US & World News Archives - Page 9 of 86

Edmunds small SUV comparison: New Volkswagen Tiguan vs. Honda CR-V

October 15, 2025

By ROBERT DUFFER - Edmunds

The redesigned 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan aims to steal shoppers’ attention from the Honda CR-V and its winning hybrid model in a showdown of two of the largest compact crossover SUVs on sale today. Edmunds’ automotive experts compare them in four areas: performance and fuel economy; comfort and cargo space; tech and safety; and price and value.

The government shutdown is putting a renewed spotlight on the cracks in the US aviation system

October 15, 2025

By RIO YAMAT - AP Airlines and Travel Reporter

The U.S. government shutdown’s strain on the aviation system is starting to show. An air traffic control tower near Los Angeles closed for six hours less than a week into the shutdown because of a controller shortage. Since the shutdown began Oct. 1, the FAA has reported staffing issues in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston. Flight delays have spread to airports in Nashville, Denver, Newark and more. Experts say cracks quickly emerged because the system already was stretched by chronic staffing shortages and aging equipment. They say air travel could face deeper problems if the shutdown continues.

Indonesia’s Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano unleashes new burst of hot ash

October 15, 2025

AP

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, is erupting for a second straight day, spewing towering columns of hot ash 6 miles high. Ash and debris blanketed villages, but no casualties were immediately reported. Indonesia’s Geology Agency said the volcano had two eruptions Wednesday after erupting three times Tuesday. One lit up the night sky with glowing lava and bolts of lightning. Officials warned residents to be vigilant about heavy rainfall that could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano. The volcano has been at the highest alert level since June and an exclusion zone was widened as eruptions became more frequent.

Russia makes more precise drones and is using them to attack Ukraine’s vital rail network

October 15, 2025

By ILLIA NOVIKOV - Associated Press

Russia is intensifying drone strikes on Ukraine’s rail network, a critical lifeline for commercial freight, passenger traffic and military logistics. A recent “double tap” drone attack in northeast Ukraine, less than 43 miles from the Russian border, killed a 71-year-old man, injured at least eight people and destroyed train cars. Ukrainian officials say strikes have surged since the summer, driven by upgraded Russian drones equipped with cameras and radio modems that allow operators to detect air defenses and carry out precision strikes. Ukraine’s rapid repair crews are keeping trains running, but experts warn that the continued strikes are likely to take a bigger toll on the country’s transport and energy infrastructure.

Israelis are identifying the second group of bodies handed over by Hamas as tenuous truce holds

October 15, 2025

By MELANIE LIDMAN - Associated Press

Israel has identified more bodies of dead hostages that were handed over by Hamas to ease pressure on a fragile ceasefire in its war with Israel. The handover came after an Israeli military agency warned it would slash aid deliveries to Gaza as the militant group was not returning the remains as agreed. Three of four bodies handed over on Tuesday night were identified as Israeli hostages but the identity of the fourth remained in question. The U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan had called for all hostages — living and dead — to be handed over by Monday but if that didn’t happen, Hamas was to share information about deceased hostages and try to hand over all as soon as possible.

Pakistan reports a new clash with Afghan forces along border

October 15, 2025

By RIAZ KHAN - Associated Press

Pakistan’s state-run media say clashes have erupted between Pakistani and Afghan forces in a remote border region. Pakistan TV accused Afghan troops of opening “unprovoked fire” on Tuesday night. It said Pakistani forces responded, damaging Afghan tanks and military posts. In Afghanistan, Tahir Ahrar, a deputy police spokesperson in Khost province, confirmed the clashes but provided no further details. This is the second time this week that the two sides have traded fire along their long border. Pakistan’s state-run media reported that Afghan forces and Pakistani Taliban jointly opened fire at a Pakistani post “without provocation,” prompting what it described as a “strong response” from Pakistan in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández says ‘nobody to blame but myself’ for his role in weird NLCS double play

October 15, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández says he watched a replay of that bizarre double play in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series only one time as the clip went viral across social media. The Dodgers won 2-1 despite running into an unsual 8-6-2 double play. Hernández said “there’s nobody to blame but myself” for his baserunning mistake. Hernández was on third when Max Muncy hit a drive that popped out of center fielder Sal Frelick’s glove and hit the wall before Frelick caught it. The Brewers forced out Hernández at home plate.

