US & World News Archives - Page 7 of 86

Latest deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 gets underway

December 31, 2025

By ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL and HARUKA NUGA - Associated Press

A deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has begun in the Indian Ocean, reviving efforts to solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Malaysia’s Transport Ministry announced Wednesday that a search vessel, the Armada 86 05, arrived at a designated search area with two autonomous underwater vehicles. The search is under a “no-find, no-fee” agreement with Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity. The company previously searched the seabed in 2018 but found no trace of the plane. The Malaysia Airlines flight disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board, and no main wreckage has ever been recovered.

NFL’s fourth-down revolution and new rules lead to record-low punts in 2025

December 31, 2025

By JOSH DUBOW - AP Pro Football Writer

The NFL is seeing a decline in punts, with the 2025 season on track to set a record for the fewest punts per game. This trend is driven by new kickoff rules, K-balls, and increased fourth-down aggressiveness. Teams are attempting more long field goals, with 104 tries from at least 55 yards, the most in history. The Packers have become the first team to lose three games in a season without punting. Meanwhile, Green Bay benefits from the expanded playoffs, securing the seventh seed in the NFC for the third time. The Colts and Texans have experienced remarkable turnarounds, highlighting shifting dynamics in the league.

LeBron James loses on his 41st birthday as Cunningham leads the Pistons past the Lakers, 128-106

December 31, 2025

By GREG BEACHAM - AP Sports Writer

LeBron James scored 17 points on his 41st birthday, but Cade Cunningham had 27 points and 11 assists while leading the Detroit Pistons to a 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. James hit three 3-pointers and added four assists and four rebounds in the 1,577th regular-season game of his unprecedented 23rd season, but he spent the final minutes of his birthday game sitting with his arms folded on the bench. The top scorer in league history is the 12th player to appear in an NBA game at 41 or older. Marcus Sasser scored 19 points and Isaiah Stewart had 15 for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.

A rough year for journalists in 2025, with a little hope for things to turn around

December 31, 2025

By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer

By most measures, 2025 was a rough year for those who care about freedom of the press. It’s likely to be the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers across the world. The number of assaults on reporters spiked in the United States. As is by now familiar, the ranks of people working as journalists continues to thin. The president of the United States continues to berate many who ask him questions, sometimes in harshly personal terms. Outside of name-calling, the second term of President Donald Trump has seen a coordinated campaign against journalists on several different levels.

Trump administration says it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after series of fraud schemes

December 30, 2025

By HALLIE GOLDEN - Associated Press

The Trump administration has announced that it is freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill said on the social platform X on Tuesday that the move is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says the state has spent years cracking down on fraudsters but that Trump is “politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” The announcement comes after years of investigation. It included a $300 million scheme for which 57 defendants in Minnesota have been convicted.

Zohran Mamdani is set to be sworn in as mayor as NYC rings in the New Year

December 30, 2025

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE - Associated Press

Zohran Mamdani will become mayor of New York City as the clock ticks over into 2026 — but the celebrations are set to last through New Year’s Day. The Democrat’s team is planning two separate swearing-in ceremonies Thursday. First, there will be a small ceremony at midnight at the historic, decommissioned old City Hall subway station. Then in the afternoon there’s a bigger public event on the steps of City Hall, as well as a block party to commemorate the start of Mamdani’s term. His office expects thousands of people to attend the block party and says there will be performances, music and interfaith elements at the public inauguration.

Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor from ‘The Wire,’ ‘Veep’ and Spike Lee films, dies at 71

December 30, 2025

By ANDREW DALTON - AP Entertainment Writer

Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. has died at age 71. His manager confirmed he passed away Tuesday in New York after a short illness. Whitlock played the corrupt state Sen. Clay Davis on “The Wire.” He also appeared in several Spike Lee films, including “25th Hour” and “BlacKkKlansman.” Whitlock played Secretary of Defense George Maddox on “Veep.” Originally from South Bend, Indiana, he studied theater after a football injury and began his acting career in San Francisco. He began appearing in small television guest roles on shows including “Cagney and Lacy” in the late 1980s. He went on to appear in five of Lee’s films.

