Debt ceiling talks teeter, lawmakers leave town without a deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Republicans pushed debt ceiling talks to the brink Thursday, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default hurling the global economy into chaos.
DeSantis pushes past embarrassing campaign start, raises $8.2M
CONCORD, N.H. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday sought to push past an embarrassing beginning to his presidential campaign, outlining an aggressive travel schedule as his allies insisted they remain well funded and well positioned for a long Republican primary fight ahead.
Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem barred by Florida school
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A poem written for President Joe Biden’s inauguration has been placed on a restricted list at a South Florida elementary school after one parent’s complaint.
Biden releases new strategy to tackle rise in antisemitism
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced what he said is the most ambitious and comprehensive undertaking by the U.S. government to fight hate, bias and violence against Jews, outlining more than 100 steps the administration and its partners can take to combat an alarming rise in antisemitism.
Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oath Keepers extremist group founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after winning the 2020 election.
Russian private army handing control of Bakhmut to Moscow
KYIV, Ukraine — The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed Thursday that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city.
Virgin Galactic completes final test before launching paying customers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M — Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a “fantastic achievement” in what has been a long road to commercial operations.
Successes, failures, challenges for U.N. peacekeeping on 75th anniversary
UNITED NATIONS — On the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, the United Nations chief said Thursday that peacekeepers are increasingly working in places where there is no peace and praised the more than 4,200 who have given their lives to the cause of peace since the U.N. authorized its first military deployment in 1948.
Iran unveils ballistic missile amid nuclear program tensions
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran unveiled on Thursday what it called the latest iteration of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program.
Many who can’t flee fighting in Sudan face danger, despair
LONDON — Mahmoud almost never leaves his small apartment in east Khartoum. Electricity has been out for most of the past month, so he swelters in the summer heat. When he does venture out to find food, he leaves his mobile phone behind because of looters in the street. Otherwise, he hunkers down in fear, worried that an artillery shell could burst into his home.
An El Nino, record ocean heat kick off hurricane season
Two clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be.
No early reports of major damage in Typhoon Mawar aftermath
HAGATNA, Guam — Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake.
Kapa‘a High School’s Malafu makes Hall of Honor class
Kapa‘a High School senior Solomone Malafu was the sole Kaua‘i representative to be named to the 2023 Hawai‘i High School Hall of Honor class that was released on Monday.
eWaste contest winners recognized
The county Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division announced the winners of the April Electronic Waste, or eWaste, contest, on Friday, May 19, 2023, with the 10 winners receiving gift cards of $400 each from Walmart, Times Supermarkets, Target, Safeway and Costco.
UH researchers develop artificial intelligence for reef conservation
If AI ever rises up, at least the reefs will be safe.
Stroke awareness event is Saturday
In observance of May being recognized as Stroke Awareness Month, the Wilcox Medical Center, in partnership with American Medical Response and the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center, is offering a free stroke and fall prevention education event on Saturday.
Tokuda to speak at Memorial Day Service
The traditional Memorial Day service presented by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council is Monday, May 29, starting at 10 a.m. at the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe.
Kaua‘i home, condo sales sink in April
The song remained the same for the County of Kaua‘i housing market last month, as sales of single-family homes and condominiums sank amid a backdrop of sluggish demand in spring.
Bonjolea II ends Fast Company’s win streak
The 13-race win streak is over.
Obituaries for Thursday, May 25, 2023
• Jeraldine Joyce Masumoto • Donald ‘Donny’ Lee Strickland • Louise Jeanette Silva • Virginia Pacleb Honorato