‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin, 76, dies at home in Detroit
Aretha Franklin, the preacher’s daughter whose powerful voice made her the long-reigning “Queen of Soul” with such hit songs as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools,” has died at the age…
Taliban withdraws protection from Red Cross in Afghanistan
KABUL – The Taliban says its withdrawing its security guarantee for the International Red Cross in Afghanistan after it said the organisation neglected prisoners holding a hunger strike in the Pul-e…
US and Mexico to announce joint plan to fight drug cartels
CHICAGO – The US Drug Enforcement Administration and Mexican authorities are planning to announce a new strategy to combat transnational Mexican drug cartels that will include a crackdown on their…
Cambodia’s ruling party won all seats in July vote: election commission
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won all 125 parliamentary seats in a national election in July, electoral authorities said as the opposition called the result illegitimate.…
Chile asks Vatican for info on sex abuse cases, steps up raids
SANTIAGO – The Chilean government has asked the Vatican to hand over documents related to accusations of sex abuse committed by clergy in Chile against minors, as local prosecutors step…
Malta lets rescue ship dock after EU states agree to take migrants
VALLETTA/MADRID – Malta says it will allow the Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius, which has been barred for four days from several coastal states, to dock after five European Union countries…
Harvey Weinstein must face British actress’s sex trafficking lawsuit
NEW YORK – Movie producer Harvey Weinstein must face a civil lawsuit by a British actress who has accused him of violating sex trafficking laws by inviting her to a…
China evacuates 200,000 as typhoon hits east coast
BEIJING – China has evacuated more than 200,000 people as a typhoon made landfall on its eastern coast late on Sunday, state media said. Typhoon Yagi hit Zhejiang province shortly…
North, South Korea to hold talks before possible Pyongyang summit
SEOUL – North and South Korean officials are scheduled to hold high-level negotiations today, with one South Korean newspaper report suggesting the two sides could be planning for a summit…
No one can ‘obliterate’ Taiwan’s existence, president says on departure for US
TAIPEI – Vowing that “no one can obliterate Taiwan’s existence,” President Tsai Ing-wen has left for the United States and two of Taipei’s remaining diplomatic allies, amid pressure from China…
