US & World News Archives - Page 10 of 90

Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs in DC on eve of Capitol riot appears in court

December 5, 2025

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN - Associated Press

A Virginia man on Friday made his first court appearance on charges that he planted a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington on the eve of a mob’s attack on U.S. Capitol. U.S. Magistrate Moxila Upadhyaya ordered Brian Cole Jr. to remain in jail a day after his arrest on explosives charges. He is due back in court Dec. 15 for a detention hearing. He did not enter a plea.

Commanders’ QB Jayden Daniels starting vs. Vikings after missing 3 games with dislocated elbow

December 5, 2025

By BEN STANDIG - Associated Press

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday at Minnesota after missing three games with a dislocated left elbow. Daniels, the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, got hurt in the final minutes of Washington’s 38-14 home loss against Seattle on Nov. 2. Though the television replay prompted fear of a long-term concern, subsequent tests revealed Daniels did not suffer any significant structural damage. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner returned to practice on a limited basis last week and practiced in full on Thursday and Friday. Coach Dan Quinn says the QB has been cleared to play.

Lions standout safety Brian Branch tore his Achilles tendon against the Cowboys, AP source says

December 5, 2025

By LARRY LAGE - AP Sports Writer

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch tore his left Achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a person familiar with the situation. Tests revealed the significant injury on Friday, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the results were not announced. Branch was hurt late in Detroit’s 44-30 win over Dallas on Thursday night. The injury is a major setback for the Lions, whose secondary is very banged up. Free safety Thomas Harper had a concussion against Dallas while filling in for injured All-Pro Kerby Joseph. Cornerback Terrion Arnold went on injured reserve earlier this week.

FIFA gives President Donald Trump a peace prize in a departure from its traditional focus on sport

December 5, 2025

The Associated Press,

President Donald Trump is presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA peace prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw — giving the…

FACT FOCUS: Trump said weaker gas mileage rules will mean cheaper cars. Experts say don’t bet on it

December 5, 2025

By ALEXA ST. JOHN - Associated Press

President Donald Trump this week announced plans to weaken strict gas mileage requirements for automakers set under former President Joe Biden. The Trump administration said the previous rules were the reason new vehicles have become so expensive, and that cutting them will drive down costs and make vehicles safer. Experts say there are many reasons that the average cost of a new vehicle is rising, including American consumers’ love for big, expensive SUVs and trucks. And they say that cutting mileage standards is unlikely to lead to cheaper cars anytime soon.

FIFA gives President Donald Trump a peace prize in a departure from its traditional focus on sport

December 5, 2025

By SEUNG MIN KIM - Associated Press

FIFA gives its new peace prize to President Donald Trump. It’s an unusual break from tradition for the sport-focused soccer organization, whose president has become a close ally of Trump. The ceremony happened Friday during the 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington. It comes after Trump had openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had said he thought Trump should have won the Nobel this year for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

Suspect in DC pipe bomb case said to have confessed in interviews with investigators, AP sources say

December 5, 2025

By ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN - Associated Press

The man accused of planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington on the eve of the U.S. Capitol attack confessed to the act in interviews with investigators. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press. The people said Brian Cole Jr. also indicated that he believed the election was stolen and expressed views supportive of President Donald Trump. The details add to a still-emerging portrait of the 30-year-old suspect from Woodbridge, Virginia, and it was not immediately clear what other information or perspectives he may have shared while cooperating with law enforcement following his arrest on Thursday.

World Cup match schedule to come into focus as draw begins at Kennedy Center

December 5, 2025

By RONALD BLUM, HOWARD FENDRICH and NOAH TRISTER - AP Sports Writers

The 2026 World Cup draw will begin Friday with a wintry feel as snow fell outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 189 days ahead of an expanded 48-nation tournament. There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through Secret Service agents securing the area, where President Donald Trump of the U.S. and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico were expected along with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Day 4 of Luigi Mangione’s pretrial hearing is postponed because he’s sick, judge says

December 5, 2025

AP

A pretrial hearing on Luigi Mangione’s bid to exclude evidence from his state murder case has been postponed because his lawyers and the judge say he’s sick. It is slated to resume on Monday. Mangione is seeking to exclude a gun, notebook and other items police officers say they found in his backpack when he was arrested Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in Manhattan. He and his lawyers are also trying to suppress some statements he made to police.

