ST. LOUIS — After 35 straight drawings without a big winner, Powerball players on Wednesday are lining up for a shot at a near-record jackpot worth an estimated $1.73 billion. The Prize If winning numbers are drawn, it would be the second largest of any lottery prize ever, topped only...
The Number of US Citizens Killed in the Israel-Hamas War Rises to 22
WASHINGTON — The number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 22 with at least 17 unaccounted for, the State Department said Wednesday. That's an increase in the death toll from 14 the day before. U.S. citizens are among the...
Some Israelis Abroad Desperately Try to Head Home — to Join Reserve Military Units, or Just to Help
LOS ANGELES — At the most harrowing of times, some Israeli citizens living overseas aren't running from the war at home, but to it. From Athens to New York, they're rushing to airports and diving into online chat groups for help, desperate to make their way to the country after Hamas militants attacked....
Social Media Is Awash in Misinformation About Israel-Gaza War, But Musk’s X Is the Most Egregious
While Twitter has always struggled with combatting misinformation about major news events, it was still the go-to place to find out what’s happening in the world. But the Israel-Hamas war has underscored how the platform now transformed into X has become not only unreliable but is actively promoting falsehoods. Experts...
Hunter Biden Judge Agrees to Drop Old Gun Count After Indictment Replaces Scuttled Plea Deal
WASHINGTON — A gun count that had been part of a collapsed plea deal in the Hunter Biden case was dismissed Wednesday as a judge signed off on a prosecution request. The order from U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika formally removes a gun-possession charge that has now been replaced by...
Republicans Nominate Steve Scalise to Be House Speaker and Will Try to Unite Before a Floor Vote
WASHINGTON — Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise on Wednesday to be the next House speaker and will now try to unite to elect the conservative in a floor vote after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the job. In private balloting at the Capitol, House Republicans pushed aside Rep. Jim Jordan,...
Israel’s Netanyahu, Opposition Agree on Unity Government and War Cabinet After Hamas Attack
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a leading opposition figure on Wednesday created a war-time Cabinet to oversee the fight against Hamas militants after their stunning weekend attack. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinians struggled to find safety as Israeli bombardment demolished entire neighborhoods and the territory's only...
Israeli Strikes Demolish Entire Gaza Neighborhoods as Only Power Plant in Territory Runs out of Fuel
JERUSALEM — Palestinians in the sealed-off Gaza Strip struggled to find any safe area Wednesday, as Israeli strikes demolished entire neighborhoods, hospitals ran low on supplies and the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel, deepening the misery of a war sparked by a stunning and deadly assault by...
Having Ousted Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans Are Hitting Trouble Trying to Nominate a New Speaker
WASHINGTON — Stalemated over a new House speaker, the Republican majority is scheduled to convene behind closed doors to launch internal party voting but lawmakers warn it could take hours, if not days, to unite behind a nominee after Kevin McCarthy's ouster. The two leading contenders Wednesday for the gavel, Majority...
Wholesale Inflation in US Rises 2.2% in September, Biggest Year-Over-Year Gain Since April
WASHINGTON — U.S. wholesale prices rose last month at the fastest pace since April, suggesting that inflationary pressures remain despite a year and a half of higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — climbed 2.2%...