World

Syria denies US allegations of mass killings, crematorium

Published on Tue, 05/16/2017 - 3:01pm

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria on Tuesday rejected U.S. accusations it carried out mass killings at a prison near Damascus and then burned the victims' bodies in a crematorium, describing the allegations as "lies" and "fabrications."

The allegations are a "new Hollywood plot" to justify U.S. intervention in Syria, Syria's Foreign Ministry said, noting what it called a U.S. track record of using false claims as a pretext for military aggression.

Central African Republic violence 'highly worrying,' UN says

Published on Tue, 05/16/2017 - 2:48pm

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — A series of attacks in remote areas of Central African Republic have forced more than 15,000 people to flee their homes over the past week while at least 130 are feared dead, authorities said Tuesday.

Among the victims are six U.N. peacekeepers, marking the deadliest month for the mission since it began in 2014.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights warned that the violence in areas previously spared major sectarian bloodshed was "highly worrying."

AP Explains: North Korea missile test is huge step forward

Published on Mon, 05/15/2017 - 8:11pm

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's latest ballistic missile test may be nearly as big a deal as the country's propaganda machine claims.

Although outside experts see several places where North Korea is likely stretching the truth, the missile launched Sunday appears to be the most powerful the country has ever tested. Some analysts believe the missile, if proven in further tests, could reach Alaska and Hawaii if fired on a normal, instead of a lofted, trajectory.

Global extortion cyberattack hits dozens of nations

Published on Fri, 05/12/2017 - 2:49pm
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LONDON (AP) — A huge extortion cyberattack hit dozens of nations Friday, holding computer data for ransom at hospitals, telecommunications firms and other companies. The attack appeared to exploit a vulnerability purportedly identified for use by the U.S. National Security Agency and later leaked to the internet.

Pope cheered in Fatima to honor children who urged peace

Published on Fri, 05/12/2017 - 2:32pm

FATIMA, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis urged Catholics on Friday to "tear down all walls" and spread peace as he traveled to this Portuguese shrine town to mark the 100th anniversary of one of the most unique events of the 20th-century Catholic Church: the visions of the Virgin Mary reported by three illiterate shepherd children and the "secrets" she told them.

Nearly $1 million verdict in sexual assault of girl in Laos

Published on Fri, 05/12/2017 - 2:31pm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal jury has awarded a woman nearly $1 million in a case against a former Minnesota man who she says traveled to her native Laos and sexually assaulted her when she was 14 years old.

Civil cases involving allegations of child sex tourism are rare, and the jury's verdict holds the man accountable for violating child sex tourism and child sex trafficking laws. The Associated Press is not naming the man because he was never criminally charged.

Report paints harrowing picture of Central America migration

Published on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 4:09pm
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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Migrants from Central America's violence-plagued Northern Triangle region endure harrowing abuses while trying to make their way through Mexico toward the United States, a report from an international medical group said Thursday.

Doctors Without Borders, or MSF for its initials in French, called the situation a "humanitarian crisis" that demands the U.S. and Mexican governments do more to process applications for asylum and humanitarian visas.

Not just a new president, new faces for France's parliament

Published on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 3:37pm

PARIS (AP) — A female fighter pilot, a farmer, a teacher, people out of work. They all applied for the job — and got it, among more than 19,000 people hoping to become candidates in June elections for the French parliament under the banner of President-elect Emmanuel Macron.

Renewing a political landscape long bogged down with out-of-touch parties and long-serving politicians was a central campaign promise and the eclectic mix of candidates speaks to Macron's desire to pull the plug on a system he deems broken.

Pentagon tries to ease Turkey's concerns with arming Kurds

Published on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 3:31pm

LONDON (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made clear Thursday that America is committed to protecting Turkey after angering its NATO ally with a deal to arm anti-Islamic State fighters in Syria that Turkey considers terrorists.

Mattis stressed the enduring nature of the U.S.-Turkey relationship in a meeting with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, the first face-to-face contact between officials from the two countries since the U.S. announcement about military support for the Syrian Kurds.

Attorney: At least 65 Venezuelan military members detained

Published on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 3:29pm

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan attorney says at least 65 members of the country's military have been detained, including officers and the captain of an important border region unit.

Alonso Medina, with the lawyers' cooperative Foro Penal, said Thursday that some of the officers have been charged with betraying the motherland and instigating rebellion while others are still awaiting a court hearing.