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By JOE McDONALD Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — An avalanche of changes launched by China’s ruling Communist Party has jolted everyone from tech billionaires to schoolchildren. Behind the changes is President Xi Jinping’s vision of reviving an idealized earlier era of vigorous party leadership, with more economic equality and tighter control over society and billionaire

By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A massive fire raged through an overcrowded prison near Indonesia’s capital, killing at least 41 inmates, two of them foreigners serving drug sentences, and injuring 80 others. Firefighters battled through the early morning hours Wednesday to extinguish the flames as black smoke billowed from the compound

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials say the city of Portland, Oregon’s plan to boycott Texas goods and services over the new abortion law could cost companies there millions of dollars a year. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Office of Management and Finance spokeswoman Heather Hafer says Portland has inked almost $35 million in contracts with Texas-based businesses

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A powerful earthquake has struck in southern Mexico near the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, causing buildings to rock and sway in Mexico City hundreds of kilometers away. At least one death has been reported. The U.S. Geological Survey says Tuesday night’s magnitude 7 quake was centered northeast of Acapulco. The

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s highest court has made a landmark ruling that media outlets are “publishers” of allegedly defamatory comments posted by third parties on their official Facebook pages. The High Court on Wednesday dismissed an argument by some of Australia’s largest media organizations that for people to be

HONG KONG (AP) — Four leaders of the group that organized annual Tiananmen Square commemorations in Hong Kong have been arrested after refusing to cooperate in a national security investigation. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China had openly challenged the enforcement of a 14-month-old national security law, saying the

By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lawmakers are moving to make California the first to outlaw “stealthing.” That’s removing a condom without permission during intercourse. Legislators on Tuesday sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill adding the act to the state’s civil definition of sexual battery.  It makes it illegal to remove the

By PAUL J. WEBER and JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is defending a new state law banning most abortions that also offers no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The Republican said Tuesday that the law does not force victims to give birth even though it prohibits abortions

WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) — State police say three Vermont state troopers who are accused of being involved in a scheme to create fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards have resigned. Troopers Shawn Sommers and Raymond Witkowski resigned on Aug. 10. Trooper David Pfindel resigned on Sept. 3. State police said Tuesday that the three troopers are suspected

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears’ father has filed to end the court conservatorship that has controlled the singer’s life and money for 13 years. James Spears filed his petition to end the conservatorship in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. The filing says that James Spears only wants

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — Authorities say a Georgia teenager faces juvenile charges after he attacked a student draped in a gay pride flag in a school cafeteria. Video of the incident was recorded last week at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, south Georgia. It shows a teen boy charging across the cafeteria and jerking the

CHICAGO (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois has died at his home on Chicago’s North Side. He was 90. His son, Adlai Stevenson IV, confirmed the Democrat died Monday and said his father had dementia. Before his health declined, Stevenson kept active organizing presentations and speakers for the Adlai Stevenson Center