Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) — South Korean author Han Kang, this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, says she was shocked at this week’s martial law announcement in her home country. Han was awarded by the Nobel committee “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BOSTON (AP) — A Boston city councilor has been arrested on federal fraud charges, accused of funneling part of an inflated bonus payment to a staffer to whom she was related into her own pockets during an exchange at a City Hall bathroom. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy says 45-year-old Tania Fernandes Anderson
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during one of his workshops. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems
Continue ReadingAssociated Press MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Local authorities in Somalia have confirmed that a Chinese-owned fishing vessel with 18 crew members aboard was hijacked last week off the northeastern coast of Xaafuun district in Somalia’s Bari region. An official in the area where the vessel is being held told journalists that the hijackers include the
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Syrian refugees across Turkey have jubilantly welcomed the downfall of Bashar Assad’s government with many embracing the chance to return to their homeland. Many say it’s time to go home after years of living in Turkey, which hosts some 3 million Syrians. Turkey, which shares a 566-mile-long frontier with
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — The sale of the Observer, the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper and a bastion of liberal values in Britain’s media landscape, has been approved, despite two days of strike action from journalists this week. The Scott Trust, the owner of the Guardian Media Group, which includes the Observer and its sister
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court on Friday annulled the first round of the country’s presidential election, days after allegations emerged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. The Constitutional Court’s unprecedented decision — which is final — came after President
Continue ReadingAssociated Press MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — The European Union has reached a blockbuster free trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina and the three other South American nations in the Mercosur trade alliance. That caps a quarter-century of on-off negotiations even as France vows to derail the contentious accord. Provided it is ratified, the accord would create
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A court in Mali has freed 11 opposition leaders who were arrested in June on charges of plotting against the ruling military junta after calling for a return to civilian rule. Their provisional release on Friday has been seen as an attempt to calm the country’s political climate in
Continue ReadingAssociated Press N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Hundreds of people have marched in Chad to call for the withdrawal of French troops from the country, a week after the Central African country ended a military agreement with its former colonial ruler. Protesters in the capital, N’Djamena, Friday chanted “Chad for us, France out!” with some holding
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — The European Union has sent TikTok an urgent request for more information about Romanian intelligence files suggesting that Moscow coordinated influencers on its platform to promote an election candidate who became the surprise front-runner in the nation’s presidential election. The vote resulted in far-right populist Calin Georgescu coming from
Continue ReadingMOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Belarus to sign a treaty offering security guarantees, including the possible use of Russian nuclear weapons, to protect Moscow’s closest ally. The signing of the document on Friday follows the publication of a revised version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which for the first time placed Belarus
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — Germany’s new panda twins now have names — or rather, two names apiece. The two female cubs, born at the Berlin Zoo on Aug. 22, were introduced Friday as Meng Hao and Meng Tian. Alternatively, they also answer to the very Berlin names of Leni and Lotti. The pair, who lay on
Continue ReadingAssociated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The South African government says the convicted killer of South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani will be deported to his home country of Poland after his parole came to an end this week. Hani, who was the leader of the African National Congress’ military wing and the general secretary of
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Millions of Ghanaians will on Saturday head to the polls to elect their next president, with issues such as the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and illegal gold mining dominating the campaign. The election follows the second and final term of President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo. But while many
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — China is fine tuning its policies aimed at revving up its economy as it braces for an uncertain future in relations with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. To shore up local manufacturers that may face steep tariff hikes under a Trump administration, Beijing has announced plans to
Continue ReadingAssociated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia and the Philippines signed a deal on Friday to repatriate a Filipino death-row drug convict, as the new administration of President Prabowo Subianto seeks to shore up diplomatic ties with neighboring countries. The agreement will allow Mary Jane Veloso to return home by the end of the month.
Continue ReadingAssociated Press JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — One of the Middle East’s fastest-growing film festivals opened Thursday in Saudi Arabia, attracting filmmakers and stars from around the world to present over 120 films from 81 countries in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district. The Red Sea International Film Festival, now in its fourth year, offers a vibrant
Continue ReadingAssociated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition leader has questioned the state of mind of President Yoon Suk Yeol and vowed to make all-out efforts to get him impeached as soon as possible. In an interview with The Associated Press Friday, Democratic Party chairman Lee Jae-myung said Yoon’s controversial martial law imposition
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