U.S./World category, Page 319
Wales’ first Black leader is a testament to Britain’s political diversity, but racism persists
LONDON — Vaughan Gething’s election as the next leader of Wales marks a milestone: For the first time, none of the U.K.’s four main governments is led by a white man. It’s a striking moment in a country still grappling with racism and the legacy of empire. Prime Minister Rishi...
Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, saying the pressure won’t stop Israel from achieving “total victory.” In recent days, top officials from the U.S., Israel’s staunchest ally which has...
European Union announces an $8 billion aid package for Egypt as concerns mount over migration
CAIRO — The European Union on Sunday announced a 7.4 billion-euro ($8 billion) aid package for cash-strapped Egypt as concerns mount that economic pressure and conflicts in neighboring countries could drive more migrants to European shores. The deal, which drew criticism from rights groups over Egypt’s human rights record, is...
Mega Millions jackpot soars to $875 million. Powerball reaches $600 million
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — If you’re feeling some St. Patrick’s Day magic, you might want to buy a lottery ticket. Mega Millions and Powerball have racked up some massive jackpots after weeks of rollovers. The Mega Millions jackpot is already estimated at a whopping $875 million for Tuesday night’s drawing...
Bernie Sanders wants the U.S. to adopt a 32-hour workweek. Could workers and companies benefit?
The 40-hour workweek has been standard in the U.S. for more than eight decades. Now some members of Congress want to give hourly workers an extra day off. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the far-left independent from Vermont, this week introduced a bill that would shorten to 32 hours the amount of...
From clovers to some unexpected history, all you need to know about St. Patrick’s Day
NEW YORK (AP) — If it’s March, and it’s green, it must be St. Patrick’s Day. The day honoring the patron saint of Ireland is a global celebration of Irish heritage. And nowhere is that more so than in the United States, where parades take place in cities around the...
TikTok creators warn of economic impact if app sees ban, call it a vital space for the marginalized
Alex Pearlman shut the door on dreams of a standup comedy career almost a decade ago, pivoting from the stage to an office cubicle where he worked a customer service job. Then he started posting random jokes and commentary about pop culture and politics on TikTok. Just over 2.5 million...
Hunger soars and aid dwindles as gangs in Haiti suffocate the country
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A crowd of about 100 people tried to shove through a metal gate in Haiti’s capital as a guard with a baton pushed them back, threatening to hit them. Undeterred, children and adults alike, some of them carrying babies, kept elbowing each other trying to enter. “Let...
With Navalny dead, his allies keep fighting to undermine Putin’s grip on power
TALLINN, Estonia — Alexei Navalny’s team is used to working independently. The most potent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin was frequently absent for long stretches after being arrested, assaulted, poisoned, or imprisoned. But when Navalny died suddenly in February at age 47 in a remote Arctic prison, his team...
Cease-fire talks with Israel and Hamas are expected to resume Sunday in Qatar
CAIRO — Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since...
Home sellers cut list prices as spring buying season starts with higher mortgage rates
LOS ANGELES — More homeowners eager to sell their home are lowering their initial asking price in a bid to entice prospective buyers as the spring homebuying season gets going. Some 14.6% of U.S. homes listed for sale last month had their price lowered, according to Realtor.com. That’s up from...
Judge delays Trump’s hush-money criminal trial until mid-April, citing last-minute evidence dump
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s New York hush-money criminal trial was delayed Friday until at least mid-April as the judge seeks answers about a last-minute evidence dump the former president’s lawyers said has hampered their ability to prepare their defense. Manhattan Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to a 30-day delay...
Rep. Matt Gaetz subpoenaed in lawsuit regarding Joel Greenberg sex scandal
ORLANDO, Fla. — Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz must testify under oath as part of a civil lawsuit that involves his past friendship with disgraced Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg and allegations Gaetz had sex with a teenage girl. A subpoena was issued to Gaetz on Thursday by attorneys representing...
Authorities seize ailing alligator in New York home’s swimming pool
HAMBURG, N.Y. — An ailing alligator was seized from an upstate New York home where it was being kept illegally, state officials said. Environmental conservation police officers seized the 750-pound, 11-foot-long alligator Wednesday from a home in Hamburg, south of Buffalo. The home’s owner built an addition and installed an...
Russian missiles kill at least 14 people in the latest strike on southern Ukraine’s Odesa
KYIV, Ukraine — First responders who arrived at the scene of a Russian missile attack on homes in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Friday were themselves struck by a second missile, officials said. A paramedic and an emergency service worker were among the 14 people killed. Officials said...
Pope acknowledges criticism, health issues but says in his new memoir he has no plans to retire
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis says he has no plans to resign and isn’t suffering from any health problems that would require doing so, saying in a new memoir he still has “many projects to bring to fruition.” Francis, 87, made the comments in an autobiography, “Life: My Story Through...
Russians are voting in an election that holds little suspense after Putin crushed dissent
Russia began three days of voting Friday in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule by six more years after he stifled dissent. The election takes place against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and prominent rights groups...
1st ship to use a new sea route approaches Gaza with 200 tons of aid
WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip — A ship carrying 200 tons of aid approached the coast of Gaza on Friday in a mission to inaugurate a sea route from Cyprus that was intended to bring more assistance to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave five months into the war between...
McDonald’s system outages have been reported worldwide; chain says they’re getting fixed
LONDON — System failures at McDonald’s were reported worldwide Friday, shuttering some restaurants for hours and leading to social media complaints from customers, in what the fast food chain called a “technology outage” that was being fixed. Chicago-based McDonald’s Corp. said the problems were not related to a cybersecurity issue....
Damaging tornadoes move through Midwest, as officials in Indiana try to confirm deathsVideo
MADISON, Ind. — Authorities in Indiana said they were working to confirm reports of fatalities from a tornado that was part of storm system that also unleashed suspected twisters in parts of Ohio and Kentucky on Thursday, damaging homes and businesses. Storm damage in Indiana was reported in the east...
Colorado snow storm knocks out power for thousands even as I-70 reopensVideo
DENVER — A major storm dumped heavy snow in Colorado on Thursday — forcing flight cancellations and shutting down a highway that connects Denver to Colorado ski resorts for much of the day, stranding some people in their cars for hours. The storm comes as other parts of the country...
James Crumbley, who bought gun used by son to kill 4 students, guilty of manslaughter in MichiganVideo
PONTIAC, Mich. — The father of a Michigan school shooter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Thursday, a second conviction against the teen’s parents who were accused of failing to secure a gun at home and doing nothing to address acute signs of his mental turmoil. The jury verdict means...
Judge rejects bid by Donald Trump to throw out classified documents case on constitutional grounds
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out out his classified documents criminal case, and appeared skeptical during hours of arguments of a separate effort to scuttle the prosecution ahead of trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a two-page...
U.S. opens 1st large offshore wind farm, with more to come
America’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm is officially open, a long-awaited moment that helps pave the way for a succession of large wind farms. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and the utility Eversource built a 12-turbine wind farm called South Fork Wind 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York....
Nigerian leader rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s leader has ruled out the payment of ransoms for nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted from their school in the conflict-hit north a week ago, raising questions from analysts on Thursday about how best to rescue the children without hurting them. Meanwhile, at least two people with extensive...
