AP-National

By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has imposed sanctions on a group of people and firms based in Iran, China, Hong Kong and Venezuela, tied to the development of Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs. The Wednesday penalties come as the United Nations’ restrictions on Iran missile-related activities under a Security

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The net worth of the typical U.S. household grew at the fastest pace in more than three decades from 2020 through 2022, while relatively low interest rates at that time made it easier for households to pay their debts. Wealth for the median household — the

By RON TODT Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Authorities have announced two more arrests in connection with an airport parking garage shooting that killed a Philadelphia police officer and wounded one officer last week. First Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore says Alexander Batista-Polanco and Hendrick Peña-Fernandez were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Both are 21.

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer A national survey of employers found that the cost of health coverage through work jumped this year, in part because of inflation. Premiums for both family and single plans climbed 7% after barely rising in 2022. That’s according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues. And health

By JACK JEFFERY and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — As desperate Palestinians in sealed-off Gaza try to find refuge under Israel’s relentless bombardment in retaliation for Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack, some ask why neighboring Egypt and Jordan don’t take them in. The two countries, which flank Israel on opposite sides and share

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Hundreds of protesters clashed Wednesday with Lebanese security forces in a Beirut suburb near the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations in support of both Gaza’s civilian residents and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel. The protest in the Aukar neighborhood came as U.S. President Joe

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — Dozens of activists who champion LGBTQ, indigenous peoples’ and reproductive rights or campaign against discrimination have turned their backs in a silent protest in Geneva. They’re protesting what they call insufficient U.S. government responses to their human rights concerns. The protesters led the demonstration as U.S. Ambassador

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Lionel Messi’s annualized compensation from his Major League Soccer contract with Inter Miami is just over $20.4 million. Messi earns more than the entire payroll of all but three other MLS teams and twice as much as every player combined on Orlando City. The MLS

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Officials say an armed man who demanded to see Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has been arrested again on a suspected concealed carry violation. Police arrested Joshua Pleasnick on Tuesday. He was released Wednesday after prosecutors declined to add more charges against him. Pleasnick already faces a misdemeanor count of openly carrying

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Neymar left the soccer field in tears after yet another injury in what has become an all-too familiar sight. Quite a contrast to Lionel Messi’s smiles at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo’s reenergized success with Portugal. Neymar hurt his knee in the first half of

Democrat Katrina Christiansen has announced a second campaign bid for one of North Dakota’s U.S. Senate seats. She was an unsuccessful Democratic nominee in 2022 for U.S. Senate. Republican incumbent John Hoeven won a third term against Christiansen and independent candidate Rick Becker. Christiansen intends to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer. Cramer’s 2018 Senate

By JENNIFER PELTZ and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A spectator at Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial was arrested Wednesday after standing up in the middle of testimony and walking toward the front of the courtroom where the former president sat. The woman expressed a desire to aid Trump, and the

By MUNIR AHMED Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — Officials say Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sought protection from arrest from a court days before his planned return to the country. Sharif is expected to return home on Saturday from Saudi Arabia where he recently reached from London, where he’s been living in self-imposed

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A veteran North Carolina trial lawyer has entered the Republican primary campaign for governor. Bill Graham of Salisbury competed unsuccessfully for governor in 2008 on the heels of an effort to lower the gasoline tax. Graham said Wednesday that he’s got the “resources, discipline and

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president says the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Honduras will attend a summit on migration that Mexico will host Sunday. The four countries are among the biggest sources of migrants currently showing up at the U.S. border. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela,

By JOHN CARUCCI Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Connelly has sold more than 85 million books under nearly 40 titles, but there’s another distinction that makes him equally proud: His most famous protagonist, LAPD Det. Harry Bosch, has become the longest running character on streaming television. “I know the history of streaming is

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Two men have pleaded guilty to charges related to a drive-by-shooting in central Florida that left 11 people wounded earlier this year. Federal authorities said Wednesday that Nicholas Hanson and Marcus Mobley have pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition and possessing a firearm and ammunition as convicted felons. They could be sentenced

PARIS (AP) — Reporters Without Borders says a Taliban court in Afghanistan has released a French-Afghan journalist held for 284 days and cleared him of espionage and other charges. The press freedom group said it is now working to quickly reunite Mortaza Behboudi with his wife, Alexandra, in Paris. The group’s secretary general called the

By JIM SALTER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — A female Asian elephant at the St. Louis Zoo died shortly after her herd became agitated from a small dog running loose, zoo officials said. Rani (pronounced Rahn-ee) died Friday at age 27. The zoo announced her death on Tuesday. “We are absolutely devastated. We ask

MILAN (AP) — Italy says it is suspending an open-border agreement with neighboring Slovenia, citing an increased threat of terrorism in Europe due to violence in the Middle East. Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right-led government says authorities in the northeastern border region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia identified 16,000 people who had entered Italy illegally across the Slovenian