Lindsey Graham, visiting Kyiv, urges Ukraine to pass mobilization law

KYIV — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called on Ukrainian lawmakers Monday to quickly pass a mobilization bill that would make more citizens eligible to be drafted into the military, and sharply questioned exempting men under 27 from the fight. Graham called for the swift legislative action — even as U.S. lawmakers remain unable to reach … Read more

U.S. warns of imminent Moscow attack by ‘extremists,’ urges citizens to avoid crowds

U.S. citizens in Moscow have been warned to avoid large gatherings Friday and Saturday because of heightened fears of a terrorist attack. The U.S. Embassy in the Russian capital said it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to … Read more

As Haiti’s chaos spreads, U.S. urges Ariel Henry to resign

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The United States is urging Haiti’s embattled prime minister to clear the way for the election of a new president, a position vacant since 2021, amid growing pressure from armed rebels at home and governments abroad. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. government … Read more

Trump urges judge not to impose gag order in NY criminal hush money case

By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Lawyers for Donald Trump asked a court on Monday to reject a prosecution request for a gag order at his March 25 criminal trial over hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, arguing it would infringe on his right to free speech. “President Trump’s political opponents have, and … Read more

UN rights chief urges end to ‘repression’ of independent voices in Russia after Navalny’s death

GENEVA — The U.N. human rights chief called Monday for a quick end to the “repression of independent voices” in Russia and expressed concerns about the “persecution” of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month. Volker Türk, in a wide-ranging speech, also lamented dozens of conflicts around the world, widespread violations of … Read more

Philippine foreign minister urges neighbors to stand together more strongly in South China Sea

MELBOURNE, Australia — Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo urged regional neighbors Monday to stand together more strongly in upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea, where China is forcefully pursuing territorial claims in conflict with other nations. Manalo spoke at a forum on maritime cooperation on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian … Read more

French actor urges lawmakers to investigate sex crimes and sexism in the film industry

PARIS — The woman leading a push for a reckoning about sexual abuse in France’s world-renowned cinema industry urged lawmakers Thursday to establish a commission to investigate sex crimes and sexism in the sector. With French film-making in the spotlight ahead of the Oscars next month, Judith Godrèche gave emotional testimony to a French Senate … Read more

Russian opposition figure Kara-Murza urges Russians from court not to give up after Navalny’s death

From behind bars in Siberia, prominent opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza on Thursday urged Russians not to give up after the death of Alexei Navalny and alleged there is a state-backed hit squad taking out opponents of President Vladimir Putin, according to a video posted on a social media channel. A British-Russian citizen, Kara-Murza is serving … Read more

Iran, wary of wider war, urges its proxies to avoid provoking U.S.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran, eager to disrupt U.S. and Israeli interests in the Middle East but wary of provoking a direct confrontation, is privately urging Hezbollah and other armed groups to exercise restraint against U.S. forces, according to officials in the region. Israel’s brutal war on Hamas in Gaza has stoked conflict between … Read more

In Munich, Zelensky urges U.S. and other allies not to abandon Ukraine

MUNICH — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded on Saturday for the United States and other international supporters to stick with Ukraine, warning a crowd of political leaders and security and defense officials that his country, if left alone, will be destroyed by Russia. Zelensky, in a speech at the annual Munich Security Conference, seemed to … Read more