US puts pressure on Palestinian leaders to withdraw bid for UN vice-presidency role – The Guardian

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Lead On 19 May a State Department cable instructed the US embassy in Jerusalem to press Palestinian Authority leaders to withdraw their bid for a UN General Assembly vice-presidency by 22 May, warning that “consequences will follow.” The intervention reflects Washington’s concern that a Palestinian vice-president could be asked to preside over high-profile Middle East … Read more

Live updates: US expected to file charges against ex-Cuban leader Raúl Castro – BBC

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Lead U.S. federal officials announced an indictment against former Cuban president Raúl Castro on charges tied to the 24 February 1996 shoot-down of two civilian aircraft near Havana that killed four people. The filing, unveiled at a Miami ceremony honoring the victims, names Castro and co-defendants on counts including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction … Read more

How contagious is Ebola? And how worried should you be about the current outbreak?

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Lead: Since the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency on Saturday, reported Ebola cases have been rising rapidly across parts of central and eastern Africa. Authorities have logged more than 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, with most infections concentrated in a northeastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) … Read more

Nvidia Earnings Could Cement Chip Rally or Trigger Market Jitters

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On May 20, 2026, Nvidia Corp. is set to publish quarterly results after the market close, a report that could either validate a months-long surge in chip stocks or intensify investor concern. For much of 2026, semiconductor names have driven market gains, powered by appetite for artificial-intelligence hardware from large cloud and tech companies. Wall … Read more

Meta Begins 8,000 Global Job Cuts in AI Efficiency Push

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May 19, 2026 — Meta Platforms Inc. began notifying thousands of employees that they are being laid off as part of a previously announced restructuring intended to cut costs while the company ramps investment in artificial intelligence. Notifications started early Wednesday in Asia, with staff receiving notices at 4:00 a.m. Singapore time, and U.S.-based employees … Read more

US President Trump, family granted immunity from pending tax audits – Al Jazeera

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Lead On 20 May 2026, the US Department of Justice issued a one-page directive that bars prosecution or pursuit of tax claims against President Donald Trump, members of his family and his businesses. The order, signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, was posted on the Justice Department website as an addendum to a $10 … Read more

How Ken Paxton Courted Donald Trump — and Won His Endorsement

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Lead: In a dramatic late-stage maneuver, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured former President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the May 26, 2026 Republican Senate runoff after a 75-day waiting period. The sequence began after the March 3 primary, when Paxton finished narrowly behind Sen. John Cornyn and Trump signaled he would choose “soon.” Paxton’s March … Read more

Live updates: Mother reported son, car and weapons missing hours before San Diego mosque shooting

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On Monday, May 18, 2026, three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the city’s largest mosque, and authorities are treating the incident as a possible hate crime. Two teenage suspects, ages 17 and 18, were later found dead in a car near the mosque from apparent self-inflicted wounds. … Read more

S&P 500 futures fall after index posts back-to-back losses amid tech sell-off: Live updates – CNBC

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Lead: U.S. equity futures opened lower Tuesday after a technology-led sell-off left the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite with consecutive daily declines. As of early trading, futures tied to the S&P 500 were down about 0.23%, Nasdaq 100 futures fell roughly 0.46%, and Dow futures slipped near 58 points. The move followed Monday’s narrow S&P … Read more

Severe Weather Outbreak Tracker: Radar, Warnings and Storm Maps

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Lead: A severe weather outbreak will continue on Monday, May 18, 2026, across parts of the Plains and Midwest, bringing a heightened risk of strong to potentially intense tornadoes (EF2/EF3+), very large hail, destructive straight-line winds and heavy, flooding rainfall. National forecasting centers and local Weather Service offices are issuing watches and warnings and urging … Read more

Sandy Fire in Simi Valley: More than 1,300 acres scorched, evacuations expanded – ABC7 Los Angeles

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Lead: A fast-moving brush fire named the Sandy Fire broke out in Simi Valley on Monday, May 18, 2026, and by the early hours of May 19 had burned more than 1,300 acres. Authorities expanded evacuation orders and warnings across Ventura and Los Angeles counties as winds drove smoke and flames toward populated valleys. Airborne … Read more