World

Dutch leader apologizes for Netherlands’ role in slave trade

Mike Corder, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized Monday on behalf of his government for the Netherlands’ historical role in slavery and the slave trade, despite calls for him to delay the long-awaited statement.

“Today I apologize,” Rutte said in a 20-minute speech that was greeted with silence by an invited audience at the National Archive.

Rutte went ahead with the apology even though some activist groups in the Netherlands and its former colonies had urged him to wait until July 1 of next year, the anniversary of the abolition of slavery 160 years ago. Activists consider next year the 150th anniversary because many enslaved people were forced to continue working in plantations for a decade after abolition.

“Why the rush?” Barryl Biekman, chair of the Netherlands-based National Platform for Slavery Past, asked before the prime minister's address. Some of the groups went to court last week in a failed attempt to block the speech.

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Greece: Bail set for policeman who shot Roma teenager

The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A Greek court has decided that a police officer accused of fatally injuring a Roma teenager during a car chase over an allegedly unpaid gas station bill should be released on bail pending trial.

The Dec. 5 shooting of 16-year-old Kostas Frangoulis, a father of one, triggered days of protests which often turned violent, despite calls for restraint by the teenager’s family and Roma community leaders. Frangloulis died last week, after spending several days in critical condition in hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.

A panel of judges issued the decision Monday, ordering the 34-year-old officer to be released pending trial. The only bail condition set was that the officer is banned from leaving the country.

Police have said the teenager tried to ram the police motorbikes chasing him after he allegedly drove off from a gas station without paying a 20 euro ($21) bill. The officer accused of shooting him has said he fired because he feared his colleagues’ lives were in danger.

Germany’s Merkel offers her thoughts on Wagner’s Ring cycle

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Germany’s Merkel offers her thoughts on Wagner’s Ring cycle

The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera fan, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner's Ring cycle — the latest in a series of sporadic and sometimes idiosyncratic appearances since she left office a year ago.

Merkel joined a former federal court judge, Thomas Fischer, to reflect on “greed," “revenge” and “vanity” in Wagner's epic and lengthy creation in a three-part special edition of a crime-themed audio podcast for public broadcaster SWR that went online Sunday.

The 68-year-old center-right politician, who led Germany for 16 years, said that the cycle “is so universally applicable to humanity that you keep finding things, from family life to political life, that keep happening among us humans.”

She said that “when you meet real people, there are situations where you remember — I won't name any names, but certain themes occur to you.”

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

FILE - Angela Merkel, former German Chancellor, and husband Joachim Sauer arrive for the opening of the Bayreuth Richard Wagner Festival at the Festspielhaus on the Gruener Huegel in Bayreuth, Germany, July 25, 2022. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime opera buff, is offering her thoughts on Richard Wagner's Ring cycle in a new podcast, the latest in a series of sporadic appearances since she left office a year ago. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP, File)

Court: UK plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda is legal

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Court: UK plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda is legal

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

LONDON (AP) — Britain's plan to send asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda is legal, two High Court judges ruled Monday in a victory for the government's controversial policy.

But the judges also said the government failed to consider the individual circumstances of the people it has tried to deport, signaling further legal battles ahead before anyone is put on a plane to East Africa.

A court hearing in the case is set for next month, and appeals are likely.

Eight asylum-seekers, aid groups and a border officials’ union filed lawsuits to stop the Conservative government acting on a deportation agreement with Rwanda that aims to deter migrants from trying to reach the U.K. by crossing the English Channel.

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

Stand Up To Racism campaigners hold banners outside the High Court in London, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Judges at Britain’s High Court say the U.K. government’s controversial plan to send asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda is legal. But two judges also ruled that the government failed to consider the circumstances of the individuals it tried to deport. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

South African president reelected leader of ruling ANC party

Mogomotsi Magome, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

South African president reelected leader of ruling ANC party

Mogomotsi Magome, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected as the leader of the ruling African National Congress party.

Ramaphosa beat his rival, former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize by 2,476 votes to 1,897 votes from a total of 4,386 votes cast by party delegates from across the country.

Ramaphosa's supporters burst into celebrations as results were announced Monday at the ANC's crucial leadership conference in Johannesburg.

This comes as a welcome victory for Ramaphosa, who has been mired in a scandal and facing calls to step down as president of the country and to be replaced as the leader of the ANC.

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

African National Congress (ANC) delegates celebrate during the voting process at the 55th National Conference Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo)

Shootout in southern Jordan kills 3 officers, suspect

The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Three police officers were killed in a restive area of southern Jordan on Monday while trying to arrest suspects in last week’s slaying of a police commander. The main suspect was also killed in the gunbattle, authorities said.

