Taiwan opens Hong Kong migration office in rebuke to Beijing

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Wednesday opened an office to facilitate migration from Hong Kong following China’s passage of a national security law for the former British colony seen as sharply restricting political opposition and freedom of speech.

Pompeo urges UN arms embargo on Iran's `terrorist regime'

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Calling Iran “the world’s most heinous terrorist regime,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to extend the U.N. arms embargo against Tehran, which expires in October, and reject “extortion diplomacy.”

NYC passes austere budget that cuts $1B from NYPD

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City lawmakers approved an austere budget early Wednesday that will shift $1 billion from policing to education and social services in the coming year, acknowledging protesters' demands to cut police spending — but falling short of what activists sought.

FIFA bans former finance director Kattner for 10 years

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA banned its former finance director Markus Kattner for 10 years on Tuesday for helping former president Sepp Blatter and other top managers award themselves

EU reopens its borders to 14 nations but not to US tourists

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union will reopen its borders to travelers from 14 countries, and possibly China soon, the bloc announced Tuesday, but most Americans have been refused entry for at least another two weeks due to soaring coronavirus infections in the U.S.

Some new college hoop coaches turn to experienced transfers

Mark Byington has spent more than three months as the men’s basketball coach at James Madison without being able to take a recruiting trip or meet personally with the eight players joining his program during the coronavirus pandemic.

5 officers investigated over use of force at Austin protests

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Five Austin police officers are on paid administrative duty amid an investigation into the use of what authorities call “less lethal” force during May protests against police brutality and racial injustice, according to the police department.

Alabama mayor resigns after post on Crimson Tide's BLM video

CARBON HILL, Ala. (AP) — A controversial Alabama mayor has resigned after posting disparaging comments about the University of Alabama football team voicing its support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Latvia bans Russian television channel RT

HELSINKI (AP) — The Baltic nation of Latvia has banned the state-controlled Russian television channel RT, saying that it is effectively controlled by a media figure who is under European Union sanctions.

Hong Kong security law takes aim at protester actions

HONG KONG (AP) — China on Tuesday approved a contentious national security law for Hong Kong that takes direct aim at some of the actions of anti-government protesters last year, in a move many see as Beijing’s boldest yet to erase the legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system.

The Latest: SKorea weighs listing churches as 'high risk'

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea is considering including religious facilities on the same list with nightclubs, hostess bars and karaoke rooms as “high risk” venues for the spread of COVID-19 following a slew of transmissions tied to church gatherings.

Tuesday Sports in Brief

MLB

Russian vote extending Putin's rule until 2036 nears end

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin's main political project of the year — a constitutional vote that would allow him to extend his rule until 2036 — is set to wrap up Wednesday.

List 4/4 of sports events affected by coronavirus pandemic

SOFTBALL

City crews remove some barriers from Seattle protest zone

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle city crews used heavy equipment Tuesday to remove makeshift barriers around the city’s “occupied” protest zone following two fatal shootings in the area.

Legals for July, 1 2020

County allocates funds from federal relief

EPHRATA — Grant County announced it is setting aside $2.5 million for grants to small businesses across the county. The money is taken from $5.4 million in federal coronavirus relief for the county government.

Taiwan opens Hong Kong migration office in rebuke to Beijing

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Wednesday opened an office to facilitate migration from Hong Kong following China’s passage of a national security law for the former British colony seen as sharply restricting political opposition and freedom of speech.

Tuesday Sports in Brief

MLB

Hong Kong police make first arrest under new security law

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police have made their first arrest under a new national security law, arresting a protester for carrying a flag calling for Hong Kong independence at a protest Wednesday in the city’s Causeway Bay shopping district.