World News

NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local): 11:45 a.m. An early surge on the stock market put the S&P 500 index within range of another record high.

ST. LOUIS — Missouri's only abortion clinic, already facing the threat of losing its license, says it will defy the state by refusing to perform a required pelvic examination days before an abortion.

NEW YORK — Under financial pressure from sex-abuse litigation, the Boy Scouts of America are seeking to bolster their abuse-prevention efforts with a new awareness program featuring cartoon-style videos that will be provided to more than 1.

CHICAGO — Attorneys for R. Kelly have one week to respond to a lawsuit alleging sex abuse or face losing the case. Kelly's attorneys sought to put the lawsuit on hold while the singer fights sex-related felony charges.

BEIJING — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, meeting in Pyongyang with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Thursday that his country is waiting for a desired response in stalled nuclear talks with the United States.

LONDON — Ralph Lauren has collected an accolade from Prince Charles and it's a doozy: Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Services to Fashion.

NEW YORK — Universal Music unveiled a previously unheard and unreleased song by the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. The record label announced the track, "Time Waits for No One," on Thursday.

LONDON — Kensington Palace says the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be starting their own foundation to support their charitable endeavours , formally spinning off from the entity Prince Harry and Prince William established together a decade ago.

NEW YORK — The guru of a cult-like self-improvement group that attracted heiresses and Hollywood actresses was convicted Wednesday of turning his female devotees into his sex slaves through such means as shame, punishment and nude blackmail photos.

BEIJING — Former Interpol President Meng Hongwei confessed to accepting more than $2 million in bribes and expressed regret for his crime, a Chinese court said Thursday. The No.