Year: 2024

Associated Press TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Human rights activists say Belarusian authorities are setting unacceptable conditions for the release of political prisoners, including writing a public statement of repentance. Monday’s accusation comes just days after President Alexander Lukashenko promised to release those who are seriously ill and those swept up during the 2020 mass protests

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — An actor who played a street-brawling newsman in the movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and a pizzeria owner in the television series “Bob’s Burgers” pleaded guilty on Monday to interfering with police officers trying to protect the U.S. Capitol from a mob’s attack. Jay Johnston, 55, of Los

Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — A shooting at a block party in Detroit left two people dead and more than a dozen wounded, capping a violent holiday weekend in the U.S. that also saw mass shootings in Kentucky and Chicago. More than 100 people were shot in Chicago, 19 of them fatally, over the long

Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Eight years ago, Yuriko Koike became the first woman to lead Tokyo, beating her male predecessor. She won her third term as governor Sunday, and one of her closest rivals was a woman. Multiple women competing for a top political office is still rare in Japan, which has a terrible

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Treasury chief says the Labour government will make stimulating economic growth its mission while limiting bureaucracy to allow for easier investments. Rachel Reeves said on Monday there’s no time to waste to reverse what she calls “14 years of chaos and economic instability” under Conservative governments. Reeves is

Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — New parents in Baltimore could receive a $1,000 “baby bonus” if voters approve a proposal that aims to help reduce childhood poverty from birth with a modest one-time cash payment. A group of Baltimore teachers is behind the effort. Organizers recently secured the necessary 10,000 signatures to bring the question

Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — The Hong Kong government is seeking to regulate online car-hailing platforms through licensing and impose tougher penalties on illegal ride services. Monday’s move is likely to have a significant impact on tech companies like Uber. Transport officials said in a document to the legislature that they will further study

Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Holocaust museum is opening a conservation facility in Jerusalem that will preserve, restore and store its more than 45,000 artifacts and artworks. It will also provide organization and storage for the museum’s 225 million pages of documents and half a million photographs. The vast new building that includes five

NEW YORK (AP) — Admiral William H. McRaven is teaming with daughter Kelly McRaven on a follow-up to his bestselling “Skipper the Seal” picture book that draws upon his onetime passion for being a superhero. Little Brown Books for Young Readers announced Monday that the McRavens’ “Be a Hero with Skipper the Seal” will be published

AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — NATO leaders meet this week for a summit commemorating the 75th anniversary of the military alliance, which has never been larger and more focused. But NATO also is facing potentially existential threats from outside and within. Besides Russia’s war in Ukraine, challenges posed by an increasingly aggressive China and

Associated Press The surgeon general has said there’s a loneliness epidemic in America. For many people, that includes a lack of friendships at work. Remote work has intensified loneliness in the workplace. Experts say friendships and a sense of belonging are vital to employees’ happiness. And also to companies’ success. Some organizations are rethinking their

Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Kenyan court has ruled that the 2022 shooting death of a Pakistani journalist by police in Nairobi was unlawful and unconstitutional. The court in Nairobi on Monday also faulted Kenya’s attorney general and the prosecutor for laxity in investigating the shooting of Arshad Sharif, after police opened fire at