Month: December 2024

AP Medical Writer LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — People worried they’ll never get a scarce human transplant want to know when they might get a pig kidney instead. They call and email NYU Langone Health and Massachusetts General Hospital. Researchers are gearing up as two companies, United Therapeutics and eGenesis, aim to begin the world’s first

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Panto is as much a part of Christmas in Britain as turkey, tinsel and mince pies. Pantos is short for pantomimes. They are stage musicals that play at theaters big and small across the U.K. each winter. They mix a fairy-tale plot with topical references, slapstick, song, dance and double

Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Leading contenders in Germany’s upcoming election have presented their programs, setting out contrasting visions of how to put new vigor into Europe’s biggest economy and tackle other issues such as migration. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a center-left Social Democrat, will seek a second term in the parliamentary election expected on Feb.

AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Here are some of The Associated Press’ favorite music documentaries of the year — in no particular order — along with where to find them. AP Music Writer Maria Sherman selections include: “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.,” “The Beach Boys,” “Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood,” “Road Diary: Bruce

AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Who are the top reggaeton musicians in the world? Or throughout history? Does Bad Bunny come to mind? Daddy Yankee? For years, urbano music has been defined solely by its male superstars. But that’s not the case, and certainly not in recent history. A crop of newer talent

AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Organizers of a breakaway European Super League have revealed new plans to create a rival to the Champions League. The Unify League is the latest incarnation of a proposed elite competition for the biggest soccer clubs in Europe. It comes after the launch of a Super League in

DETROIT (AP) — A company that sells replacement winter tires is recalling more than 541,000 of them in the U.S. because they don’t have enough snow traction to meet North American standards. Prinx Chengshan Tire North America is recalling certain Fortune Tormenta and Prinx Hicountry tires with three-peak mountain snowflake symbols on the sidewalls. The

AP Business Writers WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers stepped up their spending at retail stores last month, providing a boost to the economy in the early phases of the winter holiday shopping season. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose 0.7% in November. That’s a solid increase and higher than October’s 0.5% gain. The

MILAN (AP) — Rescue officials say the operation to transport an injured spelunker out of a cave in northern Italy has cleared a difficult passage Tuesday. The officials say they have left the uncharted part of the Bueno Fonteno cave and entered the main tunnel. The operation is in its fourth day and is expected

AP Sports Writer Record numbers of basketball fans filled arenas to watch the rookie seasons of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unfold. Simone Biles captivated the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coco Gauff made women’s tennis history. It was all part of a pivotal year for women in sports, both financially and culturally, and

Associated Press BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — On Christmas Eve in 1741, Moravian settlers named this Pennsylvania city after the biblical birthplace of Jesus. Nearly 300 years later, Moravians continue celebrating their Christmas season traditions in Bethlehem. They include the “putz,” a Nativity scene that tells the story of Christ’s birth with miniature wooden figurines, the

LONDON (AP) — The world’s most famous fictional Top Gun is now a decorated naval hero. Tom Cruise was awarded the U.S. Navy’s top civilian honor on Tuesday for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” with “Top Gun” and other films. Cruise, who has been working in the U.K., was given the

Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Boston is planning to renovate a crumbling stadium in one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods for its new professional women’s soccer team. The nearly $200 million project is expected to start in the coming weeks and has the support of Mayor Michelle Wu. She argues the public-private partnership —

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — A lawyer accused of trying to interfere in British politics on behalf of China has lost a legal challenge against the U.K.‘s domestic intelligence agency. Britain’s MI5 security service issued an alert to all lawmakers in January 2022 warning that London-based lawyer Christine Lee was knowingly engaged in “political interference

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The European Union’s legislature has celebrated the bravery and staunch resistance of Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia while awarding them the EU’s top human rights honor. The European Parliament president said the Sakharov Prize is “in recognition of your tireless efforts to restore freedom and democracy

Global security leaders are warning that nuclear threats are growing as weapons spending has surged around the world. At the same time, private bunker sales are on the rise globally. Critics warn these bunkers create a false perception that a nuclear war is survivable. They argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds that Democrats are feeling more pessimistic about the U.S. economy after Donald Trump’s victory. Republicans, meanwhile, are still dour about the current state of the economy but hopeful that growth will be stronger next year when Trump returns to the White House as president. The latest

Associated Press When Bernard Jones Jr. and his wife, Doris, built their dream home, they didn’t hold back. A grotto swimming pool with a waterfall for hot summer days. A home theater for cozy winter nights. A fruit orchard to harvest in fall. And a vast underground bunker in case disaster strikes. “The world’s not

AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Broadway revival of “Chicago” has lasted for decades, in part thanks to casting celebrities in the top spots of a show about the venality of celebrity. Roxie Hart, the washed-up chorus girl and murderer at its heart, has been played by such diverse actors as Brooke Shields,

AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Broadway revival of “Chicago” has lasted for decades, in part thanks to casting celebrities in the top spots of a show about the venality of celebrity. Roxie Hart, the washed-up chorus girl and murderer at its heart, has been played by such a range of actors as

AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators are investigating whether TikTok breached the bloc’s digital rulebook by failing to deal with risks to Romania’s presidential election. The vote was thrown into turmoil over allegations of electoral violations and Russian meddling. The European Commission is escalating its scrutiny of the popular video-sharing platform after

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is urging anyone disappointed over her loss in last month’s election to “stay in the fight” as Donald Trump prepares to take office. The remarks Tuesday to students in the Maryland Corps service year program were her most extensive since her concession speech. It’s unclear what

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future. Israel’s recent capture of the buffer zone has sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating the 1974 ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Netanyahu entered the buffer zone on

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani officials say militants on a motorcycle opened fire at a police post in the country’s restive northwest, killing at least two officers and wounding three others before fleeing the scene. No one immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack in Shangla, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan. A local

Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — After two costly delays, the Pinellas County Commission is set to vote on its share of financing for a new $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. Rays officials say they’re confident of approval this time. The overall plan was approved by the county commission and city of St. Petersburg