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Nation and world at a glance

Progress reported to end Ukraine war

GENEVA — Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials said Sunday they’ve made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. T

hey discussed an American proposal for peace, which some European allies fear is too favorable to Moscow in Geneva. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks as productive, but shared few details on what was discussed.

He emphasized that the U.S. peace plan is a “living document” and that it would change. He also said any final agreement would need Russia’s approval. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for lacking gratitude for U.S. military aid. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for U.S. efforts. The U.S. proposal has sparked concern in Kyiv and European capitals for conceding to Russian demands.

Israel kills senior Hezbollah official

HARET HREIK, Lebanon — Israel has struck Lebanon’s capital for the first time since June, saying it killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff and warning the Iran-backed militant group not to rearm and rebuild.

Sunday’s strike in Beirut was launched almost a year after a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah confirmed the killing of Haytham Tabtabai and said the strike threatened an escalation of attacks.

The strike came days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said five people were killed and 25 wounded. Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified while it pressures Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

Mamdani: Trump still acts like fascist

WASHINGTON — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is standing by his past criticisms that President Donald Trump acted like a despot and a fascist.

This comes after a surprisingly friendly White House meeting between the two on Friday. The democratic socialist and the Republican president have fiercely criticized each other in the past. Despite their differences, they emerged smiling after the meeting and spoke of shared goals. Mamdani said his views remained unchanged during a “Meet the Press” interview that aired Sunday. Trump had earlier brushed aside Mamdani’s criticisms and even jumped in on his defense several times Friday.

Pope calls for release of 303 children

ABUJA, Nigeria — Fifty of the 303 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria’s Niger state have escaped and are now with their families. The school authority said Sunday that 50 children aged 10 to 18 had escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. The Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state, confirmed the news. A total of 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still missing after gunmen attacked the St. Mary’s School in the remote Papiri community on Friday. No group has claimed responsibility. The pope on Sunday called for the immediate release of all those being held.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Ukraine faces stark choice,

risks losing US support

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told his country that it could face a pivotal choice between standing up for its sovereignty and preserving the American support it needs, as leaders discuss a U.S. peace proposal seen as favoring Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has cautiously welcomed the U.S. plan to end Moscow’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine, which contains many of the Kremlin’s longstanding demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine.

Putin said it could form the basis of a final peace settlement. The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia — something Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out — while reducing the size of its army and blocking its coveted path to NATO membership.

High court blocks order

on Texas redistricting map

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that found Texas’ 2026 congressional redistricting plan pushed by President Donald Trump likely discriminates on the basis of race. The order signed Friday by Justice Samuel Alito will remain in place at least for the next few days while the court considers whether to allow the new map favorable to Republicans to be used in the midterm elections.

The court’s conservative majority has blocked similar lower court rulings because they have come too close to elections. The order came after the state asked the high court to intervene to avoid confusion as congressional primary elections approach.

Khashoggi’s widow, Dems

demand transcript release

WASHINGTON — The widow of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is calling for the release of the transcript of a 2019 phone call President Donald Trump had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

She is joining Democratic lawmakers who are raising questions about what, if anything, Trump may have received in exchange for his embrace of the crown prince.

Hanan Elatr Khashoggi appeared on Capitol Hill on the heels of Trump’s dismissal of U.S. intelligence findings that Prince Mohammed most likely had

some culpability in the October 2018 slaying.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Airlines cancel 1,000 flights while complying with shutdown order

Anxious travelers across the U.S. are feeling a bit of relief as airlines have mostly stayed on schedule while gradually cutting flights because of the government shutdown.

At least 1,000 flights were called off on Friday as airlines comply with the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to reduce service. Some passengers were forced make last-minute changes and rebook on different flights.

Plenty of nervousness remained, as more canceled flights are expected in the coming days. Airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas led the way with the most disruptions. The upheaval will intensify the longer the shutdown lasts and could become chaotic if it extends into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cornell University to pay $60M

in deal with Trump to restore funding

WASHINGTON — Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws in order to restore federal funding and end investigations into the Ivy League school.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced the agreement on Friday, saying it upholds the university’s academic freedom while restoring more than $250 million in research funding that the government withheld amid investigations into alleged civil rights violations.

The university agreed to pay $30 million directly to the U.S. government along with another $30 million toward research that will support U.S. farmers.

Trump pardons former Mets great

Strawberry on tax evasion charges

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry on past tax evasion and drug charges.

Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star, struggled with legal and personal issues after his baseball career. He pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1995 and went to prison on drug-related charges.

White House official said Trump approved the pardon, highlighting Strawberry’s Christian faith and longtime, post-career sobriety. Strawberry expressed gratitude on Instagram. He emphasized that it wasn’t about politics. Strawberry played for the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants from 1983 to 1999. He was 1983 National League Rookie of the Year and was on four World Series-winning teams with the Mets and Yankees.