National Guard arrives in New Orleans for 1st New Year’s since Bourbon Street attack

December 30, 2025

By SARA CLINE and JACK BROOK - Associated Press

Nearly a year after a New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street left 14 dead, New Orleans officials are still seeking permanent security solutions. Ahead of the anniversary of the rampage, officials are ramping up security measures. Some 350 National Guard members arrived Tuesday. The attack happened when a man plowed a truck into revelers before police shot and killed him. The rampage revealed security vulnerabilities surrounding a famous street that is densely populated by bars and pedestrians. A police captain has urged the city to install permanent security gates to prevent future attacks.

Patriots star receiver Stefon Diggs faces strangulation charge, denies allegations

December 30, 2025

By MICHAEL CASEY - Associated Press

New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with a dispute with his former private chef. News of the charges emerged after a court hearing Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. Diggs’ lawyer said in an emailed statement that Diggs “categorically denies these allegations.” According to police, the chef told investigators that Diggs hit her and tried to choke her during a discussion about money. The 32-year-old NFL veteran joined New England this season after a trade from Houston. Diggs has been a standout player for the Patriots this season, helping his team clinch the AFC East title.

Oysters, crab and $400,000 worth of lobster meat stolen in New England

December 30, 2025

By HOLLY RAMER - Associated Press

Forty-thousand oysters, lobster worth $400,000 and a cache of crabmeat all were stolen in separate recent incidents in New England. The first seafood heist took place Nov. 22 in Falmouth, Maine, where authorities suspect someone stole 14 cages full of oysters from an aquaculture site in Casco Bay. The other two thefts happened in Taunton, Massachusetts. First, a load of crab disappeared after leaving the Lineage Logistics warehouse on Dec. 2. Then, on Dec. 12, according to a broker, lobster meat destined for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota was stolen by a fraudulent trucking company.

DOJ pushed to prosecute Kilmar Abrego Garcia only after mistaken deportation, judge’s order says

December 30, 2025

By TRAVIS LOLLER - Associated Press

A newly unsealed order in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia reveals that high level Justice Department officials pushed for his indictment only after he was mistakenly deported and then ordered returned to the U.S. Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to charges of human smuggling. He is seeking to have the case dismissed on the grounds that the prosecution is vindictive. The newly unsealed order sheds new light on the decision to prosecute. It reveals emails from top DOJ officials calling the criminal case a “top priority” in April. That was after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the administration to work to bring Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador.

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, has died at 35

December 30, 2025

AP

Environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, has died. Her family disclosed her death in a statement released Tuesday by the John. F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Schlossberg was 35. The daughter of Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, and Edwin Schlossberg, the journalist revealed she had terminal cancer in a November 2025 essay in The New Yorker. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2024 at age 34 after the birth of her second child. In the essay, “A Battle with my Blood,” Schlossberg recounted rounds of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and clinical trials.

Surge in federal officers in Minnesota focuses on alleged fraud at day care centers

December 30, 2025

AP

The surge of federal officers this week in Minnesota follows new allegations of fraud by day care centers run by Somali residents. President Donald Trump has previously linked his administration’s immigration crackdown against Minnesota’s large Somali community to a series of fraud cases involving government programs in which most of the defendants have roots in the east African country. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel both announced an increase in operations in Minnesota this week. The move comes after a right-wing influencer posted a video in which he claimed that day care centers had committed up to $100 million in fraud.

The year’s first meteor shower and supermoon clash in January skies

December 30, 2025

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN - AP Science Writer

The year’s first supermoon and meteor shower will compete for dominance in January skies. The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks Friday night into Saturday morning, but fewer than 10 meteors will be visible per hour due to light from Saturday’s supermoon. To spot the Quadrantids, venture out in the early evening away from city lights and glimpse the fireballs before the moon crashes the party. Wait for your eyes to get used to the darkness, and don’t look at your phone. Saturday’s supermoon ends a four-month streak that started in October. There won’t be another until the end of 2026.

