BEIJING | China bars millions from travel for ‘social credit’ offenses
BEIJING (AP) — Forgot to pay a fine in China? Then forget about buying an airline ticket. Would-be air travelers were blocked from buying tickets 17.5 million times last year under a controversial “social credit” system the ruling Communist Party says will improve public behavior. Some 5.5 million people were barred from buying train tickets, … Continue reading BEIJING | China bars millions from travel for ‘social credit’ offenses
VATICAN CITY | Vatican summit on sex abuse focuses calls for accountability
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals attending Pope Francis‘ summit on preventing clergy sex abuse called Friday for a new culture of accountability in the Catholic Church to punish bishops and religious superiors when they fail to protect their flocks from predator priests. On the second day of Francis’ extraordinary gathering of Catholic leaders, the debate … Continue reading VATICAN CITY | Vatican summit on sex abuse focuses calls for accountability
MOSCOW | Russian opens money laundering probe involving Moldova
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian Interior Ministry says that it has launched a money laundering probe involving the influential leader of Moldova’s Democratic Party, just two days before parliamentary elections in the former Soviet republic. Moldovans go to the polls Sunday in an election that pits the president’s Socialists’ Party against the Democratic Party and … Continue reading MOSCOW | Russian opens money laundering probe involving Moldova
NAIROBI, Kenya | Kenya court postpones ruling on anti-gay laws to May 24
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan court Friday postponed a ruling on whether to decriminalize same sex relationships, disappointing many in the country’s LGBT community. The ruling will not be made until May 24 because some judges had been busy, Justice Chaacha Mwita of the High Court said. Several activists who went to the court … Continue reading NAIROBI, Kenya | Kenya court postpones ruling on anti-gay laws to May 24
WELLINGTON, New Zealand | China says coal handling delayed by environmental checks
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — China said Friday that reported delays in handling of coal shipments from Australia were due to stepped up inspections to protect the environment. “In recent years, China Customs has found that some of the imported coal didn’t meet our environmental protection standards when it carried out inspection and testing on … Continue reading WELLINGTON, New Zealand | China says coal handling delayed by environmental checks
FRANKFURT, Germany | BMW, Daimler launch car- and ride-sharing joint venture
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Automakers Daimler and BMW say that trustworthy handling of personal data will be a key competitive advantage in their new joint venture that offers customers app-based services like car-sharing. The two competitors for luxury car customers said Friday they are investing more than a billion euros (over $1.1 billion) in their … Continue reading FRANKFURT, Germany | BMW, Daimler launch car- and ride-sharing joint venture
LONDON | Ireland publishes no-deal Brexit bill it hopes it won’t need
LONDON (AP) — The Irish government has published legislation designed to ease the damage if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal — but says it hopes the law will never be needed. The government plans to fast-track the bill through Ireland’s parliament before the U.K.’s scheduled departure on March 29. As a major … Continue reading LONDON | Ireland publishes no-deal Brexit bill it hopes it won’t need
YOLA, Nigeria | In Nigeria, Boko Haram violence disenfranchises many voters
YOLA, Nigeria (AP) — Mariam Musa gestured with her hand toward her mouth, twisting her face as she told of her main problem: not enough to eat or drink. In the makeshift camp Nigerians who have fled Boko Haram violence, the 32-year-old widow says that the upcoming presidential vote isn’t a topic of conversation. That’s … Continue reading YOLA, Nigeria | In Nigeria, Boko Haram violence disenfranchises many voters