Another line of attack: White House sets up a hall of shame for news outlets

December 5, 2025

By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer

President Donald Trump’s White House has established a hall of shame for journalists it finds guilty of media bias as it looks for new avenues of attack against legacy news outlets. And it’s calling on “everyday Americans” to participate with their own examples of where they consider journalists to be unfair. The Republican president has been criticizing “fake news” since his first term. Some of Trump’s attacks have turned personal in the past month. Yet despite it all, the news outlet Axios pointed out this week that mainstream news sources are as dominant as ever in setting the agenda for Washington and — somewhat ironically — capturing the president’s attention.

Trump’s security strategy slams European allies and asserts US power in Western Hemisphere

December 5, 2025

By MICHELLE L. PRICE - Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s administration has come out with a new national security strategy. It paints European allies as weak and aims to reassert America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The document was released Friday by the White House. It’s sure to upset long-standing U.S. allies in Europe for its scathing critiques of their migration and free speech policies. It also suggests those allies face the “prospect of civilizational erasure” and raises doubts about their long-term reliability as American partners. The document reinforces the U.S. commitment to Trump’s “America First” philosophy.

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. studio and streaming business for $72 billion

December 5, 2025

The Associated Press

Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to buy the legacy Hollywood giant’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion. The merger, announced Friday, would bring two of the industry’s biggest players in film and TV under one roof. Beyond its namesake television and motion picture division, Warner owns HBO Max and DC Studios. And Netflix has rose to dominance as a household name ubiquitous to on-demand content, while building of its own production arm to release popular titles like “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game.” The cash and stock deal is valued at $27.75 per Warner share, giving it a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion.

Around the world, refugees are shut out of the US by Trump’s new policies

December 5, 2025

By REBECCA SANTANA, DAKE KANG and GISELA SALOMON - Associated Press

When President Donald Trump suspended the refugee program, he left thousands stranded worldwide. Many had prepared for new lives in America, selling possessions and ending leases. Trump later resumed the program but set a historically low entry limit, favoring mostly white South Africans. This decision has affected families like the Dawoods from Syria, who remain separated due to tightened restrictions. Chinese pastor Lu Taizhi is fleeing persecution and faces delays despite being accepted. And a refugee in the U.S. is separated from his family in Uganda. Their stories highlight the human impact of the policy changes.

Pope cancels Holy See fundraising commission announced under questionable circumstances

December 5, 2025

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV has taken his biggest step yet to correct one of Pope Francis’ more problematic financial moves. He has canceled a special Holy See fundraising commission that was announced under questionable circumstances while Francis was hospitalized. Leo abrogated the commission statutes and fired its members in a decree on Thursday. It was the latest sign that history’s first American pope is wrapping up the loose ends of Francis’ pontificate as 2025 comes to an end. Leo is correcting problems as needed and fulfilling Francis’ Holy Year obligations as he looks ahead to the new year when he can focus more on his own agenda.

From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, many deaths in 2025 had a wide impact

December 5, 2025

By BERNARD McGHEE - Associated Press

The world lost influential people in 2025, and some of their deaths had significant impacts. Pope Francis died in April, leading to the election of the first American pope. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September sparked discussions about political violence. Virginia Giuffre’s suicide in April brought renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and other notable politicians also died. The entertainment industry mourned the loss of Gene Hackman, David Lynch, Roberta Flack, Hulk Hogan and other stars.

Putin and Modi held talks and announce expansion of Russia-India trade ties amid US pressure

December 5, 2025

By RAJESH ROY and AIJAZ HUSSAIN - Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an annual summit, focusing on diversifying economic ties. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal and global cooperation. On Thursday, Modi greeted Putin in New Delhi with a warm welcome. After the talks, both leaders announced a program to boost trade to $100 billion by 2030, emphasizing strong energy ties. India aims to bridge trade deficits by increasing exports. The U.S. is pressuring India to reduce its Russian oil imports, citing concerns over financing Moscow’s war efforts.

