AP National News

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — In her final speech to New Zealand’s Parliament, Jacinda Ardern describes in emotional terms how she navigated a pandemic and a mass shooting during her tumultuous five-year tenure as prime minister. She’s also urging lawmakers to take the politics out of climate change. A standing

By ERIKA KINETZ Associated Press LONDON (AP) — In October, an officer in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s elite personal security service defected while on a business trip in Kazakhstan. Now a wanted man in Russia, Gleb Karakulov spoke out for the first time in a series of interviews with the Dossier Center, an investigative group

By JAMEY KEATEN and DAVID McHUGH Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — Swiss regulators have defended the rescue of Credit Suisse through a controversial takeover by rival bank UBS as the best solution with least risk of spreading a wider crisis and severe damaging Switzerland’s standing as a financial center. The head of the Swiss Financial

By MAHMOUD ILLEAN and FARES AKRAM Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police stormed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City early Wednesday, firing stun grenades at Palestinian youths who hurled firecrackers at them in a burst of violence during a sensitive holiday season. Palestinian militants in Gaza responded with rocket fire on southern

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s main opposition party has decided to oppose the government’s model for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people in a development that appears to doom the prospects of a successful referendum this year. A referendum has not succeeded in changing Australia’s Constitution since 1977, and bipartisan support

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea this month will begin weekly tests of sewage produced by its major cities and towns to track the spread of COVID-19 and identify future waves. Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a

By MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Belize has reaffirmed its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the second country to do so in a week as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen travels across Central America in an effort to shore up a dwindling number of allies. It follows in the footsteps of ally Guatemala, the

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Repairing coral reefs after boats run aground. Shielding native forest trees from a killer fungus outbreak. Patrolling waters for swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles. Taking care of Hawaii’s unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it, especially because

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two trailblazing ride-hailing services are heading toward uncharted territory as they seek regulatory approval to transport passengers around the clock throughout one of the most densely populated U.S. cities in vehicles that will have no one sitting in the driver’s seat. If Cruise, a subsidiary

By TED ANTHONY AP National Writer Whatever people think of Donald Trump, it’s undeniable that he can still command attention. That was obvious as the divisive former president came to New York for his arraignment on felony charges. It was a procedural court appearance, but it was also an out-and-out spectacle and a piece of

By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — The moment was historic — a U.S. House speaker meeting with the president of Taiwan for a rare visit on American soil. The high-profile encounter Wednesday between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was designed to boost support for the island government. But

By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan defied threats of retaliation by China ahead of an expected meeting between the island’s president and the U.S. House speaker Wednesday that will underscore her government’s claim to sovereignty. President Tsai Ing-wen is finishing a tour of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in Latin America, Belize

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s central bank surprised economists on Wednesday by imposing an aggressive half-point rate rise to bring its benchmark interest rate to 5.25%. It was the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s 11th straight rate hike as it tries to cool inflation, which is running at

By MAHMOUD ILLEAN and FARES AKRAM Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, firing stun grenades and beating Palestinian youths who hurled firecrackers in a burst of violence during a sensitive holiday seasons. Gaza militants responded with rocket fire on southern Israel, drawing an Israeli airstrike

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Wednesday following a decline on Wall Street after reports on the U.S. economy came in weaker than expected. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.7% in afternoon trading to 27,808.75. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 stood little changed, inching down less than 0.1% to

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE and SEAN MURPHY Associated Press Writer DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — People still sorting through the wreckage of their homes after a weekend of deadly weather braced for another wave of strong storms that began rolling into parts of the Midwest and South on Tuesday evening. At least one tornado was confirmed