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Different jury perspectives 'bring reasonable doubt to life': Trial consultant on Trump's trial None - Different jury perspectives 'bring reasonable doubt to life': Trial consultant on Trump's trial Trial strategy consultant Julie Blackman joins Ana Cabrera and José Díaz-Balart to discuss how the jury could be receiving the closing argument by former President Trump’s defense team.May 28, 2024

Buy the story 'to protect campaign': Prosecution delivers closing argument in hush money trial None - Joe: Blackstone CEO supporting a guy who says he can execute his political opponents

Robert De Niro calls Trump a 'clown' outside the hush money trial courthouse None - Legendary actor Robert De Niro spoke in support of President Biden and his 2024 campaign outside the New York courthouse where former President Trump's hush money trial is underway. De Niro called Trump a "clown" and "buffoon" that sold his supporters with "outrageous lies and empty promises."May 28, 2024

US consumer confidence rises in May after three months of declines None - Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose in May following three straight months of declines, but Americans remain anxious about elevated inflation and interest rates US consumer confidence rises in May after three months of declines WASHINGTON -- Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose in May after three straight months of declines, though Americans are still anxious about inflation and interest rates. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose in May to 102 from 97.5 in April. Analysts were expecting the index to decline again. The index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market climbed to 74.6 this month from a dismal 68.8 in April. A reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Consumer expectations of a recession in the next year rose again in May but are still well below their peak in May of 2023. More than two-thirds of respondents to the survey said they believe a recession is “somewhat” or “very” likely in the next 12 months. That's in contrast to the Conference Board's survey of CEOs, only about a third of whom foresee a recession in the next 12 to 18 months. The number of respondents who said they planned to buy a car rose slightly for a second straight month and those who said they planned to buy a major appliance rose for the first time in several months, the board said. Consumers who said they plan to purchase a home remained at its lowest level since August 2012. Sales of existing homes slumped in April as high mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged potential buyers. Consumers’ view of current conditions rose to 143.1 in May from 140.6 in April. Most economic indicators show the U.S. economy in good shape by historical standards, though there have been some signs that it is cooling off. The nation’s economy slowed sharply in the first quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, down from a brisk 3.4% growth rate in the final three months of 2023. Retail sales were flat in April from March’s 0.6% gain as prices remained elevated and high interest rates made shoppers more hesitant to put purchases on credit cards. More cautious spending in the face of inflation has some big retailers offering discounts this summer. The latest quarterly earnings reported by big retailers show that while consumers have not stopped spending, they are becoming more price-conscious and choosy. The board's survey also showed that consumers' confidence in the labor market improved in May, despite a slowdown in hiring a month earlier. The labor market continues to churn out jobs, though not at the furious pace during the pandemic rebound. U.S. employers added 175,000 jobs in April, fewer than economists had projected and down from 315,000 in March. Even though the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9%, it was the 27th straight month that joblessness has been below 4%, the longest stretch since the 1960s.

Harris announces plans to help 80% of Africa gain access to the internet, up from 40% now None - Vice President Kamala Harris has announced the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from 40% now Harris announces plans to help 80% of Africa gain access to the internet, up from 40% now WASHINGTON -- Vice President Kamala Harris announced Friday the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from roughly 40% now. The announcement comes as follow-through on Harris' visit to the continent last year and in conjunction with this week's visit to Washington by Kenyan President William Ruto. Harris and the Kenyan leader had a public chat on Friday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about how public-private partnerships can increase economic growth. “Many could rightly argue that the future is on the continent of Africa,” said Harris, noting that the median age in Africa is 19, a sign of the potential for economic growth. “It is not about, and simply about aid, but about investment and understanding the capacity that exists.” Africa has struggled to obtain the capital needed to build up its industrial and technological sectors. The United Nations reported last year that foreign direct investment in the continent fell to $45 billion in 2022, from a record high $80 billion in 2021. Africa accounted for only 3.5% of foreign direct investment worldwide, even though it makes up roughly 18% of the global population. Besides launching the nonprofit Partnership for Digital Access in Africa, Harris announced an initiative geared toward giving 100 million African people and businesses in the agricultural sector access to the digital economy. The African Development Bank Group along with Mastercard, among other organizations, will help form the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy Alliance, or MADE. The alliance will start a pilot program to give digital access to 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria, before expanding elsewhere. Harris, a Democrat and the first female U.S. vice president, also announced that the Women in the Digital Economy efforts to address the gender divide in technology access have now generated more than $1 billion in public and private commitments, with some federal commitments pending congressional approval. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris at https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris.