Russian drone strike kills 12-year-old boy in Ukraine as peace talks kept under wraps

December 5, 2025

By ILLIA NOVIKOV - Associated Press

Russian drones have struck a house in central Ukraine, killing a 12-year-old boy. Officials say the attack comes during ongoing U.S. peace efforts and as long-range Ukrainian strikes reportedly are targeting a Russian port and oil refinery. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to meet with a Ukrainian delegation in Miami on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the meeting took place. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s delegation in Miami wanted to hear from the U.S. side about the talks at the Kremlin.

Trump ventures deeper into anti-immigrant language by calling people from Somalia ‘garbage’

December 5, 2025

By LAURIE KELLMAN - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants in the U.S. “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. This marks a continuation of his inflammatory language, which began with his campaign announcement a decade ago. Trump’s remarks have drawn condemnation from various quarters, including Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar. Critics argue that Trump’s language legitimizes xenophobia and has a significant impact on public perception. Despite backlash, Trump maintains strong support among Republicans and continues to push his immigration agenda. His rhetoric contrasts with global leaders who have softened their language to broaden appeal.

The top sports photos of 2025 by AP’s photojournalists

December 5, 2025

By The Associated Press

Rory McIlroy let his putter fly high, put his head in his hands and dropped to his knees as fans celebrated wildly at Augusta National. McIlroy’s sheer relief was laid bare as he ended his long wait to win the Masters and complete a career Grand Slam. Associated Press photographers were there to capture the raw emotion and unforgettable images…

Jahmyr Gibbs rushes for 3 TDs and Lions get much-needed 44-30 win over Cowboys

December 4, 2025

By LARRY LAGE - AP Sports Writer

Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions have beaten the Dallas Cowboys to help their playoff chances. Gibbs ran three touchdowns in Thursday night’s 44-30 win. Gibbs’ final score was a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed a much-needed win for the Lions. Detroit avoided losing consecutive games for the first time in more than than three years. The Cowboys had surged into postseason contention with a three-game winning streak. But against the Lions, the NFL’s top-ranked offense had to lean on powerful kicker Brandon Aubrey too much, and Dallas’ revitalized defense was humbled.

Shops empty in a Hispanic neighborhood as immigration crackdown comes to Louisiana

December 4, 2025

By JACK BROOK and SARA CLINE - Associated Press/Report for America

Federal border agents have descended on a Hispanic enclave just outside New Orleans and local business owners are suffering. The city of Kenner has the highest concentration of Hispanic residents in Louisiana and has been a target of a Department of Homeland Security immigration crackdown, seeking to make 5,000 arrests, that began Wednesday. DHS said it has already made dozens of arrests, including some individuals with violent criminal regards, but only released limited information about who has been detained. Kenner resident Carmela Diaz has shuttered her taco restaurant because employees and clients are afraid to leave their homes.

Police recover a swallowed Fabergé pendant after a 6-day wait for it to reappear

December 4, 2025

By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY - Associated Press

Police have recovered a James Bond-inspired Fabergé pendant after six days of waiting for it to exit a suspect’s gastrointestinal tract. New Zealand Police said the pendant was retrieved without medical intervention Thursday night. They released a photo showing the pendant and chain and the jewelry’s 33,000 New Zealand dollar price tag intact. Police arrested the suspect inside an Auckland jewelry store Nov. 28 shortly after the alleged theft and had been watching him ever since waiting for the jewelry to reemerge. The pendant made of green enamel and gold and encrusted with diamonds and sapphires was inspired by the plot of the 1983 film “Octopussy.”

Photos show the last supermoon of the year shining in December skies

December 4, 2025

By The Associated Press

December’s supermoon, a phenomenon when the moon is closest to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter, is the last of three in a row in 2025. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US & World News

Zohran Mamdani and the Louvre make the list of most mispronounced words of 2025

December 4, 2025

By JAMIE STENGLE - Associated Press

From the election of Zohran Mamdani to the intrigue surrounding the jewel heist at the Louvre, keeping up with this year’s news also left some Americans struggling with pronunciations. That’s put both the name of New York City’s incoming mayor and the famed Paris museum on a list of the most mispronounced words in 2025. The list of words that news anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with the most was released Thursday. It was compiled by the language-learning company Babbel and closed-captioning company The Captioning Group.