The shootout took place near the town of Maan, where Abdul Razzaq Abdel Hafez Al Dalabeh, a local deputy police director, was killed last week. The region is an impoverished and marginalized area of the country with high unemployment. In the past, there were expressions of support for the militant Islamic State group in the area.

Jordanian police said nine suspects were arrested, allegedly members of what they called a terrorist cell with “takfiri ideology,” a term used to describe Islamic extremists.

The Public Security Directorate said officers surrounded the location of the suspects in the killing of the commander. One suspect “fired heavy bullets from an automatic weapon,” and the officers returned fire, the statement also said. It added that officers seized “automatic firearms and a large amount of ammunition.”

Nighttime drone attack hits Kyiv as Putin heads to Belarus

Hanna Arhirova And Vasilisa Stepanenko, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Nighttime drone attack hits Kyiv as Putin heads to Belarus

Hanna Arhirova And Vasilisa Stepanenko, The Associated Press 6 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Multiple explosive drones attacked Ukraine's capital before dawn Monday, local authorities reported, as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepared to visit ally Belarus, which provided the Kremlin's forces with a launch pad for Russia's invasion of Ukraine almost 10 months ago.

The drone attack came three days after what Ukrainian officials described as one of Russia's biggest assaults on Kyiv since the war started and as Moscow presses on with its effort to torment Ukraine from the air amid a broad battlefield stalemate.

Russia launched 23 self-exploding drones over Kyiv while the city slept, but Ukrainian forces shot down 18 of them, the Kyiv city administration said on Telegram. No major casualties were reported from the attack, although the Ukrainian president’s office said the war killed at least three civilians and wounded 11 elsewhere in the country between Sunday and Monday.

The drone barrage caused emergency power outages in 11 central and eastern regions of the country, including the capital region, authorities said.

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

A bartender prepares a drink using a headlamp at a restaurant illuminated by candle lights during a power outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Thai navy searching for 31 sailors in water after ship sank

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Thai navy searching for 31 sailors in water after ship sank

The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai navy ships and helicopters were searching on Monday for more than two dozen sailors still missing more than 12 hours after a warship sank in rough seas overnight in the Gulf of Thailand.

As of noon, 75 sailors from the HTMS Sukhothai corvette had been rescued and 31 were still in the water, the navy said. The high waves that caused the accident had lessened since Sunday night's sinking, but were still high enough to endanger small boats, the navy announced.

A rescued crew member interviewed by Thai PBS television said he had to float in the sea for three hours before he was rescued. He said that the ship was buffeted by waves 3 meters (10 feet) high as it was sinking Sunday night, complicating rescue efforts.

“The waves are still high and we cannot search for them from the horizontal line. We have to fly the helicopters and search for them from a bird’s eye view instead,” navy spokesman Adm. Pokkrong Monthatphalin told Thai PBS.

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

In this photo provided by the Royal Thai Navy, the HTMS Sukhothai corvette leans on its side off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. The Thai navy ship sunk in the Gulf of Thailand and ships and helicopters were working Monday to rescue sailors from the water. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)

11 people seriously injured amid turbulence on Hawaii flight

Audrey Mcavoy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

11 people seriously injured amid turbulence on Hawaii flight

Audrey Mcavoy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

HONOLULU (AP) — Severe turbulence rocked a flight from Phoenix to Honolulu Sunday, seriously injuring 11 people in what an Hawaiian Airlines official called an isolated and unusual event.

Jon Snook, the airline's chief operating officer, said the airline hasn't experienced “an incident of this nature in recent history.” The flight was full, carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew members, he said during an afternoon news conference.

Jim Ireland, director of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, said 20 people were taken to hospitals, including 11 people deemed to be in serious condition.

At least one person was reported to have been rendered unconscious but all patients were awake and talking when they arrived at hospitals, he said.

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Monday, Dec. 19, 2022

This photo shows the exterior of The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu where some patients injured by air turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu were taken, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press 7 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi, wearing a black Qatari robe over his blue-and-white Argentina shirt, kissed the World Cup, shuffled toward his teammates and hoisted the golden trophy high in the air.

It was an iconic sight that finally — definitively — places the soccer superstar in the pantheon of the game’s greatest players.

Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete: He is a World Cup champion.

In probably the wildest final in the tournament's 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.

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Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

France's Kylian Mbappe, right, watches Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

‘Avatar 2’ makes waves with $134 million domestic debut

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Avatar 2’ makes waves with $134 million domestic debut

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

“ Avatar: The Way of Water ” didn’t make quite as big of a splash as many assumed it would, but James Cameron’s big budget spectacle still helped breathe life into the box office this weekend. The sequel earned $134 million from North American theaters and $300.5 million internationally for a $434.5 million global debut, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

It tied with “The Batman” as the fourth highest domestic debut of the year, behind “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” ( $187.4 million in May ), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” ( $181 million in November ) and “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144.2 million in July).