Qatar's ruler looking to invest in energy, ports and high-tech in Cyprus, official says None - The emir of Qatar is looking to invest in energy and high-tech in Cyprus — projects seen as having a strong economic potential Qatar's ruler looking to invest in energy, ports and high-tech in Cyprus, official says NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The emir of Qatar is looking to invest in energy and high-tech in Cyprus — projects seen as having a strong economic potential, a Cypriot official said Tuesday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who visited the east Mediterranean island nation on Tuesday for the first time, is also interested in investing in Cypriot ports and banking institutions, the official said. Qatar is a strong supporter of a maritime aid corridor that ferries humanitarian aid from the Cypriot port of Larnaca to the besieged Gaza Strip via a U.S. built temporary pier off the Palestinian territory. Al Thani has helped with funding the initiative’s humanitarian aid collection. The temporary pier was damaged by rough seas over the weekend and temporarily suspended operations, officials said. Al Thani and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides held talks and agreed to set up a working group to gauge progress made in forging closer economic and political ties, the Cypriot official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the subject. A Cyprus government statement said the emir expressed his concern over developments in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where an Israeli military offensive is underway. Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has been mediating to broker a cease-fire deal that would free about 100 Israeli hostages being held by Gaza's militant Hamas rulers and in efforts to end the war. Qatar is also partners with ExxonMobil in oil and gas exploration in one of 13 areas, or blocks, inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone off the island's southern coastline.

Video T-Mobile to purchase most of U.S. Cellular in $4.4 billion deal None - T-Mobile to purchase most of U.S. Cellular in $4.4 billion deal The deal is expected to close in the middle of next year, T-Mobile said.