US military conducts strike on another suspected drug boat as probe into the first strike begins

December 4, 2025

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN - Associated Press

U.S. Southern Command says it has conducted another strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, following a pause of almost three weeks. It is the 22nd strike the U.S. military has carried out against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that the Trump administration claimed were trafficking drugs. There were four casualties in Thursday’s strike, according to the social media post, bringing the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people. In a video that accompanied the announcement, a small boat can be seen moving across the water before it is suddenly consumed by a large explosion. The video then zooms out to show the boat covered in flames and billowing smoke.

Gov. Walz denounces Trump for calling Minnesota’s Somali community ‘garbage’

December 4, 2025

By STEVE KARNOWSKI - Associated Press

Democratic Governor Tim Walz has denounced former President Donald Trump for his comments about Minnesota’s Somali community. Trump has called the community “garbage” and labeled the state a “hellhole.” Walz said Thursday these remarks slandered all Minnesotans and were unprecedented for a U.S. president. Republican legislative leaders stopped short of condemning Trump, instead criticizing Walz for not preventing fraud in social service programs. Trump’s comments followed a conservative news outlet’s misleading claims about fraud involving Somali Americans. Federal authorities have prepared an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota targeting a small fraction of Somalis living unlawfully in the U.S. Most foreign-born Somalis in the state are naturalized U.S. citizens.

Supreme Court allows Texas to use a congressional map favorable to Republicans in 2026

December 4, 2025

By MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press

The Supreme Court is allowing the challenged Texas congressional redistricting plan to be used in next year’s election, despite a lower-court ruling that the map likely discriminates on the basis of race. The map is favorable to Republicans and was pushed by President Donald Trump. The justices acted Thursday on an emergency request from Texas for quick action because qualifying in the new districts already has begun, with primary elections in March. The Supreme Court’s order puts the 2-1 ruling blocking the map on hold at least until after the high court issues a final decision in the case. The effort to preserve a slim Republican majority in the House in 2026 touched off a nationwide redistricting battle.

White House is expected to submit plans for new ballroom to planning commission this month

December 4, 2025

By GARY FIELDS and DARLENE SUPERVILLE - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has added a new architectural firm to his $300 million ballroom construction project at the White House. A White House spokesperson said Thursday that the firm, Shalom Baranes of Washington, D.C., was needed because the project is moving into a new stage. Earlier Thursday, the Trump-appointed chairman of a federal commission with jurisdiction over construction to federal buildings said he expected the White House to submit the ballroom plans this month for review. The new firm has worked on the Pentagon and Treasury buildings, among other federal properties. The initial firm, McCrery Architects, remains as a consultant.

Takeaways from the Navy’s investigations into 4 mishaps during Houthi campaign

December 4, 2025

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN - Associated Press

The Navy has released investigative reports into four mishaps that all involve the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman while it was dispatched to counterattacks on shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The four reports cover a friendly fire incident in December 2024 that saw the cruiser USS Gettysburg shoot at two fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, downing one, as well as the Truman’s collision with a merchant vessel and the loss of two more multimillion-dollar jets aboard the carrier to mishaps earlier this year.

NFL mandates playing surfaces for all stadiums meet new standards by 2028 to enhance player safety

December 4, 2025

By JOSH DUBOW - AP Pro Football Writer

The playing surfaces at every NFL stadium will have to meet new enhanced standards set through lab and field testing by the start of the 2028 season. NFL field director Nick Pappas detailed the plans for the program on Thursday that will provide each team “a library of approved and accredited NFL fields” before the start of next season. Any new field will immediately have to meet those standards and all teams will have two years to achieve it, whether they are grass, synthetic or a hybrid. The fields undergo extensive testing, approved by a joint committee with the NFLPA. The goal is to ensure consistent playability and reduce injury risk. Despite player preferences for grass, the NFL has no plans to mandate it, citing no significant injury differences between surface types.

