AP-National

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Nevada and South Carolina next month, two of the earliest states on the Democratic presidential calendar. There she’ll court voters she and President Joe Biden hope to win over. The White House says Harris will meet in Las Vegas with

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Colombian government said Thursday it will try to raise objects from the 1708 shipwreck of the galleon San Jose, which is believed to contain a cargo worth billions of dollars. The 300-year-old wreck, often called the “holy grail of shipwrecks,” has been controversial, because it is both an archaeological and

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Comedian and actor Jo Koy has been tapped to host the Golden Globes, picked by producers for his “infectious energy and relatable humor.” Koy last year saw his “Easter Sunday” become the first big studio movie with an all-Filipino ensemble. He has released five stand-up

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Homebuilders are stepping up construction of single-family homes following a steady decline in mortgage rates and broad expectation among economists that home loan borrowing costs will ease further next year. Builders broke ground on single-family homes in November at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian authorities are investigating the kidnapping of a British businessman and former honorary consul, who was rescued by police after being abducted over the weekend. The prosecutors’ press office said that several units are following some leads after police arrested nine suspects linked to the kidnapping of Colin Armstrong, but it

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, acknowledging severe financial strain exacerbated by his pursuit of former President Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election and a jury’s verdict last week requiring him to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis police are pledging a thorough investigation after a police SUV slammed into a bar. But supporters of the bar question why one of the owners was arrested in the aftermath of the accident, while the officers in the SUV weren’t tested for intoxication. No one was hurt early Monday

BALTIMORE (AP) — Authorities say 15 people have pleaded guilty to participating in a state prison contraband scheme in Maryland. Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office announced this week that the scheme included the use of drones to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other items into the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Maryland. In May, Brown announced

By DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s center-right government says it will fulfill a commitment to legalize same-sex marriage, sidestepping political dissent and staunch opposition from the country’s influential Orthodox Church. A government spokesman said on Thursday that the legislation would be brought to parliament during the house’s current term, which ends

By AMY BETH HANSON Associated Press Initially unsure of which orangutan was the father of a new baby primate, the Denver Zoo decided to have a little fun with the results and turned to former daytime talk show host Maury Povich. Just as he would do on his long-running show, Povich pulled the purported DNA

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple on Thursday stopped online sales of two popular models of its internet-connected watch in the U.S. after losing its latest attempt to untangle a patent dispute that’s blocking it from using some of the technology on the device. Both the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 became unavailable to

PARIS (AP) — A wildcat strike by staff at Eurotunnel, which links Britain and the European continent and paralyzed dozens of Eurostar trains, has ended. It ended Thursday, the same day it began, Eurotunnel announced, promising a gradual return to service. Eurostar trains will start transporting passengers on Friday, and the rail navet known as

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban official says Afghan girls of all ages are allowed to study in Islamic religious schools that are traditionally boys-only. The Taliban have been globally condemned for banning girls and women from education beyond sixth grade, including university. Madrassas are one of the few options for girls after sixth grade

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont man with a history of mental health issues who was convicted of killing his wife with a meat cleaver and injuring his mother-in-law will serve at least 27 years in prison. Aita Gurung said it was an accident. A jury convicted him last year of killing his wife in

LONDON (AP) — Angola says it’s leaving the OPEC oil producers cartel, coming after it battled with the group over lower production quotas this year. According to state news agency Angop, the African nation’s oil minister said Thursday that Angola “does not gain anything by remaining in the organization.” The country joined OPEC in 2007.

By NAJIB JOBAIN, JACK JEFFERY and COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A report from the United Nations finds that more than half a million people in Gaza are starving because there’s not enough food entering the territory since the outbreak of war more than 10 weeks ago. World Food Program Chief

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Workers using cranes on Thursday installed two more restored crosses on top of the domes of Kyiv’s 11th-century St. Sophia Cathedral as part of ongoing repair work at the landmark site. The seven golden crosses atop the iconic cathedral’s seven domes had become corroded. Officials said they required urgent attention. The

By ELISE RYAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — This year has been good to Gracie Abrams. She released her debut album, opened for Taylor Swift, toured the U.S. and Europe and received her first Grammy nomination. The 24-year-old is up for best new artist. She tells The Associated Press that she wasn’t expecting the

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two-time All-Star Ja Morant has played his first game in Memphis since the end of his 25-game suspension. The Grizzlies’ star point guard had not played in front of home fans since last April in the first round of the playoffs. Morant led Memphis to a

By NATHAN GILLES, Columbia Insight PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — From June 25 to July 2, 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced a record-breaking heat wave that sent the normally temperate region into Death Valley-like extremes that took a heavy toll on trees as well as people. Seattle and Portland, Ore., recorded their hottest-ever temperatures, reaching 108