AP National News

Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Two weeks of historic and closely-watched hearings on the threat of climate change have wrapped up at the UN’s top court. Now the wait begins for the verdict that can take up to a year. The International Court of Justice has taken up the largest case in its

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden has told children from military families who helped the White House donate toys for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign to remember that they are loved. The first lady reminded them Friday that they are loved by a lot of people, from their family and

Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma panel has rejected a plea for clemency for a man convicted of torturing and killing a 10-year-old girl as part of a cannibalistic fantasy. Friday’s unanimous vote by the state’s Pardon and Parole Board paves the way for Kevin Ray Underwood to become the last person executed

Associated Press TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man who lived in a makeshift camp with a homeless 5-year-old Kansas girl and her father has pleaded guilty to rape and first-degree murder in connection with the child’s death. Prosecutors said Friday that Mickel Cherry, 26, admitted suffocating Zoey Felix in October 2023 with a pillow in

AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ice Cube could have chased trends to keep up with today’s rap sound for his latest release, but instead, he stayed loyal to his signature style since the N.W.A. days. The rap icon showcases that gritty West Coast gangsta rap sound on his 11th studio album “Man Down.”

Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge has ordered that a prominent real estate broker be held without bond on sexual assault and trafficking charges. The judge says Tal Alexander is a flight risk as she rejected his family’s pledge of $115 million in real estate holdings to secure his release. Magistrate Judge Lisette

Associated Press Writing a Christmas made-for-TV movie may seem formulaic, but there’s no real checklist to follow. Successful writers in the genre say there are some standard practices to keep in mind. Be prepared to devote time beyond the actual holiday season to brainstorming, pitching and writing. These movies never have a true villain and

AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Home shoppers hoping for more attractive mortgage rates next year may be disappointed. That’s the takeaway from several economists’ 2025 housing forecasts. The majority of the eight forecasts call for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to remain above 6% next year, with some including an upper

Associated Press Have you ever watched a holiday rom-com on Hallmark Channel or Lifetime — or any of the other many networks and streaming services that now air them — and thought, “I could write that”? It’s harder than you may think — but just as fun. Regular writers in the genre say there’s not

Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump has rejected an attempt by former Trump campaign lawyer Kenneth Chesebro to invalidate his guilty plea. Chesebro reached a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy count a few months after he, Trump and 17 others

Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — Prosecutors in Texas will seek the death penalty for two Venezuelan men who are accused of killing a 12-year-old Houston girl after they entered the U.S. illegally. The death of Jocelyn Nungaray was among several cases this year that became flashpoints in the debate over the nation’s immigration policies. Nungaray’s mother

Associated Press A giant salamander that evolved on the supercontinent Pangaea and outlived the dinosaurs has been proposed for federal protection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The eastern hellbender would be protected under the Endangered Species Act if Friday’s submission is adopted. The slimy brown amphibian is the largest in North America and

The griping Vatican-based movie thriller “Conclave” about picking a new pope and Stephanie Hsu starring in the dark comedy series “Laid” as a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases. There’s a Little Big Town Christmas special on NBC, the video game Squid Game: Unleashed offers

Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — After insurgents toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad this month, many senior officials and members of his dreaded intelligence and security services appear to have melted away. Activists say some of them have managed to flee the country while others went to hide in their hometowns. For more than five decades,

AP Business Writer DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro