St. Patrick’s Day rites: Parades, bagpipes, clinking pints
March 17, 2023 GMTFrom New York City, to Savannah, Georgia, to the halls of the White House, thousands of people in the U.S.
Ann Summers lingerie chain boss Jacqueline Gold dies at 62
March 17, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Jacqueline Gold, who helped make lingerie and sex toys a female-friendly mainstream business as head of Britain's Ann Summers chain, has died, her family said Friday.
She was 62 and had been diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago.
For an Irish feast, traditional lamb stew is simple, hearty
March 14, 2023 GMTA simple lamb stew is one of the hallmark dishes of Irish cooking and a hearty centerpiece for a St. Patrick’s Day meal. Rich and brothy, with only a handful of ingredients, this is a lamb stew at its most elemental, though different cooks will embellish it in different ways.
Ski resorts are embracing a new role: climate activist
March 17, 2023 GMTASPEN, Colorado (AP) — Snow falls thick as skiers shed their gear and duck into the Sundeck Restaurant, one of the first certified energy efficient buildings in the U.S. – this one at 11,200 feet (3,413 meters) above sea level atop Aspen Mountain in Colorado.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson elevates diversity of culinary world
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Samuelsson is keen on leading with intention. That focus is seared into the delectable dishes prepared at his popular restaurants, but it is also expressed with his staffing.
‘Star Trek’, swear words and TV characters’ changing mores
March 16, 2023 GMTFor nearly four decades, Jean-Luc Picard of “Star Trek” has largely been presented as genteel, erudite and — at times — quite buttoned up. Yes, he loses his temper. Yes, he was reckless as a callow cadet many years ago.
Like it or not, building in Italy means mastering concrete
March 15, 2023 GMTCONTRADA PETRARO, Sicily (AP) — Everywhere you look in Italy, it’s there: It can be hulking and gray but also colorful and fun. Ominous but also beautiful.
Masonry using concrete and its old ingredient, cement, are inescapable here.
Callery pear tree: How to manage an invasive former favorite
March 14, 2023 GMTIt's the late 1940s. World War II has ended, the Baby Boom is in full swing, and incomes are rising, making first-time homeownership possible for many. Cars are being marketed to the masses, so folks can travel farther to work.
Beloved and debated, French bulldog becomes top US dog breed
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in three decades, the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed, according to the American Kennel Club.
Adorable in some eyes, deplorable in others, the sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation's most prevalent purebred dog last year, the club announced Wednesday.
Despite market slump, high rates dim homebuyer affordability
March 15, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Homeownership is likely to remain a pipe dream for many Americans this spring homebuying season.
The nation’s worst housing slump in nearly a decade stoked hope among prospective buyers that homes could be scooped up more easily.
What to do if you’re concerned you might be laid off
March 17, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The job market in the U.S. remains strong overall, but recent high-profile layoffs at technology and media companies and predictions of a recession later this year may have you thinking about job security.
Wisconsin Republicans float bill to designate state rifle
March 16, 2023 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers began circulating a bill Thursday that would designate a lever-action rifle produced in northwestern Wisconsin as the state's official rifle.
US pregnancy deaths dropped in 2022, after COVID spike
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Deaths of pregnant women in the U.S. fell in 2022, dropping significantly from a six-decade high during the pandemic, new data suggests.
More than 1,200 U.S. women died in 2021 during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to a final tally released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adam Brody talks ‘Shazam,’ playing Leighton Meester’s enemy
March 16, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — For Adam Brody, donning the padded superhero suit in “Shazam!” and its sequel is a dream come true.
“I always wanted to play a superhero. I grew up reading comics,” the actor recalled in a recent interview.
Dafoe’s ‘Inside’ asks how art helps us escape isolation
March 16, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Willem Dafoe has said that, for him, the process of making a movie always eclipses the finished product.
But after more than 130 film credits, the 67-year-old actor has finally found a project whose final form is on par with the experience of creating it.
Iranians facing economic crisis find little New Year’s cheer
March 16, 2023 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's bazaars are packed ahead of the Persian New Year next week, but there's little holiday cheer as customers survey the soaring prices of meat and holiday treats, wondering if they can afford either.
