National News

Italy’s Leader Demands Safe Roads; Bridge Toll Rises To 43

By FRANCES D'EMILIO and PAOLO SANTALUCIA , Associated Press . GENOA, Italy (AP) — Italy's president demanded guarantees Saturday that all the nation's roads are safe following the Genoa highway bridge collapse, after he hugged and comforted mourners at a state funeral in the grieving port city. President Sergio Mattarella spoke quietly to victims' families…

Another Trial Looms For Ex-Trump Campaign Chairman Manafort

By MATTHEW BARAKAT , Associated Press ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — As jurors weigh Paul Manafort's fate in a sprawling financial fraud case, the former Trump campaign chairman still has another trial looming in the nation's capital — and prosecutors there have a whole new set of charges and a huge volume of evidence. The trial…

Manafort Judge Says He’s Received Threats, Won’t Name Jurors

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, STEPHEN BRAUN and JEFF HORWITZ , Associated Press ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The judge in Paul Manafort's financial fraud trial said Friday he has received threats and he fears for the "peace and safety" of the jurors deciding the fate of the former Trump campaign chairman. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III…

Mattis Says Further taliban Assaults Likely In Weeks Ahead

By ROBERT BURNS , AP National Security Writer BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Western-backed Afghan defenses will not break under the weight of Taliban violence in advance of scheduled parliamentary elections in October, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said. In his most detailed comments on the Taliban's assault on the eastern city of Ghazni since it began…

Aretha Franklin’s Music Rising on Charts Following Her Death

NEW YORK (AP) — Aretha Franklin's music quickly climbed the iTunes' charts following her death on Thursday. Her "30 Greatest Hits" album hit the No. 1 spot, replacing Nicki Minaj's new album, while "Respect" topped the songs' charts. More songs from Franklin, including "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," ''Think," ''Chain of Fools"…