Detroit’s own crime-fighter RoboCop finally stands guard in Motor City

December 4, 2025

By COREY WILLIAMS and MIKE HOUSEHOLDER - Associated Press

RoboCop has found a permanent home in Detroit — all 11 feet and 3,500 pounds of him. A statue of the crime-fighting movie character has been welcomed by fans since it began standing guard over Detroit Wednesday afternoon in the Motor City’s Eastern Market area. Jim Toscano says streams of people have driven by his FREE AGE film production company where the bronze mold-cast statue is bolted into concrete. “RoboCop” developed a cult following after it hit theaters in 1987. It was set in a crime-ridden near-future Detroit. The city’s homicide numbers have now dropped below mid-1960s levels, and the statue was erected without objection from city officials.

Immigration crackdown in New Orleans has a target of 5,000 arrests. Is that possible?

December 4, 2025

By JACK BROOK and JOHN SEEWER - Associated Press

Trump administration officials overseeing the latest immigration crackdown are aiming to arrest 5,000 immigrants in New Orleans and across Louisiana. They say they are targeting immigrants with violent criminal pasts. But some local leaders in New Orleans say that’s an unrealistic goal. That many arrests would surpass the number tallied during a two-month enforcement blitz this fall around Chicago, a region with a much bigger immigrant population. The president of the City Council in New Orleans says he can’t see any way how a sweep of New Orleans would result in the arrests of 5,000 criminals.

US prioritizes visas for fans traveling for the World Cup, Olympics and other events

December 4, 2025

By MATTHEW LEE - AP Diplomatic Writer

The Trump administration has instructed U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to prioritize visa applications from foreigners wishing to visit the United States to either invest in America or attend the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics and other major sporting events. The administration also has added new criteria for highly skilled foreign workers seeking a particular visa. The new rules would deny entry to applicants deemed to have directed or participated in the censorship of American citizens on social media through content moderation initiatives that have sprung up throughout Europe and elsewhere to combat extremist speech. The steps were outlined in cables sent this week to all U.S. diplomatic missions and obtained by The Associated Press.

Spain and the Netherlands pull out of 2026 Eurovision as Israel’s participation roils the contest

December 4, 2025

By JAMEY KEATEN and JILL LAWLESS - Associated Press

Spain and the Netherlands have announced they are pulling out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. This decision follows the organizers’ choice to allow Israel to compete, despite concerns over its conduct in the Gaza war. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS stated that Israel’s participation no longer aligns with their responsibilities. The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, voted to adopt tougher voting rules after allegations of Israel manipulating votes. The contest has faced challenges due to the war in Gaza, with some countries threatening to boycott if Israel participates. The situation has sparked political tensions within the Eurovision community.

Hegseth put troops at risk by sharing sensitive plans on personal phone, Pentagon watchdog finds

December 4, 2025

By DAVID KLEPPER, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and BEN FINLEY - Associated Press

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put U.S. troops at risk by sharing sensitive military plans on his personal phone. That’s according to the Pentagon’s watchdog in a report made public Thursday. It says Hegseth had the authority to declassify the material he shared about a planned strike on Houthi militants in Yemen. But the watchdog said that release violated internal Pentagon rules about handling sensitive information that could put service members or their missions in danger. Hegseth has called the investigation political and that he had the right to share the information. Hegseth’s use of Signal came to light after a journalist was inadvertently added to the group chat.

Trump hosts the leaders of Congo and Rwanda to sign a key deal for peace in eastern Congo

December 4, 2025

By AAMER MADHANI, CHINEDU ASADU and RUTH ALONGA - Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump will host the Congolese and Rwandan presidents for a deal-signing aimed at securing peace in eastern Congo. The White House has lauded the Thursday peace signing as “historic” and credited the Republican president for it. The peace signing will also open up access to eastern Congo’s critical minerals for the U.S. government and American companies. The Central African nation of Congo has been battered by a decades-long conflict with more than 100 armed groups. The most potent of them is the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Congolese residents have expressed little hope Thursday’s signing will quickly end the fighting that has continued in eastern Congo.

