News

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Massive amounts of volcanic pumice pebbles spewed from an undersea volcano in the Pacific Ocean have been piling up on southern Japanese coasts, damaging ports and fishing boats, and prompting the central government to establish a task force to deal with the unwanted arrivals as a natural

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says its director-general is running unopposed for a second five-year term. The U.N. health agency made the announcement Friday after the deadline for candidacies for the next five-year term expired on Sept. 23. The formal selection of the next director-general takes place at the WHO’s next assembly in

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it hopes to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, after previously acknowledging it would fall short of the international community’s goal. Thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to demand action ahead of next week’s U.N. summit on climate change. As a small country, Israel contributes little to global

BEIJING (AP) — China’s internet regulator plans to require companies to obtain government approval to transfer data deemed important abroad. Rules announced by the Cyberspace Administration of China would tighten Beijing’s control over information and might disrupt operations for international corporations. The agency said the measure is needed to “safeguard national security.” President Xi Jinping’s

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say they are investigating an incident off the coast of Crete, following reports in the local news media that a cargo ship carrying a large number of migrants was stranded in bad weather. An official from the Merchant Marine Ministry said Friday that the coast guard was monitoring an

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s environment minister has pledged to retaliate if France carries through on threats to block U.K. ships from French ports. He warned Friday that “two can play at that game’’ in the worsening dispute rooted in Britain’s departure from the European Union. Britain summoned the French ambassador

By JOSH BOAK, ZEKE MILLER and NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — President Joe Biden and Pope Francis are meeting at the Vatican. The world’s two most notable Roman Catholics plan to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and poverty during their session on Friday. Biden arrived at the Vatican with his wife,

BEIJING (AP) — More than 2,000 tourists visiting China’s Inner Mongolia region have been sent to hotels to undergo two weeks of quarantine. The move follows reports of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the vast, lightly populated region that attracts visitors with its mountains, lakes and grasslands. An announcement from the regional government on Friday