World News

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia fires 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukraine

Ukraine calls it the biggest aerial barrage of the war

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
FILE - Poland President Andrzej Duda speaks at an event in support of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 during at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Poland’s president says he intends to veto a spending bill which includes money for public media and raises for teachers, dealing a blow to the new pro-European Union government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. President Andrzej Duda said Saturday, Dec. 23 he would veto the bill that includes 3 billion zlotys ($762 million) for public media and would propose a bill of his own. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)

Polish president tangles with new government in battle over control of state media

Liquidation gives the state news groups, their employees more protection from the political dispute

FILE - Poland President Andrzej Duda speaks at an event in support of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 during at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Poland’s president says he intends to veto a spending bill which includes money for public media and raises for teachers, dealing a blow to the new pro-European Union government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. President Andrzej Duda said Saturday, Dec. 23 he would veto the bill that includes 3 billion zlotys ($762 million) for public media and would propose a bill of his own. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)
FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Durham, N.H. Trump is facing criticism for repeatedly harnessing rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country. Trump insists he had no idea that one of the world’s most reviled and infamous figures once used similar words. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha, File)

Trump says he didn’t know his immigration rhetoric echoes Hitler

Trump has also pleaded ignorance in other cases, including not knowing of Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke

FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Durham, N.H. Trump is facing criticism for repeatedly harnessing rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country. Trump insists he had no idea that one of the world’s most reviled and infamous figures once used similar words. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha, File)
Israeli reservist Igor Tudoran, 27, wounded in the war with Hamas, sits in his room at Sheba hospital’s rehabilitation division, in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Tudoran was wounded in the Gaza Strip when a missile fired by militants in Gaza slammed into his tank. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

The number of wounded Israeli soldiers is mounting, representing a hidden cost of war

Given the large numbers of wounded, advocates worry the country is not prepared to address their needs

Israeli reservist Igor Tudoran, 27, wounded in the war with Hamas, sits in his room at Sheba hospital’s rehabilitation division, in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Tudoran was wounded in the Gaza Strip when a missile fired by militants in Gaza slammed into his tank. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
FILE - A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building, Thursday, May 6, 2021 in New York. The New York Times filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 seeking to end the practice of using published material to train chatbots. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The New York Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft over use of its stories for training

The Times says it’s never given permission to anyone to use its content for generative AI purposes

FILE - A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building, Thursday, May 6, 2021 in New York. The New York Times filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 seeking to end the practice of using published material to train chatbots. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, in Waco, Texas, on March 25 while en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Prosecutors seek to bar Trump from injecting politics into trial

The Supreme Court declined last week to get involved in the dispute for now

Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, in Waco, Texas, on March 25 while en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building of the Al Nawasrah family destroyed in an Israeli strike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Israeli forces bombard central Gaza in move to expand ground offensive

Israel’s offensive has been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history

Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building of the Al Nawasrah family destroyed in an Israeli strike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
A nativity scene decorated to honor the victims in Gaza is displayed in Manger Square, near the Nativity Church, which is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

On Christmas Eve, Israel-Hamas war halts celebrations in Bethlehem

‘This year, without the Christmas tree and without lights, there’s just darkness,’ said one monk

A nativity scene decorated to honor the victims in Gaza is displayed in Manger Square, near the Nativity Church, which is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
David Thiel, chief technologist at the Stanford Internet Observatory and author of its report that discovered images of child sexual abuse in the data used to train artificial intelligence image generators, poses for a photo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Obidos, Portugal. Pictures of Canadian victims are among the thousands of images. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Camilla Mendes dos Santos via AP

‘Slap in the face’: Images of child abuse victims training AI generators

Canadian Centre for Child Protection says situation shows how AI must be part of online harm laws

David Thiel, chief technologist at the Stanford Internet Observatory and author of its report that discovered images of child sexual abuse in the data used to train artificial intelligence image generators, poses for a photo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Obidos, Portugal. Pictures of Canadian victims are among the thousands of images. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Camilla Mendes dos Santos via AP
FILE - Nirvana band members Krist Novoselic, from left, Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain pose after receiving the award for best alternative video for “In Bloom” at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 2, 1993, in Universal City, Calif. A federal appeals court has revived a child sexual exploitation lawsuit filed by the man who appeared naked as a 4-month-old infant on the 1991 cover of Nirvana’s album “Nevermind.” Spencer Elden’s lawsuit against the grunge rock group was dismissed last year but a the court in California revived it on Thursday and sent it back to a lower court. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Nirvana naked baby album cover lawsuit revived by U.S. court

Lawsuit alleges Spencer Elden has suffered ‘permanent harm’ from photo taken when he was a baby

