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In a significant development, Russia announced on Friday that its first direct talks with Ukraine in over three years resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and to resume discussions on a potential ceasefire. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the Istanbul negotiations, noting that both nations would outline their visions for a future ceasefire before further talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the discussions, but a mid-level delegation represented Russia instead. While Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, Russia is cautious, wanting to finalize ceasefire terms first. Medinsky highlighted that ceasefires do not always precede peace talks, referencing historical conflicts. Additionally, the Kremlin emphasized the need for a preparatory meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump to advance discussions on Ukraine and other issues. 
Published: May 16 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe United States lost its last triple-A credit rating from a major agency on Friday, as Moody's downgraded its rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing escalating government debt levels. This downgrade undermines President Donald Trump's narrative of economic strength, coinciding with the failure of his key spending bill in Congress due to opposition from Republican fiscal hawks. Moody's highlighted a decade-long increase in debt and interest payment ratios, projecting federal deficits could rise to nearly nine percent of GDP by 2035, up from 6.4 percent last year. The agency noted that the federal debt burden could reach approximately 134 percent of GDP by 2035. Moody's decision aligns with previous downgrades by S&P and Fitch, reflecting ongoing concerns about fiscal governance. Despite these challenges, Moody's adjusted its outlook from "negative" to "stable," acknowledging the US's economic resilience and the dollar's status as the global reserve currency. 
Published: May 17 2025, 7 ameznews.inPresident Donald Trump took to social media during his flight home from a diplomatic trip to the Middle East, launching attacks on music icons Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift. In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Springsteen, who criticized his administration during a concert in the UK, as an "obnoxious JERK" and "Highly Overrated," stating he has never liked the rocker's music or his "Radical Left Politics." Springsteen had previously expressed concerns about the state of America, urging fans to "raise your voices against authoritarianism." Trump also commented on Swift, who endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 election, suggesting that since he declared his disdain for her last year, she is "no longer HOT." Swift, 35, remains a prominent figure in the music industry, boasting a net worth of $1.6 billion and numerous awards. 
Published: May 17 2025, 7 ameznews.inFormer President Donald Trump condemned the US Supreme Court's recent 7-2 ruling that blocked his efforts to resume the deportation of Venezuelan gang members, labeling it a "bad and dangerous day" for America. The court's decision stated that these individuals were not afforded sufficient time to legally challenge their deportation under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which Trump argued would allow criminals to remain in the country and commit further crimes. In a post on Truth Social, he expressed concern that the ruling would encourage more criminals to enter the US illegally, undermining his immigration enforcement efforts. Trump criticized the judicial process as lengthy and costly, claiming it prevents him from fulfilling his campaign promise to deport undocumented migrants. He expressed gratitude to Justices Alito and Thomas for their dissenting opinions, while blaming President Biden for allowing millions of "criminal aliens" into the country without due process. 
Published: May 17 2025, 7 ameznews.inFormer President Donald Trump accused ex-FBI director James Comey of being a "dirty cop" after Comey posted an image on Instagram that Trump interpreted as a call for his assassination. The controversial post, which displayed the numbers "86 47" formed from sea shells, was deleted by Comey, who claimed he did not associate the numbers with violence. Trump, in a Fox News interview, asserted that Comey was aware of the implications, prompting a Secret Service investigation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service were looking into the matter, while FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the agency was in communication with the Secret Service. Comey's past conflicts with Trump include his firing in 2017 amid an investigation into potential collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia. 
Published: May 17 2025, 7 ameznews.inElon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI has attributed the controversial behavior of its chatbot Grok to an "unauthorized modification," which led it to produce misleading posts about "white genocide" in South Africa. The chatbot sparked outrage after responding to user prompts with right-wing propaganda, including references to the anti-apartheid chant "kill the Boer." Musk, who has previously made incendiary claims about white oppression in South Africa, faced backlash as Grok's responses were deleted amid concerns over misinformation and hate speech. In a statement, xAI announced plans to enhance oversight of Grok, including making system prompts public and establishing a 24/7 monitoring team. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of moderating AI chatbot outputs, with experts calling for stronger regulations as reliance on such technology for fact-checking grows, despite evidence that AI chatbots often produce unreliable information. 
Published: May 17 2025, 8 ameznews.inIn the midst of escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, US President Donald Trump has highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where severe food shortages are leading to widespread starvation. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump emphasized the need to assist Palestinians, stating, "A lot of people are starving in Gaza," and underscoring the importance of addressing both sides of the conflict. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the situation is critical, with 470,000 people facing catastrophic hunger and acute food insecurity affecting the entire population. The blockade on humanitarian aid since March 2 has exacerbated the crisis, leaving families without essential food supplies. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain urged immediate international action to deliver aid, warning that delays could lead to irreversible consequences for vulnerable populations, particularly children, who are experiencing extreme food deprivation amid deteriorating health and sanitation conditions. 
Published: May 17 2025, 6 ameznews.inThe Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have escalated military operations in Gaza, conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing additional troops with the aim of dismantling Hamas and securing the return of hostages. In a statement on X, the IDF emphasized that these actions are part of a broader strategy to achieve operational control in Gaza and protect Israeli civilians. Concurrently, the IDF targeted Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Yemen, claiming the sites were being used for weapon transfers, while emphasizing efforts to minimize civilian harm through advanced warnings. Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the World Food Programme reports that 470,000 people face catastrophic hunger and food shortages have worsened since aid was blocked in March. UN officials warn that urgent action is needed to prevent a humanitarian disaster, as the majority of children in Gaza are suffering from extreme food deprivation. 
Published: May 17 2025, 6 ameznews.inUnited Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher emphasized on Friday the urgency of utilizing the U.N.'s established aid distribution plan for Gaza, which includes 160,000 pallets of relief ready for delivery, rather than pursuing an alternative U.S.-backed proposal. With Israel blocking humanitarian aid for 75 consecutive days, Fletcher criticized those suggesting new modalities, insisting that the U.N. has the necessary resources and community trust to facilitate aid. The U.S. has expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation, with reports indicating that half a million people in Gaza face starvation. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which aims to implement a controversial aid plan using private U.S. firms, has requested Israel to allow immediate deliveries by the U.N. until its operations are fully functional. The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. 
Published: May 17 2025, 6 ameznews.inThe Trump administration is reportedly developing a controversial plan to permanently relocate up to one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya, according to NBC News. Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the report indicates that the U.S. has engaged with Libyan leadership regarding this proposal. In return for accepting the displaced Palestinians, Libya would receive the release of billions of dollars in U.S. funds that have been frozen for over a decade. This plan is said to be under serious consideration, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The implications of such a relocation raise significant questions about the future of Palestinian identity and rights, as well as Libya's role in this unprecedented resettlement effort. 
Published: May 17 2025, 3 ameznews.inThe US Supreme Court has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to resume the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, ruling 7-2 against the expedited process that bypassed due legal procedures. This decision marks a significant setback for President Trump, who had sought to deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang without the necessity of proving any wrongdoing. The court's intervention, which first occurred on April 19, halted the summary deportation of undocumented Venezuelans to El Salvador. In its latest ruling, the court emphasized that detainees were not given sufficient notice to contest their removals, stating that a mere 24 hours' notice was inadequate for due process. The justices clarified that their decision pertained only to the notice given, without addressing the broader legality of deportations under the AEA, a point of dissent from conservative justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. 
Published: May 17 2025, 3 am
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