Fossil finding and cliff walking are highlights of a hike along England’s Jurassic Coast
June 6, 2023 GMTWe were only a mile into our four-day, 32-mile hike from Lyme Regis to Exmouth along the beautiful Jurassic Coast of southern England. Beneath us were the fossilized remains of sea creatures and birds dating back 150 million or more years.
June is rhubarb picking time in the garden, so pucker up
June 6, 2023 GMTYears ago, when my now-grown daughter Justine was a toddler, we visited a U-pick farm where she plucked plump, ripe strawberries from a field of sprawling plants. Some made it into the basket on that sunny June day; others went directly into her mouth.
Hormone patches or creams for menopause symptoms may have lower blood pressure risk than pills
June 5, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Women often use hormone therapy to relieve hot flashes and other menopause symptoms — and new research suggests patches or creams may be safer for their blood pressure than pills.
DALLAS (AP) — The bar from the television series “Cheers” sold for $675,000 at auction over the weekend, garnering the highest bid among the nearly 1,000 props, costumes and sets from classic TV shows offered up from a collection amassed by one man over more than three decades.
Recalled pillows linked to 10 infant deaths still being sold on Facebook Marketplace, US agency says
June 6, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Federal safety regulators are urging consumers to stop using baby pillows that have been linked to 10 infant deaths but are still being sold on Facebook Marketplace, despite being recalled two years ago.
Apple’s Vision Pro goggles unleash a mixed reality that could lead to more innovation and isolation
June 6, 2023 GMTCUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Reporters are a skeptical bunch, so it was unusual to hear so many of them raving about their firsthand experience with Apple's next Big Thing: the high-priced headset called Vision Pro, a device infused with totally virtual reality as well as augmented reality that projects digital images on top of real-world settings.
Italian whole-hog cooking inspires herbaceous pork chops
June 5, 2023 GMTAt weekly markets across central Italy, ancient town squares fill with the aromas of spit-roasted pork slathered in rosemary, fennel pollen and garlic. The enchanting smell is porchetta, a delicious homage to whole-hog cooking that’s as revered as barbecue in the American South.
Prince Harry’s drug use cited in push to release visa records by conservative US group
June 6, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The past drug use that Prince Harry detailed in his explosive memoir should spark the release of his immigration paperwork, a conservative American think tank argued in a Washington court Tuesday as they appealed to a judge for a quicker response a records request the U.S.
PARIS (AP) — France’s beloved abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel has reached a ripe old age. It's been 1,000 years since the laying of its first stone.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With the rail industry relying on longer and longer trains to cut costs, the Biden administration is handing out $570 million in grants to help eliminate many railroad crossings in 32 states.
Founder, ex-executive of edgy sexual wellness company OneTaste charged with forced labor conspiracy
June 6, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Two former executives of a company known for offering “orgasmic meditation” sessions have been charged with using sex, psychological abuse and economic exploitation to coerce work from people while taking over their lives, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Maria Sherman appointed AP’s music writer, based in Los Angeles
June 6, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Maria Sherman has been named The Associated Press' music writer, a key position responsible for delivering news on a beat of global significance for the news cooperative.
Sherman, whose first day was Monday, will lead music coverage for the AP's entertainment and lifestyles department, which boasts video, photo and text journalists on three continents.
Brazil’s Lula lays out plan to halt Amazon deforestation, make country “global reference” on climate
June 5, 2023 GMTBRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva unveiled a plan on Monday to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon, a major campaign pledge that is a critical step in addressing the country’s significant carbon emissions from the region.
Anna Shay, fan favorite on ‘Bling Empire,’ dead at 62
June 5, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Anna Shay, an heiress, philanthropist and breakout star of the Netflix reality series “Bling Empire,” has died at 62.
Shay died from a stroke, according to a family statement provided to The Associated Press on Monday.
What to stream this week: Janelle Monáe, a Cheetos origin story, Diablo IV and ‘Avatar’
ARGYLE, N.Y. (AP) — Seth Jacobs has about 100 bins packed with marijuana flower sitting in storage at his upstate New York farm.
And that’s a problem. There aren’t enough places to sell it.
The 700 pounds (318 kilograms) of pungent flower was harvested last year as part of New York's first crop of legally grown pot for recreational use.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s first-in-the-nation law designed to place strict limits on drag shows is unconstitutional, a federal judge says.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Catholic devotees in Bolivia prepared for one of the country’s biggest religious celebrations this weekend at a time when the church in this Andean country has been rocked by an increasing number of sex abuse scandals.
