Hong Kong democracy leaders given jail terms amid crackdown

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Friday sentenced five leading pro-democracy advocates, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, to up to 18 months in prison for organizing and participating in a massive march during 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from...

AP Interview: Beijing says US 'too negative' toward China

BEIJING (AP) — A top Chinese diplomat said Friday that U.S. policy toward China is “too negative" and that cooperation could be critically important as the Biden administration focuses on combatting COVID-19 and promoting economic recovery. The U.S. appears to be...

Japan, US showcase alliance, resolve in dealing with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga showcased the alliance between their two countries as well as their shared resolve in dealing with China as they met at the White House on Friday in Biden's first face-to-face talks with a foreign leader as...

Georgia tire plant plans $22M expansion to boost production

MACON, Ga. (AP) — A tire plant will spend $21.8 million to expand production in middle Georgia. Kumho Tire and Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller announced the expansion Thursday. The plant, which opened with a capacity of about 4 million tires a year,...

Sioux City mans pleads guilty to smuggling gun silencers

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty to smuggling gun silencers into the United States, federal prosecutors said. Lloyd Clark, 72, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of smuggling goods into the United States. He could be sentenced to 20 years...

Colorado Asian leaders demand apology from newspaper

DENVER (AP) — Leaders of Colorado’s Asian community have demanded an apology and are planning a boycott against The Villager newspaper in Greenwood Village for publishing a story on April Fools' Day that used extensive Asian stereotypes. The article, headlined...

Russia to expel 10 US diplomats in response to Biden actions

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Friday responded to a barrage of new U.S. sanctions by saying it would expel 10 U.S. diplomats and take other retaliatory moves in a tense showdown with Washington. The Russian Foreign Ministry also published a list of eight current or former...

China calls for closer cooperation on climate change

PARIS (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping called Friday for closer cooperation on combating global change as he held a video meeting with the leaders of Germany and France, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and...

US lifts Vietnam, Switzerland from currency manipulator list

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vietnam and Switzerland have been removed from the list of nations labeled by the U.S. as currency manipulators, reversing a decision made by the Trump administration in December. In its semi-annual report to Congress on currency manipulation, the...

Top Chinese diplomat calls US policy on China 'too negative,' says it highlights confrontation over cooperation