LOS ANGELES — Heavy rain flooded roadways and much-needed snow piled up in the mountains on Thursday as the first of back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled California. The storm focused its energy on the southern and eastern parts of the state after initially hitting the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday,...
Austin Says a Big US Response to Houthi Rebels Is Coming
JERUSALEM — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday it's time to further disable Iran-backed militias that have struck at U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East and the U.S. is preparing to take significant action in response to the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan. For days...
The European Union Overcame Hungary Veto’s Threat to Seal a 50 Billion-Euro Aid Package for Ukraine
BRUSSELS — Leaders of the 27 European Union countries sealed a deal Thursday to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in support for its war-ravaged economy after Hungary dropped weeks of threats to veto the measure. European Council President Charles Michel said the agreement “locks in steadfast, long-term,...
Californians Don’t Have to Pass a Background Check Every Time They Buy Bullets, Federal Judge Rules
SACRAMENTO — California residents don't have to pay for and pass a background check every time they buy bullets, a federal judge has ruled. The Tuesday ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez took effect immediately. California Attorney General Rob Bonta asked Benitez on Wednesday to delay the ruling to...
49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Gets Another Shot at Elusive Super Bowl Title
SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan's offense is mimicked throughout the NFL as his innovative schemes are utilized by teams throughout the league. His former assistants are spread around the league as coordinators and head coaches as the “Shanahan offense” has become one of the most predominant ones in today's game....
Skyscraper-Size Asteroid Will Buzz Earth on Friday, Safely Passing Within 1.7 Million Miles
An asteroid as big as a skyscraper will pass within 1.7 million miles of Earth on Friday. Don’t worry: There’s no chance of it hitting us since it will pass seven times the distance from Earth to the moon. NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies estimates the space rock...
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Became the Focus of Baseless Political Conspiracy Theories
The budding love story featuring music superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce took an unexpected turn into the world of political conspiracy theories this week after the team advanced to the Super Bowl. Myriad baseless rumors emerged on social media — everything from claims that...
US Pins Blame for Deadly Drone Strike on Iran-Backed Militias in the Islamic Resistance in Iraq
WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his options to respond to the strike. Iran threatened to “decisively respond” to any...
South Africa Says Israel Is Ignoring UN Court Ruling Ordering It to Prevent Deaths in Gaza
PRETORIA, South Africa — Israel has ignored the ruling by the U.N.'s top court last week by killing hundreds more civilians in a matter of days in Gaza, South Africa’s foreign minister said Wednesday, adding that her country has asked why an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...
Federal Reserve Signals That Interest Rate Cuts Aren’t Imminent and Leaves Them Unchanged for Now
WASHINGTON — Interest rate cuts are coming. Just not yet. The Federal Reserve delivered that message Wednesday, first in a policy statement and then in a news conference at which Chair Jerome Powell reinforced it. The Fed did signal that it’s nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, evidence...