Amazon invests $4 billion in Anthropic, deepening its AI ties
LONDON — Amazon said Friday that it would invest an additional $4 billion in Anthropic, a startup that competes with OpenAI and Google in the increasingly competitive field of artificial intelligence.
Trump’s sentencing in New York is officially on hold
NEW YORK — A New York judge on Friday postponed President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his Manhattan criminal case, confirming that the former and future president would not receive his punishment next week.
As Ukraine fires U.S. missiles, Putin sends a chilling message
In many ways, President Vladimir Putin seems to be winning.
Alcohol deaths have more than doubled in two decades, study finds
The number of deaths caused by alcohol-related diseases more than doubled among Americans between 1999 and 2020, according to new research. Alcohol was involved in nearly 50,000 deaths among adults ages 25 to 85 in 2020, up from just under 20,000 in 1999.
Trump taps investor Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump picked Scott Bessent to serve as Treasury secretary Friday, tapping a billionaire hedge fund manager to lead an economic agenda that is expected to be built around raising tariffs and cutting taxes.
The ‘landslide’ that wasn’t: Trump and allies pump up his narrow victory
WASHINGTON — On the night he won a second term, President-elect Donald Trump rejoiced in the moment. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he boasted. In the two weeks since, his campaign has repeatedly heralded his “landslide,” even to market Trump merchandise like the “Official Trump Victory Glass.”
Weed for PTSD? Eager for better cannabis science, FDA clears study
In 2021, federal health officials declined to sign off on a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of using marijuana to treat military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Blue states worry that blocking Trump will be tougher this time
SEATTLE — During the early days of Donald Trump’s first presidency, lawyers at the attorney general’s office in Washington state would gather to strategize about what they saw as troubling directives being handed down by the White House.
Trump’s education secretary pick named in sexual abuse lawsuit
Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for education secretary, has been accused in a recent lawsuit of failing to stop a ringside announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment from grooming and sexually abusing children in the 1980s and 1990s.
Police report offers graphic details of sexual assault claim against Hegseth
A police report released Wednesday night provided graphic details about a sexual assault accusation against Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
House passes antiterror financing bill as Democrats warn Trump could abuse it
WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday passed legislation that would allow the government to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofit groups it accuses of supporting terrorist entities, despite significant opposition from Democrats who warned that President-elect Donald Trump could exploit it to target his political enemies.
Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration as attorney general
WASHINGTON — Matt Gaetz, who faced a torrent of scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use, abruptly withdrew his bid to become attorney general Thursday in the first major political setback for President-elect Donald Trump since his election this month.
Climate talks teeter, with rich and poor countries in a tug of war
BAKU, Azerbaijan — A two-week marathon of climate talks has entered its grueling final dash. Developed and developing nations were still deadlocked over how many hundreds of billions of dollars wealthy countries should invest to help speed the global transition to cleaner energy and protect the most vulnerable countries against the drumbeat of catastrophes that accompany global warming.
How to pick a personal trainer
A few years ago, one of the trainers at my local gym approached me during my workout with an enticing offer: Would I like a free personal training session? Why not, I thought. As a marathoner, I’m always looking for advice on how to improve my strength routine.
Republicans block release of ethics report on Gaetz
WASHINGTON — House Republicans voted Wednesday to block the release of an Ethics Committee report about sexual misconduct and illicit drug use allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, setting up a possible constitutional clash between the House and the Senate.
Medicaid may face big cuts and work requirements
WASHINGTON — With Republicans set to control Washington, conservative lawmakers and policy experts who could advise the next Trump administration are discussing long-sought cuts to Medicaid, the government health program that covers roughly a fifth of all Americans and makes up about 10% of the federal budget.
Hacker is said to have gained access to file with damaging testimony about Gaetz
WASHINGTON — An unidentified hacker has gained access to a computer file shared in a secure link among lawyers whose clients have given damaging testimony related to Matt Gaetz, the former Florida member of Congress who is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be attorney general, a person with knowledge of the activity said.
Asheville gets drinkable tap water back after Hurricane Helene
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Jeff Watts, 57, barely followed the incremental updates on his city’s water distribution system after Hurricane Helene knocked it offline in September. All he knew was that life in Asheville, North Carolina, had become more difficult and dirty.
Ukraine fired US-made missiles into Russia for first time, officials say
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s military used American-made ballistic missiles Tuesday to strike into Russia for the first time, according to senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials, just days after President Joe Biden gave permission to do so in a major shift of U.S. policy.
A nostalgic Biden fades out of the picture in talks with world leaders
RIO DE JANEIRO — World leaders at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro were discussing plans to confront poverty and war when President Joe Biden acknowledged the obvious — this was most likely his last time attending such an elite meeting.
