By Andrew Kaczynski (CNN) — Speaker of the House Mike Johnson closely collaborated with a group in the mid-to-late 2000s that promoted “conversion therapy,” a discredited practice that asserted it could change the sexual orientation of gay and lesbian individuals. Prior to launching his political career, Johnson, a lawyer, gave legal advice to an organization
Continue ReadingSAM KEMMIS of NerdWallet The cost of travel has fluctuated sharply in recent years, but travelers expecting high prices now might be in for a pleasant surprise. Data show that many travel expenses, including airfare, have decreased recently. Domestic flights in particular have been less expensive, and while international airfare remains elevated, it too is
Continue ReadingKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say a Russian attack on Kherson has killed one person and caused serious damage in the city’s center. A Russian drone strike has killed another civilian in the frequently targeted city of Nikopol. The attack on Kherson, which Russian forces seized early in the war but then abandoned a
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — Austria’s main Jewish leader says a fire was set during the night in the Jewish section of Vienna’s central cemetery and swastikas were sprayed on external walls. Jewish Community of Vienna President Oskar Deutsch said Wednesday that the fire burned the entrance lobby to a ceremonial hall but didn’t cause any injuries.
Continue ReadingBy Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — When was the last time you took a moment for self-care? It can be as simple as relaxing with your morning coffee, enjoying a warm bath, or reducing your stress levels for a moment with calming activities. If there was ever a time that it’s especially needed, it’s during
Continue ReadingBy CHASE BIERENKOVEN Edmunds After decades of absence, the go-fast Acura Integra is back. The new 2024 Acura Integra Type S boasts a strong four-cylinder engine and one of the best manual transmissions on the market. Meanwhile, the 2024 Volkswagen Golf R is a segment staple, offering lightning-quick acceleration, all-wheel drive, and nearly unmatched hatchback
Continue ReadingMOSCOW (AP) — Huge ash columns erupted from Eurasia’s tallest active volcano Wednesday, forcing authorities to close schools in two towns on Russia’s sparsely populated Kamchatka Peninsula. The eruptions from the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano sent ash as high as 13 kilometers (8 miles) above sea level, officials said. There were no reports of injuries, but
Continue ReadingBy KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has likely sent more than a million artillery shells to Russia since August to help fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. That’s according to a lawmaker who attended a closed-door audit meeting Wednesday with South Korea’s top spy agency. North Korea
Continue ReadingBy ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — World shares logged meager gains as investors remained cautious ahead of a decision on interest rates Wednesday by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Oil prices were higher as Israeli airstrikes leveled apartment buildings in Gaza and ground troops battled Hamas militants inside the besieged territory. In recent
Continue ReadingBELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has set Dec. 17 as the date for early parliamentary election, which will be the third vote in the Balkan country in nearly four years. Local elections will also be held on the same day in several municipalities, including Belgrade, the capital. The election date came as
Continue ReadingBy NAJIB JOBAIN and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza was plunged into another communications blackout Wednesday, with internet and phone service cut for several hours as Israeli troops battled Hamas militants. Meanwhile, dozens of foreign passport holders crowded into a border crossing ahead of what could be the first such
Continue ReadingBy CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in nearly two years, the Federal Reserve is set Wednesday to keep its key short-term interest rate unchanged for a second straight policy meeting — the clearest sign to date that the Fed is edging closer to the end of its rate-hiking
Continue ReadingBy Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A political activist’s desire to register a suggestive phrase targeting Donald Trump’s anatomy and policies was at the center of a Supreme Court case heard Wednesday that tests the limits of the First Amendment. Trump is not a party to the case, but his name was tossed around frequently during oral arguments
Continue ReadingBy EVELYNE MUSAMBI and EMMANUEL IGUNZA Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — King Charles III has visited a war cemetery in Kenya, laying a wreath in honor of Kenyans who fought alongside the British in the two world wars. It came a day after the British monarch expressed “greatest sorrow and the deepest regret” for
Continue ReadingBy ISABELLA O’MALLEY Associated Press A business group that advocates for clean energy estimates that 403,000 jobs will be created by the 210 major energy projects announced since the Inflation Reduction Act took effect in mid-2022. At least $86 billion in investments have been announced, with the biggest likely job gains in electric vehicles, battery
Continue ReadingBy Lauren Mascarenhas and Ashley Killough, CNN (CNN) — Opening statements were delivered in an Austin, Texas, courtroom Wednesday in the trial of Kaitlin Armstrong, the woman accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old elite cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson in Texas in May 2022. Armstrong has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in Wilson’s killing,
Continue ReadingBy GRANT PECK Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — A group of human rights researchers has officially launched a website they hope will facilitate the task of obtaining justice for victims of state violence in Myanmar. That’s where one of the world’s less-noticed but still brutal armed struggles is taking place. Thousands of people have died
Continue ReadingBy Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell and Jeremy Herb, CNN New York (CNN) — Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., testified on Wednesday that he was not involved in the preparation of his father’s financial statements at any point in time – including after his father became president in 2017 and he was appointed
Continue ReadingBy MJ Lee and Kevin Liptak, CNN Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden and his top national security officials are increasingly confronting questions about Israel’s commitment to minimizing civilian deaths and how scenes from Gaza could affect his domestic political standing. Even some allies of the administration are worried that defending Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas terror
Continue ReadingCNN Opinion by Robert A. Pape (CNN) — Israel’s strategy for defeating Hamas — destroying its military and political capabilities to the point where the terrorist group can never again launch major attacks against Israeli civilians — is unlikely to work. Indeed, Israel is likely already producing more terrorists than it’s killing. To defeat terrorist
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