Politics

China calls the U.S. a 'disruptor' of peace in response to Pentagon report on China's military buildup

By Huizhong Wu, Associated Press

The annual report that is required by Congress is one way the Pentagon measures the military capabilities of China, which the U.S. government sees as its key threat in the Asia-Pacific region and America's primary long-term security challenge.

Survey finds that abortions in the U.S. rose slightly overall after new restrictions started in some states

By Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press

The report found that the numbers fell to nearly zero in states with bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. But it found the numbers surged elsewhere, particularly in the states near those with bans.

Rep. Bowman of New York faces misdemeanor charge in fire alarm pulled in House office building

By Associated Press

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for triggering a fire alarm as lawmakers scrambled to pass a funding bill before a government shutdown deadline in September.

Tennessee attorney general sues federal government for withholding funds amid abortion ban

By Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press

Tennessee's top legal chief says the federal government is wrongly withholding millions of dollars after the state refused to comply with federal rules requiring clinics to provide abortion referrals due to its current ban on the procedure.

Russian forces simulate nuclear strike as parliament rescinds ratification of test-ban treaty

By Associated Press

The drills on Wednesday took place hours after the upper house of the Russian parliament revoked the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has described as a move to establish parity with the United States.

Food insecurity shot up last year with inflation and the end of pandemic-era aid, a new report says

By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press

A new Department of Agriculture report released Wednesday paints a sobering picture of post-pandemic hardship with "statistically significant" increases in food insecurity.

Biden condemns retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank

By Aamer Madhani, Seung Min Kim, Colleen Long, Associated Press

Biden said the attacks by what he calls "extremist settlers" amounted to "pouring gasoline" on the already burning fires in the Middle East since the Hamas attack.

UN warns Gaza blockade could force it to sharply cut relief missions as Israeli airstrikes continue

By Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy, Lee Keath, Associated Press

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has warned that without immediate deliveries of fuel it will soon have to sharply cut back relief operations across the Gaza Strip.

Trump fined $10,000 over comment about judge's staff in New York civil fraud trial

By Jennifer Peltz, Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press

The judge in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial has fined the former president $10,000. The judge says Trump violated a limited gag order barring personal attacks on court staffers.