Concerns over roads in Nigeria after crash that injured Anthony Joshua and killed 2 associates

December 30, 2025

By OPE ADETAYO - Associated Press

Tributes have been paid after the crash that injured British former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed two close associates. There were also growing concerns about Nigeria’s roads following the deadly crash near Lagos on Monday. Joshua was under “observation” while recovering from minor injuries following the crash, his promoter said. The high-profile accident has prompted serious concerns about road safety on Nigerian highways, where accidents are common. Experts say a combination of factors including a network of dilapidated roads, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and indiscipline by drivers, produces the grim statistics.

Unleash the hounds! And terriers and lapdogs. The American Kennel Club adds 3 breeds

December 30, 2025

By JENNIFER PELTZ - Associated Press

They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday. One of the newcomers is the Teddy Roosevelt terrier, named for the former U.S. president. Another is the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka (zviht-NEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah). It’s a lapdog developed in Soviet-era Russia. The third is a centuries-old French hunting hound called the basset fauve de Bretagne (bah-SAY’ fohve deh breh-TAHN’-yeh). The AKC now recognizes 205 breeds. Recognition means eligibility for many U.S. dog shows and can increase a breed’s visibility to the pet-loving public.

Where are the wackiest New Year’s Eve drops in the US?

December 30, 2025

By JOHN SEEWER - Associated Press

Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in 2026 by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes. There’s the chile pepper drop in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the cheese wedge drop in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Key West, Florida, has its conch shell drop and Mobile, Alabama, celebrates with the MoonPie drop. It’s all a nod to the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. That tradition dates back to 1907. Now there are New Year’s ball drops and cherry drops and pickle drops from coast to coast.

Channel Tunnel disruption affects Eurostar and vehicle shuttle services between France and England

December 30, 2025

AP

Power problems and a stuck train have interrupted rail traffic through the Channel Tunnel connecting the U.K. to continental Europe. Eurostar has indefinitely suspended its services to and from London during the busy holiday period. The company blames overhead power supply issues and a failed train operated by LeShuttle. Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel’s operator, says the power problem began overnight Monday, affecting both passenger and vehicle travel. Traffic is expected to resume gradually on Tuesday afternoon. Teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to rebook their journeys.

After quiet off-year elections, Democrats renew worries about Trump interfering in the midterms

December 30, 2025

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI - Associated Press

The big story of the upcoming midterm elections will be the fight over which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives during the last half of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. But there’s a related issue that is potentially just as important — whether the Trump administration will try to interfere with the way the elections are held. Democrats point to a number of developments over the past year as warning signs. Trump has issued executive orders on voting and targeted groups that organize and fund Democratic campaigns. His Justice Department has sued mostly Democratic-controlled states for detailed voter information. And the administration has sent the military into Democratic-run cities.

AP sources: In ‘Nassar 2.0,’ Olympics watchdog failed to close abuse case against gymnastics coach

December 30, 2025

By EDDIE PELLS - AP National Writer

Young gymnasts were sounding warnings about a coach as far back as 2017. That’s the same year the U.S. Center for SafeSport was created in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse scandal. People familiar with the case involving Sean Gardner told The Associated Press he had agreed to a permanent ban from coaching early this year but the center never closed the deal. The people spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by SafeSport and said Gardner’s case got tangled in office politics that included allegations of retaliation. SafeSport says putting Gardner on temporary suspension was effectively the same as a permanent ban. Gardner has pleaded not guilty to federal child pornography charges and is awaiting trial.

