
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Russia’s war in Ukraine amounted to “genocide,” accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to “wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.”

Putin says talks with Ukraine are at ‘dead end’
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said peace talks with Ukraine are at a “dead end” as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine. “Now, security requirements are one thing, and the issues …


Putin vows to press invasion until Russia's goals are met
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.


Manhunt continues after 10 people shot in Brooklyn subway; police identify person of interest
Police recovered a U-Haul linked to the person of interest several hours after the shooting.


Blame Trump? Jury hears that defense at Capitol riot trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the U.S. Capitol , but that changed Tuesday: The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen...


NY lieutenant governor resigns after arrest in federal probe
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal.


Russia could mask chemical weapons with riot control agents: Pentagon update Day 48
The U.S. is looking into claims Russia has already chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Biden waiving ethanol rule in bid to lower gasoline prices
MENLO, Iowa (AP) — With inflation at a 40-year high , President Joe Biden journeyed to corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce a modest step aimed at trimming gasoline prices by about a dime a gallon at a limited number of stations by waiving rules that restrict ethanol blending.


Marjorie Taylor Greene wants everyone to just get over January 6 | CNN Politics
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has had just about enough of this talk about the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.


Ukraine says potent Russian hack against power grid thwarted
Ukrainian officials say Russian military hackers tried to knock out power to millions of Ukrainians last week in a long-planned attack but were foiled

US inflation jumped 8.5% in past year, highest since 1981
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with costs for food, gasoline, housing and other necessities squeezing American consumers and wiping out the pay raises that many people have received.


US expected to announce hundreds of millions in new security assistance to Ukraine | CNN Politics
The US is expected to announce on Wednesday it is sending hundreds of millions of dollars in new military assistance to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the package tell CNN.


Trump 'authorized' assault on Capitol, Jan. 6 defendant argues at trial
An attorney for Dustin Thompson argued that "vulnerable" people like his client "believed the lies that were fed to them" by Trump.


Russian military hackers targeted Ukrainian power company, Ukrainian officials say
Ukrainian officials said Russian hackers tried last Friday to attack power substations of a private energy company and cut power to two million people.


George Will dismisses Palin; quips senators shouldn’t be able to run for president
Longtime political columnist and commentator George Will quipped that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is “ready to be 1/435th of the House of Representatives,” adding that if she won ele…


Russia and China look to militarize and dominate space: US intelligence report
China and Russia’s threats in space to the United States have significantly increased in recent years, according to a new report from the Defense Intelligence Agency.


Rudy Giuliani unlocks phones for prosecutors in Ukraine-related lobbying probe | CNN Politics
Federal prosecutors could decide on charges against the former New York mayor soon


Putin ally Viktor Medvedchuk detained in "special operation," Zelensky says
Ukraine's President said Russian troops retreating from the north left thousands of mines in a deliberate act he considered a war crime. Ukraine is investigating some 5,800 cases of alleged Russian war crimes. Follow here for live news updates.

Biden calls Putin a ‘dictator’ who ‘commits genocide’
In remarks in Iowa, President Biden blamed Russian President Putin for recent price hikes at the pump and referred to his military actions in Ukraine as “genocide.” While boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden doubled down on his remarks.


Live Updates | Russia-Ukraine War
WASHINGTON — The United States and its allies are pushing ahead with sanctions aimed at forcing Vladimir Putin to spend Russia’s money propping up its economy rather than sustaining its “war machine” for the fight in Ukraine, a top Treasury Department official said Tuesday.


Vladimir Kara-Murza, prominent Russian dissident, arrested hours after predicting Ukraine war will end Putin's reign
Vladimir Kara-Murza, who's survived 2 poisonings, was arrested hours after telling an interviewer he had "no doubt that the Putin regime will end over this war in Ukraine."


Brooklyn subway shooting: Adams contradicts NYPD commissioner, says 'premature' to rule out terrorism
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says of the Brooklyn shooting, "Someone attempted to terrorize our system."

AP PHOTOS on Day 48: Ukraine takes stock as attacks continue
As Russia gears up for a major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, Ukrainians took stock Tuesday of the death and destruction the war has wrought. A man mourned his 82-year-old mother, who died in a retirement home due to sorely deteriorated conditions in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha...


McConnell: ‘Actually possible’ for GOP to screw up midterms with ‘unacceptable’ candidates
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said the political atmosphere is good for Republicans heading into the midterms but warned that the party could bungle its chances if ̶…


NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin arrested on bribery charges, resigns
New York Lieutenant Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested Tuesday and resigned after being indicted for alleged bribery and other offenses, as part of what federal prosecutors say was a "scheme" to get campaign contributions in exchange for a $50,000 state grant. Gov. Kathy Hochul accepted his...

'I'll keep you posted': Pence teases 2024 run
Former Vice President Mike Pence played coy when asked about his 2024 presidential ambitions.


Top Trump White House lawyers scheduled for Jan. 6 interview
Pat Cipollone and Patrick Philbin are to speak with the House panel.


