National and International News | USA

  Ukraine war: How long can the Western consensus hold? With Russian forces making slow, grinding progress in the eastern Donbas region and military experts speaking of a long war of attrition, have cracks started to appear in the West's support for Ukraine? As he directs the fighting from the gleaming white halls of the Kremlin, what does Vladimir Putin make of the swirling Western debates over how best to support Ukraine, and the extent to which Russia should be punished? In one corner, he sees governments in Britain, Poland and the Baltics calling for his unambiguous defeat. "We need to make sure that Russia is driven out of Ukraine by the Ukrainians," the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said last week. "There can't be any compromising over Ukrainian territory." But in the other corner, Mr Putin sees leaders in France, Germany and Italy calling for a different approach. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, German Chancellor O

 A once-in-a-lifetime drought in the western part of the US is turning up dead bodies - but that's the least of people's worries. Sitting on the Arizona-Nevada border near Las Vegas, Lake Mead - formed by the creation of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River - is the largest reservoir in the United States and provides water to 25 million people across three states and Mexico. Here, the stunning scale of a drought in the American west has been laid plain for all to see. The water level is now so low that bodies of murder victims from decades back, once hidden by its depths, have surfaced. One was stuffed in a barrel with a gun shot wound - presumably because someone thought it would stay unnoticed at the bottom of the vast reservoir forever. While the dead bodies are fuelling talk about Las Vegas' mob past, water experts warn of even more worrisome consequences. If the lake keeps receding, it would reach what's known as "dead pool" - a level so low the Hoover Da

  Abbott: US baby formula plant linked to national shortage resumes production US firm Abbott says it is restarting production at a baby formula plant after its shutdown contributed to a national shortage of the baby food. The plant in Michigan - one of America's largest - was closed in February because of contamination. Coupled with global supply chain issues, the factory's closure led to acute shortages. Parents were left scrambling for supplies, seeking formula from food banks, friends and doctor's offices. Some turned to social media to try to track down baby milk, while others attempted to make their own substitutes (against medical advice). The facility has met initial government sanitary requirements for reopening, the company said in a statement. Abbott said it would initially prioritise the production of its EleCare speciality formulas for babies with severe food allergies and digestive problems. "We're also working hard to fulfil the steps necessary to re

 She has all ingredients needed to be the next Democratic star: young, populist, with the credibility to speak for an important constituency - Hispanic Americans. On the campaign trail, Jessica Cisneros painted a picture of herself as a child of South Texas, from growing up in a poor, Spanish-speaking household to becoming a lawyer. Addressing a crowd of hundreds hiding in a church gymnasium from a blistering Texas sun, she made her pitch to oust a nine-term incumbent Democrat from his seat in Congress representing the border district that is over three-quarters Latino. The centrist Congressman Henry Cuellar - for whom she used to intern in Washington DC- was "anti-labour, anti-immigrant, [and]anti-choice," Ms Cisneros told supporters. It appears that message may have failed to resonate with an important swathe of voters in Texas' 28th Congressional District, which stretches from the eastern suburbs of San Antonio south to the Mexican border. As things stand, Ms Cisneros

  Migrant caravan heads to US as key summit begins Thousands of migrants are headed to the US-Mexican border in a caravan timed to coincide with a meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders in Los Angeles. Some 6,000 people, including many from Venezuela and Central America, have begun walking from the southern tip of Mexico north as part of a caravan. Migration is among the top issues on the agenda at the Summit of the Americas. The caravan may be one of the largest in recent years. On Monday, the group began its 1,270 mile (2,000 km) journey to the US from the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the country's border with Guatemala. It is unclear when they will arrive at the northern frontier. The group's organisers say it is made up of people who are fleeing instability, violence and poverty in their home countries. Robinson Reyes, 35, a Colombian migrant, said he was traveling north after waiting in vain in Mexico for a month for a humanitarian visa. "We want a future for our fa

  North Korea could carry out nuclear tests 'any time', warns US official A US official has warned that North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test "at any time". Sung Kim, US Special Representative to North Korea, made the warning days after Pyongyang test-launched a record eight ballistic missiles on Sunday. Any such nuclear test would be met with a "swift and forceful response", US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters. Pyongyang has not carried out a nuclear test for five years. However, tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula. Speaking from Jakarta, Mr Kim said North Korea had tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year - 31 compared to 25 during the whole of its last record-breaking year, 2019. "And it's only June," he told reporters during a briefing in Jakarta, Indonesia. What we know about North Korea's missile and nuclear programme North Korea missile tests: What does Kim Jong-un want? He a

