By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press Voters in Maine will be deciding a question in November about whether independent automobile repair shops should have access to the same diagnostic technology as dealerships. In Ohio, voters will be settling a pair of more personal questions — whether to create a constitutional right to abortion and legalize
Continue ReadingBy HOLLY MEYER Associated Press Thanks to a rabble-rousing, socialist priest, it’s a milestone year for direct democracy in the U.S. and not just because Ohio voters are circumventing their Republican-controlled legislature to decide for themselves if they have constitutional abortion rights. The practice of citizen-originated ballot measures began 125 years ago when South Dakota
Continue ReadingBy Max Foster, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Rosa Rahimi, CNN (CNN) — When King Charles III visits Kenya next week, he’ll do something no other member of his family has done in the country. That’s because, in addition to the usual fare of state banquets and such, he’s planning on acknowledging the “more painful aspects” of
Continue ReadingBy HUIZHONG WU Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — China’s chief epidemiologist, who helped drive anti-COVID-19 measures that suspended access to cities and confined millions to their homes, has died. Wu Zunyou died on Friday at age 60. An announcement from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention about Wu’s death gave no cause but said
Continue ReadingBy MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Exxon Mobil’s third-quarter profit declined compared with last year when the oil giant was put up record numbers due to soaring crude prices, but net income was up 15% compared with the previous quarter. It also raised its quarterly dividend. Those lofty crude prices have fueled a shopping spree
Continue ReadingBy Devon M. Sayers, Holly Yan and Fabiana Chaparro, CNN Montgomery, Alabama (CNN) — Two people involved in a melee at an Alabama riverfront dock that caught national headlines over the summer were sentenced, with one receiving jail time and the other ordered to go to anger management classes. Richard Roberts pleaded guilty to misdemeanor
Continue ReadingBy NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women. The Vatican says Francis has removed the statute of limitations on their claims to allow a canonical trial to proceed. The announcement came just
Continue ReadingBy The Associated Press Cooper Flagg, the consensus top player in the 2024 recruiting class, says his focus is on the tragedy of a mass shooting in his home state of Maine, an indication that an announcement on where he will play college basketball could be delayed. The 6-foot-9 small forward has been deciding between
Continue ReadingBy LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders believe it’s time to lay the foundations for a future relationship between Israel and the Palestinians where the militant group Hamas does not control Gaza. The 27-nation bloc is exploring ways to realize a long-held EU ideal — two states living peacefully side by
Continue ReadingKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian activists have slammed the government’s plan for a weeklong program in schools to support the Palestinian cause after pictures of students and teachers toting toy guns went viral on social media. The Education Ministry says the Palestine Solidarity Week program starting Monday is to teach students empathy and concern
Continue ReadingBy PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — An independent probe has found “serious failings” in how NatWest Group’s private and exclusive Coutts Bank shut down the account of the right-wing British politician Nigel Farage. Law firm Travers Smith was appointed to conduct a review in the wake of Farage’s so-called “debanking” at NatWest-owned Coutts
Continue ReadingBy JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s ruling party has selected as its leader the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s divisive former prime minister, highlighting the family’s continuing influence more than two decades after Thaksin entered politics. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, was voted into the post at a meeting at the
Continue ReadingBy The Associated Press Russian state news agency Tass says Iran’s deputy foreign minister met Hamas representatives in Moscow. Thursday’s meeting is likely to draw condemnation from Israel which criticised Russia’s decision to invite the Hamas representatives and called for them to be expelled from Russia. The Iranian deputy foreign minister and Hamas representative discussed
Continue ReadingCNN By Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — Daylight Saving Time will end on November 5, moving the clocks in most US states back an hour. Many Americans welcome the autumn tradition because it brings an extra hour of sleep. But for some, the one-hour shift can cause confusion and disrupt body rhythms, studies show. Learn
Continue ReadingKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A police spokesperson in Afghanistan’s capital says the death toll from an explosion at a boxing club has increased to four, with another seven people critically injured. An eyewitness said at least six people died and more than 15 were injured. The blast occurred Thursday night in a mostly Shiite Muslim
Continue ReadingCNN, WGME, WFXT By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — Maine Rep. Jared Golden – one of the rare House Democrats to oppose many gun safety measures championed by his party – came out in support of an assault weapons ban on Thursday, the day after shootings in his hometown of Lewiston left at least
Continue ReadingBy DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The United States on Friday expanded its effort to cut off funding for Hamas, announcing a second round of sanctions against people and organizations linked to the group since it launched an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of
Continue ReadingBy Donald Judd, CNN Washington (CNN) — The Biden administration announced new steps Friday to ensure access to affordable housing, launching a slew of resources to convert high-vacancy commercial buildings to residential use. The effort is an attempt to address what the administration says is a dearth of much-needed, affordably priced, conveniently located and energy-efficient
Continue ReadingBy JANIE McCAULEY AP Baseball Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The bright smile stayed true through every challenge Dusty Baker faced in life on the baseball diamond and away from it. Baker’s genuine care and love for people will live on in his remarkable legacy as much as that signature toothpick, his sports wisdom and
Continue ReadingKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s royal families have elected the powerful and wealthy ruler of southern Johor state as the country’s new king under a unique rotating monarchy system. The palace said Friday that the 64-year-old Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar will ascend to the throne on Jan. 31 for a five-year term. His election had
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