Disney lawsuit judge removes himself from case but not for reasons cited by DeSantis
June 2, 2023 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis and others is disqualifying himself, but not because of bias claims made by the Florida governor.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — As a high school senior, Nick was blessed with a deadly accurate jump shot from the three-point range — something he was quick to monetize.
He and his gym classmates not far from the Jersey Shore would compete to see who could make the most baskets, at $5 or $10 a pop.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's chickadee and pine cone license plates are poised to fly away, replaced by a retro design inspired by the original state flag which has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
Some ‘Diablo IV’ players report invalid license error message after early access launch
June 2, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Early access for “Diablo IV” began Thursday night — but the rollout of the highly anticipated action role-playing video game didn't come without speedbumps, notably for PlayStation users.
Erykah Badu basks in her new era of reinvention and expansion
June 2, 2023 GMTNew York (AP) — Erykah Badu has unintentionally occupied the role of culture shifter and influencer for 20 plus years, well before it became a trendy, social media descriptor. Her impact has vibrated throughout music and fashion, and the “Green Eyes” songstress sees it clearly.
AP PHOTOS: As Spain’s ‘peasant farmers of the sea,’ groups of women dig for clams
Jordan’s crown prince weds scion of Saudi family in ceremony packed with stars and symbolism
June 2, 2023 GMTAMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's crown prince married the scion of a prominent Saudi family on Thursday in a palace ceremony attended by royals and other VIPs from around the world, as massive crowds gathered across the kingdom to celebrate the region's newest power couple.
What to stream this weekend: Foo Fighters, ‘The Idol,’ LeBron James and ‘American Gladiators’ doc
June 1, 2023 GMTThere's new music from Foo Fighters, the buzzy HBO series “The Idol” starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd and a documentary about the breakthrough TV show “American Gladiators” among the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.
Know any airplane mechanics? A wave of retirements is leaving some US industries desperate to hire
June 1, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Kwasi Bandoh, a senior recruiter for an airline, stood before a group of aviation mechanic students at their graduation ceremony last month and congratulated them for all having jobs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration has stopped U.S. military bases from hosting drag shows after criticism from some Republicans, amid a broader push in conservative-led states targeting LGBTQ+ celebrations.
Billy Joel to end his record-breaking concert series at Madison Square Garden in 2024
June 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Billy Joel is finally moving out of his monthly perch at Madison Square Garden. The singer-songwriter says he will conclude his residency in July 2024 with his 150th lifetime performance at the venue.
Thousands march in Jerusalem Pride parade, first under Israel’s most right-wing government ever
June 1, 2023 GMTJERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of people on Thursday marched in Jerusalem's Pride parade — an annual event that took place for the first time under Israel’s new far-right government, which is stacked with openly homophobic members.
Amazon to pay $31 million in privacy violation penalties for Alexa voice assistant and Ring camera
June 1, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids' voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant.
Flower power and diplomacy: Versailles perfume gardens transport public back in time
June 1, 2023 GMTVERSAILLES, France (AP) — The Versailles flower gardens were once a symbol of the French king’s expeditionary might and helped water-deprived courtiers perfume their skin. Now, they have been reimagined to give today’s public a glimpse — and a sniff — into the gilded palace’s olfactory past.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use off-brand versions of the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy because they might not contain the same ingredients as the prescription products and may not be safe or effective.
Defying taboos, Shiite cleric in Iran takes in street dogs and nurses them back to health
June 1, 2023 GMTQOM, Iran (AP) — It's rare these days for a turbaned cleric in Iran to attract a large following of adoring young fans on Instagram, but Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei has done it by rescuing street dogs in defiance of a local taboo.
US births in 2022 didn’t return to pre-pandemic levels
June 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. births were flat last year, as the nation saw fewer babies born than it did before the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
Births to moms 35 and older continued to rise, with the highest rates in that age group since the 1960s.
Italy displays antiquities looted from Italian territory and recovered from London dealer
June 1, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Italy on Wednesday displayed hundreds of antiquities that had been looted from Italian territory and were recovered from a London antiquities dealer.
The 750 objects, which date from the 8th century B.C.
Who are the bride and groom in Jordan’s royal wedding?
June 1, 2023 GMTHe's heir to the throne in one of the oldest monarchies in the Middle East and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. She's a Saudi architect with an aristocratic pedigree of her own.
Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, 28, and Rajwa Alseif, 29, are to be married on Thursday at a palace wedding in Jordan, a Western-allied monarchy that has been a bastion of stability for decades as Middle East turmoil has lapped at its borders.
