
(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyiv’s inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack.

Gunman's final 90 minutes fuel questions about police delays
Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers.


Trump loses appeal, must testify in New York civil probe
A New York appeals court has ruled former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in the state’s civil investigation into his business practices.


Exclusive: Federal investigation into Trump fake elector probe expands to multiple states | CNN Politics
Federal investigators have interviewed Republicans in Georgia about interactions with people in former President Donald Trump’s orbit and his 2020 reelection campaign, as the Justice Department’s sprawling criminal probe into efforts to put forth alternate slates of electors to displace Joe...


House Republicans ask banks, Treasury for information on Biden family finances
The letters appear to provide the underpinnings for probes Republicans would pursue if they take control of the House following November's elections.


Texas shooting: Reporters demand White House press secretary explain why Biden isn't doing more on gun control
White House reporters pressed Karine Jean-Pierre on why the Biden administration is not doing more to address mass shootings following the Uvalde, Texas tragedy
Fox Board Member Paul Ryan Unironically Chides ‘Entertainer’ Wing of GOP
CNBCFox Corp. board member Paul Ryan on Thursday lamented “polarization” and the “entertainment” wing of the Republican Party, conveniently ignoring the role Fox News has played in the problem.The former U.S. House speaker appeared Thursday morning on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where he was asked by...

Russia is depopulating parts of eastern Ukraine, forcibly removing thousands into remote parts of Russia | CNN Politics
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been processed through a series of Russian “filtration camps” in Eastern Ukraine and sent into Russia as part of a systemized program of forced removal, according to four sources familiar with the latest Western intelligence – an estimate far higher than...


Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing
Updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Georgia investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn 2020 election ramps up
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is stepping up the pace of her investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Texas shooter sent warning signs, messages, mostly too late
State police say the suspect in the Texas shooting had no criminal record or known mental illness that could have signaled he was capable of gunning down 19 children and two adults.


Fourth-grade survivor of Texas shooting says gunman told class: "It's time to die"
The student said at one point, a cop told students to yell if they need help. One of the kids did – and "the guy overheard and he came in and shot her."

Putin’s Brutality Is Exposing Our Massive China Problem
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/GettyChina and Russia flew six nuclear bombers over the Sea of Japan this week as President Joe Biden was in Tokyo. It was a dramatic show of unity that should remind us of the lessons that we’ve learned from Ukraine—and that we should be...

NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre
The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to “reflect on” — and deflect any blame for — the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde


Texas broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel’s Uvalde shooting monologue cut short
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel said his monologue was cut short by a Dallas ABC affiliate channel following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two adults dead. “…


US preparing to approve advanced long-range rocket system for Ukraine as Russian TV host warns of crossing a ‘red line’ | CNN Politics
The Biden administration is preparing to step up the kind of weaponry it is offering Ukraine by sending advanced, long-range rocket systems that are now the top request from Ukrainian officials, multiple officials say.


Ukraine latest updates: Moscow rejects blame for food crisis
Ukraine news from May 27: Putin says accusations aimed at Russia over difficulty shipping grain worldwide ‘groundless’.

Republican push to block Biden admin's asylum rule fails in Senate
A Republican effort to block an asylum rule put forward by the Biden administration failed in the Senate on Thursday -- despite picking up the support of one moderate Democrat.

Bipartisan group of senators meet on gun safety legislation, may find consensus on red-flag measure
"We're going to work throughout the weekend, and all through next week to see if we can find some common ground," said Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.


Daughter and her best friends 'are all gone now,' dad says
Jacklyn Cazares hadn’t yet reached her 10th birthday, but her father described her as a tough-minded “firecracker” always looking to help people in need.


‘No one better’ than Susan Rice to lead gun effort, White House says, not VP - Washington Examiner
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Susan Rice is leading the administration's gun control efforts.Jean-Pierre said there is "no one better" than Rice to lead the effort in the wake of a mass shooting Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. She was responding to a...


