The battle for Congress could hinge on the North Carolina district
North Carolina’s 13th District has become one of the few battlegrounds in the country for control of Congress. Republican Bo Hines and Democratic state Sen. Wiley Nickel are vying for the seat in a newly redrawn congressional district that includes parts of the state capital in Raleigh. Experts say the race could be a test of former President Donald Trump’s influence in a crucial state. Hines says he is campaigning on “North Carolina values” that include restrictions on abortion and a plan to “pause” immigration so the United States can redesign its system. Nickel says she hopes to enshrine abortion protections in federal law and has outlined a 30-point inflation action plan she says offers bipartisan economic solutions.
The Koreas exchange warning shots along the maritime border amid tensions
The rival Koreas have exchanged warning shots along their disputed western sea border as animosities rise over recent North Korean weapons tests. South Korea said its navy issued warnings and fired warning shots to repel a North Korean merchant ship that violated its maritime boundary early Monday. North Korea’s military said its coastal defense units fired artillery warning shots into its territorial waters where a South Korean naval vessel had intruded. No clashes have been reported in the area where previous naval skirmishes and violence have occurred. North Korea’s recent weapons activity follows what it calls provocative joint military drills between South Korea and the United States. Those exercises end this Friday and the allies will hold joint air force drills next week.
China’s leader stacks top Communist Party body with loyalists
As China’s leader Xi Jinping led six dark-suited men onto a bright red stage on Sunday, the scale of his victory was clear as he unveiled the country’s new ruling inner circle. Each was an acolyte of Xi, making his grip on China’s future tighter than ever. Xi’s groundbreaking third term, following a week-long Communist Party congress, was fully expected. Xi has stacked the Politburo Standing Committee, the party’s highest body, with his loyalists. He has also appointed to the broader leadership a range of national security officials, military commanders, ideologues, engineers and technocrats, underscoring his ambition to accelerate China’s rise as a military and technological superpower.
Boris Johnson abandons his candidacy to return as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Boris Johnson withdrew from the race to succeed Liz Truss as British prime minister on Sunday evening, ending a quixotic bid to win back a job he lost three months ago amid numerous scandals, leaving his rival Rishi Sunak, in a commanding position. the next leader of the country. The result won’t be known until Monday at the earliest, and there’s room for more twists and turns. Johnson did not endorse Sunak, and another candidate, Penny Mordaunt, remains in the hunt. But Johnson’s withdrawal takes much of the suspense out of a race that was shaping up to be a battle between the former prime minister and his former chancellor.
As Russia and Ukraine seek gains on the front lines, the US warns Moscow
As winter approaches, Russia and Ukraine are locked in heavy exchanges of fire on the front lines in increasingly urgent attempts to make gains while they still can. The two southern sides have been pounding deep behind each other’s lines, but in recent days, the battlefield positions didn’t seem to be moving much. On Sunday, top US and Russian military officials held their second discussion in three days. Sunday’s phone call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu was intended to make clear the red lines that could lead to Russia launching a nuclear attack.
After landfall, Roslyn moves inland into Mexico as a tropical storm
Hurricane Roslyn brought damaging winds and storm surge to west-central Mexico on Sunday and killed at least two people before being downgraded to a tropical storm, officials said. The storm had moved inland and was expected to dissipate early Monday after heavy rain and flash flooding. There were reports of damage in the state of Nayarit, where the storm made landfall early Sunday. Nearly 100,000 people had lost power across the country, and residents in some affected communities faced road blocks from fallen trees or mud as authorities worked to make repairs and survey further damage.
