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BEIJING (AP) — A former member of popular K-pop band EXO says he’s cutting ties with a Swiss luxury watch brand, after its CEO referred to Taiwan as a country in an interview. China claims Taiwan as its territory, and objects to any reference to the self-governing island as a country. Chinese singer and actor

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets are higher, after weak U.S. hiring in August fueled expectations the Federal Reserve might postpone withdrawal of economic stimulus that has boosted stock prices. London and Frankfurt opened higher, while Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Wall Street futures were higher. The Labor

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese social media platform Weibo has banned a fan club of popular South Korean K-pop band BTS from posting for 60 days. Weibo said Sunday the club had raised funds illegally. The ban comes just days after photographs of a customized airplane funded by the fan club were posted online. The fan

By LAURIE KELLMAN and JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel has launched a massive manhunt in the country’s north and the occupied West Bank after six Palestinian prisoners escaped from a high-security facility. Israeli security forces Monday were erecting roadblocks, conducting patrols and moving hundreds of other prisoners as a precautionary

By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press HOUMA, La. (AP) — When Hurricane Ida swept ashore, the town of Houma was the first major population center in its path. Power isn’t expected to be restored until the end of the month. One apartment complex called Chateau Creole suffered heavy damage, and residents have to move out. But

By KATHY GANNON Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban say they have seized the last province not in their control after their blitz through Afghanistan last month. They overran forces who had opposed their takeover. According to witnesses, thousands of Taliban fighters charged into eight districts of Panjshir province overnight. A Taliban spokesman

By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press CHATHAM, Mass. (AP) — Cape Cod is slowly embracing its shark reputation, three summers after the popular vacation destination saw its first great white shark attacks in generations. A growing group of charter boat operators are offering shark tours in a region where whale and seal watching excursions have long

By DAVID RISING Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — In Thailand’s worst coronavirus surge yet, lockdown measures have reduced what little Bangkok’s have-nots had to zero. Their plight has given rise to volunteer groups working to ensure the poorest survive. For Tun Nye, the bag of rice, canned fish and other staples he received meant not

By SAM METZ and AMY TAXIN AP/Report for America SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — People who fled South Lake Tahoe under threat of a wildfire have been trickling back home, but many shops remained dark Monday and the resort town’s normally bustling streets remained quiet. Evacuation orders were downgraded Sunday to warnings for the

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The southern winter that just ended in New Zealand was the warmest ever recorded, and scientists say climate change is driving temperatures ever higher. For the three months through August, the average temperature was 9.8 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit), according to the National Institute of Water

By MEAD GRUVER Associated Press SARATOGA, Wyo. (AP) — The North Platte River in southern Wyoming is flowing low, slow and warm — not great conditions for trout fishing. After two dry summers in a row, low water and hot weather have spelled trouble for trout streams in the Rocky Mountain west. Warm water, especially,

BERLIN (AP) — The German Foreign Ministry says the country’s new ambassador to China, who was previously a senior adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, has died at age 54. The ministry announced Jan Hecker’s “sudden death” in a short statement in the early hours of Monday. It didn’t give details of when or where Hecker