KAMPALA, Uganda — In Uganda's Mbale district, famous for its production of arabica coffee, a plague of plastic bags locally known as buveera is creeping beyond the city. It's a problem that has long littered the landscape in Kampala, the capital, where buveera are woven into the fabric of daily...
Myanmar’s Earthquake Death Toll Jumps to 1,644 as More Bodies Are Recovered From the Rubble
BANGKOK — Myanmar's ruling military said Saturday on state television that the confirmed death toll from a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rose to 1,644, as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country's second-largest city. The new total...
Top Vaccine Official Resigns From FDA, Criticizes RFK Jr. for Promoting Misinformation, Lies
BOSTON — The top vaccine official with the Food and Drug Administration has resigned and criticized the nation's top health official for allowing "misinformation and lies" to guide his thinking behind the safety of vaccinations. Dr. Peter Marks sent a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner on Friday saying...
If You Want to Ski Affordably Next Season, Buy Now
While the slopes may still be open across much of North America, it's time to think about next season. The major passes, including Epic and Ikon, as well as the smaller Mountain Collective, have recently announced sales for the 2025-26 season. The Indy Pass has already completed its early sales,...
Dog Found in Horrid Conditions Now Seeks Loving Home
Meet Punkin — yes, not Pumpkin. This young dog, around 1 to 2 years old, requested a unique name, and it reflects his distinctive journey. Punkin's story is one of survival. He spent his early years in a home with 90 other dogs, a situation discovered by animal control after...
Trump Takes Aim at California Six Times in 24 Hours
In the annals of ill will between California and the Trump administration, Thursday may have been a record-breaker. The U.S. Education Department announced early in the West Coast morning that it would challenge a major state law protecting transgender students. Two hours later came the revocation of federal waivers that...
Elon Musk Sells X to His Own xAI for $33 Billion in All-Stock Deal
JACKSONVILLE, Mi — Elon Musk has sold social media site X to his own xAI artificial intelligence company in a $33 billion all-stock deal, the billionaire announced on Friday. Both companies are privately held, which means they are not required to disclose their finances to the public. Musk said in...
US Naval Academy Ends Affirmative Action in Admissions
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The U.S. Naval Academy will no longer consider race, ethnicity or sex as a factor for admission to the service institution, a response to an executive order by President Donald Trump, according to federal court documents made public Friday. The change in policy was made in February...
Elon Musk Backtracks on a Legally Questionable Plan to Pay Voters
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is walking back part of his legally questionable plan to pay conservative voters. During the presidential election, Musk courted conservative-leaning voters by offering $1 million payouts in a sweepstakes to those who agreed to sign a petition. Federal law prohibits payments to Americans in exchange for...
Appeals Court Clears Way for DOGE to Keep Operating at USAID
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Friday lifted an order blocking Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from further cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Even before the ruling, the Trump administration on Friday took some of the last remaining steps in breaking up USAID. A Musk...