TAIPEI, Taiwan — Democracy is not a crime and autocracy is the real “evil,” Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Monday after China threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has made no secret of its dislike of Lai, who took … Read more

MOSCOW — Gunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church and a police post in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing six policemen and injuring 12, the region’s interior ministry was quoted as saying. The ministry, quoted by Russian news agencies, said two gunmen had been shot dead as the incidents … Read more

HOLMES CHAPEL, England — Customers come from around the world to Simon Wakefield’s bakery in this village in northern England — and not just to sample his quality sausage rolls. “We get lots and lots of fans,” he says, referring not only to W. Mandeville’s tasty product but also a notable ex-employee: Holmes Chapel’s most … Read more

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — The husband of a bride who was killed in a South Carolina beach road collision on her wedding night last year will receive nearly a million dollars in settlement connected to the crash, which a drunk driver allegedly caused. The Post and Courier reported that Aric Hutchinson will receive about $863,300 from Folly Beach … Read more

A 34-year-old man was found alive in a California wooded area after he was heard calling for help Thursday, nine days after he was last seen, officials said. Lukas McClish was last seen on the morning of June 11 in Boulder Creek — near Big Basin Redwoods State Park, about 14 miles north of Santa Cruz. … Read more

A gunman opened fire at an Arkansas grocery store on Friday, killing at least two and wounding several others, authorities said. The deadly incident unfolded at about 11:30 a.m. CDT at the Mad Butcher in Fordyce, which is about 70 miles south of the state capitol in Little Rock, police said. “Seven of the shooting victims … Read more

Is it a “breach of contract” if someone says they’ll take you to the airport and then doesn’t show? That’s what one woman in New Zealand claimed after her boyfriend failed to pick her up before her flight as planned. The couple, neither of whom are named, had been in a relationship for six and … Read more

The Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee is demanding the Biden administration declassify all relevant intelligence about the status of Russia’s nuclear anti-satellite program, saying it would allow for a full public debate on the threat posed by Moscow’s project. Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio said in a speech that the Biden administration has … Read more

The first named storm of the hurricane season strengthened slightly late Wednesday as it moved toward Mexico’s Gulf Coast, threatening rainfall of up to 20 inches there, as well as flooding and heavy rain in Texas, officials said. Tropical Storm Alberto formed over the western Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning, and its center is … Read more

LONDON — Two climate protesters were arrested Wednesday for spraying orange paint on the ancient Stonehenge monument in southern England, police said. The latest act by Just Stop Oil was quickly condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a “disgraceful act of vandalism.” Video of the incident showed two people running towards the 4,500-year-old stone circle and … Read more