Max Muncy sets Dodgers record by hitting his 14th career postseason homer

October 15, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy set a franchise record by hitting his 14th career postseason homer in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Muncy’s 412-foot drive over the center-field wall in the sixth inning broke the Dodgers mark he had shared with Justin Turner and Corey Seager. The solo shot off Freddy Peralta extended Los Angeles’ lead to 3-1 in Muncy’s 70th postseason game with the Dodgers.

Slumping Brewers must improve their approach at the plate to have any hope of coming back in NLCS

October 15, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

The Milwaukee Brewers are making the types of mistakes at the plate that they avoided while producing the best regular-season record in the major leagues. No wonder they’re leaving home facing a 2-0 deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. The Brewers ranked second in the majors in on-base percentage and third in runs and batting average while posting a franchise-best 97-65 regular-season record. But they’ve totaled just five hits through the first two games of this series and mustered only one run in each of them.

Trump’s approval on immigration drops among AAPI adults, new AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll finds

October 14, 2025

By TERRY TANG and LINLEY SANDERS - Associated Press

A new AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll finds that after months of aggressive immigration enforcement measures from the Trump administration, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults are more likely to disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration than they were in March. The findings come as federal immigration agents expand a crackdown in the Chicago area, where more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since last month. A solid majority of AAPI adults also say the Republican president has overstepped on deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Most also oppose several specific tactics used by the administration, such as deploying the military or National Guard to carry out arrests or deportations.

Supreme Court takes up GOP-led challenge to Voting Rights Act that could affect control of Congress

October 14, 2025

By MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press

The Supreme Court is taking up a major Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act, the centerpiece legislation of the civil rights movement, that could gut a key provision of the law that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting. The justices on Wednesday are hearing arguments for the second time in a case over Louisiana’s congressional map, which has two majority Black districts. A ruling for the state could open the door for legislatures to redraw congressional maps across the South, potentially boosting Republican electoral prospects in the closely divided House of Representatives by eliminating majority Black and Latino seats that tend to favor Democrats. The court’s conservative majority has been skeptical of considerations of race.

Yamamoto throws 3-hitter as Dodgers beat Brewers 5-1 for 2-0 lead in NLCS

October 14, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a three-hitter for the first postseason complete game in eight years as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 to extend their lead in the National League Championship Series. Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy each hit a solo homer as the Dodgers left Milwaukee with a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday. Muncy’s drive was the 14th homer of his postseason career, breaking the Dodgers record he had shared with Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Yamamoto allowed a home run to Jackson Chourio on the first of his 111 pitches but shut down the Brewers the rest of the way. The right-hander’s complete game was his first in two major league seasons.

Photos show life slowly returning to abandoned Himalayan villages in India

October 14, 2025

By SATISH SHARMA - Associated Press

MARTOLI, India (AP) — Dozens of dilapidated stone buildings are what is left of the once-thriving border village of Martoli, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Nestled in Johar Valley and surrounded by Himalayan peaks — the most notable being Nanda Devi, once considered the tallest mountain in the world — this village had traded sugar, lentils, spices and…

Alaska residents displaced by remnants of Typhoon Halong have limited options as winter sets in

October 14, 2025

By BECKY BOHRER and GENE JOHNSON - Associated Press

Officials in Alaska are rushing to find housing for people from tiny coastal villages devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. But the remote location and severe damage are limiting their options as they race against other impending storms and the onset of winter. High winds and storm surge seawater battered low-lying, isolated Alaska Native communities in western Alaska over the weekend. The Coast Guard plucked two dozen people from their homes after the structures floated out to sea in high water, three people were missing or dead, and hundreds of people were staying in school shelters — including one with no working toilets, officials said. Across the region more than 1,300 people were displaced.

