Associated Press HELSINKI (AP) — Dozens of classic sailing vessels from 13 countries that are plying the Baltic Sea have arrived in the Finnish capital at the end of the first leg of the Tall Ships Races that began in the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda in late June. This year’s competition, with a total
Continue ReadingAP Business Writers FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union is moving to sharply increase customs duties on electric vehicles made in China. EVs are the latest flash point in a broader trade dispute over Chinese government subsidies and burgeoning exports of green technology to the 27-nation bloc. The European Commission says unfair government subsidies
Continue ReadingTALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Belarusian human rights group says at least 10 political prisoners have been freed since the country’s authoritarian president this week promised to release seriously ill people who were put behind bars in connection with massive protests nearly four years ago. Pavel Sapelko of the Viasna rights group told The Associated
Continue ReadingBy Christian Edwards, CNN (CNN) — Jordan Bardella’s rise to the peak of French politics has been so swift he is still asked about his teenage years spent playing “Call of Duty.” Next week, at the age of just 28, he could become France’s prime minister – and Europe’s youngest for more than 200 years.
Continue ReadingBy Ivana Kottasová, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Radina Gigova, CNN (CNN) — Russian troops have taken control of parts of a key hilltop town in eastern Ukraine, a strategic gain that could pose major problems for Ukrainian troops trying to defend the area from further advances. The relatively small town of Chasiv Yar has played an
Continue ReadingBy Sophie Tanno, Mick Krever, Charbel Mallo, Tamer Michaelis and Mike Schwartz, CNN (CNN) — Hezbollah said that it fired more than 200 missiles at Israeli military sites in retaliation for the killing of one of its senior commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammed Neamah Naser, a commander in Hezbollah’s Aziz Unit, was “eliminated” on Wednesday,
Continue ReadingAssociated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s self-described socialist government is facing a serious electoral challenge in a presidential election for the first time in decades. President Nicolás Maduro, now in his 11th year in office, is being challenged by former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia at the head of a resurgent opposition, as well as
Continue ReadingCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s Foreign Ministry says it will summon the Iraqi chargé d’affaires in Stockholm to protest against death sentences received by Swedes in Iraq. Last month, Stockholm protested over a death sentence given to a Swede. On Thursday, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to at least three Swedes who
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to travel to Berlin to attend the Euro 2024 quarterfinal game between Turkey and the Netherlands. The decision comes after a controversial hand gesture by a Turkey national team player ignited a diplomatic row between the country and the host nation, Germany. Turkey
Continue ReadingBy Rhea Mogul, CNN (CNN) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Moscow next week for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, a sign of the growing relationship between the two countries even as New Delhi maintains strong ties with the United States. Modi will be in Moscow on July 8 and 9
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TODAY: Thursday is an ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day. Storms that have formed before sunrise have created a flooding threat south of I-70 and along HWY 50. Pay attention to flood alerts this morning as this situation will develop quickly. Flooding from heavy and repetitive rains will be our main concern this morning, until storms
Continue ReadingBy Lauren Mascarenhas and Colin McCullough, CNN CNN — Precautionary boil water advisories for Washington, DC, and Arlington County were lifted Thursday morning, after local authorities announced water quality never deviated from safety standards. The advisory was issued Wednesday by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority and Arlington County due to an increase in algae
Continue ReadingAssociated Press MORIGAON, India (AP) — A blue tarp covered a mother and her newborn daughter from the incessant rain on their boat journey. Jahanara Khatoon, 25, had just given birth on the boat on their way to a healthcare center, surrounded by the raging floodwaters of the Brahmaputra River. “I am very happy,” said
Continue ReadingAssociated Press DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian court has sentenced an Australian man to six months of medical rehabilitation for possessing methamphetamine on the tourist island of Bali. Troy Andrew Smith, from Port Lincoln in South Australia state, was arrested on April 30 after police raided his hotel in Legian, a popular tourist spot
Continue ReadingAssociated Press MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia next Monday and Tuesday and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit was first announced by Russian officials last month, but the dates had not been previously disclosed. Russia has had strong ties with India since the
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — The Swifties are about to take over the German city formerly known as Gelsenkirchen, where American superstar Taylor Swift is set to give three Eras Tour concerts later this month. In honor of the singer, the city has renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” — at least temporarily — to welcome the tens of thousands
Continue ReadingAssociated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s Cabinet was set to convene Thursday to discuss Hamas’ latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war stirred back to life after a weekslong hiatus. Fighting, meanwhile, intensified between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with
Continue ReadingKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Japanese hairstylist has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and 20 strokes of the cane in Singapore this week for what the judge described as a “brutal and cruel” sexual assault and rape of a drunk student five years ago. Defense lawyer Adrian Wee says Kita Ikko, 39,
Continue ReadingBy Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Australian police believe they have found the remains of a 12-year-old child reportedly attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a creek in the Northern Territory, they said on Thursday. “This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” senior sergeant Erica Gibson
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military says it has retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which has been reduced to rubble under a monthslong Russian assault. Chasiv Yar is west of neighboring Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year
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