DOJ declines for third time to bring charges against former FBI agents who botched Nassar case | CNN Politics
The Justice Department won’t bring charges against two former FBI agents accused of mishandling the sex abuse inquiry of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, the third time prosecutors have reached that conclusion.


Timeline: How the shooting at a Texas elementary school unfolded
What began as a milestone marking adulthood ended in tragedy after a suspected gunman used the AR-15-style rifle he purchased days after his 18th birthday.

No charges for agents in botched Larry Nassar probe
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday it will not pursue criminal charges against former FBI agents who failed to quickly open an investigation of sports doctor Larry Nassar despite learning in 2015 that he was accused of sexually assaulting female gymnasts.


Exclusive: McConnell says he has directed Cornyn to engage with Democrats on a ‘bipartisan solution’ on gun violence | CNN Politics
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN on Thursday he met earlier in the day with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and encouraged the senior Republican senator to begin discussions with Democrats, including Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, to see if they can find a...


Ted Cruz walks away from interview after question on US mass shootings: 'Your political agenda'
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walked away from an interview after a reporter asked him why mass shootings happen “only in America."
www.usatoday.com

Five things to know as NRA presses ahead with Texas summit
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is moving forward with its annual summit in Houston, Texas, this weekend despite calls for the event to be canceled. The pro-gun group’s three-day convent…


States divided along partisan lines in response to shootings
Gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they have also become increasingly scarce in most states.


Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney announces bid for re-election, faces steep opposition from party leadership
Republican Liz Cheney announced her bid for reelection on Thursday, just days before former President Donald Trump is hosting a rally to support her opponent.

Florida lawmaker Randy Fine says Biden will "learn" if anyone tries to take away guns
In a tweet directed at President Joe Biden, Fine said, "try to take our guns and you'll learn why the Second Amendment was written in the first place."


Trump hits back at Kellyanne Conway for admitting that he lost in 2020
He would have, he says, excommunicated her from his inner sanctum had she said as much.


German chancellor says world at ‘turning point’ amid war in Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “turning point” for the world on Thursday, accusing Russian Vladimir Putin of trying to upend the system of international coopera…


Supreme Court allows Biden administration to continue counting the costs of planet-warming emissions, for now | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court will allow the Biden administration to continue to use a metric that estimates the real-world cost of the climate crisis while legal challenges play out.


Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' and 'Field of Dreams' star, dies
Ray Liotta, the actor best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in “Goodfellas” and baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson in “Field of Dreams,” has died. He was 67.


Delaware state Democrats push for gun restrictions in wake of Uvalde shooting
Democrats in Delaware are looking to revive a push for gun control measures in the wake of the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, including a bill to create a handgun permit that has so far stalled in the legislature.

DOJ refuses to charge FBI agents accused of mishandling Larry Nassar case - Washington Examiner
The Department of Justice is sticking to its decision not to charge FBI agents accused of botching the sexual abuse investigation into former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, a now-convicted sex predator, and lying to the agency's inspector general. The DOJ's internal watchdog found last...


China and Russia veto new UN sanctions on North Korea
China and Russia have vetoed a U.N. resolution sponsored by the United States that would have imposed tough new sanctions on North Korea for its spate of intercontinental ballistic missile launches that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons.


Al Jazeera to refer journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing to ICC
Network will call on ICC to address killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and Israel’s bombing of its Gaza office.

What to know about the NRA’s annual meeting in Houston | CNN Politics
The National Rifle Association is set to hold its 2022 annual meeting in Houston on Friday, bringing together its top brass and several notable conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, for the first time in three years.


U.S. economy shrank at 1.5% rate in the first quarter, more than initially estimated
Even though consumers and businesses kept spending, a trade imbalance pushed down the economy between January and March.


Ellen DeGeneres ends daytime show with plea for compassion
Ellen DeGeneres brought her nearly two-decade daytime talk show to an end Thursday with a celebrity lovefest.

