MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hold a commemorative summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia in June, the Philippines’ top diplomat said Friday.
Stock indexes closed higher on Wall Street. The S&P 500 added 0.2% Friday. Tech stocks led the way, with Dell Technologies in a stunning 32.8% gain. The Dow added 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. European and Asian markets mostly rose. Brent crude fell 1.7%.
SIDOARJO, Indonesia (AP) – Residents in the East Java province of Indonesia scattered flowers, paid their respects and prayed at the edge of a mud lake on Friday, the 20th anniversary of the eruption of the Lusi mud volcano that inundated villages and killed at least 14 people.
BANGKOK (AP) – Rescue workers in Laos said Saturday they have safely evacuated four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, the day after another one was successfully extracted. Two men remain missing. Lao and Thai rescue groups posted about the successful operation on social media, along with photos of the men lying on stretchers, wearing oxygen masks and being wrapped in foil blankets.
HONG KONG (AP) – A prominent Hong Kong journalist began serving a five-day prison sentence Friday after losing an appeal against his conviction for obstructing a police officer in a case that sparked concerns about the city’s declining press freedom.
Moments after Jenna Carberg gave birth to her daughter, doctors put the baby on her chest. “I felt a disconnect right away,” she recalled. At home, the Orlando, Florida, mom was exhausted and anxious and cried every day. She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression – a potentially dangerous condition that can fill a typically joyous time with deep despair.
NEW CHANDIGARH, India (AP) – Gujarat Titans will face defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League final after chasing down Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:
TOKYO (AP) – Japan and the Philippines on Thursday agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation by accelerating talks on Japanese weapons sales and intelligence sharing at a time of fears over China’s military activity in Asia.