U.S./World category, Page 244
Biggest diamond in over a century found in Botswana — a whopping 2,492 carats
GABORONE, Botswana — The largest diamond found in more than a century has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana, and the country’s president showed off the fist-sized stone to the world at a viewing ceremony Thursday. The Botswana government says the huge 2,492-carat diamond is the second-biggest ever discovered...
Iceland volcano erupts again but spares the nearby town of Grindavik for now
GRINDAVIK, Iceland — Lava continued to spew from a volcano in southwestern Iceland on Friday — the sixth time since December the volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The eruption from a new fissure began shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday following a series of strong earthquakes and within the...
Biden to dispatch adviser to China as he looks to sharpen policy focus in final months
BUELLTON, Calif. — President Joe Biden plans to dispatch his national security adviser Jake Sullivan to China as the White House aims to sharpen its focus on foreign policy in the Democrat’s final months in office. Sullivan’s visit to meet with his counterpart, Wang Yi, is expected to take place...
Death toll from bandit attack on police in Pakistan rises to 12
LAHORE, Pakistan — The death toll from Pakistan’s deadliest bandit attack on police rose to 12 after one of the wounded officers died in a hospital, as police pursued suspects in the eastern province of Punjab, officials said Friday. Thursday’s attack with guns and rocket-propelled grenades also wounded eight officers....
Ukraine says it has recaptured land in the Kharkiv region, reversing some Russian gains there
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces say they have recaptured territory in the eastern region of Kharkiv, where Russia launched a large offensive in the spring that brought initial gains but the operation soon stalled. Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade said in a statement late Thursday that its forces advanced about...
Last body from sunken superyacht has been recovered off Sicily
ROME — Italian rescuers brought ashore the body of the final missing person who was on a superyacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily. The woman’s body was detected on Friday, the Coast Guard said. She has not been officially identified, but Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of British...
Southern Arizona man arrested after alleged threats against Trump as candidate visited border
BISBEE, Ariz. — A southern Arizona man was arrested for allegedly making death threats against Donald Trump on social media, authorities said Thursday, the same day the Republican former president and 2024 candidate was in the area to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect...
Billions of crabs suddenly died in ocean around Alaska. Things may get worse
The plummeting population of snow crabs off of Alaska’s shores shocked fishermen and scientists alike in 2022. Now, scientists believe they have more evidence for a bleak explanation about the species dying by the billions. CNN reports that the latest studies reveal climate change led to the crabs massive death...
Family of West Virginia governor, running for Senate, has deal to avoid Greenbrier hotel foreclosure
CHARLESTON — The family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has reached an agreement with a credit collection company to avoid the foreclosure of their historic hotel as he runs for U.S. Senate, the resort announced Thursday. The Republican governor’s family had been set to appear in court Friday to...
Supreme Court rejects GOP push to block 41K Arizona voters, but partly OKs proof of citizenship law
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a Republican push that could have blocked more than 41,000 Arizona voters from casting ballots for president in the state that Democratic President Joe Biden won by less than 11,000 votes four years ago. But in a 5-4 order, the high court...
Body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered from yacht wreckage, officials say
PORTICELLO, Sicily — The Italian coast guard said Thursday the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable. One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch’s...
A 2nd ex-Memphis officer accused in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols is changing his plea
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A second former Memphis police officer charged with federal civil rights violations in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols last year is changing his not-guilty plea, in a case that sparked outrage and calls for police reform. Emmitt Martin is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge...
FDA approves updated covid-19 vaccines; shots should be available in days
U.S. regulators approved updated covid-19 vaccines Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains — and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. With the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects...
What to know about Labor Day and its history
DALLAS — From barbecues to getaways to shopping the sales, many people across the U.S. mark Labor Day — the federal holiday celebrating the American worker — by finding ways to relax. This year is the 130th anniversary of the holiday, which is celebrated on the first Monday of September....
U.S. government report says fluoride at twice the recommended limit is linked to lower IQ in kids
NEW YORK — A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with...
Blackouts in extreme weather drive demand for cleaner backup power
Software engineer Kenna Ofoegbu in Houston, Texas tries hard to keep his three kids cool during the summer and that means air conditioning. Yet their house has lost power three times in just the past two and a half months. One of those outages lasted three days. That time, Ofoegbu...
German president inaugurates the rebuilt tower of a church with Nazi-era historical baggage
BERLIN — Germany’s president on Thursday inaugurated the rebuilt tower of a church that became associated with the Nazis’ takeover of power and whose remains were demolished under communist rule. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it offers an opportunity to reflect on the country’s complicated past amid a surge in authoritarian...
Thousands of Indonesians attempt to storm parliament to protest changes to election law
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm parliament on Thursday after they tore down a section of fence and threw stones at police. The unrest forced the legislature to delay a vote on controversial changes to election...
Police raid Andrew Tate’s home in Romania as new allegations emerge involving minorsVideo
BUCHAREST, Romania — Masked police officers in Romania carried out fresh raids early Wednesday at the home of divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said it was...
Hunter Biden’s lawyer accuses prosecutors of trying to smear him with salacious details at tax trial
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for Hunter Biden accused prosecutors Wednesday of wanting to introduce salacious details about partying and spending by President Joe Biden’s son to smear his character in front of jurors at his upcoming trial on federal tax charges. During a lengthy hearing in Los Angeles federal...
Heat dome moves into Texas with record highs expectedVideo
AUSTIN, Texas — A heat dome that has led to nearly 90 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix moved Wednesday into Texas, with record highs expected to fall by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, energy demand in Texas hit an unofficial all-time high Tuesday, according...
Detroit judge is sued after putting teen in handcuffs, jail clothes during field trip
DETROIT — Attorneys for a teenager who was ordered into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip to a Detroit court filed a lawsuit against a judge Wednesday, accusing him of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention. It is the latest fallout since Judge Kenneth King singled out 15-year-old...
Key mediator Egypt expresses skepticism about Gaza cease-fire proposal as more details emerge
CAIRO — Key mediator Egypt expressed skepticism Wednesday about the proposal meant to bridge gaps in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas as more details emerged a day before negotiations were expected to resume in Cairo. The challenges around the so-called bridging proposal appeared to undermine the optimism for an...
Dartmouth basketball players union accuses school of unfair labor practices over refusal to bargain
The union representing the Dartmouth men’s basketball team filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the Ivy League school on Wednesday because it has refused to negotiate with the players on a collective bargaining agreement. Service Employees International Union Local 560, which already represents some other workers at the Hanover,...
Babysitter pleads guilty to manslaughter for death of man she injured when he was a baby in 1984
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A former babysitter pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for the 2019 death of a man she was accused of disabling as an infant 40 years ago and was sentenced to three years in prison, finally admitting that she hit him numerous times. Terry McKirchy, 62, accepted...
