News

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fueled by several financial technology companies as well as an entry by the big credit card companies, Americans now have the option to “buy now, pay later” on everything from a $1,500 Peloton bicycle to a $60 floral bouquet. Retailers’ websites often come with an

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — The parties of Algeria’s ruling majority dominated local and regional elections while Islamist parties saw their support diminish. The head of the election authority announced the results Tuesday evening. Saturday’s elections came amid widespread worry and frustration over rising prices for basic goods, housing and health care. The long-ruling FLN party

By FRANCESCO SPORTELLI and NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — A villa in the heart of Rome that features the only known ceiling mural painted by Caravaggio is being put up for auction by court order. The Casino dell’Aurora, also known as Villa Ludovisi, was built in 1570 and has been in the Ludovisi family

BEIJING (AP) — China is launching an aggressive campaign to promote Mandarin, saying 85% of its citizens will use the national language by 2025. The move appears to put threatened Chinese regional dialects such as Cantonese and Hokkien under even greater pressure, along with minority languages such as Tibetan, Mongolian and Uyghur. The order issued

By DAVID RISING and ANNABELLE LIANG Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — When Singapore embarked upon its strategy of living with COVID-19, backed by one of the world’s leading vaccine programs, the wealthy city-state saw a spike in its rate of infections, leading many to question whether the time was right. But with the numbers now

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, has turned 20, ready for a debut as a new adult member to take a share of official duties for the royal family whose population continues to shrink under the male-only succession law. Aiko is the only child of

By LEE KEATH Associated Press HERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — While most high school girls in Afghanistan are forbidden to attend class by the Taliban rulers, one major exception is in the western province of Herat. For weeks, girls there have been attending high school classes, thanks to a unique effort by teachers and parents to

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — As the U.S. Supreme Court hears a Mississippi case that could topple abortion rights nationwide, the state’s only abortion clinic is busier than ever. Volunteers were escorting patients into the clinic Wednesday while protesters outside beseeched women not to end their pregnancies. The Supreme Court

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fiji has welcomed back its first tourists in more than 600 days after pushing ahead with reopening plans despite the threat posed by the newly detected omicron variant of the coronavirus. The Pacific nation is famed for its idyllic white-sand beaches and relaxed, welcoming attitude.