Associated Press stories, Page 744
As social media guardrails fade and AI deepfakes go mainstream, experts warn of impact on elections
NEW YORK — Nearly three years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the false election conspiracy theories that drove the violent attack remain prevalent on social media and cable news: suitcases filled with ballots, late-night ballot dumps, dead people voting. Experts warn it will likely be worse in the coming...
6-year-old boy traveling to visit grandma for Christmas put on wrong Spirit flight
FORT MYERS, Fla. — A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight for the Christmas holiday to visit his grandmother in southwest Florida instead was put on the wrong plane and ended up 160 miles away in Orlando, Florida. When the grandmother, Maria Ramos, showed up on Thursday at Southwest...
Americans ramped up spending over holidays despite some financial anxiety, higher costs
NEW YORK — Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to the latest measure. Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.1%, a slower pace...
Justin Thomas says new year in golf brings opportunity to everyone
The next season on the PGA Tour already has the perception of being two tours. The elite are in the $20 million signature events with a big boost in FedEx Cup points. The rest are playing for less money ($8.5 million on average) and having to play well to advance...
56 French stars defend actor Gerard Depardieu despite sexual misconduct allegations
PARIS — More than 50 French performers, writers and producers published an essay Tuesday defending film star and national icon Gerard Depardieu amid growing scrutiny of his behavior toward women during his five-decade career. Advocates for sexual abuse victims expressed dismay at the outpouring of support. Depardieu was handed preliminary...
The right to protest is under threat in Britain, undermining a pillar of democracy
LONDON — For holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants, a retiree faces up to two years in prison. For hanging a banner reading “Just Stop Oil” off a bridge, an engineer got a three-year sentence. Just for walking slowly down the street,...
Brock Purdy’s 4 interceptions doom the 49ers in loss to the Ravens
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers seemed poised for another fast start when two big passes to George Kittle moved them into the red zone on the opening drive. What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game. Purdy threw an interception...
Russian naval ship in Crimea damaged in airstrike by Ukrainian forces, Russian Defense Ministry says
KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian naval ship in Crimea was damaged in an airstrike by Ukrainian forces, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday. The landing ship Novocherkassk was hit at a base in the city of Feodosia by plane-launched guided missiles, the ministry said, adding that two Ukrainian fighter jets were...
Israeli military says Gaza ground offensive has expanded into urban refugee camps
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces on Tuesday expanded their ground offensive into urban refugee camps in central Gaza after bombarding the crowded Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate. Gaza’s main telecom provider announced another “complete interruption” of services in the besieged territory. The military’s announcement of the new...
Biden orders strikes on an Iranian-aligned group after 3 U.S. troops injured in drone attack in Iraq
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to carry out retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups after three U.S. service members were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said one of the U.S. troops suffered critical injuries in the attack...
Eagles end 3-game skid, keep NFC East title hopes alive with win over Giants
PHILADELPHIA — Yes, of course, Jalen Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni heard the booming chants that echoed throughout the Linc from Eagles fans fed up with the pass-heavy offense that stalled in the second half. “Run the ball! Run the ball!” “I think I’d hear that, too, even if I...
The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year
Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don’t stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays. Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the...
Marjorie Taylor Greene targeted by failed Christmas swatting attempt
Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the target of a swatting attempt at her Georgia residence on Christmas morning, the congresswoman and local police said, marking the latest instance of someone calling in a fake emergency to draw armed officers to her home. The Rome Police Department quickly verified...
Raiders stun sloppy Chiefs with 2 defensive TDs in victory
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Las Vegas got a pair of defensive touchdowns for the second straight week, including a pick-6 of the struggling Patrick Mahomes, and the resurgent Raiders held off the sloppy Kansas City Chiefs, 20-14, on Monday to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Big defensive tackle Bilal...
Florida Atlantic records highest ranking ever in AP men’s Top 25; Purdue remains No. 1
Florida Atlantic’s run to the Final Four last season was viewed as a nice story, a small program making a surprise run before sliding back into anonymity. The Owls are showing this season that that was no fluke. Coming off a double-overtime win over No. 4 Arizona, FAU moved up...
Holiday travel is mostly nice, but with some naughty disruptions again on Southwest Airlines
Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines. For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than last. Christmas morning put a bow on a relatively smooth weekend....
Ukraine says it shot down Russian fighter jets and drones as the country officially marks Christmas
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday hailed the shooting down of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve and said “this Christmas sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.” In a Christmas message marking the first time the country has officially observed the holiday on...
Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Navalny located in penal colony 3 weeks after contact lost
MOSCOW — Associates of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday that he has been located at a prison colony above the Arctic Circle nearly three weeks after contact with him was lost. Navalny, the most prominent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is serving a 19-year sentence on...
Pope Francis denounces the weapons industry as he makes a Christmas appeal for peace in the world
ROME — Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its “instruments of death” that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the throngs of...
Netanyahu vows to expand the Gaza operation, says war ‘isn’t close to finished’
CAIRO — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will expand its Gaza ground offensive in the coming days despite international efforts to halt the fighting. Speaking to members of his Likud Party on Monday, Netanyahu said the war “isn’t close to finished.” Netanyahu spoke after returning from a visit to...
1 dead, 3 injured after gunfire erupts at a Colorado mall on Christmas Eve
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man was fatally shot and three people were hurt as gunfire rang out at a shopping center in Colorado on Christmas Eve, police said Sunday. A fight broke out between two groups of people in the afternoon at the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs and...
What stores are open and closed on Christmas Day in 2023? Hours for Walmart, Starbucks, CVS and more
NEW YORK — With Christmas right around the corner, you might want to check the list of what stores are open (and closed) twice. From retail to grocery chains, many companies across the U.S. close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day — while others...
Police in Serbia fire tear gas at election protesters threatening to storm capital’s city hallVideo
BELGRADE, Serbia — Riot police in Serbia fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of opposition supporters from entering the capital’s city council building on Sunday in protest of what election observers said were widespread vote irregularities during a general election last weekend. Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic said it was...
At least 68 killed in central Gaza in airstrike, adding to weekend’s bloodshedVideo
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza — At least 68 people were killed by an Israeli strike in central Gaza, health officials said Sunday, while the number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat over the weekend rose to 15. Associated Press journalists at a nearby hospital watched frantic Palestinians carry the dead, including...
Analysis: Shortcomings of Bengals, backup QB Jake Browning were apparent in blowout by Steelers
CINCINNATI — The Bengals’ confidence and playoff hopes came crashing down in Pittsburgh two days before Christmas. Cincinnati had won three straight games to sneak back into the playoff picture. But the Bengals badly needed to beat the Steelers on Saturday to stay there. Instead, Cincinnati (8-7) took a thorough...
