News

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Human rights groups are welcoming Indonesia’s decision to stop abusive “virginity tests” on female army recruits seven years after the World Health Organization declared they had no scientific validity. The army chief of staff said during annual joint military drills with the United States that applicants

By VANESSA GERA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Belarusian Olympic sprinter says she feels safe after finding refuge in Poland to avoid punishment at home for criticizing her team officials at the Tokyo Games. Krystsina Tsimanouskaya now hopes to focus on how to keep up her world-class sprinting career. In an interview Wednesday

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have reunited for another album more than a dozen years after their collaboration “Raising Sand” became a critical and commercial hit, earning six Grammy Awards. The 12-track “Raise the Roof” will be out Nov. 19 from Rounder Records and is

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Official figures show the British economy grew by 4.8% in the second quarter of 2021 as lockdown restrictions were lifted. The Office for National Statistics also said that the British economy grew by 1% in June alone, the fifth straight month of growth. The lifting of pandemic

BERLIN (AP) — Striking railway workers in Germany are halting much of the country’s train service for a second day. German news agency dpa reported that one-quarter of long-distance trains and about 40 % of regional and local commuter trains were running on Thursday. Members of the railway workers union GDL are staging the work

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Rescue workers in far eastern Russia are searching for eight people who are missing and fear dead after a helicopter carrying tourists crashed into a deep volcanic lake. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry says 13 tourists and three crew members were aboard the helicopter when it went down Thursday

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities say the death toll from the severe floods and mudslides that struck the north of the country has risen to 17. One other person was reported missing Thursday. The floods battered the Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday, demolishing homes and bridges and

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Zambians are voting in tense elections that the president and his main rival have said are a test of the southern African country’s reputation as a stable democracy. Polling began in the presidential and legislative elections across the country at more than 12,000 polling stations, including

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Purdue Pharma’s quest to settle thousands of lawsuits over OxyContin’s toll has entered its final phase with the grudging acceptance of most of those who have claims against the company. A confirmation hearing opened in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Thursday for a deal that removes control

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A day before he is released on parole, Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong has appeared in a South Korean court for another trial. It’s a reminder of his looming legal risks even as he leaves prison. Lee is among some 800 prisoners being released before a