AP-National

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, a sign that U.S. job market remains resilient despite higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that jobless claims were dropped by 24,000 to 209,000. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Maybe the reason Tiger Woods is returning to competition next week in the Bahamas is to prepare for what really matters: The father-son appearance in the PNC Championship. Woods and 14-year-old Charlie are confirmed to be play the PNC Championship for the fourth straight year. It’s the only tournament

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s new parliament is debating the reinstatement of government funding for in vitro fertilization as its first legislation following elections in which the conservative party that had banned it lost control of the legislature. Members of the new centrist majority said in parliament Wednesday that it was symbolic to begin their

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s law enforcement authorities say a member of a violent gang accused of kidnapping four U.S. citizens has been extradited to the U.S. Haiti’s National Police on Tuesday identified the individual as Jhon Peter Fleronvil who is affiliated with the gang known as “Kokorat San Ras,” roughly translated to mean “Cohorts

By PETER SMITH Associated Press Jehovah’s Witnesses are well-known for proselytizing door-to-door and handing out their literature on city streets. Less known to the general public, their adherents have been required for the past century to make regular reports to their congregation’s leaders on how many hours they put into such ministry. Those hourly reports

By FRANCISCO GUZMAN Associated Press Black Friday is almost upon us, when retailers kick off the holiday season with offers meant to get customers in the shopping mood. The term “Black Friday” in relation to shopping the day after Thanksgiving is most often traced to Philadelphia where police had to deal with large crowds who

By NICK KURCZEWSKI Edmunds Pricing for the average new car continues to rise, with the latest reports pegging the average new vehicle transaction price around $48,000. While buying used is always an option for shoppers on a tight budget, there are some great new cars out there that are still affordably priced. The automotive experts

By WHITNEY VANDIVER of NerdWallet A recent uptick in scams targeting older adults has seniors wondering who’s really calling them. As the most common type of reported Social Security scam, imposters fool beneficiaries into thinking they are providing information to the agency. But they soon discover they’ve handed over personal information like Social Security numbers

By LOUIS OKAMBA Associated Press BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Republic of Congo’s government says it’s paying the medical bills for 145 people injured in a stampede at a military recruitment event as the country marked a national day of mourning for the 31 dead. A crisis committee led by the prime minister’s office

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech President Petr Pavel has signed into law an economic package of dozens of measures introducing budget cuts and increased taxes designed to keep the ballooning budget deficit under control. Pavel’s signature on Wednesday was the last step before the government proposal — which was approved by parliament — turned into law

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer The late crush of holiday travelers picked up steam Wednesday, with about 2.7 million people expected to board flights and millions more planning to drive or take the train to Thanksgiving celebrations. Airline officials say they are confident they can avoid the kind of massive disruptions that have marred

BERLIN (AP) — Germany will extradite an Italian man suspected in the killing of a 22-year-old woman to Italy. According to German news agency dpa, the Higher Regional Court in Naumburg, in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt announced on Wednesday that it had ordered the extradition of the 21-year-old man. The suspect, Filippo Turetta,

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Boo Williams wakes up each morning not knowing how the pain will hit. It could be debilitating headaches that make it impossible to get out of bed. Sometimes the pain shoots down his neck. Through all of it, he’s angry. Williams, who played tight end for the Saints from

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Boo Williams wakes up each morning not knowing how the pain will hit. It could be debilitating headaches that make it impossible to get out of bed. Sometimes the pain shoots down his neck. Through all of it, he’s angry. Williams, who played tight end for the Saints from

By CORA LEWIS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Consumers are expected to use “buy now, pay later” payment plans heavily this holiday season, a forecast that bodes well for retailers but that has credit experts again sounding alarm bells. The short-term loans often come with consumer-friendly interest rates and allow shoppers to make an

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Authorities in Kosovo say a hand grenade has exploded in an animal market in a southern city and 10 people are injured. A police statement said they arrested one of the three suspects while the other two remain at large following the explosion in Prizren, 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of

By KRUTIKA PATHI Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — India has restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. A diplomatic spat erupted

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has met separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war and set off a firestorm by using words that Vatican diplomats usually avoid: “Terrorism” and according to the Palestinians “genocide.” He held the meetings before his weekly general

By TIA GOLDENBERG Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A temporary cease-fire agreement to facilitate the release of dozens of people taken hostage during Hamas’ raid on Israel is expected to bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza and a glimmer of hope to the families of the captives. After hitting a