AP

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republican leaders projected confidence Thursday that they will keep control of the U.S. House as more races were decided in their favor, while Democrats insisted they still see a path toward the majority and sought assurances every vote will be counted. The GOP picked up two more hard-fought seats in

By Associated Press RIYADRIYADH, Saudi Arabia | The head of the U.N. agency caring for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that newly passed Israeli laws effectively banning its activities in Israel will leave a vacuum that will cost more lives and create further instability in Gaza and the West Bank. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the

By Associated Press JERUSALEM — Israel’s parliament passed a law early Thursday that would allow it to deport family members of Palestinian attackers, including the country’s own citizens, to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip or other locations. The law, which was championed by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and his far-right allies, passed

By Associated Press MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory in his first public comment on the U.S. vote, and he praised the president-elect’s courage during the July assassination attempt. “His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s name wasn’t on the ballot, but history will likely remember Kamala Harris’ resounding defeat as his loss too. As Democrats pick up the pieces after President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive victory, some of the vice president’s backers are expressing frustration that Biden’s decision to seek reelection until this summer

By Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs go through long, grueling drives during training camp that just about everyone has come to dread. They often take 18 or more plays and nobody is subbed out, instead forced to fight through utter exhaustion to the end. It’s not so hard on Patrick

By Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — Dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, in an eight-hour nighttime attack, authorities said Thursday as Russia kept up its relentless pounding of Ukraine after almost 1,000 days of war. Lone Russian drones and also swarms of drones entered Ukrainian airspace from various directions and at a

By Associated Press HAVANA — Cuba was left reeling Thursday after a fierce Category 3 hurricane ripped across the island, knocking out the country’s power grid, downing trees and damaging infrastructure. No fatalities were immediately reported in Cuba, and Hurricane Rafael had weakened to a Category 2 storm as it swirled across the gulf toward

By Associated Press CAMARILLO, Calif. — A wildfire northwest of Los Angeles burned out of control for a second day Thursday after destroying dozens of homes, but officials said firefighters could get a break with fierce winds expected to subside by evening. More than 10,000 residents remained under evacuation orders as the Mountain Fire continued

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Thursday by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered Americans and helped drive Donald Trump’s presidential election victory this week. The rate cut follows a larger half-point reduction in September, and it reflects the

By Associated Press Chuck and Cathie Baldwin were driving in the dark early on Election Day to work a shift at their polling place in rural Missouri when floodwaters overtopped a creek and swept their vehicle off the road. The couple, married for more than half a century, were later found dead, clinging to a

By Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The first message that made its way through the Iowa State locker room after Texas Tech ended its perfect start to the season, scoring in the final seconds last weekend to spring the upset and spoil homecoming for the Cyclones, was that nothing had changed. “Hey,” Cyclones linebacker

By Associated Press MEXICO CITY | Cassandra Garduño squinted in the sunlight, her pink boots smudged by dirt as she gazed out over her family’s chinampa — one of the islands first built up by the Aztecs with fertile mud from the bottom of a lake that, later drained, would one day become Mexico City.

By Metro Creative Thanks to their portability and diverse flavor profiles, cookies remain a favorite treat to enjoy at home or bring to parties at others’ homes. Cookies also frequently are go-to offerings at bake sales and school functions. Although cookies are relatively easy to make, people sometimes find the end products does not turn

By Associated Press HAVANA | Hurricane Rafael pushed into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night after plowing across western Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane with winds so powerful it knocked out the entire country’s power grid. Massive waves lashed at the shores of Havana as sharp winds and rain whipped at the city’s

By Associated Press CAMARILLO, Calif. | California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed a fast-moving wildfire, which destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee as forecasters warned of the potential for “extreme and life-threatening” blazes. Northwest of Los Angeles, the Mountain Fire exploded in size and prompted evacuation orders

By Associated Press NEW YORK — It’s one of the most immediately recognizable voices on the planet: Andrea Bocelli’s tenor is beloved across generations, cultures and borders, known to induce tears in as few as three simple words: “Con Te Partirò,” or in its English performance, “Time to Say Goodbye.” This year, he’s celebrating the

By Associated Press CHICAGO — For the second year in a row, Earth will almost certainly be the hottest it’s ever been. And for the first time, the globe this year reached more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit of warming compared to the pre-industrial average, the European climate agency Copernicus said Thursday. “It’s this relentless nature

By Associated Press The best way to read “The Name of This Band is R.E.M.” is with a pair of headphones and a collection of the band’s albums on streaming services or CDs. Opt for the cassettes or vinyl if you want to go old school. Peter Ames Carlin’s book isn’t just a cultural biography

By Associated Press NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027. School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees” for each transaction. By