News

African migrants hit it big in Spain Christmas lottery

MADRID — About 35 African migrants, including at least one rescued at sea from an overcrowded wooden boat, are among the top prize winners of… Continue reading

District besieged by Taliban still under Afghan control

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan forces backed by U.S. air strikes pushed back a Taliban onslaught Thursday in a strategically important district in the southern… Continue reading

Burundi: New rebel group says it aims to oust Nkurunziza

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Burundi edged closer toward a civil war Thursday with the announcement of the launch of a new rebel group that aims… Continue reading

Christmas in Bethlehem clouded by Israeli-Palestinian violence

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Christian faithful from around the world on Thursday descended on the biblical city of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations at the… Continue reading

Defying Fed hike, 30-year mortgage rate slips to 3.96 pct.

WASHINGTON — What Fed rate hike?One week after the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates slightly from record lows, the average on a 30-year fixed… Continue reading

In this photo taken Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, Josh Redmyer, a former Marine who served three tours in Iraq, poses with Milo, who he calls his "therapy dog," in Oroville, Calif. Redmyer, who was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2009, received a less-than-honorable discharge in 2012. He is among the thousands of veterans who cannot receive veterans health benefits because of a less-than-honorable discharge. Redmyer turns to Milo, who is a birthday present from his roommate, when he becomes despondent. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

A no thank you for serving

ST. LOUIS — No medical or mental health care. No subsidized college or work training. For many who leave the U.S. military with less-than-honorable discharges,… Continue reading

In this photo taken Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, Josh Redmyer, a former Marine who served three tours in Iraq, poses with Milo, who he calls his "therapy dog," in Oroville, Calif. Redmyer, who was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2009, received a less-than-honorable discharge in 2012. He is among the thousands of veterans who cannot receive veterans health benefits because of a less-than-honorable discharge. Redmyer turns to Milo, who is a birthday present from his roommate, when he becomes despondent. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Diana Davis shows a photo she found in the rubble of her father-in-law's home after Wednesday's tornado in Lutts, Tenn., Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. The photo shows what the house looked like before the tornado hit the area. (Larry McCormack/The Tennessean via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Tornadoes ravage South; at least 11 killed

ASHLAND, Miss. — Instead of doing some last-minute shopping or wrapping gifts, families across the South spent Christmas Eve taking stock of their losses after… Continue reading

Diana Davis shows a photo she found in the rubble of her father-in-law's home after Wednesday's tornado in Lutts, Tenn., Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. The photo shows what the house looked like before the tornado hit the area. (Larry McCormack/The Tennessean via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, file photo, Robert Downey Jr. arrives for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, pardoned Downey Jr. for a nearly 20-year-old felony drug conviction that sent the Oscar-nominated actor to jail for nearly a year. The pardon does not erase records of a conviction, but it restores voting rights and is a public proclamation that the person has remained out of trouble and demonstrated "exemplary behavior," according to materials on Brown's website. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

California gov pardons Downey Jr. in drug case

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The governor of California pardoned Robert Downey Jr. on Thursday for a nearly 20-year-old felony drug conviction that led to the Oscar-nominated… Continue reading

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, file photo, Robert Downey Jr. arrives for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, pardoned Downey Jr. for a nearly 20-year-old felony drug conviction that sent the Oscar-nominated actor to jail for nearly a year. The pardon does not erase records of a conviction, but it restores voting rights and is a public proclamation that the person has remained out of trouble and demonstrated "exemplary behavior," according to materials on Brown's website. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
A thermometer reads minus-nine Celsius in Santa Claus Village, around 8 kms, 5 miles north of Rovaniemi in Finland on Tuesday Dec. 15, 2015. Most kids learn that Santa Claus comes from the North Pole, but children in Scandinavia are taught he lives a bit further south. Where exactly is a matter of much debate, with businesses in Finland, Sweden and Norway competing to cash in on the cache that comes with claiming Santa's hometown.(AP Photo/James Brooks)

Nordic countries in annual contest to claim the real Santa

HELSINKI — Most kids learn that Santa Claus comes from the North Pole, but children in Scandinavia are taught he lives a bit further south.… Continue reading

