Oregon fire is the largest burning in the US. Thunderstorms and high winds are exacerbating it

Oregon fire is the largest burning in the US. Thunderstorms and high winds are exacerbating it

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Powerful winds and hundreds of lightning strikes from thunderstorms rattled eastern Oregon and Idaho Wednesday afternoon, cutting power and stoking fires, including one in Oregon that is already the largest active blaze in the nation. The Durkee Fire, burning near the Oregon-Idaho border about 130 miles (209 kilometers) west of Boise

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UN cultural agency decides against placing Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal, on endangered list

UN cultural agency decides against placing Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal, on endangered list

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The United Nations’ cultural agency decided Thursday against putting the Buddhist pilgrimage destination of Lumbini on its list of heritage sites in danger, instead giving authorities in Nepal more time to help restore the famous gardens and temple that are falling into disrepair. Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha according to

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Croatia declares 3 Montenegrin officials persona non grata over WWII camp genocide statement

Croatia declares 3 Montenegrin officials persona non grata over WWII camp genocide statement

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia on Thursday declared three senior Montenegrin government officials persona non grata after they led a declaration in Montenegro’s parliament stating that genocide was committed in a World War II concentration camp operated by a pro-Nazi Croatian regime at the time. Croatia’s Foreign Ministry informed neighboring Montenegro in a diplomatic note

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Head of Cambodia’s top opposition party hit with $1.5 million judgement for defaming government

Head of Cambodia’s top opposition party hit with $1.5 million judgement for defaming government

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian court on Thursday found the president of the country’s main opposition party guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay $1.5 million in damages to the government, his lawyer and legal observers said. Teav Vannol, president of the opposition Candlelight Party, was not present for the court’s ruling

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UN-backed independent experts urge Pakistan to end discrimination, violence against minority Ahmadis

UN-backed independent experts urge Pakistan to end discrimination, violence against minority Ahmadis

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A panel of U.N.-backed independent experts expressed grave concern on Thursday about increased discrimination and violence against the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan and urged authorities to ensure their protection. The experts, who work under a Human Rights Council mandate but do not speak for the United Nations, said in a

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