NEW YORK – Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African-American and youngest person to ever play the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” on Broadway has died after falling from a fire escape, according to a show spokesman. He was 21. Jean-Baptiste died Friday night following the show’s evening performance at …

BEIJING – A state-run local news website says that a chemical factory has exploded in eastern China, killing one person just three weeks after massive chemical warehouse explosions in the country exposed lax enforcement of safety regulations. The Dongying News website — run by the Dongying city government — says …

ANKARA, Turkey – A Turkish media report says at least 11 migrants have died and five others are missing after boats carrying them to the Greek island of Kos capsized. The private Dogan news agency says a boat carrying 16 people sank in international waters after leaving from the Turkish …

LOWELL, Mass. – A biology professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell says a missing tarantula isn’t dangerous, but he’s giving fair warning: It can bite. Rick Hochberg, a professor of biological sciences, posted a sign asking to be contacted if the black-and-orange creature is spotted. A poster offering …

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Dozens of white balloons drifted over Vancouver’s harbor to honor the young Syrian boys whose deaths at sea sparked worldwide outrage about the refugee crisis. The boys’ aunt, Tima Kurdi, stood looking at the sky Saturday after she and other mourners let go of the balloons, …

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. – Officials say a 4-year-old is stuck in a well in Mississippi, though the child is alert and talking to emergency workers. Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing says the well is about 40 feet deep. He says rescuers are trying to hoist the child up with a rope, …

MOSCOW – Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has accused the West of creating “strange hysteria” over Russian activities in Syria, saying that Moscow has been openly supplying weapons and sending military specialists to Syria for a long time. The U.S. has expressed concern about signs of a Russian military build-up in …

BANGKOK – An expert witness at the trial of two Burmese workers accused of killing two British tourists in Thailand has testified that DNA found on what police say was the murder weapon does not belong to the defendants. Autopsies showed that 24-year-old David Miller and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge suffered …

CINCINNATI – Andy Dalton caught a touchdown pass — the first Bengals quarterback to pull off that feat — as Cincinnati stayed undefeated on Sunday, beating Tennessee 33-7 a few hours after the Titans got sad news. The Bengals (3-0) head into their bye week with their best start in …

CHICAGO – The long wait is over, Pittsburgh. Your Pirates are finally headed back to the postseason. After a 21-year absence, the Pirates clinched at least a National League wild card Monday night when they beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and the Washington Nationals lost to St. Louis. Now, they …