The Middle Eastern country of Jordan is set to host its biggest royal wedding in years on Thursday as the country’s young Crown Prince Hussein exchanges vows with Rajwa Alseif, daughter of one of Saudi Arabia’s wealthiest and most influential families.
‘Ted Lasso’ finale proved its whole point — that those who are stuck can overcome (SPOILERS)
June 1, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Roy Kent cries. Nate Shelley apologizes. Rebecca Welton lets her anger go. Trent Crimm finishes his book. Keeley Jones embraces her strength. And the kind-to-a-fault but often lost Ted Lasso finally — after three seasons, but arguably after nearly a lifetime — figures out exactly where he needs to be.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs says in lawsuit that spirits giant Diageo neglected his vodka and tequila brands
May 31, 2023 GMTRapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs sued Diageo Wednesday, saying the spirits company didn’t make promised investments in his vodka and tequila brands and treated them as inferior “urban” products.
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Confidence on the Scripps National Spelling Bee stage manifests itself in subtle ways, like spellers asking questions even though they know the answers.
Dev Shah, one of 11 spellers who made it through Wednesday's semifinals and will return Thursday to compete for the winner's trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes, was given the word “Perioeci” and quickly eliminated any suspense with his onstage banter.
LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A shooting outside an eastern Pennsylvania home killed three people, two of them children aged 8 and 9, and wounded another person, authorities said.
Chief Bret Fisher of the Lebanon police department said officers responded to a city residence shortly after 10 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) — Little Amal, a 12-foot (3.7-meter) puppet of a Syrian refugee, will journey across the United States this fall, visiting key places in America's history to raise awareness about immigration and migration.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of Adidas' remaining Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after the German sportswear company cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.
Swiss fashion house Bally names Simone Bellotti design director; 1st collection debuts in September
May 31, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — Simone Bellotti, a long-time member of the Gucci design team, was named design director at Bally on Wednesday as the 172-year-old Swiss fashion house continues a process of rejuvenation.
Florida drama teacher who includes deaf students in school shows will receive a special Tony Award
May 31, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The special Tony Award that honors educators will go this year to a drama teacher in Florida who has closed the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds by having productions performed in both voice and American Sign Language.
Like a lot of chefs, Aaron Verzosa has been hustling the past three years to get Archipelago, his Filipino restaurant in Seattle, through the pandemic and its ripple effects. Getting a James Beard Award nomination was a validating moment.
Edmunds: The top five EV startups you need to know about
May 31, 2023 GMTShopping for a new electric vehicle can seem a bit like the Wild West. While most people are familiar with Tesla and established automakers, they’re less likely to know much about all-new companies looking to replicate the success of Tesla and take a share of the quickly growing market.
A consumer class action lawsuit filed Tuesday claims Delta Air Lines inaccurately billed itself as the world's “first carbon-neutral airline” and should pay damages. The complaint in federal court in California alleges the airline relied on carbon offsets that were largely bogus.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican attempt to expand work requirements for federal food aid in debt legislation moving through Congress would increase federal spending by $2.1 billion over 10 years — far from the cuts GOP lawmakers had promised.
KHUZAA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Locals call it “watermelon salad.” But this delicacy popular in the southern Gaza Strip at this time of year is far from the sweet, refreshing taste the name evokes.
“Lasima,” “Ajar,” or “Qursa” are different names for the hot, savory meal that takes hours to prepare.
OYAMA, Japan (AP) — Eri Yoshida sat in the dugout of an all-dirt baseball field in rural Japan, surrounded by rice paddies, narrow roads, and traditional Japanese houses.
The scene recalled instantly the 1989 film “Field of Dreams" — Asian style — and Yoshida certainly has her own.
As Supreme Court considers affirmative action, colleges see few other ways to diversity goals
May 31, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — As an alternative to affirmative action, colleges from California to Florida have tried a range of strategies to achieve the diversity they say is essential to their campuses. Many have given greater preference to low-income families.
Dinosaur exhibition temporarily closes in Atlanta after intruders cause expensive damage
May 30, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — A dinosaur exhibition linked to the Jurassic Park movie franchise has temporarily closed its Atlanta location after police say people broke in and caused more than $250,000 in damage.
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Surrounded by dozens of cheering people in green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21 starting in August, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.
Phoenix has become the largest U.S. city to successfully challenge its population count from the 2020 census after claiming that dozens of group homes, jails and drug and alcohol treatment centers were overlooked during the nation’s head count.