How a warrant for Putin puts new spin on Xi visit to Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week highlighted China’s aspirations for a greater role on the world stage. But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after Friday’s announcement of the trip, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, taking at least some wind out of the sails of China’s big reveal.

Obituaries for March 19, 2023

Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be puchased through the newspaper advertising department.

Convicted Jan. 6 defendant wants to sell his guns

ATLANTA — A Georgia man who was arrested in Washington, D.C., for threatening to shoot former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot has asked a federal judge for permission to sell a cache of firearms seized in his arrest.

Officials are preparing security in case of Trump indictment

NEW YORK (AP) — Law enforcement officials in New York are making security preparations for the possibility that former President Donald Trump could be indicted in the coming weeks and appear in a Manhattan courtroom in an investigation examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with him, four law enforcement officials said Friday.

Judge orders more Trump lawyer testimony in Mar-a-Lago probe

A judge has ruled in a sealed order that federal prosecutors investigating the potential mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate will be able to again question a Trump lawyer before a grand jury. The order will require M. Evan Corcoran to answer additional questions as prosecutors pursue their investigation into classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago as well as potential efforts to obstruct that probe. The order was described by a person familiar with it, who was not authorized to discuss a sealed proceeding and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

New COVID origins data point to raccoon dogs in China market

BEIJING (AP) — Genetic material collected at a Chinese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, adding evidence to the theory that the virus originated from animals, not from a lab, international experts say.

St. Patrick’s Day rites: Parades, bagpipes, clinking pints

Cities across the United States are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Parades, kicking off a weekend of revelry. New York City’s parade bills itself as the largest and oldest drawing tens of thousands to Fifth Avenue to listen to bagpipes, bands and give homage to Ireland’s patron saint. In Savannah, Georgia, people were planting their lawn chairs in prime viewing spots to watch a flow of floats, dancers and marching bands in another huge celebration. In Portland, Oregon, the city’s oldest Irish bar attempted to brew a record-breaking 264-gallon Irish coffee. Some cities, like Boston, will hold parades over the weekend.