Biden says he was alerted to baby formula shortage in April - but problems were apparent months ago
Biden said he would have needed to be a ‘mind reader’ to respond quicker to the baby formula shortage, but analysts said he should have acted sooner.


Michigan board of canvassers deadlocks, blocking 5 GOP candidates for governor from primary ballot | CNN Politics
Five Republican gubernatorial candidates will be kept off Michigan’s primary ballot for now after the state’s Board of State Canvassers deadlocked along party lines on Thursday during consideration of whether they were ineligible due to invalid signatures.


Previously secret 'alternative' Mueller report goes public
Compendium of evidence gathered by the special counsel's 'Team M' is heavily redacted.


Facebook rejects Abbott allegation about Texas shooter’s posts
Facebook is denying Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) allegation that the gunman who killed 21 people, including 19 children, at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday posted publicly about the attack on …


‘Squad’-favored Cisneros holds out for ‘hundreds’ of ballots in Texas House runoff - Washington Examiner
Although Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) already declared victory in the runoff election to maintain his South Texas seat, "Squad"-backed opponent Jessica Cisneros argues it’s not over until every vote is counted — which may not happen until after the holiday weekend. Election officials indicated...


Biden to visit Uvalde to 'grieve' and demand 'action' on guns, White House says
The White House announced President Biden will visit Uvalde, Texas on Sunday, almost one week after the school shooting that took the lives of 19 students and two teachers.

Feds stop boat with 1,400 pounds of meth by US-Canada border
SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. authorities say they stopped a small boat carrying a large shipment of methamphetamine after they saw it riding low in the water near the Canadian border with Washington state.


Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism prevention bill in key vote | CNN Politics
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill designed to combat domestic terrorism from advancing in a key vote. The vote comes as lawmakers are under intense pressure to take action in the wake of multiple recent episodes of horrific gun violence.


Grieving husband dies after wife is slain in Texas rampage
The family of a fourth grade teacher was already reeling from her death in the school shooting that targeted her classroom in Uvalde, Texas.


Blinken says US is ready to strengthen diplomacy with China in ‘charged moment for the world’ | CNN Politics
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the Biden administration’s strategy towards China, seeking to refocus attention on what he called “the most serious long-term challenge to the international order.”

Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism bill, gun policy debate
As a bipartisan group of senators is trying to find a compromise on gun legislation, the GOP blocks discussion of a bill to fight domestic terrorism.

Lawmakers wary that Turkey is 'playing double game' in NATO, arms negotiations
Congressional lawmakers are increasingly wary Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is 'playing a double game' as he looks to negotiate over NATO security

Parole recommended for California follower of Charles Manson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California parole panel recommended the release of Patricia Krenwinkel for the first time Thursday, more than five decades after she and other followers of cult leader Charles Manson terrorized the state and she wrote “Helter Skelter” on a wall using the blood of one of t


Blinken lays out US strategy to counter China as rivalry grows
US secretary of state outlines multipronged strategy, but says Washington seeking to avoid ‘new Cold War’ with Beijing.
Wisconsin election official quits, citing Republican criticism over 2020
An election official in Wisconsin has resigned, saying he lost the backing of fellow Republicans because of his refusal to support former President Donald Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The announcement by Wisconsin Elections Commission member Dean Knudson, a...

McCarthy predicts ‘more than enough’ midterm election wins for GOP House majority - Washington Examiner
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) predicts Republicans will come out with a majority after the midterm elections this fall, as a new report suggests additional races leaning in Republicans' favor. The GOP could gain as many as 20-35 seats in the House of Representatives, with 10 races...


Biden has limited options, but there are some things he can do on guns
Even though President Biden has nearly exhausted his options to confront gun violence with executive action, advocates and allies say there are a few steps he could take in the wake of horrifying m…


Abrams-Kemp slugfest promises to be pricey, long and ugly
The governor's race in Georgia between Republican incumbent Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams promises to be a brutal battle that will further amp up the state's charged political environment.


