More than 400,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) — More than 400,000 Afghans returned to their home country following the ongoing crackdown on illegal foreigners in the country, Pakistani authorities said Monday. Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesperson of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, confirmed the number and told The Associated Press that the majority have been using the border crossings of Torkham and Spin Boldak to return home. An estimated 1.7 million Afghans had been living in Pakistan when authorities announced its nationwide crackdown, saying that anyone without proper documents had to leave the country by October 31 or else get arrested.

More than 200 convicted in Italy’s maxi-trial

LAMEZIA TERME, Italy (AP) — An Italian tribunal on Monday convicted 207 people and sentenced them to a combined 2,100 years in prison on charges related to their membership in Italy’s ‘ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, one of the world’s most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups. It took over an hour and 40 minutes to read aloud the court’s lengthy verdict, including the acquittal of 131 other defendants. The drama unfolded in a bunker-stye courtroom in the southern Calabria region, where the mob organization was originally based.

Severe storms in Turkey leave 9 dead, 11 still missing after cargo ship sinks

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Severe storms and flooding have left nine people dead across Turkey, officials said Monday, including one seaman who died when a cargo ship sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Eleven other crew were reported missing. The Turkish-flagged Kafkametler sank on Sunday after hitting a breakwater outside the harbor off the town of Eregli, some 124 miles east of Istanbul. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the vessel, which was on its way to the western Turkish port of Izmir, smashed into the breakwater several times before it sank.

Officials in Liberia formally declare Boakai the president-elect

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Election officials in Liberia on Monday formally declared Joseph Boakai the president-elect, three days after incumbent George Weah conceded defeat based on the runoff vote’s provisional results. According to the National Elections Commission, Boakai won with 50.64% of the second round balloting while Weah took 49.36%. “We are at the point where we will prepare for transition, begin the plan for inauguration, as we jump-start the activities of governance,” Boakai, 78, a former vice president, said moments after he was officially pronounced the winner.