May 17 U.S. to ease some economic sanctions against Venezuela By Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the U.S.-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading
May 17 Pope Francis' answer for his bad knee? Tequila By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Doctors have prescribed a wheelchair, cane and physical therapy to help heal Pope Francis' bad knee. He has another idea. Continue reading
May 17 As North Korean virus surges, Kim Jon Un faces a choice. Will he go it alone or accept international aid? By Hyung-Jin Kim, Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press At a massive outbreak of suspected COVID-19 has left North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a critical crossroads: Does he swallow his pride and accept international help or does he go it alone even though a huge number of… Continue reading
May 17 Hezbollah and allies lose parliamentary majority in Lebanese election By Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Final results in Lebanon's weekend parliamentary elections show that the militant Hezbollah group and its allies have lost the majority of parliament seats they had held since 2018. Continue reading
May 17 Russia and Ukraine both claim victories as Mariupol fighters leave steel plant By Oleksandr Stashevskyi, Ciaran McQuillan, Associated Press Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters left the vast steel plant in Mariupol where they mounted a dogged last stand and turned themselves over to Russian hands. Continue reading
May 16 Ukraine says more than 260 fighters evacuated from Mariupol mill By Oleksandr Stashevskyi, Ciaran McQuillan, Associated Press The evacuations came as Moscow suffered another diplomatic setback, with Sweden joining Finland in deciding to seek NATO membership. Meanwhile, Russian forces pounded targets in the industrial heartland of eastern Ukraine known as the Donbas. Continue reading
May 16 White House announces move to loosen remittance, flight rules on Cuba By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The Biden administration says it will expand flights to Cuba and lift Donald Trump-era restrictions on remittances that immigrants can send to people on the island. Continue reading
May 16 Watch 9:28 Finland, Sweden ambassadors discuss the push to join NATO and future of security in Europe Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted a major shift in public opinion in Finland and Sweden, with support for joining NATO recently surging in both countries. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin said the expansion of NATO infrastructure would trigger a response. Continue watching
May 16 Authorities say hate against Taiwanese people led to California church attack By Amy Taxin, Deepa Bharath, Associated Press Authorities say a gunman in a deadly attack at a California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people. Continue reading
May 16 Biden to deploy U.S. troops to Somalia, reversing Trump's ordered withdrawal By Ben Fox, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Biden has signed an order to redeploy hundreds of U.S. troops to Somalia to counter the Islamic extremist rebel group al-Shabab. It's an effort that American military leaders said had been hampered by Trump's late-term decision to withdraw forces. Continue reading