Amber Heard ends testimony asking Depp to 'leave me alone'
Amber Heard told jurors that a harassment campaign waged against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp has left her humiliated and scared for her life from multiple death threats, and said she just wants Depp to "leave me alone.”

Beto O’Rourke criticizes Abbott for attending campaign fundraiser after Texas school shooting
Beto O'Rourke harshly criticized his gubernatorial opponent, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for attending a fundraiser across the state after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde on Tuesday.

Heller attacks Lombardo in Nevada's GOP race for governor
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Making a late bid to derail the Nevada Republican whom Donald Trump has endorsed for governor, ex-U.S. Sen.


Photo Gallery: How the crisis at the southern border unfolded, and spiraled out of control
Shortly after President Biden took office in January 2021, migrant encounters at the southern border – which had been rising for months – shot up dramatically. They have remained at historic highs for months and show no immediate sign of slowing down. The crisis has at time consumed the...

Uvalde mass shooter was not confronted by police before he entered the school, Texas official says | CNN
The 18-year-old suspect who killed 21 people at a school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday was not confronted by police before he entered the school, a Texas law enforcement official said, contradicting earlier comments from leaders and raising further questions about the police response to the massacre.


Herschel Walker fumbles response to gun control questions - Washington Examiner
Georgia's GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker fumbled two responses to questions about his stance on gun control this week in the aftermath of a shooting at a Texas elementary school. The former NFL running back proposed that law enforcement develop "a department that can look at young men that’s...


Texas school shooting: Suspect's grandmother upgraded to good condition
Live updates on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism bill
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill to create domestic terrorism offices within federal law enforcement agencies in response to a mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., that left 10 people dead.…

Behind the Jan. 6 panel's last-minute efforts to win 3 key Trump-world lawsuits
Former President Donald Trump and his allies have sued the select committee 25 times. The suits it's still fighting: Mark Meadows, the Republican National Committee and John Eastman.

After years of preparation, Pence looks poised for launch with Georgia validation
On Tuesday night, with a strong defeat of former President Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates for Georgia governor and secretary of state, the path to the White House for former Vice President Mike Pence widened.

Palestinian probe says Israeli forces deliberately shot Abu Akleh
Palestine’s attorney general says probe found that slain Al Jazeera journalist was intentionally shot by Israeli forces.

Michigan GOP governor hopefuls off ballot, court fight next
Two of the leading candidates for the GOP nomination for Michigan governor say they will ask the courts to intervene after they were found ineligible Thursday for the August primary, reshaping the race to challenge Democratic Gov.


Oklahoma Gov. Stitt signs bill requiring students to use bathrooms aligned with their biological sex at birth
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says a new law requiring students to use bathrooms based on the biological sex at birth is "common sense."

Yubo explained and why it has emerged as part of Uvalde shooting probe
The accused teenage gunman in the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school massacre was allegedly a frequent user of the social media platform Yubo.

Stacey Abrams serves as board member, governor of foundation that supports #AbolishThePolice
Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams serves as board member and governor of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, which supports defunding and abolishing the police.

US general: No need to add ground forces in Sweden, Finland
The U.S. general nominated to take over European Command tells senators that Sweden and Finland’s push to join NATO won’t require putting more U.S. ground forces into either country.


Washington Dem socialist walks back idea to occupy empty houses: 'I don’t want people to commit crimes'
Washington state congressional candidate Rebecca Parson, a democratic socialist, clarified her message from an online video suggesting people occupy vacant homes.

Ransomware attack hits New Jersey county | CNN Politics
A ransomware attack has forced officials in a 345,000-person New Jersey county to switch off their computers and set up temporary Gmail accounts so the public can email key agencies such as the health, emergency and sheriff’s departments.


AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter has $42 million in assets
A new, 63-page IRS tax filing shared exclusively with The Associated Press shows the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc. ended its last fiscal year with nearly $42 million in net assets.


