AP National News

BERLIN (AP) — An insurance industry group says that devastating floods in western Germany last month likely caused insured damage to the tune of about 7 billion euros ($8.2 billion). That’s significantly higher than its previous estimate. More than 180 people died in Germany and hundreds more were injured in the July 14-15 floods, which

By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the country’s leading technology companies have committed to investing billions of dollars to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and to train skilled workers, the White House announced Wednesday following President Joe Biden’s private meeting with top executives. The Washington gathering was held during a relentless stretch of

BERLIN (AP) — German business confidence has declined for the second consecutive month as concerns about lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and supply bottlenecks cloud companies’ outlook, a closely watched survey showed Wednesday. The Ifo institute said its confidence index for Europe’s biggest economy dropped to 99.4 points in August from 100.7 in July.

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s foreign ministry said early Wednesday that the country “regrets” the “completely unjustified” decision of neighboring Algeria to break off diplomatic relations. Algeria formally announced the decision on Tuesday, citing a series of alleged hostile acts. The move was “expected … in view of the logic of escalation observed in recent

By WAFA SHURAFA Associated Press GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of Palestinians on Wednesday demonstrated near the Israeli border in the southern Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to ease a crippling blockade days after a similar gathering ended in deadly clashes with the Israeli army. The demonstration wrapped up without a repeat of

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer TOKYO (AP) — Australian cyclist Paige Greco has earned the first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics. She won the 3,000-meter pursuit on the track at the velodrome. Wang Xiaomei of China was second and bronze went to Denise Schindler of Germany. It was the first of 24 gold

By The Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia — Australia on Thursday advised its citizens in Afghanistan not to travel to Kabul’s airport, where there as a “very high threat of a terrorist attack.” Australians in the airport’s vicinity were advised to move to a safe location and await further advice. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA Associated Press KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s government said that 51 people evacuated from Afghanistan arrived in the East African country Wednesday at the request of the United States. Authorities said in a statement that the group, transported to Uganda on a chartered flight, included men, women and children. No further details

By ANNABELLE LIANG Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — Asian stocks slipped Thursday following a charge on Wall Street that drove indices to all-time highs for the second straight day. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.1% to 27,693.42 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gave up 1% to 25,440.41. The Shanghai Composite was down 0.5% at 3,521.76.

By ILAN BEN ZION Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — As police protected them, three Jewish men stepped forward, placed their hands out at chest level and began reciting prayers in low tones in the shadow of Jerusalem’s golden Dome of the Rock. Jewish prayers at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, known to Jews as the

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — A small airplane has made an emergency landing on Interstate 5 north of San Diego after clipping cars and causing several slight injuries along with a huge traffic jam. Authorities say the single-engine plane had mechanical problems on takeoff from a local airport and went down around noon Tuesday on

By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says the Biden administration likely violated federal law in trying to end a Trump-era program that forces people to wait in Mexico while seeking asylum in the U.S. With three liberal justices in dissent, the high court on Tuesday refused to block a lower

By ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Capitol Police didn’t adequately respond to frantic calls for help from officers when they pressed panic buttons on their radios seeking immediate backup as scores of pro-Trump rioters beat officers with bats, poles and other weapons, an inspector general’s report found. The report

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s meeting with President Joe Biden comes in the midst of heightened tensions with its regional archenemy, Iran, and as Israel grapples with a gradual resurgence of hostilities on its southern border with the Gaza Strip. Bennett, in his first state visit overseas since taking office, met separately

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California fire that gutted hundreds of homes advanced toward Lake Tahoe on Wednesday as thousands of firefighters tried to box in the flames, and a thick yellow haze of the nation’s worst air enveloped tourists. In Southern California, at least a dozen homes and outbuildings were damaged

By ADAM GELLER and FARES AKRAM Associated Press BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s story can be seen through the prism of Zaki and Jawaher Nassir, their family and their neighbors in the town of Beit Hanoun. Through four wars in 13 years, they have seen death and destruction, a mounting toll of suffering

By HELEN WIEFFERING Associated Press The latest conflict between Hamas and Israel brought a new wave of hardship to Gaza, where Palestinians have now witnessed four wars in 13 years. A close look at the wide-reaching impacts reveals the daunting challenges for rebuilding. Satellite imagery and death tolls show the magnitude of the devastation in