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BERLIN (AP) — An insurance industry group says that devastating floods in western Germany last month likely caused insured damage to the tune of about 7 billion euros ($8.2 billion). That’s significantly higher than its previous estimate. More than 180 people died in Germany and hundreds more were injured in the July 14-15 floods, which

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Reports and officials say a Russian man from a Russian-held island claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow is seeking asylum after being found in a wetsuit on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido. Japanese media reports say the man was found on the coast of Hokkaido across

By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the country’s leading technology companies have committed to investing billions of dollars to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and to train skilled workers. The White House made the announcement Wednesday following President Joe Biden’s private meeting with top business executives. The gathering was held during a relentless

BERLIN (AP) — A closely watched survey shows that German business confidence has declined for the second consecutive month as concerns about lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and supply bottlenecks cloud companies’ outlook. The Ifo institute said Wednesday that its confidence index for Europe’s biggest economy dropped to 99.4 points in August from 100.7

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s foreign ministry said the country “regrets” the “completely unjustified” decision of neighboring Algeria to broke off diplomatic relations. Algeria formally announced the decision on Tuesday and cited a series of alleged hostile acts. Morocco’s foreign ministry said in a statement released early Wednesday that the move was “expected … in

By WAFA SHURAFA Associated Press GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of Palestinians have demonstrated near the Israeli border in the southern Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to ease a crippling blockade. Wednesday’s demonstration ended without a repeat of the deadly clashes during a similar gathering over the weekend. The Israeli military, which had

By KIKO ROSARIO and DAVID RISING Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed rumblings he will run for vice president in what critics say is an attempted end-run around the constitution. The 76-year-old Duterte is notorious for his crackdown on illegal drugs that has killed thousands of mostly petty suspects.

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Australian cyclist Paige Greco has earned the first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics. She won the 3,000-meter pursuit on the track at the velodrome. Wang Xiaomei of China was second and bronze went to Denise Schindler of Germany. It was the first of 24 gold

By The Associated Press Australia has advised advised its citizens in Afghanistan not to travel to Kabul’s airport, where there as a “very high threat of a terrorist attack.” The U.S. Embassy told Americans to move away from three airport gates over an unspecified security issue. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia has helped

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA Associated Press KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s government says 51 people evacuated from Afghanistan have arrived in the East African country at the request of the United States. Authorities said in a statement that the group was transported to Uganda on a chartered flight and arrived early Wednesday. They say the evacuees

By ANNABELLE LIANG Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian stocks are slipping following a charge on Wall Street which drove indices to all-time highs for the second straight day. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.1% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gave up 1% on Thursday. Benchmarks in South Korea, Australia and Shanghai fell. Investors are

By ILAN BEN ZION Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Jewish prayers at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, were once unthinkable. But they have quietly become the norm in recent years. That defies longstanding convention, strains a delicate status quo and raises