Pro-Kremlin party retains large majority in parliament
MOSCOW — Russia’s ruling party retained its supermajority in parliament, further cementing President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power in elections that most opposition politicians were barred from and that were marred by multiple reports of violations. The vote has been watched closely for any signs that Putin’s control might slip,...
‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero found guilty of terror-related charges
KIGALI, Rwanda — A court in Rwanda says the man who inspired “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul Rusesabagina, is guilty of terror-related offenses. Rusesabagina boycotted Monday’s announcement after declaring he didn’t expect justice in a trial he called a “sham.” He has so far been found guilty of the formation of an...
Pfizer says covid-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11
Pfizer said Monday its covid-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12...
Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems’ immigration push
WASHINGTON — Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, the Senate’s parliamentarian said late Sunday, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway in years to attaining that long-sought goal. The decision by...
Health official: Booster use may be expandedVideo
WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health director says a government advisory panel’s decision to limit Pfizer covid-19 booster shots to Americans 65 and older as well as those at high risk of severe disease is a preliminary step and predicts broader approval for most Americans “in the next few...
U.S. closes part of Texas border, begins flying Haitians homeVideo
DEL RIO, Texas — The United States acted Sunday to stem the flow of migrants into Texas by blocking the Mexican border at an isolated town where thousands of Haitian refugees set up a camp, and American officials began flying some of the migrants back to their homeland. About a...
New claims in New York City restaurant brawl over vaccine proofVideo
NEW YORK — New details have emerged about a brawl outside a popular New York City restaurant between several out-of-town visitors and an employee over the restaurant’s requirement that the guests show proof of vaccination. Attorneys for Carmine’s and for three women from Texas who are facing charges in connection...
Recall vote highlights California’s geopolitical divisions
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California recall election was a blowout win for Gov. Gavin Newsom that reinforced the state’s political divisions: The Democratic governor won big support in coastal areas and urban centers, while the rural north and agricultural inland, with far fewer voters, largely wanted him gone. “It’s almost...
Volcano erupts on Atlantic island; lava threatens some homes
MADRID — A volcano on Spain’s Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma erupted Sunday after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to speed up evacuations for 1,000 people as lava flows crept toward isolated homes on the mountain. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute reported the eruption on Cumbre...
U.S. closes part of Texas border, begins flying Haitians home
DEL RIO, Texas — Hoping to stop the flow of migrants, the United States on Sunday tried to block the Mexican border at an isolated Texas town where thousands of Haitian refugees have set up a camp, but the migrants quickly found other ways to cross nearby. The attempted border...
Same goal, different paths: U.S., EU seek max vaccine rates
BRUSSELS — The Belgian town of Aarschot has a vaccination rate of 94% of all adults, but Mayor Gwendolyn Rutten worries her town is too close for comfort to the capital of Brussels, where the rate stands at 63%. But there’s not much she can do about it. Her hope...
Body found in Wyoming believed to be Gabrielle Petito
MOOSE, Wyo. — Authorities say a body discovered Sunday in Wyoming is believed to be Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito. The FBI said the body was found by law enforcement agents who had spent the past two days searching campgrounds. The cause of death has not yet been determined, said FBI Supervisory...
Afghan survivors of errant U.S. drone strike seek probe
KABUL, Afghanistan — A survivor of an errant U.S. drone strike that killed 10 members of his family demanded Saturday that those responsible be punished and said Washington’s apology was not enough. The family also seeks financial compensation and relocation to the United States or another country deemed safe, said...
Bats in Laos caves harbor closest relatives to covid-19 virus
Bats dwelling in limestone caves in northern Laos were found to carry coronaviruses that share a key feature with SARS-CoV-2, moving scientists closer to pinpointing the cause of covid-19. Researchers at France’s Pasteur Institute and the University of Laos looked for viruses similar to the one that causes covid-19 among...
Pennsylvania’s looming dementia care crisis, by the numbers
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. Pennsylvania is headed for a profound eldercare crisis, experts warn, as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rates continue to climb, the state’s...
Heavy police presence as protesters trickle in for DC rally
WASHINGTON — In the shadow of a fortified Capitol, a few hundred demonstrators turned up Saturday for a rally to support those charged in January’s riot, but were vastly outnumbered by the media and a heavy police presence. U.S. Capitol Police were taking no chances, with hundreds of officers brought...
Fearful U.S. residents in Afghanistan hiding out from Taliban
Every night in yet another house in Afghanistan’s capital, a U.S. green card-holding couple from California take turns sleeping, with one always awake to watch over their three young children so they can flee if they hear the footsteps of the Taliban. They’ve moved seven times in two weeks, relying...
Official: U.S. will fly ‘massive’ number of Haitians to Haiti
DEL RIO, Texas — The Biden administration plans on “massive movements” of Haitian migrants in a small Texas border city on flights to Haiti starting Sunday, an official said Friday, representing a swift and dramatic response to thousands who suddenly assembled under and around a bridge. Details are yet to...
Pennsylvania Democrats sue over GOP election ‘investigation’
HARRISBURG — Democrats in Pennsylvania’s state Senate sued Friday evening in a state court to block a Republican-approved subpoena seeking voter information and to put a stop to what Republicans call a “forensic investigation” of last year’s presidential election. Democrats had said they would sue within days after the Republican-controlled...
First sports bet placed from outer space
It was a bet that was out of this world. On Thursday, billionaire Jared Isaacman placed the first sports bet from space to Las Vegas. In all, he wagered $4,000 on the Washington Football Team and New York Giants game and another $4,000 on if the Philadelphia Eagles would be...
New York millionaire Robert Durst guilty of best friend’s murder
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A Los Angeles jury convicted Robert Durst on Friday of murdering his best friend 20 years ago, a case that took on new life after the New York real estate heir participated in a documentary that connected him to the slaying that was linked to his wife’s...
FDA advisory panel rejects widespread Pfizer booster shots
WASHINGTON — An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan Friday to offer Pfizer booster shots against covid-19 to most Americans, dealing a heavy blow to the Biden administration’s effort to shore up people’s protection amid the highly contagious delta variant. The vote by the committee of outside experts...
Pentagon reverses itself, calls deadly Kabul drone strike an error
The Pentagon retreated from its defense of a drone strike that killed multiple civilians in Afghanistan last month, announcing Friday that a review revealed that only civilians were killed in the attack, not an Islamic State extremist as first believed. “The strike was a tragic mistake,” Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie,...
California wildfires burn into groves of giant sequoia trees
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — California wildfires have burned into at least four groves of gigantic ancient sequoias in national parks and forests, though cooler weather on Friday helped crews trying to keep the flames away from a famous cluster containing the world’s largest tree. The fires lapped into the groves...
Colorado school shooter to be sentenced to life in prison
DENVER — A former high school student convicted of first degree murder and other charges for a 2019 shooting attack inside a suburban Denver high school that killed one student and injured eight others is set to be sentenced to mandatory life in prison without parole on Friday. Devon Erickson...
