A Kenyan official says his government is halting plans to deploy at least 1,000 police officers to Haiti following the unprecedented violence that erupted in the Caribbean nation and the announcement by its Prime Minister Ariel Henry that he would resign once a presidential council is created. Kenya agreed last October to lead a U.N.-authorized international police force to Haiti, but the process stalled in the country’s top court in January until reciprocal agreements were signed earlier this month, clearing the path for the deployment. Читать дальше...
The United States is spearheading the first United Nations resolution on artificial intelligence, aimed at ensuring the new technology is “safe, secure and trustworthy” and that all countries, especially those in the developing world, have equal access. The draft General Assembly resolution aims to close the digital divide between countries and make sure they are all at the table in discussions on AI. It recognizes the rapid acceleration of AI development and use and stresses “the urgency of achieving global consensus on safe... Читать дальше...
The Uvalde police chief who was on vacation during the Robb Elementary School shooting has resigned. The announcement Tuesday came less than a week after a report ordered by the city defended the department’s response to the attack but outraged some family members of the 19 children and two teachers who were killed. Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez was vacationing in Arizona when a teenage gunman entered a fourth-grade classroom in Uvalde with an AR-style rifle. His resignation takes effect in April.
It’s a now-familiar ritual in Washington: a federal prosecutor being summoned to Capitol Hill to discuss the findings of a politically explosive investigation. Tuesday’s hearing with special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated President Joe Biden’s handling of classified information, broke little new legal or political ground. But it delivered plenty of talk about the president’s memory — faulty, in Hur’s assessment — about the laws surrounding classified material and, of course, lots of talk about Donald Trump.
After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available for taxpayers from 12 selected states. Direct File is a free online tool. Taxpayers in the 12 states who have very simple W-2s and claim a standard deduction may be eligible to use it this tax season. The Direct File pilot is part of the agency’s effort to build out a new government service that could replace some taxpayers’ use of commercial tax preparation software, such as TurboTax.
DETROIT (AP) — Most electronic systems that take on some driving tasks for humans don't adequately make sure drivers are paying attention, and they don't issue strong enough warnings or take other actions to make drivers behave, according to an insurance industry study published Tuesday.
Читать дальше...A judge has ruled that a 5-year-old New Hampshire girl missing since 2019 is legally dead and her mother can become administrator of her estate, just weeks after the child’s father was convicted of killing her. A probate judge says Crystal Sorey “has carried her burden to demonstrate” that her daughter, Harmony Montgomery, was killed “as a result of some catastrophic event” and that her body has not been found. Sorey is taking the first steps in preparation of a planned wrongful death lawsuit against the state regarding Harmony. Читать дальше...
The head of the African Development Bank is calling for an end to loans given in exchange for oil or critical minerals used in smartphones and electric car batteries. Such deals have left some African countries in financial crisis and have helped China control the extraction of critical minerals, such as cobalt, in Congo. Akinwumi Adesina said in an interview with The Associated Press that these arrangements come with a litany of problems, pointing to uneven negotiations where lenders typically dictate terms to cash-strapped African nations. Читать дальше...
The European Union’s executive arm says it will recommend that member countries open accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement Tuesday. The Western Balkan country is among six nations that are at different stages of the EU accession process following a period of wars in the 1990s. Their memberships have been stalled for years. But EU officials are more keen on trying to lure them away from Russian influence. EU leaders... Читать дальше...
President Joe Biden repeatedly told a special counsel he never meant to retain classified information after he left the vice presidency.
Mississippians are voting in party primaries for four seats in the U.S. House and one in the U.S. Senate. Polls are open Tuesday until 7 p.m. Central time. Republican Rep. Mike Ezell is the only incumbent House member being challenged for a party nomination. He faces Carl Boyanton, who has owned a produce distribution company, and Michael McGill, a military veteran. Ezell was elected in 2022 in south Mississippi's 4th Congressional District. Sen. Roger Wicker faces two challengers in the Republican primary. Читать дальше...
Libraries across the U.S. are struggling to cover the cost of e-books, which have grown in popularity. Digital copies of books often cost libraries four or more times the price consumers pay. And unlike paper books, an e-book doesn't last. The libraries are only leasing their copies from digital publishing platforms. After a year or two, the e-books expire. Librarians in some states are pushing for legislation that would help lower their costs. Publishers are fighting these proposals, saying they undermine intellectual property rights.
