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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Kenyan security guard who wrote compelling dispatches under a pseudonym about the challenges of living as a low-wage worker in Qatar and advocated for their rights has been freed from his monthslong detention. Activists say Malcolm Bidali faced a $6,800 fine and had his mobile phone and social

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police say they have seized 195 million Hong Kong dollars ($25 million) worth of illegal drugs as part of a monthslong investigation, the largest seizure of the year. Police said the drugs, including 148 kilograms (326 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 86 kilograms (189 pounds) of heroin, were uncovered

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian police say they have arrested at least 53 suspected militants in recent weeks believed to have links to banned extremist groups, in a nationwide crackdown on a new cell of Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for a string of past bombings. Police say the arrests were made

By ASIM TANVEER Associated Press MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say a powerful roadside bomb has exploded among a procession of Shiite Muslims in central Pakistan, killing at least three and wounding over 50 people. Videos circulating on social media showed police and ambulances rushing toward the site of the explosion. Several wounded people

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian police say gunmen have abducted nine students on their way home from an Islamic school in the country’s northwest, two days after a mass school abduction took place in a neighboring state. Police spokesman Isah Gambo told The Associated Press that the students were kidnapped

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s government says it has granted a quarantine exemption to an individual to perform “designated professional work” following reports that Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman did not have to spend time in quarantine when she arrived in the city to film a TV series. It did not identify Kidman by name.

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s highest court has rejected the appeals of three people who were convicted in one of the country’s most high-profile murder trials involving a far-right group. The decision announced Thursday by the Federal Court of Justice confirms the life sentence given three years ago to Beate Zschaepe, the only known survivor of

By BASSEM MROUE Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said Thursday that an Iranian fuel tanker will sail toward Lebanon “within hours,” warning Israel and the United States not to intercept it. The delivery organized by Lebanon-based Hezbollah would be an apparent violation of U.S. sanctions imposed on

By SRDJAN NEDELJKOVIC and ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press THEA, Greece (AP) — A Greek minister says a major wildfire that has ravaged a pine forest for four days, burnt homes and led to the evacuation of villages northwest of Athens is on the wane, but not yet under control. Hundreds of Greek and Polish firefighters,

BEIJING (AP) — A top Chinese official says “all-round efforts” are needed to ensure Tibetans speak Chinese and share the “cultural symbols and images of the Chinese nation.” Politburo member Wang Yang, who oversees policy toward China’s ethnic minorities, spoke in Tibet on the 70th anniversary of the Chinese invasion of the vast Himalayan region.

By AHMAD SEIR, RAHIM FAIEZ, KATHY GANNON AND JON GAMBRELL Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan protesters have defied the Taliban for a second day, waving their national flag in scattered demonstrations. The fighters again responded violently Thursday as they face down growing challenges to their rule. A U.N. official warned of dire food

By ANNABELLE LIANG Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian stock markets are mostly lower as worries surrounding the spread of the delta variant again take center stage Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.7% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong slipped 1.5% on Friday. Benchmarks in Seoul and Shanghai fell, while Sydney’s inched higher. Traders

By COSTAS KANTOURIS Associated Press ALISTRATI, Greece (AP) — Persephone is not your ordinary robot. Billed as the world’s first robot used as a tour guide inside a cave, Persephone has been welcoming visitors to the Alistrati cave in northern Greece since mid-July. The multilingual robot covers the first 150 meters (500 feet) of the