World

Ecuador election could decide Assange's continued asylum

Published on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 5:01pm

By GONZALO SOLANO, Associated Press

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can stay at the Ecuadorean embassy in London could depend on the winner of Sunday's presidential election in the South American country.

Ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno, who is the hand-picked successor of outgoing President Rafael Correa, has indicated he would back Assange's continued stay. But his main challenger, former banker Guillermo Lasso, has indicated in interviews that he would evict the Australian activist within 30 days of taking office.

Pakistan cracks down on militants after IS shrine attack

Published on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:57pm

By KATHY GANNON, Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A brutal attack on a beloved Sufi shrine that killed 88 people raised fears that the Islamic State group has become emboldened in Pakistan, aided by an army of homegrown militants benefiting from hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan, analysts and officials said Friday.

Ukraine leader warns West not to "appease" Russia

Published on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:56pm

By GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press

MUNICH (AP) — Ukraine's president warned Friday against any "appeasement" of Russia, arguing that cutting a bilateral deal with Moscow on his country would only make the fighting in eastern Ukraine worse. He said that the new U.S. administration has a "historic chance" to halt Russia's ambitions.

Many in Europe are concerned about the U.S. stance toward Russia under President Donald Trump amid talk of a more cooperative relationship.

Food is harder to find in west Mosul, say fleeing Iraqis

Published on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:55pm

By BALINT SZLANKO, Associated Press

KHAZER CAMP, Iraq (AP) — Umm Mohammed decided to flee western Mosul after her husband told her the alternative was that they starve.

Their family — six boys and a girl — had been eating little for the last three months as money ran out and supplies became harder to get a hold of in the half of the northern Iraqi city that is still under the rule of the Islamic State group.

Islamic State suicide bombing at Pakistan shrine kills 75

Published on Thu, 02/16/2017 - 4:52pm

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — An Islamic State suicide bomber struck inside a famed shrine in southern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 75 people in the deadliest attack in the country in more than two years.

The bomber entered the main hall of the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan and detonated his payload amid dozens of worshippers, according to three security officials, who said at least 20 women and nine children were among the dead.

Yahoo issues another warning in fallout from hacking attacks

Published on Wed, 02/15/2017 - 3:41pm

 

By RAPHAEL SATTER, AP Cybersecurity Writer

LONDON (AP) — Yahoo is warning users of potentially malicious activity on their accounts between 2015 and 2016, the latest development in the internet company's investigation of a mega-breach that exposed 1 billion users' data several years ago.

Yahoo confirmed Wednesday that it was notifying users that their accounts had potentially been compromised but declined to say how many people were affected.

Trump's secretary of state on the spot on 1st foreign trip

Published on Wed, 02/15/2017 - 3:39pm

By MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

BONN, Germany (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has his work cut out for him.

On his first overseas trip as America's top diplomat this week, Tillerson will face a blizzard of questions about the Trump administration's foreign policy from nervous Asian and European allies. And there will be penetrating inquiries from America's watchful rivals like Russia and China, who will be eager to seize on miscues or gaffes for their own advantage.

Woman arrested in killing of N. Korean leader's half brother

Published on Wed, 02/15/2017 - 3:37pm

By EILEEN NG, Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian police arrested a woman Wednesday in the apparent assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean leader's exiled half brother who South Korean spies say once begged his sibling to spare his life.

The astonishing killing, which reportedly came at the hands of two female assassins, set off waves of speculation over whether North Korea had dispatched a hit squad to kill a man known for his drinking, gambling and complicated family life.

Malaysia official: N.Korea leader's brother slain at airport

Published on Tue, 02/14/2017 - 9:10am

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was assassinated at a Kuala Lumpur airport, telling medical workers before he died en route to a hospital that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, a senior Malaysian official said Tuesday.

UN Security Council meeting sought over NKorea missile test

Published on Mon, 02/13/2017 - 4:55pm

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — The United States, Japan and South Korea have requested urgent diplomatic talks at the United Nations on Monday over North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch, with Seoul condemning what it called "serious military and security threats" and predicting more such tests.

A spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Sunday night that the meeting is expected to take place Monday. The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.