Expectations were enormous for “Avatar 2,” which carried a reported price tag of over $350 million, the pressure of following up the highest grossing film of all time (thanks in part to various re-releases) over a decade later and the daunting task of propping up an exhibition business that’s still far from normal. Everything “Avatar” is oversized, though: the Na’vi characters, the runtime (a staggering three hours and 12 minutes), the technical advancements and the release strategy from 20th Century Studios and The Walt Disney Co.

Going into the weekend many were expecting a domestic debut of at least $150 million. Some even said $175 or higher, but tracking has also not been as reliable a metric during the pandemic.

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Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Zoe Saldana arrives at the U.S. premiere of "Avatar: The Way of Water," Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Cecily Strong leaves Saturday Night Live after 11 seasons

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Cecily Strong leaves Saturday Night Live after 11 seasons

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to “Saturday Night Live."

A few hours before the last episode of the season Saturday, the TV show’s Instagram account posted a cue card saying, “we’ll miss you, Cecily.” The caption read “Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it.”

A two-time Emmy nominee for her work on the show, Strong was known for characters like the Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party and impressions of people like Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green.

During Saturday’s show, she broke character as Michael Che’s drug-addicted neighbor Cathy Anne on Weekend Update to give a personal statement.

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Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022

Cecily Strong arrives at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2021, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to Saturday Night Live. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

N Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles in resumption of testing

Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

N Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles in resumption of testing

Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired a pair of ballistic missiles on Sunday toward its eastern waters, its first weapons test in a month and coming two days after it claimed to have performed a key test needed to build a more mobile, powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the U.S. mainland.

South Korea’s military detected the launch of two North Korean ballistic missiles from its northwest Tongchangri area. The missiles flew across the country toward its eastern waters, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

It said the missiles were fired about 50 minutes apart but gave no further details, like precisely what type of weapons North Korea fired and how far they flew. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korea’s military has bolstered its surveillance posture and maintains a readiness in close coordination with the United States.

Japanese officials also said they spotted the two missile launches from North Korea. Its coast guard said the missiles fired from North Korea fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japanese coast guard officials said both missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives a lecture at the Central Cadres Training School in North Korea on Oct. 17, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

Oppenheimer wrongly stripped of security clearance, US says

Associated Press, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Oppenheimer wrongly stripped of security clearance, US says

Associated Press, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has reversed a decades-old decision to revoke the security clearance of Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist called the father of the atomic bomb for his leading role in World War II’s Manhattan Project.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the 1954 decision by the Atomic Energy Commission was made using a “flawed process" that violated the commission’s own regulations.

“As time has passed, more evidence has come to light of the bias and unfairness of the process that Dr. Oppenheimer was subjected to while the evidence of his loyalty and love of country have only been further affirmed," Granholm said in a statement on Friday.

Oppenheimer, who died in 1967, led the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The theoretical physicist was later accused of having communist sympathies and his security clearance was revoked following a four-week, closed-door hearing.

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in a scene from the film "Oppenheimer," written and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Universal Pictures via AP)

Iran authorities arrest actress of Oscar-winning movie

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Iran authorities arrest actress of Oscar-winning movie

The Associated Press 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

CAIRO (AP) — Iranian authorities arrested one of the country’s most renowned actresses Saturday on charges of spreading falsehoods about nationwide protests that grip the country, state media said.

The report by IRNA said Taraneh Alidoosti, star of the Oscar-winning movie “The Salesman,” was detained a week after she made a post on Instagram expressing solidarity with the first man recently executed for crimes allegedly committed during the protests.

The announcement is the latest in a series of celebrity arrests, that have included footballers, actors and influencers, in response to their open display of support for anti-government demonstrations now in their third month

According to the report published on the state media’s official Telegram channel, Alidoosti was arrested because she did not provide ’’any documents in line with her claims.″

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Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

FILE - Taraneh Alidoosti poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Leila's Brothers' at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Iranian authorities arrested Alidoosti, one of the country’s most famous actresses on charges of spreading falsehoods about nationwide protests that grip the country, state media said Saturday, Dec. 17. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)

Woman injured in London concert crowd crush dies in hospital

The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

LONDON (AP) — A woman injured in a crush outside a London concert venue has died, police said Saturday.

London resident Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, was one of eight people hospitalized after being caught in mayhem outside the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday night, where Nigerian singer Asake was due to perform.

The Metropolitan Police force said she died on Saturday morning. Two other women, aged 21 and 23, remain in critical condition.

Asake said he was “overwhelmed with grief" at Ikumelo's death.

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