7 mins read

China agrees to boost trade for US beef and poultry following Trump-Xi summit

WASHINGTON | China has agreed to ramp up trade for U.S. agricultural products such as beef and poultry, buying at an annualized rate of $17 billion per year for 2026 and at that level for 2027 and 2028, the White House announced Sunday, two days after President Donald Trump returned from a high-stakes summit in […]

6 mins read

Ukraine conducts large-scale drone strikes on Russia, killing 4 and wounding a dozen others

KYIV, Ukraine | One of Ukraine’s largest drone strikes on Russia killed at least four people, including three near Moscow, and wounded a dozen others, local authorities said Sunday. Debris fell on Russia’s largest airport without causing damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the drone strikes, saying that they were “entirely justified.” Russia has repeatedly […]

7 mins read

Somalia is in a deadly drought again. Most humanitarian aid isn’t there this time

PUNTLAND, Somalia | Most of Abdi Ahmed Farah’s hundreds of goats have died. It has not rained steadily in this part of Somalia for three years, something the 70-year-old never thought possible. He is in debt from buying water. The reservoir outside his tent is nearly empty. His family is down to one meal a […]

5 mins read

Zimbabwe’s vivid English first names carry family histories, from Privilege to Shame

HARARE, Zimbabwe | Have-A-Look. Handsome. Thanks. Trust. Privilege. Doubt. Problem. Shame. In Zimbabwe, these aren’t just random words. They are names chosen with intention in a culture where naming a child goes beyond identity and can offer a snapshot of family history, emotion and circumstance. At first, Privilege Mubani, a 37-year-old bar manager in the […]

12 mins read

Journey of a lifetime: A US teen Buddhist lama is now a monk studying in the Himalayan foothills

KATHMANDU, Nepal | At a monastery in the Himalayan foothills, a teenage Buddhist lama blesses thousands. One by one, he taps bowed heads with a ritual vase and a peacock feather, sprinkling holy water for protection, purification, wisdom. He stops to smile at children who eye him with curiosity, reverence and awe. He tries to […]

7 mins read

Such great heights: They’re tall, they’re proud — and they’re getting together

SEATTLE | This story has legs. Very long ones. At a Seattle sports bar on a recent Saturday night, hundreds of very tall people got to experience something rare: blending in. Women in their highest heels craned their necks to look at someone taller. Men who usually duck under doorways looked ordinary. For once, nobody […]

6 mins read

Cannes and the Hôtel Martinez await a ‘White Lotus’ close-up

CANNES, France | Though many actors are appearing at the Cannes Film Festival this week, the best role in town might be a little further down the Croisette. Season 4 of “The White Lotus” will be set around the Cannes Film Festival, bringing one the most acclaimed TV series into the heart of cinema’s French […]

5 mins read

Trump administration prepares to seek Raúl Castro indictment as it pressures Cuba, AP sources say

MIAMI | The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday, as President Donald Trump threatens possible military action against the communist-run island. One of the people told the AP that the potential indictment is connected to […]

7 mins read

Judge declares a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial after jury deadlocks

NEW YORK | Jurors deadlocked in Harvey Weinstein ‘s rape retrial Friday, forcing another mistrial in a #MeToo-era case that has gone to trial three times so far. While the former Hollywood mogul has been convicted of other sex crimes on two U.S. coasts and remains behind bars, the mistrial leaves the New York rape […]

7 mins read

Iran’s top diplomat says a lack of trust is impeding talks to end war with the US

NEW DELHI | Iran ‘s foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations to end the war with the U.S., saying Friday that Tehran would be open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help ease tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory messages have “made us reluctant about […]