Politics

French lawmakers debate controversial pension bill as protests continue

By Sylvie Corbet, Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

The French parliament has started debating President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform proposals, which prompted strikes and large demonstrations in recent weeks.

Norway looks to donate $7.3 billion in aid to Ukraine

By Associated Press

The government of oil-rich Norway is looking to donate 75 billion kroner ($7.3 billion) in a multiyear support package to Ukraine. The money would make the Scandinavian country one of the world's top donors to war-torn Ukraine.

UK nurses, ambulance crews strike amid rising costs

By Jill Lawless, Associated Press

Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance staff are walking off the job in the U.K. in what unions called the biggest strike in the history of the country's public health system.

WATCH: State Department says U.S. will help Turkey, Syria after earthquake

By Emily Wang Fujiyama, Associated Press

The U.S. State Department offered its condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria after a power 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed at least 3,400 people in those two countries.

WATCH: White House gives news briefing after discovery of Chinese espionage balloons

By Zeke Miller, Lolita C. Baldor, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press

U.S. officials say that efforts ordered by President Joe Biden to strengthen defenses against Chinese espionage helped identify last week’s spy balloon — and determine that similar flights were conducted at multiple points during the Trump administration.

China decries U.S. decision to shoot down suspected spy balloon

By Emily Wang Fujiyama, Associated Press

Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng says he lodged a formal complaint with the U.S. Embassy over the use of military force on the balloon.

What to expect from Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday

By John Yang, Harry Zahn, Andrew Corkery

A Chinese surveillance balloon, the federal debt ceiling and Tuesday’s State of the Union address are the topics for today’s Weekend Briefing with congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins and NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith.

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Biden’s State of the Union address to highlight efforts on economy

By Zeke Miller, Seung Min Kim, Associated Press

Biden’s remarks from the House rostrum will take place in a sharply different context from a year ago. Republicans now control the chamber, rendering it unlikely that any significant legislation reaches Biden’s desk.

White House offers to brief Congress on classified docs found at Trump’s home

By Nomaan Merchant, Michael Balsamo, Eric Tucker, Associated Press

Six months after federal agents conducted an unprecedented search of a former president's home for classified documents, the White House faces bipartisan pressure to share what it found with lawmakers.

Election cynics slow to make changes after campaign promises

By Tom Davies, Christina A. Cassidy, Mead Gruver, Associated Press

So far, their efforts to make good on their promises are mixed, in some cases because their rhetoric has bumped up against skepticism from members of their own party.