Some airports refuse to play Noem video on shutdown impact, saying it’s political

October 14, 2025

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and RIO YAMAT - Associated Press

Airports around the country are saying they won’t play a video with a message from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in which she blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its impacts on operations to screen travelers. Airports in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Phoenix and Westchester County say the video goes against their airport policy because of its political content. The shutdown has halted routine operations and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions. Various government agencies, in emails to workers and on websites, have adopted language that blames Democrats for the shutdown.

Instagram says it’s safeguarding teens by limiting them to PG-13 content

October 14, 2025

By BARBARA ORTUTAY - AP Technology Writer

Meta says teenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won’t be able to change their settings without a parent’s permission. This means that teens will see photos and videos on Instagram that is similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie. The company is also adding an even stricter setting that parents can set up for their children. As it seeks to add safeguards for teens, Meta has already promised it wouldn’t show inappropriate content to teens, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide, though this does not always work.

Florida judge temporarily blocks transfer of downtown Miami land for Trump’s presidential library

October 14, 2025

By KATE PAYNE - Associated Press/Report for America

A Florida judge has temporarily blocked the planned transfer of prime downtown Miami land for Donald Trump’s future presidential library. Judge Mavel Ruiz’ order came days after a Miami activist alleged that officials at a local college violated Florida’s open government law when they gifted the sizable plot of real estate to the state, which then voted to transfer it to the foundation for the planned presidential library. The nearly 3-acre property is valued at more than $67 million, according to a 2025 assessment by the Miami-Dade County property appraiser.

Jamie Foxx, Maxwell, Jill Scott, Flea, Doja Cat and more react to the death of D’Angelo

October 14, 2025

By The Associated Press

Celebrities have begun paying tribute to R&B and neo-soul icon D’Angelo. His death at age 51 was announced on Tuesday. He died after a prolonged battle with cancer, according to a statement from the family. Among those paying tribute include the actor Jamie Foxx, the co-founder and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea, and Grammy-Award winning R&B singers Maxwell and Jill Scott. D’Angelo was celebrated for and recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for attracting mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video.

LA Angels should be held responsible for pitcher Skaggs’ overdose death, lawyer says

October 14, 2025

By AMY TAXIN - Associated Press

A lawyer for the family of Tyler Skaggs says the Los Angeles Angels should be held responsible for the drug overdose death of the star pitcher. The team’s attorney, however, said they were not aware of drug use by Skaggs or they would have done something to help. The comments came in opening statements Tuesday in the trial for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ family. Plaintiffs’ attorney Shawn Holley told jurors that Angels officials knew communications director Eric Kay was supplying drugs to Skaggs and other players. The Angels argue Skaggs’ actions were his own and not preventable by the MLB team. The trial could include testimony from players like Mike Trout and Wade Miley.

US revokes visas for 6 foreigners over Charlie Kirk-related speech

October 14, 2025

By MATTHEW LEE - AP Diplomatic Writer

The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by U.S. officials to have made derisive comments or made light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month. The State Department said it had determined they should lose their visas after reviewing their online social media posts and clips about Kirk. The administration and its supporters have targeted people for their comments about Kirk, leading to firings or other discipline of journalists, teachers and others, and raising free speech concerns. The announcement came Tuesday as Trump was posthumously awarding Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Appeals court backs Michigan school in banning ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ shirts

October 14, 2025

AP

A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Michigan school district in a dispute over free speech and “Let’s Go Brandon” shirts. The clothing took a jab at then-President Joe Biden in 2022. Tri County Middle School in western Michigan told two brothers to take off the shirts, citing the dress code. Their mother sued, citing the First Amendment. But the appeals court says “vulgarity trumps politics … even when vulgarity is cloaked in innuendo.” In 2021, an obscenity directed at Biden was being chanted at a NASCAR race, though a TV reporter said it was “Let’s Go, Brandon.” The line became popular among Biden’s critics.

