NEW YORK (AP) — Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," ''I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, "Respect," and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer.Publicist Gwendolyn …

DETROIT (AP) — Early in 1967 when she was already a music industry veteran but had only a few minor hits to show for it, Aretha Franklin recorded "Respect" and sent herself into superstardom. The song was released as a single and was the lead track on her breakthrough album, "I Never Loved …

FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — The Latest on the arrest of a Colorado man in the disappearance of his family (all times local):8:30 a.m.A social media account of a pregnant Colorado woman whose husband has been arrested in the disappearance of her and her two young daughters paints a portrait of a …

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's finance chief tried to reassure thousands of international investors on a conference call Thursday, in which he pledged to fix the economic troubles that have seen the country spiral into a currency crisis.The national currency recovered somewhat from record …

DETROIT (AP) — A timeline of major events in the life and work of Aretha Franklin:March 1942 — Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, would move the family briefly to Buffalo before settling in Detroit …

LONDON (AP) — A Scottish man with far-right views has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to build a bomb that prosecutors say could have caused carnage.A search of Peter Morgan's home found explosive substances, propellants, fireworks and a bottle with ball bearings and …

MILAN (AP) — The latest developments following the deadly collapse of a highway bridge in Italy (all times local):4:15 p.m.The highway company responsible for the Genoa bridge that collapsed says that it would take "rigorous action" if it emerges that any of its staff were in any way …

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are surging Thursday morning as China and the U.S. prepare to hold their first trade discussions in months, a potential sign of progress toward ending the trade war between them. Walmart is surging after the retailer said its sales climbed in second …

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. housing starts ticked up just 0.9 percent in July, a sign that higher construction costs might be weighing on homebuilders.The Commerce Department said Thursday that housing starts last month rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million, not nearly enough …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kroger will begin testing grocery deliveries using driverless cars outside of Phoenix.The biggest U.S. grocery chain said the project will begin Thursday in Scottsdale at a Fry's supermarket, which is owned by Kroger.Same-day or next-day delivery orders can be made …

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese provincial deputy governor and the mayor of a major city were fired Tuesday as the ruling Communist Party tried to defuse public outrage over revelations of misconduct by a major vaccine producer.The officials were among four people ordered dismissed following a …

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — The Queen of Pop is also a soccer mom, and she's getting ever more involved in the beautiful game.Madonna has plans to open a soccer academy in Malawi, a move inspired by her adopted son David Banda, who has ambitions to be a professional player and is at Portuguese …

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Members of a commission established by Myanmar's government to investigate human rights violations in western Rakhine state, from which 700,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority fled brutal army operations, have pledged to be impartial.The Independent …

NEW DELHI (AP) — Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a Hindu nationalist who set off a nuclear arms race with rival Pakistan but later reached across the border to begin a groundbreaking peace process, died on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 93.The All India …

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Polish president on Thursday vetoed legislation on elections to the European Union Parliament that would have benefited large political parties and made it harder for small parties to reach a threshold to win seats.Andrzej Duda said the legislation would have left …

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Latest on Turkey's currency crisis (all times local):4:45 p.m.Turkish media reports say Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has told international investors that Turkey would come out of the current "currency fluctuation" stronger than before.Albayrak …

BERLIN (AP) — German pharmaceutical company Bayer AG says it can now start integrating U.S. seed and weed-killer maker Monsanto Co. after completing the required sale of some of its crop science business.Bayer became Monsanto's sole owner in June but had to hold off on integrating Monsanto …

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):9:35 a.m.Strong results from Walmart and hopes for progress on trade with China are helping to send stock prices higher in early trading.Walmart jumped 10 percent early Thursday after reporting stronger sales …

DALLAS (AP) — A murder trial for a former Texas police officer who killed a black teenager highlights the heightened role video evidence plays in high-profile police shootings that have stirred discourse and triggered protests nationwide over issues of race and law enforcement.Former Balch …

FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a Colorado man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of his pregnant wife and their two young children.Police in the town of Frederick said Chris Watts was taken into custody Wednesday. His 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their …