Month: September 2024

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A high-ranking official with Haiti’s National Office of Migration has been killed in the north coastal city of Cap-Haitien. A reporter with Radio Caraïbes who was at the scene said  Kerwin Augustin, a regional representative who oversaw Haiti’s northern region, was shot near his house on Wednesday and died at a

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A respected human rights organization in Belarus says dozens of teachers have been detained or interrogated by authorities as part of the country’s wide-ranging crackdown on dissent. Pavel Sapelka, a spokesman for the Viasna rights group told The Associated Press on Wednesday that moves against teachers began in September and that

AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — #MeToo activist Tarana Burke says that while the details of the Sean “Diddy” Combs allegations are horrific, she is heartened by the fact that such cases now come out in public due to the ongoing impact of the #MeToo cultural reckoning. Burke also notes that the original lawsuit

Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria has warned of possible flooding in 11 states following the release of water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon. The Nigerian hydrological agency said on Wednesday that water would be released from the Lagdo dam gradually and could cause flooding, but that there was no cause for alarm.

Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — The owner and manager of the cargo ship that caused the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse recklessly cut corners and ignored known electrical problems on the vessel, the Justice Department alleged Wednesday in a lawsuit seeking to recover more than $100 million that the government spent to clear the underwater debris

AP Sports Writer ESPN NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski is retiring from broadcasting to return to his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, to take over the newly created position of general manager of the men’s basketball program, the Atlantic 10 school announced Wednesday. Wojnarowski will oversee a wide range of responsibilities while working alongside coach Mark Schmidt

Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man used construction equipment to drop a heavy boom lift onto a sculpture that has stood for 25 years outside St. Louis’ Cathedral Basilica, badly damaging it, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Angel of Harmony, which stood 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall and depicts a

AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is preparing a series of Senate resolutions that would stop more than $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel. It’s a longshot political effort but the most substantive pushback yet from Congress over the devastation in Gaza ahead of the first year anniversary of

AP Science Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have discovered the longest pair of jets streaming from a black hole in a distant galaxy. The jets shooting hot plasma are the largest ever spotted – about as long as 140 Milky Way galaxies lined up end-to-end. “This one has managed to reach a size that’s

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy is taking lessons from its combat in the Red Sea over the past year and what Ukraine has done to hold off the Russians in the Black Sea to help U.S. military leaders prepare the service for a potential future conflict with China. From drones and unmanned surface

Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Prosecutors in Thailand say eight former security personnel accused of responsibility for the deaths of 78 Muslim men arrested 20 years ago will be indicted on murder charges. The 2004 case earned special notoriety because of the manner in which the victims died. They were arrested following a violent protest

AP National Writer Not long after Edwin Moses figured out how to attack the solution to track’s ultimate math problem, he transformed himself into the best hurdler in history. That then gave the engineer-turned-Olympic champion the platform to go after even more difficult problems. The title to a new documentary on Moses, “13 Steps,” pays

AP Fashion Writer MILAN (AP) — Milan designers dipped into neutrals and muted tones for next summer on the second day of Milan Fashion Week. The color story on Wednesday reflected both a conservative streak in troubled times and a move toward thoughtful production of garments that can anchor any wardrobe. Even Roberto Cavalli opened

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame is floating the idea of inducting balloons. They are among the 12 finalists being considered for the honor later this year, alongside other first-time contenders including the trampoline and the party game Apples to Apples. Also nominated are the “Choose Your Own Adventure” gamebooks, Hess

AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Representatives for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ transition teams met for the first time at the White House, the Biden administration announced Wednesday, as the outgoing administration plans to smooth the handoff to whomever wins in November. Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients hosted a

AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Lin-Manuel Miranda argues most New Yorkers have an answer to the following question: When did you first see “The Warriors”? The 1979 cult classic about gangs in New York is the inspiration for a new musical concept album from Miranda and actor and playwriter Eisa Davis. The project

Donna Kelce is the latest family member to make her mark on the world of entertainment, cameoing in two upcoming Hallmark Christmas movies that, naturally, are football-themed. True to form, she won’t be playing favorites between her sons, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. “Holiday Touchdown:

Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration Wednesday at surprise escalations that threaten to derail efforts to broker a cease-fire deal in Gaza, noting that the United States is assessing a deadly attack that caused pagers used by Hezbollah to explode in Lebanon. Blinken spoke to reporters in Cairo,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays. The State Department announced Wednesday that its online renewal system is now fully operational, after testing in pilot programs, and available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years

AP Basketball Writer The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon’s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play in 2026. The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They paid $125 million for the franchise. The Bhathals started having conversations with

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Soldiers and residents in southwestern Poland are laying sandbags near swollen rivers around the city of Wroclaw to protect homes and businesses after days of flooding across Central Europe. Poland joins Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania in being hard hit by floods following record rains in the region starting last

Associated Press MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say they have arrested the key suspect in the gang rape of a woman polio worker who was assaulted by three men during last week’s vaccination campaign. Two other suspects in the case are still at large. A local police official said on Wednesday that the suspect,

Edmunds Vehicle recalls are an important part of automotive safety. But they can also be quite a hassle for owners. Taking your vehicle to the dealership for an unexpected repair or fix is just one more thing you have to plan for. Happily, things are changing. With many of the newest vehicles, some recalls can

AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tupperware Brands has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company that revolutionized food storage decades ago and became inextricably linked to the parties where women seeking a measure of financial independence and fun in midcentury America sold the colorful products says it will seek court approval for

PAWLET, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police say a town official, his wife and her son were found shot to death in their home over the weekend. Police identified them as 46-year-old Brian Crossman, 41-year-old Erica Crossman and 13-year-old Colin Taft. Police say they were found dead Sunday and all three deaths were ruled homicides.

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The chief executive of Britain’s scandal-ridden Post Office will step down next year. The resignation comes as criticism mounts over the speed of compensation payments to branch managers wrongly convicted of theft or fraud because of a faulty computer system. Nick Read said Wednesday it has been a “great privilege”

BEIJING (AP) — China has announced sanctions on American companies selling arms to the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory and threatens to annex by force. Chinese state media made the announcement on Wednesday, citing the Foreign Ministry, but gave no details on the companies involved. Taiwan is awaiting deliveries

AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for American consumers. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four

AP Technology Writer Government scientists and artificial intelligence experts from at least nine countries and the European Union will meet in San Francisco after the U.S. elections to coordinate on safely developing AI technology and averting its dangers. President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday announced a two-day international AI safety gathering planned for November 20

Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian drones have struck a large military depot in a town deep inside Russia overnight, causing a huge blaze and prompting the evacuation of residents. A Ukrainian official and Russian news reports said the strike destroyed Russian warehouses in Toropets, a town in Russia’s Tver region northwest of Moscow.

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA has teamed up with the World Health Organization for a campaign to educate the soccer industry about the risks of concussion injuries. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says “concussion is a public health issue of concern.” FIFA is sending a toolkit to all 211 national federations. It’s to help teach at