As US wood tariffs kick in, kitchen cabinet companies look for a silver lining

October 14, 2025

By MAE ANDERSON - AP Business Writer

New tariffs on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture in the U.S. are expected to impact the home improvement industry. The tariffs took effect early Tuesday. The White House says the aim is to boost domestic production and to protect American companies. However, some small business owners worry about short-term challenges. They fear clients may hesitate to pay more for budget-priced cabinets, and potential customers might delay renovations. Despite high mortgage rates affecting home sales and rising production costs, a Harvard University forecast expects remodeling activity to remain slow but steady through the middle of next year.

House Republicans seek testimony from ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith

October 14, 2025

By STEPHEN GROVES - Associated Press

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are requesting that Jack Smith, the former Justice Department special counsel, appear for an interview. It’s part of an escalating effort among Republicans to pursue the perceived enemies of President Donald Trump. Rep. Jim Jordan, the committee chair, charges in a letter to Smith that his prosecutions of Trump were “partisan and politically motivated.” Smith has come under particular scrutiny on Capitol Hill, especially after the Senate Judiciary Committee said last week that his investigation had included an FBI analysis of phone records for more than half a dozen Republican lawmakers from the week of Jan. 6, 2021

Dallin H. Oaks, former Utah Supreme Court justice, is selected to lead Mormon church

October 14, 2025

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM - Associated Press

Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice, has been selected to be the next president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He’ll lead the church’s more than 17 million members worldwide. His selection follows the death of his predecessor, Russell M. Nelson. As president, Oaks is deemed a prophet and seer who will guide the church through divine revelation from God. Oaks is known for his jurist sensibilities and traditionalist beliefs on marriage and religious freedom. The 93-year-old will serve until he dies.

Trump honoring Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would be his 32nd birthday

October 14, 2025

By WILL WEISSERT - Associated Press

President Trump is posthumously awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk. Kirk was a conservative activist who was fatally shot last month while speaking at Utah Valley University. Tuesday’s ceremony coincides with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Trump praised Kirk at his funeral as a “great American hero” and a “martyr” for freedom. Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and played a significant role in conservative politics. In a sign of Kirk’s close ties to the administration, he will be the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump’s second term.

Israel to halve aid into Gaza over slow return of dead hostages, a test for fragile ceasefire

October 14, 2025

By SAM MEDNICK and GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO - Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump says wants back dead hostages held in Gaza. The tenuous ceasefire in the two-year Israel-Hamas war is being tested as complex issues remain a day after widespread jubilation over the return to Israel of the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The focus in Israel turned to when Hamas will return the bodies of 24 remaining hostages believed dead in Gaza. A U.N. spokesperson in Gaza says Israel informed it of plans to halve aid into Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire with the slow release of dead hostages. In Gaza, health officials said the Israeli military fatally shot three Palestinians.

News organizations, including Hegseth’s former employer Fox, reject new Pentagon reporting rules

October 14, 2025

By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer

Fox News, the former employer of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has joined a near-unanimous outpouring of news organizations rejecting new rules for journalists based in the Pentagon. Fox signed on to a statement with ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN saying they would no agree to Hegseth’s new rules. It said “the policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections.” So far, only the conservative One America News Network has said its reporters would follow the new regulations. Hegseth has said that outlets who don’t agree to the new rules by the end of Tuesday, which restrict reporting on news not specifically approved by his team, will be evicted from the Pentagon on Wednesday.

D’Angelo, Grammy-winning R&B singer who became an icon with ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel),’ dies

October 14, 2025

The Associated Press,

D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, has died. He was 51. The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died Tuesday after a long bout with cancer, his family said in a statement. It called him “a shining star of…

Trump and budget chief Vought are making this a government shutdown unlike any other

October 14, 2025

By LISA MASCARO - AP Congressional Correspondent

President Donald Trump is making this government shutdown unlike any the country has ever seen. The White House budget office headed by Russ Vought is deciding who gets paid or fired in an unprecedented restructuring across the federal workforce. As the shutdown enters its third week, the Office and Management and Budget said Tuesday it’s preparing to “batten down the hatches” with more reductions in force to come. The president calls budget chief Vought the “grim reaper” who’s seized on the opportunity to fund Trump’s priorities, paying the military while slashing employees in health, education, the sciences and other areas. The actions have been criticized as illegal and are facing court challenges.

