Nancy Pelosi

US Congress passes bill to sanction China over Hong Kong

The legislation imposes sanctions on Chinese officials engaged in a crackdown on Hong Kong. It also penalises banks doing business with Chinese officials who implement Beijing's new national security law on the semi-autonomous city.

Trump okays sanctions against ICC officials over war crimes probe

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to investigate possible crimes committed between 2003 and 2014 including the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and, to a lesser extent, by US forces and the CIA.

Democrats prepare police reform bills after Floyd's death

Both the US Senate and House efforts are expected to include changes to police accountability laws, such as revising immunity provisions, and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents.

A breakdown of who supports and opposes George Floyd protests in the US

President Trump has strongly condemned protests, describing demonstrators as “lowlifes”. But a lot of other Americans, including powerful Republicans, disagree with him.

White House says Trump fired State Dept watchdog at Pompeo's request

Democrats in Congress immediately cried foul, with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggesting that Steve Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Italy's daily virus death toll lowest since early March – latest updates

The global coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 4.6 million people, with over 308,000 deaths, according to a tracker. Here are more coronavirus-related developments for May 16:

36 million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit

The wave of layoffs may not subside until Congress can agree on providing rescue aid for financially desperate state and local governments as well as further help for households.

Joe Biden set to address sex assault accusations

Democratic US presidential nominee Joe Biden for the first time on Friday is set to personally address a former Senate aide's accusation that he sexually assaulted her in 1993 – a claim that his campaign has denied.

Trump accused of buying votes as his name appears on relief cheques

As millions of American struggle with the fallout from the coronavirus, US President Donald Trump wants his name printed on the cheque.

Congress nears $2 trillion deal for virus-hit US economy as Dow surges

Stocks surge on Wall Street, sending Dow Jones up more than 2,100 points – biggest-ever point gain since 1933 – as Congress nears a deal to mitigate damage from coronavirus outbreak.

Spanish PM confirms country's lockdown over coronavirus

Global death toll from coronavirus is 6,000, with more than 145,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization, which declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Late surge lifts Wall Street stocks as virus hits economy

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 9.4 percent, its best gain since October 2008, as stocks doubled their gains in the last half-hour as Presidential Donald Trump held a press conference on the administration's response to the coronavirus.