Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt, says S&P  —  London (CNN Business)Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt because it offered bondholders payments in rubles, not dollars, credit ratings agency S&P has said.  —  Russia attempted to pay in rubles for two dollar-denominated bonds …

Before Giving Billions to Jared Kushner, Saudi Investment Fund Had Big Doubts  —  Before it committed $2 billion to Mr. Kushner's firm, Public Investment Fund officials questioned the justification for taking such a big risk.  — Give this article- - - Read in app

5 crucial decisions as Jan. 6 investigation reaches final stage  —  It's decision time for the Jan. 6 select committee.  —  The panel has entered the final phase of its eight-month investigation and is preparing to reveal a swath of evidence to the public in hearings slated to begin sometime in the spring.

Macron to Face Le Pen for President as French Gravitate Toward Extremes  —  President Emmanuel Macron and the hard-right leader Marine Le Pen will compete for a second time in a runoff on April 24.  —  PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron will face Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader …

Abby Finkenauer can't appear on Democratic primary ballot, Iowa judge rules … U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer cannot appear on Iowa's June 7 Democratic primary ballot, a judge ruled Sunday.  —  The late night ruling, which reverses a state panel's decision, is a major setback for Finkenauer …

Finland and Sweden set to join Nato as soon as summer  —  Russia has made a “massive strategic blunder” as Finland and Sweden look poised to join Nato as early as the summer, according to officials.  —  Washington is banking on the move that will stretch Russia's military and enlarge …

How Joe Manchin Knifed the Democrats — and Bailed on Saving Democracy  —  The senator from West Virginia had other ideas  —  “Giddy” is not a word people use to describe Jon Tester.  The towering senior U.S. senator from Montana is blunt and pragmatic.  In the halls of Congress, he's one of the last surviving rural Democrats.

Trump and Ukraine: Former Advisers Revisit What Happened  —  Amid the current crisis, Fiona Hill and other former advisers are connecting President Trump's pressure campaign on Ukraine to Jan. 6.  And they're ready to talk.  —  To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

Biden admin, DOJ to announce final rule on ‘ghost guns’  —  Steve Dettelbach is also expected to be nominated to serve as ATF director.  —  President Joe Biden and the Department of Justice are set to announce a final rule on “ghost guns” on Monday in the Rose Garden.

2024 hopefuls are already in a dark-money arms race  —  When Mike Pompeo announced his political action committee last June, he set off a wave of news stories heralding the move as a potential step toward a 2024 presidential campaign.  But the former secretary of State kept his next big launch behind the scenes.

I Commanded U.S. Army Europe.  Here's What I Saw in the Russian and Ukrainian Armies.  —  The two armies at war today couldn't be more different.  —  In March 2011, I began a new posting as the Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, in command of all U.S. Army forces stationed in various countries throughout Europe.

POLITICO Playbook: SCOOP: Liz Cheney's record fundraising haul  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Rep. LIZ CHENEY has set another personal fundraising record.  —  The Wyoming Republican is fighting off a serious challenge from HARRIET HAGEMAN, a Cheyenne attorney …

How Ginni Thomas jockeyed for influence in Trump's orbit  —  One week after the 2018 midterms, President Donald Trump hosted a private lunch with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas.  —  She used her face time with Trump to cajole …

Trumpworld Goes Into Meltdown After Trump Endorses Dr. Oz  —  “Oz is the antithesis of everything that made Trump the best president of my lifetime,” one MAGA luminary said.  —  Late Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump officially endorsed his old TV pal Dr. Mehmet Oz …

Greitens' fade reorders Missouri Senate race  —  Rep. Vicky Hartzler is surging toward the front of the pack in Missouri's GOP Senate primary, reordering a crowded race that's long been marked by former Gov. Eric Greitens' lead in the polls.  —  For the first time since he entered the primary a year ago …