UConn tops women’s preseason AP Top 25 ahead of South Carolina, UCLA; SEC has 5 teams in top 10

October 14, 2025

By DOUG FEINBERG - AP Basketball Writer

UConn is the No. 1 team in the country in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason women’s basketball poll. The Huskies received 27 first-place votes from a 31-member national media panel. South Carolina, last season’s runner-up, is second and received the other four first-place votes. UCLA and Texas are third and fourth, with LSU fifth. UConn, led by Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, is ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the 13th time since 1995. Coach Geno Auriemma is optimistic about the season, emphasizing leadership and luck as key factors.

It’s called automated officiating. The NBA is utilizing it to get even more calls right

October 14, 2025

By TIM REYNOLDS - AP Basketball Writer

The NBA is using “automated officiating” to enhance game accuracy. This technology, which includes cameras and sensors, helps referees make precise calls by tracking players and the ball. An example is LeBron James’s buzzer-beater against the Indiana Pacers, where technology confirmed the correct call. The NBA aims to improve game flow and transparency with shorter review times and clearer explanations for fans. Other sports, like baseball and tennis, are also adopting tech for officiating. The goal is to support referees, not replace them, allowing them to focus on complex judgment calls.

Slowdown in US hiring suggests economy still needs rate cuts, Fed’s Powell says

October 14, 2025

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER - AP Economics Writer

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says that a sharp slowdown in hiring poses a growing risk to the U.S. economy. Powell’s comments Tuesday suggest that the Fed will likely cut its key interest rate twice more this year. Powell said in written remarks that despite the federal government shutdown cutting off official economic data, “the outlook for employment and inflation does not appear to have changed much since our September meeting,” when the Fed reduced its key rate for the first time this year.

Alec and Stephen Baldwin escape injury after their vehicle hits a tree in New York

October 14, 2025

AP

Alec Baldwin and his younger brother Stephen escaped injury when their vehicle struck a tree in New York. In a video posted to Instagram late Monday, Alec Baldwin said he was driving his wife’s Range Rover in East Hampton on Monday when he was cut off by a garbage truck “the size of a whale.” The 67-year-old actor and his 59-year-old brother were in the vehicle on their way back from attending the Hamptons International Film Festival. Alec Baldwin said that neither he nor his brother were injured, but the vehicle they were in had extensive damage.

Brewers turn potential grand slam by Dodgers slugger Max Muncy into wild double play in NLCS

October 14, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Max Muncy came within inches of hitting a grand slam for the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the scoring in the National League Championship Series. Instead, the Milwaukee Brewers turned it into one of the most incredible double plays in postseason history. With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning, Muncy hit a long drive to center field. Sal Frelick jumped and reached over the wall in an attempt to make the catch. The ball popped out of Frelick’s glove and hit the top of the fence before Frelick caught it in the air. He fired the ball in, and Brewers catcher William Contreras forced out one runner at home plate and another at third base for a most unusual 8-6-2 inning-ending double play.

PHOTO ESSAY: Young California inmates learn skills to fight wildfires

October 14, 2025

By ETHAN SWOPE and TRÂN NGUYỄN - Associated Press

Inmate firefighters in California will receive higher pay and the state will make permanent firefighting camps that train and educate young offenders under two laws signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. California state agencies and the Los Angeles County fire department run 35 “fire camps” where inmates train to become certified wildland firefighters. More than 1,100 inmate firefighters worked alongside state…

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in arson attack at governor’s mansion while Shapiro’s family slept

October 14, 2025

By MARK SCOLFORO - Associated Press

A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.

