Category: World

TOKYO (AP): A Japanese princess who gave up her royal status to marry her commoner college sweetheart left for New York on Sunday, as the couple pursued happiness as newlyweds and left behind a nation that has criticized their romance. The departure of Mako Komuro, the former Princess Mako, and Kei Komuro, both 30, was… Continue reading Japan’s former princess leaves for US with commoner husband

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP): Satellite tracking data and other signals on Wednesday suggested a Vietnamese oil tanker earlier seized by Iran had been freed by the Islamic Republic, ending the latest maritime confrontation involving Tehran amid stalled negotiations over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. The Sothys left a position off Iran’s Bandar… Continue reading Satellite signals suggest Vietnam ship seized by Iran freed

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP): As COVID-19 ravaged Hungary in April, Budapest resident Akos Sipos received his second vaccine dose, believing he was doing the right thing for his own health and to help end the pandemic. But Sipos, 46, soon discovered that the vaccine he received, Russia’s Sputnik V, disqualified him from traveling to a number… Continue reading Foreign citizens seek US-approved shots as travel resumes

BAGHDAD (AP): Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination attempt with armed drones that targeted his residence early Sunday and officials said he was unharmed. The attack was a major escalation amid tensions sparked by the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept last month’s parliamentary election results. Two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press… Continue reading Iraqi prime minister survives assassination bid with drones

Kathmandu: Afghanistan has declared a ban on foreign currencies. According to international media sources, the Taliban leadership has outlawed the use of foreign money, claiming that it has a negative influence on Afghanistan’s economy.The Taliban government’s decree threatened “serious retribution” for anyone found using foreign cash in contravention of the rule. In a statement, the… Continue reading Afghanistan bans foreign currency

BBC: More than 20 people have been killed and at least 16 injured in an attack on a military hospital in the Afghan capital Kabul, an official at the Ministry of Public Health told the BBC. A Taliban spokesman confirmed there had been two explosions – the first in front of the 400-bed Sardar Daud… Continue reading More than 20 killed in attack on Kabul military hospital

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): World leaders promised to protect Earth’s forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday — part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming. Britain hailed the commitment by over 100 countries to end deforestation in the coming decade… Continue reading Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26

ROME (AP): Italy’s Premier Mario Draghi opened a conference of the world’s powerhouse economies with a sharp call to pick up the pace in getting vaccines to poor countries, calling the gaping global COVID-19 vaccine gap “morally unacceptable.” Draghi, the host for the two-day Group of 20 summit in Rome, said Saturday that only 3%… Continue reading G-20 opens with call for more vaccines for poor countries

CAIRO (AP): Sudan’s military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister. Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the country’s shaky progress toward democracy. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and… Continue reading Sudan’s military takes power in coup, arrests prime minister

(BBC): China has passed an education law aimed at reducing the pressures of excessive homework and intensive after-school tutoring, state media say. Parents are being asked to ensure their children have reasonable time for rest and exercise, and do not spend too much time online. In August China banned written exams for six and seven… Continue reading China seeks to lift homework pressures on schoolchildren