China criticizes US for ship’s passage through Taiwan Strait, weeks before new leader takes office | AP News

China criticizes US for ship’s passage through Taiwan Strait, weeks before new leader takes office | AP News

China’s military criticized a U.S. destroyer’s passage through the Taiwan Strait, which occurred less than two weeks before the island’s new president takes office and while Washington and Beijing are making uneven efforts to restore regular military exchanges. China’s military criticized a U.S. destroyer’s passage through the Taiwan Strait, which occurred less than two weeks

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Japan Fisheries Agency proposes allowing commercial catching of fin whales

Japan Fisheries Agency proposes allowing commercial catching of fin whales

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Fisheries Agency on Thursday proposed a plan to allow catching fin whales in addition to three smaller whale species currently permitted under the country’s commercial whaling around its coasts. The proposal comes five years after Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission

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Air Vanuatu cancels flights and considers bankruptcy protection

Air Vanuatu cancels flights and considers bankruptcy protection

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Air Vanuatu announced Thursday the airline had cancelled international flights for four days and was considering bankruptcy protection for the South Pacific state-owned carrier. It said international flights were cancelled until Sunday and flights after that day were “under review.” “The Vanuatu government is now considering placing Air Vanuatu into voluntary

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IS group claims bombing in Afghanistan that killed officers involved in an anti-poppy crop campaign

IS group claims bombing in Afghanistan that killed officers involved in an anti-poppy crop campaign

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a bombing in Afghanistan’s northeast that killed police officers who were part of an anti-poppy crop campaign. A motorcycle was booby-trapped and exploded, targeting a Taliban patrol in Faizabad town in Badakhshan province, killing and wounding 12 members of the patrol as well as destroying

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Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas war

Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas war

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Scores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final. Even Eurovision can’t escape the world’s divisions, however. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are also expected in the city for demonstrations

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Yoon rejects South Korean opposition’s calls for special investigation of his wife and top officials

Yoon rejects South Korean opposition’s calls for special investigation of his wife and top officials

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president on Thursday dismissed calls for independent investigations into allegations involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. After his conservative ruling party suffered a heavy loss in the recent April 10 parliamentary elections , President Yoon Suk Yeol faces what appears

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