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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli life has come to a standstill as Jews mark the beginning of Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement, the most solemn point on the Jewish calendar, began at sundown on Wednesday. Stores, businesses, public transportation and broadcasting shuts down in Israel for this high holiday, on which the observant fast from

By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The animal rights group Sea Shepherd says it hopes that pressure will build from within the Faeroe Islands to end its traditional drive of sea mammals into shallow water where they are killed for their meat and blubber. Wednesday’s statement comes after Sunday’s slaughter of

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press A GOP lawyer who advised former President Donald Trump in his campaign to overturn the 2020 election results is among speakers planned for a South Carolina gathering billed as a must-stop on the road to the state’s primary. The state GOP announced Wednesday that longtime Republican lawyer Cleta Mitchell was

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — A former Georgetown University tennis coach accused of accepting more than $2 million in bribes to help kids get into the school will plead guilty in the sweeping college admissions scandal. Gordon Ernst’s decision to plead guilty comes as the first trial in the massive case

By EDGAR H. CLEMENTE Associated Press TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — Tens of thousands of Haitian migrants are stuck in the southern Mexico city of Tapachula, most unable to find work because they lack legal status. Many survive by selling what they can in the street. Most have requested asylum in Mexico, but officials are overwhelmed

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis says he doesn’t understand why people refuse to take COVID-19 vaccines. He notes that “humanity has a history of friendship with vaccines” and that serene discussion was necessary to help those who won’t get the jabs.Francis was asked about vaccine skeptics and

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, WILL GRAVES and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has told Congress that the FBI and gymnastics officials turned a “blind eye” to USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of her and hundreds of other women. Biles told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday

By AMY FORLITI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has reversed the third-degree murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home. Mohamed Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of

PRAGUE (AP) — Two firefighters have been killed in a gas explosion that has leveled a family house in the southeastern Czech Republic. The head of the regional government also says two other firefighters have been injured. The regional rescue service says a total of four people have been injured in the explosion that occurred

By JAN M. OLSEN The Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Half a century ago, four Danish teenagers interviewed John Lennon for their school paper. A cassette tape with a 33-minute audio recording of the chat, that also includes an apparently unpublished song by the late Beatle, will be auctioned in Denmark later this month.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi company that owes billions of dollars will pay banks back $1.9 billion after an agreement was reached with creditors following more than decade of efforts. The website of the Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper on Wednesday quoted business conglomerate Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers as saying that

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Attorneys representing a U.S. woman who claims Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her have asked British courts to formally notify him about her lawsuit. The request came after the prince’s lawyer maintained this week that Andrew has not been properly notified of what he described as a “baseless”

By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer The new Texas law that bans most abortions in the state is being welcomed by many of the religious leaders who help bolster the anti-abortion movement. Yet some abortion opponents in U.S. religious circles are wary of the law and questioning the movement’s current direction. Some of the wariness

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis says Catholic bishops must minister to politicians who back abortion rights with “compassion and tenderness,” not condemnation. And he is warning that they shouldn’t let politics enter into questions about receiving Communion. Francis was asked en route home from Slovakia about the