Stephen Sondheim’s last musical finds a New York City stage
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The late Stephen Sondheim's last stage musical — an adaptation of two films by Spanish surrealist director Luis Buñuel — will be given an off-Broadway stage this year, offering theatergoers a chance to see a new work by musical theater’s most venerated composer.
In low-wage Portugal, Europe’s housing crisis bites deep
March 16, 2023 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Like a growing number of people in Portugal, Georgina Simoes no longer earns enough money to afford a place to live.
When does travel brand loyalty make sense?
March 16, 2023 GMTTravel brand loyalty is nothing new. Ever since Texas International Airlines and American Airlines created the first frequent-flyer programs in the late 1970s and early 1980s, travelers have been racking up miles, seeking elite status and pouring their airfare dollars into brands that offer the most perks.
Here is what’s at stake in abortion medication case
March 16, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit that poses a threat to the nationwide availability of a leading abortion medication. The hearing comes as a conservative Christian group seeks to reverse federal approval of the drug mifepristone.
Here’s how an AI tool may flag parents with disabilities
AP InvestigationMarch 15, 2023 GMTPITTSBURGH (AP) — For the two weeks that the Hackneys’ baby girl lay in a Pittsburgh hospital bed weak from dehydration, her parents rarely left her side, sometimes sleeping on the fold-out sofa in the room.
Is my money safe? What you need to know about bank failures
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which catered mostly to the tech industry, may have you worried about your money.
When will Medicare cover medical marijuana?
March 15, 2023 GMTMany older adults are using medical marijuana to treat a variety of conditions, but experts say that conflicting laws, unclear safety standards and complicated rulemaking processes mean it could be years before Medicare may cover the drug.
Edmunds Compares: 2023 Toyota Prius vs. 2023 Kia Niro
March 15, 2023 GMTThe Toyota Prius, which has become synonymous with hybrid cars the past 20 years, is fresh off a full redesign for 2023.
Not magic: Opaque AI tool may flag parents with disabilities
March 15, 2023 GMTPITTSBURGH (AP) — For the two weeks that the Hackneys’ baby girl lay in a Pittsburgh hospital bed weak from dehydration, her parents rarely left her side, sometimes sleeping on the fold-out sofa in the room.
AP PHOTOS: Behind the runway glamour, a fashion army at work
March 15, 2023 GMTMUMBAI, India (AP) — From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly.
Oprah Winfrey reflects on book club, announces 100th pick
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For her 100th book club pick, Oprah Winfrey relied on the same instincts she has drawn upon from the start: Does the story move her?
Microsoft inks Xbox game deal with Boosteroid cloud service
March 14, 2023 GMTMicrosoft said Tuesday that it has struck a deal to make Xbox PC video games available on the Boosteroid cloud gaming platform, its latest move to appease antitrust regulators scrutinizing its purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard.
Millennial Money: Job plus a side gig? Avoid these mistakes
March 14, 2023 GMTAt the beginning of the year, many people have their eyes set on goals. Some of these goals may include increasing your income, starting a dream business, or both if you’re reaching for the stars. Before you get your hands dirty in the sometimes chaotic combination of formal employment and entrepreneurship, here are a few pitfalls to avoid.
US inflation eases but stays high, putting Fed in tough spot
March 14, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer price increases eased slightly from January to February but still pointed to an elevated inflation rate that is posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve at a delicate moment for the financial system.
For Asian Americans, Yeoh, Quan’s Oscar wins are theirs too
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Edward Dion Fariñas watches the Academy Awards every year but the Filipino American didn't expect to have such a visceral reaction when hearing Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh's awards announced.
Do-not-eat listing draws lawsuit from Maine lobster industry
March 13, 2023 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A coalition representing the Maine lobster industry is suing an aquarium on the other side of the country for recommending that seafood customers avoid buying a variety of lobster mostly harvested in their state.
Tribe to reopen Lac du Flambeau roads in temporary deal
March 13, 2023 GMTLAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wis. (AP) — A Native American tribe and a northern Wisconsin town have reached an agreement under which the tribe will temporarily reopen four barricaded roads that are the subject of a decadelong dispute and a recent lawsuit.
What do race and ethnicity mean? The US government is asking
March 13, 2023 GMTNyhiem Way is weary of people conflating African American and Black. Shalini Parekh wants a way for South Asian people to identify themselves differently than East Asians with roots in places like China or Japan.
