Top General News

One week into a new Syria, rebels aim for normalcy and Syrians vow not to be silent again

Dec. 15, 2024 12:26 PM EST

DAMASCUS (AP) — At Damascus’ international airport, the new head of security — one of the rebels who marched across Syria to the capital — arrived with his team. The few maintenance workers who showed up for work huddled around Maj Hamza al-Ahmed, eager to learn what will happen next. ...

Christians in Syria mark country's transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions

Dec. 15, 2024 15:23 PM EST

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians marked the first Sunday services since the collapse of Bashar Assad 's government in an air of transformation. Some were in tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. “They are promising us that government...

Israel will close its Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions as Palestinian death toll nears 45,000

Dec. 15, 2024 11:29 AM EST

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials said new Israeli airstrikes killed over 30 people including several children. The decision to close the...

The GOP stoked fears of noncitizens voting. Cases in Ohio show how rhetoric and reality diverge

Dec. 15, 2024 07:51 AM EST

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Before the November presidential election, Ohio's secretary of state and attorney general announced investigations into potential voter fraud that included people suspected of casting ballots even though they were not U.S. citizens. It coincided with a national...

South Korean leaders seek calm after Yoon is impeached

Dec. 15, 2024 11:38 AM EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition leader offered Sunday to work with the government to ease the political tumult as officials sought to reassure allies and markets, a day after the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over a...

Storms across US bring heavy snow, dangerous ice and a tornado in California

Dec. 15, 2024 15:00 PM EST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A tornado near a mall in central California swept up cars, uprooted trees and sent several people to the hospital. In San Francisco, authorities issued the first-ever tornado warning. Elsewhere, inclement weather plagued areas of the U.S., with dangerous...

Small businesses say cautious shoppers are seeking 'cozy' and 'festive' this holiday season

Dec. 15, 2024 12:52 PM EST

After the busy Black Friday holiday weekend, Kristen Tarnol, owner of Emerald City Gifts in Studio City, California, is already asking her supplier to send more more fuzzy alpaca scarves and warm slippers that were best sellers over the weekend. “Even though it’s Los Angeles …...

US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says

Dec. 15, 2024 14:00 PM EST

After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is...

West Africa regional bloc approves exit timeline for 3 coup-hit member states

Dec. 15, 2024 12:51 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS approved Sunday an exit timeline for three coup-hit nations after a nearly yearlong process of mediation to avert the unprecedented disintegration of the grouping. In a first in the 15-nation bloc’s nearly 50 years of...

Pope Francis makes 1st papal visit to France's Corsica awash in expressions of popular piety

Dec. 15, 2024 14:48 PM EST

AJACCIO, Corsica (AP) — Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society. ...

Latest General News

Violent scenes in Glasgow city center ahead of Scottish League Cup final between Celtic and Rangers

Dec. 15, 2024 15:36 PM EST

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Police said missiles were thrown at officers during violent scenes in Glasgow on Sunday ahead of the Scottish League Cup final between rivals Celtic and Rangers. Police said there were also reports of broken windows and that officers would use stop and...

Christians in Syria mark country's transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions

Dec. 15, 2024 15:23 PM EST

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians marked the first Sunday services since the collapse of Bashar Assad 's government in an air of transformation. Some were in tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. “They are promising us that government...

Storms across US bring heavy snow, dangerous ice and a tornado in California

Dec. 15, 2024 15:00 PM EST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A tornado near a mall in central California swept up cars, uprooted trees and sent several people to the hospital. In San Francisco, authorities issued the first-ever tornado warning. Elsewhere, inclement weather plagued areas of the U.S., with dangerous...

Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills

Dec. 15, 2024 15:03 PM EST

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Jamie Foxx required stitches after getting hit in the face with a glass while celebrating his birthday at a restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, a representative for the actor told the Los Angeles Times. It wasn't immediately clear what prompted...

Pope Francis makes 1st papal visit to France's Corsica awash in expressions of popular piety

Dec. 15, 2024 14:48 PM EST

AJACCIO, Corsica (AP) — Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society. ...

Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon

Dec. 15, 2024 14:21 PM EST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Cybercriminals could release personal data of many Rhode Islanders as early as this upcoming week in a major cyberattack that hit the state's online system for delivering health and human services benefits, Gov. Daniel McKee said. The hackers are demanding...

Las Vegas already seems part of the NBA world, which makes expansion decision feel inevitable

Dec. 15, 2024 14:12 PM EST

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers has heard and seen enough. He's convinced there will be an NBA team in Las Vegas. “Yeah, they're going to get it,” Rivers said. It's no secret that when NBA expansion happens — nobody has revealed exactly when that...

2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston

Dec. 15, 2024 14:01 PM EST

HOUSTON (AP) — Two teens were killed and three people were injured — including a 13-year-old — in a shooting at a makeshift club in Houston, police said Sunday. Officers arriving at the site of the shooting late Saturday night found “a very hectic scene — a large crowd of...

US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says

Dec. 15, 2024 14:00 PM EST

After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is...

Death toll in French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is 'several hundred,' top official says

Dec. 15, 2024 13:59 PM EST

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The death toll in the French territory of Mayotte from Cyclone Chido is “several hundred” and may run into the thousands, the island’s top government official told a local broadcaster Sunday. France rushed rescue teams and supplies to its...