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FILE - This undated file photo released on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, by Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA) shows a Chinese Cost Guard ship sails in North Natuna Sea. Earlier this month, an Indonesian patrol ship confronted a Chinese coast guard vessel that spent almost three days in waters where Indonesia claims economic rights and are near the southernmost part of China’s disputed South China Sea claims. (Indonesian Maritime Security Agency via AP, File)

China law empowers coast guard to use force amid disputes

Jan. 23, 2021 2:23 AM EST

BEIJING (AP) — China has authorized its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels and destroy structures on features it claims, potentially raising the possibility of clashes with regional maritime rivals. The Coast Guard Law passed on Friday empowers the force to “take all necessary measures,...

A demonstrator holds up a sign as Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther speaks during a press conference following a fatal police shooting on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 at City Hall in Columbus, Ohio. A police officer who shot and killed a Black man holding a cell phone in Ohio's capital city early Tuesday did not activate his body camera beforehand, and dash cameras on the officers' cruiser were also not activated, city officials said. (Joshua A. Bickel/The Columbus Dispatch via AP)

Columbus, Ohio, to spend $4.5M to improve police bodycams

Jan. 22, 2021 12:22 PM EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Officials in Ohio's largest city said Thursday that they plan to invest $4.5 million in body-worn cameras for police and introduce a law that would ensure officers use the cameras correctly after the fatal shooting of Andre Hill last month by a white officer. “While many of us...

Indian Farmers listen to their leader as they continue to block highway leading to Delhi in protest against new farm laws, at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, India, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Talks between protesting farmers’ leaders and the government ended abruptly in a stalemate on Friday with the agriculture minister saying he has nothing more to offer than suspending contentious agricultural laws for 18 months. The farmers’ organizations in a statement on Thursday said they can’t accept anything except the repeal of the three new laws. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Talks between Indian farmers, government reach stalemate

Jan. 22, 2021 8:29 AM EST

NEW DELHI (AP) — Talks between leaders of protesting farmers and the Indian government ended abruptly in a stalemate Friday when the agriculture minister said he had nothing more to offer than an 18-month suspension of contentious agricultural reform laws. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar asked...

South Carolina Sen. Mia McLeod, D-Columbia, walks to her seat as the South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs meets on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in Columbia, S.C. The committee approved a stricter ban on abortions. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

SC abortion limits bill with no rape exception nears debate

Jan. 21, 2021 5:16 PM EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's state senators, emboldened by their newly expanded GOP majority, are nearing floor debate on a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state without exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Bills seeking stricter abortion limits have been debated...

A farmer speaks on his mobile as he walks past tents put up in the middle of a major highway which is blocked in a protest against new farm laws at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border, India, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Farmers have been blockading highways connecting New Delhi to northern India for nearly seven weeks against new farm laws, obstructing transportation and dealing a blow to manufacturing and businesses in the north. Farmers fear the government will stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and that corporations will then push prices down under the new laws. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Farmers reject Indian government's offer to suspend new laws

Jan. 21, 2021 10:44 AM EST

NEW DELHI (AP) — Farmer leaders on Thursday rejected an offer from the Indian government to suspend contentious agricultural reform laws for 18 months and set up a committee to look into their concerns about the legislation that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years. Tens and...

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a Parliament debate in Athens, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Lawmakers in Greece are set to approve legislation to extend the country's territorial waters along its western coastline from six to 12 nautical miles. (Giorgos Zachos/InTime News via AP)

After vote, Greece to double reach of western coastal waters

Jan. 20, 2021 3:14 PM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Lawmakers in Greece Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation to extend the country's territorial waters along its western coastline from six to 12 nautical miles. In the 284-0 vote, representatives of four opposition parties backed the center-right government, while members of...

FILE - This June 29, 2010 file photo shows the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation in Burkeville, Va. Virginia lawmakers are being asked to consider repealing a 22-year-old law that allows the state to commit certain sex offenders to the psychiatric facility after they complete their prison sentences. Critics say civil commitment laws are fundamentally unfair and violate the constitutional prohibition against punishing someone twice for the same crime. (AP Photo/Dena Potter, File)

Virginia bill would end civil commitment of sex offenders

Jan. 19, 2021 11:37 AM EST

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two Virginia Democratic lawmakers are spearheading a push to repeal a decades-old law that allows the state to hold certain sex offenders at psychiatric facilities indefinitely after their criminal sentences if they are deemed “sexually violent predators.” Critics say...

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media after Friday prayers, in Istanbul, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. Turkey’s president has criticized the United States for kicking his country out of the F-35 fighter jet program after Ankara purchased a Russian missile defense system. Speaking after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey paid “very serious money” for the F-35 stealth jets and that America had committed “a very serious mistake” with its NATO ally. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)

Turkey slaps advertising ban on Twitter, Pinterest

Jan. 19, 2021 8:42 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Tuesday slapped advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest over their non-compliance with a controversial new law that requires social media platforms to appoint legal representatives in the country. The law — which human rights and media freedom groups say...

FILE - In this May 26, 2018 file photo, the Spanish word for

Nicaragua congress adopts life sentences; opposition opposes

Jan. 18, 2021 8:37 PM EST

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Nicaragua’s congress gave final approval Monday to change the constitution to permit life imprisonment. Congress is dominated by President Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista party, and opposition legislators voted against the measure or abstained. Opponents say life...

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2020, file photo, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Sen. Wiener has introduced legislation that would ban certain medically unnecessary surgeries on children born with ambiguous or conflicting genitalia. The first-of-its-kind legislation would not allow these types of surgeries until the child is at least 6-years-old. A similar bill failed to pass last year after facing opposition from the California Medical Association. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California bill would ban intersex surgery for young kids

Jan. 15, 2021 5:58 PM EST

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California lawmaker is trying again to ban some medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children until they are at least 6-years-old, hoping a narrower focus combined with new legislative leadership will be enough to get the first-of-its-kind legislation signed into law....

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