The House has resoundingly rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s new plan to fund federal operations and suspend the debt ceiling a day before a government shutdown. Democrats and some Republicans are refusing to accommodate his sudden demands and the quick fix cobbled together by Republican leaders.

House rejects Trump-backed plan on government shutdown, leaving next steps uncertain

The House has resoundingly rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s new plan to fund federal operations and suspend the debt ceiling a day before a government shutdown.
 
MORE COVERAGE

Musk ascends as a political force beyond his wealth by tanking budget deal

 

Farmers, business owners, fire survivors face uncertainty after $100B in disaster relief flounders

 

Pentagon warns that a government shutdown will cost troops their pay over the holidays

 

Closures, Social Security checks, furloughs: What a government shutdown might mean

 
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International students urged to return to US campuses before Trump inauguration

 
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Official says Wisconsin shooter was new student at Christian school where her victims had deep ties

 
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France’s military is being ousted from more African countries. Here’s why

 
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Taking advantage of an obscure rule, Chargers’ Dicker makes NFL’s first fair-catch kick in 48 years

 
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    Amazon workers are striking at multiple delivery hubs. Here’s what you should know

     
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    Rising butter prices give European consumers and bakers a bad taste

     
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    A 20-year-old blind cat is rescued from an icy Massachusetts pond after some quick thinking

     
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    Starbucks workers plan strikes that could spread to hundreds of US stores by Christmas Eve

     
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    Malaysia agrees to resume ‘no find, no fee’ hunt for flight MH370, 10 years after plane disappeared

     
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Man accused in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing faces federal charge that’s eligible for death penalty

The man arrested in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is being held without bail after a New York federal court appearance on charges including a death-eligible murder count.
 
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Canada’s Trudeau to shuffle his Cabinet Friday amid resignation calls and rising discontent

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his Cabinet on Friday. The prime minister’s office says Trudeau will participate in the swearing-in ceremony and chair a meeting with his new Cabinet later Friday.
 
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For thousands of Jews, Israel still doesn’t feel safe after the Oct. 7 attacks. So they’re leaving

 

  1. For some, the pope’s big Holy Year only aggravates housing crisis as overtourism pushes out Romans

  2. Gisele Pelicot’s Australian supporters are moved that their French heroine wore an Aboriginal scarf

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Giant sloths and mastodons coexisted with humans for millennia in Americas, new discoveries suggest

New discoveries from several archaeological sites in North and South America suggest that ancient people first arrived in the New World much earlier than scientists once thought.
 
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Britain’s Stonehenge is a source of fascination ahead of the winter solstice

 
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LA Zoo hatches first-ever perentie lizards, one of largest lizard species in the world

 
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A beginner’s guide to Kwanzaa

 
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Meet Amy Allen, the songwriter behind the music stuck in your head

 

TODAY IN HISTORY

December
20
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1803: Louisiana Purchase completed

 

1946

"It's a Wonderful Life" premieres

1989

U.S. invades Panama

2019

Trump signs act establishing Space Force
Read more

Latest videos

Record number of travelers expected this holiday travel season

Travel forecasters expect the holiday travel rush will begin on December 21st this year and extend to January 1st of 2025.
Watch More

Organisation in Australia ‘honoured’ as Pelicot wears scarf in court with artwork by Martu woman

With an average age of 94, care home residents in UK set new record for world’s oldest choir

Filipina who won a last-minute reprieve from an Indonesian firing squad returns home

