Autism remains widely misunderstood in parts of Africa. A mother in Guinea fights for her child

FRIA, Guinea (AP) – Kazaliou Balde’s parents started worrying about him when as a small child he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating.

A California farmer is giving away tons of nectarines that he's not allowed to sell

Thousands of visitors have flocked to Cesar Mora’s farm in central California this week to gather free nectarines.

Robotic elephants draw crowds and controversy in India's Hindu temples

CHALAKUDY, India (AP) – The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashan’s backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water. But that’s about all they have in common with their real-life counterparts revered across India as manifestations of the divine.

Editorials from The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine

Despite severe fuel shortages across Russia, President Vladimir Putin appears unbothered by Ukraine’s increasing attacks on his country’s oil refineries. He has shrugged off the setback for one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations as “not critical,” dismissed ceasefire proposals and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met.

Erdogan's warm ties with Trump offer Turkey an edge ahead of NATO summit

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has berated and belittled many of his European counterparts expected to attend next week’s NATO summit in Turkey. But host Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn on his close ties with the U.S. leader to secure his presence at the Ankara event – an appearance that may even come with a significant gift related to Turkish defense.

Deaths surged 29% in France during week of record heat

PARIS (AP) – Deaths surged by nearly a third in France during the hottest week of a record heat wave last month, the country’s public health authority said Friday, reporting at least 2,000 more deaths than in the previous week when temperatures were already climbing and filling emergency wards with heat victims.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran with iron fist, will be buried

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dramatically remolded Iran during more than three decades as supreme leader, turning it into a regional powerhouse and bringing it increasingly into confrontation with Israel and the United States.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday condemned senators who blocked changes to a world-first social media ban for children, saying tech giants would use the delay to destroy incriminating documents that could be used as evidence against them.