As the election nears, Biden pushes a slew of rules on the environment and other priorities None - President Joe Biden has unleashed a flurry of election year rules on the environment as he tries to secure his legacy As the election nears, Biden pushes a slew of rules on the environment and other priorities WASHINGTON -- As he tries to secure his legacy, President Joe Biden has unleashed a flurry of election year rules on the environment and other topics, including a landmark regulation that would force coal-fired power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shut down. The limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled electric stations are the Democratic president's most ambitious effort yet to roll back planet-warming pollution from the power sector, the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change. The power plant rule is among more than 60 regulations Biden and his administration finalized last month to meet his policy goals, including a promise to cut carbon emissions that are driving climate change roughly in half by 2030. The regulations, led by the Environmental Protection Agency but involving a host of other federal agencies, are being issued in quick succession as the Biden administration rushes to meet a looming but uncertain deadline to ensure they are not overturned by a new Congress — or a new president. "The Biden administration is in green blitz mode,″ said Lena Moffitt, executive director of the activist group Evergreen Action. The barrage of rules covers more than the environment. With the clock ticking toward Election Day, Biden’s administration has issued or proposed rules on a wide range of issues, from student loan forgiveness and affordable housing to overtime pay, health and compensation for airline passengers who are unreasonably delayed, as he tries to woo voters in his reelection bid against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. In all, federal agencies broke records by publishing 66 significant final rules in April, higher than any month in Biden's presidency, according to George Washington University's Regulatory Studies Center. More than half the rules — 34 — were considered likely to have an economic impact of at least $200 million, the center said. That tally is by far the highest issued by a recent president in a single month, the center said. The next closest was 20 such rules issued by Trump in his final month in office. Biden is not shying away from promoting the rules. For example, he went to Madison, Wisconsin, to promote his actions on student loan relief after the Supreme Court rejected his initial plan. More often, Cabinet officials are being dispatched around the country, often to the swing states, to promote the administration's actions. Policies created by rulemaking are easier to reverse than laws when a new administration takes office, especially with a sharply divided Congress. “There’s no time to start like today,” Biden said on his first day in office as he moved to dismantle the Trump legacy. Over the course of his presidency, Biden has reinstated protections for threatened species that were rolled back by Trump. He also has boosted fuel efficiency standards, reversing the former president. The Education Department's gainful employment rule targets college programs that leave graduates with high debt compared to their expected earnings. And the Department of Housing and Urban Development moved to restore a rule that was designed to eliminate racial disparities in suburbs and thrown out by Trump. It's widely expected that Trump would move to reverse Biden regulations if he were to win in November. The Congressional Review Act allows lawmakers to void new rules after they’re finalized by the executive branch. Congressional Republicans used the once-obscure law more than a dozen times in 2017 to undo actions by former President Barack Obama. Democrats returned the favor four years later, rescinding three Trump administration rules. The law requires votes within 60 legislative days of a rule’s publication in the Federal Register, a shifting deadline that depends on how long Congress is in session. Administration officials say they believe actions taken so far this year will be shielded from the review act in the next Congress, although Republicans oppose nearly all of them and have filed challenges that could lead to a series of votes in the House and Senate over the next few months. Biden is likely to veto any repeal effort that reaches his desk before his term expires. “The rules are safe in this Congress,″ given Democratic control of the Senate and White House, said Michael Gerrard, who teaches environmental law at Columbia Law School. If Republicans take over Congress and the White House next year, ’’all bets are off," Gerrard said. Besides the power plant rule, the EPA also issued separate rules targeting tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks and methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. The Interior Department, meanwhile, restricted new oil and gas leases on 13 million acres of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska and required oil and gas companies to pay more to drill on federal lands and meet stronger requirements to clean up old or abandoned wells. Industry groups and Republicans slammed Biden’s actions as overreach. "This barrage of new EPA rules ignores our nation’s ongoing electric reliability challenges and is the wrong approach at a critical time for our nation’s energy future,″ said Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In addition to climate, the EPA also finalized a long-delayed ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year, and set strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals″ in drinking water. The EPA also required more than 200 chemical plants nationwide to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer, mostly in poor and minority communities already overburdened by industrial pollution. While recently delivered, many of Biden’s actions have been planned since he took office and reinstated or strengthened more than 100 environmental regulations that Trump weakened or eliminated. The rules come two years after Democrats approved a sweeping law aimed at boosting clean energy that is widely hailed as the most significant climate legislation ever enacted. Taken together, Democrats say, the climate law and Biden's executive actions could solidify his standing with climate-oriented voters — including young people who helped put Biden in office four years ago — and help him fend off Trump in a likely rematch in November. “Every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air and drink clean water,'' said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them.'' Along with votes in Congress, the rules likely face legal challenges from industry and Republican-led states, including several lawsuits that have been filed already. "Part of our strategy is to be sure that we understand the current court culture that we’re in, and make sure that every action, every rule, every policy is more durable, as legally sound as possible,” Regan told a conference of environmental journalists last month. Still, looming over all the executive branch actions is the Supreme Court, where a 6-3 conservative majority has increasingly reined in the powers of federal agencies, including the EPA. A landmark 2022 ruling limited EPA's authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming, and a separate ruling weakened regulations protecting millions of acres of wetlands. A case pending before the court could put EPA's air pollution-fighting “good neighbor” plan on hold while legal cases continue. “We are living in challenging times in so many ways, but we at EPA are staying focused on the mission,’′ Regan said at the April conference. “And then we have to really just defend that case in court.'' Rules issued by other agencies also face legal challenges. Republican-led states are challenging the administration's new Title IX rules that provide expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students and new safeguards for victims of sexual assault. They're also suing to overturn a rule requiring background checks on buyers at gun shows and places outside stores. Gerrard, the Columbia law professor, said the threat of executive-branch actions being overturned by Congress or the courts "makes it hard for either side to build up any momentum.'' That uncertainty also makes it harder for the industry to comply, since they are not sure how long the rules will be in effect. Gerrard and other experts said the climate law and the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021 are more durable and will be harder for a future president to unwind. The two laws, combined with executive branch actions, will put the country on a path to meet Biden's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, environmentalists say. The climate law, which includes nearly $400 billion in spending to boost clean energy, will have ripple effects on the economy for years to come, said Christy Goldfuss, executive director of the Natural Resource Defense Council and a former Obama administration official. She pushed back on complaints by industry and Republicans that the power plant rule is a continuation of an Obama-era “war on coal.″ “It’s an attack on pollution,″ she said, adding that fossil fuels such as coal and oil are subject to the Clean Air Act “and need to be cleaned up.″ West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who led the challenge in the 2022 Supreme Court case, said EPA was adhering to what he called Biden's "Green New Deal'' agenda. “Unelected bureaucrats continue their pursuit to legislate rather than rely on elected members of Congress for guidance,” said Morrisey, who is the GOP nominee for governor in the state.

