AP-National

By KEIRAN SMITH Associated Press SYDNEY (AP) — Australia and the United Kingdom signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement Thursday with the defense ministers of both countries saying it was required to meet “contemporary challenges” to maintain a global rules-based order. The treaty was signed by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and his

By KRYSTA FAURIA Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fresh off his awards season high after going to the Oscars with his fellow “Poor Things” stars, Ramy Youssef is heading back into more familiar territory. The actor and comedian, known for the critically acclaimed Hulu series “Ramy,” will premiere his latest stand-up special Saturday on

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Richard C. “Dick” Higgins, one of the few remaining survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, has died, a family member said Wednesday. He was 102. Higgins died at home in Bend, Oregon, on Tuesday of natural causes, granddaughter Angela Norton said. Higgins was a radioman

WESTPORT, Conn. (AP) — A mishap involving sculling boats sent 18 teenagers and one adult coach into the cold waters of Long Island Sound off Connecticut. However, no serious injuries were reported. The boats from the private Saugatuck Rowing Club capsized off Westport Wednesday afternoon. Police say some people swam to shore and others were

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Chicago police officer that alleged sexual assault by former police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who was out drinking with her the night he was found asleep behind the wheel of his SUV. U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo on Wednesday granted summary judgment sought

NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Opera was forced to stage a semi-staged performance of Puccini’s “Turandot” on Wednesday night after a stage elevator jammed. Met general manager Peter Gelb made an announcement from the stage before the show. “I’m sorry to say that this is not going to be a normal night at the

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has entered its second recession in 18 months after the latest round of GDP figures confirmed its economy contracted in the last quarter of 2023. The country’s economy shrank by 0.1% in the quarter to December, and 0.7% in per capita terms, the New Zealand’s official statistics agency,

By TRÂN NGUYỄN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California voters have approved a measure that Gov. Gavin Newson says he needs to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. Proposition 1 authorizes the state to borrow $6.4 billion to build housing and treatment beds. It also restricts how counties use money from a 2004 tax on

The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Chevron has agreed to pay more than $13 million in fines for dozens of past oil spills in California. The California-based energy giant agreed to pay the California Department of Conservation a $5.6 million fine associated with a 2019 oil spill in Kern County. The company also agreed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The brother of the Little Rock airport executive shot by federal agents serving a search warrant says he fears his brother may not survive. Bryan Malinowski was injured in a shootout Tuesday with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at his west Little Rock home. His

By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press Baimadajie Angwang thought he would be reinstated to his dream job as a New York City police officer after federal prosecutors dropped criminal charges alleging he spied for China. Instead, he is fighting the police commissioner’s decision to fire him. In a decision made public recently, Commissioner Edward Caban ordered

By STEVE PEOPLES and JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Donald Trump got what he wanted when former car dealer Bernie Moreno won the Republican Senate primary in Ohio. So did Democrats. They believe that Moreno’s positions on abortion, immigration and Trump’s election lies make the Republican less electable this fall in

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The nearly year-long conflict between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces has put the African nation on course to become the world’s worst hunger crisis with malnutrition soaring and already claiming children’s lives, the U.N. humanitarian office is warning. Edem Wosornu, the director of humanitarian operations,

DENVER (AP) — Authorities have identified two homicide victims found at a former hotel in Denver that was converted into a homeless shelter, as city officials moved to increase security at the building in response to the shootings. The Denver coroner’s office says 43-year-old Sandra Cervantes and 38-year-old Dustin Nunn were found dead in a

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer KENNER, La. (AP) — Former New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas has been accepted into a pretrial diversion program that could help him avoid trial in a case stemming from his arrest last fall. City of Kenner spokeswoman Valerie Brolin says “once all matters and requirements are satisfied, the

By The Associated Press A Texas man is accused of trying to sneak on board a flight by taking a photo of another passenger’s boarding pass, and authorities say he was caught because the flight was full and he didn’t have a place to sit. Now the man faces a felony charge of being a

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders from both parties looked to put a positive light on a $1.2 trillion spending package that lawmakers are working to approve before funding expires at midnight Friday for a host of key government agencies. Text of the legislation had not been released as of Wednesday

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press Angela Chao, a shipping industry CEO and sister-in-law to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, was intoxicated when she drove into a pond and died last month in Texas, according to a law enforcement report released Wednesday. The investigation by the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office concluded that Chao’s death was an

By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republicans in the South Carolina House have given key approval to a bill expanding a program allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private and home-school education. The 69-32 vote Wednesday comes even as a pilot plan is just starting and the state’s highest court is

By STEFANIE DAZIO, RONALD BLUM and BETH HARRIS Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Japanese baseball star. Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los