ICE’s use of full-body restraints during deportations raises concerns over inhumane treatment

October 14, 2025

By JASON DEAREN, JIM MUSTIAN and DORANY PINEDA - Associated Press

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been using a full-body restraint device called the WRAP during deportations. The Associated Press spoke to a number of people who said they were placed in the device after they had already been shackled. ICE’s use of the WRAP has continued despite concerns about its safety expressed two years ago by a watchdog division of its parent agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The manufacturer says the device is intended for violent individuals, but detainees claim it is used to intimidate or punish them. A DHS spokesperson says ICE’s use of the restraints is “fully in line with established legal standards.”

NFL uses AI to predict injuries, aiming to keep players healthier

October 14, 2025

By JOSH DUBOW - AP Pro Football Writer

Injuries are a big part of the NFL, and staying healthy can make or break a season. The NFL has partnered with Amazon Web Services to use technology and AI to predict and prevent injuries. The Digital Athlete tool collects data from all 32 teams to help manage players’ health. This tool has been available for three seasons and is praised for its comprehensive data. It helps teams adjust practice schedules and workloads to reduce injuries. While overall injuries have decreased, experts say it’s hard to pinpoint a direct cause. The data also helps improve equipment like helmets to reduce concussions.

French prime minister proposes suspending controversial retirement age law until 2027 election

October 14, 2025

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN - Associated Press

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu plans to suspend a controversial retirement age increase from 62 to 64. This move aims to prevent his fragile minority government from collapsing. Lecornu announced Tuesday that the law would be paused until after the 2027 presidential election. The Socialist Party has demanded the law be repealed. Lecornu faces no-confidence motions from the hard-left France Unbowed and far-right National Rally parties. Both parties lack enough seats to topple the government alone, but they could succeed if the Socialist Party joins them. Lecornu’s reappointment is seen as Macron’s last chance to reinvigorate his second term.

Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting

October 14, 2025

By MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and left in place the $1.4 billion judgment against him over his description of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting as a hoax staged by crisis actors. The Infowars host argued a Connecticut judge was wrong to find him liable for defamation and infliction of emotional distress without holding a trial over allegations lodged by victims’ relatives. The justices issued their order Tuesday without even asking the victims’ families to respond to Jones’ appeal. The Newtown, Connecticut, shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators. Jones is separately appealing a $49 million judgment in Texas.

GM to take a $1.6 billion hit as tax incentives for EVs are slashed and emission rules ease

October 14, 2025

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN - AP Business Writer

General Motors will book a negative impact of $1.6 billion in its next quarter after tax incentives for electric vehicles were slashed by the U.S. and rules governing emissions are relaxed. Shares dipped 3% before the opening bell Tuesday. The EV tax credit ended last month. The clean vehicle tax credit was worth $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for used ones. General Motors, which had led the way among U.S. automakers with plans to convert production to an electric fleet of vehicles, warned that more hits may be ahead as it adjust production under a new administration, and non-cash charges may impact operations and cash flow in the future.

Leaf-peeping season hampered by drought: Fall foliage dropping sooner, showing less color

October 14, 2025

By PATRICK WHITTLE and MICHAEL CASEY - Associated Press

Leaf-peeping season has arrived in the Northeast and beyond, but weeks of drought have muted this year’s autumn colors, and sent leaves fluttering to the ground earlier than usual. Soaking in the fall foliage is an annual tradition in the New England states as well as areas such as the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Great Smoky Mountains of the mid-south and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, chlorophyll in leaves breaks down, and they turn to the autumn tones of yellow, orange and red. But dry weather in summer and fall can change all that because it causes leaves to brown and fall more quickly.

Madagascar president dissolves the lower house of parliament amid apparent coup attempt

October 14, 2025

AP

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the country’s lower house of parliament amid a military rebellion. On Tuesday, Rajoelina issued a decree for the National Assembly to be dissolved immediately. This announcement was made on the Madagascar presidency’s Facebook page. The president’s whereabouts are currently unknown. An elite military unit joined youth-led anti-government protests over the weekend and called for him to step down. In a speech broadcast on social media on Monday night, Rajoelina said he left in fear for his life.

