by Anne M. Peterson AUCKLAND, New Zealand  — In the words of Vietnam’s coach, facing the U.S. national team in the Women’s World Cup is a daunting quest, something “like a mountain,” said Mai Duc Chung. Vietnam makes its World Cup debut Saturday against the United States, the heavy favorites to win the tournament for an unprecedented third time. The Americans enter Saturday’s gamein Auckland at Eden Park with the same confidence it carried through its last two World Cup-winning runs. “The U.S. is a very, very strong team. It is like a mountain. But it doesn’t mean that we will give up,”…

by Will Weissert WASHINGTON  — President Joe Biden is staking his reelection bid on the political and financial muscle of the Democratic National Committee. As it prepares for a bruising 2024 contest, his campaign plans to raise and spend around $2 billion. But it will do so in coordination with the national and state Democratic parties, in an effort to establish a coordinated campaign around the country. The idea is to bolster field, volunteer and data organizations, and ensure they work jointly to promote Biden and down-ballot Democratic candidates. “The president is really rewriting the playbook when it comes to what a reelection campaign looks…

by Taiwo Adebayo ABUJA, Nigeria  — Abubakar Salisu was terrified when he discovered arid sand in the middle of his farmland, rendering a broad strip unfit for crops. Now, extreme heat is killing his wheat before it is ready for cultivation. Wheat normally requires heat, but in the last three years, farmers in Nigeria’s far north, part of Africa’s Sahel region that largely produces the country’s homegrown food, have seen an “alarming” increase in heat — much more than required, said Salisu, a local leader of wheat farmers in Kaita, Katsina State. Plus, rain is irregular. “The unpredictable rain pattern is affecting…

by Rio Yamat, Jonathan Laudanum Jr. and Maria Sherman LAS VEGAS  — Authorities in Nevada served a search warrant this week in connection with the long-unsolved killing of rapper Tupac Shakur nearly 30 years ago, they confirmed Tuesday. Shakur, one of the most prolific figures in hip-hop, was killed on the night of Sept. 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He was 25. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the search warrant was executed Monday in the nearby city of Henderson. It’s unclear what they were looking for and where they were looking. Department spokesperson Aden OcampoGomez said…

by Tim Reynolds FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi walked out from behind a curtain, took a few steps along a rain-slicked runaway set up over the field at Inter Miami’s stadium and headed toward David Beckham for a big hug. His journey was complete. Inter Miami’s wait was over. At long last, Messi has arrived. Inter Miami — after years of plotting, pleading and hoping — introduced arguably the game’s biggest star on Sunday night, presenting their new franchise player with his pink No. 10 jersey that millions of people will be buying over the coming weeks and months.…

by Corey Williams DETROIT  — Mike Berent has spent more than 27 years rushing into burning houses in Detroit, pulling people to safety and ensuring his fellow firefighters get out alive. But as the 52-year-old Detroit Fire Department lieutenant approaches mandatory retirement at age 60, he says one thing is clear: He will need to keep working to make ends meet. “I’m trying to put as much money away as a I can,” said Berent, who also works in sales. “A second job affords you to have a little bit of extra.” Thousands of city employees and retirees lost big…

by Emeka ObasiCameroonians love music as much as they play soccer. The land of Manu Dibango produced the music that was adopted by Shaqira at the South Africa 2010 Mundial. Ginger Forcha and Wrinkar Experience are not left out.Forcha and fellow countryman, Edjo’o Jacques Racine, formed the pop group, Wrinkar Experience, with Best Eshalomi. Dan Ian joined later. The name was coined from Maryanne Wirnkar, a Cameroonian friend. When the group released ‘ Fuel for Love’ in 1971, it became an instant hit.Wrinkar Experience broke up, regrouped as New Wrinkar Experience, changed to Rock Town Express in 1974 and released…

by Anne D’Innocenzio and Janie Har SAN FRANCISCO  — Jack Mogannam, manager of Sam’s Cable Car Lounge in downtown San Francisco, relishes the days when his bar stayed open past midnight every night, welcoming crowds that jostled on the streets, bar hopped, window browsed or just took in the night air. He’s had to drastically curtail those hours because of diminished foot traffic, and business is down 30%. A sign outside the lounge pleads: “We need your support!” “I’d stand outside my bar at 10 p.m. and look, it would be like a party on the street,” Mogannam said. “Now…

by Todd Richmond and Kathleen Foody CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago. Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization’s annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words from other Black activists and politicians, and a video montage of Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Jackson, who has dealt with several health problems in recent years and uses a wheelchair, capped the proceedings with muted remarks.…

by Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — The House passed a sweeping defense bill Friday that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care that deeply divided the chamber. Democrats voted against the package, which had sailed out of the House Armed Services Committee on an almost unanimous vote weeks ago before being loaded with the GOP priorities during a heated late-night floor debate this week. The final vote was 219-210, with four Democrats siding with the GOP and four…