Trump waives key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs

Bangkok Post - Oct 17, 2026

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has waived key Russia-related US sanctions and tariffs days before they were to take effect under a law he signed last month, including duties on the country’s goods and penalties for buying its oil and gas.

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First images released of Pope Leo after cancer surgery, celebrating Mass at hospital
Oct 17, 2026
First images released of Pope Leo after cancer surgery, celebrating Mass at hospital

ROME — The Vatican on Friday released the first images of Pope Leo XIV since his lung cancer surgery, showing him celebrating Mass, as doctors said that tests confirmed the “continued improvement” in his recovery. The photos show Leo standing up at the altar in green vestments celebrating Mass in a makeshift chapel that has been set up for him in Gemelli hospital. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo presided alone over the liturgy, distributing Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present. He also delivered a homily in which he thanked the hospital staff “for the work they do every day taking care of the sick in their fragility, and in a particular way what they had done for him,” Bruni said. Bruni confirmed Leo would deliver the traditional noontime Angelus prayer on Sunday, but it wasn't clear whether he would do it from the hospital or back at the Vatican. The Vatican had originally estimated a weeklong hospital stay, and had cancelled his audiences through Tuesday. Bruni said the pope’s doctors would decide if there were any changes expected to his dis

Pyongyang rejects Seoul's hypersonic test claims, justifies own arms buildup
Oct 17, 2026
Pyongyang rejects Seoul's hypersonic test claims, justifies own arms buildup

North Korea renewed its attack on South Korea's recent hypersonic weapon test Friday, rejecting Seoul's explanation that advanced materials prevented the weapon from showing burn marks and using the South's weapons development to justify its own arms buildup. The latest dispute comes as the two Koreas offer conflicting assessments of the technology demonstrated in South Korea's first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle on Oct. 8. North Korea initially questioned the test's success, arguing the vehicle must have failed to reach hypersonic speeds because photos showed no soot on its surface. Seoul's defense ministry countered that the vehicle was equipped with advanced thermal-protection technology and that visible soot was not necessarily expected during hypersonic flight. On Friday, Pyongyang fired back at the defense, calling Seoul's explanation "far-fetched." "It's not a matter of heat-resistant materials or thermal protection performance," Kim Jong-sik, a vice department head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. S

Hyundai Motor to recall over 94,000 vehicles in US over fire risk
Oct 17, 2026
Hyundai Motor to recall over 94,000 vehicles in US over fire risk

WASHINGTON — Hyundai Motor America will recall more than 94,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles in the United States over a potential fire risk caused by overheating power seat motors, according to U.S. transportation authorities. The recall affects 94,622 vehicles, including certain 2015-2016 Hyundai Genesis and 2017-2020 Genesis G80 models, according to a recall notice posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Oct. 9. The agency said the front power seat motors may overheat due to a stuck power seat control switch, potentially causing a fire while the vehicle is parked or being driven. Owners have been advised to park their vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until repairs are completed, as a fire could increase the risk of injury. A remedy for the defect is still under development, with notification letters to affected vehicle owners expected to be mailed Dec. 7, according to the agency.

China invites Trump spokesperson to visit after 'no proper toilets' remark
Oct 17, 2026
China invites Trump spokesperson to visit after 'no proper toilets' remark

The Chinese foreign ministry responded Friday to White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's remarks that China lacked "proper toilets," suggesting that she visit the country again. Zacharia, who took office less than a week ago and was now reportedly "let go" from the role, made the comment during a Thursday interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec while discussing perceptions in 2016 that China was poised to overtake the United States. "I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, 'How is China the next country on the horizon? They don't even have proper toilets,'" she said. Asked about the remarks at a regular press briefing Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning offered a brief response. "She's welcome to come and see China when she has the opportunity," Mao said, according to the ministry's official transcript. Zacharia previously lived in Beijing, where she reportedly worked at Zhong Lun Law Firm from 2011 to 2013. The newly appointed spokesperson has also faced scrutiny over her legal credentials after acknowledging that she h

US stock indexes mostly losing ground as tech sector weighs on market
Oct 17, 2026
US stock indexes mostly losing ground as tech sector weighs on market

Stocks on Wall Street are mostly slipping Friday as another pullback in big technology companies weighs on the market. The S&P 500 was down 0.5 percent as of 12:23 p.m. Eastern time and on track for a weekly loss. The benchmark index is just below the all-time high it set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average wavered between small gains and losses of less than 0.1 percent. The Nasdaq composite was down 1.3 percent and headed for its first weekly loss in five weeks. Weakness for AI stocks has been a major drag on the tech-heavy index this week. Technology companies were the biggest drag on the broader market. Micron Technology fell 3.8 percent, Advanced Micro Devices dropped 3.7 percent, Broadcom was down 3 percent and Intel lost 4.4 percent. The declines in heavyweight tech stocks outweighed losses in most other parts of the market, and the majority of U.S. stocks were rising. It’s been a choppy week for chipmakers and other big tech stocks central to the artificial intelligence industry. Investors are now worried that the companies, which have relied on debt markets to finance a

Iran denies nuclear ambitions, says ready for talks
Oct 17, 2026
Iran denies nuclear ambitions, says ready for talks

