News

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 A cassette tape with a 33-minute audio recording of the chat, that also includes an apparently unpublished song by the late Beatle, will be auctioned in Denmark later this month.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

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press Senior military representatives from dozens of countries have gathered in Rhode Island to talk about ways to address shared challenges. Those challenges include combatting the coronavirus and ensuring service members are healthy. Adm. Michael Gilday, the U.S. chief of naval operations, is hosting the 24th International Seapower Symposium at the

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. industrial production slowed to a 0.4% gain in August as shutdowns of petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants caused by Hurricane Ida curbed manufacturing activity. Plant closures long the Gulf Coast as well as lost oil production during last month’s hurricane shaved 0.3 percentage points from

LONDON (AP) — The chairman of Prince Charles’ charitable foundation has resigned after reports the organization was offered a donation of more than 500,000 pounds ($692,000) from a Russian banker seeking British citizenship. He stepped down Wednesday after the Sunday Times alleged that Charles wrote a letter to thank the businessman for the offer last

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Lawyers for two Palestinians who were captured after escaping from an Israeli prison last week say their clients were badly beaten during their arrest. The most well-known prisoner suffered a broken jaw and two broken ribs while in handcuffs. Six Palestinian prisoners, five of whom have been accused of deadly

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court judges have authorized an investigation into the Philippines’ deadly “war on drugs” campaign, saying the crackdown “cannot be seen as a legitimate law enforcement operation.” The court’s former prosecutor sought permission from judges earlier this year to investigate the Philippine government’s campaign. She said that a preliminary