Russian convoy heads for eastern Ukraine, defense official says weather will force troops to stick to roads
A senior defense official said a convoy of Russian vehicles headed south towards eastern Ukraine appears to be slow-moving and will likely be forced to stick to the roads due to the spring weather.

DOJ stiffs Democrats' request for info on Trump White House records | CNN Politics
The Justice Department declined a request from the House Oversight Committee to provide additional details about 15 boxes of records that former President Donald Trump improperly took to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office, citing an ongoing investigation, according to a new letter sent to the...


Obama: Ukraine invasion proof that Putin has grown more ‘reckless’
The Russian leader is acting “in a way that you might not have anticipated eight, 10 years ago,” the former president said.


Biden accuses Russia of 'genocide' in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden accuses Russia's Vladimir Putin of genocide in Ukraine.
www.bbc.com

Kyiv says it captured Ukrainian pro-Russia politician
Ukrainian authorities say they arrested Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Kremlin tycoon, after he fled house arrest.

Democrats intensify fight against Biden immigration policy | CNN Politics
Democrats running for reelection in the midterms are intensifying their fight against the Biden administration's decision to roll back a Trump-era immigration rule, going directly to the border and signing onto legislation that would block the Biden administration's actions in an escalation that...


Judge tosses challenge to Florida's abortion waiting period
Women will have to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion under a ruling by a Florida judge in a nearly seven-year battle over the waiting period

Newsom's gas-tax relief proposal has a looming deadline
One of the governor's measures must pass by May 1 to suspend the gas-tax increase slated to hit in July.


What are the pros and cons of E15 gas? Here's what to know about Biden's order | CNN Politics
The summer ban on E15 gasoline will be lifted to help ease high gas prices.


Inflation surges to 40-year high as food prices spike from groceries to takeout
The Consumer Price Index showed an increase in multiple food categories from groceries and specific products to meals at cafes and restaurants.

Raidforums marketplace shut down in global operation
A forum which allowed criminals access to stolen personal data - for a fee - has been taken down.
www.bbc.com

NYC subway shooting: Police name person of interest in investigation
Multiple people have been shot in separate incidents involving a northbound N train in Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday morning.

Manchin floats ‘rebranded’ Keystone XL pipeline in visit to Canada
Swing vote Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) floated the idea of a “rebranded” or “rerouted” Keystone XL pipeline during a visit to Canada on Tuesday. “The brand of the XL pipeline is probably …


Police identify person of interest in connection to subway shooting
Police have identified a person of interest believed to have rented the U-Haul connected to the Brooklyn subway shooting earlier Tuesday, officials said.


Police focus on van renter in Brooklyn subway shooting probe
NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.


How a Trump ally got his unfounded voting-machine audit push in front of federal cyber agency
Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem made an unusual request in the waning days of the former president's term, according to emails shared with POLITICO.


Biden admin may announce huge new military aid package for Ukraine soon
“We want Russia to lose,” a senior administration official said.


'Groomer,' 'pro-pedophile': Old tropes find new life in anti-LGBTQ movement
In the wake of Florida's LGBTQ education law, language that had long been relegated to the margins has resurfaced among conservative lawmakers and pundits.


Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
Cities across Ukraine have been hit by missiles as fighting rages the east.
www.bbc.com

Hawaii Democrat hasn't been to DC in months, still working as airline pilot
A congressman who ran on a promise of giving constituents full-time representation has been absent from the Capitol for most of this year, according to a new report.

Saudi Arabia rekindles ties with cash-strapped Lebanon
Improvement in relations between Lebanon and Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia come before May’s general elections.

GOP pollster says Republicans are mocking ‘child’ Trump
Prominent GOP pollster Frank Luntz said in a recent interview that Republicans in private are mocking former President Trump and they are “tired of going back and rehashing the 2020 election.” Lunt…


Gun violence keeps supercharging America's Second Amendment debate | CNN Politics
Tuesday morning's Brooklyn subway shooting is the latest entry in America's shameful tradition of gun violence. Unlike the Covid-19 pandemic or the opioid epidemic, gun violence is a uniquely American tragedy.


Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signs bill allowing guns to be carried without license
Kemp will likely spend significant time on the campaign trail touting the legislation leading up to his May 24 primary against former Senator David Perdue.


Trump faces tough decision on DeSantis endorsement
Former President Trump is facing a dilemma: when — or even whether — to endorse the 2022 reelection bid of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of his biggest potential rivals for the 2024 Republican pre…


Washington Post columnist and Putin critic arrested in Russia
A columnist and vocal critic of the Kremlin was arrested in Moscow after he claimed the war in Ukraine would be the end of Russian President Vladimir Putin's reign, his wife said in a social media post Monday.


Ketanji Brown Jackson is and isn't 1st Black female justice
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shirley Troutman, a judge on New York's highest court, was working last week when her daughter texted messages that included a clapping hands emoji. Soon, her phone was buzzing with other celebratory messages.


