A man walks past damaged cars in Biot, near Cannes, France on Sunday. Sudden heavy rains around the French Riviera have killed at least 10 people, including some trapped in cars, a campsite and a retirement home, and left six missing.

French Riviera hit by deadly flash floods

ANTIBES, France — In a matter of minutes, torrential rains transformed the postcard-perfect French Riviera into a terrifying flood zone, leaving at least 16 dead,… Continue reading

A man walks past damaged cars in Biot, near Cannes, France on Sunday. Sudden heavy rains around the French Riviera have killed at least 10 people, including some trapped in cars, a campsite and a retirement home, and left six missing.
A helicopter flies over the Congaree River, swollen with floodwaters, near the Gervais Street bridge in West Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday.

Historic South Carolina floods: Heavy rain, hundreds rescued

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hundreds were rescued from fast-moving floodwaters Sunday in South Carolina as days of driving rain hit a dangerous crescendo that buckled buildings… Continue reading

A helicopter flies over the Congaree River, swollen with floodwaters, near the Gervais Street bridge in West Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday.

San Francisco’s last gun store closing doors for good

SAN FRANCISCO — The only gun store in San Francisco is shuttering for good, saying it can no longer operate in the city’s political climate… Continue reading

Authorities carry a shooting victim away from the scene after a gunman opened fire at Umpqua Community College on Thursday in Roseburg, Oregon.

Gunman kills 9 at Oregon college

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A gunman opened fire inside a classroom at a rural Oregon community college Thursday, killing at least nine people before dying in… Continue reading

Authorities carry a shooting victim away from the scene after a gunman opened fire at Umpqua Community College on Thursday in Roseburg, Oregon.

Rights group: Filipino child miners risk lives in gold mines

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of Filipino children, some as young as 9 years old, risk their lives by working in illegal, small-scale gold mines under… Continue reading

India arrests 8 for killing Muslim over beef rumor

BISARA, India — Indian police arrested eight people and were searching for two more Wednesday after villagers allegedly beat a Muslim farmer to death and… Continue reading

In this image made from video provided by Homs Media Centre, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, smoke rises Wednesday after airstrikes by military jets in Talbiseh of the Homs province, western Syria. Russian military jets carried out airstrikes in Syria for the first time on Wednesday, targeting what Moscow said were Islamic State positions. U.S. officials and others cast doubt on that claim, saying the Russians appeared to be attacking opposition groups fighting Syrian government forces.

Russia begins airstrikes, West disputes targets

MOSCOW — Russia launched airstrikes Wednesday in Syria, sharply escalating Moscow’s role in the conflict but also raising questions about whether its intent is fighting… Continue reading

In this image made from video provided by Homs Media Centre, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, smoke rises Wednesday after airstrikes by military jets in Talbiseh of the Homs province, western Syria. Russian military jets carried out airstrikes in Syria for the first time on Wednesday, targeting what Moscow said were Islamic State positions. U.S. officials and others cast doubt on that claim, saying the Russians appeared to be attacking opposition groups fighting Syrian government forces.
The Palestinian flag flies in the wind after a Rose Garden ceremony at the United Nations headquarters Wednesday. Following a vote in November 2012, the U.N. recognized Palestine as a state with non-member status and as a result it was permitted to raise its flag outside the U.N. for the first time on Wednesday.

Abbas says Palestinians no longer bound by pacts with Israel

UNITED NATIONS — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told world leaders Wednesday that he is no longer bound by agreements that have defined relations with Israel… Continue reading

The Palestinian flag flies in the wind after a Rose Garden ceremony at the United Nations headquarters Wednesday. Following a vote in November 2012, the U.N. recognized Palestine as a state with non-member status and as a result it was permitted to raise its flag outside the U.N. for the first time on Wednesday.
AP10ThingsToSee - Pope Francis touches the cheek of a young girl as he prepares to depart the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to Andrews Air Force Base. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Vatican observers question clerk’s visit with pope

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The private meeting Pope Francis held with defiant Kentucky clerk Kim Davis is a strong papal endorsement of religious resistance to gay… Continue reading

AP10ThingsToSee - Pope Francis touches the cheek of a young girl as he prepares to depart the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to Andrews Air Force Base. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

No shutdown: Bill OK’d to keep gov’t open

WASHINGTON — Just hours before a midnight deadline, a bitterly divided Congress approved a stopgap spending bill Wednesday to keep the federal government open —… Continue reading

Oklahoma delays execution; drug didn’t match protocols

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin postponed at the last minute Wednesday the execution of an inmate who claims he’s innocent, after prison… Continue reading

Mom accused of tossing newborn girl had baby son die in 2008

NEW YORK (AP) — A woman charged this week with tossing her newborn daughter to her death from a seventh-story window had an infant son… Continue reading

Soul-searching in House as McCarthy tries to lock up job

WASHINGTON — Stunned and divided, House Republicans sought a way forward Tuesday as Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy pledged to bring them together after Speaker John… Continue reading

‘Can you hear me now?’ Snowden joins Twitter, follows NSA

NEW YORK (AP) — Edward Snowden, who has confounded U.S. officials since his abrupt departure from the country two years ago, has just found a… Continue reading

US intel official not optimistic about cyber deal with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s top intelligence official said Tuesday that he’s not optimistic that an agreement the U.S. recently struck with China will effectively… Continue reading

Taliban tighten hold on Afghan city despite US airstrikes

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A day after a strategic northern city fell to the Taliban, the insurgents fanned out in full force Tuesday, closing roads,… Continue reading

Obama says fight against Islamic State will take time

UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged all possible tools — military, intelligence and economic — to defeat the Islamic State group, but… Continue reading

In year of diplomatic wins, Obama still dogged by Syria

NEW YORK — In a year of diplomatic breakthroughs, President Barack Obama can’t escape the shadow of Syria’s intractable crisis.Obama arrived for his annual trip… Continue reading

VW the latest in long history of cheating car companies

WASHINGTON — In stock car racing, there’s an old adage: If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’. You could say the same sometimes for auto… Continue reading

Google’s driverless car drivers ride a career less traveled

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — After a friend recommended that he join a secret Google project six years ago, Brian Torcellini suddenly found himself on the… Continue reading