AP National

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A large volcano eruption in the Philippines sent a plume of ash and gases up to 1.8 miles high following a powerful blast that sent villagers fleeing to emergency shelters. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the latest explosion on Monday of Mount Kanlaon, on central Negros island, but

Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — A polygamist religious leader who claimed more than 20 spiritual “wives” including 10 underage girls was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Monday for coercing girls as young as 9 years old to submit to criminal sex acts with him and other adults, and for scheming to kidnap them

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he’s open to the potential deployment of Western troops in Ukraine to guarantee the country’s security as part of a broad effort to end the almost three-year war with Russia. The deployment would be a step toward Ukraine joining NATO, Zelenskyy said in a

Associated Press HOMUN, Mexico (AP) — A huge poplar tree stands proud in Maribel Ek’s courtyard, adorned with a sign that reads: “Florece desde adentro” (“It blooms from within”). Deep underground, the tree’s long roots search for the water that makes this land special: a sinkhole lake, known as a cenote. Cenotes provide an important

AP Business Writer Omnicom is buying Interpublic Group in a stock-for-stock deal that will create an advertising powerhouse with combined annual revenue of almost $26 billion. The companies have had a hand in iconic marketing campaigns like “Got Milk” for the California Milk Processor Board, “Priceless” for Mastercard, “Because I’m Worth It” for L’Oreal and

Assocaited Press CILVEGOZU BORDER CROSSING, Turkey (AP) — Hundreds of Syrian refugees have gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkey, eagerly anticipating their return to Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. Assad’s fall has sparked widespread joy among Turkey’s 3 million Syrian refugees. Turkish officials have not said how many Syrians have

Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Prosecutors have told the International Criminal Court that they are confident that two alleged leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group in the Central African Republic are guilty of multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Former CAR football federation president Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom,

MILAN (AP) — A fuel depot has exploded in the central Italian region of Tuscan, killing at least two people and injuring nine. Italy’s ENI oil company says the cause of the explosion Monday at the depot in Calenzano, near Florence, is under investigation. It says the flames are confined to a loading area and

AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations’ top human rights official has pledged to try to ensure migrant labor standards in Saudi Arabia are “properly respected” around soccer’s 2034 World Cup. FIFA will confirm the kingdom on Wednesday as the 2034 host. Saudi Arabia is the only candidate for the decision by FIFA’s

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Trump Organization says it has leased its brand to two new real estate projects in Saudi Arabia just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. It said Monday it will partner with Dar Global, a London-based luxury real estate developer that will lease the Trump

AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — China’s top leaders have pledged to loosen monetary policy and provide more support for the slowing economy. Shares in Hong Kong jumped Monday after state media released a report on the meeting by the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo. That gathering sets the tone for an annual economic planning meeting

AP Sports Writer It’s not just soccer anymore. Brazil is finding World Cup success in skiing now, too. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen became the first Brazilian skier to finish on a World Cup podium when he placed second in a giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado, on Sunday. Pinheiro Braathen celebrated the achievement in truly Brazilian

Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — The foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India have met in Dhaka to discuss the strained relations between the two neighbors, including the growing tensions after former Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina fled into exile in India in August. This is the first high-level visit by an Indian official since massive

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Officials says two Turkish military helicopters have collided in midair, causing one of them to crash. Monday’s crash in the southwestern province of Isparta left six military personnel dead, including one who died of injuries in a hospital. The second helicopter landed safely. The crash occurred during regular training flights. The

AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A slide for market superstar Nvidia on Monday knocked Wall Street off its big rally and helped drag U.S. stock indexes down from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, coming off its 57th all-time high of the year so far. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 240

Associated Press DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt.” Meanwhile, streams

BEIJING (AP) — China’s military appears to be preparing for widely anticipated drills in response to a recent visit by Taiwan’s president to Hawaii and Guam. Taiwan’s defense ministry said Monday that it has detected Chinese naval and coast guard ships entering the Taiwan Strait and the western Pacific and that China had restricted airspace