#recent months

VIENNA | OPEC ministers, Russia, meeting for oil production cut talks

VIENNA  — OPEC countries are mulling a possible cut to oil production in an attempt to stabilize prices as they meet for a second straight day.

Heavyweight Saudi Arabia has been pushing a cut of about 1 million barrels a day, but the oil cartel was not able to make a decision on Thursday.

Analysts say they’re likely waiting to hear from non-OPEC Russia to better coordinate the cut.

Heading in to…

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M | Bankruptcy filing provides rare window into diocese finances

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— New Mexico’s largest Catholic diocese has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent months on lawyers to fight claims of clergy sex abuse and to prepare for a potentially lengthy battle in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s petition for reorganization provides a rare look into the finances of a religious organization that for decades has been wrestling…

WASHINGTON | US-China trade truce seen boosting US stock market

WASHINGTON— The truce in the trade dispute between the U.S. and China should boost rattled financial markets, at least likely through year’s end, experts say. But the stock market’s wild gyrations of recent months likely will persist as the two countries strain to reach a permanent accord.

“The all-clear sign hasn’t flashed yet but it’s certainly positive news,” says Mike Loewengart, vice…

WASHINGTON | Ex-Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos to report to prison

WASHINGTON  — A federal judge ordered former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos to report to prison as scheduled, rejecting his last-minute bid to delay his two-week sentence.

Papadopoulos is to begin serving his sentence Monday.

He was sentenced in September for lying to the FBI in the Russia investigation. He had sought a postponement of his prison term until an appeals…

WASHINGTON | Government seeks quick ruling on transgender troops case

WASHINGTON— The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to issue an unusually quick ruling on the Pentagon’s policy of restricting military service by transgender people. It’s the fourth time in recent months the administration has sought to bypass lower courts that have blocked some of its more controversial proposals and push the high court, with a conservative majority, to weigh in…

TEHRAN, Iran | Rouhani anticipates difficult months ahead for Iranians

TEHRAN, Iran  — President Hassan Rouhani warned Iranians on Wednesday they may face more difficulties in the months ahead, after the United States imposes new sanctions on the country next week, Iran’s state TV reported Wednesday.

“The situation was hard for people in the recent months, and it may be hard in the next several months too,” said Rouhani, speaking during a televised Cabinet meeting.…

VATICAN CITY | South Korean leader in Rome, praises pope’s peace message

VATICAN CITY — South Korea’s president thanked Pope Francis for promoting peace and dialogue on Wednesday as he arrived in Italy for a papal audience, where he’s expected to extend an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for Francis to visit.

President Moon Jae-in meets with Francis on Thursday. He spends Wednesday meeting with Italian leaders and attending an evening “Mass for Peace”…