AP-National

By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI Associated Press The National Transportation Safety Board says a cut natural gas line was found in a basement area of an Ohio building which was severely damaged by a massive explosion this week. But a board official said Thursday that it’s not yet known if that played a role in the blast.

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AP Sports Writer A French court has ruled the auction of a trophy that was awarded to the late Diego Maradona after the 1986 World Cup can go ahead as planned despite opposition from his heirs. Their lawyer told The Associated Press on Thursday that the court ruling “was not favorable.” Maradona’s

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Lifestyles Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Monogrammed towels. A toothbrush holder for four, rather than three. Shared bedding. For people putting a life back together after divorce, mundane household objects can be painful marital reminders. Also difficult can be the absence of items that departed with the ex-spouse. Olivia Howell knows

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state media say that Syrian President Bashar Assad has met with Iran’s supreme leader in the capital Tehran and expressed his condolences over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Assad met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and also expressed condolences over the death of

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s office says U.S. President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy. Macron will be hosting Biden and his wife Jill on June 8. Macron’s office said both presidents will discuss “the need for unwavering, long-term

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The special Tony Award that honors educators is going to a Baltimore-based actor, educator, choreographer and Broadway veteran who has created arts opportunities for everyone from kindergartners to senior citizens. CJay Philip, founder and artistic director of the multidisciplinary ensemble Dance & Bmore, will receive

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher will add another prestigious award to his already loaded trophy case. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said on Thursday that Usher will receive its Voice of the Culture Award. He’ll be honored at ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriters and

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly a half-century ago have been returned to their families. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service in the capital Nicosia Thursday for the 15 Greek soldiers before their remains were contained in Greek flag-draped

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine sheriff is rejecting an allegation that some of his officers arrived at a mass shooting scene reeking of alcohol. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in a statement Wednesday that all of those officers were on duty or had just attended training before Lewiston police requested their assistance. Joyce

By GHAITH ALSAYED Associated Press IDLIB, Syria (AP) — The main insurgent group in rebel-held northwest Syria has blasted the United States over its criticism of a crackdown on protesters in areas outside government control. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said Thursday that the U.S. should instead respect protesters at American universities demonstrating against the war in

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits ticked up last week, but layoffs remain historically low in the face of lingering inflation and high interest rates. Jobless claims for the week ending May 25 rose by 3,000 to 219,000, up from 216,000 the week before, the Labor Department

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.3% annual pace from January through March, the weakest quarterly rate since the spring of 2022, the government said in a downgrade from its previous estimate. Consumer spending rose but at a slower pace than previously thought, a sign

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — For his first all-new book of nonfiction in nearly a decade, Ta-Nehisi Coates traveled the world. One World announced Thursday that Coates’ “The Message” will be published Oct. 1. “The Message” is set in Senegal, South Carolina and Palestine and focuses on a single question:

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s president says his country won’t hesitate to launch a new offensive in northern Syria if Kurdish groups there go ahead with plans to hold local elections. A Kurdish-led autonomous administration that controls northern and eastern parts of Syria has announced plans to hold municipal elections on June 11. Turkey has

By MATTHEW LEE, AAMER MADHANI and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to four U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter,

By BASSEM MROUE Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s caretaker economy minister says the country’s rulers, fuel companies and private electricity providers have blocked an offer by gas-rich Qatar to build three renewable energy power plants to ease the crisis-hit nation’s decades-old electricity crisis. Amin Salam told reporters Thursday that Qatar offered last year to

By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Police have dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment at Wayne State University in Detroit two days after the school suspended in-person classes and encouraged staff to work remotely. Television footage showed campus and Detroit police in riot gear tearing down fencing early Thursday. At least 12 people were arrested.

By ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s air force says that Russia has conducted an array of aerial attacks on Ukraine with cruise missiles, drones and ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s army chief meanwhile said Thursday that Russia is increasing its troop concentration in the Kharkiv region. Moscow’s forces have made significant advances there

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. If some lawmakers have their way, it never will be. Earlier this month, both Florida and Alabama banned the sale of cultivated meat and seafood, which is grown from animal cells. In Iowa, the governor signed

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If you use Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram, you’ve probably noticed a new character pop up answering search queries or eagerly offering tidbits of information in your feeds, with varying degrees of accuracy. It’s Meta AI, and it’s here to help, at least according to Meta