Month: December 2024

AP Film Writers Break out your “Dune” popcorn bucket: It’s time for the best movies of the year. Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr name their top films of 2024. Their lists are topped by the sublime Indian drama “All We Imagine As Light” and the WWII drama “Blitz.” Other picks include

BANGKOK (AP) — A major ethnic rebel group in Myanmar has announced a unilateral ceasefire in its conflict with the ruling military and called for a dialogue under Chinese auspices to help restore peace in the country’s northeast. China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it welcomed the initiative. China is the military government’s most important foreign

AP Airlines Writer Members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee took aim at airline executives Wednesday for using an expanding menu of fees to charge customers for early boarding, better seats and other comforts that used to be part of the ticket price. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he thinks the federal government should review and

Associated Press MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — A judge ruled that a Virginia man accused of killing his wife, whose body has still not been found, will go trial in September. Thirty-seven-year-old Naresh Bhatt of Manassas Park was indicted earlier this week on charges of murder and defiling the body of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt.

Associated Press IZVORANI, Romania (AP) — The surprise front-runner in Romania’s presidential election insisted to The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that he is not pro-Russian — hours before Romania declassified intelligence alleging Moscow ran an online campaign to promote him to voters. Far-right populist Calin Georgescu could not immediately be reached about the

Associated Press It was a history-making event: In a chapel at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, 2nd Lt. Khady Ndiaye stood proudly — wearing a hijab – as she became the first Muslim woman commissioned by the U.S. Army as a chaplain candidate. Presiding over the ceremony in June was Maj. Gen. Bill Green, the Army’s

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s military says its troops have raided a militant hideout in the restive northwest, resulting in a shootout in which five insurgents were killed and two others were wounded. In a statement, the military said the raid occurred Wednesday in Lakki Marwat, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It gave

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago said they have confiscated more than $6 million worth of drugs, one of the biggest seizures in the history of the twin-island Caribbean nation. The seizure included more than 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of marijuana and more than 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms, of

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has decided to increase its still strikingly low daily minimum wage by 12% next year. But because the Mexican peso has dropped by 18% in value over the last year, the increase actually marks a slight drop in constant dollar terms. The three-party minimum wage commission, made up of government,

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50,

Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is leading a fresh push for European countries to ramp up defense spending. It’s a shortcoming that President-elect Donald Trump used to berate U.S. allies during his first term in office, severely damaging trust. Since Russia launched its full-fledged invasion almost three years ago, NATO’s 32

Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been temporarily released from prison in Iran after undergoing complex surgery that saw part of a bone in her right leg removed over cancer fears. A campaign on Mohammadi’s behalf says she will be free for 21 days but will

LONDON (AP) — Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will face no formal action from the English Football Association despite defying its rules for a second time by writing a religious message on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion. Guehi and Palace were contacted by the FA and reminded of English soccer’s

AP Auto Racing Writer The Associated Press has learned that two longtime NASCAR executives have been introduced at Andretti Global as part of the restructuring now that Michael Andretti has stepped aside. Doug Duchardt, who has served multiple roles with race teams and with General Motors, was named chief performance officer of motorsports at TWG

AP Business Writer The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two zip codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — An Irish YouTuber hopes to raise millions of dollars for charity this holiday season — and is using a popular gaming technology to rally his fans around the cause. Seán McLoughlin, also known as Jacksepticeye, is popular for his video game playthroughs and candid mental health content. His annual

Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s foreign minister says a meeting of his counterparts from NATO member countries in Brussels has produced “no consensus” on the prospect of inviting Ukraine to join the transatlantic military alliance. Kyiv sees NATO membership as an essential condition for bringing an end to Russia’s war. But speaking at

PRAGUE (AP) — Officials say oil delivery to the Czech Republic from Russia through the Druhzba pipeline has been interrupted. The state Mero company that operates the pipeline network in the country says it is assessing the situation. It says the state has reserves for 90 days and oil delivery from the West through the

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana voters will decide the fates of four proposed amendments to the state constitution, in what will be the final statewide election of 2024. The measures on the ballot Saturday would change how state officials conduct oversight of judges, deliberate spending bills in the Legislature and deal with the properties

Edmunds Similar in size and fuel economy, these two hybrid compact sedans differ from there. The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid boasts much stronger performance and a higher-quality cabin, while the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid provides more features for the money and better tech. There are advantages for both, but when the Civic is ahead, it’s

DETROIT (AP) — The poor performance of General Motors’ Chinese joint ventures is forcing the company to write down assets and take a restructuring charge totaling more than $5 billion in the fourth quarter of this year. The Detroit automaker said Wednesday in a regulatory filing that it will cut the value of its equity

Unless you happen to be an average-size person with perfectly balanced proportions, the clothing you buy may or may not fit perfectly. A skilled tailor can make a wardrobe seem almost custom-made by taking up a hem, adjusting a cuff, or making a few nips and tucks here and there. The same applies to your

Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Syria’s most powerful insurgent group has toured the seized city of Aleppo in a surprise visit, the first since the insurgents captured large parts of the city over the weekend as fierce fighting intensifies in the government-led counter-offensive in northern Hama. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who heads jihadi

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francishas  met Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Vatican and discussed with him the war in Ukraine, focusing on the humanitarian situation and efforts to promote peace in the region. Francis also discussed other themes with Orban, including the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union as

Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union agreed to delay by a year the introduction of new rules to ban the sale of products that lead to massive deforestation, caving in to demands from several producer nations from across the globe and domestic opposition within the 27-nation bloc. Officials said Wednesday that the EU

Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A group led by left-wing activists has filed a second impeachment complaint against the Philippine vice president over her alleged misuse of government funds and demanded that she be permanently barred from holding public office. The impeachment complaint filed by 74 activists, including human rights, labor and student leaders,