Month: January 2024

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in Iran has slapped imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi with an additional sentence of 15 months for allegedly spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic. A post on Instagram by Mohammadi’s family says the new sentence was handed down on Dec. 19. It said Mohammadi had

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany’s economy shrank 0.3% last year as Europe’s former powerhouse struggled with more expensive energy, higher interest rates, a lack of skilled labor and a homegrown budget crisis. Europe’s largest economy has been mired in stagnation since the last months of 2022 amid those multiple challenges. The International Monetary Fund expected

By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s new King Frederik X has visited the Danish parliament on his first formal day on the job. His mother, Queen Margrethe, abdicated on Sunday after 52 years on the throne, the first Danish monarch to do so in nearly 900 years. Monday’s formal meeting

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Some schools have reopened and limited garbage collection has resumed in Japan’s northcentral region of Noto that was hit by the deadly New Year’s Day earthquake. Monday’s developments were signs of slight improvement in the devastation that thousands of people still face in the area. The magnitude

By EMILY WANG Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s incoming president is promising continuity. The question is what that will bring, not only for Taiwan but also for China, the United States and others with an interest in the island of 23 million people that supplies many of the world’s advanced semiconductors. Lai Ching-te

By ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military chief is claiming that the Ukrainian air force has shot down a Russian Beriev A-50 early warning and control plane and an IL-22 command center aircraft. Those hits would be a significant blow for the Kremlin’s forces. The planes are key tools in helping

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Africa’s biggest oil refinery has begun production in Nigeria after a yearslong wait. The $19 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery facility has a capacity to produce 650,000 barrels a day and has started to produce diesel and aviation fuel, the company reported Saturday. Nigeria is one of

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Iceland’s president said the country is battling “tremendous forces of nature,” after molten lava from a volcano consumed several houses in the evacuated town of Grindavik. President Gudni Th. Johannesson said in a televised address late on Sunday that “a daunting period of upheaval has begun” on the Reykjanes peninsula in

MOSS BEACH, Calif. (AP) — California authorties say an airplane has crashed into the Pacific Ocean near an airport south of San Francisco. KRON-TV reports Sgt. Philip Hallworth of San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says emergency crews were searching for the plane that went down in Half Moon Bay around 7:15 p.m. Sunday. Hallworth says

MOSCOW (AP) — North Korea’s foreign minister is visiting Russia for three days of talks as international concern grows over an alleged arms cooperation deal between the two countries. North Korea’s state news agency says a delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow on Sunday. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says she is

By RAHIM FAIEZ Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — UNICEF says almost 100,000 children in Afghanistan direly need support, three months after earthquakes devastated the west of the country. A 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook Herat province on Oct. 7 and a second strong quake struck the same province days later, leaving more than 1,000 dead. UNICEF says

By ZEN SOO AP Business Writer HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese prosecutors say the former chairman of state-owned Chinese bank China Everbright Group has been arrested on suspicion of corruption and bribery. The announcement of Tang Shuangning’s arrest came after he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party earlier this month over violations of disciplines

By PAN PYLAS and MASHA MACPHERSON Associated Press DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The anti-poverty organization Oxfam International says the world could have its first trillionaire within a decade. The group on Monday released an annual assessment of global inequalities timed to the World Economic Forum’s gathering of political and business elites at the Swiss ski

BERLIN (AP) — Columns of tractors are rolling into Berlin as farmers gather for the climax of a week of demonstrations against a plan to scrap tax breaks on the diesel they use. The protest has tapped into wider discontent with Germany’s government. Police said late Sunday evening that the space set aside for vehicles

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian-born Mary Donaldson’s unlikely journey from Tasmania to queen of Denmark is being celebrated across her homeland. She became the world’s first Australian-born queen when her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, was proclaimed king of Denmark on Sunday. Celebrations took place in several Australian towns and cities, including her hometown of Hobart, Melbourne

BERLIN (AP) — The United Nations is appealing for $4.2 billion to help people in Ukraine and displaced outside the country this year. It said on Monday in Geneva that people on the front lines have “exhausted their meager resources” and many refugees also are vulnerable. About three-quarters of the total, $3.1 billion, is meant

By KANIS LEUNG Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — The government in China’s gambling hub of Macao says there will be no more horse racing in the city, after over 40 years of history. Authorities say they will terminate their concession contract with the city’s jockey club in April. The gaming hub on China’s south

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen and his commoner wife is to be feted at a royal banquet to mark the end of a lavish nuptial festival in the oil-rich sultanate. The 32-year-old prince, once dubbed one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors, married Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic in ceremonies steeped in tradition that

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities have detained Turkish club Antalyaspor’s Israeli player for questioning after he displayed solidarity with people held hostage by the Hamas militant organization during a league game. Turkey’s justice minister said Sagiv Jehezkel is under investigation for the possible charge of  “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility.” The

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press BANDAR LAMPUNG, Indonesia (AP) — A former Jakarta governor seeking Indonesia’s presidency said democracy is declining in the country and pledged to make changes to get it back on track. Anies Baswedan said in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday that concerns about neutrality in the current government

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The Pacific Island nation of Nauru says it is switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. The move on Monday leaves Taiwan with 12 diplomatic allies around the world. Taiwan now has official ties with 11 countries and the Vatican. Seven are in Latin America and the Caribbean, three are in

By GILLIAN FLACCUS and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A dangerous Arctic blast will continue sweeping across the U.S. on Monday and linger through at least midweek, prolonging a bitter cold that set record-low temperatures in parts of the country and threatens to further disrupt daily life, including an NFL playoff game

By HANDRIANUS BELUTOWE Associated Press FLORES TIMUR, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia has evacuated about 6,500 people on the island of Flores after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano spewed thick clouds of brownish ash for the past days. Authorities said on Monday that no casualties or major damage have been reported so far. The eruptions in East