T-Mobile to acquire U.S. Cellular in $4 billion deal None - T-Mobile will gain 4 million customers and hundreds of stores. T-Mobile to acquire U.S. Cellular in $4 billion deal T-Mobile, one of the nation's largest wireless providers, announced on Tuesday that it will acquire most of U.S. Cellular in a $4.4 billion deal. The agreement would grant T-Mobile an additional 4 million customers, hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores and wider reach in rural areas. The move would also expand T-Mobile’s spectrum rights, a valuable federal license that allows firms to transmit mobile signals. The deal is expected to close in the middle of next year, T-Mobile said. “As customers from both companies will get more coverage and more capacity from our combined footprint, our competitors will be forced to keep up -- and even more consumers will benefit,” Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, said in a statement. After the agreement, U.S. Cellular will retain some of its spectrum rights and cellular towers, T-Mobile said. The acquisition will provide customers with a more competitive alternative to the nation’s two largest wireless carriers: AT &T and Verizon, T-Mobile said. “By tapping into the additional capacity and coverage created through the combined spectrum and wireless assets, T-Mobile will spur competition,” T-Mobile said in a statement. T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert speaks during a T-Mobile and SpaceX joint event, Aug. 25, 2022, in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images, FILE For years, T-Mobile has pursued high-profile acquisitions as a means of accelerating growth. In 2012, T-Mobile merged with Metro PCS, increasing T-Mobile’s customer base by roughly one third. In 2020, T-Mobile acquired Sprint in a $26.5 billion deal, which at the time combined the nation’s third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers. “The integrations of MetroPCS in 2013 and Sprint in 2020 have been noted as two of the most successful merger combinations in wireless history that resulted in competition-enhancing shifts benefiting millions of consumers,” T-Mobile said. Customers currently with U.S. Cellular will automatically become customers of T-Mobile once the agreement is finalized, the statement said.

Judge dismisses jury for the day after over 4 hours, with no verdict yet in Trump hush money trial None - Judge dismisses jury for the day after over 4 hours, with no verdict yet in Trump hush money trial Andrew Weissmann, MSNBC Legal Analyst and Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News Correspondent join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with the jury being dismissed for the day after over four hours of deliberation in the historic first criminal trial of an ex-president has been sent away to deliberate the fate of Donald Trump in the hush money trial. May 29, 2024

Jury in Trump’s hush money trial begins deliberations None - The jury in former President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial began deliberating after 80 hours of witness testimony over six weeks. NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports on the judge’s instructions and what to expect if the jury cannot reach a decision.May 29, 2024

Black men who were asked to leave a flight sue American Airlines, claiming racial discrimination None - Three Black men are suing American Airlines, claiming they were discriminated against when ordered to leave a plane in January NEW YORK -- Black passengers who were briefly ordered off an American Airlines plane in January sued the airline Wednesday, alleging that they were victims of racial discrimination. Three of the men filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York. They said they were told to leave a plane waiting to take off in Phoenix and noticed five other black men who also had been ordered off the flight. The three, who did not know each other and had been sitting in different parts of the plane, said an airline employee told them they were removed because a flight attendant had complained about a passenger's body odor. The men said they responded that it appeared they were targeted for removal solely because of their race. American offered to rebook them, but when it became clear after about an hour that there were no other available flights to New York that evening, they were allowed to reboard the plane, according to the lawsuit filed by Public Citizen, a consumer-advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader. "If American Airlines received a complaint about a Black male passenger with offensive body odor but could not verify the complaint, the solution should not have been to eject eight separate Black men from the plane,” Susan Huhta, an employment law attorney in Washington, D.C., who is representing the three men, said. American said it was looking into the claims. “We take all claims of discrimination very seriously and want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us,” the airline said in a statement. “Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.” In 2017, the NAACP warned Black travelers about flying on American, claiming that several African American passengers had experienced discrimination by the airline. American promised changes, and the civil-rights group later lifted the advisory.

Egypt and China deepen cooperation during el-Sissi's visit to Beijing None - Egypt and China have signed agreements deepening their cooperation during President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s visit to Beijing Egypt and China deepen cooperation during el-Sissi's visit to Beijing CAIRO -- Egypt and China on Wednesday signed agreements deepening their cooperation during President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's visit to Beijing. El-Sissi, accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, witnessed the signing together with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a ceremony that coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian delegation discussed bilateral relations and bringing stability to the Middle East in light of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency. It gave no details. The agreements include collaboration in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which brings Chinese companies to build Chinese-funded transportation, energy, and infrastructure projects overseas. China invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state projects, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the new Administrative Capital east of Cairo. Investments between Egypt and China amounted to around $14 billion in 2023, compared to $16.6 billion in 2022, according to the latest data released by Egypt’s statistics agency.