Stories Under 60 Seconds

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How gene edits allow pig organ transplants in people
0:59
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Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing faces new federal murder charges
0:49
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Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband sentenced to 20 years in prison in drugging-and-rape trial
0:56
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Devastation from hard hit town in Mayotte
0:38
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Wall Street sinks after Fed signals fewer rate cuts
0:48
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Nuclear bunker sales are booming
0:59
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What Americans think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health stances
0:56
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Brother of Cash App founder reacts to guilty verdict in stabbing death trial
0:30
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What to know about cyclone recovery efforts in Mayotte
0:48
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GloRilla says her success still doesn’t feel real
0:55
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Federal Reserve cuts its key rate by a quarter-point
0:39
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Texas detention officer dies after being attacked by inmate
0:45
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Suspect charged with killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO as an act of terrorism
0:54
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This street dog is Brazil’s new national icon
0:59
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Senior Russian general killed in Moscow bombing
0:37
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What we know about the mystery drone sightings
0:52
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France and Germany launch direct high-speed train between Berlin and Paris
0:41
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Fred Hechinger sees fame as a blessing, not a burden
0:50
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Give a toy, go to a concert: How a record label is giving back to an LA community
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Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing suffered from back trouble and brain fog
0:43
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Bird strike forces jetliner to make emergency landing
0:10
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American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country
0:33
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Taylor Swift talks about Travis Kelce to Swiftie during hospital visit
0:19
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Mysterious drones over New Jersey caught on camera
0:23
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Biden’s biggest single-day act of clemency, explained
0:52
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Man sought by police gets stuck in chimney
0:24
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Trump rings opening bell at NYSE as Time’s Person of the Year
0:25
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Bill Belichick calls joining the UNC football team a ‘dream’
0:47
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Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death is charged
0:34
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Crowd sings early “Happy Birthday” to Taylor Swift during final Eras Tour concert
0:22
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The Onion can’t buy Alex Jones’ Infowars just yet
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Nicholas Alexander Chavez finds his purpose in acting
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Who is Luigi Mangione, the person charged with killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO?
0:38
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Celebrities and coastal residents flee from wildfire in Malibu
0:26
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What to know about fluoride, in less than 60 seconds
0:34
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Indigenous Mayans want Yucatán cenotes to be given personhood status
0:54
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Gov. Josh Shapiro condemns praise for UnitedHealthcare CEO killer
0:32
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Police arrest 26-year-old suspect in connection with UnitedHealthcare CEO killing
0:59
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What to know about the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
0:43
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Woman faces hate crime charges after confronting man wearing ‘Palestine’ shirt
0:51
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Forget soccer and samba. This caramel-colored street dog is Brazil’s new national icon

For decades, lanky stray dogs have scrounged for food on Brazilian streets, abandoned and overlooked.
 
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A step-by-step guide to renovating a neglected garden

 
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Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace

 
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Schools are cutting bus service for children. Parents are turning to ride-hailing apps

 
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Notre Dame reopening spectacle caps a stellar year for luxury house LVMH

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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MrBeast’s new show already faced controversy. Its new giveaway partner may bring more

 
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California declared an emergency. How serious is bird flu?

 
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Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott reveals another $2 billion in donations in 2024

 
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Invasive ‘murder hornets’ are wiped out in the US, officials say

 
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What Assad’s fall has revealed about Syria’s trade in the stimulant drug Captagon

 
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Oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments sells for over $5M

 
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FDA says knockoff versions of Lilly obesity drug must come off the market

 
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This is the holiday season’s ‘it’ animal

 

2024 in Photos

A LOOK BACK AT 2024

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Demure, sanewashing, standalone ‘staches, sourdough: Let’s move on in 2025!

 
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‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year

 
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2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals

 
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Remember what you searched for on Google? Here’s what 2024 trends reveal

 
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An indie wave leads the top 10 AP video games of 2024

 
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Not just for summer: ‘Brat’ is Collins Dictionary’s word of the year

 
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Oxford University Press has selected its word of the year. Here’s what it says defined 2024

 

Trump’s second administration

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Winston Leiva, community education programs manager at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, stands next to a U.S. flag while giving a bilingual workshop for immigrants who want to stay in the United States, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the US under Trump

Immigrant advocates are preparing for President-elect Donald Trump’s second term by training community members on how to protect themselves from his promise of mass deportations.
 
Read more

Senate committee to hold confirmation hearing for defense secretary nominee Hegseth on Jan 14

 

What Americans think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health stances

 

Musk and Trump are viewed roughly the same by Americans, an AP-NORC poll finds

 

More on the transition

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After investigating Jan. 6, House GOP sides with Trump and goes after Liz Cheney

 

  1. Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster for ‘election interference’ after pre-election poll

  2. ABC agrees to give $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle defamation lawsuit

BE WELL

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How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season

 
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Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips

 
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Is Secret Santa stressing you out? Here’s your holiday gift-exchange survival guide

 
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More beans and less red meat: Nutrition experts weigh in on US dietary guidelines

 
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What are the benefits of weighted blankets? Here’s what the science says

 
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Meet the workout group that gets people exercising outdoors, even in the dead of winter

 
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How to choose the best personal trainer for your fitness goals — and budget

 
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Traveling during the holidays can be stressful. These tips can make it a little easier

 

In the spotlight
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How the Roxies are made: Behind the iconic role in Broadway’s megahit ‘Chicago’

The Broadway revival of “Chicago” has lasted for decades, in part thanks to casting celebrities in the top spots of a show about the venality of celebrity.
 
