Pet ownership has been on the rise in recent decades, with 70% of American households having a pet, up from 56% in 1988, according to the American Pet Products Association. But if you want to be a pet parent, you should be prepared for how expensive these companions can be. The average dog owner, for example, spends $4,512 per year …

Tax time is here, and with the majority of Americans expected to receive a tax refund, you could soon get a check for the money you’re owed by the IRS. While it’s tempting to think of your tax refund as extra spending money, it makes sense to put that cash to workinstead. And when you do, it’s important to use …

The United Nations Security Council on Monday demanded a cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its first demand to halt fighting. The United States abstained on the resolution, which also demanded the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel, which sparked the war. The measure does not link …

Washington — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he will not send a delegation to Washington after the U.S. refused to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The Security Council passed the resolution on Monday that called for a cease-fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two …

A New York appeals court ruled that former President Donald Trump does not have to come up with $464 million to appeal the judgment against him in his civil fraud trial, and must only provide a bond in the amount of $175 million. At midnight Monday, the time had expired on the 30-day grace period that New York Attorney General …

You don’t usually associate the sound of a banjo with a view of New York City, but with Steve Martin, it all seems to work. He played for “Sunday Morning” at his apartment last month, and to everyone there, he sounded amazing. But to him, it wasn’t quite good enough. “Oh, I blew it there!” he said. In some ways, …

Fifteen-year-old Bibi Butorin has not been at home with her mom in Prague since last spring. Her mother, Alsu Kurmasheva, an American-Russian journalist, is now detained in Russia. “My mom is definitely my biggest inspiration,” Bibi said. “And I just miss her, like, more than I can possibly say. And I worry about her safety so much.” She said her …

On March 29, 2023, Evan Gershkovich was on assignment in Russia when he was arrested by security forces and accused of being a spy, a charge vigorously denied by Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. government. Look around the Wall Street Journal offices in Manhattan, and you’ll see Gershkovich, the hostage, everywhere – on buttons, cards, shirts, and …

Russia on Sunday observed a national day of mourning in the aftermath of an attack at a suburban Moscow concert hall left more than 130 people dead. Family and friends of those missing were still waiting for news of their loved ones two days after the massacre, which also left some 150 people injured. The death toll, initially placed at …

The following is a transcript of an interview with House Foreign Affairs Committe chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas, that aired on March 24, 2024. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by the Republican chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Texas Congressman Michael McCaul. Good to have you here in person this morning. HOUSE FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIRMAN REP. MICHAEL …

The following is a transcript of an interview with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that aired on March 24, 2024. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to the former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, who joins us this morning from Bakersfield, California. Good to have you back on the program, sir. FMR. SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY: Thank you. Thanks for having …

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a rare presence on our national stage – an historian with academic cred and pop-culture cachet. Her work, of course, is serious, but she shares it with joy, and sometimes a laugh, as when she made an entrance on “The Late Show Starring Stephen Colbert” on a litter carried by Lincoln impersonators. “It’s fun when a …

Who, besides Percival Everett, would have a pet crow named Jim Crow? “When he was on my shoulder, when I wrote the novel ‘Erasure,’ if I wasn’t paying enough attention to him, he would march down my arm and peck at the keys,” Everett said. “So, I do credit him for having written some of the novel.” Consider the irony …

The U.S. Navy on Saturday identified a sailor who went overboard while deployed in the Red Sea. The sailor, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, went overboard from the USS Mason on Wednesday, military officials said. He was assigned to the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74. Aregbesola, a 34-year-old Florida resident, joined the Navy in …

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wields a lot of influence when it comes to curbing migrants illegally crossing the U.S. southern border. And as he made clear in a recent “60 Minutes” interview, he believes that power should be Mexico’s to decide when to use. Specifically, López Obrador defended his country’s sovereignty in response to hearing House Speaker Mike …