Blinken: Ukraine cease-fire would legitimize Russian invasion
KYIV, Ukraine — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the United States and its allies should not support a cease-fire or peace talks to end the war in Ukraine until Kyiv gains strength and can negotiate on its own terms.
U.S., allies clash with Russia, China over spy satellite launch
UNITED NATIONS — The United States and its allies clashed with Russia and China on Friday over North Korea’s failed launch of a military spy satellite this week in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, which Moscow and Beijing refused to condemn.
Austin: D.C. won’t stand for China ‘coercion and bullying’
SINGAPORE — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict.
U.N. calls for immediate cease-fire in Sudan
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council called Friday for an immediate cease-fire in Sudan to be followed by a permanent halt to hostilities and fresh efforts to reach a lasting democratic political settlement in the conflict-wracked country.
India train crash kills over 280, hurts 900
NEW DELHI — Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people on Saturday after two passenger trains derailed in India, killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars overnight in one of the country’s deadliest train crashes in decades.
Senate launches late night votes to stave off U.S. default
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rushing to prevent a U.S. debt default, the Senate pressed ahead Thursday night to give final passage to a debt ceiling and budget cuts package and send it to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline.
Trump and DeSantis jab at each other on campaign trail
GRIMES, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism of his chief rival Ron DeSantis on Thursday, jumping immediately on remarks by the Florida governor on the campaign trail to try to highlight his own strength as the leading GOP presidential candidate.
Biden trips and falls onstage at Air Force graduation
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — President Joe Biden quipped that he got “sandbagged” Thursday after he tripped and fell — but was uninjured — while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.
Opponents hold ‘day without immigrants’ in Florida to protest new restrictions
IMMOKALEE, Fla. — Across Florida on Thursday, workers didn’t show up at construction sites and tomato fields and scores of restaurants, shops and other small businesses never opened their doors to protest a new state law that imposes restrictions on undocumented immigrants.
Money stored payment apps could be vulnerable, watchdog warns
NEW YORK — Customers of Venmo, PayPal and CashApp should not store their money with those apps for the long term because the funds might not be safe during a crisis, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned Thursday.
North Korea says U.S. hypocritical for criticizing failed satellite launch
SEOUL, South Korea — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday accused the United States of “gangster-like” hypocrisy for criticizing her country’s failed launch of a military spy satellite and insisted a successful launch will be made soon.
Russian bombardment of Ukrainian capital kills at least 3
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a pre-dawn missile barrage at the Ukrainian capital Thursday, killing three people, including a 9-year-old and her mother, and damaging apartment buildings, schools and a children’s hospital, officials said. It was the highest toll from a single attack on Kyiv over the past month.
U.S. retaliates for Russia’s suspension of New START treaty
OSLO, Norway — The Biden administration is retaliating for Russia’s suspension of the New START nuclear treaty, announcing Thursday it is revoking the visas of Russian nuclear inspectors, denying pending applications for new monitors and canceling standard clearances for Russian aircraft to enter U.S. airspace.
Footprints revive hope in Colombia of finding four children
BOGOTA, Colombia — The discovery in recent days of small footprints in a southern jungle-covered part of Colombia has rekindled hope of finding alive four children who survived a small plane crash and went missing a month ago.
Discovery drags dawn of Greek archaeology back millions of years
ATHENS, Greece — Deep in an open coal mine in southern Greece, researchers have discovered the antiquities-rich country’s oldest archaeological site, which dates to 700,000 years ago and is associated with modern humans’ hominin ancestors.
McCarthy hunts for GOP votes for debt limit deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Under fire from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked strenuously Tuesday to sell fellow Republicans on the debt ceiling and budget deal he negotiated with President Joe Biden and win approval in time to avert a potentially disastrous U.S. default.
Ukraine aid package will total $300 million, include drone munitions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. military aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be announced this week will total up to $300 million and will include additional munitions for drones, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The drone ammunition comes after new attacks by unmanned aircraft targeted Moscow.
DeSantis kicks off presidential campaign, steps up Trump criticism
DES MOINES, Iowa — Facing Iowa voters for the first time as a presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis launched a multi-state campaign blitz on Tuesday designed to strengthen his position as former President Donald Trump’s chief Republican rival.
Residents missing in Iowa apartment collapse, searach too dangerous
DES MOINES, Iowa — Five residents of a six-story apartment building that partially collapsed in eastern Iowa remained unaccounted for Tuesday, and authorities feared at least two of them might be stuck inside rubble that was too dangerous to search.
Ruling clears way for Purdue Pharma to settle opioid claims
A federal appeals court cleared the way for the maker of OxyContin to settle thousands of legal claims tied to the opioid epidemic while shielding the wealthy owners of Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, from future lawsuits.