MADRID – Spanish police say a man armed with a box cutter held a toddler hostage at a daycare center for about five hours before releasing the child unharmed and surrendering. Civil guard spokeswoman Mercedes Martin says the unidentified man in his 50s tried to take more children and daycare …
Read More »
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s economy barely expanded in the first quarter as exports slumped and fewer mainland Chinese tourists visited. The Hong Kong government said Friday that the Asian financial center’s economy grew 0.4 percent in the January-March period compared with the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis. …
Read More »
CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has named a senior judge known for his deep hostility toward the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood as justice minister. Ahmed el-Zind, chairman of the Judges Club, a powerful association of members of the judiciary, was sworn in on Wednesday before el-Sissi. El-Zind was an outspoken …
Read More »
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – An official says Cambodia has accepted the first four people under the agreement it made with Australia nine months ago to take in asylum-seekers rejected for residency there. Prime Minister Hun Sen signed an endorsement letter Wednesday and the two countries are now discussing when the …
Read More »
BEIJING – China has announced it will cut import taxes on clothing, cosmetics and some other goods by half in a new tactic to spur consumer spending. The Finance Ministry said Monday the reductions, which take effect June 1, will be “conducive to a reasonable expansion of imports.” Beijing is …
Read More »
CHISINAU, Moldova – Moldovan police have found Molotov cocktails, detonators, mobile phones and masks at two locations in the capital Chisinau and suspect they were intended to be used against peaceful protesters. Interior Minister Oleg Balan said police found one cache in a disused building Wednesday. Later, they found another …
Read More »
LAGOS, Nigeria – A runaway oil tanker truck exploded in a crowded bus station in the south of the country, setting ablaze 12 buses carrying passengers and killing 69 people, Nigeria’s Red Cross and police said Monday. Red Cross chairman Peter Emeka Kathy said about 30 other victims have been …
Read More »
Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday defended his controversial amnesty deal for Catalonia’s separatists in parliament a day before the Socialist leader seeks the endorsement of the chamber to form a new government. Sánchez has the support of six smaller parties to ensure that he can reach the …
Read More »
Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev had a catastrophic meltdown during his straight-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in a group stage match of the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday. Rublev appeared to be upset for most of the match, but after he missed a shot to hand Alcaraz a break, …
Read More »
C.J. Stroud faced his fair share of criticism before the Houston Texans selected him with the second pick in April’s draft. But, Stroud has gotten off to an impressive start to his pro football career, which has silenced many of his doubters. Through nine games, Stroud leads the NFL in …
Read More »