News

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is pressing ahead with plans to develop its own defense capacities and limit its reliance on the U.S. following the swift collapse of the Afghan army. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the fall of Kabul to Taliban insurgents in just days

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A court set up in The Hague to prosecute crimes from Kosovo’s 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia has opened its first trial. The defendant is a former rebel commander who faces charges including murder and torture. Salih Mustafa was arrested a year ago in

By LAUREN WEBER and ANNA MARIA BARRY-JESTER KHN (Kaiser Health News) A review of hundreds of pieces of legislation across the United States shows that Republican legislators in more than half of the states are taking away the powers state and local officials use to protect the public against infectious diseases. The review conducted by

By LAUREN WEBER and ANNA MARIA BARRY-JESTER KHN (Kaiser Health News) A review of hundreds of pieces of legislation across the United States shows that Republican legislators in more than half of the states are taking away the powers state and local officials use to protect the public against infectious diseases. The review conducted by

By DANICA KIRKA and PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The U.K. posted the biggest jump in annual inflation on record last month as global supply shortages and rising wages magnified the scale of price increases after pandemic-related discounts a year ago. The Office for National Statistics says consumer price inflation accelerated to 3.2%

LONDON (AP) — A British woman who ran away from home at age 15 to join the Islamic State group in Syria has asked for forgiveness and appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to let her come home. Shamima Begum was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria in 2015. She is

By EMILY WANG FUJIYAMA Associated Press QUESHAN, China (AP) — China has emphasized its role in United Nations peacekeeping operations with its hosting of multinational exercises that ended Wednesday. The 10 day-long drills in the central province of Henan featured around 1,000 troops from China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand. They practiced armed escorts, security patrols,

By NICOLE WINFIELD and KAREL JANICEK Associated Press SASTIN, Slovakia (AP) — Pope Francis has urged Slovakians look out for the neediest among them as he wraps up a four-day pilgrimage to the central European country. Cheering, maskless crowds lined Francis’ motorcade route to the national shrine at Sastin. They were rewarded with a slow-moving popemobile

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The economic ravages of COVID-19 are forcing some families in Zimbabwe to abandon the age-old tradition of taking care of their older people. Some roam the streets. The lucky ones end up at facilities for older people. They were once widely viewed by many Zimbabweans as

PARIS (AP) — Emergency workers have rescued or evacuated hundreds of people in southern France as flash flooding abruptly turned roads and fields into rivers and lakes. The regional emergency service said rescuers were searching for at least one person reported missing in flooding Tuesday evening. No casualties have been reported. But local authorities said

By JOE McDONALD AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) — One of China’s biggest real estate developers is struggling to avoid defaulting on billions of dollars of debt, prompting concern about broader impacts and protests by apartment buyers over delays in completing projects. Rating agencies say Evergrande Group looks likely to be unable to repay all

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is committing 200 million more vaccine doses to Africa to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic on a global scale. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that the new donation comes on top of 250 million already committed and underscores the EU resolve

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP Political Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — A defiant Republican Larry Elder conceded his fight to become California’s next governor with a provocative hint about his political future: “Stay tuned.” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom easily beat back a recall effort to remove him from office. Elder then told cheering supporters Tuesday