Officials: Musk seeks US funds for Ukraine satellite network

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has gotten a request from SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to take over funding for his satellite network that has provided crucial battlefield communications for Ukrainian military forces since almost the beginning of its war with Russia, U.S. officials said Friday.

N. Korea fires missile, artillery shells, inflaming tensions

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired a ballistic missile and hundreds of artillery shells toward the sea Friday and flew warplanes near the tense border with South Korea, further raising animosities triggered by the North’s recent barrage of weapons tests.

Putin calls his actions in Ukraine ‘correct and timely’

KYIV, UKRAINE — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he expects his mobilization of army reservists for combat in Ukraine to be completed in about two weeks, allowing him to end an unpopular and chaotic call-up meant to counter Ukrainian battlefield gains and solidify his illegal annexation of occupied territory.

US sending $725 million more in military aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will send Ukraine a new $725 million package of weapons and other military assistance, the White House said Friday, as the U.S. added to a flurry of aid announcements from European allies this week.

Happy Camper for Friday, October 14, 2022

Congratulations to the Kaua‘i Grown 8-and-under baseball team on going through unscathed at the Mililani High School (Mayor Derek Kawakami said he attended here at one time) 8U Pinto Baseball Tournament on O‘ahu! Kudos, too, to the Mililani Trojans for hosting the tournament for the aspiring baseball players and coaches instead of waiting for someone to invite them!

Jan. 6 takeaways: Subpoena for Trump, warnings for democracy

WASHINGTON — The House Jan. 6 committee took the extraordinary action of subpoenaing former President Donald Trump on Thursday as it issued a stark warning in its final public hearing before the midterm election: The future of the nation’s democracy is at stake.

NY seeks court oversight after Trump Org.’s concerning moves

NEW YORK — New York’s attorney general has asked a judge to bar Donald Trump’s company from selling or transferring assets without court approval, saying it had engaged in a devious attempt to duck potential penalties in her fraud lawsuit against the former president.

8.7% hike to Social Security checks won’t cut it, some fear

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a year when inflation has made Americans’ eyes pop when they fill up their gas or walk down aisles at the grocery store, many Social Security recipients worry whether the biggest cost-of-living increase in four decades will be enough to cover their needs.

$1B judgment against Alex Jones not the final word

WATERBURY, Conn. — The nearly $1 billion judgment against Alex Jones for spreading false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre brought long-sought relief to family members and hopes the eye-popping figure would deter others from broadcasting falsehoods.

Parkland school shooter spared from execution for killing 17

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A divided jury spared Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz the death penalty Thursday for killing 17 people at a Parkland high school in 2018, sending him to prison for the rest of his life in a decision that left many families of the victims angered, baffled and in tears.

NATO chief warns Russia not to cross ‘very important line’

BRUSSELS — Russian President Vladimir Putin would be crossing a “very important line” if he were to order the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday, as both the military alliance and Russia are due to hold nuclear exercises in the next few days.

Ukraine gets more air defense pledges as Russia hits cities

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s allies vowed Thursday to supply the besieged nation with advanced air defense systems as Russian forces attacked the Kyiv region with kamikaze drones and fired missiles elsewhere at civilian targets, payback for the bombing of a strategic bridge linking Russia with annexed Crimea.

N. Korea fires another missile, flies warplanes near border

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea early Friday launched a short-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters and flew warplanes near the border with South Korea, further raising animosities triggered by the North’s recent barrage of weapons tests.