Moldova’s pro-EU party wins clear parliamentary majority

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans have given the pro-Western governing party a clear parliamentary majority in a recent election. The vote was seen as a choice between East and West. European leaders praised Moldova on Monday for reaffirming its commitment to a Western path and potential European Union membership. Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has been a geopolitical battleground between Russia and Europe. The governing pro-EU party secured 50% of the vote. Leaders said the election faced alleged Russian interference, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Landlocked between war-torn Ukraine and EU member Romania, Moldova was a Soviet republic until it proclaimed independence in 1991. It has embraced a Western path and is a geopolitical battleground between Russia and Europe.

Iran hangs a man accused of spying for Israel in a wave of executions

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, the latest a major wave of executions. Iran identified the man as Bahman Choobiasl. His case wasn’t immediately known in Iranian media reports or to activists monitoring the death penalty in the Islamic Republic. The execution came as Iran vowed to confront its enemies after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program this weekend. The European Union followed suit Monday, imposing similar sanctions on Iran.

Madagascar’s president fires the government following days of deadly unrest

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has fired the prime minister and the rest of his government in response to days of deadly protests in the Indian Ocean island over the failure of the electricity and water supplies. Rajoelina said in a speech on national television that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other government officials would stay on an interim basis until a new government is formed. Youth-led protests against chronic electricity and water cuts began on Thursday, prompting the government to order nighttime curfews in the capital, Antananarivo, and other major cities. The United Nations human rights office said earlier Monday that 22 had been killed in violence around the protests.

1 killed in Cuba as Tropical Storm Imelda and Hurricane Humberto threaten Bahamas

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the Bahamas have closed a majority of schools following mandatory evacuations for some islands in the archipelago as Tropical Storm Imelda drops heavy rain and unleashes flooding in the northern Caribbean, with one man killed in Cuba. A tropical storm warning was in effect Monday for parts of the northwestern Bahamas, including Eleuthera, the Abacos, Grand Bahama Island and the surrounding keys. Heavy rains also were forecast along the coastline of North and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto churned in open waters nearby, which forecasters said would cause Imelda to abruptly turn to the east-northeast, away from the southeastern United States coast.