Christa Pike awake, speaking — and shackled to her bed days after botched execution

Trump to speak to Putin on plague as US, UN urge transparency

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would speak very soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the reported plague death of a laboratory technician, as Washington and the United Nations called for transparency from Moscow. Russian authorities denied that they were imposing anti-plague measures and played down the reports of an incident at a plague research institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region last week. But Washington is showing growing concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on Russia to be open about the situation. The World Health Organization issued a similar appeal Tuesday. "We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately," Rubio said during a trip to Iceland. Trump later said he would be speaking to Putin about what happened. "I have a call scheduled, yes," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had spoken to Putin on the issue yet, adding that it would happen "very soon." Asked what US intelligence agencies were saying about the situa

California couple arrested on child abuse charges in horrifying surrogacy probe

LOS ANGELES — An extremely wealthy Chinese immigrant and his wife amassed a brood of 21 children through a surrogacy scheme and raised them in a “house of horrors,” prosecutors alleged Tuesday. Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested at their sprawling mansion in Arcadia, a city about 13 miles (20 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The children suffered daily beatings from cruel nannies as the couple watched over a network of surveillance cameras and laughed, according to prosecutors. The couple allegedly recruited women across the country to serve as surrogates, promising them that they were just looking for another child to grow their family. The couple face several counts of child abuse as well as conspiracy to commit child abuse, accessory after the fact and dissuading a witness, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “This case is unprecedented. It is horrific,” he said during a morning news conference. “The physical abuse, beating and punishment that these very young children received is despicable.” In an afternoon c

A journey along the Trail of Tears is essential to understanding Tennessee’s history

In the year of America’s 250th birthday, Robyn Wilson travels to the South to learn about the forced displacement of thousands of Cherokee people in the 19th century and discover how communities are coming to terms with a dark period in the nation’s history

Iran-US war latest: Vance says one ‘basic’ step could end Iran’s nuclear threat as Houthis strike more airports

Saudi-backed coalition forces claim a ‘decisive military operation against the Houthi militias’ in the Bab el-Mandeb area

Skydance now runs two of Hollywood's legacy film studios. A look at the new company, by the numbers

David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has completed its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Two dead in Kyiv as Zelensky warns of massive incoming Russian attack

President warns allies political will needed to provide Kyiv with weapons, especially in US and Europe

Israel marks 3rd anniversary of Oct 7 Hamas attacks as Gaza war drags on

Israel marks 3rd anniversary of Oct 7 Hamas attacks as Gaza war drags on

AustralianSuper eyes India, Japan for Private equity

Private equity penetration remains much lower in Asia, she said, presenting “more and more opportunities” for the A$430 billion ($300 billion) fund

Min Aung Hlaing visits Malaysia as Myanmar returns face UN criticism

Min Aung Hlaing visits Malaysia as Myanmar returns face UN criticism

India tells UN OIC backs fiction over facts on Pakistan-linked terror

India tells UN OIC backs fiction over facts on Pakistan-linked terror

Former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing young men

The former Bishop of Broome is one of the most senior Catholic clerics in the world to face sex abuse charges.

'Come to your senses': What is Pak PM's condition for talks with Imran's party