Tag Archives: General news

House speaker casts doubts on Ukraine and Israel aid package as senators grind toward final vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson late Monday sharply criticized a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other countries, casting serious doubts about the future of the package just as Senate leaders were slowly muscling it toward a final vote. Senate leaders, trying to send a message that the U.S. remains committed to its allies, were looking …

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Pakistan’s former premier Sharif and allies agree to form a coalition

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and its allies announced late Tuesday that they will jointly form a coalition government, ending the uncertainty since last week when no party won a simple majority in parliamentary elections. The latest development came hours after the parties — all of them rivals of the country’s imprisoned former …

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Two Thai journalists arrested for covering anti-monarchist vandalism of temple wall freed on bail

BANGKOK (AP) — Two Thai journalists arrested for reporting on the vandalism of Bangkok temple wall with graffiti criticizing a pro-monarchy law were released on bail Tuesday, a lawyer’s group said. The arrests, carried out separately on Monday, nearly a year after the incident, drew widespread criticism and raised concerns from several right groups over the state of media freedom …

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New Orleans bids another joyous ‘Fat Tuesday’ farewell to Carnival season

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans bade a typically joyous goodbye to Carnival season Tuesday with Mardi Gras parades, street parties and what amounted to a massive outdoor costume festival around the bars and restaurants in the French Quarter. Revelers in capes, wigs, spandex and feathers danced in front of St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square while Latin music blared. …

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Federal audit finds ‘a lot of work remains’ in Puerto Rico’s hurricane and earthquake recovery

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico is trudging through reconstruction work after two devastating hurricanes and a string of strong earthquakes, and has spent less than 10% of more than $23 billion in available federal funds, according to a U.S. government report released Tuesday. The U.S. territory has “a substantial amount” of permanent projects still pending as their …

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Lawmakers take up ‘skill games,’ minimum wage, marijuana as Assembly hits midpoint deadline

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers plowed through hundreds of bills Tuesday as they reached a key deadline for this year’s legislative session. The House of Delegates and Senate debated topics ranging from gambling to marijuana sales ahead of what’s known as “crossover,” the point by which all legislation but the budget bills must clear its originating chamber. This year’s …

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