AP National News

By ROD McGUIRK and CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang has arrived in Australia on a relations-mending mission. Panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector are high on the agenda. China’s second-most powerful politician is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo, a Chinese-controlled lithium

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press OBBÜRGEN, Switzerland (AP) — The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia will join many Western heads of state and government and other leaders at a conference this weekend aimed to plot out first steps toward peace in Ukraine – with Russia notably absent. Swiss officials hosting the conference

By JADE LE DELEY and ELISE MORTON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Anti-racism groups are joining French unions and a brand-new left-wing coalition in protests in Paris and across France against the surging nationalist far right. The demonstrations on Saturday afternoon come as parties engage in frenzied campaigning for snap parliamentary elections. Protesters fear that

By The Associated Press Charles Barkley said Friday that next season will be his last on TV, no matter what happens with the NBA’s media deals. The Hall of Fame player has spent the last 24 years working as a studio analyst for TNT, which could lose the rights to broadcast NBA after next season.

By FATMA KHALED and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Last summer, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip celebrated the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha the way it’s supposed to be: with large family feasts, meat shared with those less fortunate, and new clothes and gifts for children. But this year, after

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military has unleashed a wave of attacks targeting radar sites operated by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after one merchant sailor went missing and the vessel he was on caught fire in the latest Houthi strike in the Red Sea. The military’s Central Command

By DAVE COLLINS, JUAN A. LOZANO and JIM VERTUNO Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — Bombastic conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to liquidate his personal assets as he owes $1.5 billion for his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut,

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press The mailings promised “Life Without Pain!” via stem cell injections or IVs administered in a patient’s own home. The allure was obvious: more than 20% of U.S. adults endure chronic pain. The flyers invited Iowans to free dinners across the state. Afterward, sales people traveled to potential customers’ homes for

By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Following the footsteps of prophets beneath a burning sun, more than 1.83 million Muslims from around the world congregated Saturday at a sacred hill in Saudi Arabia for worship and reflection amid a sweltering heat. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill

By TRÂN NGUYỄN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — With retail theft increasing, California Democratic leadership is clashing with a coalition of law enforcement and business groups in a fierce political fight over how to crack down on the problem. State lawmakers are trying to preserve progressive policies and stay away from putting more people

By ISABELLA VOLMERT Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An unusual contest is taking place at the Indiana Republican convention. Party delegates are set to meet Saturday to nominate a lieutenant governor candidate to run alongside gubernatorial nominee Sen. Mike Braun. He has endorsed state Rep. Julie McGuire as his running mate in May. Usually Indiana

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — A group of midwives who focus on traditional Native Hawaiian birth practices are trying to block a Hawaii law that requires midwives to obtain licenses. The midwives say the law would force them to participate in costly trainings that don’t align with customary

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Three years ago, Donald Trump had few friends left in the Senate. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell declared in a speech that Trump was “practically and morally responsible” for the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by spreading “wild falsehoods” about election fraud and

By JOHN HANNA Associated Press TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri. The Kansas Legislature expects to consider a plan to help both the Chiefs and professional baseball’s Kansas City Royals finance new stadiums even though economists

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — After flying through the night across nine time zones, from southern Italy to Southern California, President Joe Biden shifted his focus from Russia’s challenge of Western unity to raking in big money for his reelection campaign at a Hollywood fundraiser featuring George Clooney

By SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian firepower has been improving since U.S. lawmakers approved a much-needed military aid package this spring, though not quickly enough to halt the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine. Although the influx of Western munitions has shrunk Kyiv’s glaring artillery disadvantage, Moscow’s forces are still gaining in

By ROD McGUIRK and CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang is due to arrive in Australia soon on a relations-mending mission. Panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector are high on the agenda. China’s second-most powerful politician is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo,

LITTLEROCK, Calif. (AP) — A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another was injured Friday after responding to a vehicle fire at a quarry in a desert community north of Los Angeles, authorities said. An explosion occurred shortly after a firefighting crew arrived at the quarry in Littlerock around 2:10 p.m., killing the 19-year

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer DALLAS (AP) — There were two options for the Dallas Mavericks. Pack for Boston, or pack for vacation. Boston awaits. These NBA Finals are not over, thanks to one of the biggest blowouts in title-round history. Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half, Kyrie