Putin arrives in New Delhi on a state visit aimed at bolstering Russia-India ties

December 4, 2025

By RAJESH ROY - Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India to strengthen economic and bilateral ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him in New Delhi. On Friday, they will discuss economic cooperation, focusing on defense, energy, and skilled labor mobility. This visit comes amid global tensions and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Critics say it could affect India’s relations with the U.S. and the EU. Russia remains India’s main military supplier, and defense cooperation will be a key topic. The U.S. has criticized India’s Russian oil imports, but India defends them as essential.

The last hostage held in Gaza died fighting to save a kibbutz

December 4, 2025

By JULIA FRANKEL - Associated Press

An Israeli police officer killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the country’s war with Hamas is the last hostage whose remains are still in Gaza. Ran Gvili was 24 when he was one of 251 people in Israel abducted by Hamas militants. After a series of ceasefire-mandated exchanges of hostages for Palestinians held by Israel, Gvili’s body still has not been recovered. On Thursday, Israel mourned Gvili as a hero who died fighting. “The first to go, last to leave,” his mother, Talik Gvili, wrote on Facebook. “We won’t stop until you come back.”

Trump to visit Pennsylvania to highlight efforts to curb inflation as high prices squeeze Americans

December 4, 2025

By JOSH BOAK - Associated Press

President Donald Trump plans to visit Pennsylvania next week to highlight his efforts to reduce inflation. Last month’s elections showed a shift away from Republicans as affordability concerns persist. Trump argues that affordability worries are a Democratic “hoax” and that people need to hear his perspective to change their minds. It shows the dilemma faced by Trump as he tries to take credit for rewiring the U.S. economy with his large tariff hikes and extension of income tax cuts while blaming Biden for the increase nationwide in inflation rates under Trump’s watch. Inflation is currently tracking at 3% annually, up from 2.3% in April when he rolled out his tariffs.

The New York Times sues the Pentagon over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s media rules

December 4, 2025

By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer

The New York Times is suing to try to stop the Pentagon from imposing new rules on journalists who cover the military. Most mainstream news outlets refused to agree to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s policy this fall. As a result, they lost credentials to work in the Pentagon. The Times says in the suit filed Thursday that the rules violate the Constitution’s freedom of speech and due process provisions because the rules give Hegseth the power to determine on his own whether a reporter should be banned. There’s no immediate comment from the Pentagon on the lawsuit.

Kennedy’s vaccine advisory committee meets to discuss hepatitis B shots for newborns

December 4, 2025

By MIKE STOBBE - AP Medical Writer

A federal vaccine advisory committee is meeting in Atlanta to discuss whether newborns should still get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against the liver infection right after birth. The shots are widely considered to be a public health success for preventing thousands of illnesses. But the committee formed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist before he became the nation’s top health official, is considering whether to recommend the birth dose only for babies whose mothers test positive, which would mark a return to a public health strategy that was abandoned more than three decades ago.

How one Arkansas county helps ICE make hundreds of arrests and spreads fear among immigrants

December 4, 2025

By RYAN J. FOLEY and JULIO CORTEZ - Associated Press

Northwest Arkansas has emerged as a hot spot in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. That’s because of one county’s partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and aggressive traffic enforcement by police. The region offers a window into what the future may hold in places where law enforcement authorities cooperate broadly with ICE. The Associated Press reviewed ICE data and interviewed local residents and found that Benton County stands out for its aggressive approach. More than 450 people were arrested by ICE at the Benton County Jail in Bentonville in the first seven months of this year.

A quiet corner of Arkansas has become a hot spot for US immigration crackdown, AP finds

December 4, 2025

By RYAN J. FOLEY and JULIO CORTEZ - Associated Press

A corner of Arkansas best known as home to Walmart headquarters has emerged as a little-known hot spot in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. That’s according to an Associated Press review of arrest data, jail records, police reports and interviews with residents, immigration lawyers and watchdogs. Benton County offers a window into what the future may hold in places where local and state authorities cooperate broadly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Records show the partnership has caught some violent criminals but also repeatedly turned misdemeanor arrests into the first steps toward deportations. The arrests have split apart families and spread fear through the immigrant community.

