World

  FILE - A test tube labeled "mpox virus positive" is held in this illustration taken Aug. 20, 2024. LONDON — Britain has detected its first case of new mpox variant clade Ib, the country\'s health security agency (UKHSA) said Wednesday, adding that the risk to the population remained low. The clade Ib variant is a new form of the virus that was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighboring countries in Africa. The case, in a patient who had recently traveled to affected countries in Africa, was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to a specialist hospital, the UKHSA said. Close contacts of ...

  Bassirou Diomaye Faye gives his address as Senegal's President at an exhibition center in Diamniadio, near Dakar, Apr. 2, 2024. He is under pressure to make good on promises to crack down on corruption, improve livelihoods. Dakar — With fireworks displays, packed rallies, and town-to-town caravans, Senegalese political parties are wooing voters in a parliamentary race that will decide the extent to which the new president will be able to implement his agenda. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been under pressure to make good on promises to crack down on corruption and improve livelihoods that helped sweep him to power in April following a landslide election victory the previous month. Faye has accused lawmakers in the opposition...

  FILE - The U.S. Treasury Department is seen in Washington, Jan. 18, 2023. The Treasury and State departments imposed sanctions on nearly 400 entities and people on Oct. 30, 2024, as Washington seeks to curb Russia's evasion of sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. WASHINGTON — The United States on Wednesday imposed curbs on hundreds of targets in fresh action against Russia, taking aim at sanctions circumvention in a signal that the U.S. is committed to countering evasion. The action, taken by the U.S. Treasury and State departments, imposed sanctions on nearly 400 entities and people from over a dozen countries, according to statements from the Treasury and State departments. The action was the most concerted push ...

  Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service, is guarded by police in this undated photo. An Azerbaijani journalist with VOA’s sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Wednesday marked five months since he was detained in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, on charges his employer rejects. Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service, Radio Azadliq, was abducted in Baku by unidentified men on May 30 and has been in pretrial detention since June 1. “Today marks five months since RFE/RL journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada was unjustly detained in Azerbaijan. We are deeply concerned by his continued imprisonment on false charges,” RFE/RL P...

  FILE - An Iranian worker walks past the Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline Project in Gabd near Pakistani border in Iran, March 11, 2013. Islamabad — Pakistan has hired two U.S.-based law firms to represent it at the International Court of Arbitration as it fights Iran’s bid to force the neighbor country to uphold its end of a gas pipeline deal or pay a large penalty. Tehran and Islamabad signed a gas sales and purchase agreement (GSPA) in June 2009 for a cross-border pipeline that would supply as much as a billion cubic feet per day of gas to energy-starved Pakistan from Iran’s South Pars Field. However, Pakistan has not started construction of the pipeline on its territory, primarily to avoid invoking U.S. sanctions. Last month, Pa...

  Rescuers work at a site damaged in the aftermath of Israeli strike in Taraya, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, October 29, 2024. Israel’s military issued new evacuation warnings Wednesday for people in parts of eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, warning of military actions against Hezbollah targets in the area. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said people in Baalbek, Ain Bourday and Douris should leave their homes. Israeli forces have frequently followed such warnings with airstrikes as they carry out a campaign Israeli officials say is meant to push Hezbollah back from the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel has used the same methods in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, while U.N. officials and humanitarian organizations have critic...

  FILE - A TV screen shows file images of North Korean soldiers during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 18, 2024. China\'s response to Russia\'s growing influence over North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, likely combines "exasperation" and "panic" as Beijing appears to be losing control over its client state, according to former U.S. policy and intelligence officials. They noted that the explicit security partnership between China\'s two neighbors —Russia and North Korea — could undermine China\'s strategic position in East Asia and has long-term implications that are not beneficial for China. On Wednesday, Russia\'s Foreign Ministry announced that North Korean Foreign Minister Ch...

  In this photograph taken on July 22, 2024 Russian army deserter and dissident Alexander poses for photograph with his wife Irina during an interview with AFP at an undisclosed location. London — Thousands of Russians, including soldiers, have fled their country to seek asylum in the West since Moscow\'s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although only a fraction of asylum applications has been approved. However, in a landmark case, France has allowed several Russian army deserters to enter the country to seek refugee status. Anti-war activists hope it will prompt more Russian soldiers to flee. Alexander, who does not want to give his family name for fear of political retaliation, is among the six Russian men and four of their partners permitted ...

  A man phones with his mobile while entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Apr. 12, 2022. Beijing — Beijing said Wednesday it had lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the European Union\'s decision to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars. The extra taxes of up to 35% were announced Tuesday after an EU probe found Chinese state subsidies were undercutting European automakers, but the move has faced opposition from Germany and Hungary, which fear provoking Beijing\'s ire and setting off a bitter trade war. China slammed Brussels\'s decision on Wednesday morning, saying it did not "agree with or accept" the tariffs and had filed a complaint under the World Trade Orga...

  FILE - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walks out from the Federal Court during a court break, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, August 23, 2022. KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — A Malaysian court ruled on Wednesday jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak will have to defend himself against more abuse of power and money laundering charges in another trial over the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB. Najib faces four charges of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering for allegedly receiving $526 million from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Najib faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to five times the amount of funds involved in the offence. Najib, 71, was sentenced to 1...