Nation

District of Columbia

Gov’t shutdown grinds into week two

WASHINGTON — As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight. No negotiations, at least publicly, are underway, but quiet talks are emerging.

This comes amid signs of political discomfort. Federal worker union leaders are pushing Congress to do its job. Military troops are preparing to go without paychecks. And flight delays are happening nationwide.

Virginia

Former FBI director pleads not guilty

ALEXANDRIA — Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump.

Comey’s lawyers said Wednesday they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed. The Comey case amplifies concerns Trump’s Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies.

Georgia

Last of 10 May jail escapees captured

ATLANTA — The U.S. Marshals say the only escaped inmate who remained on the run after breaking out of a New Orleans jail in May has been captured.

Derrick Groves, 28, was found hiding in a crawl space beneath an Atlanta home.

Canada

PM, Trump discuss reviving pipeline

TORONTO — A Canadian government official familiar with the matter says Prime Minister Mark Carney raised the prospect of reviving the contentious Keystone XL pipeline project during his White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this week.

A Canadian company pulled the plug on it four years ago after the Canadian government failed to persuade then-President Joe Biden to reverse his cancellation of its permit on the day he took office.

United Kingdom

Attacker pledged allegiance to IS

LONDON — Counter terrorism police in Britain say that the assailant in last week’s attack on a synagogue in the city of Manchester that left two people dead had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The attacker, Jihad Al-Shamie, called emergency dispatchers during his deadly attack on Oct. 2. to pledge his allegiance to the terror group, counter terrorism police said in a statement.

United Nations

Global peacekeeping force faces cuts

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations will begin slashing its peacekeeping force and operations, forcing thousands of soldiers in the next several months to evacuate far-flung global hotspots as a result of the latest U.S. funding cuts to the world body.

The result will be about a 25% reduction in peacekeepers worldwide, with about 13,000 to 14,000 personnel sent home.