Russia hits civilian targets again, EU officials visit Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles hit residential areas in an eastern Ukrainian city Thursday for the second time in 24 hours, while top European Union officials held talks with the government in Kyiv as the war with Russia approaches its one-year milestone. The latest strikes in Kramatorsk came as rescue crews searched for survivors … Read more

Grammy predictions: AP writers debate who’ll win on Sunday

The Beyhive is all abuzz over the possibility that Beyoncé will have a chance to make Grammy history this yearwhich should make for an exciting awards show as she’s up against heavy hitters Adele, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles. She’ll need just four more trophies to ascend to the top decorated artist in the Recording … Read more

Russia said eyeing eastern Ukraine push; Kyiv targets graft

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia is mustering its military might in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, officials said Wednesday, in what Kyiv suspects is preparation for an offensive as the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion. approaches. Also Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government continued its crackdown on alleged corruption dismissal of several high-ranking officials, prominent lawmaker … Read more

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announces his retirement

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – This time, Tom Brady says he’s done for good. The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, exactly one year after first saying his playing days were over, by posting a brief video lasting just under one minute on social … Read more

War’s longest battle exacts high price in ‘heart of Ukraine’

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — It used to be that visitors would browse through Bakhmut’s late 19th century buildings, enjoy their walks in its rose-lined lakeside park and revel in the sparkling wines produced in historic underground caves. This city of salt and gypsum mines located around 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Russia’s border was once … Read more

10 years after EU’s ‘never again’ tragedy, little has changed

BRUSSELS (AP) – A decade ago this year, the head of the European Union’s executive branch stood, visibly shaken, before rows of coffins holding the corpses of migrants drowned off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Some of them, small and bone-white, contained the bodies of infants and children. “That image of hundreds of coffins will … Read more

Pope’s Africa trip spotlights conflict, and church’s future

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Pope Francis began a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering “colonialist mentality” that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. Francis landed at Kinshasa’s airport and was greeted … Read more

In Haiti, gangs take control as democracy withers

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Jimmy Cherizier zips through Haiti’s capital on the back of a motorcycle, flanked by young men wielding black and leopard print masks and automatic weapons. As the pack of bikes flies by graffiti reading “Mafia boss” in Creole, street vendors selling vegetables, meats and old clothes on the curb cast their … Read more

Talk of fighter jets for Kyiv puts strains on Western unity

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s push for fighter jets to help beat back Russia’s invasion force risks straining the unity of Ukraine’s Western allies, amid fears that the move could escalate the nearly year-long conflict. and draw them deeper into the war. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was due in Paris Tuesday where discussions about … Read more

Pakistan blames ‘security lapse’ for mosque blast; 100 dead

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – A suicide bombing that struck inside a mosque at a police and government compound in northwest Pakistan reflects “security lapses,” current and former officials said as the death toll from the devastating blast climbed to 100 on Tuesday. The blast, which ripped through a Sunni mosque inside a major police facility … Read more