News

By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES Associated Press SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Authorities in North Macedonia say a fire in a COVID-19 field hospital that killed 14 people last month was caused by a short-circuit, and spread fast due to the presence of stored oxygen for the patients. The public prosecutor’s office said late Tuesday that the

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press writer BRDO CASTLE, Slovenia (AP) — European Union leaders have tried to reassure six Balkan countries in the Balkans region that they could join the trading bloc one day if they meet its standards. But the EU leaders failed to provide a credible signal on Wednesday that the enlargement process

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling on Wall Street as the market undergoes a bout of volatility. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Wednesday morning. The benchmark index has alternated between gains and losses of more than 1% the previous four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.5% and the Nasdaq fell

By RAHIM FAEIZ and SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban say they arrested four Islamic State militants north of the Afghan capital, while witnesses say two Taliban fighters were shot dead in the country’s northeast, raising the specter of a widening conflict. The Taliban spokesman said on Wednesday that an operation

By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer The upcoming world premiere at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra of a new classical music piece inspired by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would probably not have been possible if it wasn’t for a bunch of lawyers in the Chicago area, a Long Island fine arts foundation

The foreign minister of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus is urging the new Lebanese government to implement reforms quickly, in order for the international community to unlock aid to crisis-hit Lebanon. Wednesday’s visit by the Cypriot official made him the first foreign minister from the European Union to visit Lebanon since a new Cabinet was

By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Swedish health authorities have suspended the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 30 and under. Sweden’s Public Health Agency said Wednesday the move was done out of precaution. The agency said the reason for the pausing is “signals of an increased risk of

BERLIN (AP) — Austrian media have reported that investigators have searched the offices of the country’s governing People’s Party in connection with a bribery investigation. Prosecutors said that they are investigating Chancellor Sebastian Kurz among others. The Austria Press Agency reported Wednesday that the chancellery building was also searched, though it wasn’t immediately clear whether

By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — The two parties that emerged as likely kingmakers from Germany’s election last month say they will hold talks on a possible new government under the leadership of outgoing center-left Social Democrats. If ultimately successful, the negotiations would send outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Union bloc into opposition

LONDON (AP) — Amazon has opened its first general store outside the United States in a mall in Britain. It will sell the online retailer’s most popular products including books, toys, games and consumer electronics. The U.S. company said the store is called “4-star.” That’s because it sells products rated 4 stars or above by

By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A popular Russian newspaper has shut down its branch in Belarus after one of its local staff was arrested. Komsomolskaya Pravda announced the decision to close its Belarusian subsidiary on Tuesday night, citing “the events of the past year and especially the past week.” Last Wednesday,