  Teacher wounded in Uvalde shooting says he will never forgive police A teacher wounded in last month’s mass shooting at a Texas elementary school said he will never forgive law enforcement for waiting more than an hour to stop the gunman who killed 19 students and two teachers. Arnulfo Reyes, hospitalized after being shot twice during the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary School, spoke of his anger toward police during an emotional interview that aired Tuesday. He described feeling abandoned by officers who stood in a hallway even as students begged for help in repeated calls to 911. “After everything, I get more angry, because you have a bulletproof vest. I had nothing! I had nothing,” a crying Reyes said in a segment broadcast on “Good Morning America.” “You’re supposed to protect and serve. There is no excuse for their actions.” The police response to the Uvalde shooting has faced mounting scrutiny and criticism amid revelations about the officers’ delay and other missteps. A tim

S.F. DA recalled, L.A.'s Caruso advances as Democrats tested on crime Crime, homelessness and Democratic divisions over the issues took center stage Tuesday as a liberal prosecutor in San Francisco was recalled and seven states held primaries that helped mold each party’s image heading into November’s fight for control of Congress, statehouses and major cities across the country. The recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D) — whom critics called too lenient — came as angst over liberal leaders’ approach to public safety also loomed large in a contest for Los Angeles mayor, where Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and billionaire businessman Rick Caruso are projected to advance to a runoff. Caruso, a former Republican, has pitched himself as a different kind of Democrat who will fix long-simmering crises in the nation’s second-largest city. Soaring inflation, gun violence and abortion rights were on voters’ minds Tuesday as they headed to the polls in California, Iowa, Mis

  Denver Broncos to be sold to Walmart heir Rob Walton for record $4.65 billion, per report Walmart has arrived in the NFL. Rob Walton, the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is poised to become the new owner of the Denver Broncos after the team announced Tuesday night that it had entered into a purchase agreement with him, his daughter, Carrie Walton-Penner, and his son-in-law, Greg Penner.  Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but 9News in Denver reported that Walton will pay $4.65 billion for the franchise, more than double the most recent sale price for an NFL team. The $4.65 billion price tag would also establish a record for an American sports franchise.  "We are thrilled to be moving forward with the purchase of the Denver Broncos," Walton said in a statement released by the team. " ... Having lived and worked in Colorado, we've always admired the Broncos. Our enthusiasm has only grown as we've learned more about the team, staff and Bronc

  FDA panel recommends Novavax COVID-19 vaccine be the fourth allowed for use in US A federal advisory committee recommended Tuesday that a fourth COVID-19 vaccine be authorized for use in the USA, this one from Novavax, a company based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The vaccine, which was supported by $1.8 billion in taxpayer funding, relies on a more traditional approach than the vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, which have been used by more than three-quarters of Americans. A third vaccine, from Johnson & Johnson, was used in more than 16 million people, but has been recommended as a second choice because of a side effect that's extremely rare but potentially lethal.  According to polling data, 73% of Americans want more vaccine choices. Dr. Peter Marks, head of the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine review division, opened Tuesday's meeting by saying that because of vaccine hesitancy – which has left about 23% of the public unvaccinated – the government sho

  Primary elections live updates: San Francisco voters recall DA; LA mayor's race headed to runoff High-profile races in California — a San Francisco district attorney recall and a mayor's race in Los Angeles headed to a runoff — could signal trouble for Democrats in the November general elections. Voters hit the polls for primary elections and other races not just in California, but also in Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota on Tuesday. Unlike previous primaries in Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump's shadow didn't loom particularly large. One of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him last year – David Valadao of California – doesn't even have a challenge from a Trump-endorsed opponent. Here are the key developments: Want the news in your inbox?:Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter here Janice Slattery votes with her dogs Randy, left, and Tucker-T in the primary election in La Habra Heights in

  Democratic frontrunners Rick Caruso, Karen Bass advance to November runoff in LA mayor race LOS ANGELES — The race for Los Angeles mayor will head to a November runoff after no candidate secured at least 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary. Both Democratic frontrunners – Rep. Karen Bass and billionaire developer Rick Caruso – will move forward.  As of 10 p.m. PDT, Caruso held a 3-point lead over Bass, a win in itself against an established Los Angeles politician who was on President Joe Biden's short list for vice president.  Both candidates will appear on the November ballot for the general election, where voters will also be tasked with deciding on a number of other races, including governor, Senate and House seats. The race could mark a turning point for the city, which boasts the second largest population in the country, and put its reputation as a progressive trendsetter at risk.  The winner will take over for Eric Garcetti, who was nominated to be the U.S. ambassador t