Rights group sues over US denying Afghans humanitarian entry
BOSTON (AP) — A Boston civil rights group is challenging the U.S. government's denial of humanitarian relief to scores of Afghans fleeing from the Taliban.


McConnell urges Senate GOP colleague to find common ground with Democrats on guns
The minority leader said he has encouraged Sen. John Cornyn of Texas to sit down with Democrats to negotiate a legislative plan that would curtail mass shootings.


Recount cranks up in Pennsylvania's GOP primary for Senate
Just 910 votes separate the two leading candidates in Pennsylvania’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate

Chicago police search for man seen pointing gun at news crew in live report - Washington Examiner
Chicago police are asking the public for help in finding a man seen in a live newscast brandishing a gun at a local news team. The frightening moment happened Wednesday morning during a segment, presented by Fox 32 reporter Joanie Lum, on the rise in gun violence in the city. The man can be seen


Supreme Court rejects red states’ bid to block Biden accounting metric
The Supreme Court is rebuffing an attempt from red states to block the Biden administration from using a key climate accounting metric in its decisionmaking. In a new order on Thursday, the h…


Germany’s Scholz says Russia will not win the war in Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Putin has failed in all his strategic aims and will not dictate terms of peace.
‘He can’t just be the ‘eulogizer in chief’’: Frustration grows over Biden’s Texas response
The White House wants to have distance to see if a deal can be struck. Activists see a leadership vacuum.


Analysis: The world’s most powerful nation can’t keep schoolkids safe at their desks | CNN Politics
It’s not that America can’t stop its bloody sequence of mass killings. It’s that it lacks the national cohesion and common will to do so.

In More Than 100 GOP Midterm Ads This Year: Guns, Guns, Guns
In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey unpacked lipstick, an iPhone and something else from her purse in one campaign advertisement — “a little Smith & Wesson .38,” she said. A Republican candidate for governor in Georgia declared in a different spot, “I believe in Jesus, guns and babies.” In Nevada, an ad...

Canada cancels June 5 exhibition vs Iran after criticism
TORONTO (AP) — Canada's exhibition against Iran at Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 5 was canceled on Thursday following criticism by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.


GOP Reps. Perry, Biggs formally object to subpoena from House January 6 committee | CNN Politics
Republican Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Andy Biggs of Arizona have formally objected to being subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, according to a source familiar with the matter.


Former House Republicans urge GOP lawmakers to comply with Jan. 6 subpoenas
Twenty-one former House Republican lawmakers are urging the five current GOP lawmakers subpoenaed by the select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot to comply with the panel’s dem…


Man convicted of 1st-degree murder in beheading case
A jury has convicted a New Hampshire man of first-degree murder for killing his wife’s coworker after he discovered they were texting, and then forcing her to behead him

Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman uses Texas school shooting to fundraise for Senate campaign
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman used Uvalde, Texas, mass school shooting tragedy to raise funds for his campaign by using large "donate" button in campaign email.

Chicago police search for man seen pointing gun at news crew in live report - Washington Examiner
Chicago police are asking the public for help in finding a man seen in a live newscast brandishing a gun at a local news team. The frightening moment happened Wednesday morning during a segment, presented by Fox 32 reporter Joanie Lum, on the rise in gun violence in the city. The man can be seen


As CEO pay grows even bigger, so does its complexity
Within the eight- and even nine-figure sums trumpeted for CEOs each year, just a small portion is actual cash.


May 26 Texas shooting news | CNN
At least 19 children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Follow here for the latest.


Oklahoma governor signs transgender bathroom bill
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a bill requiring public school students to use only the bathroom of the sex listed on their birth certificate
Struggling Dems look to a risky strategy: Meddling in GOP primaries to boost 'unelectable' Republicans
When 2020 election denialist Doug Mastriano won last week’s GOP primary for Pennsylvania governor, a Guardian op-ed called him “one of the most radical gubernatorial candidates ever to receive a major party nomination.”