US faith leaders supporting targeted immigrants brace for a tough year ahead

December 30, 2025

By DAVID CRARY, GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO, LUIS ANDRES HENAO and TIFFANY STANLEY - Associated Press

Faith leaders across the United States face challenges as they support anxious immigrants. Haitians, Afghans, and Somali Americans fear policy changes under the Trump administration. In Springfield, Ohio, and elsewhere, Haitians are worried as their Temporary Protected Status is set to expire soon. Afghan refugees face increased restrictions, affecting organizations like Lutheran Social Services. In Minnesota, Somali Americans are dealing with heightened immigration enforcement and derogatory comments from President Trump. Faith communities are uniting to provide sanctuary and support, and religious leaders are speaking out against dehumanizing rhetoric and emphasizing the dignity of every individual.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff fate tied to DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension and a Detroit Lions fan

December 30, 2025

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Pro Football Writer

The Detroit Lions won’t make the playoffs, but one of their fans has influenced the postseason picture. The NFL suspended Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf for the final two games after an incident with Lions fan Ryan Kennedy. Metcalf’s absence was felt in the Steelers’ 13-6 loss to Cleveland. This sets up a crucial game against the Baltimore Ravens, with the winner taking the AFC North and the loser going home. The NFC faces a similar scenario between the Panthers and Buccaneers. Analysts say the Steelers need to adjust their strategy without Metcalf to succeed against the Ravens.

Brigitte Bardot’s funeral will be held next week in French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez

December 30, 2025

By SYLVIE CORBET - Associated Press

Local authorities in France say Brigitte Bardot’s funeral is set for next week in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez which she helped make famous. The cinema star and animal rights activist died Sunday at 91 in southern France. Saint-Tropez town hall said Monday that a ceremony is scheduled on Jan. 7 and will be broadcast on large screens at the port and central square. The burial will be private at the local cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. A public homage will follow. Bardot retired from cinema in 1973 and lived in Saint-Tropez for more than a half-century.

China’s top diplomat blasts US arms sale to Taiwan as military drills around the island unfold

December 30, 2025

By SIMINA MISTREANU - Associated Press

China’s top diplomat has slammed a record U.S. military sale to Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday also blasted what he called pro-independence forces in Taiwan and the leaders of Japan. The military package announced earlier this month by the U.S. State Department amounts to the largest U.S. arms sale to Taiwan and is valued at more than $11 billion. China has responded to the arms sale by launching two days of military drills around Taiwan. The exercises also are seen as a rebuke to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she inflamed Beijing last month by implying Japan could militarily intervene over Taiwan.

BC’s James Hagens scores twice, US beats Slovakia 6-5 in world junior hockey

December 30, 2025

AP

Boston College forward James Hagens scored in a 1:03 span late in the second period and early in the third and the United States overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Slovakia 6-5 on Monday night in the world junior hockey championship. Hagens tied it at 4 with 45 seconds left in the second, then gave the Americans the lead 18 seconds into the third. The United States matched Sweden at 3-0 in Group A play ahead of their New Year’s Eve showdown. In the early game, Sweden had four power-play goals in an 8-1 romp over Germany.

A look at Tiger Woods’ life as he turns 50, in photos

December 29, 2025

By The Associated Press

Tiger Woods turned 50 on Tuesday, Dec. 30, a milestone for the golf great who has left a trail of brilliance on the course and struggles off the course. He’s the only player to hold all four majors at the same time and he’s tied for the most PGA Tour wins at 82. He also has endured multiple surgeries on…

Australian police find no evidence of ‘broader terrorist cell’ in Bondi Beach antisemitic shooting

December 29, 2025

By ROD McGUIRK - Associated Press

Police say an investigation that extended to the Philippines of two men accused of killing 15 people at a Sydney Jewish festival has found no evidence they were part of a “broader terrorist cell.” Police alleged on Tuesday that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram acted alone in their attack at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14 . They spent most of November in the Philippines but rarely left their hotel. Police allege they were inspired by the Islamic State group. Naveed Akram has yet to enter pleas to dozens of charges. Police shot him in the abdomen and killed his father during a gunfight at Bondi.

Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen over shipment of weapons for separatists that arrived from UAE

December 29, 2025

By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press

Saudi Arabia says it bombed the port city of Mukalla in Yemen over a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there that arrived from the United Arab Emirates. The attack signals a new escalation in tensions between the kingdom and the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the Emirates. It also further strains ties between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which had been backing competing sides in Yemen’s decadelong war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. A military statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the strikes, which it said came after ships arrived there from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s eastern coast.

