Pope urges peace, unity during special Mass for Myanmar

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis celebrated a special Mass for the people of Myanmar following the country’s military takeover, praying Sunday for peace, unity and for God to “set us free from evil’s power.” A few hundred people, many of them students and religious...

Medics: Israeli airstrikes kill 26 in downtown Gaza City

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flattened three buildings and killed at least 26 people Sunday, medics said, making it the deadliest single attack since heavy fighting broke out between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers nearly a week ago. ...

Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfews

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s interior ministry on Sunday lifted a full lockdown that had ordered people to stay home to fight COVID-19 infections, shifting to a less-restrictive program that still involved curfews on weeknights and weekends. In a new directive, the...

Hundreds of bodies found buried along Indian riverbanks

PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) — Police are reaching out to villagers in northern India to investigate the recovery of bodies buried in shallow sand graves or washing up on the Ganges River banks, prompting speculation on social media that they were the remains of COVID-19 victims. ...

Gaza Health Ministry says 23 killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza City in deadliest single attack since fighting began

Afghan cease-fire ends amid calls for fresh peace talks

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A three-day cease-fire marked by violent attacks — most claimed by the Islamic State group — ended Sunday in Afghanistan amid calls for renewed peace talks between the government and Taliban. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said...

Myanmar junta attacks western town that resisted coup

BANGKOK (AP) — The U.S. and British embassies in Myanmar expressed concern about reports of fierce government attacks on a town in western Chin state, where the ruling junta declared martial law because of armed resistance to military rule. The fighting began around 6...

Today in History

Today in History Today is Sunday, May 16, the 136th day of 2021. There are 229 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 16, 1939, the federal government began its first food stamp program in Rochester, New...

NC native honors father with toxic exposure news site

CAPE CARTERET, N.C. (AP) — When his father passed away from acute leukemia in 2008, Carteret County native Gavin Smith didn’t suspect it was related to toxic exposure. Five years later, he found out it likely was. Smith’s father, a U.S. Army...

In Georgia agency, police train to shoot, not kill

LAGRANGE, Ga. (AP) — The police officers’ voices grew firm and loud as they pointed their guns at the human silhouettes in the distance. “Sir, drop the sword, drop the sword,” one officer yelled. “Drop it, drop it,” another hollered. ...