Read more

Greece’s only miniature therapy horses bring joy to many, but their charity is struggling

 

Younger Asian Americans navigate something new to their generation: Taking up space

 

Biathlon official apologizes to athletes who have suffered mistreatment

 

AP Photography

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2024 brought natural disasters and turbulent politics to Latin America

 
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AP Week in Pictures

 
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In Florida, a race is on to save the Everglades and protect a key source of drinking water

 

U.S. News

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks, accompanied by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, from left, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Riverside Park, in Grand Rapids, Mich., Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Democratic governors hammered Trump before the election. Now they’re hoping to work with him

A handful of prominent Democratic governors are quickly adjusting their approach to President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January.
 
Read more

Immigration agency deports highest numbers since 2014, aided by more flights

 

Prosecutor Fani Willis is removed from the Georgia election case against Trump and others

 

Wisconsin school shooter had 2 guns and got messages from man accused of plotting his own attack

 

The latest

Internal divisions doom Michigan Democrats in their final days of legislative control

More student loans canceled in Biden’s final round of forgiveness before leaving office

US diplomats and hostage envoy in Syria on first visit since Assad ouster

A lynching in the family inspired Michigan’s first Black woman elected justice to pursue the law

MIDEAST WARS

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Palestinians carry U.N.-donated flour in Khan Younis, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)

Israel and Hamas appear close to a ceasefire deal. These are the sticking points

Israeli and Hamas appear close to reaching a ceasefire deal to wind down the war in Gaza. But disagreements remain over several issues.
 
Read more

Human Rights Watch says Israel’s restriction of water supply in Gaza amounts to acts of genocide

 

Separated for decades, Assad’s fall spurs hope for families split by Golan Heights buffer zone

 

After a decade in Turkey, a Syrian refugee rushes to return home, but reality hits

 

MORE COVERAGE

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US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say

 

  1. Here’s what to know about the US push for stability in post-Assad Syria

  2. Thousands of Syrians celebrate during first Friday prayers since Assad’s fall

Russia-Ukraine war

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Putin boasts of gains in Ukraine at annual news conference meant to reinforce his authority

NATO chief inspects joint military unit in Bulgaria and urges alliance to boost support for Ukraine

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Man charged in Moscow with killing a Russian general in a bombing claimed by Ukraine

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EU leaders insist no decisions can be taken about Ukraine without Ukraine, or behind their backs

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AP photos from Ukraine in 2024 convey wartime horror and hope

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Grassroots funding for Ukraine’s military declines as groups look for creative ways to raise money

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Researcher: North Korea can produce ballistic missiles for Russia to use against Ukraine in months

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EU slaps sanctions on dozens more Russian officials and targets its shadow oil and gas fleet

World News

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Chinese national charged with acting as Beijing’s agent in local California election

A Chinese national has been charged with acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed local California politician.
 
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Russian missiles target Kyiv after Ukraine fires US-made missiles across the border

 
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The Latest: 2 journalists working for Kurdish media killed in clashes in northern Syria

 
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Pentagon says it doubled the number of US troops in Syria before Assad’s fall

 
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Gisèle Pelicot thanks backers after her ex-husband and his co-defendants are convicted in rape trial

 

The Latest

Croatian police say a teenager has injured several students and his teacher in a knife attack

Congo replaces top military chief and other senior officers as fighting in its east rages on

Verdicts expected for 8 people on trial over their role in the beheading of a teacher in France

Taiwan lawmakers clash after party members break into legislature to occupy speaker’s chair

Entertainment

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This image released by Sony Pictures shows Kate Winslet, left, and Jack Black in a scene from “The Holiday.” (Sony Pictures via AP)

The best Christmas movies for every mood

‘Tis the season for spirited and winless debates about what the best Christmas movie is. No one needs us to remind you about the obvious holiday movies playing on repeat on cable, but perhaps you are looking to go beyond the obvious this year.
 
Read more

Questlove readies new documentary spotlighting ‘Saturday Night Live’ music performances

 

The Black Crowes enjoy Grammy Awards love again several decades after first nomination

 

Brady Corbet and ‘The Brutalist’ go for broke

 

The Latest

‘Raygun: The Musical’ won’t use the name of the notorious Australian breaker

NBC Sports enters Madden video game universe with alternate broadcast on Peacock

Veteran Fox News business anchor Neil Cavuto leaving after 28 years

NHL begins production on a 2nd season of the league’s all-access ‘Faceoff’ docuseries

Climate

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Harmful gas billowing from Texas and New Mexico comes mostly from smaller leaks, researchers say

Huge quantities of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, are being emitting by oil and gas operators in the 75,000-square-mile Permian Basin straddling Texas and New Mexico.
 
