What to know about Matthew Whitaker, Trump’s pick to be America's ambassador to NATO

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has tapped former acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker as U.S. ambassador to NATO — set to make him the nation's representative to a bedrock Western alliance that the president-elect has repeatedly relished criticizing. Whitaker has a legal and...

Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans are 'ready to deliver' on Trump's agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Republicans are “ready to deliver” President-elect Donald Trump's agenda after his election victory, insisting the GOP won't make the mistakes of last time and will be much better prepared for a second-term Trump White House. ...

Districts in Pakistan close parks and museums because of record-breaking smog

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in a broad swath of eastern Pakistan closed all parks and museums Friday because of record-breaking smog that already has prompted the closure of schools and government offices and has sickened tens of thousands of people. The new restrictions...

Floods in Philippines kill at least 9 and trap others on roofs as storm approaches

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Torrential rain set off by an approaching tropical storm swamped the eastern Philippines with widespread flooding that killed at least nine people, trapped others on their roofs and sparked frantic appeals for help, officials said Wednesday. The...

Biden signs stopgap bill funding government until December, averting a shutdown before election

Biden signs temporary funding bill that avoids a shutdown before the election

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a temporary government spending bill that keeps agencies operating into December, after Congress punted key spending decisions until after the November election. The bill generally funds agencies at current levels through...

Remains of South African freedom fighters arrive home from Zimbabwe and Zambia

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The remains of 42 South African freedom fighters who died while exiled in Zimbabwe and Zambia during the struggle against white minority rule arrived in their home country Wednesday. The remains were received by government officials and family members at...

Congress passes temporary bill to avoid shutdown as lawmakers punt spending decisions to December

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress on Wednesday passed a temporary measure that keeps government agencies funded into December, avoiding a shutdown for now while punting final spending decisions until after the Nov. 5 election. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 78-18 shortly...

House passes short-term bill to avoid government shutdown as lawmakers punt decisions on spending until after election

A year ago Kevin McCarthy was booted as House speaker. Mike Johnson is trying to avoid that fate

WASHINGTON (AP) — One year since Kevin McCarthy was booted from the House speaker's office after Congress voted in a bipartisan way to prevent a federal government shutdown, the new House Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself courting, but so far avoiding, a similar political fate. ...