Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — A senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden says it’s critical to take advantage of “this window for diplomatic action” to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and ongoing hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border, fearing that escalations could spiral “out of control.” Amos Hochstein is tasked with shuttle diplomacy between
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has lost his latest bid for a new judge in his New York hush money criminal case as it heads toward a key ruling and potential sentencing next month. In a decision posted Wednesday, Judge Juan M. Merchan declined to step aside and said Trump’s demand was
Continue ReadingAssociated Press Vince Vaughn returns to television with his new series “Bad Monkey” for Apple TV+, debuting Wednesday. The story is based on a novel by Carl Hiaasen and the show was co-created by Bill Lawrence, who also is responsible for critically acclaimed shows like “Ted Lasso,” “Cougar Town” and “Scrubs.” Vaughn says he’s known
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NAPLES, New York (AP) — An organic seed company with national reach has surprised its supporters by announcing it will end sales this month and give hundreds of varieties away. The owners of Fruition Seeds in upstate New York say seeds are a gift from nature and they don’t want to commodify them.
Continue ReadingROME (AP) — Madonna will celebrate her 66th birthday with a private evening tour of the famed Italian archaeological site at Pompeii, officials said. Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari denied Italian media speculation the singer was planning a big birthday bash at the ancient city, destroyed in A.D. 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. But he
Continue ReadingPETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — Police say four people were injured in a shooting at Virginia State University. They say officers responded to a report of a shooting that occurred in a large crowd around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. The two men and two women who were shot were taken to hospitals with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Continue ReadingAssociated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has surprised the country by announcing that he’ll step down when his party picks a new leader next month. His decision clears the way for his governing Liberal Democratic Party to choose a new standard bearer in its leadership election next month. The winner
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer Victoria’s Secret is making a change at the top, naming Hillary Super from Savage X Fenty as its new chief executive. Super will take over for Martin Waters, effective Sept. 9. Waters became CEO of Victoria’s Secret in 2021. He will serve as an advisor through the end of the month to
Continue ReadingATHENS, Greece (AP) — A European Union satellite mapping agency says 40 square miles of land was burned in a wildfire this week northeast of the Greek capital. The burned area is almost twice the size of Manhattan. The fire gutted scores of homes and prompted nine countries to send assistance. It was contained Tuesday
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is expected to announce water cuts soon that would affect some of the 40 million people reliant on the Colorado River. The cuts are expected from the Interior Department, which announces water availability for the coming year months in advance so Western cities, farmers and others can
Continue ReadingAP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will have a book out next winter that draws in part upon his own life and religion for what he calls a “warning” about antisemitism. Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced Wednesday that Schumer’s “Antisemitism in America” will be
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government wants to make it easier for employees to quit a job and work for a competitor. But some companies say a new rule created by the Federal Trade Commission will make it hard to protect trade secrets and investments they make in employees. At least
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — For Herve Tram, being a Taylor Swift fan isn’t just about the music. The 28-year-old computer network engineer from Paris sees himself as part of a community, one of the Swifties as they are known. So when the pop superstar’s shows in Vienna were canceled last week because of a
Continue ReadingAP Business Writers M&M’s maker Mars is buying Kellanova, the maker of Cheez-Its and Pop-Tarts, for nearly $30 billion in an effort to broaden its snacking portfolio and expand globally. Kellanova was created last year when the Kellogg Co. split into two companies. Chicago-based Kellanova sells many of the former company’s most profitable brands, including
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — German authorities say they are looking into suspicions of unauthorized entry and possible tampering with the water supply at a major air force barracks in the west of the country. The Defense Ministry said Wednesday there were suspicions of attempted or actual illegal entry, as well as sabotage, at the Wahn barracks
Continue ReadingAP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is launching a $90 million advertising effort over the next three weeks to introduce the Democrat to voters and sharpen the contrast with Republican Donald Trump. The media buy marks her campaign’s largest-yet investment in messaging to voters with just 2 1/2 months until
Continue ReadingEdmunds Deciding between a hybrid vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle comes down to three questions. Do you want the ability to drive only on electricity? Are you willing to pay more for a vehicle in order to get that? Are you willing to put up with some extra hassle to maximize electric-only driving? If
Continue ReadingAP Medical Writer LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization has declared the increasing spread of mpox in Africa a global health emergency, warning the virus might ultimately spill across international borders. The announcement came Wednesday after a meeting of the U.N. health agency’s emergency committee. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared
Continue ReadingAssociated Press TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Ernesto dropped torrential rain on Puerto Rico and knocked out power for nearly half of all customers in the U.S. territory Wednesday as it threatened to strengthen into a major hurricane en route to Bermuda. The storm was over open water about 675 miles (1,085 kilometers)
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces pushed on with their major cross-border advance into Russia’s Kursk region for a second week Wednesday, claiming that they took more ground, captured more Russian prisoners and destroyed a bomber in attacks on military airfields. Assault troops advanced 1 to 2 kilometers (about a mile) farther into
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