By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Taiwanese democracy activist Shih Ming-teh, who helped lead the island from authoritarianism to democracy and a former chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has died at the age of 83. His family said in a Facebook post that he died on Monday. He was being treated

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police are searching for a suspect who fatally shot a customer at a Starbucks in what was reportedly a gang-related crime. Police said the male victim was shot in the chest Sunday at a shopping mall in Ehime prefecture in southwestern Japan. Reports say he was in a terrace section of

By ZIMO ZHONG Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday, with Tokyo extending its New Year rally, as China’s central bank kept its one-year policy loan interest rate unchanged. U.S. futures and oil prices gained. China’s central bank opted to keep its one-year policy loan interest rate at 2.5%

By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats hoping to hold their slim Senate majority after November are looking for wins in two unlikely places that could neutralize potential setbacks elsewhere, Florida and Texas.  West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin isn’t seeking reelection and his seat is likely to flip Republican. That leaves Democrats

By RAF CASERT Associated Press SINT WILLEBRORD, The Netherlands (AP) — Voters across the Netherlands have veered far to the right politically. The shift has been triggered by economic and cultural anxieties that have whipped up fears about immigrants. It’s an extreme example of a trend being felt across the continent that could tilt the

By RAF CASERT Associated Press SINT WILLEBRORD, The Netherlands (AP) — “Everyone is welcome,” reads the sign at the church door in this quiet Dutch village, where neighbors greet each other from tidy porches overlooking manicured lawns. But that declaration of tolerance seems oddly out of place. Triggered by economic and cultural anxieties that have

By STEVE PEOPLES, THOMAS BEAUMONT and HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voting is set to begin Monday night in icy Iowa as former President Donald Trump eyes a victory that would send a resounding message that neither life-threatening cold nor life-changing legal trouble can slow his march toward the Republican Party’s

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Climate, conflict, a divided world and the rise of artificial intelligence round out a to-do list of global priorities at this year’s edition the World Economic Forum’s gabfest of business, political and other elites in Davos, Switzerland. Over 60 heads of state and government, including Israeli

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Retired U.S. officials have met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and praised the island’s democratic process that produced a new president-elect and legislature over the weekend in defiance of China’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and threat to annex it by military force. Former national security

By The Associated Press This week’s new streaming entertainment releases include albums from indie rock heroes Sleater-Kinney and the pop-punk trio Green Day, the Finnish romantic comedy “Fallen Leaves,” and the big, fun action movie “Fast X” racing to Prime Video. There’s also a Paramount+ documentary on June Carter Cash, a Prince of Persia video

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — They’re four months late, but the Emmys have finally arrived. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Monday night, hosted by Anthony Anderson and airing on Fox. The top nominees this year are “Succession” on the drama side and “Ted

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer DETROIT (AP) — Jared Goff threw for a touchdown and completed a game-sealing first down against the team that cast him away, and the Detroit Lions won a playoff game for the first time in 32 years, beating Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23. The Lions ended

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea on Sunday, but a U.S. fighter jet shot it down in the latest attack roiling global shipping amid Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jordan Love threw for three touchdowns, Aaron Jones ran for three more and Darnell Savage returned an interception 64 yards for a score and the Green Bay Packers handed the Dallas Cowboys their first home loss since the 2022 opener in a 48-32 wild-card

By JAMIE STENGLE and VALERIE GONZALEZ Associated Press BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — After Texas fenced off a park along the U.S.-Mexico border and began turning away Border Patrol agents, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott explained why at a campaign stop near Houston. “We are not allowing Border Patrol on that property anymore,” Abbott said Friday, drawing

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — With snow falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour, a group of about 85 people tried to dig out the Buffalo Bills’ stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday. The Bills’ playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed to Monday because

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea claims it has flight-tested a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead as it pursues more powerful, harder-to-detect weapons designed to strike remote U.S. targets in the region. The report Monday by North Korea’s state media came a day after the

GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who became a vocal advocate for families of 9/11 first responders following the death of his NYPD officer son has been struck and killed by an SUV. Joseph Zadroga was the father of Detective James Zadroga, who died of a respiratory ailment his family believes was linked

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A New York federal judge says former President Donald Trump can wait a week to testify at a defamation trial where he could face millions of dollars in damages after a jury concluded that he sexually abused a columnist in the 1990s. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — Ruth Ashton Taylor, a trailblazing journalist who was the first female newscaster to work in television on the West Coast, has died. She was 101. Her family says Taylor died Thursday at an assisted living facility in San Rafael, California. Taylor had a career in radio and television news that

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press Monday marks the official start to the Republican presidential nominating contest with the Iowa caucuses. Iowa has been relatively quiet this cycle compared to years past. That’s because Donald Trump is dominating the contest. That makes one of the things to watch Monday who comes in second — Ron DeSantis

Pope Francis says if he can, he’ll keep a promise to visit his native Argentina in the second half of this year. The pontiff last year said he hoped to visit the South American country he left when he was elected pope in 2013 and hasn’t visited since. In an interview Sunday night with the

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Nicaraguan government said Sunday it released Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 clergy members from jail and handed them over to Vatican authorities. The government said in a press statement the release was part of negotiations with the Vatican. In the past, imprisoned priests have been quickly flown to Rome. The

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Business Insider’s top executive and parent company said Sunday they were satisfied with the fairness and accuracy of stories that made plagiarism accusations against a former MIT professor who is married to a prominent critic of former Harvard President Claudine Gay. “We stand by Business

By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Sunday defended the qualifications of a special prosecutor she hired for her case against Donald Trump and others over efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia after a defense lawyer accused Willis of professional impropriety. In her first public