Month: March 2024

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and REGINA GARCIA CANO MIAMI (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that a former Venezuelan fighter pilot jailed in Venezuela in February for his ties to a prominent human rights attorney is an employee of U.S. oil firm Chevron. Alejandro González was taken into custody Feb. 9 when counterintelligence agents raided

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station has blasted off two days after its launch was aborted at the last minute. The spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Russian Oleg Novitsky and Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus launched on Saturday with no apparent problems from the Russian-leased Baikonur

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press Palm Sunday commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when he was greeted by cheering crowds waving palm branches that they set out on the ground along his path, according to the Bible. This year, Palm Sunday falls on March 24. Also known as

By ALI SWENSON Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — The room sits behind a chain-link fence, then black wrought-iron gates. Guards block the entrance, which requires a security badge to access. The glass surrounding it is shatterproof. What merits all these layers of protection is somewhat surprising: tabulating machines that count votes in Arizona’s Maricopa County.

By ALI SWENSON Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — The room sits behind a chain-link fence, then black wrought-iron gates. Guards block the entrance, which requires a security badge to access. The glass surrounding it is shatterproof. What merits all these layers of protection is somewhat surprising: tabulating machines that count the votes during elections in

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Download the mental health chatbot Earkick and you’re greeted by a bandana-wearing panda who could easily fit into a kids’ cartoon. Start talking or typing about anxiety and the app generates the kind of comforting, sympathetic statements therapists are trained to deliver. The panda might then

By SYLVIA HUI The Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Support poured in from around the world Saturday for Kate, the Princess of Wales, after she revealed in a candid video message that she is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer following major abdominal surgery. The princess’s poignant video, in which she spoke about the “huge shock” and

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovaks are heading to the ballots to elect a successor to Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female president and a staunch backer of Slovakia’s neighbor Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s two-year invasion. She is not seeking a second term. Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, is

NEW DELHI (AP) — Hundreds of protesters in India’s capital have taken to the streets for a second day, demanding the immediate release of one of the top rivals of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the country gears up for a national election next month. Arvind Kejriwal, New Delhi’s top elected official was arrested

By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to tour the blood-stained classroom building where the 2018 Parkland high school massacre happened. Harris plans to visit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Saturday and talk with relatives of some of the 17 people who were murdered. Harris’ visit

MOSCOW (AP) — The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service told President Vladimir Putin Saturday that 11 people have been detained after gunmen stormed a concert hall in Moscow and opened fire on the crowd, according to Russian state news agency Tass. At least 93 people were killed in the attack, including three children, Russian

By SIBI ARASU Associated Press BENGALURU, India (AP) — India is the world’s largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows

By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Gang violence wracking Haiti has reverberated among the more than 1 million Haitians who left their country for Brazil, Chile, Mexico and the United States. Many feel helpless when they call terrified family members back home who can’t leave the violence-torn nation because airports are closed

By ABBY SEWELL Associated Press MARWANIEH, Lebanon (AP) — About 60 families are celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at an abandoned hotel in southern Lebanon, far from their homes. The families staying at the Hotel Montana in the town of Marwanieh are among the roughly 90,000 people from Lebanon’s southern border region who

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer DALLAS (AP) — It’s been 15 years since the last fatal crash of a U.S. airliner, but you wouldn’t know that from a torrent of flight problems that made news in the last three months. There was a time when things like cracked windshields and minor engine problems didn’t

By STEVE McMORRAN AP Sports Writer The presence of an endangered species of dolphins on the race course has prevented sailing on the first day of the New Zealand leg of the SailGP series. The race venue on Lyttelton Harbour near Christchurch on the South Island is home to around 1,000 of the remaining 10,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Missouri and Louisiana are holding presidential primaries this weekend. None of the races will offer suspense. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already clinched their party nominations and beaten their major competitors. But the primary races Saturday are still closely watched by insiders for turnout and signs of protest

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department this month found $300 million for weapons for Ukraine, even though the bill to fund the military aid is stalled in Congress. White House and Pentagon leaders explained the discovery of the money by saying that while that figure may

By JIM GOMEZ Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Two Chinese coast guard ships fired at a Philippine supply boat with water cannon Saturday in the latest confrontation near a disputed South China Sea shoal, causing heavy damage to the wooden vessel, Philippine officials said. It was not immediately clear if the Philippine navy crew

LONDON (AP) — Speculation about the actor who will be tapped as the next James Bond grew this week with reports that the role would go to Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The “Kick-Ass” star is no stranger to action movies and at 33 is a good age to join the franchise, as producers likely want a 10

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a resolution demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the United States warned the measure could hurt negotiations to halt Israeli-Hamas hostilities. The resolution, put forward by the 10 elected

By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — When Opal Lee was 12, a racist mob, angered that a Black family had moved in, drove her family out of their Texas home. Now, the 97-year-old community activist is getting closer to moving into a brand new home on the very same tree-lined corner

