News

By BUSABA SIVASOMBOON Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand has a positive international image when it comes to the rights and lifestyles of LGBTQ communities, but a new report by Human Rights Watch says the reality may be more precarious. It says the absence of a procedure for transgender people in Thailand to change their

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — A summit of European Union leaders is trying to coordinate action to tackle the surge of coronavirus infections across the continent and the emergence of the new omicron variant while keeping borders open. The bloc’s leaders want to avoid a confusing mixture of rules with the festive

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England faces a difficult dilemma over whether to increase interest rates. Though consumer prices are rising at their fastest rate in a decade, the emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has stoked concerns over the economic recovery. As a result, the central

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A fashion studio in Hungary is challenging the centuries-old stereotypes faced by the country’s Roma minority and asserting a place at the table of high culture for the historically marginalized group. The Romani Design studio was co-founded by sisters Erika and Helena Varga. It reutilizes the

By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is facing a tough decision Thursday. It’s caught between the scheduled end of its pandemic support program and growing worries that the new omicron variant of the coronavirus might set back hard-won progress in the economic recovery from the pandemic. Experts

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh has marked 50 years of victory over Pakistan in a bloody war for independence by hosting a military parade with the Indian president as a guest of honor. On Dec. 16, 1971, Pakistani soldiers surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making Bangladesh a new nation under the leadership of

SYDNEY (AP) — Five children have died and four others are in critical condition after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted 33 feet into the air by a gust of wind at a school on Australia’s island state of Tasmania. The school was holding a celebration to mark the end of the school

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer Stocks have climbed in Europe and Asia, tracking Wall Street’s gains, after the Federal Reserve said it would accelerate its pullback of economic stimulus. Shares surged in Paris, Frankfurt, London and Tokyo. New York futures and oil prices also advanced. The Fed said it would likely raise interest rates

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are holding a summit focused on preventing a Russian military invasion of neighboring Ukraine. A Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border took center stage at the summit of the EU’s 27 leaders on Thursday after Ukraine’s president pleaded for more sanctions to be imposed

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has reported its exports jumped 20% and imports rose at an even faster pace in November as disruptions to manufacturing supply chains eased. Preliminary trade data reported Thursday showed imports surging nearly 44% from a year earlier as surging oil prices pushed costs sharply higher. The country logged a trade deficit