In Belarus, the native language is vanishing as Russian takes prominence

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — When school started this year for Mikalay in Belarus, the 15-year-old discovered that his teachers and administrators no longer called him by that name. Instead, they referred to him as Nikolai, its Russian equivalent. What's more, classes at his school —...

All welcome: Advocates fight to ensure citizens not fluent in English have equal access to elections

LAS VEGAS (AP) — In the heart of Las Vegas’ Chinatown, on the second floor of a sprawling shopping plaza that serves as a hub for the city’s Asian community, residents gather for a celebration of the annual Dragon Boat Festival. Some stop in to grab shiny, red packages of...

Critics say a South African education bill on language in schools threatens new unity government

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An education bill that would give South Africa's government more control over white minority language schools is a threat to the country's new government of national unity, the second largest political party said Wednesday. The bill seeks to give the government...

Do you speak Gen-Alpha? Test your ‘skibidi’ knowledge with this vocab quiz

As American kids head back to school, they’re likely to return home with an alien language their own parents may find befuddling. From TikTok to the kitchen table, words like “rizzler” and “skibidi” are finding a foothold in the lexicon of today’s tweens. ...

A Māori king who urged racial unity in New Zealand is laid to rest and a new queen rises

NGĀRUAWĀHIA, New Zealand (AP) — They came in their thousands in the freezing dawn, parking cars far away and winding down rural roads on foot, children riding on their shoulders. They arrived in mourning black with crowns of ferns and kawakawa leaves, bone carvings or wedges of deep green...

Iran shuts down the last language institute recognized by the German Embassy

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian authorities on Tuesday closed down the last language institute certified by the German Embassy, local media said, in retaliation for the shuttering of Islamic centers in the European country. A report by Nournews.ir, believed to be close to Iran's...

'Banksy woz ere.' London Zoo is the latest to remove street artist's animal mural for protection

LONDON (AP) — The gorilla and other animals that appeared to have escaped from the London Zoo in Banksy 's most recent work have been taken into safekeeping. The zoo said it removed the elusive street artist's mural on its gate Friday evening to preserve it and return its entrance...

Ruling: Fetus can be referred to as 'unborn human being' in Arizona abortion measure voter pamphlet

PHOENIX (AP) — An informational pamphlet for Arizona voters, who will decide in the fall whether to guarantee a constitutional right to an abortion, can refer to an embryo or fetus as an “unborn human being,” the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday. The Arizona Supreme...

Polish diplomats seek release of students and a lecturer detained in Nigeria during protests

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish diplomats on Friday said they were making progress as they appealed for the release of seven citizens who were detained in Nigeria in what Warsaw believes was a misunderstanding that happened as protests were underway in the West African country. Six...

YouTube star and philanthropist MrBeast acknowledges use of 'inappropriate language' in his early online days