James Watson, co-discoverer of

double-helix shape of DNA, dies at 97

Scientist James Watson, who shared a Nobel prize for helping discover the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, has died. He was 97.

His death was announced by his former research lab. Watson also helped guide efforts to map the human genome. But he was widely condemned for racist remarks later on and left his job as chancellor of the prestigious Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. Watson shared a 1962 Nobel Prize with collaborator Francis Crick and scientist Maurice Wilkins for discovering in 1953 that DNA was shaped like a long, gently twisting ladder.

Knowing the structure of DNA was key to figuring out how the genetic material works.

Kendrick Lamar leads 2026 Grammy

nominations; Lady Gaga close behind

NEW YORK — Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with eight nominations. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer and songwriter Cirkut follow Lamar with seven nominations each announced Friday.

All four are nominated in the song, record and album of the year categories. In the best new artist category, global girl group Katseye, Olivia Dean, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young will all go head-to-head.

There are a number of first-time nominees as well this year including Tate McRae, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress. The 2026 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 1 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Florida attorney general sues

Planned Parenthood over pill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood, claiming the organization is “misrepresenting the safety” of abortion pills.

It is the latest legal challenge aimed at abortion pills, which are the most common way to end a pregnancy in the U.S. Abortion opponents have increasingly targeted the pills in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. In a complaint filed in a state court in Santa Rosa County on Thursday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claimed Planned Parenthood is “making false claims about the safety of abortion drugs.”

Consumer sentiment hits 3-year low

NEW YORK — Consumer sentiment dropped to a three-year low in November, a month into the government shutdown, led by pessimism in both personal finances and anticipated business conditions. The survey, conducted by the University of Michigan, showed the index of consumer sentiment at 50.4, down 6.2% from last month and nearly 30% from a year ago. The survey Friday also missed the average forecast of 54.2, according to FactSet. One group who is feeling more confident is stock market investors, who posted an 11% increase in sentiment.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

US flight cancellations accelerate

as airlines comply with FAA order

Flight cancellations are accelerating as U.S. airlines comply with a government order to cut flights because of the shutdown. Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among 40 of the busiest across the U.S. where flights will be cut.

That is according to a list published Thursday evening by the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency says it will begin reducing air traffic on Friday to maintain safety, as air traffic controllers go unpaid and show signs of strain during the shutdown.

The plan is to phase-in cuts of 10% of flights across the affected airports. Airlines say they will try to minimize the impact on travelers.

Kazakhstan will join Abraham

Accords to boost Trump initiative

WASHINGTON — Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab and Muslim majority countries in a move aimed at boosting the initiative that was a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s first administration.

Trump announced the move Thursday night. It is largely symbolic as Kazakhstan has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992 and is much farther geographically from Israel than the other Abraham Accord nations — Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. Those countries agreed to normalize relations with Israel as a result.

Trump made the announcement in a social media post ahead of a summit he’s hosting Thursday with the leaders of the five Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan.

Trump unveils proposal to expand

coverage, lower costs of obesity drugs

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has unveiled a deal with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand coverage and reduce prices for their popular obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy. The drugs are part of a new generation of obesity medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that have soared in popularity in recent years.

But access to the drugs has been a consistent problem for patients because of their cost and spotty insurance coverage. Thursday’s announcement is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to rein in soaring drug prices in its efforts to address cost-of-living concerns among voters.

Candlelight vigil takes place for

victims of Ky. UPS plane crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A candlelight vigil has been held in Louisville, Kentucky, to honor the victims of a UPS plane crash and anyone else affected by the tragedy. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said it is time to share the heartbreak while the grim task of finding and identifying victims continues.

The aircraft caught fire and lost an engine on takeoff Tuesday at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The inferno consumed the enormous aircraft and spread to nearby businesses, killing at least 13 people, including three on the plane. Greenberg described the site of the charred, mangled metal as “horrific.”

Of the more than 100 autoimmune

diseases, most strike women

Autoimmune diseases can affect just about every part of the body – and tens of millions of people.

While most common in women, these diseases can strike anyone, adults or children, and they’re on the rise. New research is raising the prospect of treatments that might do more than tamp down symptoms. Dozens of clinical trials are testing ways to reprogram immune systems, with some promising early successes against lupus, myositis and other illnesses.

Other researchers are hunting ways to at least delay brewing autoimmune diseases.

Boeing won’t face criminal charges

in fatal crashes of 737 Max jets

DALLAS — A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a criminal conspiracy charge against Boeing related to two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor approved the federal government’s request on Thursday. The deal requires Boeing to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion in fines, compensation for victims’ families, and internal safety measures.