Khaleda Zia, former Bangladeshi prime minister and archrival of Hasina, dies at 80

December 29, 2025

By JULHAS ALAM - Associated Press

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has died at 80, her political party has announced Tuesday. Her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined Bangladeshi politics for a generation. In January 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted Zia in her last corruption case, which she claimed was politically motivated. This would have allowed her to run in February’s election. She returned to Bangladesh in May after medical treatment in the U.K. Zia was the first woman elected prime minister of Bangladesh.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is ‘stable’ after 2 die in car accident in Nigeria

December 29, 2025

By OPE ADETAYO - Associated Press

Anthony Joshua, the two-time former world heavyweight champion from Britain, is in a stable condition in the hospital after being involved in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two people who were close friends and team members. Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing said on X that Joshua “sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment” and he will “remain there for observation.” It named Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele as the two passengers who had died. The crash occurred Monday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at about 11 a.m. local time. Nigeria is the homeland of Joshua’s parents. Joshua recently beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami. Paul says he’s “praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted” by the accident.

Trump says the US ‘hit’ a facility along shore where he says alleged drug boats ‘load up’

December 29, 2025

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and WILL WEISSERT - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a pressure campaign on Venezuela. But the U.S. offered few details. Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview Friday. When questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” the president said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.” Trump declined to say if the military or CIA was involved or where it occurred. He didn’t confirm it happened in Venezuela. The White House and Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for more details or comment.

Photos show Myanmar holding its first election since the military seized power

December 29, 2025

AP

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Voters in Myanmar cast ballots in the first phase of the country’s general election Sunday. The polls are being held under military rule during a civil war. Critics argue the election is a facade to legitimize military control under the pretense of civilian rule. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US…

Judge orders release of transcript of closed hearing for man accused of killing Charlie Kirk

December 29, 2025

By MATTHEW BROWN - Associated Press

A Utah judge has ordered the release of a transcript from a closed-door hearing in October over whether the man charged with killing Charlie Kirk must be shackled during court proceedings. State District Judge Tony Graf said Monday the transcript must be posted on the court docket by the end of the day. Graf had earlier rejected a request by the defense that Robinson not be shackled. Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of the conservative activist on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. They plan to seek the death penalty.

FACT FOCUS: Trump says he’s ended eight wars. His numbers are off

December 29, 2025

Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to claim he has ended eight wars this year, but that is exaggerated. His meeting this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlights that far more work remains before any declaration of an end to the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, fresh fighting has broken out in recent weeks between Thailand and Cambodia, and between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed rebels. And one conflict that Trump has claimed to end has never been a war at all.

How bomb cyclones form and create dangerous conditions

December 29, 2025

By ISABELLA O'MALLEY - Associated Press

Meteorologists sometimes warn of a winter storm that could “bomb out” or become a bomb cyclone. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this happens when a storm’s central pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm. These rapidly strengthening storms can produce heavy rain and intense winds, creating dangerous conditions. Bomb cyclones mainly occur in fall and winter when Arctic air clashes with warmer air masses. Regions prone to these storms include Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the Great Lakes.

A look at how Trump-era work requirements could impact people who receive public benefits

December 29, 2025

By SALLY HO and CHARLOTTE KRAMON - Associated Press

The Trump administration made work requirements for low-income people receiving government assistance a priority in 2025. The departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development have worked to usher in stricter employment conditions to receive health care, food aid and rental assistance benefits funded by the federal government. The idea is that public assistance discourages optimal participation in the labor market and that imposing work requirements not only leads to self-sufficiency, but also benefits the broader economy. Yet many economists say there is no clear evidence such mandates have that effect.