Stock market today: Wall Street wilts to trim its May gains as Dow drops 400 points None - U.S. stocks fell under the weight of higher yields in the bond market NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks sank under the weight of higher yields in the bond market on Wednesday. The S & P 500 dipped 39.09 points, or 0.7%, to 5,266.95 and fell further from its record set last week. It trimmed its gain for May, which had been on track to be its best month since November, as four out of every five stocks in the index dropped. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 411.32, or 1.1%, to 38,441.54, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 99.30, or 0.6%, to 16,920.58 after setting its latest all-time high. American Airlines Group led a slump for airline stocks after cutting its forecast for profit and other financial targets for the spring. The carrier said fuel costs may be a bit lower than previously thought, but an important revenue trend would likely be as well. Shares fell 13.5%. ConocoPhillips fell 3.1% after it said it would buy Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valuing the company at $22.5 billion, including $5.4 billion of net debt. It’s the latest big deal for an industry that’s seen several buyout announcements recently. Marathon Oil rose 8.4%. Advance Auto Parts sank 11% after its results and revenue for the latest quarter came up just shy of analysts’ expectations. The retailer said the industry has had a slower start to the year than expected. Another climb in longer-term Treasury yields also weighed on the stock market, and the 10-year yield rose to 4.61% from 4.54% late Tuesday following an auction of $44 billion in seven-year Treasurys. Worries have been rising that meh demand from buyers for Treasurys in such auctions will help drive yields higher. The 10-year yield is still down for the month, but it’s been creeping higher since dropping below 4.40% in the middle of May. Higher Treasury yields hurt prices for all kinds of investments. This month’s swings in yields have also come as traders recalibrate their expectations for when the Federal Reserve could begin cutting its main interest rate, which is at its highest level in more than two decades. Wall Street always yearns for cuts to rates because they can boost prices for investments and remove downward pressure on the economy. But traders have had to delay their too-optimistic forecasts for rate cuts several times this year because inflation has remained stubbornly high. The Fed is trying to pull off the balancing act of grinding down on the economy just enough through high interest rates to get inflation fully under control, but not so much that it leads to widespread layoffs. A report from the Fed released Wednesday said that it’s heard from businesses and other contacts around the country that consumers are pushing back against more increases to prices. That in turn is eating into companies’ profits as their own costs for insurance and other expenses continue to rise. Despite worries about cracks showing in spending by U.S. consumers, particularly those making lower incomes, economists at BNP Paribas expect a healthy job market, slowing inflation and even gains made by some investors in cryptocurrencies to help support the main engine of the economy. “The US consumer has defied the gravity of high interest rates and inflation,” as well as jitters about an uncertain economy, according to Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior U.S. economist at BNP Paribas. U.S. stocks have been continuing to set records despite worries about interest rates staying high in part because stocks related to artificial-intelligence technology keep rising. Nvidia’s latest blowout profit report helped drive the frenzy even higher. After briefly dipping in morning trading, it rose 0.8% Thursday for its most modest gain since its profit report.. On the winning side of Wall Street was Dick’s Sporting Goods, which jumped 15.9% after topping analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. The retailer also raised its forecast for profit over the full year. Chewy, an online seller of pet supplies, likewise reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected, and its stock jumped 27.1%. The company plans to return up to $500 million to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mostly lower across Asia and Europe. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.8%, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.7% and France’s CAC 40 fell 1.5%. Stocks in Shanghai were roughly flat after the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for China’s economic outlook, saying it expects the No. 2 economy to grow at a 5% annual pace this year. But it also warned that consumer-friendly reforms are needed to sustain strong, high-quality growth. ___ AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.

ConocoPhillips to acquire Marathon Oil in a deal worth $22.5 billion, including debt None - Father and son drown as dad tries to rescue him

