JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel on Thursday approved the building of 4,427 new homes in its settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, a watchdog group said about the plans that have drawn U.S. criticism. Peace Now, an anti-s…
Scientists unveil image of ‘gentle giant’ black hole at Milky Way’s center
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Scientists on Thursday provided the first look at the “gentle giant” lurking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy – an image https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/EHT_PR_Main_Image_Wide_lores.jpg…
Russia threatens to retaliate as Finland seeks NATO membership ‘without delay’
By Anne Kauranen and Jonathan Landay HELSINKI/KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Finland said on Thursday it would apply to join NATO “without delay”, with Sweden expected to follow, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looked set to bring about the very expansio…
EU seeks bigger role in Asia’s ‘theatre of tensions’, warns on China
By Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) -European Union leaders said on Thursday that the EU wants to become a bigger actor in Asia, which they termed a “theatre of tensions”, warning of an increasingly assertive China even as they called on Beijing to defend t…
COVID claims 1 million U.S. lives
By Maria Caspani NEW YORK (Reuters) -The United States has now recorded more than 1 million COVID-19 deaths, according to a Reuters tally, crossing a once-unthinkable milestone about two years after the first cases upended everyday life and quickly tra…
US draft abortion decision could implicate same-sex marriage, contraception, Biden says
By Trevor Hunnicutt CHICAGO (Reuters) – The draft U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion leaked earlier this month could mean the court will later go after same-sex marriage, contraception, and other rights, President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser on…
On Norway’s Arctic border with Russia, a town freezes ties with its eastern neighbour
By Gwladys Fouche and Victoria Klesty KIRKENES, Norway (Reuters) – Kirkenes, a Norwegian town a stone’s throw from Russia, was for over three decades a symbol of cross-border harmony in the Arctic. That came to a crashing end when Russia invaded Ukrain…
U.S. abortion rights bill heads to defeat in Senate
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A bill that would make abortion legal throughout the United States was headed toward defeat in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, amid heavy Republican opposition. Democrats had sought to head off an impending Supreme …
U.S. Senate blocks consideration of abortion rights legislation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Democratic bill that would legalize abortion throughout the United States was failing to get the 60 votes needed to advance in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, amid strong Republican opposition. The vote was continuing on the bill…
Exclusive-Biden eyes new ways to bar China from scooping up U.S. data
By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration has drafted an executive order that would give the Department of Justice vast powers to stop foreign adversaries like China from accessing Americans’ personal data, a…