Don’t forget pets when preparing for winter’s cold. Here’s what experts recommend

December 4, 2025

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY - Associated Press

Cold, wintry weather brings risk for pets as well as people. Experts say pet owners need to prepare. Sweaters, coats and booties can be helpful accessories to reduce the risks of frostbite and hypothermia. Depending on the breed, size and age of the pet, veterinarians recommend limiting time outdoors and being safe around open flames. Avoid encounters with de-icing salts and antifreeze, which can be toxic when ingested in even the smallest amounts. Experts also suggest stocking up on essentials like extra food and medication in case of power outages, road closures or blizzards.

US filings for jobless benefits fall to 191,000, lowest since September of 2022

December 4, 2025

By MATT OTT - AP Business Writer

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in more than three years last week, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates. The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits for the week ending Nov. 29 fell to 191,000 from the previous week’s 218,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the lowest level since September 24, 2022, when claims came in at 189,000. Analysts surveyed by the data provider FactSet had forecast initial claims of 221,000. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

The biggest entertainment and fashion moments of 2025, as seen in AP photos

December 4, 2025

By The Associated Press

For many, 2025 felt like a blur and that was true in the world of entertainment, which saw happy reunions, somber farewells and introductions to fresh voices and faces. Associated Press photographers were there to capture it all, from Tom Cruise reuniting with his “Mission: Impossible” co-stars for a globetrotting press tour, one rivaled by the glamorous rollout of the…

Decades-old palm trees in Rio de Janeiro flower for the first — and only — time

December 4, 2025

By ELÉONORE HUGHES and LUCAS DUMPHREYS - Associated Press

Talipot palms in a Rio de Janeiro park are flowering for the first and only time in their lives. These palms were introduced by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in the 1960s. The rare event has been widely reported and has sparked curiosity among visitors to Flamengo Park. The palms, native to southern India and Sri Lanka, can reach up to 30 meters and produce millions of flowers. Biologist Aline Saavedra notes that the interest in this phenomenon could inspire environmental preservation.

What to know about the International Criminal Court as annual meeting lays out challenges

December 4, 2025

By MOLLY QUELL - Associated Press

The mood is grim as hundreds of diplomats, lawyers and activists gather in The Hague for the annual meeting of the International Criminal Court. The gathering this week will include discussion of unprecedented challenges from U.S. sanctions, Russian arrest warrants and worries over the court’s future. The court’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, is holding its 24th annual weeklong meeting this week. Delegates will approve the court’s yearly budget and debate proposals related to the institution’s functions but regular business has been overshadowed by U.S. sanctions and a sexual misconduct investigation.

Affordable Care Act premiums are set to spike. A new poll shows enrollees are already struggling

December 4, 2025

By ALI SWENSON, LINLEY SANDERS and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX - Associated Press

A new survey of Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollees finds that many are already struggling with the high cost of health care. Most of the more than 1,300 enrollees surveyed say they anticipate that their health costs will be impacted next year if Congress doesn’t extend COVID-era tax credits that will otherwise expire at the end of the year. Thursday’s poll from the health care research nonprofit KFF finds that marketplace enrollees overwhelmingly support an extension of the subsidies. The survey found this group is more likely to blame President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress than Democrats if the tax credits are left to expire.

Putin calls talks with US on ending the Ukraine war ‘useful’ but also ‘difficult work’

December 4, 2025

By DASHA LITVINOVA - Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his five-hour talks with U.S. envoys on ending the war in Ukraine were “necessary” and “useful,” but also “difficult work,” with some of the proposals unacceptable to the Kremlin. Putin spoke to the India Today TV channel ahead of his visit to New Delhi on Thursday, and while the full interview is yet to be broadcast, Russian state news agencies quoted some of Putin’s remarks. The Russian leader’s comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet with Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, on Thursday in Miami for further talks, according to a senior Trump administration official. The high-stakes talks are part of Trump’s renewed push to end the nearly four-year war.

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