AP National News

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Turkey and Saudi Arabia became the latest Muslim-majority countries to condemn a decision by Taliban authorities to bar women from universities, while about two dozen women staged a protest in the streets of Kabul on Thursday. In another sign of domestic opposition, several Afghan cricketers condemned the university ban. Cricket is

By SABINA NIKSIC Associated Press ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — More than nine years after Croatia became the European Union’s newest member, the country is on a roll to make the most of its status as the EU member in the Balkans. Croatia is adopting the EU’s common currency, the euro, and joining the Schengen Area,

By CIARÁN GILES Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Spain kicked off the winter holidays with its huge Christmas lottery known as “El Gordo,” and an unemployed Peruvian woman was among the winners of The Fat One’s top 400,000-euro ($425,000) prize Thursday. The winning ticket number was announced in Madrid’s Teatro Real opera theater, where the

BERLIN (AP) — The German government says it has nationalized energy company Uniper after the European Union gave its blessing for it to rescue the gas supplier. The government announced its plan to nationalize Uniper in September, expanding state intervention in the energy sector to prevent a shortage resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The

BEIRUT (AP) — Iraqi state news says two soldiers have been killed and three have been injured in an explosion in northern Iraq. The agency reported Thursday that the soldiers were traveling in an army vehicle a day earlier in the Makhmour district when an explosive device detonated. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan has adopted a new policy promoting greater use of nuclear energy to ensure stable power supply amid global fuel shortages and to reduce carbon emissions, in a major reversal of its phase-out plan following the Fukushima crisis. The new policy says Japan must maximize the use

By LORI HINNANT, VASILISA STEPANENKO, SARAH EL DEEB and ELIZAVETA TILNA Associated Press Throughout Mariupol, Russian workers are tearing down bombed-out buildings at a rate of at least one a day, hauling away shattered bodies with the debris. Russian military convoys are rumbling down the broad avenues of what is swiftly becoming a garrison city,

By SABINA NIKSIC Associated Press SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — In homes and schools around Bosnia, youngsters have been preparing gift boxes they hope will put a smile on the faces of their peers living through war in Ukraine. For parents and educators helping the kids select what to send, the experience has awakened a rare

By LORI HINNANT, VASILISA STEPANENKO, SARAH EL DEEB and ELIZAVETA TILNA Associated Press Throughout Mariupol, Russian workers are tearing down bombed-out buildings at a rate of at least one a day, hauling away shattered bodies with the debris. Russian military convoys rumble down the broad avenues, and Russian soldiers, builders, administrators and doctors are replacing

By MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press The Associated Press estimated at least 10,300 new graves in and around Mariupol — most in the Staryi Krym cemetery — by analyzing satellite imagery from early March through December, noting sections where the earth had been disturbed. AP measured each grid section where the cemetery had been expanded and

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australian authorities say vandals have destroyed rock art believed to be some 30,000 years old. Kyam Maher, the attorney-general of South Australia state, said the vandals appeared to have removed parts of a barbed wire fence at Koonalda Cave and got underneath, before using their fingers to draw over the top

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. deputy secretary-general is urging every country “with capacity” to urgently consider the Haitian government’s request for an international armed force to help restore security and alleviate a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean nation. Amina Mohammed told the U.N. Security Council that Haiti is

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan has adopted a new policy promoting greater use of nuclear energy to ensure stable power supply amid global fuel shortages and to reduce carbon emissions — a major reversal of its phase-out plan since the Fukushima crisis. The new policy says Japan must maximize the use

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rally on Wall Street as investors welcomed a report showing U.S. consumer confidence is holding up despite the Federal Reserve’s campaign to fight inflation by raising interest rates. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped more than 2% and benchmarks

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fijian police on Thursday said they were calling in the military to help maintain security following a close election last week that is now being disputed. It was an alarming development in a Pacific nation where democracy remains fragile and there have been four military

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rally on Wall Street as investors welcomed a report showing U.S. consumer confidence is holding up despite the Federal Reserve’s campaign to fight inflation by raising interest rates. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.8% and benchmarks also rose

By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — An IRS policy governing the audits of tax returns filed by U.S. presidents is under new scrutiny after a report published by a congressional panel found the agency failed to perform the mandatory inspection of Donald Trump’s returns until Congress pressed for information about the process. The

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, according to final figures released Thursday. The official number was 106,699, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. That’s nearly 16% higher than the nearly 92,000 overdose deaths in 2020. Earlier, provisional data suggested

By JACQUES BILLEAUD and JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Since her loss in the Arizona governor’s race, Republican Kari Lake has claimed the election was stolen and promised bombshells showing she was the rightful winner. But on the first day of trial in her election challenge Wednesday, her lawyers alleged small-bore problems