49°F
weather icon Clear

Nation and World

Economic gains boost US confidence to 5-year high

Americans are more confident in the U.S. economy than at any point in the past five years, thanks to surging home values, a brighter job market and record-setting stock prices.

Seven charged in $6 billion online money laundering case

Calling it perhaps the biggest money laundering scheme in U.S. history, federal prosecutors charged seven people Tuesday with running what amounted to an online, underworld bank that handled $6 billion for drug dealers, child pornographers, identity thieves and other criminals around the globe.

THE LATEST
U.S. Supreme Court stays out of Planned Parenthood funding case

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will likely stop defending a law that stripped Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood after the Supreme Court declined to hear the case Tuesday, an attorney who represents the nation’s largest abortion provider said.

Nike cuts ties to Livestrong

AUSTIN, Texas — Nike, which helped build Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong cancer charity into a global brand and introduced its familiar yellow wristband, is cutting ties with the foundation in the latest fallout from the former cyclist’s doping scandal.

 
Fire breaks out aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ship

BALTIMORE — A fire that broke out aboard a Royal Caribbean ship Monday did enough damage that the rest of the cruise was canceled and the company said the more than 2,200 passengers will be flown from the Bahamas back to Baltimore where the trip began.

Britain: EU ends arms embargo on Syrian opposition

The European Union has decided to lift the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition while maintaining all other sanctions against President Bashar Assad’s regime after June 1, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said late Monday.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi slams 2-child limit for Muslims

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Islamic leaders expressed dismay Monday over plans by authorities in western Myanmar to revive a two-child limit on Muslim Rohingya families, a policy that does not apply to Buddhists and comes amid accusations of ethnic cleansing.

US, China set the stage for Obama-Xi summit

An upcoming summit with President Barack Obama comes at a “critical juncture” in relations between China and the U.S., Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday, underscoring the challenge they face in confronting divisive security issues and overcoming growing distrust.

Iran’s approaching vote brings receding Web access

From a computer keyboard in London, an Iranian emigre plays the role of counselor, social media guru and all-around adviser for Internet users back home seeking ways around the cyber-blocks set up by authorities in Tehran.

Ex-Nazi shrine turns to immigrants for salvation

A small town in Germany that once was a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis is now welcoming jobless foreigners with open arms.

Romania unfurls largest flag in the world

A Romanian village on Monday unfurled what is the largest flag ever made, Guinness World Records said.