Thousands of US health care workers go on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Picketing began Wednesday morning at Kaiser Permanente hospitals as some 75,000 health care workers go on strike in Virginia, California and three other states over wages and staffing shortages, marking the latest major labor unrest in the United States. Kaiser...

Biden presses student debt relief as payments resume after the coronavirus pandemic pause

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced another wave of federal student loan forgiveness on Wednesday as borrowers brace for payments to restart after a three-year pause that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Democratic president's latest step will help 125,000...

Kevin McCarthy is out as speaker of the House. Here's what's next

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House of Representatives is entering uncharted territory after a far-right effort to remove fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy from the speakership succeeded thanks to support from Democrats. A resolution — titled a motion to vacate — from Rep. Matt Gaetz,...

Lawyers of Imran Khan in Pakistan oppose his closed-door trial over revealing official secrets

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Lawyers for Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday opposed his closed-door trial in a case in which he is accused of revealing state secrets after his 2022 ouster, saying it's aimed at convicting the popular opposition leader quickly. ...

House speaker chaos stuns lawmakers, frays relationships and roils Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers who had been sitting in stunned silence gasped at the declaration: The office of speaker “is hereby declared vacant. ” For the first time ever, a House speaker had been voted out of the position, plunging Congress into a new degree of turmoil. “Now...

Former US military pilot's lawyer tells Sydney court that extradition hearing should be delayed

SYDNEY (AP) — A lawyer for a former U.S. military pilot accused of illegally training Chinese aviators told a Sydney court on Wednesday that an extradition hearing scheduled for next month should be postponed due to delays in government agencies handing over crucial material. ...

Pence calls Trump's attacks on Milley 'utterly inexcusable' at AP-Georgetown foreign policy forum

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday criticized his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, for calling retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a traitor over phone calls he made to China in the final stormy months of their...

Mike Pence says he is 'deeply disappointed' in vote to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker

WASHINGTON (AP) — GOP presidential candidate Mike Pence, the former vice president, chastised a group of hard-right Republicans who ousted Kevin McCarthy from his role as House speaker Tuesday, saying that “chaos is never America’s friend.” Pence was onstage at a national...

NCAA moves toward implementing NIL rules with proposals for agent registry, deal disclosure

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — In a step toward putting rules in place to regulate the way college athletes can be compensated for their fame, the NCAA Division I Council introduced on Tuesday several proposals to bring transparency to the transactions and oversight of those who want to work with students....

McCarthy says he 'wouldn't change a thing,' feels 'fortunate' to have served in first remarks since losing speakership