Tracking the retirement announcements of members of Congress

December 29, 2025

By MEG KINNARD and MAYA SWEEDLER - Associated Press

More House seats are opening up as more members announce their upcoming departures. Republican Harriet Hageman says she’s running for Senate, winning President Donald Trump’s endorsement swiftly after making her intentions public. Republican Elise Stefanik had already said she was running for governor of New York, but now she’s ended that bid — and also says she won’t return to the House. Midterm elections are historically tough on the party of the sitting president. And Republicans only have a razor-thin margin in the House.

Iran Central Bank governor resigns as protests erupt over currency drop

December 29, 2025

AP

Iran’s Central Bank head has resigned as protests erupted in Tehran and other cities after the currency hit a record low against the U.S. dollar. State TV reported Mohammad Reza Farzin’s resignation as hundreds rallied in Tehran’s Saadi Street and the Shush neighborhood. The official IRNA news agency confirmed gatherings. Similar rallies were reported in Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad. Witnesses said police used tear gas in Tehran. Traders closed shops, urging others to join. Iran’s rial fell to 1.38 million to the dollar Monday, worsening inflation and straining budgets. Reports of Farzin’s possible resignation circulated last week.

Find inspiration for achieving your financial resolutions and money goals in 2026

December 29, 2025

By ADRIANA MORGA - Associated Press

The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals. Sometimes it involves eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. But, for many, it can also include goals to pay off credit card debt, save for a new house, or simply get more educated about money. As many start writing their New Year’s resolutions, financial goals are also making the list. When building your goals for 2026, experts recommend focusing less on the past and more on an optimistic yet realistic vision for the future.

Top diplomats of China, Cambodia and Thailand meet as Beijing seeks a stronger role in dispute

December 29, 2025

By KANIS LEUNG - Associated Press

Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand have convened with their Chinese counterpart to discuss the border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countries. The trilateral meeting Monday was held in a southwestern Chinese province north of the region where the dispute is still simmering. The meeting came two days after Thailand and Cambodia signed a fresh ceasefire agreement. It ended weeks of fighting that killed more than 100 people and forced hundreds of thousands of people to be evacuated on both sides of the border. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for joint efforts to promote regional peace, stability and development.

Tiger Woods turns 50. It’s the one time golf’s greats can relate to him

December 29, 2025

By DOUG FERGUSON - AP Golf Writer

Tiger Woods played a game with which hardly anyone could relate. And now he approaches a milestone that makes him like everyone else. Woods turns 50 on Tuesday. This celebration is more about appreciating the past than wondering about the future. Woods has had more surgeries than the 15 majors he won. He is eligible for the 50-and-older PGA Tour Champions without any indication he will play. Woods has played only 11 times since he was badly injured in 2021 car crash in Los Angeles. And this is the first year he didn’t play at all. His impact on the game remains huge.

AP Exclusive: China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs

December 29, 2025

By SIMINA MISTREANU - Associated Press

Authorities in China’s Xinjiang region are threatening to detain residents over downloading, listening to and sharing Uyghur-language songs they consider sensitive. That’s according to a recording of a public meeting obtained by The Associated Press. The tunes, ranging from traditional folk ballads to rap songs, are being targeted for allegedly threatening social stability, damaging the Chinese Communist Party’s reputation and bringing down the public’s morale, among other reasons. The renewed crackdown on cultural expression in Xinjiang suggests a continuation of the repressive policies over the past decade that have culminated in the extrajudicial detention, between 2017 and 2019, of at least 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Huis.

Kawhi Leonard scores career-best 55 points, ties Clippers’ franchise record

December 29, 2025

By DOUG PADILLA - Associated Press

With a franchise scoring record there for the taking, Kawhi Leonard elected to take a pass in order to be fresh for another day. Team-oriented to the core, Leonard scored a career-high 55 points to push the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. The Clippers are now on a season-best four-game winning streak and a recent scoring burst from Leonard is the primary reason. Leonard was closing in on the franchise record but decided to keep his fourth-quarter floor time to six minutes and departed with just under a minute remaining. He now shares the team mark for points in a game with teammate James Harden.

