AP-National

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer American consumers are feeling less confident this month as concerns over a possible recession grew, despite most indicators pointing to a healthy U.S. economy. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 106.7 from a revised 110.9 in January. Analysts had

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, or almost 5%, and restructuring to be better able to fight the next major war, as the service struggles with recruiting shortfalls that made it impossible to bring in enough soldiers to fill

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — The number of babies born in Japan last year fell for an eighth straight year to a new low, government data showed Tuesday, and a top official said it was critical for the country to reverse the trend in the coming half-dozen years. The 758,631 babies born

LONDON (AP) — Authorities say three men arrested in an investigation into right-wing extremism have been charged in a London court with preparing to commit a terrorist act, authorities said. The trio was also accused of manufacturing a semi-automatic pistol and possibly targeting an Islamic center. They were arrested on Feb. 21 as part of

By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press MARAVATÍO, Mexico (AP) — Two mayoral hopefuls in the Mexican city of Maravatío have been gunned down within hours of each other, as experts warn the June 2 national elections could be the country’s most violent on record. The widening control of drug cartels in Mexico has been described as

By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — As he prepared to take office three years ago, Joe Biden’s incoming administration considered a host of possible options to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the federal death penalty. One idea was an executive order, according to people familiar with the matter. But the White House

By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A top court has ruled that two residents of the tiny Caribbean island of Barbuda have the right to challenge construction of an airstrip that critics say endangers fragile ecosystems and was begun without any permits. Tuesday’s ruling by the Privy Council is considered

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A Kosovo court has sentenced two ethnic Serbs to six-month jail terms for attacking NATO-led peacekeepers a year ago. But one of them will be released for time served while the other can avoid jail time if he pays a 6,000 euro ($6,500) fine. Local media named them as Radosh Petrovic

By COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda has made a triumphant return to Teatro alla Scala in an informal role as cultural ambassador, leading the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra. He says he has made its sound more “luminous” with his personal loan of centuries-old Italian-made instruments. Noseda’s energetic performance Monday

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The owners of a quirky 18th century British pub unlawfully bulldozed after a fire last year have been ordered by a local council to rebuild it, keeping with its previous lopsided specifications. The watering hole — known as the Crooked House for its leaning walls and tilting

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy has arrived to Saudi Arabia and met the kingdom’s powerful crown prince to push for a peace plan and the return of prisoners of war from Russia. Zelenskyy’s trip Tuesday comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — NATO member Greece says it wants to help traditional ally Armenia shift alliances westward, arguing that improved ties with the European Union would boost stability in the troubled Caucasus region. Armenia, which has close military and trade ties with Russia, is reeling from a border conflict with neighbor Azerbaijan in recent

PARIS (AP) — Qatar’s emir is beginning a state visit to France as his country plays a key role in ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is to meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday at the Elysee presidential palace. The

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s government employees and other union workers have begun a new nationwide strike that threatens to shut down key services while people are angry about soaring inflation and growing economic pain. Since taking office last year, President Bola Tinubu has enacted policies that include doing away

By SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press/Report for America President Joe Biden’s administration is announcing funding for 17 projects to expand renewable energy access on Native American reservations and in other rural areas. The $366 million plan will fund solar, battery storage and hydropower projects across 20 states, including on land involving 30 tribes. The administration wants

By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Experts from the U.N. Human Rights Commission have appealed to Belarusian authorities Monday to pardon an opposition politician diagnosed with a severe form of cancer while in prison. The 66-year-old Ryhor Kastusiou is the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front party. He is serving a 10-year

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — An author and ghost writer’s life story, from prison and drug addiction to collaborating with the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu among others, is Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club selection. Lara Love Hardin’s “The Many Lives of Mama Love” was published last summer.

By DENISE LAVOIE Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Pakistani national who U.S. officials say was the captain of a ship carrying Iranian-made missile components to Houthi rebels in Yemen has been ordered to remain behind bars while he awaits trial on charges of attempting to smuggle a warhead and other weapons and lying

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police have arrested three people in the killing of a man on a subway car last week. The department says Tuesday they were apprehended in the Bronx on Monday in connection with the killing of William Alvarez. The 45-year-old Bronx resident was fatally shot after getting into an

By RAF CASERT Associated Press STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The European Union is on the brink of approving a major plan to fight climate change and better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc after protests from farmers and opposition from the biggest party in parliament led it to be diluted. The plan is a key