Politics

Efforts to restrict transgender health care endure in 2024, with more adults targeted

By Andrew DeMillo, Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press

Advocates for transgender rights say most of the states inclined to pass gender-affirming care bans have done so. They now expect those states to build upon those restrictions and expand them to adults.

GOP contenders make final push in Iowa with 4 days until caucuses

By Lisa Desjardins, Matt Loffman, Shrai Popat, Ian Couzens

With just four days until the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, the Republican presidential field continues to shrink and the remaining candidates are making their closing arguments. Lisa Desjardins is in Iowa and reports on the contenders and their messages.

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Alabama can enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, appeals court rules

By Kim Chandler, Associated Press

A federal appeals court has ruled that Alabama can begin enforcing a ban outlawing the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender children.

Biden administration awards $623 million in grants to build out electric vehicle charging network

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

Congress approved $7.5 billion in the 2021 infrastructure law to build out a national network of 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030.

How Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea threaten global shipping

By Noah Berman, Council on Foreign Relations

Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea have upended global shipping. The disruptions could soon ripple through the global economy.

Thousands protest in Slovakia against a government plan to amend the country's penal code

By Associated Press

Thousands of people took to the streets of major cities in Slovakia on Thursday to renew their protests against plans by the new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the country’s penal code.

Fox town hall with Trump draws more TV viewers than debate between Haley and DeSantis

By Associated Press

Trump has not participated in any of the presidential primary debates, and Fox said the town hall was scheduled to compete against the debate at the Trump campaign's insistence.

Nelson Mandela's support for Palestinians endures with South Africa's genocide case against Israel

By Gerald Imray, Associated Press

The two leaders believed that the struggle for freedom by Blacks in apartheid South Africa and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank were the same. That solidarity has survived for more than 30 years.

Iran's navy seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman that was at the center of a major U.S.-Iran crisis

By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press

The vessel was once known as the Suez Rajan and was involved in a yearlong dispute that ultimately saw the U.S. Justice Department seize 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil on it.

Trump defies judge, gives courtroom speech on tense final day of New York civil fraud trial

By Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press

Barred from giving a formal closing argument, Donald Trump still seized an opportunity to speak in court at the conclusion of his New York civil trial, calling the proceedings "a fraud on me" before the judge cut him off.