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As US Customs refines its tariff refund system, who gets in to apply is under dispute
NEW YORK | A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency official is set to testify in federal court Tuesday about the U.S. government’s plans for refunding billions of dollars that importers paid before the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump illegally imposed certain tariffs on goods from most other countries. Court of International Trade […]
Analysis: Chinese President Xi’s silence on nuclear arms is a gift to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un
TOKYO | Chinese and North Korean state-run media this week devoted thousands of words to Xi Jinping ‘s summit with Kim Jong Un, but made no mention of a key matter for Washington: the North’s steadfast pursuit of nuclear weapons that could threaten the United States and its allies in Asia. The silence says more […]
After long waits at the Social Security Administration, its chief says things are getting better
WASHINGTON | After complaints about staffing cuts and long waits to get help at the Social Security Administration, its commissioner says he’s ready to make the case to Congress this week that things are getting a lot better at the embattled agency. Frank Bisignano is expected to face pointed questions from lawmakers at a hearing […]
Fewer Americans say democracy is central to country’s identity, AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON | As the U.S. prepares for an extravagant celebration of its founding principles, fewer Americans see their country as exceptional, a new poll finds. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research highlights many Americans’ feeling of unease over the future of its representative government — particularly among young people. It […]
Tropical Storm Boris forms off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast and brings flooding threat
MIAMI | Tropical Storm Boris formed Monday and was expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and possible mudslides to parts of southern Mexico’s Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Boris was located about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Acapulco and 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Punta Maldonado, according to the Miami-based […]
A 7.8 magnitude quake in the Philippines kills at least 32, collapses buildings and sparks tsunami
DAVAO, Philippines | An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 32 people, injuring more than 200 others mostly in ruined buildings and sending a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami into nearby coasts. Several mostly low-rise buildings collapsed or sustained heavy damages in the hard-hit city of General Santos. Tsunami damage […]
From unfilled gas tanks to fewer frills, retailers see US consumers rethink their spending
NEW YORK | U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts. The behavior changes observed so far are subtle, such as altered routines for buying gasoline and fewer visits to clothing and […]
Putin slams Western sanctions as damaging to the global economy
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia | Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that developing countries have gained an increasingly important role in the global economy, while the share of output by Western countries has shrunk. In a speech to the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin accused the West of undermining the global economy and finances […]
As Ebola spreads in Congo, a radio station tries to stop health misinformation
BUNIA, Congo | The rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola that Congo is battling took locals by surprise after weeks of spreading unnoticed. Hundreds of cases were suspected when Congolese authorities announced the outbreak on May 15, but many dismissed the news as a “Western conspiracy.” At least 63 people have died from 397 confirmed cases, […]
4 years running, Southern Baptists weigh tightening ban on churches with women pastors
When Southern Baptists gather Tuesday in Florida for their annual meeting, they’ll debate for the fourth year in a row whether to formally ban churches with a woman serving in any role resembling that of pastor — not just the top job. One thing they are unlikely to debate is the politics of many Southern […]