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Global demand spurring Indonesia’s mining boom comes at a cost for many communities

 
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Warmer oceans fueled Cyclone Chido

 
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Nigerians press for solar jobs and electricity, with little success

 
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Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process

 

SPORTS

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Justin Herbert passes for 2 touchdowns, Chargers score on free kick and rally past Broncos 34-27

 

  1. Sammy Sosa appears to acknowledge PED use, apologizes; Cubs welcome him back into fold

  2. 12-team college football playoff arrives after 100 years, a few billion dollars and many detours

  3. Towns relishes an enjoyable return to Minnesota, from the roar of the crowd to a blowout win

BUSINESS

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It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel

 

  1. Ireland embraced data centers that the AI boom needs. Now they’re consuming too much of its energy

  2. Amazon workers strike at multiple facilities as Teamsters seek labor contract

  3. Stock market today: World shares are mostly lower ahead of key US inflation data

SCIENCE

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Biden, on his way out, sets ‘ambitious’ climate goal: Cut US greenhouse gas emissions by over 60%

 

  1. Global warming can’t be ignored, Montana’s top court says, upholding landmark climate case

  2. A new neutrino detector in China aims to spot mysterious ghost particles lurking around us

  3. Tired of long organ waitlists, these patients hope for a pig organ transplant

LIFESTYLE

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The truth behind Santa Claus, as seen by grown-ups: To tell or not to tell?

 

  1. AP Exclusive: Pro tennis player Jenson Brooksby talks about living with autism

  2. Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?

  3. For airports, background music no longer is an afterthought

Technology

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Environmental groups sue over California support for polluting biofuels

 

  1. Federal officials’ authority to track and disable drones set to expire

  2. Elon Musk considers funding Nigel Farage’s populist party, a move that could shake up UK politics

  3. Apple complains Meta requests risk privacy in spat over EU efforts to widen access to iPhone tech

Health

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FDA updates the definition of ‘healthy’ foods

 

  1. Congo man dies with hemorrhagic fever, indicating mystery outbreak could be more than just malaria

  2. US deaths are down and life expectancy is up, but improvements are slowing

  3. Louisiana patient is first severe bird flu case in US, health officials say

Religion

Saint Francis (PA) defeats D-III Franciscan (OH) 104-47

 

  1. Shamans refuse to evacuate precarious cliff-top shacks in Bolivia despite government order

  2. Missouri man pleads guilty to arson fire that destroyed a church

  3. White House says Biden will visit Pope Francis, Meloni in final international trip of his presidency

Fact Check

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FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup

 

  1. FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent

  2. FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent Biden administration spending on EV charging stations

LATEST NEWS

Hadjar to fill Lawson’s seat at Formula 1 team RB for 2025 season

 

Mets sign pitcher Griffin Canning to a 1-year contract

 

Looking at campaign documents for 7 IOC members running to be president of the Olympic body

 

Greece says 8 dead, 18 rescued as speedboat with migrants capsizes near island

 

Rider takes on Pennsylvania on 5-game skid

 

Western Michigan hosts Wright and Valparaiso

 

Navy takes on Coppin State, aims to break 4-game skid

 

North Carolina Central hosts Longwood after Porter’s 25-point game

 

Bethune-Cookman visits Bailey and Davidson

 

DePaul visits Barnhizer and Northwestern

 

Singleton leads Holy Cross against Siena after 20-point game

 

UMBC faces Marist following Johnson’s 21-point performance

 

Wright, North Texas Mean Green to host Tate and the Appalachian State Mountaineers

 

Canisius takes on Bradley on 12-game losing streak

 

Presbyterian hosts Manhattan following Robinson’s 20-point outing

 

Boise State hosts Marshall and Air Force

 

Louisville visits Watkins and Florida State

 

No. 15 Houston Cougars play the Texas A&M-CC Islanders on 3-game win streak

 

Conwell leads Xavier against No. 9 Marquette after 23-point performance

 

Fiorillo and Vermont host Dartmouth

 

Coastal Carolina visits Arkansas State after Todd’s 31-point showing

 

Loyola (MD) hosts Hampton following Mullen’s 23-point performance

 

No. 19 Cincinnati Bearcats take on the No. 22 Dayton Flyers

 

Stony Brook hosts Maine, aims to end home skid

 

Marmolejos leads Lamar against Texas Tech after 20-point game

 

Wright State visits Terry and Eastern Michigan

 

Colorado hosts Bellarmine after Hammond’s 23-point game

 

Butler hosts No. 11 UConn after Ball’s 22-point showing

 

Chicago State faces CSU Northridge on 13-game losing streak

 

Arkansas hosts N.C. A&T after Glasper’s 29-point outing