Russia Orthodox Church cuts ties with Alexandria patriarch
MOSCOW — The Russian Orthodox Church has cut ties with the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Africa following his decision to recognize Ukraine's...
Global stocks mixed, Wall Street rises amid trade optimism
BEIJING — Global stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street rose amid optimism that U.S.-Chinese trade relations are improving.
Pitt rallies to beat Eastern Michigan in Quick Lane Bowl
DETROIT — Kenny Pickett threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Taysir Mack with 47 seconds left and Pittsburgh held on to beat Eastern Michigan 34-30 in th...
Police release teen suspect in Barnard student’s killing
NEW YORK — A 14-year-old boy suspected of fatally stabbing a Barnard College freshman was released from police custody on Thursday, mere hours after N...
California jails use kinder approach to solitary confinement
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An inmate in solitary confinement at a California jail was refusing to leave his cell. The jailers' usual response: Send an “extr...
QB Jacob Eason leaves Washington early, will enter NFL draft
SEATTLE — Washington quarterback Jacob Eason announced Thursday he will skip his final year of college and enter the NFL draft.
Humorist Mo Rocca’s ‘Mobituaries’ makes for lively reading
LOS ANGELES — A conversation with Mo Rocca is akin to his “Mobituaries” podcasts and his new book of Rocca-style obituaries: A swooping exploration of...
Markets in 2019: record stocks, lower rates, so-so IPOs
NEW YORK — On January 3, the S&P 500 sank 2.5% when Apple warned of sagging demand for the iPhone, an inauspicious start to 2019 following a 14% d...
New Mexico police investigate killing of 4 on Christmas Day
RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Police in New Mexico on Thursday were investigating the shooting of four people found dead on Christmas Day in a home in a suburb o...
Court: Airline’s workers can’t sue as class in pay dispute
NEWARK, N.J. — American Airlines workers at Newark's airport who claim in a lawsuit they've been shorted on overtime pay can't sue as a class, a feder...
Sustainability in the fashion industry faces an uphill climb
LONDON — Sustainability in fashion is a hot button topic, with retailers large and small racing to prove their green credentials, but the desire for n...
Calif law will force small businesses to rethink staffing
NEW YORK — A California law that makes it harder for companies to treat workers as independent contractors takes effect next week, forcing small busin...
At each end of Pacific, skepticism over China farm purchases
OMAHA, Neb. — President Donald Trump likes to joke that America's farmers have a nice problem on their hands: They're going to need bigger tractors to...
Red wolves court battle reignites as governor urges action
RALEIGH, N.C. — The fight over the critically endangered red wolf has returned to court as North Carolina's governor sought immediate help for the doz...
Burundi’s president again says he won’t run for another term
NAIROBI, Kenya — Burundi’s president has again indicated he will not run for another term next year in the politically volatile East African nation.
Court rules Turkey violated freedoms by banning Wikipedia
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s highest court on Thursday ruled in favor of Wikipedia, saying the Turkish government's two-year ban on the online encycloped...
AP Explains: What is Boxing Day?
LONDON — In Britain and other countries like Australia and Canada, the day after Christmas is a secular national holiday known as Boxing Day. Here’s a...
N Carolina couple call 911 on vacuum thought to be intruder
HIGH POINT, N.C. — 'Twas the night of Christmas at a North Carolina house, no creature should have been stirring, not even a mouse.
World shares mostly higher; China plans stimulus measures
TOKYO — Global markets edged higher on Thursday though trading was subdued after the Christmas holidays. Chinese markets surged after the government a...
Lindsey Vonn goes social with P.K. Subban marriage proposal
Lindsey Vonn popped the question to hockey star P.K. Subban.
Prosecutors: Deeply-in-debt Michael Avenatti sought payday
NEW YORK — Prosecutors say California attorney Michael Avenatti was over $15 million in debt when he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike, whil...
Student who saved classmates from shooting honored as Jedi
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina college student hailed by police as a hero for preventing more injuries and deaths after a gunman opened fire in a ...
Trumps wish Americans ‘Merry Christmas’ as they mark holiday
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are wishing Americans a Merry Christmas as they celebrate the holiday with thei...
Gala Christmas Day in country for Queen Elizabeth II, family
SANDRINGHAM, England — Queen Elizabeth II and her close family spent a gala Christmas Day at her palatial countryside retreat, feasting on locally-rea...
GOP senator ‘disturbed’ by McConnell impeachment remark
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, said she was disturbed to hear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say ther...
JFK letter promising Santa safe during Cold War on display
BOSTON — In the throes of the Cold War, the Soviet Union was planning to test a massive nuclear bomb in the Arctic Circle.
Utility finishes removing toxic coal ash from SC power plant
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A utility company in South Carolina finished removing all the coal ash from the site of a nearly 50-year-old power plant on the Water...
Pope offers hope against darkness in Christmas Day message
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope Wednesday against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of t...
Notre Dame rector: Fragile cathedral might not be saved
PARIS — The rector of Notre Dame Cathedral says the Paris landmark is still so fragile that there's a “50% chance” the structure might not be entirely...
Japan stocks lower, China little-changed on Christmas Day
BEIJING — Japanese stock prices declined and Chinese markets were little-changed Wednesday while trading in most other Asian economies was closed for ...