AP

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday described as “irresponsible” accusations by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia is actively recruiting Chinese citizens to fight alongside its forces in the Ukraine war. Zelenskyy said Wednesday that over 150 such mercenaries are already active on the battlefield with Beijing’s knowledge. He spoke after the capture this week

The Associated Press The Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained men and their barbers over hairstyles and others for missing prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, a U.N. report said Thursday, six months after laws regulating people’s conduct came into effect. The Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws last August covering

By MAHMOUD ILLEAN and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Thursday released a Palestinian who took part in an attack when he was 13 and developed schizophrenia in prison as requests for early release were denied. Israel says Ahmad Manasra is a terrorist who tried to kill Jews his own age. Palestinians

By JON GAMBRELL and DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Russian-American woman freed by Moscow arrived back in the United States late Thursday as part of a prisoner swap completed as the two countries aim to repair ties. A plane carrying Ksenia Karelina landed around 11 p.m. EDT at Joint Base Andrews, where

By ANDREW WILKS Associated Press ISTANBUL (AP) — Two of Turkey’s leading journalists were detained Thursday on what their newspapers said were false charges stemming from their work. Writers Timur Soykan of BirGun and Cumhuriyet’s Murat Agirel were arrested at their homes on charges of making threats and blackmail in an investigation by the Istanbul

By LORNE COOK and DAVID McHUGH BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive commission said Thursday it will put trade retaliation measures on hold for 90 days to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, widely seen as the front-runner in a presidential by-election triggered by the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol last week, announced his presidential bid Thursday, vowing to heal a starkly divided nation through economic growth. Lee, who narrowly lost the

By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand lawmakers dealt an overwhelming defeat Thursday to a controversial proposed law seeking to redefine the country’s founding treaty between Māori tribes and the British Crown. The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi bill was rejected by Parliament in a 112 to 11 vote