associatedpress

By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his just-concluded latest visit to China with a stop at a Beijing record store where he bought albums by Taylor Swift and Chinese rocker Dou Wei in a symbolic nod to cross-cultural exchanges and understanding he had been

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has pushed back against a woman’s lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault. Combs’ lawyers filed a motion Friday to dismiss some claims that were not under law when the alleged incident occurred. The motion claims he cannot be sued because

By JAMES POLLARD, NOREEN NASIR and NICK PERRY Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in

By JEFF AMY Associated Press HOSCHTON, Ga. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow is trying to harness a voter backlash to abortion restrictions to unseat Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson. The May 21 election is nonpartisan, but Pinson was appointed in 2022 by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Barrow is telling voters he

By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africans celebrate their “Freedom Day” every April 27, when they remember their country’s pivotal first democratic election in 1994 that announced the official end of the racial segregation and oppression of apartheid. Saturday is the 30th anniversary of that momentous vote, when millions

By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ Associated Press HAVANA (AP) — Alejandro Fonseca stood in line for several hours outside a bank in Havana hoping to withdraw Cuban pesos from an ATM. But when it was almost his turn, the cash ran out. He hopped on his electric tricycle and traveled several kilometers to another branch where he

By JULIE WATSON and LESLIE AMBRIZ Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — On a recent afternoon, Grant Oh zigzagged across the University of Southern California campus as if he was conquering an obstacle course, coming up against police blockade after police blockade on his way to his apartment while officers arrested demonstrators protesting the Israel-Hamas

By JOSH FUNK, MARGERY A. BECK and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tornadoes wreaked havoc Friday in the Midwest, causing a building to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes, many around Omaha, Nebraska. As of Friday night, there were several reports of injuries but no

By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon sports bar focusing on and showing only women’s athletics has plans to expand across the country through a franchise model. The Sports Bra opened two years ago in Portland, the state’s largest city. Its founder and CEO says she already has fielded hundreds of

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The retrial in New York of Harvey Weinstein — whose moviemaking prowess once wowed Hollywood — won’t be coming to a courtroom anytime soon, if ever, legal experts said on a day when one of two women considered crucial to the case said she wasn’t sure

By MATT BROWN and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has promised big plans for recruiting voters in Black, Latino and Asian communities. But five months before the general election votes are cast, the former president’s campaign has little apparent organization to show for those ambitions. The Trump campaign removed its

By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Padilla is taking practically every opportunity to put his stamp on the Democratic Party’s approach to immigration. The California senator is pressing his case in face-to-face moments with President Joe Biden, in regular calls with top White House staff and sometimes in outspoken criticism. Padilla is

By ISABELLA VOLMERT Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The results of some primary elections in Indiana could determine the outcome of the general election in a deep red state where Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature and GOP politicians lead many top offices. The primaries will be held May 7.

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Moderate Utah Republicans will look to stave off farther-right challengers at a state GOP convention that tends to favor the most conservative contenders. All eyes are on the crowded race to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney. The pool of nearly a dozen Republicans at Saturday’s

By MATT BROWN and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump says he wants to hold a major campaign event at New York’s Madison Square Garden featuring Black hip-hop artists and athletes. His aides speak of making appearances in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta with leaders of color and realigning American politics by

By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Padilla is taking practically every opportunity to put his stamp on the Democratic Party’s approach to immigration. The California senator is pressing his case in face-to-face moments with President Joe Biden, in regular calls with top White House staff and sometimes in outspoken criticism. Padilla is

By LEA SKENE Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — Members of Baltimore County’s close-knit Latino community have constructed an elaborate memorial for the six members of a roadwork crew killed in the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse. A group of mourners gathered at the memorial Friday evening to remind the public that even as cleanup efforts