Sierra Leone loves rice and wants to free itself from imports. But how to do it?

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Rice borders on the sacred in Sierra Leone. Unless a meal includes rice, people say, you haven’t eaten at all. But as prices soar, consumers in the West African nation are giving up other food to buy it. That's a major reason why 83% of the...

Ford, facing economic headwinds and weak EV sales, to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says it will reduce its workforce by 4,000 in Europe and the U.K. by the end of 2027, citing headwinds from the economy and pressure from increased competition and weaker than expected sales of electric cars. Ford said Wednesday most of the...

Russia arrests a German national accused of planning to sabotage energy facilities

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's top domestic security agency on Wednesday reported arresting a German national it accused of planning to sabotage energy facilities on orders from a Ukrainian national. The Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, said in a statement carried by Russian...

Germany will stand up to Russian intimidation, says foreign minister

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister vowed on Tuesday that her country would not be intimidated by Russia’s new nuclear deterrent policy, saying the mistakes of the past would not be repeated. Annalena Baerbock told a news conference in Poland that Berlin will now...

Germany's defense minister says damage to 2 Baltic data cables appears to be sabotage

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's defense minister said Tuesday officials have to assume damage to two data cables under the Baltic Sea, one of which ends in Germany, was caused by sabotage — though he said they have no proof at present. Damage was detected Monday to the C-Lion1 cable that...

Scholz's party struggles to quell debate over whether he should seek a second term as German leader

BERLIN (AP) — While Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets world leaders in Brazil, a discussion is swirling in his party at home about whether he should seek a second term as German leader in an early election expected in February. Unlike their rivals, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats...

Germany and Finland investigate a severed data cable through the Baltic Sea

HELSINKI (AP) — German and Finland expressed deep concern over the discovery Monday of a severed undersea data cable between the countries through the Baltic Sea, saying it raised suspicions of sabotage and that an investigation was underway. The foreign ministries of the two...

British prime minister says he has no plans to talk with Putin as he reaffirms support for Ukraine

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that he has no plan to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pledged support for Ukraine as the U.K.’s top priority at this week’s G20 summit. Speaking with reporters on the way to the...

Germany's Scholz discusses Ukraine with Russia's Putin in first such call in 2 years

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin leader’s first publicly announced conversation with the sitting head of a major Western power in nearly two years. Scholz urged Putin to be open to negotiations with Ukraine, his office...

German news agency reports Chancellor Scholz had a one-hour call with Russian President Putin, first in two years