U.S./World category, Page 207
SEC sues Elon Musk, saying he didn’t disclose Twitter ownership on time before buying it
The Securities and Exchange Commission has sued billionaire Elon Musk, saying he failed to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner in early 2022, before buying the social media site. As a result, the SEC alleges, Musk was able to underpay “by at least $150 million” for...
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey proposes $8 billion investment in transportation over 10 years
BOSTON — The Bay State will spend upward of $8 billion over the next 10 years improving its roads, bridges and regional transportation services if a proposal announced by the governor Tuesday is passed by the legislature. Gov. Maura Healey, speaking from Union Station in Worcester, said that the investment...
Pete Hegseth asked to define ‘jagoff’ at Senate confirmation hearing
The term “jagoff” is more than just an insult in Pittsburgh. Here, it holds great cultural significance. But that’s not what Pete Hegseth was trying to convey during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary....
Speaker Johnson orders U.S. Capitol flags raised to full height for Trump’s inauguration
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered that flags at the U.S. Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, pausing a 30-day flag-lowering order as a result of the death of former President Jimmy Carter. The Republican leader’s decision means that President-elect Donald Trump will not take...
Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration...
A look at the terms — and tensions — in the Israel-Hamas draft ceasefire deal
CAIRO — If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and...
Michelle Obama will skip Trump inauguration, but ex-Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush will be there
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the second time in two weeks that she is not attending a gathering of former U.S. leaders and their spouses, but former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will...
NATO announces a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region
BRUSSELS — NATO is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region after a string of incidents that have heightened fears of Russian sabotage and spying in the strategic region, the alliance’s leader said on Tuesday. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that the mission dubbed Baltic...
Irregular migration into the European Union fell sharply last year, border agency says
WARSAW, Poland — The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union fell significantly in 2024, according to the bloc’s border control agency Frontex, something which it attributed to intensified cooperation against smuggling networks. The Warsaw-based agency said in a statement that its preliminary data for last year reveal...
Why hundreds of miners are still trapped and starving in an abandoned South Africa mine
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African authorities have come under intense scrutiny for their response after civic groups said hundreds of miners have been trapped deep in an abandoned gold mine for months, with more than 100 of them believed to have died of starvation or dehydration. Authorities launched...
Blinken will make a case for post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to make a last-minute case Tuesday for a plan for the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears tantalizingly close to completion. Blinken will tout the proposal, which has been in the works for...
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, officials say
CAIRO — Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediator Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal that...
Dire fire warning for Los Angeles area pushed back as wind eases
LOS ANGELES — Easing wind delivered a brief but much-needed reprieve to firefighters Tuesday as they battled two massive blazes burning in the Los Angeles area, and the National Weather Service pushed back its unusually dire warning of critical fire weather until early the following day. Forecasters said the winds...
Traffic into Manhattan drops 7.5% in first week of new toll. That’s 43,000 fewer cars a dayVideo
NEW YORK — A new toll on drivers entering the core of Manhattan brought modest but measurable traffic reductions to New York City’s heavily-gridlocked streets in its first week of operation, according to preliminary data released Monday by the state’s transit authority. Known as “congestion pricing,” the first-in-the-nation program launched...
Prosecutor who investigated Hunter Biden defends probes, denounces president’s remarks in new report
WASHINGTON — The criminal charges against Hunter Biden “were the culmination of thorough, impartial investigations, not partisan politics,” the prosecutor who led the probes said in a report that sharply criticized President Joe Biden for having maligned the Justice Department when he pardoned his son. “Other presidents have pardoned family...
‘A nightmare’: Ligonier native takes to skies to battle Los Angeles fires
Capt. RK Smithley has been one of about a dozen aerial firefighters battling the Los Angeles wildfires, which have killed at least 24 people. “This is kind of a historical event that we’re operating right now,” he said. “My gut reaction was it’s a nightmare.” A Ligonier native, Smithley, 65,...
Trump pronounces Sen. John Fetterman ‘impressive’ after Mar-a-Lago meeting
President-elect Donald Trump had several positive things to say about Sen. John Fetterman as a result of their meeting during the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, according to the Washington Examiner. Trump heaped praise on Pennsylvania’s senior senator calling him “impressive” and “fascinating.” “It was a totally fascinating meeting. He’s a fascinating...
Country star Carrie Underwood will perform at Trump’s inauguration
NEW YORK — Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful” at Donald Trump’s inauguration next week and other performers will include two of the president-elect’s musical favorites, country singer Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio. Underwood, who launched her career on “American Idol,” is to perform...
Judge clears the way for release of special counsel Smith’s report on Trump’s 2020 election case
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department can publicly release special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case, a federal judge said Monday in the latest ruling in a court dispute over the highly anticipated document days before Trump is set to reclaim the White House....
Some Israeli soldiers refuse to keep fighting in Gaza
JERUSALEM — Yotam Vilk says the image of Israeli soldiers killing an unarmed Palestinian teenager in the Gaza Strip is seared in his mind. An officer in the armored corps, Vilk said the instructions were to shoot any unauthorized person who entered an Israeli-controlled buffer zone in Gaza. He saw...
Supreme Court declines to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t hear an appeal from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The order allows the city of Honolulu’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies...
Millions have had student loans canceled under Biden — despite the collapse of his forgiveness plan
WASHINGTON — Despite failing to deliver his promise for broad student loan forgiveness, President Joe Biden has now overseen the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million Americans — more than any other president in U.S. history. In a last-minute action on Monday, the Education Department canceled loans...
Melania Trump says she’s packed and ready for the move back into the White House
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Incoming first lady Melania Trump says she’s packed and ready to move back into the White House, where son Barron will have a bedroom, and she plans to revive her Be Best children’s initiative. Trump also said in a taped interview broadcast Monday on Fox...
Magnitude 6.9 earthquake rattles southwestern Japan as tsunami threat declared over
TOKYO — A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 hit southwestern Japan on Monday, triggering public warnings to stay away from coastal areas because of a tsunami advisory, which was later called off. There were no immediate reports of damage. Residents in some coastal areas were told to...
Stronger wind threatens to spread wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area
LOS ANGELES — A growing force of firefighters battled massive infernos across the Los Angeles area on Monday as more powerful wind moved in and threatened recent progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink...