Edmunds: The best used vehicles for young drivers under $20,000 None - Safety is critically important when choosing a vehicle for a younger driver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. There are many reasons for that statistic, ranging from inexperience and distraction to risky behaviors such as speeding or alcohol use. But the bottom line is that many parents want to mitigate risk as much as possible when selecting a vehicle for their first-time drivers. Yet budget is also a factor; teen drivers often end up with a hand-me-down vehicle or a used vehicle. To help you decide on what might be best for a young driver in your family, Edmunds’ car experts turned to crash test ratings published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. We identified two cars, two SUVs, and one pickup truck that earn favorable IIHS ratings and can potentially be purchased for less than $20,000 and have less than 75,000 miles on them. We also took into account Edmunds reviews that evaluate qualities such as comfort, fuel economy and technology features. These are the five vehicles we would consider for the kids in our lives, listed in alphabetical order. Finding used pickups priced under $20,000 and with less than 75,000 miles is a challenge, but many Chevrolet Colorados meet those criteria. Drivers of 2015-2021 Colorado extended-cab and crew-cab models fare adequately or better in collisions, according to IIHS testing. The Colorado lacks some now-common driver assist features, such as blind-spot warning, but newer years include Teen Driver, a feature that allows parents to monitor how young drivers use the truck. Compact cars typically offer young drivers a low price and good gas mileage. You can also add high crash test scores into the mix for the Mazda 3. Mazda redesigned the 3 hatchback and sedan in 2014 and again in 2019. The newer models offer more driver assist features, available all-wheel drive for snowy weather, and a more modern infotainment system. Every Mazda 3 from this period earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and, for around $20,000, you can find examples just a couple of years old. Among larger cars, a used Mazda 6 sedan built between 2014 and 2021, when the model was discontinued, is a smart pick. This stylish midsize car offers room for up to five people and a good blend of power and efficiency with the standard four-cylinder engine. Upgrade to the turbocharged model for improved performance but prepare to spend more at the gas pump. All Mazda 6 sedans during this period received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Starting in 2016, the car also offered improved protection for the driver in certain types of collisions. Small SUVs are extremely popular with consumers. When choosing a used one under $20,000 for a young driver, Edmunds thinks a 2014 to 2021 Mazda CX-5 is a great choice. In addition to earning the highest Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS in each of these model years, the CX-5 sits high off the road for good visibility and boasts tidy dimensions, making it easy to park. All-wheel drive is available, and the four-cylinder engine offers a good compromise of efficiency and acceleration. Mazda redesigned the CX-5 in 2017, adding more standard driver assist features. A used Subaru Outback could be a good choice for a young driver who enjoys a lot of outdoor activities. In each of those model years, the Outback earned the highest Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The Outback also comes with standard all-wheel drive and generous ground clearance to help out with access to trails or campsites. If you steer clear of the six-cylinder and turbocharged engine options, this Subaru gets decent gas mileage. Buy a low-mileage example for your kid and an Outback could serve them well for years to come. The models listed above are good starting points. By adjusting your budget, accepting higher mileage, or drilling down to a specific model and year, you may discover more suitable choices. We also recommend continuing to prioritize crash test ratings when conducting your own research. ____________ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Christian Wardlaw is a contributor at Edmunds.

Mining giant BHP pledges to invest in South Africa economy as it seeks support for Anglo bid None - Australian mining giant BHP Group has pledged to invest in South Africa's economy as it seeks support for a 38.6 billion pound ($49.3 billion) bid to acquire Anglo American, which was founded in the country more than a century ago and remains one of it... LONDON -- Australian mining giant BHP Group on Wednesday pledged to invest in South Africa's economy as it seeks support for a 38.6 billion pound ($49.3 billion) bid to acquire Anglo American, which was founded in the country more than a century ago and remains one of its biggest employers. London-based Anglo American last week rejected BHP’s latest offer, raising concerns about its complex structure. The proposed deal would require Anglo American to spin off two South African units, Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore, as BHP seeks to focus on copper and other products expected to benefit from a transition to green energy. BHP on Wednesday said the South African government and economy would benefit from Anglo Platinum and Kumba Iron becoming independent companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It also made a series of commitments to invest in South Africa and support charitable projects in the country. “BHP believes that its proposal will contribute to South Africa and allow the benefits of South African mining to be shared with more South African stakeholders,'' the company said in a statement. The latest chapter in the takeover battle came as South Africans went to the polls in the country’s most important election since the end of white minority rule 30 years ago. High unemployment, lingering inequality and poverty affecting the Black majority are key issues in an election that could see the governing African National Congress lose its parliamentary majority for the first time. BHP said it would maintain current employment levels at Anglo American’s Johannesburg office and keep funding the company’s charitable commitments in South Africa if the takeover goes ahead. The company also promised to list its own shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and establish a mining center of excellence to support research and development and promote the country’s mining industry.

