Italy orders murder trial in case of missing Pakistani teen
ROME (AP) — A judge in Italy on Tuesday ordered trial for several family members of an 18-year-old Pakistani woman who disappeared last year after refusing an arranged marriage and was allegedly slain, according to authorities. The Italian news agency ANSA said Judge Dario De Luca, at the end of a preliminary hearing, set trial […]12 hours ago
EXPLAINER: Who are Mariupol’s last defenders?
The Ukrainian forces who made a determined last stand in a Mariupol steel mill against Russian troops were a mixture of seasoned soldiers, border guards, a controversial national guard regiment and volunteers who took up arms in the weeks before Russia’s invasion. As Ukraine works to evacuate the last combatants from the plant — in […]12 hours ago
Cannes rolls out red carpet for 75th film festival
CANNES, France (AP) — After a canceled 2020 edition and a scaled back gathering last year, the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday rolled out the red carpet for what organizers hope will be a f ully resuscitated French Riviera spectacular. The 75th Cannes Film Festival is set to open Tuesday night with the premiere of […]13 hours ago
Nigeria’s accountant-general arrested on corruption charges
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria has arrested the country’s accountant-general, accusing him of diverting millions of dollars from government coffers. Ahmed Idris was arrested “in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion ($192.4 million),” the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said in a statement Monday. Nigeria is […]14 hours ago
EXPLAINER: Why is Turkey wary of Nordic states’ NATO bid?
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has thrown a spanner in the works of Sweden and Finland’s historic decisions to seek NATO membership, declaring that he cannot allow them to join due to their alleged support of Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara says threaten its national security. NATO Secretary General […]14 hours ago
Indonesia lifts outdoor mask mandate as COVID-19 wanes
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is lifting its outdoor mask mandate because its COVID-19 outbreak is increasing under control, President Joko Widodo said Tuesday. However, a mask mandate remains in place for indoor activities and public transportation, he said. Widodo also said all fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 tests […]14 hours ago
German prosecutors seek 5 years for alleged ex-Nazi guard
BERLIN (AP) — German prosecutors on Tuesday sought a five-year prison sentence for a 101-year-old man who is on trial for his alleged role as a Nazi SS guard at a concentration camp during World War II. The defendant is charged with 3,518 counts of being an accessory to murder at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, […]15 hours ago
UK raises stakes in EU feud with threat to break Brexit deal
LONDON (AP) — The British government dramatically escalated a fight with the European Union on Tuesday by saying it will pass a law to scrap parts of the trade treaty signed by the two sides less than two years ago. Britain says its move to singlehandedly change the legally binding treaty — an apparent breach […]15 hours ago
Spanish govt proposes wider abortion rights, menstrual leave
MADRID (AP) — The Spanish government approved a draft bill Tuesday that widens abortion rights for teenagers and may make Spain the first country in Europe entitling workers to paid menstrual leave. The measures are part of a package of proposals that will be sent to the Spanish parliament for debate. The package includes an […]15 hours ago
Pope’s recipe to heal his painful knee? A shot of tequila
ROME (AP) — Doctors have prescribed a wheelchair, cane and physical therapy to help heal Pope Francis’ bad knee. He has other ideas. According to a viral video of the pope at the end of a recent audience, Francis quipped that what he really needs for the pain is a shot of tequila. Francis was […]15 hours ago
Activists ask top court to void Marcos Jr’s presidential win
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Human rights activists have asked the Philippine Supreme Court to block Congress from proclaiming Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the next president, alleging that he lied when he said he had not been convicted of any crime. The Commission on Election twice dismissed their petition and six other similar complaints to cancel […]15 hours ago
Zimbabwe urges sale of stockpile of seized elephant ivory
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe is seeking international support to be allowed to sell its stockpile of seized ivory, saying the $600 million it expects to earn is urgently needed for the conservation of its rapidly growing elephant population which it describes as “dangerous.” Officials from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority showed […]15 hours ago
Eagles of Death Metal members testify about Bataclan attack
PARIS (AP) — Members of the Californian rock band Eagles of Death Metal provided emotional testimony Tuesday about the night Islamic State group extremists stormed their Bataclan theater concert, killing scores of people in France’s worst attack in generations. Singer Jesse Hughes and guitarist Eden Galindo — both civil parties to the case being heard […]15 hours ago
Queen makes surprise appearance to mark new subway line
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II made a surprise visit Tuesday to a train station in central London to see a newly completed subway line named in her honor. The 96-year-old monarch, who has reduced most of her public engagements, appeared Tuesday at Paddington Station and beamed as she unveiled a plaque stating she officially […]16 hours ago
Japan to allow limited foreign package tours as experiment
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government announced Tuesday it will begin allowing small package tours from four countries later this month before gradually opening up to foreign tourism for the first time since it imposed tight border restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said the tours will be allowed from Australia, Singapore, […]17 hours ago
Military says shootout kills 2 Pakistani Taliban commanders
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Security forces killed two local Pakistani Taliban commanders in a shootout Tuesday in a former militant stronghold in the country’s northwest, the military said. In a statement, it said the militants were killed in North Waziristan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban — also […]17 hours ago
Censure vote vs. Sri Lankan leader fails as crisis simmers
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s governing party on Tuesday defeated a move in Parliament to urgently debate a motion that would censure President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the nation’s worst economic crisis, which the prime minister said has left only enough gasoline for one day. It was unclear when the motion will be taken […]17 hours ago
Spain, Morocco reopen land border crossings as ties improve
MADRID (AP) — The land borders between Spain and Morocco at Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s North African enclave cities, have begun to reopen after being closed for just over two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and later a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Crowds gathered at the first border to reopen — Tarajal, […]17 hours ago
Belgian court rules out extradition for Spanish rapper
GHENT, Belgium (AP) — A Belgian court on Tuesday ruled again that Spanish rapper Valtonyc should not be extradited to Spain, where he has been sentenced to prison accused of writing lyrics that praise terror groups and insult the royal family. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jose Miguel Arenas Beltran and who has […]18 hours ago
Filipinos protest Marcos Jr.’s private Australian visit
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Members of Australia’s Filipino community protested Tuesday outside a Melbourne apartment building where the Philippines’ presumptive next president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was reportedly visiting his son. Marcos Jr. was making a private family visit, spokesperson Victor Rodriguez told reporters in Manila. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison telephoned Marcos Jr. on Tuesday […]18 hours ago
Nordic NATO bids move forward but Turkey could derail deal
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden and Finland on Tuesday pushed ahead with their bids to join NATO even as Turkey insisted it won’t let the previously non-aligned Nordic countries into the alliance because of their alleged support for Kurdish militants. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongly worded objections caught the two applicants and other NATO members […]18 hours ago
Live updates | War crimes investigators going to Ukraine
BRUSSELS — The International Criminal Court prosecutor says he’s sent a team of 42 investigators, forensic experts and support personnel to Ukraine as part of a probe into suspected war crimes during Russia’s invasion. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said Tuesday that the team “will significantly enhance the impact of our forensic and investigative actions on […]19 hours ago
Vatican minister visits Ukraine as pope toes delicate line
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, is heading to Kyiv this week as the Holy See seeks to balance its concern for Ukrainians amid Russia’s war with its efforts to keep open a channel of dialogue with Moscow. Gallagher is due to arrive Wednesday and meet Friday with Ukrainian Foreign […]19 hours ago
