AP Decision Notes: What to expect in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time ever, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination officially kicks off this Saturday in South Carolina, the state that and put him on a footing to win his party’s nod and, eventually, the White House.
Unlike four years ago, President Biden now looks to South Carolina voters to cement his campaign as the overwhelming favorite, as opposed to rescuing it from near-oblivion.
At , the Democratic National Committee and slotted South Carolina as the first contest of the campaign
Italy ramps up protest with Hungary over ‘humiliating’ treatment of detained Italian antifascist
ROME (AP) — The Hungarian government Wednesday defended its treatment of an Italian antifascist activist being held in a Hungarian jail, after images of her chained and shackled at a Budapest court hearing sparked official protests by the Italian government.
Police arrested Ilaria Salis in the last year after she was suspected of involvement in assaults against participants in Hungary’s Day of Honor commemoration. The event takes place on Feb. 11 each year, with far-right activists marking the failed attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian soldiers to break
Norway prepares for biggest storm in 30 years
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — battened down Wednesday as authorities warned that the country could see its most powerful storm in three decades and urged people to stay indoors.
Hurricane-force winds were expected to hit the region, as air traffic companies and ferry lines predicted disruptions. Police warned that gusts of 126 to 180 kilometers per hour (78 to 112 miles per hour) were expected.
By midday Wednesday, there were scattered reports of ferry lines linking Norwegians islands suspending their services,
Auschwitz survivor decries rise of the far right and increased antisemitism in Germany
BERLIN (AP) — A Jewish survivor of the Auschwitz death camp told Germany’s parliament Wednesday that she is appalled by the rising strength of the far right in the country and increasing antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered .
Eva Szepesi, 91, who was born in Hungary and liberated from Auschwitz at age 12 in January 1945, spoke at the parliament’s annual for victims of the Holocaust. She shared her memories of Nazi persecution and addressed concerns about
EU aims to launch a Red Sea naval mission within 3 weeks to protect ships from rebel attacks
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen that are , the bloc’s top diplomat said Wednesday.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that he expects the bloc’s foreign ministers to sign off on the mission when they meet on Feb. 19. Officials say that seven EU countries are ready to provide ships or planes. Belgium has already committed to send a frigate. Germany
Vise tightening on Myanmar’s economy 3 years after military takeover triggered civil strife
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Myanmar was a rising star in Southeast Asia before its military seized power three years ago in a takeover that has brought civil strife and a tightening vise of international sanctions, and leaving the economy 10% smaller than it was in 2019.
Economists say the generals who toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, increasingly rely on illicit revenues from gem mining and logging to fund their battles against a broad popular resistance movement
Russian lawmakers approve bill to confiscate assets of people who ‘discredit’ the army
MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow money, valuables and other assets from people convicted of spreading “deliberately false information” about the country’s military.
After its swift passage in the State Duma, the bill is now expected to quickly sail through the upper house of parliament and receive Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signature.
Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the measure would strengthen the punishment for the “traitors who sling mud at our country and our
An expected drought emergency in northeast Spain would mean tighter water restrictions for Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona and its surrounding in northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region are preparing for tighter water restrictions amid that has shrunk reservoirs to record lows.
Catalan authorities are expected to declare a drought emergency Thursday for an area that is home to 6 million people after water reserves fell below 16% of their capacity, the benchmark set for the application of a new round of water-saving measures.
“Our reserves are below 16%. The situation is critical in Barcelona and around Girona,
Norway’s aging king, Harald V, is on sick leave because of a respiratory infection
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway’s aging king, Harald V, is on sick leave until Feb. 2 because of a respiratory infection, the Norwegian palace said in a brief statement Wednesday.
The 86-year-old monarch, who has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, has been hospitalized several times in recent months. In December, he was admitted to a hospital with an infection and was treated with intravenous antibiotics. He also was
Nobel Peace Prize nominations close with Ukraine and Gaza on agenda
STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — The doors close Wednesday on nominations for the 2024 , with peace activists connected to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine among the known entries.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee keeps the nominations secret, but those with nomination rights sometimes make their picks public.
Attempts to find an end the war in Gaza have been a theme for some of the announced nominations.
Academics at the Free University Amsterdam said they have nominated the Middle East-based organizations EcoPeace, Women Wage Peace and Women of