Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has pledged to accelerate the building of a “T-Dome” air defense system in the face of the threat from China. Lai said Friday that his government would establish a rigorous defense system with high-level detection and effective interception. The T-Dome, or Taiwan Dome, was an apparent reference to the Iron Dome system that Israel has developed. Lai, speaking at a Taiwan national day celebration, also pledged to increase defense spending to more than 3% of GDP and to reach 5% by 2030.

Matthew Boyd pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning, and the Chicago Cubs shut down the Milwaukee Brewers for a 6-0 victory that pushed their NL Division Series all the way to a decisive Game 5. Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch homered for Chicago, delighting a rollicking Wrigley Field crowd of 41,770. Busch went deep for the second straight game and third time in the series. The Cubs were on the brink of elimination after they dropped the first two games of the NLDS in Milwaukee. But they held on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday before making the most of a sharp performance by Boyd and four relievers in Game 4. Next up is the finale of the best-of-five series back in Milwaukee on Saturday night.

With one big swing, Ian Happ sent a charge through an electric crowd of 41,770 at Wrigley Field. After a rough start to the playoffs, it was a pretty sweet moment for the longest-tenured player with the Chicago Cubs. Happ connected for a three-run homer in the first inning, sending Chicago to a 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that pushed their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5. Nico Hoerner singled and Kyle Tucker walked ahead of Happ’s two-out drive to right on a 1-1 fastball from Freddy Peralta. Chicago became the first team in major league history with a first-inning homer in four straight games during one postseason.

Early on Sunday mornings, tolling bells call the faithful to worship at the three churches in Taybeh. It’s a hilltop village that the Gospel says Jesus visited and is now the last entirely Christian town in the occupied West Bank. As proud Palestinians, Taybeh’s Christians long most for independence and peace for this part of the Holy Land. But that hope feels increasingly remote as they struggle with the threats of violence from Jewish settlers, the mounting restrictions on movement imposed by Israel, as well as the fear that Islamist radicalization will grow. Even news of a peace deal over the war in Gaza didn't assuage those urgent concerns.

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to remove deeply unpopular President Dina Boluarte from office as a crime wave grips the South American nation. Lawmakers had set up a debate and impeachment trial late Thursday in the 130-member unicameral Congress after voting to accept four requests for a vote to remove Boluarte from office over what they said was her government’s inability to stem crime. They requested that Boluarte come before them shortly before midnight to defend herself, but when she did not appear they immediately voted to oust her. In short order, 124 lawmakers voted just past midnight to impeach Boluarte. There were no votes against the effort.

A Lions-Chiefs matchup was considered a potential Super Bowl preview when the schedule came out. It still could be considering the state of the AFC. Jared Goff leads a dynamic Lions offense against Patrick Mahomes and the inconsistent Chiefs on Sunday night in Kansas City in one of the biggest games in Week 6. Detroit rebounded from a lopsided loss to Green Bay in Week 1 to win four in a row. The Chiefs were on the right track with two straight wins after opening 0-2 but gave up a final-minute score to lose to Jacksonville on Monday night.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — President Donald Trump's bid to deploy the National Guard in cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago is bringing out both supporters and detractors of the administration's immigration policies. This is a photo gallery curated by AP…

With drums, banners, flags and signs, the Japanese fans stole the show at the men’s Under-20 World Cup, with their heartfelt support. Their team advanced to the round of 16 following a perfect group-stage campaign but exited the tournament with…

Pope Leo XIV has urged labor union leaders from Chicago to advocate for immigrants and welcome minorities into their ranks. Leo weighed in as the Trump administration crackdown on immigrants intensifies in the pontiff's hometown. The audience on Thursday was scheduled before the deployment of National Guard troops to protect federal property in the Chicago area. The sites include a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building that has been the site of occasional clashes between protesters and federal agents. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich accompanied the labor leaders. Cupich said that Leo was well aware of the situation on the ground and has made clear that migrants and the poor must be treated in ways that respect their human dignity.

LeBron James will miss opening night of his record 23rd NBA season due to sciatica that will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. The Los Angeles Lakers announced James' condition on Thursday. The 40-year-old superstar will be sidelined at least until the end of October. Sciatica is pain originating in the nerves running from the buttocks and down the legs. James has the issue on his right side. James has yet to participate in a full practice since the Lakers opened training camp. An hour later, the Lakers announced James is likely to miss at least their first five or six games, and possibly several more.

Since his arrest last month by immigration agents, the public has grappled with how Ian Roberts became a public schools leader despite lacking authorization to work in the U.S., a history of criminal charges and falsified credentials. An Associated Press investigation has found that Roberts rose to the top job in Iowa's largest district with the help of a consulting firm that marketed his self-published books and helped build his profile. Roberts' relationship with Lively Paradox and its founder Nicole Price at times blurred the line between his public and private jobs. Des Moines officials blocked his plan to award a contract to Lively Paradox in 2023 after finding a conflict of interest, but Roberts later awarded Price a contract for a two-hour leadership exercise during a board retreat.

A federal judge has ordered a man charged in California’s deadly Palisades Fire to remain jailed amid concerns about his mental health. A prosecutor said Jonathan Rinderknecht had traits of an arsonist and his family had worried about his declining mental state. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Lyons said during Thursday's hearing that Rinderknecht was a flight risk because he had family in France and spoke French. Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday but was first interviewed by authorities Jan. 24. Investigators said that during the intervening months they worked to rule out anything else that might have started the fire that killed 12 people.

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families because those in uniform are working without pay. While they would receive back pay once the impasse ends, many military families live paycheck to paycheck. During previous shutdowns, Congress passed legislation to ensure that troops kept earning their salaries. Time is running out before they miss their first paycheck in less than a week. Payday is supposed to be Wednesday, but the House isn't expected to be back until Monday. Support for military families is available through various nonprofits and charities. And some financial institutions are offering zero-interest loans. But families and advocates say that help can only do so much.

After months of gridlock, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza came together in a matter of days after a deft maneuver — or perhaps a misunderstanding — by President Donald Trump that boxed in the two adversaries. Either way, efforts to wind down the devastating war have seen a breakthrough. The last hostages are set to be returned under the agreement announced Wednesday. Major questions remain, including over governance and reconstruction of Gaza as well as whether Hamas will disarm. But it appears for now as though the fighting will pause. That's because at a critical moment last week, Trump took Hamas’ very conditional response to his proposal as a yes.

In 2013, mired in debt, Detroit filed for bankruptcy. The city once renowned for auto manufacturing and Motown has since refilled its coffers and restored its credit rating — and new investments are rebuilding downtown Detroit from the ground up. With a nod to a former Detroit icon, a gleaming 45-story structure called Hudson's Detroit has risen on the site of what was once the Hudson’s department store. It offers retail space and offices, and promises high-end condos and a five-star hotel. Billionaire developer Dan Gilbert is confident it can only help bolster the city's recovery, saying "you’re going to feel a different Detroit.”