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885 storiesWHO says risk low as US presses Russia for transparency on plague lab death
The U.S. State Department is monitoring reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly called on Moscow to be more transparent about the death of a 28-year-ol…
Former German BND chief August Hanning arrested on espionage suspicion
August Hanning, the former president of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND), was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and espionage, the federal prosecutor's office s…
Swedish air force plane flew radar reconnaissance over Black Sea, TASS reports
Russian state outlets reported that a Swedish Air Force aircraft carried out reconnaissance over the Black Sea, with TASS saying the flight was radar reconnaissance and that the plane took off from the Malmen military base. TASS later repor…
Russian anti-plague lab researcher dies; US and EU say they are monitoring
A 28-year-old female researcher at the Irkutsk anti-plague research institute in Shelekhov, Russia, died after being diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause, the state agency Rospotrebnadzor said. About 200 people who may have had contact…
California couple charged with child abuse in surrogacy case involving 21 children
Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested Tuesday at their Arcadia, California, home and charged with child abuse, conspiracy to commit child abuse, accessory after the fact and dissuading a witness, Los Angeles County District A…
Russia quarantines hospital as lab worker’s death puts nearly 200 under observation
A female employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East died last week of pneumonia of unknown cause, Russian authorities said, and a hospital in the town of Shelekhov was placed under quarantine. Officia…
Case opened in Russia’s Syzran over reported beating of children at camp
Russian authorities opened a criminal case after reports that children were beaten at a camp in Syzran, official outlets reported. Social media posts cited by TASS said a counselor beat two brothers with autism. A State Duma deputy from the…
Apple and LG co-develop smart home devices including doorbell, lock and thermostat
Bloomberg reports that Apple and LG have co-developed a line of smart home devices, including a video doorbell, thermostat, smart deadbolt lock, indoor and outdoor security cameras and a floodlight camera. The products are expected to carry…
Cornell protests grow; faculty push no-confidence vote over rape case handling
Students at Cornell University protested Monday and Tuesday over the school's handling of an alleged 2024 gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity, after activists vandalized the Day Hall administration building with red-painted messages and a s…
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agree to activate collective defence against Houthis
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia decided at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October to activate collective defence measures under a pact they signed in August, confirming they would deploy their forces inside Saudi territory. The three…
Seoul appeals court to rule in ex-President Yoon's free opinion poll case
A Seoul appeals court is due to deliver its verdict on Oct 7 in the political funds case against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, accused of receiving 58 free opinion polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun. The first trial sentenced Yoon…
Appeal rejected: 1 year 6 months for driver who dragged police officer 200m
A South Korean appeals court upheld a 1 year 6 month prison sentence for a 53-year-old driver who dragged a police officer on his car for more than 200m during a drunk-driving stop in Jeonju. The Gwangju High Court's Jeonju bench dismissed …
Cornell records show accuser said she “felt like bait”; New York AG to investigate
Records from Cornell University’s disciplinary investigation show a woman who says she was gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024 told investigators she “felt like bait,” according to excerpts reviewed by The Associated …
Couple in their 60s found dead in Naju house; police seek suspect
A couple in their 60s were found dead at a house in Naju, in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, according to police reports carried by several South Korean outlets on Oct 6. Local reports described the bodies as bound and said police believe the c…
WHO says Russia reported no plague case in Irkutsk as US tracks lab worker's death
The World Health Organization said Russian authorities reported no plague case had been recorded in the Irkutsk region, while the cause of a 28-year-old anti-plague laboratory worker's death remained unconfirmed. The US State Department sai…
Four former Sanko Seika executives indicted over 2022 fire that killed six
Niigata District Public Prosecutors Office indicted four former executives of rice-cracker maker Sanko Seika, including former CEO Motoyasu Sato (56), on charges of professional negligence resulting in death over a February 2022 fire at its…
Pianist Kyohei Sorita indicted over 144 km/h speeding; admits charge, verdict 29 Oct
Pianist Kyohei Sorita, 32, has been indicted on-home for driving at 144 km/h on the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo on 20 December last year, 84 km/h over the 60 km/h limit. At a first hearing at the Tokyo District Court on 6 October, prosecutors…
Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan to be executed by firing squad Dec. 3
The U.S. Army has set Dec. 3, 2026, for the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle said the execution will take place at Fort Hood,…
Supreme Court hears Boulder climate suit as justices question both sides
The Supreme Court heard nearly two hours of arguments Monday on whether the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, can sue Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy in state court to recover costs tied to climate change. Conservative justices questioned…
Tennessee Republicans weigh new execution methods after botched lethal injection
Some of Tennessee's top Republicans said they want to explore alternative ways of executing condemned prisoners after the failed execution of Christa Pike on Sept. 30, in which a large dose of pentobarbital did not kill her. Gov. Bill Lee h…