Formula shortage won’t end until July, FDA chief says
The nation’s infant formula shortage likely won’t be fully resolved until late July, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told senators Thursday. During a Senate Health Co…

‘It Is Absolutely Comprehensible … It’s Happened Over and Over Again’
Wendy Davis on why she thinks this is a hinge moment — but why so much is still stuck.


War Crimes Watch: Targeting schools, Russia bombs the future
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As she lay buried under the rubble, her legs broken and eyes blinded by blood and thick clouds of dust, all Inna Levchenko could hear was screams.


Duchess Meghan visits Texas memorial for deadly school shooting
The Duchess of Sussex brought white roses to pay tribute to the victims.

After Biden's Taiwan remark, Blinken insists US 'remains committed' to One China policy
Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence and that any disputes should be "resolved by peaceful means."

Twitter shareholders sue Musk, say he 'deflated' stock price
Twitter shareholders have filed a lawsuit against billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of unlawfully sowing doubt about his bid to buy Twitter.


Bipartisan Senate group forms to break impasse on gun legislation
A small group of Democratic and Republican senators have formed a bipartisan negotiating group in hopes of reaching a modest deal on gun control legislation, but they don’t have much time to hammer…


One Ukrainian family’s perilous journey through Russia’s ‘filtration camps’
For many Mariupol residents, Russia’s brutal attack on the city was just the beginning. Next came the interrogations, humiliation, abuse, and forced deportations.


Father of Sandy Hook shooting victim speaks out after Texas killings
Carlos Soto's daughter was a first-grade teacher at the Connecticut school.

Bill to allow for early vote counting fails in New Jersey Senate
Vote counting was slow in some counties in last year’s election, causing high-profile politicians to take more than a week to concede their races.


Actor Kevin Spacey faces 4 sexual assault charges in UK
Kevin Spacey's career was largely halted by sexual assault allegations.

Mike Brown says he is 'disgusted' by Michigan signature scandal 'incompetence,' quits race
Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael Brown ended his campaign over an invalid signature mix-up. Brown says he is 'disgusted' by the scandal.

What to expect for Friday’s closing arguments: Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard - Washington Examiner
The jurors in Johnny Depp's and Amber Heard's defamation lawsuit were sent home early Thursday, and closing arguments begin Friday morning at 9 a.m. EDT. Testimony was finished before lunchtime on Thursday, with Heard's legal team using just about every minute of the allotted hour and 16 minutes...


Al Jazeera’s Abu Akleh killed by Israeli forces using armor-piercing bullet, Palestinian Authority investigation says | CNN
A Palestinian Authority investigation into the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has found that she was fatally shot by Israeli forces using an armor-piercing bullet, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al-Khatib said Thursday.


Justices won't block Biden policy on 'social cost of carbon'
The Supreme Court has allowed the Biden administration to use a higher estimate than Republican-led states want for calculating damages to people and the environment from greenhouse gas emissions.


Driver sentenced to 30 years in fatal shooting of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes in Texas
Jazmine was killed in 2018 after a gunman who mistakenly thought he was shooting at a rival opened fire at the vehicle she was in.


Don McLean pulls out of NRA-organized concert following Texas school shooting
Don McLean has dropped out of the NRA's "Grand Ole Night Of Freedom" concert this weekend.

Uvalde shooting renews push for ‘red flag’ laws — 4 years after Texas Republicans blocked one
Experts say the measures, which allow police or family members to seek court orders to take guns away from people who may pose threats, are effective.


War Crimes Watch: Russia's onslaught on Ukrainian hospitals
The AP and Frontline have teamed up to track evidence of potential war crimes committed during the largest conflict in Europe since the end of World War II. Here's what they found.


Kemp takes aim at Abrams, says he believes most Georgians 'understand who's being truthful with them'
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is feeling enthusiastic as he seeks to defeat Stacey Abrams in November after she was declared the Democrat nominee for governor.

