AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — ’Tis the season to unpack Spotify Wrapped. And it should come as no surprise that in 2024, for a second year in a row, Taylor Swift has been named its most-played artist, ranking in more than 26.6 billion streams. She’s followed by The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Drake and
Continue ReadingBy Patrick Oppmann, CNN Havana, Cuba (CNN) — Cuba’s energy grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power, the latest in a series of failures on an island struggling from creaking infrastructure, natural disasters and economic turmoil. The state-run utility company, the Cuban Electric Union, said workers were attempting to get the grid back online but
Continue ReadingCNN By Frederik Pleitgen and Edward Szekeres, CNN Moscow (CNN) — Russia will resort to “even stronger military means” in its war with Ukraine if the US and its allies fail to recognize it cannot be tested indefinitely, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister told CNN’s Fred Pleitgen in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. “Risks are high
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana voters will decide the fates of four proposed amendments to the state constitution, in what will be the final statewide election of 2024. The measures on the ballot Saturday would change how state officials conduct oversight of judges, deliberate spending bills in the Legislature and deal with the properties
Continue ReadingAssociated Press UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news
Continue ReadingAssociated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation in declaring martial law and calling in troops to secure the National Assembly building. His announcement also sent citizens streaming to the streets on a cold December night to call for Yoon to resign and martial law to be
Continue ReadingEdmunds Similar in size and fuel economy, these two hybrid compact sedans differ from there. The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid boasts much stronger performance and a higher-quality cabin, while the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid provides more features for the money and better tech. There are advantages for both, but when the Civic is ahead, it’s
Continue ReadingBy Rob Picheta, Joseph Ataman, Sophie Tanno and Pierre Bairin, CNN Paris (CNN) — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier submitted his resignation Thursday, after losing a vote of no confidence that triggered the collapse of the government and deepened the country’s political turmoil. Barnier formally handed in his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who accepted
Continue ReadingDETROIT (AP) — The poor performance of General Motors’ Chinese joint ventures is forcing the company to write down assets and take a restructuring charge totaling more than $5 billion in the fourth quarter of this year. The Detroit automaker said Wednesday in a regulatory filing that it will cut the value of its equity
Continue ReadingBy Jomana Karadsheh, CNN (CNN) — Iranian authorities have allowed Narges Mohammadi, the country’s most prominent human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, to leave prison for 21 days to recover from surgery for suspected cancer, a decision her family has criticized as “too little, too late.” An Iranian prosecutor on Tuesday suspended
Continue ReadingThe European Union has condemned the Taliban for violating human rights and women’s access to education after media reports that the Taliban’s leader has ordered private and public institutions to stop providing medical courses for women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban have neither confirmed the order nor responded to the reports. The Public Health
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities say extremist rebels linked to the Islamic State group killed at least 9 people, including an 8-month-old baby and a 14-year-old girl, in eastern Congo and kidnapped several others. Rebels with the Allied Democratic Forces attacked civilians in Tenambo village in the North Kivu province on Tuesday
Continue ReadingUnless you happen to be an average-size person with perfectly balanced proportions, the clothing you buy may or may not fit perfectly. A skilled tailor can make a wardrobe seem almost custom-made by taking up a hem, adjusting a cuff, or making a few nips and tucks here and there. The same applies to your
Continue ReadingAssociated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Syria’s most powerful insurgent group has toured the seized city of Aleppo in a surprise visit, the first since the insurgents captured large parts of the city over the weekend as fierce fighting intensifies in the government-led counter-offensive in northern Hama. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who heads jihadi
Continue ReadingAssociated Press PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel
Continue ReadingVATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francishas met Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Vatican and discussed with him the war in Ukraine, focusing on the humanitarian situation and efforts to promote peace in the region. Francis also discussed other themes with Orban, including the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union as
Continue ReadingBy Frederik Pleitgen and Edward Szekeres, CNN Moscow (CNN) — Russia will resort to “even stronger military means” in its war with Ukraine if the US and its allies fail to recognize it cannot be tested indefinitely, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister told CNN’s Fred Pleitgen in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. “Risks are high and
Continue ReadingLONDON (AP) — British detectives have questioned nurse Lucy Letby, who is serving life in prison for killing seven babies, over the deaths of several more infants. Cheshire Police said Letby was questioned in prison over baby deaths and “non-fatal collapses” at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where she worked, and Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where she
Continue ReadingBRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian authorities say they have opened a fraud investigation into the former European Union justice chief, just days after his mandate ended. An Schoonjans, a spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutor general’s office, told The Associated Press that an investigation was opened on former EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders in relation to “possible
Continue ReadingBy Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Elon Musk’s promise to severely slash government spending has found glimmers of support from some unlikely allies: Democrats. Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz joined a Republican-led congressional caucus supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, co-led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna
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