Footage shows panicked crowds on NYC subway
Witnesses saw passengers rushing out of a smoking subway train car after multiple gunshots.
www.bbc.com

Biden calls Russian actions in Ukraine 'genocide' for the first time to applause from Zelenskyy
President Biden called the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine "genocide" for the first time on Tuesday, a classification he had previously shied away from using.

Oklahoma governor signs bill to make abortion illegal
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.


Norcross calls big meeting to plot a way forward for South Jersey Democrats after election drubbing
Three people who were present at Monday's event estimated the crowd at between 100 and 200 people, almost exclusively from South Jersey.


Putin's mysterious Facebook 'superfans' on a mission
Posts praising the Russian leader are being viewed by millions on the social network.
www.bbc.com

Top defense firms to meet at Pentagon over Ukraine weapons support
The Pentagon plans to hold a classified meeting of top weapons makers Wednesday to discuss how the U.S. can speed up production to help Ukraine in its war with Russia, a defense official confirmed …


Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza given 15 days in jail
Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza was just given 15 days in jail for trying to evade capture by police.
New York's public safety mayor faces subway attack while in Covid quarantine
Eric Adams lamented his cloistered situation, saying in a virtual television interview, "You know me, you know I want to be on the ground."


Biden addresses New York City subway shooting investigation: 'We're not letting up'
President Joe Biden addressed the New York City subway shooting as the suspect is still at-large while in Iowa Tuesday to talk about a new measure to ease gas prices.

UK's Johnson says he paid a police fine for lockdown parties
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he paid a fine from police for attending a lockdown-breaching birthday party in his official residence, making him the first British leader to be sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.


Health Care — GOP preps for Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade
© Julia Nikhinson The Los Angeles Times answers an enduring question: How is it possible that Arizona iced tea cans still cost 99 cents? Today, Republicans are preparing for the possibili…


John Oliver blackmails Congress with data from 'Ted Cruz erotic fan fiction' ads
Comedian John Oliver is trying to pressure members of Congress into passing consumer data protection legislation by threatening to expose their internet browsing and search histories.


Pennsylvania House passes bill preventing transgender females from competing in female sports
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a measure Tuesday which designates sports in schools across the state by biological sex, prohibiting transgender females from participating in female sports.

EXPLAINER: How to investigate alleged chemical attacks
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Ukraine said Tuesday it is investigating a claim that a poisonous substance was dropped on the besieged city of Mariupol. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible that phosphorus munitions — which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as...


Soaring petrol prices send US inflation to 40-year high
Consumer prices reached a fresh 40-year high in March after the US stopped Russia energy imports.
www.bbc.com

Fentanyl drives spike in teen overdose deaths, despite drug use falling to new low
"This is really about drug use becoming more dangerous, not more common," one researcher said.


High gas prices and rising costs impact plans for summer travelers
Summer travel plans are getting hit by rising gas prices, high levels of inflation and overall increasing expenses, leaving travelers cutting costs where they can.


Biden says Putin committing "genocide half a world away"
President Biden made the "genocide" comment during a speech on price increases in Iowa.


Nancy Pelosi's family member lands senior adviser position at Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
A member of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's family has taken a key role in the Biden administration's Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Biden ridiculed on social media after bird appears to have defecated on him: 'Poopin Price Hike'
President Biden was met with ridicule on social media Tuesday after a bird apparently defecated on his jacket during a speech.

Sacramento shooting is latest struggle for downtown strip
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The mass shooting that police say was a gun battle between rival gangs that left six dead and 12 wounded earlier this month shook the downtown core of California's capital — and created another challenge for a city trying to redefine itself as a destination for more...


New York politicians express horror over Brooklyn subway shooting: 'My heart is broken'
Reps. Nydia Velazquez and Nicole Malliotalks and Sen. Chuck Schumer expressed horror at the Brooklyn shooting Tuesday.

Hochul faces tough choices after Lt. Gov. Benjamin's arrest and resignation in New York
The high-profile case puts Gov. Kathy Hochul in a difficult position as she seeks a full term this year while tethered to Brian Benjamin.


South Dakota attorney general impeached over fatal crash
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.


The Memo: Democrats face nightmare scenario, ‘biblical disaster’
Democrats are facing a nightmare scenario with about six months to go before the midterm elections. Inflation, immigration, the war in Ukraine and the still-lingering COVID-19 pandemic make for a d…


Suffolk County police release evidence from unsolved Gilgo Beach murders
Police released footage of Megan Waterman, one of the victims, who was last seen at a Holiday Inn Express in New York.

Marine Le Pen says she opposes sanctions on Russian gas
The French presidential candidate says she is in favour of sanctions on Russia - except for energy.
www.bbc.com

How e-commerce altered the trucking industry
Drivers are getting higher pay, driving fewer miles and spending more time at home.


'RINO' versus 'political prostitute': Bitter GOP primary hinges on infrastructure plans
A vote on the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure package is at the center of the fight between GOP Reps. David McKinley and Alex Mooney.


