AP-National

ROME (AP) — The Vatican document explicitly saying Catholic priests can bless same-sex unions lays out the conditions for what such blessings can, and cannot, involve. The overall goal is to make it abundantly clear to the couple and those around them that the blessing in no way resembles a marriage. This is because the

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — This year’s winners of the I Love My Librarian Award took on a lot more than selecting books and fighting bans. Winners for 2024 include Diana Haneski at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who survived the 2018 shooting and is committed

By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — For the first time, artificial intelligence has been used to deliver a speech by Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to supporters. Analysts say the stunning development could help his political party to win upcoming elections. The replicated voice of Pakistan’s most popular opposition figure was

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland officials have approved a lease extension for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The deal was approved Monday by the state’s Board of Public Works, which is a three-member panel chaired by Gov. Wes Moore. They unanimously voted for the lease extension, hours after it

By DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Attorneys for a Kentucky woman who sued demanding the right to an abortion withdrew the lawsuit after the woman learned her embryo no longer has cardiac activity. In a court filing Sunday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky told a judge the attorneys will “voluntarily

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is imposing sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, targeting the lucrative diamonds industry as well as more than 140 officials, companies and organizations. Monday’s measures will also close loopholes that Moscow has used to bypass previous measures. It’s the 12th round of sanctions that the EU has

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Leonard Bernstein was a towering figure on Broadway. So it seems only fitting that the new film darma of him leans on the Great White Way to get the story right. Bradley Cooper’s movie “Maestro” is studded with theater stars — 29 of the 38

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Aleksandar Vucic likes nothing more than to win. Critics say he cheats, but Serbia’s president argues he just knows how to remain in power. The Balkan nation’s populist leader has ruled Serbia for more than a decade as both prime minister and president. After his populists

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Since the release a year ago of the acclaimed documentary “Turn Every Page,” Robert Caro has been feeling a bit like a movie star. “I walk up Broadway and kids recognize me,” the historian and author of “The Power Broker” says. “If I linger a

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Sebastian Siemiatkowski is a co-founder and CEO of Klarna, the Sweden-based company that’s one of the world’s biggest providers of buy now, pay later services to customers. Klarna started off in Europe and entered the U.S. market in 2015. Siemiatkowski spoke to the AP about

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities have added popular detective novelist and dissident Grigory Chkhartishvili, known under the pen name Boris Akunin, to its register of “extremists and terrorists.” Also on Monday, Russian state media reported that a criminal case had been opened against the Russian-Georgian writer for “discrediting the army.” Discrediting the Russian military is

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to lead efforts to simultaneously achieve decarbonization, economic growth and energy security in Asia. He set the ambitious goal at a regional climate summit Monday attended by leaders from Southeast Asia. Kishida told the Asia Zero Emission Community summit that

PARIS (AP) — The wax figure of actor Gerard Depardieu has been removed from Paris’ most famous wax museum, following negative reactions from visitors over allegations about his conduct with women, the museum said Monday. The decision to remove the figure from the Grevin Museum, the so-called “Pantheon of wax celebrities,” followed a recent report

By ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The holidays can be a challenging time if you’re on a budget. This year, millions of people have had to start paying back their student loans, adding to the financial pressure and making gift-giving even more stressful. Experts say that the first step is to acknowledge

By THALIA BEATY Associated Press The longtime president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Larry Kramer, will step down from his role at the end of 2023. In an interview with The Associated Press, Kramer talks about how Hewlett became the largest climate funder in the world for a decade starting in 2007. He

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer The commissioners from three of the remaining power conferences in college sports appeared together in a crowded convention center ballroom and were asked to ponder what was wrought by three tumultuous years of realignment that culminated in the destruction of a 108-year-old institution. “Obviously, not happy about

By NICOLE WINFIELD and DAVID CRARY Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday, a radical shift in policy that aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage. But while the Vatican statement was heralded by some

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Supporters of Putin on Saturday formally nominated him to run as an independent candidate. Earlier this month, lawmakers in Russia set the country’s 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving

By ERIC SCICCHITANO/CNHI NEWS and JOSH KELETY/AP A collaboration between The Associated Press and CNHI News has found it’s getting harder for the public to access information at the local government level in many states, including among school districts, townships and county boards. Open government advocates say high fees, delays and outright refusals from local

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has won reelection to a third, six-year term in office. The National Election Authority said on Monday that el-Sissi recorded a landslide victory, securing 89.6% of the vote, and called it the highest voting percentage in Egypt’s history. He ran against three virtually unknown opponents. The vote