US and World News

By David Stanway and Martin Quin Pollard SHANGHAI/BEIJING -Locked-down Shanghai aims to ringfence its COVID outbreak over the next week, officials said on Friday, while residents in China’s capital Beijing …

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith SEOUL -At least one person confirmed to have COVID-19 has died in North Korea and hundreds of thousands have shown fever symptoms, state media …

By Jarrett Renshaw and James Oliphant PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic Party’s hopes of picking up a much-needed U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania are likely tethered to a 6-foot, 8-inch tall …

By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON -U.S. President Joe Biden opened a gathering of Southeast Asian leaders with a promise to spend $150 million on their infrastructure, security, pandemic preparedness and other …

By Adria Malcolm and Andrew Hay TIERRA MONTE, N.M. – Wildfires edged towards mountain resort towns in northern New Mexico on Thursday and engulfed an enclave of multi-million-dollar mansions in …

By Cynthia Kim SEOUL – In South Korea, fewer women are having children and those who do are in no rush. The sky-high costs of housing and education make financial …

By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL – North Korea is facing its first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak with no known vaccine programme, sparking new calls for the government to accept …

By Phil Stewart ABU DHABI – The new U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East said allies were concerned about long-term U.S. commitment to the region, as he …

By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON -Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, and four other lawmakers received subpoenas on Thursday from the House committee investigating the …

By Daniel Trotta COSTA MESA, Calif. -California regulators on Thursday rejected a $1.4 billion desalination plant on environmental grounds, dealing a setback to Governor Gavin Newsom, who had supported the …

MIAMI -At least 11 people drowned when a vessel carrying Haitian migrants capsized near Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday, amid a steady increase in migrants attempting …

By Sharon Bernstein (Reuters) – A bill in the Louisiana legislature aiming to charge women and their doctors with murder for obtaining or providing abortion services was withdrawn from consideration …

WASHINGTON – Billionaire Elon Musk made clear on Thursday that even though he wants Twitter to lift its permanent ban on former President Donald Trump, that doesn’t mean he supports …

By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) -Wildfire fueled by exceedingly dry brush swept through the wealthy Southern California enclave of Laguna Niguel on Wednesday, destroying about 20 homes while scorching some 200 …

By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON -The White House is preparing for a scenario in which Congress fails to approve President Joe Biden’s request for additional COVID funds by reviewing old contracts …

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON -President Joe Biden on Thursday commemorated the COVID-19 deaths of 1 million people in the United States, marking what he called “a tragic …

By Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL -North Korea’s coronavirus outbreak threatens to deepen its already dire food situation this year, as a nationwide lockdown would hamper ongoing anti-drought efforts …

By Anne Kauranen and Jonathan Landay HELSINKI/KHARKIV, Ukraine – Moscow warned Finland on Thursday it would face consequences as it seeks to apply for NATO membership “without delay” and Ukraine …

By David Morgan WASHINGTON -The top Democrat and Republican in the U.S. Senate joined forces in a rare moment of unity on Thursday in an attempt to pass $40 billion …

By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK – A U.S. judge on Thursday ruled that “Vape: The Musical,” which mocks the blockbuster 1978 film “Grease,” amounted to fair use and did not …

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON – The chair of the U.S. House panel overseeing the Postal Service (USPS) asked the agency to turn over documents and answer questions on its plans …

By Nate Raymond BOSTON – The state of Massachusetts on Thursday agreed to pay $56 million to resolve a lawsuit by families of veterans who contracted COVID-19 during an outbreak …