World News: U.S. Hits Iran's Ballistic Missile Program With New Sanctions

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Following U.S. President Donald Trump's reinstatement of a "maximum pressure" policy on Iran and a series of recent nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, the United States has issued new sanctions targeting Iran's ballistic missile program.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department unveiled fresh sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's efforts to domestically manufacture components for ballistic missiles.

The announcement came during President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, where he emphasized the need for Iran to cease its nuclear ambitions and activities aimed at destabilizing the region.

He stated that Iran must "stop sponsoring terror" and end its support for regional proxy groups.

He also made an appeal to Iran to reach a nuclear deal amid ongoing indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Oman.

He expressed his hope to see Iran thrive and mentioned that he is counting on Qatar to help facilitate the process.

To strengthen relations with Latin America and increase China's influence in the region, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a summit with leaders from Latin America, following a previous summit with his Brazilian counterpart.

On Tuesday, President Xi convened the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing and welcomed Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, and Gabriel Boric of Chile.

There, China pledged an approximately 10 billion U.S. dollar credit line to support projects in Latin America, and offered visa-free travel to citizens of some countries in the region.

Colombia has also joined China's Belt and Road Initiative, and agreements have been made for more cooperation in clean energy, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure development.

Pope Leo XIV will officially inaugurate his papacy with a Mass in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday, May 18.

During the mass, he will receive the pallium, a white woolen stole worn over the shoulders, and the Fisherman's Ring, traditional symbols of papal authority.

While addressing members of the Eastern Catholic Churches on Wednesday, he vowed "every effort" to work for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The pontiff also made his first social media post on his official Instagram and X accounts on Tuesday, reiterating peace.

The new pope shared several photos of his first few days after being elected on May 8, along with the message "Peace be with you all!" in English and several other languages.

In Austria, two new giant pandas from China, female Lan Yuan and male He Feng, found new homes in Vienna's Schonbrunn Zoo on Wednesday.

The five-year-old pandas' arrival follows the return of the zoo's previous panda pair to China in late 2024 and is part of a new round of a 10-year conservation cooperation between Austria and China, which began in 2003.

The China Wildlife Conservation Association and Schonbrunn Zoo have prepared and made every effort to ensure the safe and smooth arrival of the young pandas to the zoo, after they underwent a quarantine period since their initial arrival in Vienna in April.

The pandas can now be seen by the public in their newly renovated enclosure at the zoo.

Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.