TBILISI — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied Friday that Tehran sought nuclear weapons, expressed readiness for dialogue and condemned U.S. sanctions during talks with Georgia's prime minister. In his meeting with Georgian premier Irakli Kobakhidze, Pezeshkian also called for closer ties with Georgia, weeks after Tbilisi cut aviation links between the two countries following U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian airlines. The two met on the sidelines of a U.N. biodiversity summit in Armenia's capital Yerevan. "Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, and we consider the malicious propaganda against our country to be lies," Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from his office. "We have always been ready for dialogue. They think they can force us to surrender, but we will not bow to coercion," he added, calling U.S. sanctions against Tehran "unjustifiable and inhumane." In his meeting with Kobakhidze, Pezeshkian also called for a clear timetable to expand cooperation between Tehran and Tbilisi, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported. The report quoted Kobakhidze as saying he opposed foreig

From hospital, pope pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city
Oct 17, 2026
From hospital, pope pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Friday, calling for a ceasefire in a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine, as the former recovers in hospital from a lung cancer operation. The Vatican said that Pope Leo "expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population." The surprise notice from the Vatican Friday evening suggested that the recovering pope is still hard at work, despite Tuesday's operation to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. Residents of Oleshky in southern Ukraine are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with shortages of food and medication as they are caught in the crossfire between Russian and Ukrainian troops. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk denounced on Friday a "desperate" situation in the city, calling on Russia to enable civilians to evacuate. In a note, the Kremlin said the tw

Trump touts Hyundai's $560 mil. Georgia investment pledge at campaign rally
Oct 17, 2026
Trump touts Hyundai's $560 mil. Georgia investment pledge at campaign rally

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday highlighted Korean automotive parts maker Hyundai Transys Inc.'s plan to invest nearly $560 million in Georgia during a campaign rally in the state, as he promoted his economic agenda ahead of the midterm elections. "Hyundai just announced it will invest $560 million to expand its factories in West Point, Georgia," Trump said during the rally in Dalton, Georgia, apparently referring to Hyundai Transys, an automotive parts-making affiliate of Korea's Hyundai Motor Group. The investment plan was announced last week by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office. According to the governor's office, Hyundai Transys plans to upgrade two existing manufacturing facilities and build a third plant in West Point to expand production of hybrid vehicle powertrains, while creating 320 new jobs.

Coastal homes burn as hot winds fuel California fires
Oct 17, 2026
Coastal homes burn as hot winds fuel California fires

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A fast-moving fire fueled by high winds burned at least six homes in Southern California on Friday, engulfing expensive coastal properties and prompting thousands to evacuate. Black smoke — visible from miles away — billowed over tennis courts and swimming pools while firefighters doused blazing homes in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. Some homeowners sprayed water on their properties before heeding evacuation orders. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with heat-related injuries, officials said. Authorities have not said how the blaze, which was less than a square mile as of Friday evening, started. “Had these winds been a little bit stronger, a little bit different direction, this could have been a whole lot worse," said San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler. Howard Hart, a councilmember for San Juan Capistrano, said he and his wife doused their roof with water and moved propane tanks away from their home before they evacuated Friday with a to-go bag. Laura Hart hasn’t had to evacuate due to fire in the more than five decades she’s lived in the c

Teen shooter who killed 4 at Oregon elementary school was a former student, police say
Oct 17, 2026
Teen shooter who killed 4 at Oregon elementary school was a former student, police say

BEND, Ore. — A teacher threw her phone at the teenage gunman who killed four people at an Oregon elementary school, then tackled and fought with him — likely saving lives before he was shot by a father who followed him into the building, police said Friday. City of Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz called the teacher's actions “heroic” during a news conference and said she was not injured. He identified the attacker as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II and said all of the victims were shot in the same classroom. John was once a special needs student at Silver Rail Elementary, authorities said, and he attacked a classroom with special needs students. He fired as many as 15 shots from a 12-gauge shotgun and had about 44 rounds remaining when he was killed, Krantz said. “Everyone wants to know why, including us,” he said. “We may never get that full answer, but we want it.” Investigators are trying to determine how the shooter obtained the pump-action shotgun, Krantz added. A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting told The Associated Press it was bought by his mother. The

Japan says hosting record number of foreigners
Oct 17, 2026
Japan says hosting record number of foreigners

TOKYO — Japan has registered a record number of foreigners living in the country this year despite growing anti-immigration sentiment, as the country grapples with problems caused by an aging and shrinking population. Data showed 4.28 million foreigners staying in Japan as of the end of June, excluding short-term visitors, the Immigration Services Agency said on Friday. That marks an increase of 156,000 people from the end of last year, and accounts for roughly 3.5 percent of Japan's total population, according to calculations based on government estimates. Immigration expert Toshihiro Menju told AFP that Japan is facing a labor shortage on all levels, from highly skilled professionals to service workers. "With Japan's population shrinking by more than 900,000 a year ... we have no choice but to rely on foreign workers," said Menju, a visiting professor at the Kansai University of International Studies. Government measures such as "the use of AI and robotics, and greater (workforce) participation by women and older people cannot fully make up for the shortfall," he added. Japanese busine

Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest
Oct 17, 2026
Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. It drew shift condemnation from congressional Democrats. Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling the war against Ukraine. Trump's unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published Oct. 1 found that Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices. Trump's approval ratings have sunk to near-historic lows and pressure is mounting as Republicans try

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