AP National News

Defrocked US priest revered in East Timor accused of abuse

By MARGIE MASON and ROBIN MCDOWELL - Associated Press

A former American priest who saved lives during East Timor’s struggle for independence is standing trial over accusations he sexually abused girls who lived at a shelter he founded. Richard Daschbach established the shelter decades ago for orphans and other destitute children in the Asian country. The 84-year-old from Pennsylvania is revered in the impoverished village where he worked in East Timor for his actions during the country’s fight for independence, at one point leading a ragtag group armed with spears to stave off attackers. Daschbach faces 14 counts of child sexual abuse, one count of child pornography, and one count of domestic violence. 

AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa

AP

APRIL 2 – 8, 2021 This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by the Associated Press from the Europe and Africa regions. The gallery was curated by AP photographer Thanassis Stavrakis in Athens. Follow AP visual journalism: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Categories: AP…

The Latest: 11 new COVID-19 cases in China’s lone outbreak

By The Associated Press

BEIJING — Chinese officials say 11 more people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in a southwestern city bordering Myanmar that is the scene of China’s current sole active outbreak. Cases in the Yunnan province city of Ruili have topped 100, including those not showing symptoms. However, large-scale transmission appears to have been curbed by a campaign to vaccinate all 300,000…