Eastman said dueling electors were ‘dead on arrival’ without state legislature backing
Yet the Trump attorney pressed Pence to consider them anyway, new emails reveal.


Teen who texted with accused Texas gunman wonders 'What if I could change the outcome?'
A young teen who allegedly exchanged private messages with accused Texas gunman Salvador Ramos says she's been asking herself, "What if I could change the outcome?"

Biden’s debt forgiveness misses targets
The Biden administration’s prospective move to cancel $10,000 of outstanding federal student loan debt, while welcomed by many current and former students with debt, has been critiqued for not bein…


Schumer rejects Republican school safety proposal - Washington Examiner
School shootings are an all-too-common part of the American news cycle. And when they do happen, politicians are quicker than ever to be seen taking action. "This is on you until you choose to do something,” Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke said while confronting Gov. Gregg Abbott...

In private, vulnerable Senate Dems back off tech bill
Democratic leaders want to crack down on Big Tech. Others in the party think it's too big of a risk.


She once wrote an essay on how to murder your husband. This week a jury found her guilty of murdering her husband | CNN
Unlike the antagonists in her romance thrillers, author Nancy Crampton-Brophy did not get away with murder. A jury in Oregon convicted her in the 2018 slaying of her longtime husband.


Detention hearing waived in plot to kill George W. Bush
A court document indicates a man being held on a charge of plotting to assassinate former President George W
Opinion | Why Trump’s Fantasies Couldn’t Doom Kemp and Raffensperger
The Georgia Republicans showed some spine and proved many voters in the party are ready to move on from Trump’s 2020 falsehoods.


Grieving husband of teacher killed in Texas school shooting has died, family says
Joe Garcia had been married to his high school sweetheart, Irma, for 24 years before she was gunned down at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.


Texas school shooting: Domestic terrorism bill stalls in Senate after tragedies in Buffalo, Uvalde
A Democrat-supported bill on domestic terrorism, which senators planned to also use to address gun control, failed in the Senate Thursday.

EXPLAINER: What's at stake for China on South Pacific visit?
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting South Pacific nations amid concerns over Beijing's growing military and diplomatic presence in the region.


OnPolitics: Despite Texas shooting, gun control advocates fear inaction
Gun control advocates fear that the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday will not spur tough gun control laws.
www.usatoday.com

Rick Scott introduces bill to limit powers of the World Health Organization: 'Dangerous globalist overreach'
New legislation introduced by Sen. Rick Scott would ensure that the public health matters are handled by the U.S., not “puppets” for Communist China and the World Health Organization.
‘This is a crisis point’: Job training deficit leaves critical jobs unfilled
The U.S. spends far less on workforce development than most other wealthy nations, which has made it difficult for its workforce and supply chain to meet the challenges of the pandemic.


Amazon opens its 1st clothing store in Los Angeles
Amazon opened its first clothing store in Los Angeles
Outrage as NRA to gather in Houston just days after Texas school massacre
Counter-protests expected as about 55,000 NRA members to attend event, including Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott

Michael Sussmann will not testify in trial, defense rests ahead of closing arguments
Michael Sussmann will not testify in his own defense during his trial on charges that the FBI when he brought allegations of a communications channel between Trump and a Russian bank

U.S. to start interviewing asylum-seekers at two Texas detention sites under new policy
President Biden's appointees have said the rule will allow the U.S. to more quickly grant asylum to those fleeing persecution, while rapidly deporting migrants who don't qualify.


Administration to streamline processing of asylum applications
The Biden administration on Tuesday will begin streamlining its processing of asylum applications in an effort to aid those who otherwise face years in limbo due to massive backlogs in the immigrat…


Texas shooting: The teachers who sacrificed their lives to protect children
Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia were seen trying to shelter their students from the gunfire.

Capitol Police were told they likely saw an Army flight. They evacuated anyway
Capitol officers had communicated that the only aircraft anywhere near the Capitol airspace was the authorized Golden Knights flight, according to an FAA timeline.


