AP National News

By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican legislators in Wisconsin are expected to meet but quickly adjourn a special session that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called to repeal the state’s dormant abortion ban without taking any action. Evers earlier this month called the Legislature into a special session Wednesday to repeal the

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The British government has unveiled plans for a Bill of Rights it says will strengthen free speech and the power of Parliament. Critics argue it will rip up human rights protections for ordinary people. The government published the bill on Wednesday, days after courts in the U.K.

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive arm has proposed legally binding targets to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 and a ban on all pesticide use in areas such public parks, playgrounds and schools. The European Commission said Wednesday that the current rules limiting the

By ALEKSANDAR FURTULA Associated Press STROE, Netherlands (AP) — Thousands of farmers are gathering in the central Netherlands to protest against the Dutch government’s plans to rein in emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia. They drove their tractors across the country early Wednesday, snarling traffic on major highways. The protest was organized earlier this month

By ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL and AL-EMRUN GARJON Associated Press SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Scientists say climate change is a factor behind the erratic and early rains that triggered unprecedented floods in Bangladesh and northeastern India, killing dozens and making lives miserable for millions of others. Although the region is no stranger to flooding, it typically takes

By JIM VERTUNO and JAKE BLEIBERG Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The head of the Texas state police pronounced the law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting an “abject failure,” telling lawmakers that there were enough officers and firepower on the scene to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the

By FAZEL RAHMAN FAIZI Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border, killing at least 920 people and injuring another 600 others. The 6.1 magnitude quake Wednesday was the deadliest temblor to strike Afghanistan in two decades. Officials warned the death toll

By ILAN BEN ZION Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli lawmakers have voted in favor of dissolving parliament in a preliminary vote, setting the wheels in motion to send the country to its fifth national election in just over three years. The development on Wednesday was the first step in a series of votes before

By ALAN FRAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill. That potentially tees up congressional passage this week on an incremental but notable package that would stand as Congress’s response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has blasted the violence that plagues Mexico as he mourned the slaying of two “brother” Jesuits who were gunned down in a remote Mexican church. Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, offered prayers to the Jesuit community at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday. The 79- and 80-year-old

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — Italy’s political landscape has shifted after Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio formalized his departure from the 5-Star Movement.Di Maio announced his departure after Premier Mario Draghi briefed the Senate on Italy’s continued commitment to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.  The president of the lower Chamber of

By KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s debt-laden economy has “collapsed” after months of shortages of food, fuel and electricity, its prime minister told lawmakers Wednesday, in comments underscoring the country’s dire situation as it seeks help from international lenders. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament the South Asian country

By FAZEL RAHMAN FAIZI Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s state-run news agency says at least 280 people have been killed in an earthquake that struck the country’s eastern Paktika province. The state-run Bakhtar news agency reported the death toll Wednesday. Information remained scarce on the magnitude 6.1 temblor that struck Paktika province. It

By ASHOK SHARMA Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — A woman representing India’s poor tribal community is likely to be the next president. The governing Bharatiya Janata Party picked Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday as its candidate for the ceremonial post. Her election is a formality with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in a strong position

By CIARÁN GILES and DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Extended drought conditions in several Mediterranean countries, a heat wave last week that reached northern Germany and high fuel costs for aircraft needed to fight wildfires have heightened concerns across Europe this summer. And it’s only June. “Much of the continent is in drought,”

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares declined Wednesday as markets shrugged off a Wall Street rally and awaited congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 0.4% to finish at 26,149.55. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.2% to 6,508.50. South Korea’s Kospi tumbled 2.7% to 2,342.81.