LEXINGTON, St. LOUIS: A strong spring storm caused tornadoes overnight in the U.S. Midwest and Ohio River Valley, killing at least 25 people in Kentucky and Missouri and badly damaging homes, officials said on Saturday.
In Kentucky, 17 people died in Laurel County, about 80 miles south of Lexington, when a tornado hit around midnight, Governor Andy Beshear said on social media. One more person died in Pulaski Co
BANGKOK, Thailand: An American political science teacher, Paul Chambers, is still stuck in Thailand, even though the government dropped charges against him for insulting the Thai monarchy.
His family says his legal troubles are not over, and the case has drawn attention from the U.S. government.
Chambers was arrested last month in a rare case involving
NEW YORK CITY, New York: A federal judge has decided to take control of New York's Rikers Island jail away from city officials due to years of worsening violence and dangerous conditions.
Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an independent "remediation manager" with broad powers to improve safety at the jail. This person will report directly to her and can make changes to jail rules, hire staff, and d
KATHMANDU, Nepal: An Indian climber and a Filipino climber were the first to die on Mount Everest during the current climbing season from March to May, officials said this week.
Subrata Ghosh, a 45-year-old from India, died on May 15 while coming down after reaching the top of Everest, which is 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) high. He died near the Hillary Step, a dangerous area close to the summit.
"He refuse
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia has sentenced a 33-year-old Australian man to 13 years in a high-security prison for fighting with Ukrainian forces.
The announcement came from prosecutors in a part of eastern Ukraine that Russia controls.
The man, Oscar Jenkins, was found guilty of being a mercenary and taking part in fighting against Russian troops from March to December 2024.
According to Australian news
ALMATY, Tajikistan: Tajikistan has officially removed criminal liability for "liking" social media posts that the government deems extremist, a move that reverses a controversial law that has led to the imprisonment of over 1,500 people.
President Emomali Rakhmon signed the law this week, his press office announced, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to online activity.
The decision com
SACRAMENTO, California: California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed cutting back a free healthcare program for low-income undocumented migrants.
He said the state is expecting to lose US$16 billion in revenue because of tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump and needs to make budget changes.
The proposal, part of Newsom's budget plan shared on May 14, aims to save money while still supporting esse
DETROIT, Michigan: The FBI has arrested a 19-year-old man from Michigan, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a U.S. military base near Detroit on behalf of the Islamic State (IS), federal prosecutors said.
Said, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was arrested after flying a drone near the base as part of the attack plan, according to a statement from the U.S
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Parts of the U.S. and Canada may not have enough electricity this summer if hot weather causes more people to use power, the group that oversees the electric grid warned this week.
Electricity use has increased by 10 gigawatts since last summer—more than double the previous year's growth—according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). This rise comes as olde
DOHA, Qatar: President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a new twin-engine warplane, potentially called the F-55, along with a significant upgrade to the F-22 Raptor, dubbed the F-22 Super.
Speaking at a meeting of business leaders in Doha this week, Trump suggested that the U.S. was exploring the development of a "best value" fighter jet as well as enhancements to its exis
WASHINGTON, DC - A coalition of 29 U.S. senators, spanning both parties, introduced a resolution on Thursday calling on the Trump administration to push for an immediate end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, citing dire humanitarian conditions and the need for renewed diplomacy in the region.
The resolution, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and co-sponsored by prominent Democrats and Republic
For decades, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been vital in combating HIV across the Asia–Pacific region, where nearly 7 million people live with the virus amid persistent stigma. In countries such as India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam, USAID's support has expanded access to HIV testing, immediate antiretroviral treatment (ART), and pre-exposure
MIAMI, Florida: Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel and a billionaire investor announced this week he would loan his rare first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution to the National Constitution Center (NCC) in Philadelphia for a public exhibit.
He is also lending his copy of the Bill of Rights, which he hadn't mentioned owning before. Along with the documents, Griffin is donating
GAZA - Israel Air Force pilots have heavily bombarded Gaza this week, killing hundreds and severely wounding hundreds more.
The Israeli military on Friday topped off weeks of bombardment and heavy fighting, by announcing it was escalating its offensive.
"Operation Gideon's Chariots" is the name of the new offensive, its intention, according to the IDF's Hebrew X page, is to seize
DOHA, Qatar: Boeing secured its largest widebody aircraft deal this week, as Qatar Airways placed firm orders for 160 jets with options for 50 more, coinciding with President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf nation.
The agreement, valued at US$200 billion, was announced in the presence of Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and