Senegal hospital fire: Eleven newborn babies die in Tivaouane
The fire is thought to have been caused by a short circuit at the hospital in Tivaouane, officials say.


Surgeon on treating Texas shooting victims: 'Moment of crisis with lifetime of impact'
“I feel so bad for those families and guilty, to some degree, that they don’t have their children and I do," Dr. Ronald Stewart said.


Ancient DNA reveals secrets of Pompeii victims
It is an almost complete set of "genetic instructions" from people who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted.


Facebook owner Meta updates its privacy policy
But the company says the changes don’t allow Meta to collect, use or share your data in new ways


Schumer blocks Senate GOP school safety bill, angering Republicans
Republicans are calling Sen. Chuck Schumer a liar after he blocked a school safety bill Wednesday that he claimed could put "more guns in schools."

Spanish MPs back 'only yes means yes' sexual consent law
The new legislation aims to make it easier for victims of sexual violence to prosecute attackers.


Students stage walkouts across U.S. to protest Texas school massacre
"This could have been any of us," a 17-year-old in Vermont said.


'Goodfellas' co-stars, many others pay tribute to Ray Liotta
Tributes are pouring in for actor Ray Liotta, who died at age 67 in the Dominican Republic. Liotta's “Goodfellas” co-star Robert De Niro says he's saddened to learn of the passing of Liotta, who is “way too young to have left us.”

Jim Jordan demands material on him before complying with January 6 subpoena
Republican congressman sent a six-page letter to the panel asking for materials that put him under scrutiny for his cooperation

White House reserving judgment on police response to Texas school shooting
The White House on Thursday said it was reserving judgment on the police response to the mass shooting earlier this week at an elementary school in Texas as information is pieced together about the…


McConnell-aligned group throws $43 million behind Republican Senate races
The Mitch McConnell-aligned group One Nation is throwing $43 million in behind Republican Senate candidates running five key races in Georgia, Nevada and elsewhere.

Pope Benedict XVI, Barbara Walters, Pele, and other notable people who died in 2022
Photos of celebrities and trailblazers who left their mark on society and passed away in 2022.

Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial: Inside the key allegations
The jury in Virginia’s Fairfax County Circuit Court begin deliberating on Friday.


Pennsylvania declares recount in Republican Senate primary as Dr. Oz' lead shrinks
Dr. Mehmet Oz' lead over Dave McCormick in the Republican Senate primary in Pennsylvania shrank to less than a thousand votes and the race will now enter a recount.

Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher dies
The band say they are "shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness" in a statement on social media.


'Precious individuals' taken in Texas school shooting
Texas school shooting victims: What we know



Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past
The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease.


Vaccines offer little protection against long Covid, study finds
The vaccines provide robust protection against hospitalization and death, but when it comes to long Covid, the protection is "very modest."


CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks
The nation’s hospital regulator is probing hospitals where patients were likely infected with Covid after a record spike in transmission this year.


US Census Bureau: Big city losses early in COVID pandemic
Eight of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. lost population during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. New estimates released Thursday by the U.S.


Long COVID affects more older adults; shots don't prevent it
Research in U.S. veterans provides fresh evidence that long COVID-19 can happen even after breakthrough infections following vaccination.


CDC warns of 'Covid-19 rebound' after taking Paxlovid antiviral pills
Some people who take Paxlovid could see symptoms reappear two to eight days after finishing the treatment and testing negative, the CDC said.


UCLA reinstates mask mandate as California COVID cases surge
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of California, Los Angeles said Thursday it will reinstate an indoor mask policy as coronavirus cases surge in the nation’s most populous state, which now forecasts hospitalizations will nearly triple in the next month.


North Korea says no new fever deaths, claims Covid outbreak is under control
But many analysts doubt the credibility of the figures, saying they only demonstrate how hard it is to assess the actual scale of the country’s virus wave.