‘The Last of Us’ TV adaptation resonates beyond gamers
March 13, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — In the HBO series “The Last of Us,” a fungal infection has taken over Earth, rendering the United States an apocalyptic landscape protagonists Joel and Ellie need to traverse. Fans unfamiliar with the video game, from which the series was adapted, might assume this is just another zombie show packed with action and gore.
Chef-author Tamar Adler turns to leftovers, comprehensively
March 13, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Not too long ago, Tamar Adler's husband was tidying up and picked up a tissue that their son had barely used. Adler stopped her husband from throwing it out.
“I was like, ‘No, no, that tissue still has use in it!’ And he was like, ‘I think that is actually the way we would identify a zombie you versus the real you: Just try to throw something out — anything —and if you don't pounce on it, we know it's not you,’” she recalled.
How (and where) to watch Oscar-winning films (mostly) online
March 13, 2023 GMTReplete with spellbinding multiverses, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” topped the 95th Academy Awards with big wins including best picture and a historic win for Michelle Yeoh.
Oscars fashion: Fan Bingbing, Angela Bassett regal in 2 ways
March 13, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Fan Bingbing made a regal entrance in sparkling silver and emerald green on the champagne-colored carpet Sunday at the 95th Academy Awards.
The meaning behind the blue ribbons worn at the Oscars
March 13, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Small and subtle, the blue ribbons worn by many celebrities at the Oscars nonetheless had an important message: support refugees.
Kimberly Palmer: How to fight the ‘pink tax’ amid inflation
March 13, 2023 GMTTrae Bodge, a shopping expert who lives in the New York City area, sees higher prices for products and services marketed to women everywhere: Socks, razors, shampoo and apparel are a few of the product types aimed at women that tend to cost more.
1-minute garlic pan sauce transforms spicy chicken traybake
March 13, 2023 GMTWhen you're roasting food, air circulation is everything. That’s why we prefer low-rimmed baking sheets over roasting pans. They accelerate cooking and boost browning in our weeknight traybakes.
But in some instances, a bit of crowding on the pan can be beneficial, such as in this spicy chicken alla diavolo from our book “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean,” which features weeknight-friendly meals from the region.
Hollywood stars spend Oscars eve at annual Chanel dinner
March 12, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — The night before the Oscars many of Hollywood’s biggest stars were not early to bed.
Oregon eyes mandate for climate change lessons in schools
March 11, 2023 GMTSALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon lawmakers are aiming to make the state the second in the nation to mandate climate change lessons for K-12 public school students, further fueling U.S.
‘It’s hard to focus’: Schools say American kids are hungry
March 11, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — America's schools say kids are hungry — just as pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. There is growing concern about the effects on kids' ability to learn.
Congress temporarily made school meals free to all American schoolkids, but since that ended last fall, the need has only seemed to grow.
Versace reaches for the stars with glittery Hollywood show
March 10, 2023 GMTWEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Decamping from her usual base in Milan to show her wares in Los Angeles — only three days before the Oscars — Donatella Versace says she was inspired by the energy, glamour and power of Hollywood.
The view from above the Oscars: The slap, the snafu, Spike
March 10, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — I was the man in the box at the Oscars for The Associated Press.
I would stand in an opera-style balcony near the stage at the Dolby Theatre that provides a great view of the show but an even better view of the audience.
Standard time giving way to daylight saving in most of US
March 10, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Standard time comes to an end in most parts of the United States this weekend.
You'll lose an hour of sleep for one night but gain more daylight in the evening in the months ahead.
Oscars vs. ‘The Last of Us’: What are you watching Sunday?
March 10, 2023 GMTWill Joel and Ellie finally reach the doctors in “The Last of Us”? Will Michelle Yeoh take home the Oscar for best actress?
Many kids need tutoring help. Only a small fraction get it
March 10, 2023 GMTDavid Daniel knows his son needs help.
The 8-year-old spent first grade in remote learning and several weeks of second grade in quarantine.
Iraq’s crackdown on booze, social media posts raises alarm
March 10, 2023 GMTBAGHDAD (AP) — Only a few months into its term, Iraq’s government is suddenly enforcing a long-dormant law banning alcohol imports and arresting people over social media content deemed morally offensive.