Deadline to run for NY governor as a Democrat passes without Cuomo petitions
The deadline to file petitions to run for New York governor as a Democrat passed Monday without any documents being sent in from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). The deadline’s passing marks good news…


For Jews fleeing Ukraine, Passover takes on new meaning
“Good morning! Happy morning!” Rabbi Avraham Wolff exclaimed, with a big smile, as he walked into the Chabad synagogue in Odesa on a recent morning. Russian missiles had just struck an oil refinery in the Ukrainian city, turning the sky charcoal gray.


The Facebook whistleblower takes on the metaverse


EXPLAINER: Why Finkenauer's Senate bid rests on 3 signatures
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrat Abby Finkenauer’s hopes of running against Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley this fall may hinge on a state Supreme Court ruling on three petition signatures. Finkenauer's campaign was thrown into turmoil this week after a judge overturned a panel's decision...


EXPLAINER: Why Biden is allowing more ethanol in gasoline
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday his administration will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer.


New York GOP Reps. Tenney, Zeldin and Malliotakis slam NYC 'lawlessness' after subway shooting
Three New York Republican members of Congress Tuesday slammed the "lawlessness" in New York City after a brutal shooting in a Brooklyn subway station.

Trump intervenes in Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial primary
Former President Donald Trump is wading into Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial primary

Sherri Papini, woman who faked 2016 kidnapping, pleads guilty to mail fraud and making false statements | CNN
Sherri Papini, the Northern California woman accused of faking her own kidnapping in 2016, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and making false statements in court Monday.


Two men accused of posing as federal agents set to be released to home confinement
The FBI says that the two men tried to duped Secret Service officials and gave them gifts including rent-free apartments, iPhones and a drone, among other items.


Gilbert Gottfried, actor and comic's comic, dies at 67
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gilbert Gottfried, the actor and legendary standup comic known for his raw, scorched voice and crude jokes, has died. He was 67. Gottfried died from a rare genetic muscle disease that can trigger a dangerously abnormal heartbeat, his publicist and longtime friend Glenn...


Biden says he's doing 'everything' in his power to reduce gas prices
President Biden on Tuesday said he is doing “everything” within his power to “bring down the price” of gas across the nation, saying family budgets and Americans' abilities to “fill up” their gas tanks should not “hinge on whether a dictator” like Russian President Vladimir Putin “declares war”...

Yelp to cover travel expenses for workers seeking abortions
Yelp will cover the travel expenses of employees who must travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by restrictions in Texas and other states

Zika virus may be one step away from explosive outbreak
Scientists say we should be on alert for variants which could start another major outbreak.
www.bbc.com
U.S. report acknowledges human rights backsliding in Afghanistan
The 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices also criticized China and Russia over human rights violations and authoritarian leadership.


Up to 50 shots fired when fight breaks out at Airbnb rental for teen's birthday party
A running gun battle during a teen's birthday party at a rented Airbnb house in a quiet neighborhood of suburban Houston left one person wounded.

Opioid overdose deaths among teens have skyrocketed due to fentanyl
Overdose deaths in adolescents rose far more rapidly than the general population between 2019 and 2021 because of fentanyl, according to a new study of CDC data.

Johnny Depp lawyers say Amber Heard giving 'performance of her life'
Amber Heard "concocted a role as a victim", the former spouses' defamation trial is told.
www.bbc.com

Washington state, Oregon teach kindergartners 'there are many ways to express gender'
Kindergartners in Washington state and Oregon public schools are required to learn "there are many ways to express gender."

Pouring it on: Climate change made 2020 hurricanes rainier
Climate change made the record-smashing deadly 2020 Atlantic hurricane season noticeably wetter, a new study says. And it will likely make this season rainier, too, scientists said. Human-caused climate change made the entire season -- 30 named storms -- drop 5% more rain.


Biden warned by Iranian American scientists, scholars over perils of removing terror status
About 500 Iranian American scientists, scholars and engineers urged President Biden Tuesday to not remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist groups.

Opinion: How Russians born in the 1990s became Putin's soldiers | CNN
Veteran Russian journalist Stanislav Kucher looks at how Putin has been able to shape the first generation of 'free Russians' -- those born in the 1990s who have only ever known one leader and are now soldiers in Ukraine. "They are the children of authoritarianism, not democracy," he writes.


Syria casts shadow on Biden to respond to possible Ukraine chemical attack
Investigations into whether Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine are putting a renewed focus on how the White House has tiptoed around setting any “red lines” should Moscow further violate inter…


Kinahan Cartel: US sanctions cartel leader with links to Tyson Fury
US officials said Daniel Kinahan, who worked as an advisor to boxer Tyson Fury, leads one of Europe's top drug gangs.
www.bbc.com
No end in sight for spiking prices? Enter the ‘peak inflation’ crowd
In recent days, economic forecasters have said that the March inflation number — an 8.5 percent surge over last year — may be the worst of it.


Lawmakers want ATF to update guidance on automatic firearm conversion devices
While adapting guns to fire like automatic weapons is already prohibited, lawmakers say loopholes allow people to continue to access devices that allow the conversion.


