AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in October, the first annual gain in more than three years, with home shoppers encouraged by easing rates and a pickup in properties on the market. Existing home sales rose 3.4% last month, from September, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The leaders of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security declined to testify publicly at a scheduled Senate hearing Thursday on global national security threats, a break from precedent following years of open testimony before the panel. “Their choice to not provide public testimony about their departments’ efforts to
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s ruling junta has appointed a new prime minister from the ranks of the military generals, a day after firing his predecessor for criticizing the military regime. The move effectively consolidates all power in the African country in the hands of military generals. Mali has been ruled by military
Continue ReadingAP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — For about 50 years, adding cavity-preventing fluoride to drinking water was a popular public health measure in Yorktown, a leafy town north of New York City. But in September, the town’s supervisor used his emergency powers to stop the practice. The reason? A recent federal judge’s decision that
Continue ReadingAssociated Press SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Most buses have stopped running in North Macedonia’s capital because of the indebted operator’s problems procuring fuel, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and disrupting services and businesses. Buses began going out of service late Wednesday and only a few routes were operating early Thursday in Skopje, home to
Continue ReadingAssociated Press DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — When Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo was first approached in 2019 by a Russian who suggested he help promote the activities of the Central African Republic’s army and Russian forces in the country, the journalist believed that he was doing the right thing. But he soon realized that he was recruited by
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s president says he has cancelled multimillion-dollar airport expansion and energy deals with Indian tycoon Gautam Adani after U.S. bribery and fraud indictments against one of Asia’s richest men. President William Ruto in a state of the nation address said the decision was made “based on new information provided by
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — What is now St. Louis was once home to over 100 human-made mounds constructed by Native Americans — so many that St. Louis became known as “Mound City.” Settlers tore most of them down, and just one remains. Now, that last remaining earthen structure, Sugarloaf Mound, is closer to
Continue ReadingAssociated Press The total number of women who are state lawmakers has once again reached new heights, following a trend up in recent years. That’s according to data gathered by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While a record number of women will represent Americans in state legislatures, the new number only budges
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time overnight. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange
Continue ReadingAP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) — When Jean-Charles de Castelbajac saw Notre Dame cathedral burn in April 2019, he felt compelled to act. The fashion designer immediately began sketching ideas, imagining the monument’s reconstruction. So, when the Paris Archbishop’s emissary called him to design the permanent liturgical vestments for the cathedral, Castelbajac — a believer
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese police have arrested six people over a break-in and vandalism earlier this week at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader Patrice Lumumba in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. During the break-in on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth — the only part of the former leader
Continue ReadingAP Tennis Writer MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Australia reached the Davis Cup semifinals for the third consecutive year, eliminating the United States 2-1 when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat the surprise, last-minute pairing of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in the deciding doubles match on Thursday. The victory on an indoor hard
Continue ReadingHELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Police in Finland have detained five suspects over their alleged involvement in separatist violence in southeastern Nigeria. The police did not confirm the identity of any of the suspects who were detained earlier this week, but Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa resides in the Finnish city of Lahti, where a district
Continue ReadingATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s left-wing Syriza party has lost its status as the main opposition in parliament. It falls behind the Socialist movement Pasok after two lawmakers defected. Syriza now holds 29 seats compared to Pasok’s 31 during turmoil over the party’s leadership. Once a dominant political force, Syriza has struggled with election losses
Continue ReadingAP Technology Writer The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Donald Trump’s second term as the U.S. president is certain to bring a retreat from aggressive action on climate change. He’s downplayed climate risks and promised to drill for more oil and gas. But not all right-wing governments around the world take the same approach on climate. Conservative governments
Continue ReadingAssociated Press THE HAGUE (AP) — The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense
Continue ReadingThe International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas leader. The court accused them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thursday’s warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — Ursula Haverbeck, a prominent German extreme-right figure who accumulated a string of convictions for denying the Holocaust, has died, according to her lawyer. She was 96. Haverbeck repeatedly asserted that Auschwitz was just a work camp. In fact, historians say at least 1.1 million Jews were murdered there by the Nazis. She
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