AP-National

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party will celebrate Saturday the 112th anniversary of its establishment ahead of national elections, expected to be the toughest since it came to power in 1994. Thousands of supporters are expected to convene at Mbombela Stadium in the Mpumalanga province where

MULLAN, Idaho (AP) — Authorities have located and retrieved the body of a male skier who was caught in an avalanche in the Idaho backcountry. Two other men from the skiing party were rescued after authorities received an alert about an avalanche near Stevens Peak close to the Montana border shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday.

By AIJAZ HUSSAIN Associated Press SRINAGAR, India (AP) — A prolonged dry spell is sweeping across the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir during the harshest phase of winter, leaving many people sick and farmers worried about impending water shortages. Daytime temperatures have been high­ for about a month now, while nights continue to be freezing and

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The death toll of a mudslide in western Colombia rose to 34 on Saturday, authorities said. The mudslide struck a busy municipal road Friday in a mountainous area connecting the cities of Quibdo and Medellin. The National Disaster Risk Management Unit had said initially in a statement that at least 18

By ISABEL DEBRE and NAJIB JOBAIN Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — For a few hours every day or night, Dr. Suhaib Alhamss tries to sleep on a thin mattress in an operating room. He swings in and out of half-consciousness, both too tired to open his eyes and too tense to let go.

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The expansive version of free speech long accepted in American society is facing more forceful competition than it has seen in a century. On college campuses, a newer version of free speech is emerging as young generations redraw the line where expression crosses into harm. Their

By AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — In a new twist to the fight over abortion access, congressional Republicans are trying to block a Biden administration spending rule that they say will cut off millions of dollars to anti-abortion counseling centers. The rule would prohibit states from sending federal funds earmarked for needy Americans

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Just a few months after he took office, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a moratorium to halt federal executions — a stark contrast after his predecessor carried out 13 in six months. Under Garland’s watch and a president who vowed to abolish the death penalty, the Justice

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Every morning, before she’s even out of her pajamas, Rachel Goldberg-Polin tears a piece of masking tape off the roll, grabs a pen and writes the number of days her son has been held hostage in Gaza. Then she sticks the tape to her chest. Her son,

By SONIA PÉREZ D. Associated Press GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo’s imminent inauguration and the unrelenting pursuit of him and his party by the attorney general are recurring topics over dinner tables in this country, reflecting a political awakening in a population weary of corruption and impunity. Despite Arévalo’s wide margin of

By TERRY TANG and NOREEN NASIR Associated Press As communities nationwide celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this weekend with events ranging from parades to prayer services, some people are taking a cue from the slain civil rights icon’s history of protest to demonstrate against the war in Gaza and draw attention to

By JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war. The war already is the longest and deadliest between Israel and the Palestinians since Israel’s establishment in 1948, and the fighting shows no signs of ending. Israel declared war in response to Hamas’ unprecedented cross-border

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, MATTHEW LEE and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration keeps pressing Israel to reengage with Palestinians as partners once fighting in Gaza is over and support their eventual independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps saying no. Even on actions to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians, the

By JIM SALTER and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Icy winter weather blanketed the U.S. on Saturday as a wave of Arctic storms threatened to break low-temperature records in the heartland, spread cold and snow from coast to coast and cast a chill over everything from football playoffs to presidential campaigns. As

By DAN IKPOYI and CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The accident that broke 10-year-old Princess Igbinosa’s right leg could have crushed her dreams of becoming a model in a country where not many can afford prosthetics to cope with life and fight social stigma. “It was heartbreaking when they told us they

By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s two main drug cartels have long taken their deadly rivalry with them as they expand into distant markets from Asia to Australia to Africa. But never before have they done so with such massive street gang violence and a state of emergency as erupted this

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer Generations of Americans have held firm to a version of free speech that makes room for even the vilest of views. It’s girded by a belief that the good ideas rise above the bad, that no one should be punished for voicing an idea — except in rare cases

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — After almost five years of engagement and a postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony Saturday. Details of the event were closely held by the pair, but the ceremony is reported to have been staged

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Everyone has ended up walking away a winner at the American Film Institute Awards. The annual invite-only luncheon honored 10 films and 10 television shows on Friday. Stars at the event included Margot Robbie, Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio. Most appeared in a