South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg impeached over conduct following fatal car crash
The South Dakota House voted Tuesday to impeach state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a September 2020 car crash he was involved in which left one individual dead after he reported hitting a deer.
Opinion | The Jan. 6 Committee Can Make a Difference: Simply by Revealing What It’s Found
Whether or not the House panel provides a “criminal referral” is beside the point.


STDs including gonorrhea, syphilis rose during 1st year of pandemic: CDC
Cases of several STDs continued to increase during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new federal report.

US inflation jumped 8.5% in past year, highest since 1981
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with costs for food, gasoline, housing and other necessities squeezing American consumers and wiping out the pay raises that many people have received.


Live Updates | Russia-Ukraine War
UNITED NATIONS — Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russia’s invasion and the United Nations has verified the deaths of 142 youngsters although the number is almost certainly much higher, the U.N.


As Russia gears up for bloodier phase of war, reports indicate a chemical weapon was used in Mariupol: April 11 recap
President Zelenskyy warned of an impending Russian offensive in his country's east and has urged civilians to flee the region. Monday recap
www.usatoday.com

US inflation jumped 8.5% in past year, highest since 1981
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation soared over the past year at its fastest pace in more than 40 years, with costs for food, gasoline, housing and other necessities squeezing American consumers and wiping out the pay raises that many people have received.


U.S. aircraft carrier deploys off Korean peninsula amid tensions with North
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is operating in waters off the Korean peninsula, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, amid tensions over North Korea's missile launches and concerns that it could soon resume testing nuclear weapons.


Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies
KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP) — Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isn’t bad weather, pests or blight — the traditional agricultural curses — but fertilizer: It costs too much.


Trump-style populism rises in US and Europe as Putin assaults world order | CNN Politics
A fresh tide of extreme populism -- feeding on economic strain, hostility to immigrants and cultural warfare -- is challenging key democracies from the inside at the same time Russia escalates the most brutal assault on the liberal Western order in decades.


Putin purges 150 intelligence agents for Ukraine failures: Report
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed about 150 Federal Security Bureau officers, sending some to prison, since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, according to a report on Monday.


Putin purges more than 100 FSB agents in apparent retaliation amid Ukraine invasion quagmire
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly ousted about 150 agents from the FSB, the successor agency to the KGB. The ousted agents belonged to the Fifth Service, a division that Putin – then director of the FSB – set up in 1998 in order to carry out operations in the countries of the former...

'It's not the end': The children who survived Bucha's horror
BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) — The coffin was made from pieces of a closet. In a darkened basement under a building shaking from the bombardment of war, there were few other options. Six-year-old Vlad watched as his mother was carried out of the shelter last month and to the yard of a nearby home.


Putin's top ally in Ukraine arrested, say authorities
Ukraine on Tuesday said it arrested the Kremlin's most prominent ally in the country as Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his strongest signal yet the war will grind on, warning peace talks were at a dead end.


New Russian commander, same 'depravity and brutality': Pentagon update Day 47
Russia is moving masses of troops, armor and artillery toward eastern Ukraine.

Taiwan issues first war survival handbook amid China threat
China has stepped up military activities nearby in the past two years, to press Taiwan into accepting its sovereignty claims.


Biden waiving ethanol rule in bid to lower gasoline prices
MENLO, Iowa (AP) — With inflation at a 40-year high , President Joe Biden journeyed to corn-rich Iowa on Tuesday to announce a modest step aimed at trimming gasoline prices by about a dime a gallon at a limited number of stations by waiving rules that restrict ethanol blending.

Ukraine not getting what it needs to 'end war sooner,' running out of 'time', Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday his forces still are not getting all that they need from supporting allies to "end the war sooner" as Kyiv braces for an eastward campaign from Russia.


IS supporter found guilty of killing UK lawmaker David Amess
A jury in London has found a fervent Islamic State supporter guilty of stabbing U.K. Conservative lawmaker David Amess to death and plotting to attack other lawmakers

‘Dr. Oz’ bets Trump endorsement can catapult him in Pa. Senate race
Trump's backing is important in a GOP primary — but only if voters know about it.


Russia-Ukraine war: What happened today (April 11)
A roundup of key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Poll: Americans overwhelmingly support 6 Biden proposals to fight climate change
When it comes to taking steps to fight climate change, Americans broadly support six key Biden administration proposals meant to transition the U.S. to renewable sources of energy, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.

Seoul: North Korea destroying S. Korean-owned golf course
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is destroying a South Korean-owned golf course at a scenic mountain resort in the second confirmed case of South Korean assets being eliminated in an area where the rivals once ran a joint tour program, officials said Tuesday in Seoul.


Regnery announces deal with Sen. Cruz to publish book exposing 'how the Left weaponized' the justice system
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joined with Regnery Publishing to publish his latest book, Justice Corrupted: How the Left Has Weaponized Our Legal System, which is slated for a Sept. 13 release.

Ukraine rights group tells top U.N. body that rape used as weapon of war
The United Nations is increasingly hearing accounts of rape and sexual violence in Ukraine, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council on Monday, as a Ukrainian human rights group accused Russian troops of using rape as a weapon of war.