A thermometer reads minus-nine Celsius in Santa Claus Village, around 8 kms, 5 miles north of Rovaniemi in Finland on Tuesday Dec. 15, 2015. Most kids learn that Santa Claus comes from the North Pole, but children in Scandinavia are taught he lives a bit further south. Where exactly is a matter of much debate, with businesses in Finland, Sweden and Norway competing to cash in on the cache that comes with claiming Santa's hometown.(AP Photo/James Brooks)

Grand jury indicts man in death at Anchorage jail

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage grand jury has indicted a man suspected of killing a fellow prisoner at the Anchorage Correctional Center.Alaska State Troopers… Continue reading

Airlines prep for holiday crush: More flights, bigger planes

DALLAS — Airlines are shifting the timing of thousands of flights, even adding dozens of redeyes, as they try to avoid delays while hauling millions… Continue reading

Girl calls 911 after touching Elf on the Shelf

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — A New Jersey girl called 911 after she touched her Elf on the Shelf.Police say 7-year-old Isabelle LaPeruta of Old Bridge… Continue reading

Arrests made as protest blocks Minn. airport

MINNEAPOLIS — Protesters blocked access to a terminal and caused significant holiday traffic delays around Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday after staging a Black… Continue reading

2 Palestinian attackers killed, 2 Israelis die in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two Palestinian assailants were shot and killed on Wednesday after stabbing Jewish pedestrians outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli police said, the latest… Continue reading

Wave of attacks kills at least 15 civilians across Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of attacks across Iraq killed at least 15 civilians on Wednesday as government forces pressed on with their offensive to… Continue reading

Chipotle tweaks cooking after E. coli outbreak

NEW YORK — After an E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 50 people, Chipotle is tweaking its cooking methods.Onions will be dipped in boiling… Continue reading

Lakeisha Nicole Holloway enters district court with one of her public defenders, Scott Coffee, for her arraignment Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. Holloway, who crashed her car into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, Dec. 20, has been charged with murder, child abuse and hit-and-run. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)

Suspect in Vegas crash distraught, attorney says

LAS VEGAS — A woman accused of intentionally plowing a car carrying her child through crowds of pedestrians on a Las Vegas Strip sidewalk is… Continue reading

Lakeisha Nicole Holloway enters district court with one of her public defenders, Scott Coffee, for her arraignment Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. Holloway, who crashed her car into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, Dec. 20, has been charged with murder, child abuse and hit-and-run. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)

Grand jury indicts truck driver in Tracy Morgan crash

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A New Jersey grand jury on Wednesday indicted the truck driver who crashed into a limo van carrying Tracy Morgan, killing… Continue reading

U.S. service members pay their respects during a memorial ceremony for six Airmen killed in a suicide attack, at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015. The deadliest attack in Afghanistan since 2013 killed six U.S. troops on Monday, including a family man from Long Island, New York; a South Texan; a New York City police detective; a Georgia high school and college athlete; an expectant father from Philadelphia; and a major from suburban Minneapolis with ties to the military's LGBT community. They were killed when their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle near Bagram Air Base, the Defense Department said. (Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys/U.S. Air Force via AP)

Afghan troops rushed to area under attack

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan military has rushed reinforcements to a southern district threatened for days with takeover by the Taliban, the country’s defense minister… Continue reading

U.S. service members pay their respects during a memorial ceremony for six Airmen killed in a suicide attack, at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015. The deadliest attack in Afghanistan since 2013 killed six U.S. troops on Monday, including a family man from Long Island, New York; a South Texan; a New York City police detective; a Georgia high school and college athlete; an expectant father from Philadelphia; and a major from suburban Minneapolis with ties to the military's LGBT community. They were killed when their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle near Bagram Air Base, the Defense Department said. (Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys/U.S. Air Force via AP)

US expands sanctions over Russia’s activity in Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Tuesday imposed financial restrictions on 34 additional people and entities for helping Russian and Ukrainian companies evade U.S. penalties… Continue reading