North America

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - Cable television network CNN has fired longtime host Don Lemon, the news anchor said in a post on Twitter on Monday, adding he was "stunned" by the step and that he was not directly informed of the termination by the network.

"I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned," Lemon said.

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - A top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives predicted on Tuesday his party will muster the votes needed to adopt a plan to slash spending and raise the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, despite signs of growing opposition within Republican ranks.

"This will pass. I'm telling you right now, it will pass the House floor," Representative Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, told Reuters in an interview.

NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) - Donald Trump went on trial on Tuesday, where the writer E. Jean Carroll accuses the former U.S. president in a civil lawsuit of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

Jury selection began in Manhattan federal court in the former Elle magazine advice columnist's case, where Carroll is also accusing Trump of defamation.

Trump, 76, has denied raping Carroll, 79.

April 24 (Reuters) - Fox News Media and its top-rated host Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways, less than a week after parent company Fox Corp (FOXA.O) settled for $787.5 million a defamation lawsuit in which Carlson played a starring role.

UNITED NATIONS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that the military conflict in Sudan could engulf the whole region and beyond.

The situation in Sudan continues to worsen. Since the start of fighting on April 15, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured, he said.

"The violence must stop. It risks a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond," he warned.

Guterres raised the alarm at the beginning of his remarks to a Security Council open debate on multilateralism.

New York (AP) —  Wall Street futures followed global markets lower Tuesday amid a bevy of U.S. earnings reports and an update on economic growth.

Futures for the Dow slipped 0.2% and the S&P fell 0.4%.

Dozens of the nation’s biggest companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, are due to report earnings this week. McDonald’s rose before the bel l after the fast food chain reported higher-than-expected sales and profit in the first quarter.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief and representatives from Western nations berated Russia’s top diplomat as he chaired a U.N. meeting Monday, accusing Moscow of violating the U.N. Charter by attacking Ukraine and occupying part of its territory.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by defending his country’s military action and accusing the U.S. and its allies of undercutting global diplomacy, the foundation of the United Nations, which was created to prevent a third world war.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Mississippi closed most government offices Monday for Confederate Memorial Day as efforts have stalled to abolish state holidays that honor the old Confederacy.

Legislation has been introduced in the ongoing Alabama legislative session to remove, alter or rename Confederate-related holidays, but the effort has so far gained little traction.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Republicans persisted in forbidding Democratic transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from participating in debate for a second week and her supporters brought the House session to a halt Monday — chanting “Let her speak!” from the gallery before they were escorted out.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to “finish the job” he began when he was sworn in to office and to set aside their concerns about extending the run of America’s oldest president for another four years.