Month: July 2023

PAMPLONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of people have packed the town hall square in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona to celebrate the traditional “chupinazo” firework blast that starts the San Fermín bull-running festival. Nearly everyone was dressed in the traditional white trousers and shirt with red sash and neckerchief. The multitude heaved

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Two firefighters were killed and five others injured battling a blaze that began deep inside a docked cargo ship carrying more than a thousand vehicles, officials said Thursday. Responding firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship at Port Newark

YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — The minister charged with an overhaul of this nation’s digitized system to assign a number to all Japanese has apologized, as doctors protested glitches with health insurance and local governments begged for clarity on how to go about handling the problems. The MyNumber, or “MaiNa” for short, system

BERLIN (AP) — Lawmakers in Germany have failed to agree on new rules regulating assisted suicide. They voted Thursday to reject two proposals drawn up after the country’s highest court ruled that legislation banning the practice on a “business” basis was unconstitutional. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 2020 that the ban violated the rights

By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Authorities in Nigeria say they have activated a national response plan ahead of what’s expected to be another round of deadly floods blamed mainly on climate change and infrastructure problems. Floods last year killed more than 600 people in the West African nation. The National Emergency

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Turkish man has been found guilty of attempted aggravated extortion, weapons possession and attempted terrorist financing, saying he was acting on behalf of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party. On Thursday, a Swedish court sentenced Yahya Gungor to 4.5 years in prison, after which he would be expelled from Sweden and banned

By CIARÁN GILES Associated Press MADRID (AP) — A Spanish migrant rights group says 951 migrants have died while trying to reach Spain by sea in the first six months of 2023. Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) says the figure includes 112 women and 49 children. The organization compiles its figures from families of migrants and

By ANNA FRANTS Associated Press MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The mercenary leader who led a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin is in Russia and his troops are in their field camps, the president of Belarus said Thursday, raising new questions about the deal that ended the extraordinary challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s rule. Belarusian President

BEIJING (AP) — The leader of the Solomon Islands will visit China next week, highlighting the accelerating contest between Beijing and Washington for influence in the South Pacific. China’s Foreign Ministry says Manasseh Sogavare will meet top officials in Beijing and travel to Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, among China’s most developed. A ministry spokesperson says

By BASSEM MROUE and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli forces have shelled a southern Lebanese border village after several explosions were heard in a disputed area where the borders of Syria, Lebanon and Israel meet. Tensions continue to flare in the border area over two tents erected by the militant group Hezbollah

By ASHWINI BHATIA Associated Press DHARMSALA, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama has celebrated his 88th birthday among hundreds of supporters and exiled Tibetans at his hillside headquarters in India. Artists played traditional welcome tunes Thursday as the Tibetan spiritual leader arrived at the celebrations at Tsuglakhang Temple. He was smiling when he said: “We

By ED WHITE Associated Press PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Five years after music superstar Aretha Franklin’s death, her final wishes are still unsettled. An unusual trial starts next Monday in suburban Detroit where a jury will decide which of two handwritten wills should control her estate. Both documents were found in Franklin’s home months after

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden failed Thursday to convince Turkey to lift its objections to the country joining NATO. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says some progress was made in talks at NATO. But he’s called a meeting between Turkey’s president and Sweden’s prime minister on Monday in an effort “to bridge

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s center-left government has distanced itself from the postponement of Donald Trump Jr.’s speaking tour in Australia. His promoters said the eldest son of the former U.S. president was deferring visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane because his Australian visa was only approved on Wednesday, 24

BEIJING (AP) — China says 239 people died from COVID-19 in June in a significant uptick months after it lifted most containment measures. The country had reported 164 deaths in May and none at all in April and March. China started employing a “zero-COVID” containment strategy in early 2020 and credits the strict lockdowns, quarantines,