World

Sudanese gov’t reaches settlement deal

Published on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 4:13pm

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s transitional government said Thursday it has reached a settlement with families of the victims of the 2000 attack on USS Cole in Yemen, in a bid to have the African country taken off the U.S. terrorism list and improve relations with the West.

Iran plant makes the US flags protesters burn

Published on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 3:53pm
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KHOMEIN, Iran (AP) — Near the hometown of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, workers at a small Iranian factory diligently add all 50 stars and 13 red-and-white bars to what are supposed to be U.S. flags, and carefully imprint the blue Star of David on Israeli ones. 

That’s even as all their work is destined to go up in flames. 

Syria: US troops open fire on locals

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:07pm
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DAMASCUS (AP) — A Syrian was killed and another was wounded in a rare clash Wednesday between American troops and a group of government supporters who tried to block a U.S. convoy driving through a village in northeastern Syria, state media and activists reported.

Official: Sudan to hand over al-Bashir

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:06pm
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CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s transitional authorities have agreed to hand over ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court to face trial on charges of war crimes and genocide, a top Sudanese official said Tuesday, in a deal with rebels to surrender all those wanted in connection with the Darfur conflict.

Japanese man who believes in smiling is world’s oldest

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:05pm

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese man with a sweet tooth who believes in smiles has become the world’s oldest male at 112 years and 344 days old, according to Guinness World Records. 

Chitetsu Watanabe, who was born in Niigata in northern Japan in 1907, received a certificate for his accomplishment on Wednesday at a nursing home in the city. 

The previous record holder, Masazo Nonaka, another Japanese, died last month. The oldest living person is also Japanese, Kane Tanaka, a 117-year-old woman. 

US, Taliban close to ‘reduction in violence’

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:04pm

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban have issued an ultimatum to Washington after weeks of talks with a U.S. peace envoy, demanding a reply on their offer of a seven-day reduction of violence in Afghanistan, or they would walk away from the negotiating table, two Taliban officials said Wednesday. 

Fall in new cases raises hope in virus outbreak

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:03pm

BEIJING (AP) — The number of new cases in China dropped for a second straight day in the virus outbreak that has infected about 45,000 people and killed more than 1,100, health officials said Wednesday. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised tax cuts and other aid to industry as the government tries to limit growing damage to the economy. The outbreak has become the latest political challenge for Xi and China’s ruling Communist Party. 

Pope avoids question of married priests

Published on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:02pm

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis refused Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI.

Rebels shoot down Syrian military helicopter as fighting intensifies

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 4:19pm
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BEIRUT (AP) — Rebels shot down a Syrian military helicopter in northern Syria on Tuesday, killing its  crew members in a fiery crash, while the government kept up its relentless bombing campaign on the opposition-held region, with an airstrike in which seven civilians died, activists and news reports said.

Iran remembers 1979 Islamic Revolution

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 4:18pm
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Hundreds of thousands across Iran marked the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on Tuesday amid some of the highest tensions ever between Tehran and the U.S. in the past four decades. 

While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave a speech in Tehran’s iconic Azadi Square denouncing the U.S., he also focused on encouraging the country to vote in upcoming parliamentary elections, even after officials disqualified thousands from running, including 90 current lawmakers.