Entertainment

Woman testifies she woke to find actor Masterson raping her

LOS ANGELES — In hours of often tearful testimony, a woman told a judge Tuesday that she was going in and out of consciousness on a night 18 years ago when she said she found actor Danny Masterson raping her.

Lifestyle

Celebrity stylist gives free haircuts to isolated clients

NEW YORK — Roberto Novo has styled the hair of a constellation of stars, from singer Britney Spears to supermodel Naomi Campbell. But during the pandemic, he’s turned his talents to the heads of lesser known, older New Yorkers — and he’s done it for free.

Asia Pacific

Indonesians protest at US Embassy over Israeli airstrikes

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Pro-Palestinian protesters marched to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in Indonesia’s capital on Tuesday to demand an end to Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Europe

Hong Kong’s new bishop wants differing views respected

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s incoming Roman Catholic bishop Stephen Chow called for respect for different views as he prepares to lead a diocese that has been polarized by the city’s deteriorating political situation.

Politics

Supreme Court throws abortion fight into center of midterms

WASHINGTON — In agreeing to hear a potentially groundbreaking abortion case, the Supreme Court has energized activists on both sides of the long-running debate who are now girding to make abortion access a major issue in next year’s midterm elections.

Middle East

The Latest: Biden expresses ‘support’ for Gaza cease-fire

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Joe Biden has expressed “support” for a cease-fire during a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Europe

Around 3,000 Moroccan migrants cross into Spanish territory

MADRID — Around 3,000 Moroccans, a third of whom were presumed to be minors according to Spanish authorities, swam and used inflatable boats Monday to cross into Ceuta, the largest number of migrant arrivals in a single day into Spain's enclave in northern Africa.

Asia Pacific

Election watchdog says no credible proof of Myanmar fraud

BANGKOK — Last November’s election results in Myanmar were “by and large, representative of the will of the people,” an independent election monitoring organization said Monday, rejecting the military’s allegations of massive fraud that served as its reason for seizing power.

Middle East

Israeli paramedics: 2 dead in synagogue bleacher collapse

JERUSALEM — Israeli medics said at least two people were killed and more than 150 injured after a bleacher collapsed at an uncompleted West Bank synagogue on Sunday, the eve of a major Jewish holiday.

Israel

The Latest: China calls for UN council action, slams US

The Latest on the continuing violence between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers amid the latest escalation in the Middle East:

Europe

US climate envoy Kerry meets with pope on climate crisis

VATICAN CITY — John Kerry, President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, met privately with Pope Francis on Saturday, afterward calling the pope a “compelling moral authority on the subject of the climate crisis” who has been “ahead of the curve.”

Asia Pacific

Nepal scales back Hindu chariot festival amid virus surge

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A drastically truncated version of a Hindu chariot festival took place Saturday in Nepal's capital amid strict COVID-19 restrictions, following an agreement by organizers and authorities that prevented a repeat of violent confrontations between police and protesters last year.

Politics

Virginia GOP nominee’s independence from Trump up for debate

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — If Glenn Youngkin was looking to pivot back to the political center after winning the GOP's nomination for governor in Virginia, Donald Trump made it a little tougher by giving the nominee a big bearhug of an endorsement.

Middle East

Iran’s hard-line judiciary chief registers presidential run

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The hard-line cleric in charge of Iran's judiciary who also took part in a panel involved in the mass execution of thousands of prisoners in 1988 registered Saturday to run against for the country's presidency.

Europe

The Latest: New Mexico adopts CDC guidance on facemasks

SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico has adopted guidance on facemasks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors or outside in most cases.

World News

The Latest: Israeli airstrike on Gaza house kills at least 7

JERUSALEM — The Latest on the stepped-up fighting between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers (all times local):

Europe

N Ireland’s main unionist party picks traditionalist leader

LONDON — Northern Ireland’s largest British unionist party chose a religious conservative from the party's traditionalist wing as its new leader on Friday.

Business

Ramadan drives donations, memberships to giving circles

Sahina Islam can still recall the day when she heard an elderly Pakistani couple got kicked out of their New York City home by their son-in-law and were sitting near John F. Kennedy International Airport, stranded and with nowhere to go.

Dalai Lama

Penpa Tsering elected president of Tibetan exile government

DHARMSALA, India — Penpa Tsering, the former speaker of Tibet's parliament-in-exile, has been elected the new president of the exile government, the election commissioner announced Friday.

Zabihullah Mujahid

Afghan police say Kabul mosque bombing kills 12 worshippers

KABUL, Afghanistan — A bomb ripped through a mosque in northern Kabul during Friday prayers, killing 12 worshippers, and wounding 15, Afghan police said.

Middle East

Thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims rally against Israel

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Thousands of Muslims led by activists from an Islamic political party demonstrated in Bangladesh's capital on Friday to denounce attacks by Israel against Palestinians.

General News

Israeli tanks pound Gaza ahead of possible ground incursion

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli artillery pounded northern Gaza early Friday in an attempt to destroy a vast network of militant tunnels inside the territory, the military said, bringing the front lines closer to dense civilian areas and paving the way for a potential ground invasion.

Business

The Latest: Philippine president eases lockdown in capital

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine president has eased a coronavirus lockdown in the bustling capital and adjacent provinces to fight economic recession and hunger but still barred public gatherings this month, when many Roman Catholic summer religious festivals are held.

Europe

The Latest: US advises Americans to reconsider travel

JERUSALEM — The Latest on the harrowing fighting between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers (all times local):

General News

Israel threatens Gaza ground invasion despite truce efforts

JERUSALEM — Israel on Thursday said it was massing troops along the Gaza frontier and calling up 9,000 reservists ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory, as the two bitter enemies plunged closer to all-out war.

Europe

Scotland: 2 held for migration breaches freed after protest

LONDON — Two men detained by British immigration officials in Glasgow were released Thursday after a seven-hour standoff between hundreds of protesters and Scottish police.

Religion

Biden inauguration priest resigns California university post

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden has resigned his position as president of Santa Clara University in Northern California, college officials said, after an investigation found he engaged in inappropriate, alcohol-fueled conversations with graduate students.

Middle East

Radical rabbi’s followers rise in Israel amid new violence

JERUSALEM — In the 1980s, Rabbi Meir Kahane's violent anti-Arab ideology was considered so repugnant that Israel banned him from parliament and the U.S. listed his party as a terrorist group.

Lifestyle

For Muslims in America, Eid al-Fitr comes as pandemic eases

For Qassim Abdullah, this year’s Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr marked a bit of a milestone: Now fully vaccinated, the 66-year-old finally felt comfortable enough to return to his mosque for the Eid prayer today, his first time back since the start of the pandemic.

Europe

Anniversary of JP2 attack marked as Poles grapple with abuse

ROME — The Vatican marked the 40th anniversary of the attempt on the life of St. John Paul II with a Mass on Thursday, amid muted commemorations in Poland where the Catholic hierarchy is grappling with a legacy of failures to confront clergy sexual abuse.

Asia Pacific

Festival travel, vaccine shortage put Bangladesh at risk

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Tens of thousands of people left Bangladesh's capital on Thursday to join their families in home villages to celebrate the Islamic religious festival of Eid al-Fitr, despite stark warnings that the exodus could worsen the country's sharply rising coronavirus outbreak.

General News

Hamas, Israel fighting escalates even amid truce efforts

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas sent a heavy barrage of rockets deep into Israel in a matter of minutes Thursday and Israel pounded Gaza with more airstrikes. The relentless escalation of hostilities came even as Egyptian negotiators held in-person talks with the two sides, intensifying efforts at mediation.