Month: June 2022

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s leader says he will move forward with a minority government following the withdrawal of one of the four parties from the country’s centrist coalition government. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told reporters on Wednesday that “a minority government is better than one that is under constant pressure and extortion” from a

By CALEB JONES Associated Press HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii photographer Clark Little is known for his stunning images from inside the barrels of some of the most powerful and dangerous waves on Earth. The Oahu native just released a new book that chronicles his last 15 years of getting slammed in the surf while

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A court in North Macedonia has imposed a new prison sentence on the country’s fugitive former prime minister Nikola Gruevski. This time it was a six-year term for abuse of power over the financing of his party’s headquarters in the capital, Skopje. It was the fifth conviction for Gruevski since

By MICHAEL PHILLIS and JOHN FLESHER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — After a record-setting Midwestern rainstorm that damaged thousands of homes and businesses, Stefanie Johnson’s farmhouse in Blandinsville, Illinois, didn’t have safe drinking water for nearly two months. Flood water poured into her well, turning the water a muddy brown and forcing Johnson, her

By JILL LAWLESS and BARRY HATTON Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego has died at the age of 87.  The Victoria Miro Gallery said the artist died Wednesday at her London home after a short illness. Though she lived in Britain, Rego’s work was infused with the colors and stories of her

By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has called a special session for the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the state’s dormant 173-year-old law banning abortion. Evers’ move on Wednesday is more likely to win him political points with his Democratic base in a reelection year than it is to

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers are set to vote on the future of combustion engine vehicles. Wednesday’s vote is part of proposed EU legislation to step up the fight against global warming. Cars account for around 12% of European emissions of th gases blamed for climate change. The spotlight Wednesday is on a provision

By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The leader of La Luz del Mundo church has been sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing girls. Naasón Joaquín García was sentenced Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court after several of his victims made emotional pleas to the court

By MARK SHERMAN and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested Wednesday near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house in Maryland after threatening to kill the justice. Nicholas John Roske of Simi Valley, California, who was identified in a criminal complaint charging him with the

LONDON (AP) — British prosecutors say they have authorized police to charge former film producer Harvey Weinstein with two counts of indecent assault against a woman in London in 1996. The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement on Wednesday that “charges have been authorized” following a review of evidence gathered by London’s Metropolitan Police.

By FARNOUSH AMIRI and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The nine members of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection are on diverging political paths as they prepare for public hearings that could become a defining moment in their careers. Working in private rooms in a Capitol office building, the

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A former governor of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, has been nominated to be the ruling party’s presidential candidate in next year’s presidential election. Bola Tinubu is widely referred to as the “godfather” of Lagos because of his influence in the southwestern state that he governed from

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Most every Republican lawmaker expressed outrage in the days after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Some even blamed then-President Donald Trump. But the larger GOP narrative shifted in the weeks and months that followed. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, who had

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Stagflation. It was the dreaded “S word” of the 1970s. For Americans of a certain age, it conjures memories of painfully long lines at gas stations and shuttered factories. Stagflation is the bitterest of pills: High inflation mixes with a weak job market to cause a

By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — More than $10 billion in coronavirus relief funds is being diverted from orders of at-home rapid tests and other pandemic-related efforts. The White House on Wednesday blamed the move on a funding crunch and said it’s trying to come up with money to secure the next generation

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press Chelsea Blackwell’s dachshund, Blue, disappeared Monday, and the distraught owner went in search. She drove for an hour before coming upon a line of squad cars and people with cameras near the Greyhound bus station in Albany, New York, and set aside her search to investigate. “I pulled over

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister is facing questions over his purchase of 4.6 million zlotys (over $1 million) in Polish treasury bonds. The investment is believed to offer protection against inflation and was made at a time when authorities were playing down the risk of rising inflation. Prices in May in Poland soared

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Blondie has figured out where to put their heart of glass — a big ‘ol box. The iconic rockers said Wednesday they will release their first authorized collection in their 50-year history, a huge box set that includes 124 tracks, 36 of which were never

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Foo Fighters will honor the rock band’s late drummer Taylor Hawkins with a pair of tribute concerts in September — one in London and the other in Los Angeles. The twin shows will take place Sept. 3 at London’s Wembley Stadium and Sept. 27 at

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed has resigned his post five days after federal charges were announced against him and two others for allegedly accepting bribes and misusing their offices for personal gain. Reed announced his resignation Tuesday, saying in a statement that he could not serve constituents and

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his government remains committed to phasing out nuclear power despite concerns about rising energy prices and possible future shortages due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Germany’s three remaining nuclear plants are due to close in December. Opposition parties have called for the lifetimes of Germany’s nuclear plants

By FRANCESCA EBEL Associated Press TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisian lawyers and judges have held a small protest outside the capital’s courts as part of their weeklong strike over the president’s dismissal of 57 judges. President Kais Saied’s removal of the judges was the latest sign of growing interference in the judiciary as he tightens

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will meet with allies in Germany and Spain in late June as he seeks to hold together the fragile coalition opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The White House announced Wednesday that Biden will travel to southern Germany on June 25 to

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament has made a vibrant plea for his country to be named a candidate for European Union membership. The candidacy move would bring the war-torn nation closer to the EU without guaranteeing its admittance. Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The most senior Dutch police officers have vowed to crack down on racism in their ranks after a documentary last month exposed a deep-rooted culture of bullying and discrimination.  A statement published Wednesday on the force’s website says the aim is clear: the police force “has to set an example

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban have detained a famous Afghan fashion model along with three colleagues, accusing them of disrespecting Islam and the Holy Quran. Ajmal Haqiqi — known among Afghans for his fashion shows, You Tube clips, and modeling events — appeared handcuffed in videos posted to Twitter by the Taliban’s General Directorate of

By TOM HAYS Associcated Press NEW YORK (AP) — After Richard Rojas was kicked out of the Navy, he began sharing disturbing thoughts that were coursing through his head — that cars were following him, that aircraft were dusting him with chemicals, that his meals were poisoned. An uncle, Ramon Reyes, said Rojas offered a

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says Russia’s war in Ukraine and the energy and food crises it worsened will severely drag down global economic growth and push up inflation this year. The Paris-based group on Wednesday said China’s “zero-COVID” policy that has scrambled manufacturing

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine that combines its original shot with protection against the omicron variant appears to work, the company announced Wednesday. COVID-19 vaccine makers are studying updated boosters that might be offered in the fall to better protect people against future coronavirus surges. Moderna’s preliminary study results show

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — A former Thai police colonel nicknamed “Jo Ferrari” for his extravagant collection of luxury cars has been sentenced with five subordinates to life in prison for the torture and killing of a drug suspect from whom they were trying to extort money. Allegations of corruption and rough