Out with the old: With 2026 nigh, here’s some wide-ranging intel on managing transitions

December 28, 2025

By DEEPTI HAJELA - Associated Press

It’s that time again when we turn the calendar page on one year and meet another. For many Americans, these last weeks of December are a time to take stock, to look at goals accomplished and those still unmet, to think about hopes and plans for the next year. Experts in different fields who deal with transitions and change have some advice – Plan what you can, but accept that some things will be unknown and unexpected. What works for someone else may not be the best way for you. Set goals that you can achieve, and then build on them.

US pledges $2B for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding and warns agencies to ‘adapt or die’

December 28, 2025

By JAMEY KEATEN and MATTHEW LEE - Associated Press

The United States has announced a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump continues to slash U.S. foreign assistance funding. The money is a tiny fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what the administration believes is a generous amount that will maintain the United States’ status as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. The pledge creates an umbrella fund from which money will be doled out to individual agencies and priorities. The announcement caps a crisis year for many U.N. organizations as the U.S. and other Western donors have cut billions in funding, prompting massive cuts in spending and jobs.

What music and television to stream: A New Year’s Eve tradition

December 28, 2025

By The Associated Press

The end of the year brings fewer new streaming options, but it’s a great time to catch up on 2025’s best movies, TV, music, and games. The Associated Press offers comprehensive guides on its Year in Review page. One standout this week is a music and television option perfect for New Year’s Eve. On Dec. 31, you can enjoy all-star performances. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” is available to stream on ABC.com. Performers include Chappell Roan, 50 Cent, Diana Ross, Chance the Rapper, and many more.

Trump and Netanyahu are to meet in Florida at a crucial moment for the US-backed Gaza ceasefire

December 28, 2025

By WILL WEISSERT, SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. They aim to boost a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, which faces challenges as it looks to move into a more complicated second phase. Trump hopes to leverage his relationship with Netanyahu to speed up the peace process. The ceasefire began in October and has mostly held, but progress has slowed lately. The second phase involves rebuilding Gaza under international supervision, creating an international security force and normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab world.

Zohran Mamdani has bold promises. Can he make them come true as New York City mayor?

December 28, 2025

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE - Associated Press

Zohran Mamdani has promised to transform New York City government when he becomes mayor. Can he do it? Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, already faces intense scrutiny, even before taking office in one of the country’s most scrutinized political jobs. Republicans have cast him as a liberal boogeyman. Some of his fellow Democrats have deemed him too far left. Progressives are closely watching for any signs of him shifting toward the center. On Jan. 1, he will assume control of America’s biggest city under that harsh spotlight, with the country watching to see if he can pull off the big promises that vaulted him to office and handle the everyday duties of the job.

Leonard scores a career-best 55 points to lead the Clippers past the East-leading Pistons 112-99

December 28, 2025

By DOUG PADILLA - Associated Press

Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points, James Harden added 28 and the Los Angeles Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Leonard went 17 of 26 from the floor, including 5 for 10 from 3-point range, and made 16 of 17 free throws. Nicolas Batum scored 12 points, while Leonard added 11 rebounds and five steals for Los Angeles, which lost 10 of 11 games before its four-game run. Cade Cunningham finished with 27 points for the Pistons after being held scoreless in the first half while in foul trouble. Jalen Duren had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Jaden Ivey added 11 points for Detroit, which lost back-to-back games for just the second time.

4 dead, dozens injured in Syria during clashes between Alawites and counterdemonstrators

December 28, 2025

By OMAR ALBAM - Associated Press

At least four people have been killed and dozens wounded in clashes on Syria’s coast. Health officials said that the violence erupted Sunday between Alawite protesters and counterdemonstrators. This follows a bombing at an Alawite mosque in Homs on Friday that killed eight and wounded 18. Thousands protested in Latakia and Tartous. A group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the mosque attack. Security forces tried to break up the clashes by firing into the air. Syria’s state-run television reported injuries to security forces and damage to property. The country has faced sectarian clashes since the fall of former President Bashar Assad.

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