Defense lawyers say case against accused federal agent imposters exaggerated, argue for release
Attorneys said the government had spun "the wildest conspiracy theories imaginable" and had no proof suspects sought to infiltrate the Secret Service.
www.usatoday.com

OnlyFans model fatally stabbed boyfriend in self-defense, lawyer says
The attorney's assertion came days after the victim's family said there was “no cause to believe” that he posed a threat.


UK says 'all options are on the table' if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine
All options would be on the table in how the West responds to any use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russia, British armed forces minister James Heappey said on Tuesday.


CNN tours Ukrainian villages decimated by Russian troops
Ukraine's President said Russian troops retreating from the north left thousands of mines in a deliberate act he considered a war crime. Ukraine is investigating some 5,800 cases of alleged Russian war crimes. Follow here for live news updates.

Trump-backed Michigan AG candidate promotes 'active' 2020 election fraud lawsuit
The attorney behind a 2020 election fraud lawsuit in Antrim County, Michigan, who is running for a top state office is promoting the dismissed case as "active."


WATCH: Activists criticizing Sen. Joe Manchin arrested after protesting outside power plant
Several activists were arrested over the weekend after blocking an entrance to a power plant in an effort to call attention to Sen. Joe Manchin's ties to the coal industry.

Polish panel: Russia behind Polish leader's plane crash
A Polish government special commission has reinforced its previous allegations that the 2010 plane crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in Russia was the result of Moscow's

National Urban League finds State of Black America is grim
ATLANTA (AP) — The National Urban League released its annual report on the State of Black America on Tuesday, and its findings are grim.


New Jersey Kmart closing leaves just three stores across US
Whereas there were once more than 2,000 Kmart stores across the United States, only three will remain after one closes in New Jersey.


Trump-endorsed politician launches bid to unseat GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Kelly Tshibaka is hoping to defeat Murkowski in the August primary. Murkowski voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.


Macron's offer to soften pension reform is 'manoeuvre' to seduce left-wing voters, Le Pen says
Emmanuel Macron's offer to soften planned pension reforms is a "manoeuvre" to lure voters ahead of the second round of France's presidential election, but he would still execute the original plans if re-elected, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen said.


Kelly signs bill to ban local 'sanctuaries' for immigrants
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed a bill pushed by state Republicans that would ban local municipalities from enacting policies that could help immigrants stay in the state illegally. In

Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing
Updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

French election has far-right leader ‘closer than she’s ever been’ to the presidency
Marine Le Pen will face President Emmanuel Macron in the second round of voting April 24 in a rematch that is expected to be much closer than their first clash in 2017.

Playwright David Mamet claims on Fox News that teachers 'are inclined' toward pedophilia
David Mamet claimed that teachers "are inclined" toward pedophilia, echoing attack lines that GOP politicians have used to push laws banning discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Russian go-kart driver denies Nazi salute in apology
A 15-year-old Russian go-kart driver has apologized after he appeared to give a Nazi salute on the racing podium at the FIA Karting European Championship in Portugal over the weekend.


UN Security Council hears of Russian atrocities against Ukraine's women and girls: rapes, mass abductions
Ukraine’s United Nations ambassador shocked many when he told members of the UN Security Council that Russia had abducted 121- thousand Ukrainian children from his country since the start of its bloody invasion

How many Ukrainian refugees are there and where have they gone?
The UN says more than 12 million people have fled their homes since the Russian invasion.
www.bbc.com

Russian forces left bombs, death and destruction around Kyiv. Now, a painstaking demining operation is underway
On the outskirts of Kyiv, Lt. Col. Mykola Opanasenko kneels down in a remote field as he winds up a small electrical generator to power a blast.


How a Little-Known Democrat Tries to Hold On (Published 2022)
Representative Tom O’Halleran of Arizona is seeking re-election as his district leans further toward Trump. His strategy? Don’t change. “I am,” he says, “who I am.”

Boris Johnson approves investigation into Rishi Sunak's finances
BORIS Johnson has signed off an inquiry into Rishi Sunak's finances after a row about his family's tax affairs.

Who is the general leading Russia’s new war strategy in Ukraine?
Dubbed the ‘butcher’ of Aleppo and Grozny, Aleksandr Dvornikov, was honoured with a Hero of Russia medal in 2016.

Biden to Modi: Buying more Russian oil is not in India's interest
President Joe Biden told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that buying more oil from Russia was not in India's interest and could hamper the U.S. response to the war in Ukraine, U.S. officials said.


EXPLAINER: What do new Alabama laws say on transgender kids?
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has become the first state to criminalize the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender people under age 19.


Biden finalizes restrictions on 'ghost guns,' names new ATF nominee
The president said he would nominate former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach to head the agency, which has been without a Senate-confirmed director since 2015


Almost two-thirds of Ukraine's 7.5 million children have been displaced in six weeks of war, U.N. says
"In my 31 years as a humanitarian, I have rarely seen so much damage caused in so little time," UNICEF emergency director Manuel Fontaine said.


