AP National News

Associated Press When the African Methodist Episcopal Church, arguably the world’s largest independent Black Protestant denomination, held its quadrennial General Conference in Ohio in August, among the agenda items was an issue that the Rev. Jennifer S. Leath had labored over for two decades: same-sex marriage. Leath, 43, self-identifies as “quare” — terminology designed to

AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that price pressures are still evident in the economy even though inflation has tumbled from the peak levels it hit more than two years ago. The producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers

Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The town of Asheville, North Carolina, is known for its artists and restaurants. In September, it was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene. Even businesses not physically harmed suffered weeks without power and water. And Asheville was essentially closed to tourists during its busiest season. So local artists and

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Civic engagement nonprofits believe democracy is an exercise in need of constant support — not just extra money around major major campaigns. A relatively small network of philanthropists are pledging to reverse boom-and-bust cycles where money floods politically engaged nonprofits late into election years only to dry up afterward.

Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Meat from fin whales caught for the first time in nearly 50 years off Japan’s northern coast has fetched up to more than $1,300 per kilogram at auction, as officials try to keep the struggling industry alive. Japan’s Fisheries Agency this year added fin whales to its list of three

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — As several of President-elect Donald Trump’s choices for high-level positions in his administration face scrutiny on Capitol Hill, a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Americans have their own doubts. Relatively few Americans overall approve of Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice to lead the Department

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A Serbian court has convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison a man who gunned down nine people and wounded 12 in a shooting last year that was one of two mass killings which shook the Balkan nation. Uros Blazic, 21, took up an automatic rifle early on May 4,

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British military veterans who were discharged or suffered other forms of discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity will receive up to 70,000 pounds, or $89,300, under a government compensation program announced Thursday. Prior to 2000, service personnel who were discovered to be lesbian, gay or trans were

Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top military commander says fighting around a key eastern Ukraine city is “extremely intense” after a monthslong Russian push. Analysts estimate Russian forces are now within just a few kilometers, or miles, of Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s General Staff said on Thursday that Ukrainian troops repelled nearly 40 Russian attempts

Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand officials say they have “no doubt” that two Vietnamese officials visiting the country sexually attacked two young female servers at a restaurant, but are unable to charge the men because they have already returned to Vietnam. New Zealand does not have an extradition treaty with Vietnam.

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The commutations announced Thursday are for

Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s parliament on Saturday voted to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law decree this month, a shocking stunt that paralyzed the country’s politics, halted foreign policy and spooked financial markets. His suspension from power comes almost eight years after the impeachment of

Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong judge on Thursday convicted seven people, including a pro-democracy former lawmaker, of rioting during mob violence at a subway station at the height of the city’s anti-government protests in July 2019. Prosecutors accused former legislator Lam Cheuk-ting and the six other defendants of provoking members of

Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union ministers has agreed to let Bulgaria and Romania fully integrate into Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone known as the Schengen area by lifting land border controls next year. Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen area in March after years of negotiations, providing free access for travelers arriving in

AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations

Associated Press BAYELSA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria is the latest African country to give a new malaria vaccine to young childen. The country began its vaccination campaign last week. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and it accounts for about a quarter of the malaria cases worldwide. Its health minister called the new

Associated Press GARDA SERAI, Afghanistan (AP) — Thousands of people have attended the funeral of a Taliban government minister killed in an Islamic State suicide bombing the previous day. Cabinet member Khalil Haqqani was the most high-profile casualty of an assault in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power three years ago. He died in a

Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk has overturned a visa refusal for the U.S. conservative commentator Candace Owens, citing “the importance of free speech.” Owens planned a speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand. But Australia refused her visa in October and New Zealand later denied her

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — More than 3,700 residents were allowed to return to their Malibu homes on Thursday after calmer winds and rising humidity in Southern California helped firefighters battle a blaze that had forced thousands, including college students and celebrities, to evacuate earlier this week. But another 1,600 people with homes in Malibu —