Associated Press stories, Page 382
Mediators tout a Gaza ceasefire deal and plan to free hostages. Israel says details still in flux
DOHA, Qatar — Israel and Hamas agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The three-phase ceasefire deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in...
Tiger Woods makes indoor golf debut and finds humor in blowout loss, noting ‘how bad pros can be’
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Tiger Woods was the sixth and final player to emerge from the tunnel and onto the field of play for his TGL debut on Tuesday night. No one announced his name. Wasn’t necessary. Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” blared and that was more than enough...
U.S. population projections shrink from last year because of declining birth rates, less immigration
The Congressional Budget Office has shrunk its projections for the U.S. population in 30 years to 372 million residents, a 2.8% drop from last year, citing declining birth rates and less expected immigration. The budget office last year projected 383 million people living in the United States in 30 years...
Hope and dread as Israelis and Palestinians await a Gaza truce that may not end their suffering
TEL AVIV, Israel — With a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas tantalizingly close, families of hostages in the Gaza Strip are afraid to get their hopes up and agonizing over the unknown. “These days are horrible for us,” Yafit Zailer said Wednesday, breaking down into sobs over the thought of...
FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods
U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk. Food and Drug Administration officials granted a 2022 petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates, who urged the...
Russian missile attack forces Ukraine to shut down power grid
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia on Wednesday launched a major ballistic and cruise missile attack on regions across Ukraine, targeting energy production and compelling authorities to shut down the power grid in some areas despite freezing winter weather, officials said. The Russian Defense Ministry said that it launched a strike on...
FDA floats plan to make cigarettes nonaddictive, but its fate rests with Trump
WASHINGTON — Federal officials on Wednesday released a far-reaching proposal to make cigarettes far less addictive by capping their nicotine content, a goal long sought by antismoking advocates that is unlikely to go into effect anytime soon. The proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration comes in the final...
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...
