Month: August 2023

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A former high-ranking FBI counterintelligence official has pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in a New York. He admited that he helped a Russian oligarch seek dirt on a wealthy rival, in violation of U.S. sanctions on Russia. Charles McGonigal entered the plea on Tuesday.

By JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia agency says it will name a special prosecutor to consider whether the state’s Republican lieutenant governor should face criminal charges for efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in the state. Trump and 18 allies were indicted Monday. But Fulton County District Attorney was

By ANDI JATMIKO Associated Press JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Their dreams of representing Indonesia in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant turned to nightmares when they were forced to undergo “body checks” in front of local organizers. Now seven contestants have filed complaints with the police, accusing the organizers of sexual harassment, their lawyer said Tuesday.

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A man who set a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. A judge went slightly above the sentencing guidelines but below the possible maximum prison term of 20 years. Tyler Massengill admits using a homemade explosive to set a fire

By MARC LEVY Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Researchers in heavily drilled Pennsylvania are adding to a body of evidence suggesting links between the natural gas industry and certain health problems. In the reports released Tuesday evening, University of Pittsburgh researchers found what they called significant associations between gas industry activity and two ailments:

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer ESPN and host Sage Steele have settled a lawsuit she filed after being disciplined for comments she made about the company’s policy requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Steele posted on social media Tuesday that she is leaving the Bristol, Connecticut-based company, where she has worked since 2007.

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — WeWork has sounded the alarm on its ability to stay in business, prompting speculation around the future of the troubled workspace-sharing company. Last week, WeWork warned there was “substantial doubt” about the New York-based company’s “ability to continue as a going concern” — which is

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A museum in New Mexico to honor the Navajo Code Talkers is about $40 million shy of becoming a reality, according to organizers. The state put $6.4 million in capital outlay funds toward the project this year, but the museum’s organizers face a significant financial climb before doors can open,

By LEA SKENE Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — The suspect in a deadly weekend shooting at an indoor trampoline park in Maryland was visiting his daughter there when he shot his ex-wife’s boyfriend and fled, according to court documents. Quinton Walker, 30, turned himself in to authorities less than two hours after the shooting, which

By AMY TAXIN Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California judge charged with killing his wife during an argument while he was drunk has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer says it was an “accidental shooting.” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ricardo Ocampo on Tuesday ordered Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson to

By RONALD BLUM Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Opera News will print its final issue in November and be incorporated into Britain-based Opera magazine. The 87-year-old publication has focused on the Metropolitan Opera and spotlighted the art form in the U.S. The Met said the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a separate company formed in 1935

By DAVID HAMILTON AP Business Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — HP has failed to shunt aside class-action legal claims that it disables the scanners on its multifunction printers when their ink runs low. Though not for lack of trying. On Aug. 10, a federal judge ruled that HP Inc. must face a class-action lawsuit claiming

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys made brief opening arguments Tuesday in the trial of two white men in Mississippi who are accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx driver who had dropped off a package at a home. Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Charles Case, were

PARIS (AP) — French authorities say most vacationers have been able to return to their campsites after a wildfire broke out near the seaside resort of Argeles-sur-Mer in southern France. Up to 3,000 vacationers in four campsites were evacuated Monday evening as a precaution. Authorities say the fire was contained overnight but remains under close

By RIAZAT BUTT Associated Press KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban view their rule of Afghanistan as open-ended, drawing legitimacy from Islamic law and facing no significant threat, their chief spokesman said in an interview marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country. He also indicated a ban on female education will

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — The “Barbie” movie was pulled from theaters in Algeria this week almost one month after its release in the North African country. Online news outlet 24H Algerie said Algeria’s Ministry of Culture and Arts notified cinemas in Algiers, Oran and Constantine to “immediately” pull the movie. Neither the ministry nor the

PLUM, Pa. (AP) — The owners of a home that exploded in western Pennsylvania last weekend were having issues with their hot water tank, authorities said, but the cause of the blast that killed five people — including two municipal officials — remains under investigation. The explosion in Plum destroyed three structures and damaged at

By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic (AP) — Authorities say the death toll from a powerful explosion near the capital of the Dominican Republic has risen to 11 as firefighters are searching through the smoldering rubble. More than 50 people were injured in Monday’s explosion at a bustling

By THALIA BEATY Associated Press The presidents of 13 universities are elevating free speech on their campuses this academic year, as part of a new nonprofit initiative announced Tuesday. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars launched the initiative with funding from the Knight Foundation in response to what organizers see as threats to U.S. democracy.

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares declined Wednesday amid worries over discouraging data on China, as well as over the future of the U.S. economy. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1% in morning trading to 31,879.84. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dove 1.4% to 7,204.00. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 1.2% to 2,539.48.

By RONALD BLUM Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Opera Philadelphia is postponing a show to save money, and gearing up for a change in leadership. David Devan will retire next spring following 13 years as general director. Devan, who recently turned 60, says the organization shouldn’t have “a bunch of 60-, 70-year-olds figuring out

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month – for clothing, dining out, sporting goods and other areas – in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.7% in July from June, according to