Jill Biden is holding a special White House dinner to recognize more than 50 of the best teachers in America. The 2024 National Teacher of the Year and the 2024 State Teachers of the Year are expected to attend Thursday's dinner. The teachers are chosen by an independent organization and typically are recognized at an annual White House ceremony. But Jill Biden, who is a career community college English professor, decided to put a new twist on the annual appearance. The first lady says hosting the teachers at the White House every year is one of her favorite events.

At least 200 people were arrested overnight at UCLA, bringing the nationwide total of arrests to more than 2,000 at dozens of college campuses since police cleared an encampment at Columbia University in mid-April. That's according to a tally by The Associated Press. Demonstrations — and arrests — have occurred in almost every corner of the nation. But in the last 24 hours, they’ve drawn the most attention at the University of California, Los Angeles, where chaotic scenes played out early Thursday as officers in riot gear surged against a crowd of demonstrators.

Lawyer Keith Davidson has returned to the witness stand in Donald Trump's hush money trial following a contempt hearing over whether Trump has again violated his gag order. The judge did not immediately rule Thursday on four more alleged violations of the mandate barring Trump from speaking publicly about witnesses and others in the case. Prosecutors say Trump and his associates orchestrated a scheme to buy and bury stories that might hurt his 2016 campaign. He is accused of falsifying internal business records to hide the true nature of those payments. Trump has pleaded not guilty. The trial is in its 10th day — and could last another month or more.

Cambodia's Defense Ministry says a huge explosion at a military base in the southwest that killed 20 soldiers and injured many others was an accident caused by a “technical issue” from the old and degraded ammunition that was being moved. The army already said on Tuesday that Saturday’s blast was believed to have been an accident caused by mishandling of ammunition by troops. The Defense Ministry’s followed an allegation leveled by an opposition politician-in-exile suggesting that the explosion had been an attack. It also warned anyone publishing “untrue information” about the blast could face prosecution.

A haunting new video released in the early morning hours is the latest effort by the Army to lure soldiers to some of its more secretive units. Hints of its origin are tucked into the frames as they flash by touting the power of words, ideas and “invisible hands.” Army Special Operations Command hopes that those drawn to the video may be interested in joining as one of its psychological warfare soldiers. The release of the Ghost in the Machine 2 video comes two years after the first one which generated a firestorm of online chatter.