Sweden to donate $1.23 billion in military aid to Ukraine None - Sweden will give $1.23 billion in military aid to Ukraine, in its largest donation so far COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- The Swedish government said Wednesday that it will donate 13 billion kronor ($1.23 billion) in military aid to Ukraine, in the largest package of assistance Sweden has so far donated. “It consists of equipment that is at the top of Ukraine’s priority list,” Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said. It includes air defense, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonsson reiterated that the country has ruled out for now sending any Swedish-built JAS 39 Gripen jets to Ukraine, saying the focus on the Ukrainian side is on implementing a F-16 fighter jet program. Several countries have said they want to donate F-16s. On Tuesday, Belgium pledged 30 F-16 jets to Ukraine. Jonsson said Sweden “is still working on possibly being able to contribute with the Gripen system later.” The donation also includes two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne early warning and control airplanes, which Jonsson said would have the “greatest effect on the Ukrainian air defense” because it would complement and reinforce the promised donations of American F-16 fighter jets. “You can identify incoming cruise missiles, you can identify drones and identify targets both on land and at sea,” he said. “The overall assessment is that a donation of the ASCC 890 radar reconnaissance and command aircraft would be the most impactful for the Ukrainian Air Force right now,” Jonsson added. The donation of the two airborne early warning and control airplanes means “a temporary decline in the Swedish defense capability,” Jonsson said. “These are the two aircraft that we have in Sweden. We therefore also take a deliberate and calculated risk,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. “I think it is an incredibly strong contribution.” The donation also includes a missile system that can be used both on aircraft and in ground-based air defense systems, he said. It will be donated to Ukraine through cooperation with the United States, Jonsson said. The support package is the 16th from Sweden since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Donald Trump found guilty in historic New York hush money case None - A New York jury on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records — the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime. The jury reached its verdict in the historic case after 9.5 hours of deliberations, which began Wednesday. He'll be sentenced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention. He faces penalties ranging from a fine to four years in prison on each count, although it's expected he would be sentenced for the offenses concurrently, and not consecutively. Follow live updates here. "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” he fumed to reporters afterward. The verdict was read in the Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial since April 15. He had pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. Trump looked down with his eyes narrowed as the jury foreperson read the word "guilty" to each count. The conviction comes as Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president. The judge thanked the jurors for their service in the weeks-long trial. “You gave this matter the attention it deserved, and I want to thank you for that,” Judge Juan Merchan told them. Trump appeared to be scowling at the jurors as they walked by him on their way out of the courtroom. Trump's attorney Todd Blanche made a motion for acquittal after the jury left the room, which the judge denied. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury in his closing arguments earlier this week that “the law is the law and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant.” “You, the jury, have the ability to hold the defendant accountable,” Steinglass said. Trump had maintained the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office had no case and that there had been no crime. “President Trump is innocent. He did not commit any crimes,” Blanche said in his closing statement, arguing the payments to Cohen were legitimate. Prosecutors said the disguised payment to Cohen was part of a “planned, coordinated long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election, to help Donald Trump get elected through illegal expenditures, to silence people who had something bad to say about his behavior, using doctored corporate records and bank forms to conceal those payments along the way.” “It was election fraud. Pure and simple,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said in his opening statement. While Trump was not charged with conspiracy, prosecutors argued he caused the records to be falsified because he was trying to cover up a violation of state election law- and falsifying business records with the intent to cover another crime raises the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. The verdict came after a sensational weeks-long trial that included combative testimony from Cohen, Trump’s self-described former fixer, and Daniels, who testified that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament. Trump has denied her claim, and his attorney had suggested that Cohen acted on his own because he thought it would make “the boss” happy. Other witnesses included former White House staffers including advisor Hope Hicks, former Trump Organization executives, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Trump did not take the witness stand to offer his own account of what happened, despite proclaiming before the trial began that he would “absolutely” testify. The defense’s main witness was Robert Costello, a lawyer who Cohen considered retaining in 2018. Costello, who testified that Cohen had told him Trump had nothing to do with the Daniels’ payment, enraged Merchan by making disrespectful comments and faces on the stand. At one point, the judge cleared the courtroom during Costello’s testimony and threatened to hold him in contempt. Cohen testified that he lied to Costello because he didn’t trust him and that he’d lied to others about Trump’s involvement at the time because he wanted to protect his former boss. Cohen was the lone witness to testify to Trump’s direct involvement in the $130,000 payment and the subsequent reimbursement plan. Blanche spent days challenging his credibility, getting Cohen to acknowledge he has a history of lying, including under oath. Blanche also got