WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest. The State Department said Wednesday that it’s ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.…… MORE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that China will make it easier for American industry to obtain much-needed needed magnets and rare earth minerals, clearing the way for talks to continue between the world’s two biggest economies. In return, Trump said, the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of Chinese nationals…… MORE
NEW YORK (AP) — Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been convicted of one of the top charges in his sex crimes retrial. But the former movie mogul was also acquitted Wednesday of another charge, and jurors were as yet unable to reach a verdict on a third charge. The split verdict meted out a…… MORE
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has passed 55,000. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants but has said that women and children make up more than half the dead. Local hospitals said Wednesday that 21 people in Gaza were killed…… MORE
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces have launched a large-scale drone assault across Ukraine, where officials said three people were killed and 64 others wounded. The overnight strikes caused widespread destruction in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where apartment buildings, private homes, playgrounds, industrial sites and public transportation were hit. Moscow’ has deployed high numbers…… MORE