‘No resolution’

on Ukraine war

(AP) — Talks between Russia and the U.S. on ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were constructive, but much work remains. Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, spoke to reporters on Wednesday after a lengthy session at the Kremlin.

Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as part of a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a peace deal. Both sides agreed not to disclose the substance of the talks.

Putin’s aide says that “so far, a compromise hasn’t been found” on the issue of territories, without which, he said, the Kremlin sees “no resolution to the crisis.”

Pope Leo XIV

shares thoughts

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday shared for the first time what he was thinking when the votes started going his way during the conclave that elected him, saying he resigned himself to the inevitable and put the rest in God’s hands.

“I took a deep breath. I said ‘Here we go Lord. You’re in charge and you lead the way,'” Leo told reporters during a wide-ranging airborne press conference coming home from his inaugural trip to Turkey and Lebanon.

Leo fielded questions for a half-hour, responding easily in English, Spanish and Italian about a variety of church and international news. He hinted at behind-the-scenes discussions about Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, urged dialogue rather than U.S. military threats on Venezuela and discussed his hoped-for future travels in Africa and South America, among other topics.

Snowstorm

hits Northeast

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The first major winter storm has hit the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, covering the area with snow and ice. On Tuesday, roads became hazardous, travel was disrupted and schools closed.

States like Massachusetts, Maine and New York faced significant snowfall. Hundreds of flights were delayed, and roads turned dangerous before sunrise. In West Virginia, a tractor-trailer driver was rescued from his cab after it dangled from a bridge for hours.

The storm began as a weaker system over the central U.S. but has strengthened near the coast. Winter weather advisories remain in place, and residents are urged to delay travel.

Wall Street

holds steadier

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market held steadier as both bond yields and bitcoin stabilized.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Tuesday, following its first loss in six days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6%.

Boeing was one of the strongest forces lifting the market after it gave an encouraging forecast for how much cash it will produce next year. That helped offset losses for Signet Jewelers and Procter & Gamble, which highlighted potential challenges for U.S. households.

Treasury yields eased following their jumps the day before. Bitcoin rose back above $91,000 after tumbling below $85,000 on Monday.