Ukraine girds for Russian offensive in the east
Ukraine said on Monday it expects Russia to begin an offensive soon in the eastern Donbas region as Moscow shifts its focus to seizing territory there after its invasion force was driven from the gates of Kyiv this month.


Discovery of radioactive liquid pauses work at US nuke dump
An area at the U.S. government’s nuclear waste repository in southeastern New Mexico was evacuated over the weekend after workers handling a shipping container discovered a small amount of radioactive liquid inside it
With traditional parties on the wane, French political landscape has become a ‘three-way split’
Far-right and hard-left supporters turned out en masse for Sunday's French presidential elections, which saw traditional mainstream parties underperform catastrophically. As voters gravitate more towards…


Sacramento shooting is latest struggle for downtown strip
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The mass shooting that police say was a gun battle between rival gangs that left six dead and 12 wounded earlier this month shook the downtown core of California's capital — and created another challenge for a city trying to redefine itself as a destination for more...


Bitcoin by bitcoin, restaurants start to accept cryptocurrencies
Despite the volatility and doubts surrounding bitcoin, more restaurants nationwide are accepting cryptocurrencies alongside cash and credit cards.


Andrew Yang’s attempt at political unity results in conflict
Some suggested Johnson's presidency demonstrates why people from different ideological backgrounds shouldn't share a ticket.

Iowa Democratic Senate candidate to appeal judge's decision to keep her off ballot
Some of Finkenauer's signatures on petition to qualify for ballot were successfully challenged by Republicans.


Explosion in south Lebanon kills 1, injures several
Security officials say at least one person was killed and several were injured after an explosion demolished a building in southern Lebanon

Etsy sellers launch a week-long strike over increased fees
Thousands of Etsy sellers closed their online shops for a week starting Monday in an attempt to get the company to address several complaints they have about the site.


Sri Lanka PM appeals for ‘patience’ from protesters amid crisis
Mahinda Rajapaksa urges protesters to end demonstrations calling for the government to resign over the economic crisis.

Arizona House votes to delay controversial new election law
The Arizona House has voted to delay the effective date for legislation signed last month requiring voters to provide evidence of their citizenship. The measure sent to the Senate on

Macron, Le Pen battle out on cost of living in heated runoff campaign
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen traded blows at a distance on Monday over who would best protect French voters' purchasing power, kicking off a tense fight to win the presidential election runoff on April 24.


Tropical storm Megi hits Philippines, leaving at least 25 dead
The storm, the first in the Southeast Asian country this year, caused deadly landslides and floods as it made landfall on the eastern and southern coasts.


Drugs running out, surgeries cancelled as Sri Lanka's health system buckles
Rosanne White was first diagnosed with cancer eight years ago and lost a kidney. After the cancer returned five years ago, an oncologist in Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo started her on Bevacizumab last May, a treatment she was responding to.


Rachel Maddow to host MSNBC prime-time show weekly
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow announced she will host her eponymous television show only on Mondays starting in May, she told viewers on her first night back from a hiatus. MSNBC’s top personality share…


Some believe political motivation drove Gov. Abbott to visit El Paso
Governor Greg Abbott visited El Paso on Monday to speak to border sheriffs from across the state about border security as Title 42 prepares to end in May. However,Democratic nominee for governor Beto O'Rourke, and an El Paso communications expert believe Abbott's visit may have been for...


Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 4.12.22
‘Sunburn’ tells you what you need to know — now.


Why we've just scratched the surface of the January 6 investigation | CNN Politics
Even as the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection pieces together a narrative, many questions remain -- including whether the committee will suggest charging either former President Donald Trump or his closest advisers or family members with a crime.


Ukraine war latest updates: ‘20,000 civilians killed in Mariupol’
Ukraine news from April 12: Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko says more than 20,000 civilians have been killed in the city.

Plea deal rejected by 3 ex-officers in George Floyd’s death
Few details of the offers emerged in a Monday hearing on whether the judge has the authority to allow live video coverage of the June trial.


Lori Vallow, charged with killing her children, ruled mentally fit to stand trial
Vallow, set to be arraigned April 19, was committed to an Idaho mental health facility nearly a year ago.


Life in Russia under sanctions may parallel what one reporter found in Iran
Russia and Iran appear to be on each other's coattails when it comes to being "most sanctioned" while both continue to sweep the real consequences of sanctions under the rug.

Non-political Facebook pages used for election disinformation – study
A new study found that non-political Facebook pages in the Philippines that appear to be non-partisan, share content about political candidates, election news


Responses to Dwayne Haskins' death expose ugly truths about sports fans | Opinion
After Dwayne Haskins' death, too many fans wrongly viewed the 24-year-old's life solely through the prism of his NFL career, Mike Jones writes.
www.usatoday.com

Puerto Rico Olympian's mother killed at home by stray bullet
The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian has been killed by a stray bullet while sewing in her Connecticut home

Zelenskyy exclusive interview: The full transcript
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ukrainian leader talks about the war in his country and what it will take to end it.

