The award-winning Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison and lashings just ahead of his planned trip to the Cannes film festival, his lawyer told The Associated Press Thursday.Rasoulof, 51, known for his film “There Is No Evil,” has become the latest artist targeted in…

One person was killed and four others were injured when a fire broke out at a chemical storage tank in Thailand.Roughly 400 workers and residents have been evacuated to a temporary shelter.The company that owned the tank said it is investigating the cause of the fire and is ready to…

A former Saudi Arabian intelligence officer is claiming that the national government is killing individuals for refusing eviction ahead of construction of a futuristic eco-city.Colonel Rabih Alenezi, who was taken into protection by the United Kingdom last year, told the BBC that lethal force has been approved for clearing residents…

A planned exercise, involving tactical nuclear weapons deployment in southern Russia, is nothing unusual, according to President Vladimir Putin.Russia announced on Monday the practice deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in response to perceived threats from France, Britain and the U.S.The Russian defense ministry linked the nuclear exercise to “provocative” statements…

A Moscow court has rejected an appeal to move Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov from prison to house arrest.Ivanov faces accusations of accepting around $11 million in bribes and has been suspended.Two other people have also been arrested in connection with the case.A Moscow court rejected Wednesday an appeal…

South Korea’s president on Thursday dismissed calls for independent investigations into allegations involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals.After his conservative ruling party suffered a heavy loss in the recent April 10 parliamentary elections, President Yoon Suk Yeol faces what appears to be…

The mother of two Australian surfers killed in Mexico delivered a moving tribute to her sons Tuesday at a beach in San Diego.”Our hearts are broken and the world has become a darker place for us,” Debra Robinson said, fighting back tears. “They were young men enjoying their passion of…

Britain is poised to expel Russia’s defense attaché, Maxim Elovik, over spying allegations.Home Secretary James Cleverly also announced several measures targeting Moscow’s intelligence gathering operations in the U.K.The measures include rescinding the diplomatic status of Russian-owned properties and imposing new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas.Britain will expel Russia’s defense attaché…

European Union nations reached a tentative breakthrough deal to provide Ukraine with billions in additional funds for arms and ammunition coming from the profits raised from frozen Russian central bank assets held in the bloc.The agreement among the 27 EU ambassadors was announced by Belgium, which holds most of the…

Kosovo’s foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine for conflict not to spread further in Europe. She said her young nation’s support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo’s independence.Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, who is both foreign minister…