By BERT WILKINSON Associated Press KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (AP) — The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela landed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a tense meeting Thursday as regional nations sought to defuse a long-standing territorial dispute that has escalated with Venezuelans voting in a referendum to claim two-thirds of their smaller neighbor. Pushed
Continue ReadingBy STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is rising again Thursday following its big rally the day before on excitement that several cuts to interest rates may indeed be coming next year, as hoped. The S&P 500 was 0.6% higher in early trading and within 1.3% of its all-time high
Continue ReadingBy STEPHEN WADE and YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — A former member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has appeared in district court and pleaded not guilty to taking $1.4 million in bribes in exchange for contracts for the Games. Haruyuki Takahashi was arrested more than a year ago and it is unclear
Continue ReadingBy BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to welcome Shohei Ohtani to Hollywood. The biggest superstar in baseball will be formally introduced by the team at a news conference Thursday. A unique two-way star as both a hitter and pitcher, the 29-year-old Japanese sensation left the
Continue ReadingBy BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to welcome Shohei Ohtani to Hollywood. The biggest superstar in baseball will be formally introduced by the team at a news conference Thursday. A unique two-way star as both a hitter and pitcher, the 29-year-old Japanese sensation left the
Continue ReadingBy Alayna Treene and Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump returned to Iowa on Saturday, a day after a Colorado court rejected efforts to ban him from the state’s 2024 ballot. While the Colorado judge ruled Friday that Trump “engaged in an insurrection,” she found that the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection ban” doesn’t apply to presidents. “Today,
Continue ReadingBy Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta is leaving the Justice Department after three years overseeing some of the administration’s most contentious legal issues ranging from protecting abortion rights to criminal and police reform efforts, according to the department. Gupta is the first woman of color and first civil rights
Continue ReadingBy SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza is prompting more European Union countries to support the idea of a humanitarian cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Ireland’s prime minister Leo Varadkar said Thursday the EU is losing its credibility because of a lack of a strong
Continue ReadingCHICAGO (AP) — The family of a Chicago woman who froze to death after she became locked in a hotel freezer has agreed to a $10 million legal settlement. Kenneka Jenkins’ mother, Tereasa Martin, will receive about $3.7 million, according to court records made public Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reported. Other family members will receive
Continue ReadingNAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The head of Haiti’s national police is visiting Kenya as local authorities prepare for the deployment of police to the Caribbean nation plagued by gang violence. Frantz Elbe is on a three-day visit for bilateral security discussions, according to a statement from the Kenyan police chief. Elbe’s visit comes days after
Continue ReadingBy KIRSTEN GRIESHABER Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Germany and Turkey have agreed to gradually end the deployment of Turkish state-employed imams to Germany and instead train imams in Germany to serve the country’s large Turkish immigrant community. As part of a joint training initiative announced on Thursday, 100 imams are to be educated in
Continue ReadingNEW YORK (AP) — Emmy-award winning actor, writer and producer Keegan-Michael Key will host the “NFL Honors” show on Feb. 8, when The Associated Press individual awards are announced. The prime-time honors special will air live from Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas at 9 p.m. EST on CBS and NFL Network and stream on
Continue ReadingBy ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy officer jailed in Japan over a car crash that killed two Japanese citizens has been transferred into American custody and was returned Thursday to the United States, where he was booked into a federal detention center. Lt. Ridge Alkonis had been serving a three-year prison
Continue ReadingBy ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy officer jailed in Japan over a car crash that killed two Japanese citizens has been transferred into American custody and is being returned to the United States, his family said Thursday. Lt. Ridge Alkonis had been serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to
Continue ReadingBy ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up their spending from October to November as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring that shoppers still have power to keep buying. Retail sales rose 0.3%, in November from October, when sales were down a revised 0.2% according to the Commerce Department.
Continue ReadingBy ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy officer jailed in Japan over a deadly car crash that killed two Japanese citizens has been transferred into U.S. custody and is being returned to the United States, his family said Thursday. Lt. Ridge Alknois had been serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty
Continue ReadingBy KANIS LEUNG Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police are offering rewards for information leading to the arrests of five activists based overseas, whom it accuses of breaching a harsh national security law imposed by Beijing. The arrest warrants and the bounties of over $128,000 each were issued for three activists and
Continue ReadingBy ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy officer jailed in Japan over a deadly car crash that killed two Japanese citizens has been transferred into U.S. custody and is being returned to the United States, his family said Thursday. Lt. Ridge Alknois had been serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty
Continue ReadingLONDON (AP) — Amazon won’t have to pay about $273 million in back taxes after European Union judges ruled in favor of the U.S. e-commerce giant. It has dealed a defeat to the 27-nation bloc in its efforts to tackle corporate tax avoidance. The ruling Thursday by the EU’s top court is final, ending the
Continue ReadingBy MATT OTT AP Business Writer The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell last week as the labor market continues to thrive amid high interest rates and still-elevated inflation. Applications for unemployment benefits fell by 19,000 to 202,000 for the week ending Dec. 9, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Analysts were expecting around
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