News

Apple’s new iDevices: Small is beautiful, too

CUPERTINO, Calif. — As it struggles to match the success of its big-screen iPhones, Apple is now contending that small can be beautiful, too.The giant… Continue reading

Trump demands GOP embrace him as Dems unleash new attacks

WASHINGTON — A front-runner under attack from all sides, Republican Donald Trump demanded that his party’s skeptical establishment embrace the inevitability of his presidential nomination… Continue reading

Back dropped by the US and Cuban flags, US President Barack Obama, left, and Cuba's President Raul Castro shake hands after making a joint statement Monday in Havana, Cuba.

Obama, Castro vow new path forward

HAVANA — In a stunning diplomatic display, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro tussled in the Cuban capital Monday over human rights,… Continue reading

Back dropped by the US and Cuban flags, US President Barack Obama, left, and Cuba's President Raul Castro shake hands after making a joint statement Monday in Havana, Cuba.
In this March 4 photo, Martinez Sutton wears a shirt commemorating his sister, Rekia Boyd, 22, who was shot and killed in 2012 by a Chicago police officer. Sutton has been pushing for the firing of officer Dante Servin, who, while off-duty, was driving in an alley when he argued with a group of people. Servin fired several shots over his shoulder, striking a Boyd with a fatal head wound.

How Chicago racked up a $662M police misconduct bill

CHICAGO — In this city’s troubled history of police misconduct, Eric Caine’s case may be unrivaled: It took more than 25 years and $10 million… Continue reading

In this March 4 photo, Martinez Sutton wears a shirt commemorating his sister, Rekia Boyd, 22, who was shot and killed in 2012 by a Chicago police officer. Sutton has been pushing for the firing of officer Dante Servin, who, while off-duty, was driving in an alley when he argued with a group of people. Servin fired several shots over his shoulder, striking a Boyd with a fatal head wound.

American IS fighter: I made a bad decision

IRBIL, Iraq — The American Islamic State group fighter who handed himself over to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq earlier this week said he made… Continue reading

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, right, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee walks with Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday.

Cranking up pressure, Garland ready for first Senate visits

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s choice for the Supreme Court commenced courtesy calls with senators Thursday as Democrats began the next phase of their drive… Continue reading

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, right, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee walks with Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday.

Pup found 5 weeks after falling overboard

SAN DIEGO — It sounds like a pitch for a far-fetched movie: “Cast Away,” but with a dog instead of Tom Hanks. Only this sea… Continue reading

Trump faces obstacles in bid to shake up corporate America

NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s railing about what’s wrong in corporate America goes further than the typical political populism: He vows to rewrite trade deals,… Continue reading

Kurds declare de-facto federal region in north Syria

BEIRUT — Syria’s Kurds on Thursday declared a de-facto federal region in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, drawing sharp condemnation from both the Damascus government… Continue reading

Beyond record hot, February was ‘astronomical’ and ‘strange’

WASHINGTON — Earth got so hot last month that federal scientists struggled to find words, describing temperatures as “astronomical,” “staggering” and “strange.” They warned that… Continue reading

Gunmen kill colleague of slain Honduran environmentalist

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Unidentified gunmen killed a colleague of environmentalist leader Berta Caceres, who was slain almost two weeks ago in similar circumstances, Honduran authorities… Continue reading

Haze hangs over Mexico City on Wednesday.

Mexico City bans cars in first smog alert in 11 years

MEXICO CITY — Authorities in greater Mexico City extended an air pollution alert for a fourth day, as smog levels improved slightly but pollution remained… Continue reading

Haze hangs over Mexico City on Wednesday.
Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, left, accompanied by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, steps to the microphone as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday.

Obama dares GOP to let Clinton, Trump pick justice

WASHINGTON — By nominating an uncontroversial 63-year-old judge, President Barack Obama handed Republicans an unwelcome election-year proposition: Give in or risk letting Hillary Clinton or… Continue reading

Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, left, accompanied by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, steps to the microphone as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday.
Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland receives applauds from President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court during an announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday. Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential Supreme Court justices.

Standout in the law, Garland would blend in at Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — In experience, background and even in his personal characteristics, Merrick Garland resembles the men and women he would join on the bench if… Continue reading

Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland receives applauds from President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as he is introduced as Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court during an announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday. Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a court whose influence over federal policy and national security matters has made it a proving ground for potential Supreme Court justices.
The files of the Gestapo, partially burnt in a blaze in Marseille, and stored for years in the archives rooms of the medieval castle of Vincennes, are on Wednesday.

Historians unveil WWII secret services’ archives

PARIS — French historians on Wednesday unveiled secret services’ archives from World War II that offer a unique insight into underground operations led by both… Continue reading

The files of the Gestapo, partially burnt in a blaze in Marseille, and stored for years in the archives rooms of the medieval castle of Vincennes, are on Wednesday.

EU calls for Greece relief as migrant arrivals hit 1 million

ATHENS, Greece — The European Union told member states Wednesday they “urgently need to deliver” on commitments to resettle more refugees on the continent, as… Continue reading

North Korea sentences US tourist to 15 years in prison

PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea’s highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks… Continue reading

Bhutan plants 108,000 trees for royal baby

GAUHATI, India — Citizens in Bhutan are anxious to ensure the survival of groves of trees that have been planted across the Himalayan nation to… Continue reading

Subway shutdown makes for a long day in D.C.

WASHINGTON — An unprecedented safety shutdown of the Metro subway system inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of people in and around the nation’s capital on Wednesday.… Continue reading

Panel to advance budget plan

WASHINGTON — The House Budget Committee on Wednesday pressed ahead with a 10-year spending plan that promises sweeping cuts to health care programs and federal… Continue reading