First Run News

DAKAR, Senegal — When United States forces set out on what was ultimately a deadly joint patrol with Nigerien soldiers this month, they were entering terrain crisscrossed by criminal elements and terrorist organizations in a dangerous, yet often forgotten, corner of the world. The area in Niger, near the border with Mali, is known to host groups loyal to both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State and has long been used as a smuggling route for arms, drugs and people.

WASHINGTON — Navy criminal authorities are investigating whether two members of the elite SEAL Team 6 strangled an Army Green Beret in June while they were in Mali on a secret assignment, military officials say. Staff Sgt. Logan J.

Roger J. Stone Jr., an ally of President Trump and a self-proclaimed political “dirty trickster,” has been kicked off Twitter. In a series of tweets on Friday, Mr. Stone insulted several CNN news anchors and contributors.

WASHINGTON — Pushing back against the accelerating criminal investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia, President Trump argued on Sunday that its focus should instead be on his 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton, even as the special counsel’s inquiry was reportedly poised to produce its first indictment. In a series of tweets, Mr. Trump said Republicans were now fighting the Russia allegations by looking into Mrs. Clinton, apparently referring to new House investigations into her email practices and an Obama-era uranium deal with Russia. But the president made it clear he believed that Mrs.

Russia is increasingly wielding oil as a geopolitical tool, spreading its influence around the world and challenging the interests of the United States. But Moscow risks running into trouble, as it lends money and makes deals in turbulent economies and shaky political climates. The strategy faces a crucial test this week in Venezuela, a Russian ally that must come up with a billion dollars to avert defaults on its debts. Russia has been making a flurry of loans and deals all centered on the Venezuelan oil business, money that could make the difference between the government’s collapse and its

The House Intelligence Committee's top Democratic member said he "can't answer" whether Robert Mueller's Russia probe. "I can't answer that one way or the other," Democratic presidential election and possible collusion between Russian officials and the Trump campaign.

President Donald Trump and his vice president came out this past week with initiatives that are not as big, bold or immediate as they appeared. Despite the drum-roll implied in Mike Pence's recent remarks to Christians, the U.S. is not suddenly walking away from U.N. humanitarian relief programs and switching all that money directly to persecuted religious groups.

Whoever is targeted in the first charges sought by the Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor. “Believe me, if you’re the person, you know,” Christie, a former U.S.

Jared Kushner recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, a senior White House official confirmed. The trip was not announced ahead of time. On his third trip to Saudi Arabia this year, Kushner, whose White House portfolio includes the Middle East, left the U.S. on Wednesday and returned Saturday. Dina Powell, deputy national security adviser, and Jason Greenblatt, the administration's Middle East envoy, accompanied him in Saudi Arabia.

Robert Mueller's team has sought its first charges in the probe, with a possible announcement of an indictment to come as soon as Monday. Sources tell ABC News the special counsel team has sought charges against at least one unidentified target. The president's lawyer handling the response to the Russia investigation said Trump's tweets Sunday are not related to the special counsel's activities. “Contrary to what many have suggested, the president’s comments today are unrelated to the activities of the special counsel, with