LOS ANGELES (AP) — Housing market trends are shaping up in favor of a solid 2024 for U.S. homebuilders — as long as mortgage rates don’t jump back to the highs they hit late last year. Sales of new homes rose nationally in 2023 for the first time in two years, climbing 4.2% from a year earlier, according to the …

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanian authorities on Thursday ordered the arrest of former President Ricardo Martinelli, who has been holed up in the Nicaraguan Embassy since receiving political asylum from that country earlier this month. A judge approved a requested change of Martinelli’s conditional release that had stood while he appealed his 10-year sentence for a money laundering conviction, the …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Morales’ 17 points helped Boston University defeat American 67-52 on Wednesday night. Morales had eight rebounds and three blocks for the Terriers (12-16, 7-8 …