Associated Press stories, Page 321
2 private lunar landers head toward the moon in a roundabout journey
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — In a two-for-one moonshot, SpaceX launched a pair of lunar landers Wednesday for U.S. and Japanese companies looking to jumpstart business on Earth’s dusty sidekick. The two landers rocketed away in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the latest in a stream...
Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s fiery confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, publicly faced senators for the first time after weeks of questions from Democrats — and praise from Republicans — about his “unconventional” resume. Hegseth, a former combat veteran and TV news host, says he will be a “change agent”...
Fire tornadoes are a risk under California’s extreme wildfire conditions
As if they aren’t already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather. The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation”...
As Los Angeles burns, Hollywood’s Oscar season turns into a pledge drive
When the Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles last Tuesday, Hollywood’s awards season was in full swing. The Golden Globes had transpired less than 48 hours earlier and a series of splashy awards banquets followed in the days after. But the enormity of the destruction in Southern California has...
Relief, 21st-century style: As wildfires burn, GoFundMe becomes a repository of harrowing stories
NEW YORK — They seem endless, these sapping stories of loss. A grandfather starts over in his 90s. A family loses their dream home. People who were already struggling are dealt new, brutal blows. As California’s massive wildfires burn, a barrage of GoFundMe campaigns for victims have become an outlet...
A ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ is forecast for fire-scarred Los Angeles area
LOS ANGELES — Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region on Wednesday, along with a rare warning of a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” for an area near where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed...
British author Neil Gaiman denies ever engaging in non-consensual sex as more accusers come forward
MELBOURNE, Australia — Best-selling British author Neil Gaiman released a statement Wednesday denying he had ever engaged in non-consensual sex after a magazine this week published allegations from several women, accusing him of sexual assault. The 64-year-old author of “The Sandman” comic book series and novel “American Gods” was responding...
Supreme Court will hear Texas anti-pornography law that challengers say violates free-speech rights
WASHINGTON — A Texas anti-pornography law is going before the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a collision of free speech rights, regulation of online content and the protection of children. Texas is among more than a dozen states with similar laws aimed at blocking young children and teenagers from viewing...
South Korea’s impeached President Yoon detained in major law enforcement operation
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained in a major law enforcement operation at the presidential compound Wednesday, defiantly insisting the anti-corruption agency didn’t have the authority to investigate his actions but saying he complied to prevent violence. Yoon, the country’s first sitting president...
Italy, Albania and UAE ink clean energy cooperation deal
ROME — Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates signed a three-way clean energy cooperation deal Wednesday that calls for the Gulf country’s expertise to be put to use in Albania to produce solar, wind and other renewable energy, some of which would then be transferred to Italy via an...
Few U.S. adults confident Justice Dept. and FBI will act fairly under Trump, AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON — As President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, prepares for questioning from senators on Wednesday, only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” confident that the Department of Justice will act in a fair and nonpartisan manner during his second term, a poll...
U.S. inflation likely remained elevated last month, threatening interest rate cuts
WASHINGTON — U.S. inflation probably worsened last month on the back of higher prices for gas, eggs, and used cars, a trend that could lessen the chance that the Federal Reserve will cut its key interest rate much this year. On Wednesday the Labor Department is expected to report that...
SEC sues Elon Musk, saying he didn’t disclose Twitter ownership on time before buying it
The Securities and Exchange Commission has sued billionaire Elon Musk, saying he failed to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner in early 2022, before buying the social media site. As a result, the SEC alleges, Musk was able to underpay “by at least $150 million” for...
Obesity won’t be solely defined by BMI under new plan for diagnosis by global expertsVideo
A group of global experts is proposing a new way to define and diagnose obesity, reducing the emphasis on the controversial body mass index and hoping to better identify people who need treatment for the disease caused by excess body fat. Under recommendations released Tuesday night, obesity would no longer...
Lions reach new pinnacle after finally finding right leaders
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Sheila Ford Hamp stepped up to support general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell when the Detroit Lions were 4-18-1 under their leadership. Back then, there were doubts Detroit got it right. In Hamp’s first year as team owner, she gave Holmes his first chance...
Commanders move quickly from revelry to focus on next game
ASHBURN, Va. — Jayden Daniels has not seen any of the fervor around the Washington area since the Commanders delivered the franchise’s first playoff win in 19 years because the stellar rookie quarterback works hard to keep stuff like that out of his head. “I kind of stay in my...
Broncos QB Bo Nix already thinking about his next steps with rookie season in booksVideo
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In 1983, the Denver Broncos went on the road to Seattle and lost a wild-card playoff game 31-7. There was a rookie quarterback named John Elway who played that day. Things worked out pretty well for the future Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl winner. Bo...
Eugenio Chacarra out of LIV Golf, losing prime years in cautionary tale
HONOLULU — One of the complaints Eugenio Chacarra had about LIV Golf concerned money, of all things. Chacarra left Oklahoma State in 2022 to join the Saudi-funded league, the brightest of the young players on a roster of mostly aging veterans. He won in his fifth start, and there were...
Deion Sanders, Jason Witten floated as Cowboys coach options
Deion Sanders and Jason Witten are two of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ former — and favorite — players, and both have been floated as potential replacements for coach Mike McCarthy. Jones and McCarthy agreed Monday to part ways after five seasons together. McCarthy was on an expiring contract and...
Ohio State has slowly paced itself on offense all the way to national title gameVideo
Ohio State has been purposely pacing itself on offense all season, huddling more and trying to limit the number of snaps in each game of what the Buckeyes hoped and anticipated would be a long run. “I know it sounds crazy, the huddle, it’s almost like going back in time,”...
Canadiens’ Emil Heineman out 3-4 weeks after getting hit by car in Salt Lake CityVideo
Montreal Canadiens player Emil Heineman is expected to miss three to four weeks after being hit by a car while walking in downtown Salt Lake City a day before playing at the Utah Hockey Club. The team announced Tuesday that the 23-year-old Swedish forward was out with an upper-body injury...
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes watched playoffs while awaiting his child’s birthVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes had his mind on the playoffs even as he was awaiting the arrival of his third child. The Chiefs quarterback said Tuesday that his wife, Brittany, let him watch some of the wild-card games Sunday while they were waiting for her to give birth....
Speaker Johnson orders U.S. Capitol flags raised to full height for Trump’s inauguration
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered that flags at the U.S. Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, pausing a 30-day flag-lowering order as a result of the death of former President Jimmy Carter. The Republican leader’s decision means that President-elect Donald Trump will not take...
Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration...
Gael Monfils outduels fellow Frenchman in Australian Open 1st-round match for the agesVideo
MELBOURNE, Australia — The pragmatic pro in Gael Monfils would like to have finished off his first-round win in straight sets against up-and-coming fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Australian Open. The entertainer’s instinct in him got a lot of value out of clinching it in five. In a...
