Associated Press stories, Page 745
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...
NFL Week 16: Lions secure 1st division title since 1993 with win over VikingsVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Lions clinched their first division title in 30 years, using two rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and 106 receiving yards and a third-quarter go-ahead score by Amon-Ra St. Brown to overtake the injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Sunday. Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off Minnesota’s Nick Mullens at...
Amari Cooper has franchise-record 265 yards receiving to lead Browns to win over TexansVideo
HOUSTON — Amari Cooper set a franchise record with 265 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion to move the Cleveland Browns closer to a playoff berth with a 36-22 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Cooper’s performance moved him atop the Browns’ record book ahead...
With the Supreme Court on sideline for now, Trump’s lawyers press immunity claims before lower court
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump was acting within his role as president when he pressed claims about “alleged fraud and irregularity” in the 2020 election, his lawyers told a federal appeals court in arguing that he is immune from prosecution. The attorneys also asserted in a filing late Saturday night that...
On the weekend before Christmas, ‘Aquaman’ sequel drifts to 1st
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ” led a crowd of new releases at the box office on the weekend before Christmas Monday. The DC and Warner Bros. superhero sequel starring Jason Momoa earned an estimated $28.1 million in its first three days of release in 3,706 locations in North America,...
A man is killed and a woman injured in a ‘targeted’ afternoon shooting at Florida shopping mallVideo
OCALA, Fla. — Authorities in central Florida issued an arrest warrant Sunday for a 39-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another man at a shopping mall two days before Christmas in which police say the victim was “targeted.” As of Sunday afternoon, the suspect hadn’t been located, and the Ocala...
Here are some ways you can reduce financial stress during the holidays
NEW YORK — The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but they can also be financially stressful. With gifts, social gatherings and plane tickets home, the costs can start piling up. Household expenses continue to rise and many Americans are expressing concern about their financial futures, according to...
Ben Bryant leads Northwestern past Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
LAS VEGAS — Ben Bryant passed for 222 yards and found Bryce Kirtz in the corner of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, helping Northwestern beat Utah, 14-7, Saturday night in the Las Vegas Bowl. Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) closed out...
Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — Freshman Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and South Alabama trounced Eastern Michigan, 59-10, in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night. Playing on their home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Jaguars (7-6) scored on their first three possessions, led 38-3 at...
Josh Allen accounts for 3 touchdowns as Bills escape with victory over Chargers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Josh Allen continues to reach milestones in his sixth NFL season, but he’s more concerned about getting the Buffalo Bills back into the playoffs. Allen did his part Saturday night by rushing for two TDs and throwing for one, but it took a 29-yard field goal by...
Ethan Vasko throws 3 TD passes, Coastal Carolina beats San Jose State in Hawaii Bowl
HONOLULU — Ethan Vasko threw three touchdown passes and Coastal Carolina beat San Jose State, 24-14, in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night for its second bowl victory. Vasko completed 20 of 33 passes for 199 yards and ran for 50 yards on 17 carries for the Chanticleers (8-5). The...
Air Force grounds out 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces BowlVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns, and Zac Larrier passed for a TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday. Air Force (9-4),...
Darren Grainger accounts for 5 TDs as Georgia State rolls past Utah State in Potato Bowl
BOISE, Idaho — Darren Grainger threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more, Freddie Brock rushed for a school-record 276 yards and a score and Georgia State rolled past Utah State, 45-22, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday. Georgia State (7-6), which had lost...
Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois beat Arkansas State in Camellia Bowl
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Rocky Lombardi ended his seven-year college career with a win in which he made big plays and then was a spectator on the two that ultimately sealed the game. Lombardi passed and ran for a touchdown, and Northern Illinois held on for a 21-19 victory over Arkansas...
Inmate dies after he was found unresponsive at highly scrutinized West Virginia jail
BEAVER, W.Va. — An inmate at a West Virginia jail scrutinized in lawsuits citing inmate deaths and alleging poor living conditions was pronounced dead Friday morning, officials said. Correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail found the 24-year-old man unresponsive in his cell and attempted life-saving measures, according to a Division...
Alabama woman with rare double uterus gives birth to two children
DORA, Ala. — An Alabama woman with two uteri and two cervixes has given birth to two babies after carrying one of them in each uterus. Kelsey Hatcher of Dora, about 28 miles northwest of Birmingham, gave birth to two girls Wednesday and Thursday after a combined 20 hours of...
1 killed in shooting at Florida shopping mall
OCALA, Fla. — A man died in a shooting at a shopping mall in central Florida two days before Christmas in which the victim was apparently “targeted” for the attack, police said. Ocala police Chief Mike Balken told reporters Saturday evening the man was killed after he was shot multiple...
Trump says he’s eager to debate Biden in 2024, even if controversial commission plans events
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump says he is eager to debate President Joe Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. And he says he is open to debating a single Republican rival if a serious challenger emerges after the New Hampshire...
