German far-right party wins its first state election, is very close in a second

BERLIN — A far-right party won a state election for the first time in post-World War II Germany in the country's east on Sunday and looked set to finish a very close second to mainstream conservatives in a second vote

Poland marks 85 years since WWII outbreak 

Warsaw — Poland on Sunday marked 85 years since the outbreak of World War II during annual commemoration ceremony held at dawn to remember Nazi Germany's first attacks that triggered the deadly conflict

New Caledonia separatists name jailed party leader as chief 

Koumac, France — An alliance of parties seeking independence for New Caledonia has nominated as chief a prominent opposition leader currently jailed in France over a wave of deadly rioting in the French Pacific territory

Crew members on Mike Lynch yacht tell of moments it sank off Sicily

Rome — Crew members on Mike Lynch's yacht have spoken of the moments when a storm sank the vessel off Sicily and their efforts to help save passengers, after a disaster that killed the British tech tycoon and six other people

Russia and Ukraine exchange cross-border attacks

A Russian missile strike injures dozens in Ukraine

Family confirms death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin

JERUSALEM — The family of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin announced the young man's death early Sunday, ending a relentless campaign by his parents to rescue him that included meetings with world leaders and an address to the Democratic[..]

Netanyahu vows to ‘settle the score’ with Hamas after bodies of six hostages are found

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to intensify the fight with Hamas after the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages, all of whom were apparently shot to death by the militants just as troops were zeroi[..]

US transfers ‘some aircraft’ used by former Afghan army to Uzbekistan 

washington — The United States has handed over to the Uzbek government possession of aircraft that former Afghan air force personnel flew to Uzbekistan after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021

Pickleball picks away at American tennis

New York — Does American tennis have a pickleball problem? Even as the U

George Clooney, Brad Pitt disappointed their new film skips cinemas

Venice, Italy — Hollywood heavyweights George Clooney and Brad Pitt admit they are disappointed their latest comedy Wolfs is not getting a broad cinema release and instead heading almost straight onto Apple TV

Wall Street Week Ahead — US stock rally broadens as investors await Fed 

New York — A broadening rally in U

Living in limbo: The struggle of families in South Asia torn by state-enforced disappearances

Washington — They’ve been waiting for years, sometimes decades, desperate to learn the fate of their loved ones — victims of enforced disappearances in South Asia

As floodwaters in Bangladesh recede, fears of waterborne disease rise

DHAKA, bangladesh — Authorities in Bangladesh are bracing for the spread of waterborne diseases and racing to get drinking water to people after devastating floods last week left at least 54 people dead and millions stranded

Insurgents free four people from former stronghold of Pakistani Taliban

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — Insurgents freed four people Saturday, including an army officer who was abducted three days ago from a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, the military said

Pacific bloc scrubs Taiwan from document after China complaint

Nuku'alofa, Tonga — A joint declaration by Pacific leaders was reissued Saturday morning with mentions of Taiwan removed after China slammed an earlier version as a mistake that must be corrected