AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world’s biggest retailer on Monday
Continue ReadingAssociated Press A ceasefire deal that went into effect on Wednesday could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, raising hopes and renewing difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict. The U.S.- and France-brokered deal, approved by Israel late Tuesday, calls for an initial two-month halt
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI informant who is charged with fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family has been indicted in a new case on federal tax charges. The tax indictment against Alexander Smirnov was unsealed this week in California federal court, months after his arrest on charges that
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women’s volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school, this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five
Continue ReadingAP Entertainment Writer For the second straight day, Drake has taken legal action against Universal Music Group, this time in Texas, over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” It follows a similar filing in New York on Monday, in which Drake alleges UMG falsely pumped up the popularity of “Not Like Us” on Spotify
Continue ReadingAssociated Press President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson athletic director Graham Neff told athletic backers the school will add 150 scholarships in two years and fully participate in NCAA revenue sharing under the House settlement. Neff wrote to supporters to outline the school’s plans that he said would position Clemson to continue its athletic success.
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith move to abandon two federal cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats Trump was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings
Continue ReadingAP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Law enforcement officials say they have broken up a shoplifting ring that stole nearly $2 million in merchandise from well-known stores and resold the items in New York City as well as in the Dominican Republic. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday that five people have been charged
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Tim Walz has accepted the symbolic presentation of a turkey as he eases back into his duties as Minnesota’s governor following the Harris-Walz ticket’s defeat in the presidential election. Unlike the Minnesota-grown turkeys that President Joe Biden pardoned at the White House on Monday, Walz didn’t pardon this
Continue ReadingAssociated Press SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to a Federal Police report unsealed Tuesday. Federal Police last Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting
Continue ReadingAP Business Writers DETROIT (AP) — If Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass
Continue ReadingSAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Rescuers found one survivor after a small plane crashed into a Costa Rican mountainside. The local Red Cross said Tuesday that a 31-year-old woman was the sole survivor of Monday’s crash southeast of Costa Rica’s capital. The Central American country’s civil aviation authorities said that the Cessna 206 Stationair
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — A suspected animal rights extremist wanted in the U.S. for bombings in the San Francisco area was arrested in Britain after more than 20 years on the run from the law, officials said Tuesday. Daniel Andreas San Diego, one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested Monday in a
Continue ReadingAssociated Press NEW YORK (AP) — It’s almost that time of year. Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Spotify Wrapped, a personalized recap of its users’ listening habits and year in audio. The streaming service has been sharing these personalized analyses with since 2016. And each year, it’s become a bigger production than
Continue ReadingAP National Political Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign say they simply didn’t have enough time to execute a winning strategy against Donald Trump. Speaking on a “Pod Save America” podcast that aired on Tuesday, they pointed to “ferocious” political headwinds that were ultimately too much to overcome in
Continue ReadingAP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation still elevated, Federal Reserve officials expressed caution at their last meeting about cutting interest rates too quickly, adding to uncertainty about their next moves. Even if inflation continued declining to the Fed’s 2% target, officials said, “it would likely be appropriate to move gradually” in lowering rates,
Continue ReadingAssociated Press/Report for America ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original
Continue ReadingSANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile’s prosecutor’s office say President Gabriel Boric is under investigation for sexual harassment in connection with a case in which the president says he was systematically harassed via email by a woman over a decade ago. The announcement on Tuesday came after Boric’s personal lawyer revealed the woman’s accusations and sought
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