Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell

DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly...

Who was in ousted Syrian President Assad's inner circle and where are they now?

BEIRUT (AP) — After insurgents toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad this month, many senior officials and members of his dreaded intelligence and security services appear to have melted away. Activists say some of them have managed to flee the country while others went to hide in their...

A look at the political storm caused by South Korean president's martial law decree

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his martial law decree in fiery comments made ahead of a second impeachment attempt and growing investigations into whether his short-lived power grab amounted to a rebellion. Yoon’s statement came on the...

Niger junta suspends BBC accusing it of 'spreading false news' in coverage of attack

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Niger's ruling junta suspended the BBC for three months over the broadcaster's coverage of an extremist attack that allegedly killed dozens of Nigerien soldiers and civilians, authorities said Thursday. “BBC broadcasts false information aimed at...

Funeral for activist turns into call for justice for other missing Syrians

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Hundreds of Syrians marched through central Damascus on Thursday in the funeral procession of a well-known anti-government figure, chanting calls for justice for the activist who was killed in prison during the last days of President Bashar Assad’s rule. ...

South Korea's Yoon defends martial law as an act of governance and vows to 'fight to the end'

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his martial law decree as an act of governance and denied rebellion charges, vowing Thursday to “fight to the end” in response to attempts to impeach him and intensifying investigations into last week’s dramatic move. ...

What to know about martial law and the impeachment vote threatening South Korea's president

TOKYO (AP) — Is South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the verge of being forced out of office for declaring martial law nearly a week ago? The question, which has dogged Yoon through a series of moves by the opposition to end his presidency, will be highlighted Saturday, when...

America's closest ally in Syria is losing ground as a new order takes shape

The jihadi rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad say they want to build a unified, inclusive country. But after nearly 14 years of civil war, putting that ideal into practice will not be easy. For Syria’s Kurdish minority, America’s closest ally in the country, the...

Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Mali’s armed forces, supported by Russian mercenaries, committed abuses against civilians since the withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission late last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday. Malian armed forces and the Russia-backed...

South Korean president defends his marital law decree as an act of governance and denies rebellion charges