■U.S. home sales rose 6.7% in January, highest since 1999. ■Median home sales price outpaced the 4.5% annual gain in U.S. wage growth. ■32% of homes purchased in January were bought entirely with cash. LOS ANGELES — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in January as homebuyers were encouraged...
Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 48 as Fears Mount Over Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Violence
■Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 48, raising humanitarian crisis concerns. ■European foreign ministers and U.N. agencies call for a cease-fire. ■West Bank violence escalates with a highway checkpoint shooting. RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes killed at least 48 people in southern and central Gaza overnight, half of them women...
Putin Takes a Flight in Nuclear-Capable Bomber in a Tough Message to the West Ahead of Election
■Putin flies in a Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber. ■The flight serves as a reminder of Russia's nuclear might. ■Putin's reelection is all but assured due to lack of opposition. MOSCOW — Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday took a co-pilot's seat in a nuclear-capable strategic bomber on a flight that...
Biden Calls Putin a ‘Crazy SOB’ and Blasts Trump During CA Fundraiser
■Kremlin spokesman calls President Biden's remark "churlish" and a "huge shame." ■ The president expresses concern over the MAGA Republican crowd's moral compass. ■Biden warns of potential nationwide abortion ban if Donald Trump wins in 2024. SAN FRANCISCO — During a fundraiser for his reelection campaign Wednesday night, President Joe Biden...
AT&T’s Network Is Down, Here’s What to Do When Your Phone Service Has an Outage
■AT&T users see SOS in status bar, signaling widespread connection issues. ■AT&T advised customers to use Wi-Fi calling, if available. ■Alternative solutions include switching services or using apps offline. NEW YORK — Customers of AT&T, the country's largest wireless provider, reported widespread outages on Thursday. Some AT&T customers saw SOS...
Food Deliveries Into Northern Gaza Halted Because of War’s Chaos, Increasing Famine Risk
■Food deliveries to northern Gaza have been halted due to war chaos. ■UNICEF warns of an increase in preventable child deaths in Gaza. ■Entry of aid trucks into Gaza has been more than halved in two weeks. RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The World Food Program said Tuesday it has paused...
SF Wants to Offer Free Drug Recovery Books at Public Libraries
■San Francisco plans to offer free drug recovery books at public libraries. ■A pilot program has already distributed over 3,200 addiction recovery books. ■The initiative aims to help combat the city's drug overdose crisis. SAN FRANCISCO — The most stolen books from San Francisco public libraries' shelves are not the...
Hospital Halts In Vitro Fertilization After Alabama Court Says Frozen Embryos Are Children
■Alabama hospital pauses IVF treatments due to legal ruling. ■State court rules frozen embryos are equivalent to children. ■Ruling raises concerns for future of IVF treatments in Alabama. MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A large Alabama hospital has paused in vitro fertilization treatments as health care providers weigh the impact of a...
Federal Student Loans for Nearly 153,000 Borrowers Being Canceled, Biden Says
■Biden announces automatic cancellation of federal student loans for 153,000 borrowers. ■The first round of the SAVE plan will clear $1.2 billion in loans. ■Eligibility for loan cancellation includes enrollment in SAVE plan and 10 years of payments. CULVER CITY, Calif. — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that his administration...
UN Top Court Shouldn’t Urge Israel to Immediately Exit Palestinian-Claimed Lands: US
■U.S. opposes U.N. court's advisory opinion on Israel's withdrawal from Palestinian lands. ■U.S. vetoes resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war. ■51 nations and three international organizations to speak at the hearings. THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The United States said Wednesday the United Nations' top court should not issue an...