities for their 2028 presidential convention to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia as their party looks ahead to a wide-open primary to succeed Republican President Donald Trump.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Thursday in a statement the cities put forward "incredibly strong bids." Martin promises the August 2028 convention will be an "inspiring celebration” of his party's future nominee. A final decision is expected to be made later this year by party leaders.
Democrats haven’t specified why Atlanta and Chicago were eliminated. Officials visited all five cities in April and May, considering logistical and fundraising capacity among other factors.