AP-National

By TARA COPP Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressional oversight committee has launched an investigation into the V-22 Osprey program following a deadly crash in Japan which killed eight Air Force special operations service members. The entire Osprey fleet remains grounded following the Nov. 29 crash with the exception of limited Marine Corps flights

By MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — The current Israel-Hamas war is by far the deadliest and most destructive of the five wars between Israel and Hamas since the militant group seized the Gaza Strip in 2007. The fighting erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas carried out a surprise attack in southern Israel. Since

By ZEKE MLLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of people who were convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, the White House said Friday, in his latest round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities in the justice system.

By MARIAM FAM Associated Press It’s normally a moment of pure joy for the Rev. Khader Khalilia: the excitement, the giggles, the kisses, as his young daughters — in their Christmas pajamas — open their gifts. But this year, just the thought of it fills Khalilia with guilt. “I’m struggling,” said the Palestinian American pastor

By JIWON SONG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean religious sect leader whose sex crimes were featured in the popular Netflix series “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal” has been sentenced to 23 years in prison. The Daejeon District Court in central South Korea said Friday that it handed

By RAHMA NURJANA Associated Press PADANG, Indonesia (AP) — Volcanic ash spewing from Indonesia’s Mount Marapi shut down airports and blanketed nearby communities on Sumatra island Friday. The nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) volcano in the Agam district of West Sumatra province is about 113 kilometers (70 miles) north of Minangkabau International Airport in Padang, the provincial

By HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.N. atomic agency and outside experts say North Korea may have started operating a light-water reactor at its main nuclear complex in a possible attempt to establish a new facility to produce bomb fuels. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says it

By ALEXANDRA OLSON AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday travel rush hit its peak Friday as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raised hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year. U.S. airlines are predicting a blockbuster holiday season and have projected confidence they can handle the crowds after

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a new executive order aimed at targeting financial facilitators of the Russian defense industry. The order to be signed later on Friday comes as the Kremlin is trying to restock the Russian military’s depleted arsenal after nearly 22 months of

By WILL GRAVES AP National Writer There were jitters, of course. Considering all that happened, how could there not be? When Simone Biles walked onto the floor at a suburban Chicago arena in late July for her first gymnastics competition in two years, she knew plenty of people were wondering how it was going to

PARIS (AP) — India has invited French President Emmanuel Macron to be the chief guest at the country’s national day celebrations next month. Macron’s office on Friday described the invite as a powerful gesture for the two nations’ ties. The visit for Republic Day on Jan. 26 will be Macron’s third to India as president.

BEIJING (AP) — American electric automaker Tesla’s plans to produce energy-storage batteries in China are moving forward with a signing ceremony for the land acquisition for a new factory in Shanghai. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Friday that construction is scheduled to start early next year with production to come on line by the

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Christmas Eve is almost here. But before running out the door for some last-minute gifts or final tree trimmings ahead of Santa’s visit, you might want to double-check the hours of the stores you’re headed to. Business closings on Christmas Eve are less common than

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian deputy foreign minister said talks with the United States on a potential prisoner exchange that would free Americans held in Russia are hampered by publicity and an alleged disparity in the U.S. negotiating stance. The U.S. State Department said last week that Russia rejected several proposals for freeing Paul Whelan,

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — One of the world’s largest electrical vehicle manufacturers, China’s BYD, will open its first European EV production factory in Hungary, the country’s foreign minister said on Friday. The move was the latest step in the Central European nation’s efforts to become a global hub for EV

By JEAN FERNAND KOENA Associated Press BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Local authorities say rebels targeting a security outpost and a village in northern Central African Republic have killed at least 21 people, including children and a soldier. A federal lawmaker who represents the village of Nzakoundou said the assailants attacked a security outpost

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese automaker BYD plans to build a new electric vehicle plant in Hungary, its first car factory in Europe, as part of its rapid global expansion. The company said Friday that Hungary will be the center for its European operations. The factory is to be based

By NICK PERRY Associated Press GILFORD, N.H. (AP) — For most Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, this year’s prospects aren’t good. Although parts of the Rockies and Midwest already have snow or could get a fresh dusting by Monday, other parts of the country that are normally coated in white this time of year

BERLIN (AP) — A storm has brought heavy rain and strong winds across northern Europe, bringing down trees and prompting warnings of flooding on the North Sea coast. A woman in Belgium was fatally injured by a falling Christmas tree, while another tree killed a person in the Netherlands. The 20-meter Christmas tree collapsed onto