Year: 2021

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s top court has ruled that the country’s widely criticized Job Creation Law is unconstitutional and ordered the government to amend it within two years. The law, passed last year, triggered days of protests in many cities that turned violent as thousands of enraged students and

ROME (AP) — National Geographic’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl” has arrived in Italy as part of the West’s evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country. The office of Premier Mario Draghi said Italy organized Sharbat Gulla’s evacuation after she asked to be helped to leave the country. The Italian government will now

By ILAN BEN ZION Associated Press RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Israel’s defense minister says he hopes a better nuclear deal will come out of upcoming talks between world powers and Iran. But Benny Gantz says Israel is hedging its bets and building up its military capabilities. He spoke to reporters on Thursday, at the close

By VESELIN TOSHKOV and STEPHEN MCGRATH Associated Press SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A Bulgarian official says human error is believed to be the likeliest cause behind the fiery bus crash in Bulgaria that killed 44 people early Tuesday morning, including 12 children. The bus, which officials said had 52 people on board, mostly nationals of

By DAVID EGGERT and NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Lawmakers in several states are debating precisely how many Black voters are needed in a legislative district to ensure they can elect the representative they want. It may sound like an esoteric question, but it could have major ramifications in Congress and state legislatures.

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN and THOMAS PEIPERT Associated Press The second Thanksgiving of the COVID-19 pandemic comes as a resurgent virus has pushed new infections in the U.S. to 95,000 daily and caused alarming increases at hospitals in Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona. American families are facing dilemmas over gatherings that have become burdened with

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will continue providing natural gas to Serbia on terms favorable to its ally. Putin voiced confidence Thursday that a new contract for gas supplies to Serbia would be signed quickly to replace the current one that expires at year-end.  Putin said at the start of

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s parliament speaker says lawmakers will vote Monday on whether Magdalena Andersson, who briefly became the country’s first female prime minister before resigning after a budget defeat, can form a minority government. Andersson served as prime minister for seven hours before stepping down Wednesday after the Greens left her two-party coalition.

By SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Families of the victims of last year’s explosion in Beirut’s port have rallied outside Lebanon’s top court to denounce what they say are intentional obstructions in the probe of the devastating blast. The demonstrators on Thursday said their message was: “We are sick of waiting.” Lebanon’s

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is warning members that they risk undermining the 27-nation bloc’s COVID-19 travel and access certificate system with new uncoordinated restrictions some are introducing to try to thwart a surge in cases. As coronavirus cases jump, many countries have begun tightening rules on people who