Israel’s growing frustration over the war in Gaza erupts in nationwide protests

August 18, 2025

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli protesters demanding a deal to free hostages in Gaza attempted to shut down the country Sunday in one of the largest and fiercest protests in 22 months of war. Organizers, representing the families of hostages, asserted that hundreds of thousands of people took part. Frustration is growing in Israel over plans for a new military offensive in some of Gaza’s most populated areas. Many Israelis fear that could further endanger the remaining hostages. Twenty of the 50 who remain are believed to be alive. “We live between a terrorist organization that holds ...

Black mayors of cities Trump decries as ‘lawless’ tout significant declines in violent crimes

August 18, 2025

(AP) — As President Donald Trump declared Washington, D.C., a crime-ridden wasteland in need of federal intervention and threatened similar federal interventions in other Black-led cities, several mayors compared notes. The president’s characterization of their cities contradicts what ...

‘Weapons’ maintains top spot in second weekend, scaring off newcomer ‘Nobody 2’

August 18, 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Weapons” scared its way to the top of the box office in its debut and managed to stay there during its second weekend, beating out “Freakier Friday” and newcomer “Nobody 2.” Zach Cregger’s horror film earned $25 million in 3,450 North American theaters, a ...

Japan marks 80th anniversary of WWII surrender as concern grows about conflict’s fading memory

August 16, 2025

TOKYO (AP) — Japan paid tribute Friday to more than 3 million war dead as the country marked its surrender that ended World War II 80 years ago, as concern grows about the rapidly fading memories of the tragedy of war and the bitter lessons from the era of Japanese militarism. Prime ...

DC sues to block Trump’s federal takeover of its police department as intervention intensifies

August 16, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s capital sued to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of its police department in court on Friday, hours after his administration escalated its intervention into the city’s law enforcement by naming a federal official as the new emergency head of the department. Washington’s police chief said Trump’s move would threaten law and order by upending the command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous ...

Scientists discover an ancient whale with a Pokémon face and a predator bite

August 16, 2025

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Long before whales were majestic, gentle giants, some of their prehistoric ancestors were tiny, weird and feral. A chance discovery of a 25 million-year-old fossil on an Australian beach has allowed paleontologists to identify a rare, entirely new species that ...