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Small towns and rural enclaves along the path of April’s total solar eclipse are steeling for huge crowds of sun chasers who plan to catch a glimpse of day turning into dusk in North America. Tourism and community leaders in the path of totality from Texas

By ELÉONORE HUGHES Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian climatologist Núbia Beray Armond for years had been sounding the alarm about Rio de Janeiro’s need for an extreme heat plan including water distribution. Interest was tepid until a disastrous Taylor Swift concert last November — and now her phone won’t stop ringing. A

OSO, Wash. (AP) — The small community of Oso, Washington, on Friday inaugurated a memorial honoring the 43 people killed at the site 10 years ago in the deadliest landslide in U.S. history. Hundreds gathered there for a ceremony at the 2-acre (8,000-square-meter) memorial. The a $3.8 million site northeast of Seattle was dedicated to

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The numbers have been drawn for a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot offering the prospect of instant riches for a lucky player after more than three months without a big winner. The numbers drawn Friday night were: 3, 8, 31, 35, 44, 16. The estimated $977 million Mega Millions

CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines says federal regulators are increasing their oversight of the carrier following a series of recent issues. United’s vice president of corporate safety said Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration will examine multiple areas of the airline’s operation to ensure safety compliance. United CEO Scott Kirby tried to reassure customers earlier

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — The president of Brazil’s soccer federation says the rape convictions of former footballers Dani Alves and Robinho end “one of the most nefarious chapters” in the country’s sports history. Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement that the executives at ruling body CBF and its coaching

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Authorities say an inmate was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash soon after his escape from a Hawaii jail. Correctional officers found the inmate on a highway outside Kauai Community Correctional Center early Friday. Police say he was running north on the highway when a vehicle hit him. Police are searching

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The malnourished and badly bruised son of a parenting advice YouTuber politely asks a neighbor to take him to the nearest police station in newly released video from the day his mother and her business partner were arrested on child abuse charges in southern Utah.

By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of arrests for illegally crossing the U.S. southern border with Mexico nudged upward February over the previous month. But at a time when immigration is increasingly a concern for voters, the numbers were still among the lowest of Joe Biden’s presidency. According to government figures,

By MARC LEVY Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick will be the only names on ballots for the office in Pennsylvania’s April primary after a ruling by the state’s highest court. Friday’s ruling completed the third of three successful court challenges to the paperwork of three

LOS ANGELES (AP) — County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is advancing to a May election in California to decide who will complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which runs through January. Boudreaux will face state legislator Vince Fong in the May 21 special election in the 20th District.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army says a four-star general has been suspended from his job for allegedly trying to use his power to influence the selection of a lower-ranking officer for a command job. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth reviewed allegations that Gen. Charles Hamilton interfered with the command assessment

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier struck three underground storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen late Friday. That’s according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public. The official

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago voters have rejected a real estate tax on properties over $1 million to pay for services for homeless people. It’s a loss for first-term Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The so-called “mansion tax” would have incrementally raised Chicago’s real estate transfer tax on properties valued at more than $1 million. Supporters estimated

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has opened a formal investigation into illegal gambling and theft allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his

By GENE JOHNSON and MARK THIESSEN Associated Press Authorities are investigating whether the deaths of an 83-year-old man who was walking his dogs and a 72-year-old man who lived in a remote cabin are connected to the escape of an Idaho white supremacist prison gang member and an accomplice after a Boise hospital ambush. The

By JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Public Service Commission is an elected body that’s gone years without having elections because of a redistricting lawsuit. Anticipating that a court will order elections to resume, Georgia lawmakers now want to tack an extra two years on the six-year terms of four commissioners on the

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado has named a substitute to her presidential bid while she fights a government ban on her running for office. The announcement came Friday after Machado faced increasing political repression from the government of President Nicolás Maduro as well as pressure from foreign leaders and fellow

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Vice President Kamala Harris; former Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; civil rights activist Ruby Bridges ___ CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.; former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. R-Calif. ___ CNN’s “State of the Union”

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Canada’s federal government and the provincial Manitoba government have agreed to spend tens of millions to help search a landfill for the remains of two slain Indigenous women. A sum of $20 million Canadian (US$14.7 million) from each government is to go toward a search of the privately owned Prairie Green

By MEAD GRUVER Associated Press CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s governor on Friday vetoed a bill that would have erected significant barriers to abortion, should it remain legal in the state, and signed legislation banning gender-affirming care for minors. The abortion bill rejected by Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, would have required facilities providing surgical

BASTROP, Texas (AP) — Texas authorities say a school bus with more than 40 prekindergarten students has collided with a concrete truck and rolled over while returning from a field trip. At least two people are dead. Friday’s accident happened in the suburbs outside Austin. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Deon Cockrell says another

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Certain sexual assaults against a spouse will now be criminalized in West Virginia for the first time under a law signed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice. The law, signed Friday, removes marriage as a defense to first- and third-degree sexual assault. Until 1976, a married person couldn’t be charged with penetrative