WORLD VIEW: US in Syria Attack, Putin Goes to China, EU Hesitant on Ukraine, China Covid Olympics, US Nurse Shortage, More

The Associated Press

The Rundown

US special ops forces launch raid in northwest Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. special operations forces conducted a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria overnight Thursday, in what the Pentagon said was a “successful mission.” “The mission was successful,” Pentagon press secretary John…Read More

Putin heads to China to bolster ties amid Ukraine tensions

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to Beijing amid the soaring tensions over Ukraine on a trip intended to help strengthen Moscow’s ties with China and coordinate their policies in the face of Western pressure. …Read More

EXPLAINER: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis

SAINT-SYMPHORIEN, Belgium (AP) — Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, th…Read More

Olympic spotlight back on China for a COVID-tinged Games

BEIJING (AP) — Long before the global pandemic upended sports and the world in general, the 2022 Winter Olympics faced unsettling problems. It started with the fact that hardly anybody wanted to host them. …Read More

Digital warfare tech at sea helping US foes evade sanctions

MIAMI (AP) — Technology to hide a ship’s location previously available only to the world’s militaries is spreading fast through the global maritime industry as governments from Iran to Venezuela — and the rogue shipping companies they depend on to mo…Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

Strained US hospitals seek foreign nurses amid visa windfall

With American hospitals facing a dire shortage of nurses amid a slogging pandemic, many are looking abroad for health care workers. And it could be just in time. There’…Read More

Winter storm packing snow, freezing rain moves across US

CHICAGO (AP) — A major winter storm with millions of Americans in its path brought a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow to the central U.S. as airlines canceled thousa…Read More

Washington’s NFL team unveils new name as Commanders

Washington’s NFL team is now known as the Commanders. The new name unveiled Wednesday comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker following…Read More

Wandering hen taken into custody at Pentagon security area

WASHINGTON (AP) — A wandering chicken was caught sneaking around a security area at the Pentagon, a local animal welfare organization said. The loose hen was found Mond…Read More