Russian aerial attack hits a Ukrainian hospital, days before Zelenskyy meets Trump

October 14, 2025

By ILLIA NOVIKOV - Associated Press

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces have launched powerful glide bombs and drones against Kharkiv and hit a hospital. Officials said that the attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city wounded seven people and forced the evacuation of 50 patients at the hospital. Zelenskyy said Tuesday that the main targets were energy facilities. The assault is part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to disable Ukraine’s power supply. Zelenskyy is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to seek more American military support including air defense systems. Trump has warned Moscow he may send Tomahawk cruise missiles for use by Ukraine. That could escalate tensions but also push Moscow toward negotiations.

China sanctions 5 US units of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean over probe by Washington

October 14, 2025

By CHAN HO-HIM - AP Business Writer

China has banned dealings by Chinese companies with five subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean. The Commerce Ministry announced Tuesday that Beijing also was investigating a probe by Washington into China’s growing dominance in world shipbuilding. The U.S. Trade Representative launched the Section 301 trade investigation in April 2024. It determined that China’s strength in the industry was a burden to U.S. businesses. International shipping and shipbuilding have become a recent focus of trade friction between Washington and Beijing. Each side has imposed new port fees on each others’ vessels, with the new fees taking effect on Tuesday.

Trump to welcome Argentina’s President Milei as US extends $20 billion lifeline

October 14, 2025

By ISABEL DEBRE - Associated Press

Argentina’s libertarian leader is sparing no praise for the U.S. president ahead of his first White House meeting with Donald Trump. It’s a tried-and-true tactic that has transformed President Javier Milei’s cash-strapped country with little obvious strategic significance to the United States into one of the Trump administration’s closest allies. Experts see two objectives for Milei at the White House. One is to negotiate U.S. tariff exemptions for Argentine products. The other is determine how the U.S. will implement its currency swap line to replenish Argentina’s depleted currency reserves ahead of the country’s crucial midterm elections this month.

Snell spectacular and Dodgers barely hold on in 9th to beat Brewers 2-1 in NLCS opener

October 13, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Blake Snell allowed one baserunner in eight shutout innings before Los Angeles’ bullpen barely held on in the ninth as the Dodgers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang with the bases loaded to end it. Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers in the sixth to break a scoreless tie.

Dallas Stars go into home opener under Glen Gulutzan still looking to compete more after 2-0 start

October 13, 2025

By STEPHEN HAWKINS - AP Sports Writer

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan has repeatedly said he wants the team to compete more in every aspect. That message was prominent even after Dallas won its first two games on the road against division opponents it also beat in the playoffs last season. The Stars finished practice Monday with players going through a 1-on-1 drill battling for pucks. Dallas plays its home opener Tuesday night against Minnesota. It will be Gulutzan’s first game behind the Stars bench at American Airlines Center since the 2012-13 season finale. He was soon fired by general manager Jim Nill, who had just taken the job. Nill brought him back as Stars coach in July.

China and the US have long collaborated in ‘open research.’ Some in Congress say that must change

October 13, 2025

By DIDI TANG and DAVID KLEPPER - Associated Press

U.S. lawmakers and national security officials are increasingly alarmed that long-standing research ties between the U.S. and China could give China an advantage when it comes to developing new military technology. Members of Congress say China has exploited American colleges and universities. They have proposed new rules to restrict federally funded research partnerships with universities in China that also work with the Chinese military. They’ve also expressed concerns that U.S. universities could be targeted by foreign spies eager to steal research secrets, highlighting the need for greater cybersecurity measures.

Despite momentous ceasefire, the path for lasting peace and rebuilding in Gaza is precipitous

October 13, 2025

By MICHELLE L. PRICE - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is hailing the ceasefire deal he brokered between Israel and Hamas as the end of the war in Gaza and start of rebuilding the devastated territory. Trump said as he stood with foreign leaders in Egypt on Monday that “I think we’ve done a lot of the hardest part because the rest comes together.” But as difficult as it was to reach a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which on Monday led to freedom for Israeli hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the path to peace and eventual rebuilding will be a long and very precipitous route.