Now that retirement spans more years than ever, you might need to rethink how you’re envisioning that stage of your life. It’s not a blip on the life radar — it’s a significant chunk of time. While your parents may have retired and never worked another day in their lives, you may find that part-time work when you get older fulfills your mental needs and helps your retirement savings last. You may have to be more aggressive with your investments than you expected. And staying healthy is more important than ever. Читать дальше...
Four astronauts from four countries are back on Earth after catching a ride from the International Space Station with SpaceX. Their capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Panhandle early Tuesday. NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli led the returning crew. She was joined by astronauts from Denmark, Japan and Russia. The four moved into the space station last August for what turned out to be a 199-day mission. Their replacements arrived last week.
Philippine trade officials say they have received assurances that the United States will address their concerns after American authorities held up shipments of garments on suspicion that cotton was produced by forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. Philippine Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual raised the issue in a meeting Monday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who was leading a U.S. business delegation in Manila. An official in Manila says several shipments of apparel to the U.S. by just... Читать дальше...
BEIJING (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Tuesday ahead of a report on inflation in the U.S. that could sway the Federal Reserve’s timing on cutting interest rates.
Читать дальше...The Israeli military says about 100 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israel on Tuesday, a day after Palestinians in Gaza began fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. The launches were some of the heaviest fire emanating from Israel’s northern neighbor since the start of the war in Gaza. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage following the strikes, which appeared to be in response to Israeli airstrikes deep inside Lebanon on Monday. Hunger is worsening across Gaza and pressure... Читать дальше...
Russia's economy is holding up despite massive Western sanctions and foreign businesses pulling out of the country. While some goods aren't available, President Vladimir Putin can point to a stable, growing economy as he orchestrates his reelection to a fifth, six-year term this week. Yes, there's inflation that consumers are feeling as they shop, and some favorite imported goods may be gone or much more expensive. But massive government spending on the military and other moves have been giving the economy a boost. Читать дальше...
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was recently back in the spotlight. This time, it wasn’t as a politician. Justice was on the court guiding a high school basketball team in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. The 72-year-old governor moonlights as the girls coach at Greenbrier East. Justice has a longtime love of working with kids and says they give him energy. The pause in politics came during the final week of the legislature’s session and just before a critical point in his career. Justice... Читать дальше...
Ohio’s political pendulum swung left last year as voters in the one-time bellwether state overwhelmingly supported enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution and voted to legalize recreational marijuana. Academics, politicos and Republicans caution not to read too much into 2023’s outcomes. But the victories have been encouraging for Democrats, who are defending a pivotal U.S. Senate seat in a state that's twice supported Donald Trump by wide margins. Democratic Chair Elizabeth Walters... Читать дальше...
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is turning up the heat on Boeing. Buttigieg said Monday that with the aircraft maker facing multiple government investigations, it needs to make “a serious transformation” around its safety and manufacturing quality. Boeing has been under increasing scrutiny since a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Now a published report says the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation. That follows Boeing's... Читать дальше...
Consumer prices likely rose last month at a pace that would exceed the Federal Reserve’s inflation target, underscoring why the Fed is being cautious as it considers when to cut interest rates and suggesting that inflation will remain a potent issue in President Joe Biden’s re-election race. Yet Tuesday’s government report may also show that underlying price pressures continue to ease, which would be an encouraging sign that inflation is gradually coming under control. Economists have estimated that... Читать дальше...
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea with missiles on Monday, producing an explosion near the vessel but causing no damage. The master of the vessel reported the explosion and said no one was hurt, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The UKMTO later identified the vessel as the Pinocchio, managed by a Singaporean firm. The Houthis used two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the attack, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. Читать дальше...
The Wall Street Journal reports that shipping business CEO Angela Chao died on a Central Texas ranch in February after her car went into a pond and became submerged in water for an extended period of time. According to an incident report from the Blanco County fire department, Chao's car was submerged in water while first responders attempted different efforts to break the windows. Ultimately, the car was pulled from the water by a tow truck and rescuers were unable to revive her.