FILE - Nirvana band members Krist Novoselic, from left, Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain pose after receiving the award for best alternative video for “In Bloom” at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 2, 1993, in Universal City, Calif. A federal appeals court has revived a child sexual exploitation lawsuit filed by the man who appeared naked as a 4-month-old infant on the 1991 cover of Nirvana’s album “Nevermind.” Spencer Elden’s lawsuit against the grunge rock group was dismissed last year but a the court in California revived it on Thursday and sent it back to a lower court. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.The National Council of Canadian Muslims says Miller is expected to make an announcement later today about special measures for Canadians with family members trapped in the besieged Gaza Strip.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada offers visas to relatives of Canadians living in Gaza war zone

However, temporary permits don’t come with an escape plan

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.The National Council of Canadian Muslims says Miller is expected to make an announcement later today about special measures for Canadians with family members trapped in the besieged Gaza Strip.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Extreme heat poses extreme threat to trees and plants of Pacific Northwest

High-heat instances can pose greater risk to plant life than typical low-moisture droughts

Mushrooms grow on a fallen Noble fir tree in the Willamette National Forest, Ore., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Scientists are investigating what they say is a new, woefully underestimated threat to the world’s plants: climate change-driven extreme heat. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Reno, Nev. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., says her team is hard at work getting ready in the event former president Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Godofredo A. Vásquez

If Trump returns to U.S. office, will Canada be more ready?

Ottawa learned lessons from Trump’s first term — and vice versa, says ambassador

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Reno, Nev. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., says her team is hard at work getting ready in the event former president Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Godofredo A. Vásquez
While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

Vatican same-sex blessing not the blessing some were looking for

‘A blow’: Some LGBTQ+ Catholics disappointed in pope’s statement on blessing couples

While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
Gen. Glen VanHerck, Commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command looks on as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of the media at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Outgoing Norad commander says Canada, U.S. too slow to adapt to threats

‘We need to look at our national security and we need to fund based on that’

Gen. Glen VanHerck, Commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command looks on as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of the media at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
FILE - The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in the city center of Munich, Germany, Dec. 16, 2020. Apple plans to suspend sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 versions of its popular Apple Watch for online U.S. customers beginning Thursday afternoon, Dec. 21, 2023, and in its stores on Sunday, Dec. 24. The move stems from an October decision from the International Trade Commission restricting Apple’s watches with a Blood Oxygen feature as part of an intellectual property dispute with medical technology company Masimo. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Apple to stop selling watches in U.S. due to international patent dispute

Latest Apple Watches will no longer be available online tomorrow and in stores on Sunday

FILE - The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in the city center of Munich, Germany, Dec. 16, 2020. Apple plans to suspend sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 versions of its popular Apple Watch for online U.S. customers beginning Thursday afternoon, Dec. 21, 2023, and in its stores on Sunday, Dec. 24. The move stems from an October decision from the International Trade Commission restricting Apple’s watches with a Blood Oxygen feature as part of an intellectual property dispute with medical technology company Masimo. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - Attorney Eric Olson, far right, argues before the Colorado Supreme Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Denver. Colorado Supreme Court justices have sharply questioned whether they could exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, Pool)

Trump barred from Colorado ballot over insurrection clause, court rules

Decision marks first time in history 14th Amendment used to disqualify presidential candidate

FILE - Attorney Eric Olson, far right, argues before the Colorado Supreme Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Denver. Colorado Supreme Court justices have sharply questioned whether they could exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, Pool)
Jonathan Majors, center, and Meagan Good, right, hold hands as he returns to the courtroom, during jury deliberation in his sexual assault case, Friday Dec. 15, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Marvel actor Majors guilty of assaulting former girlfriend

Actor guilty of assault and harassment in case involving incident in a chauffeured car

Jonathan Majors, center, and Meagan Good, right, hold hands as he returns to the courtroom, during jury deliberation in his sexual assault case, Friday Dec. 15, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Joe Holtz, second from left top, co-founder and general manager at Brooklyn’s Park Slope Co-Op grocery store, walks the store’s isles where a policy requires shoppers to mask-up Wednesdays and Thursdays, Thursday Dec. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Face masks now an occasional feature in the American landscape

Mask-wearing is much more off than on even as COVID’s long tail lingers

Joe Holtz, second from left top, co-founder and general manager at Brooklyn’s Park Slope Co-Op grocery store, walks the store’s isles where a policy requires shoppers to mask-up Wednesdays and Thursdays, Thursday Dec. 7, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
FILE - Pope Francis, right, blesses a newly wed couple during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, on Feb. 4, 2015. Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document released Monday Dec. 18, 2023 explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

Pope approves blessings — not marriage — for same-sex couples

Document: people seeking God’s love shouldn’t be subject to ‘an exhaustive moral analysis’ to receive it

FILE - Pope Francis, right, blesses a newly wed couple during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, on Feb. 4, 2015. Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document released Monday Dec. 18, 2023 explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)