The ruling follows a September hearing where victims’ relatives urged the judge to appoint a special prosecutor. Prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived regulators about a flight-control system implicated in the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

Israeli jets pound southern Lebanon

BEIRUT — Israeli jets have struck several towns in southern Lebanon after urging residents to leave. This marks an escalation in their near-daily strikes on the country. The airstrikes came hours after Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government not to enter negotiations with Israel. Israeli Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents in Tayba, Teir Debba and Aita al-Jabal to flee 500 meters away from residential buildings. The Israeli military says it targeted military infrastructure for Hezbollah in those areas. It accuses the group of rebuilding its capabilities almost a year after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Police release suspect in train stabbing

LONDON — British police say one of two men arrested over a stabbing attack on a train has been released without charge. The only remaining suspect is a 32-year-old British man who remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said earlier that two men, aged 32 and 35, were arrested after the attack that left 11 people hospitalized. One victim remains in a life-threatening condition – a member of train staff whom police say saved lives with his “heroic” actions. Five others remained in the hospital. Passengers across the U.K.’s rail network saw a heightened police presence on Sunday.

Trump ‘won’t be extorted’ by Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats to reopen the government, making clear that he has no plans to negotiate as the government shutdown will soon enter its sixth week.

In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired on Sunday, Trump predicted that Democrats will eventually capitulate to Republicans. Trump’s comments signal that the shutdown could continue to drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and as there is uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who received federal food aid will get the assistance.

2 people killed in Ukraine’s Odesa region

KYIV, Ukraine — At least two people have been killed in a drone attack in Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack targeting a car park on the Black Sea coast happened early Sunday. Three other people were wounded. In the Zaporizhzhia region, tens of thousands of homes were without power after an attack by Russian drones and missiles.

No explosions planned in nuke tests

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Energy Secretary Chris Wright said new tests of the U.S. nuclear weapons system ordered up by President Donald Trump will not include nuclear explosions. Wright in a Fox News interview on Sunday clarified the Trump administration’s plans. Trump in a social media post last week said that he had “instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.”

Trump gets pledge from Xi on Taiwan

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping has given him assurances that Beijing would take no action toward its long-stated goal of unifying Taiwan with mainland China while the Republican leader is in office, Trump said in an interview on “60 Minutes” on Sunday.

The Associated Press

Nation and world at a glance

Multiple people arrested in Michigan

in Halloween weekend attack plot

DEARBORN, Mich. — FBI Director Kash Patel says federal officials have arrested multiple people in Michigan who had allegedly been plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. Patel announced the arrests in a social media post, saying they took place Friday morning. FBI and state police were in a neighborhood near Fordson High School in Dearborn and also in Inkster. Two people briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that authorities believe the plot was inspired by Islamic State extremism.

Trump says Senate should scrap

filibuster to end the shutdown

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster. That’s so the Republican majority can bypass Democrats and reopen the shutdown federal government. Trump on social media called getting rid of the 60-vote threshold in the Senate the “nuclear option.” His call to do so came as certain senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson know it’s time for the government shutdown to come to an end. From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of a shuttered federal government is hitting home. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says, “People are stressing,” as food options in her state grow scarce. But even with Saturday’s deadline for a potential shut off in SNAP food benefits, there is no end yet to settling the political stand off with negotiations.

Unidentified remains of 3 people

transferred to Israel, Red Cross says

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Red Cross says it has transferred the unidentified remains of three people to Israel but an Israeli military official says they were still being examined and may not be those of missing hostages. The official, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media, said the remains had been turned over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza. The handover follows Israel’s return earlier Friday of the bodies of 30 Palestinians to authorities in Gaza. That completed an exchange after militants turned over remains of two hostages, in a sign that the tense Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is edging forward.

Trump declines to clarify if US

will conduct tests of its nukes

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he plans to resume underground nuclear detonation tests. He had seemed to suggest that was a possibility in a social media post this week. The post raised concerns the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. The president told reporters, “You’ll find out very soon” when he was asked about it. Trump said, “We’re going to do some testing” and “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to.” But he refused to offer more details.

The Associated Press

Royal prerogative: King Charles III banishes Andrew to buttress the House of Windsor’s foundations

No one is bigger than the monarchy. Not even the king’s brother. In the end, that reality spelled the end of Prince Andrew’s life as a prince of the realm. From now on, the scandal-plagued British royal will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. As details of Andrew’s links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to dribble out and Parliament raised questions about his rent-free residence at a sprawling country house near Windsor Castle, King Charles III on Thursday moved to shield the monarchy from any further revelations.

Militia attack on hospital in Darfur came in waves, WHO says

CAIRO (AP) — The World Health Organization reports that gunmen who reportedly killed at least 460 people at a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region returned three times to the facility during their assault. The attack happened Tuesday, the same day the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, captured the provincial capital after a long siege. Witnesses describe waves of violence, including house-to-house assaults and summary executions. The Rapid Support Forces deny the hospital killings, claiming they are caring for patients. Since the capture of El-Fasher, humanitarian access has been blocked, and many residents have fled. The U.N. migration agency estimates over 62,000 people have fled the area amid high insecurity.

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