PM says protests are hurting rebuilding of Sri Lanka economy
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa appealed for protesters to end the weeks of mass demonstrations that have called for the government to resign over the country's worst economic crisis in decades

Why Russian TV propaganda is crucial to understanding the war in Ukraine | CNN Business
A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter.


Indonesia's parliament passes landmark bill on sexual violence
Indonesia's parliament passed a long-awaited bill on Tuesday to tackle sexual violence, aimed at building stronger cases and helping victims to secure justice in a country where sexual abuse has often been regarded as a private matter.


Biden says 'ghost gun' crackdown should be 'just the start' on gun control: 'None of this absolves Congress'
President Biden has had incremental success at implementing gun control through executive action, rolling out a rule last year to regulate pistol-stablizing braces, directing his Justice Department to target gun traffickers, and announcing a new crackdown on "ghost guns" Monday.

Old-style government practices seen in Mexican recall vote
Analysts in Mexico say President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's recall vote could, paradoxically, leave Mexico's democracy weaker. López Obrador's Morena party used illegal, old-style tactics to get out the vote

A shortage of baby formula is worsening and causing some stores to limit sales
Some 29% of baby formula products were out of stock at retailers across the U.S. during the week of March 13, according to the firm Datasembly.


German minister resigns over vacation after deadly flood
A German Cabinet minister has resigned after it emerged that she went on a long vacation shortly after devastating floods which left over 100 people dead last year in the

Sri Lanka doctors warn of ‘catastrophe’ as medicines run low
Drugs to treat heart attacks and tubes to help babies breathe in short supply as doctors forced to treat in the dark.

Complete list of winners from the CMT Music Awards
Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners at the CMT music awards

Chile announces unprecedented water rationing plan as drought enters 13th year
As a punishing, record-breaking drought enters its 13th year, Chile on Monday announced an unprecedented plan to ration water for the capital of Santiago, a city of nearly 6 million.


Sam Elliott apologizes for comments criticizing 'The Power of the Dog' | CNN
Sam Elliott has publicly apologized for his criticism of the critically acclaimed Western film "The Power of the Dog" after facing fierce backlash for remarks that many perceived as homophobic.


Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean win big at CMT Music Awards
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners, the Judds reunited, and Kelsea Ballerini turned a tough break into a one-woman house party at Monday night's CMT music awards.


Lakers fire title-winning coach Frank Vogel after 3 seasons
The Los Angeles Lakers have fired Frank Vogel


Shanghai eases 2-week shutdown, letting some residents out
BEIJING (AP) — Some residents of Shanghai were allowed out of their homes as the city of 25 million eased a two-week-old shutdown Tuesday after a video posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket.


COVID-19, overdoses pushed US to highest death total ever
NEW YORK (AP) — 2021 was the deadliest year in U.S. history, and new data and research are offering more insights into how it got that bad. The main reason for the increase in deaths? COVID-19, said Robert Anderson, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's work on death...


Airline mask mandate extension 'on the table' as traveler numbers soar
The travel mask mandate is set to end next week, but the Biden administration said extending it is "still on the table."

As youth mental illness soars, US task force recommends screening children as young as age 8 for anxiety
Children as young as 8 years old should be screened for anxiety, the country’s leading panel of experts on health prevention recommended Tuesday for the first time.

Why the latest rise in COVID-19 cases is being treated differently
COVID-19 cases are showing signs of rising again, even as many Americans are eager to move on. Washington, D.C., has been hit with a string of high-profile cases in Congress and the admin…


What do we know about “stealth omicron" so far?
What do we know about “stealth omicron" so far? It's an extra-contagious version of the omicron variant , but it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease.


Guangzhou closes to most arrivals as China's outbreak grows
The manufacturing hub of Guangzhou has closed itself to most arrivals as China battles a COVID-19 outbreak in its big eastern cities

U.S. orders some Shanghai consulate staff to leave amid Covid-19 outbreak
China’s most populous city has been on lockdown for weeks, with residents complaining of difficulties obtaining food and medical care as officials try to stamp out cases.


People 50 and older are eligible for a second COVID booster. Who should get one?
Should you get a second COVID booster shot? All people 50 and older are eligible, but health officials say they might not be needed for everyone.
www.usatoday.com

Shanghai eases COVID curbs for some even as factory halts widen
Some Shanghai residents were able to leave their homes for the first time in more than two weeks on Tuesday as the city took tentative steps towards easing a COVID-19 lockdown amid mounting worries over the economic impact of the strict curbs.


White House may extend mask mandate for planes and transit, Covid czar says
The federal mask mandate for planes, trains and buses is set to expire next week, but the CDC is considering extending the order.


Shanghai tweaks lockdown rules amid COVID-19 surge
City will be divided into three tiers depending on recent cases amid rising anger over shortages of food, necessities.

CVS, feds reach agreement on vaccine portal accessibility
CVS Pharmacy has reached a settlement with federal prosecutors that will ensure the company’s online vaccination scheduling portal remains fully accessible to people with disabilities