TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state media say that Syrian President Bashar Assad has met with Iran’s supreme leader in the capital Tehran and expressed his condolences over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Assad met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and also expressed condolences over the death of
Continue ReadingPARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s office says U.S. President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy. Macron will be hosting Biden and his wife Jill on June 8. Macron’s office said both presidents will discuss “the need for unwavering, long-term
Continue ReadingBy MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Nearly 200 shuttered 99 Cents Only stores from Texas to California will be re-opened as Dollar Tree locations after the leases were secured out of bankruptcy proceedings. The transfer of designation rights for 170 locations in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and California, along with some of the furniture, equipment and
Continue ReadingReview by Brian Lowry, CNN (CNN) — The only wrinkles in “Young Woman and the Sea” are the ones Daisy Ridley likely developed spending all that time in the water, but the movie presents such a stirring true story, so efficiently told, that really shouldn’t matter. Like Trudy Ederle swimming the English Channel, knowing where
Continue ReadingBy MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The special Tony Award that honors educators is going to a Baltimore-based actor, educator, choreographer and Broadway veteran who has created arts opportunities for everyone from kindergartners to senior citizens. CJay Philip, founder and artistic director of the multidisciplinary ensemble Dance & Bmore, will receive
Continue ReadingBy JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher will add another prestigious award to his already loaded trophy case. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said Thursday that Usher will receive its Voice of the Culture Award. He’ll be honored at ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriters and Publishers
Continue ReadingBy JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher will add another prestigious award to his already loaded trophy case. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said Thursday that Usher will receive its Voice of the Culture Award. He’ll be honored at ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriters and Publishers
Continue ReadingBy Rashard Rose, CNN (CNN) — An American Airlines flight bound for Boston was forced to abort takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday morning to avoid another plane that was landing. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said it’s investigating what happened. It’s the second such incident at the
Continue ReadingNICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly a half-century ago have been returned to their families. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service in the capital Nicosia Thursday for the 15 Greek soldiers before their remains were contained in Greek flag-draped
Continue ReadingPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine sheriff is rejecting an allegation that some of his officers arrived at a mass shooting scene reeking of alcohol. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in a statement Wednesday that all of those officers were on duty or had just attended training before Lewiston police requested their assistance. Joyce
Continue ReadingBy GHAITH ALSAYED Associated Press IDLIB, Syria (AP) — The main insurgent group in rebel-held northwest Syria has blasted the United States over its criticism of a crackdown on protesters in areas outside government control. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said Thursday that the U.S. should instead respect protesters at American universities demonstrating against the war in
Continue ReadingBy MATT OTT AP Business Writer The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits ticked up last week, but layoffs remain historically low in the face of lingering inflation and high interest rates. Jobless claims for the week ending May 25 rose by 3,000 to 219,000, up from 216,000 the week before, the Labor Department
Continue ReadingBy PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.3% annual pace from January through March, the weakest quarterly rate since the spring of 2022, the government said in a downgrade from its previous estimate. Consumer spending rose but at a slower pace than previously thought, a sign
Continue ReadingBy GERALD IMRAY and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Partial results in South Africa’s national election put the long-ruling African National Congress at below 50% of the vote as counting continued Thursday, raising the possibility that it might lose its majority for the first time since it swept to power under Nelson Mandela
Continue ReadingBy HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — For his first all-new book of nonfiction in nearly a decade, Ta-Nehisi Coates traveled the world. One World announced Thursday that Coates’ “The Message” will be published Oct. 1. “The Message” is set in Senegal, South Carolina and Palestine and focuses on a single question:
Continue ReadingBy ELAINE KURTENBACH and MATT OTT AP Business Writers Wall Street stumbled again early Thursday as hopes for interest rate cuts slowly fade with the Federal Reserve seemingly resolute in its mission to curb inflation. Futures for the S&P 500 slipped 0.4% before the bell, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures sank 0.9%. There’s been
Continue ReadingANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s president says his country won’t hesitate to launch a new offensive in northern Syria if Kurdish groups there go ahead with plans to hold local elections. A Kurdish-led autonomous administration that controls northern and eastern parts of Syria has announced plans to hold municipal elections on June 11. Turkey, which
Continue ReadingBy ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Police have dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment at Wayne State University in Detroit two days after the school suspended in-person classes and encouraged staff to work remotely. Television footage showed campus and Detroit police in riot gear tearing down fencing early Thursday. At least 12 people were arrested.
Continue ReadingHELEN, Ga. (AP) — Andy Negra Jr. proudly lays claim to being among the last of what is known as “The Greatest Generation.” The World War II veteran, who lives in Helen, Georgia, just turned 100. He was part of the 128th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division. His unit landed on Utah Beach
Continue ReadingBy MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer PRAGUE (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is assailing Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the U.S. may allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. Blinken is in Prague for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, and on Thursday he signed
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