LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County prosecutors say they want to retry five former officials in the city of Bell who were accused of corruption and overpaying themselves with public funds. Read more here: Prosecutors seek retrial in Bell corruption case
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says that a “special envoy” for leader Kim Jong Un has left for China. Read more here: North Korean leader sends 'special envoy' to China
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has started looking into resuming inter-governmental talks with North Korea after a surprise visit to Pyongyang by an aide to Japan's prime minister, the Asahi Shimbun and other newspapers said on Wednesday. Such talks, intended to discuss North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago and other issues, were last held in November 2012, but have been halted due to the North's missile launch in December and nuclear test in February. … Read more here: Japan considers resuming talks with North Korea: media
The 71-year-old singer-songwriter won the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Read more here: Carole King awarded highest pop music honor
Japanese carrier SoftBank has granted Sprint a waiver allowing it to consider Dish’s $25.5 billion bid for the company. The waiver gives Sprint permission to disclose non-public information and engage in negotiations with Dish regarding its buyout proposal. The Sprint Board of Directors has the right to terminate the existing merger agreement with SoftBank to accept a superior offer, however it has not yet changed its recommendation. SoftBank offered to pay $20.1 billion for a 70% stake in the wireless provider last October. Sprint will conduct due diligence with Dish and make a final decision in early June when shareholders vote to approve or reject SoftBank’s offer. Sprint’s press release follows below. Sprint Provides Transaction Update Sprint Receives Waiver from Read more here: SoftBank grants Sprint permission to consider Dish buyout
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate panel voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to send weapons to rebels fighting Syria's government, but it was not clear who would get the arms even if the bill succeeds, as Washington struggles to deal with its response to the conflict. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 for legislation that would send arms to “vetted” moderate members of the Syrian opposition, the first time U.S. lawmakers have approved such military action in the two-year-old civil war. … Read more here: Senate panel backs arming Syria rebels
By Ronnie Cohen SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Thousands of healthcare workers walked off the job at the University of California’s five medical centers on Tuesday, delaying emergency care, surgeries, diagnostic procedures and other medical treatment throughout the state. The union representing nearly 13,000 vocational nurses, respiratory therapists and radiology technicians said it called the two-day strike to draw attention to staff shortages they said undermine patient care at the hospitals in San Francisco, Davis, Los Angeles, San Diego and Irvine. … Read more here: Healthcare workers strike at five California public hospitals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is praising Jewish leaders for helping change American attitudes about gay marriage and other issues. Read more here: Biden: Jewish leaders drove gay marriage changes
By Mike McDonald GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – The trial of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt has likely collapsed after the country's top court struck down his conviction for genocide, defense and prosecution lawyers said on Tuesday. Rios Montt was sentenced on May 10 to 80 years in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity, a conviction hailed as a landmark for justice in the Central American nation where as many as 250,000 people were killed in a 1960-1996 civil war. … Read more here: Guatemala trial of Rios Montt has likely collapsed: lawyers
NEW YORK (AP) — Nick Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers have beaten the NBA lottery odds again. Read more here: Cavaliers win NBA draft lottery again
