AP National News

MOSCOW (AP) — The co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, Oleg Orlov, has gone on trial in Moscow, charged with “discrediting” the Russian military in his criticism of Russia’s war in Ukraine. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. Orlov has been fined twice for anti-war pickets, with

By FRANK JORDANS Associated Press BONN, Germany (AP) — The United Arab Emirates official tapped to head the next global climate summit pledged Thursday to listen to young people demanding a place at the table when negotiators gather in the Gulf nation this fall. But in his first appearance at a United Nations climate meeting

Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors say an 18-year-old Massachusetts man sent gift cards worth a total of $1,670 to someone he thought was a supporter of the Islamic State group that he intended to be used to fund a war on nonbelievers. Mateo Ventura, of Wakefield, is scheduled to appear in U.S. District

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Roughly two dozen killer whales were spotted last month off the coast of San Francisco in an uncommonly large grouping of orcas for Northern California. The whales were likely together celebrating a kill of sea lions or seals on May 7 near the Farallon Islands, about 28 miles west of San

By AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN-KIM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched wide-ranging talks at the White House on Thursday. They are pledging to work in lockstep as the globe tries to adapt to a period of rapid economic, political and technological change. The leaders’ Oval

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has unveiled a series of new initiatives to protect LGBTQ+ communities but postponed a Pride Month celebration with thousands of guests on the White House lawn because of poor air quality in Washington from the Canadian wildfires. The event will be held on Saturday

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is launching legal action against Poland over a contentious new law that the nationalist government claims is meant to combat Russian influence. Critics say it could be used to persecute opposition politicians. The European Commission said Thursday it believes the law “unduly interferes with

By The Associated Press Racing at Belmont Park was canceled and the Washington Nationals’ home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed Thursday due to poor air quality from wildfires in Canada. It’s the second straight day the continuing fires north of the border have impacted sports in the Northeastern United States. Several Major League

By SAMBU ASSANA Associated Press BISSAU, Guinea Bissau (AP) — A coalition of opposition parties has won a majority of seats in Guinea Bissau’s parliament. The national electoral commission said Thursday that the five-party Terra Ranka coalition won 54 of parliament’s 102 seats in elections held Sunday. The ruling party, MADEM G-15, placed second with

NEW YORK (AP) — David Sedaris is publishing his first children’s book, a collaboration with Ian Falconer conceived decades ago and finished shortly before the “Olivia” creator died in March. Toon Books, an imprint of Astra Publishing House, announced Thursday that “Pretty Ugly” will be published Feb. 27 of next year. A look at the

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate eased back from a seven-month high this week, a welcome change for homebuyers navigating high borrowing costs and heightened competition for relatively few homes for sale. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark

By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising 5-4 ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case, ordering the creation of a second district with a large Black population. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined with the court’s liberals in affirming

By LEA SKENE Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore’s police commissioner is stepping down after four years in the role. Commissioner Michael S. Harrison’s departure was announced Thursday morning at a news conference held on short notice at City Hall. Harrison was appointed commissioner in 2019 and granted a five-year contract, which would have ended

LIMA, Peru (AP) — The main suspect in the 2005 disappearance of U.S. student Natalee Holloway was handed over to U.S. custody and departed Peru on a flight to the United States on Thursday, roughly a month after both countries agreed on his extradition. Joran van der Sloot is wanted in the U.S. on one

By JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press PARIS (AP) — As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed four young children at a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday, assaulting at least one in a stroller repeatedly. The children between 22 months and 3 years old suffered life-threatening injuries, and two adults

By GRANT PECK Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — A human rights organization says lawyers representing critics of Myanmar’s military government face harassment and attacks ranging from threats and arrests to unfair trials and even torture. Human Rights Watch says such actions reflect a broader assault on the country’s justice system. The group says at least

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, after a deputy found human remains in a rural area. Madeline Kingsbury, whose 27th birthday was June 1, was last seen on March 31 after dropping off her two young children at daycare in Winona, a southern

Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Thousands of health care workers have protested in Romania’s capital on Thursday, demanding higher wages, more staff, and better working conditions amid what they say are shortfalls that will lead to declining medical service standards. Medical workers from across the country converged in central Bucharest, where they blew whistles,