•  Hundreds of world leaders, powerful politicians, billionaires, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have been hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century, according to a review of nearly 12 million files obtained from 14 firms located around the world.
• In California, residents, business owners and environmentalists question whether officials reacted quickly enough to contain one of the largest oil spills in recent California history.
• And two U.S. scientists have won the Nobel Prize for medicine for their discovery of receptors for temperature and touch. 
• The Democratic party’s diversity of opinions is pulling apart President Biden’s expansive federal government overhaul
• Taliban-style security in Afghanistan is welcomed by some, but feared by others
• Japan’s parliament elects a former diplomat as prime minister

VANESSA GERA

Warsaw, Poland

The Associated Press

Advancing the Power of Facts

The Rundown

Leaked records open a “Pandora” box of financial secrets

Hundreds of world leaders, powerful politicians, billionaires, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have been hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century,…Read More

Nobel Prize honors discovery of temperature, touch receptors

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The first of the 2021 Nobel Prizes is announced Monday with the naming of the winner, or winners, in the field of physiology or medicine. A panel at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm will announce the recipient after 11:30…Read More

Response time questioned in Southern California oil spill

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Some residents, business owners and environmentalists questioned whether authorities reacted quickly enough to contain one of the largest oil spills in recent California history, caused by a suspected leak in an…Read More

Taliban-style security welcomed by some, feared by others

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — It wasn’t 7 a.m. yet and already the line outside the police station’s gates was long, with men bringing their complaints and demands for justice to Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers. …Read More

Can Democrats hold together? Biden’s agenda depends on it

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s favorite sayings, a guidepost for Democrats in trying times: “Our diversity is our strength. Our unity is our power.” But as Democrats try to usher President Joe Biden’s expansive fede…Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

Japan’s Parliament set to formally choose Kishida as new PM

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet and leader Yoshihide Suga resigned Monday, paving the way for Parliament to elect Fumio Kishida as the new prime minister, tasked with quic…Read More

2 Koreas restore hotline despite North’s missile tests

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says the two Koreas have restored a stalled communication channel after weeks of a hiatus in a small reconciliation step. Monday’s…Read More

New Zealand admits it can no longer get rid of coronavirus

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government acknowledged Monday what most other countries did long ago: It can no longer completely get rid of the coronavir…Read More

Ex-Facebook manager alleges social network fed Capitol riot

Facebook prematurely turned off safeguards designed to thwart misinformation and rabble rousing after Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in last year’s elections in a mone…Read More