Cohen to acknowledge he swindled Trump and his company out of $30,000 by falsely claiming he’d paid $50,000 to a technology company on Trump’s behalf when in actuality he’d paid the company closer to $20,000. Cohen said he was paid that money along with the Daniels’ cash in a series of payments from Trump throughout 2017 that the Trump Organization characterized as payments pursuant to a retainer agreement “for legal services rendered.” Prosecutors said there was no such agreement, and Cohen’s version of events was supported by some documentary evidence and witness testimony. Pecker testified about a 2015 meeting with Trump and Cohen where they asked him to be their “eyes and ears” for scandalous stories that could harm Trump’s campaign, and he said he helped the pair quash two such stories. One involved a doorman who falsely claimed to have information about a Trump love child and the other concerned a former Playboy model named Karen McDougal, who claimed she’d had a months-long affair with Trump that started in 2006. Trump has denied McDougal’s claim, but Pecker said he believed it in part because Trump had described her to him as a “nice girl.” Pecker’s company paid the doorman $30,000 and McDougal $150,000 for their silence. Pecker said he’d been told Trump would pay the $150,000 back, and Cohen secretly taped Trump talking about the planned payment, which never happened. The AMI executive testified he also helped alert Cohen to Daniels’ story in October 2016, when Trump’s campaign was reeling from the release of the so-called “Access Hollywood” tape, where Trump can be heard bragging about being able to grope women because he’s famous. Blanche insisted to the jury that the series of checks then-President Trump paid Cohen in 2017 “was not a payback to Mr. Cohen for the money that he gave to Ms. Daniels,” and that he was being paid for his legal work as Trump’s personal lawyer. That position was challenged by testimony from Jeff McConney, a former senior vice president at Trump’s company. McConney said he’d been told by the company’s chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg that Cohen was being reimbursed for a $130,000 payment and the $50,000 payment, and prosecutors entered Weisselberg’s handwritten notes on the payment formula as evidence. Cohen said Trump agreed to the arrangement in a meeting with him and Weisselberg just days before he was inaugurated as the 45th U.S. president. Weisselberg did not testify. He’s in jail on a perjury charge related to his testimony in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil fraud case against Trump and his company. Cohen, McConney and other witnesses said Weisselberg, who spent decades working for Trump, always sought his approval for large expenditures. In all, the prosecution called 20 witnesses in the case, while the defense called two. Trump had frequently claimed, falsely, that the charges against him were a political concoction orchestrated by President Joe Biden to keep the former president off the campaign trail. But Trump eventually managed to bring the campaign to the courtroom, hosting top Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sens. JD Vance of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida as his guests in court. Trump also used court breaks to tout political messages to his supporters, while his surrogates sidestepped Merchan’s gag order against Trump by attacking witnesses, individual prosecutors and the judge’s daughter. Merchan fined Trump $10,000 during the trial for violating his order, including with attacks on Cohen and Daniels, and warned he could have him locked up if he continued violating the order. Trump was indicted in March of last year following a years-long investigation by Bragg and his predecessor, Cyrus Vance. The charges were the first ever brought against a former president, although Trump has since been charged and pleaded not guilty in three other cases. None of the three — a federal election interference case in Washington, D.C., a state election interference case in Georgia and a federal case alleging he mishandled classified documents and national security information — appear likely to go to trial before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail None - A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and then bolted when the bill came is now paying the price A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail LONDON -- A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price — behind bars. Bernard and Ann McDonagh were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for fraud after running up tabs they didn't pay for, including three-course meals, the finest cuts of meat and double portions of dessert. Judge Paul Thomas said in Swansea Crown Court that their dine and dash spree was driven by “pure and utter greed.” “You were not going to these places to feed you and your family, it was criminality for criminality’s sake — to see if you could get away with it,” he said. “I have no doubt, apart from the greed element, you had got a buzz out of what you were able to get away with.” Even worse, the judge said, they were “ruthlessly exploitative" in using their children in the ploy. When a bank card was declined for lack of funds, they would leave at least one of six children behind at the table while they ostensibly went to retrieve money from a cash machine. They never returned to pay up and the children would eventually flee to a waiting vehicle. The couple, who covered their faces as they hustled into court, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud. They stiffed four restaurants and a Chinese takeout business of nearly 1,170 pounds ($1,485) in crimes that dated back to last fall, a prosecutor said. The two, who have several previous convictions and used more than 40 aliases, got caught after restaurants posted images of them on social media. Ann McDonagh, 39, who also admitted four counts of shoplifting, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. She also admitted obstructing a constable when she lied that she was nine months pregnant to get out of jail after being arrested. She was not expecting a child at the time. Her attorney, Andrew Evans, said she was grieving deaths in the family, though he didn't elaborate. He said she may have carried out the crimes to “make herself feel better.” Bernard McDonagh, 41, was sentenced to eight months behind bars. Defense lawyer Giles Hayes said the husband was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed” and had brought the money to court to reimburse the restaurants.