Anxiety, fear fill West Virginia transgender-health clinic
March 9, 2023 GMTMORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The tiny clinic where physicians prescribe hormones and other medications to transgender teenagers shares the same campus where West Virginia kids travel to receive treatments for rare cancer, heart surgery and other health care difficult to get anywhere else.
Yeti recalls 1.9 million coolers and cases for magnet hazard
March 9, 2023 GMTU.S. product regulators said Thursday that Yeti has recalled 1.9 million coolers and gear cases because magnets can come detached from them, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said consumers should immediately stop using the four recalled products and contact Yeti for refund information.
Berlin to let everyone go topless at public swimming pools
March 9, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Women in Berlin will soon be allowed to go topless at the city's public swimming pools, like men, the Berlin state government said Thursday.
The new bathing rules allowing everyone to go swimming without covering their torsos followed a discrimination complaint by a woman who was not allowed to go topless in a swimming pool in the capital.
Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball
March 9, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — He'd paid about $80 for his ticket. He wore a Japan cap above a blue Los Angeles Angels jersey. And as he enthused about the sensation that is Shohei Ohtani, baseball fan Hotaru Shiromizo was talking about far more than sports.
Women’s Day events highlight major gaps in gender equality
March 9, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — From demands for constitutional rights in Islamabad to calls for economic parity in Manila, Paris and Madrid, International Women’s Day demonstrations in cities around the world Wednesday highlighted the unfinished work of providing equity for half of the planet's population.
From marketing to design, brands adopt AI tools despite risk
March 9, 2023 GMTEven if you haven’t tried artificial intelligence tools that can write essays and poems or conjure new images on command, chances are the companies that make your household products are already starting to do so.
Maker of unproven birth drug Makena to pull from US market
March 8, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of an unproven drug intended to prevent premature births says it will voluntarily remove the product from the U.S., after regulators signaled plans to follow through on a long-delayed effort to force it from the market.
DeSantis’ new Disney World board hints at future controversy
March 8, 2023 GMTLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The first meeting of the new board of Walt Disney World’s government — overhauled by sweeping legislation signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as punishment for Disney publicly challenging Florida's so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill — dealt with the rote affairs any other municipal government would handle: calls for better firefighter equipment, lessons on public records requests and bond ratings.
At the Philadelphia Flower Show, display gardens bloom
March 8, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Upon entering the Philadelphia Flower Show space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center last week, I was entranced by a forest of stunning orchids suspended from the ceiling above the color-changing entrance garden.
As bourbon booms, thirst for rare brands breeds skullduggery
March 8, 2023 GMTSALEM, Ore. (AP) — Buttery, smooth, oaky. These are characteristics of the best bourbons, and a growing cult of aficionados is willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get their hands on scarce American spirits — and even bend or break laws.
What to know about prescription drugs promising weight loss
March 8, 2023 GMTWeightWatchers, the 60-year-old diet firm, announced this week it would acquire a telehealth company whose providers prescribe anti-obesity drugs for growing numbers of eager online subscribers.
Adidas wonders what to do with Yeezy shoes after Ye split
March 8, 2023 GMTFRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Adidas is still wrestling with how to dispose of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of Yeezy shoes after its breakup with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, forcing the German sportswear maker into a big loss at the end of last year and expectations of more pain ahead.
Bruce Lee, Anna May Wong heirs talk legacy, roles for Asians
March 8, 2023 GMTAlmost every working Asian actor in Hollywood can trace their path back to Bruce Lee and Anna May Wong.
Skynyrd member’s death signals end of era for Southern rock
March 8, 2023 GMTNORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who died Sunday, made it big when rock ‘n’ roll was still a defining cultural force on par with today's TikTok trends and superhero movies.
Edmunds: Edmunds Compares: 2023 BMW iX vs. 2023 Rivian R1S
March 8, 2023 GMTBuying an electric vehicle used to mean choosing from battery range, performance, utility or luxury. You might’ve found a car possessing two of those attributes but rarely all of the above. But the BMW iX and Rivian R1S are two electric SUVs that require no compromise, combining stellar performance and long-distance capability with plenty of convenience and tech features.
The flowers of war: Ukraine smith turns guns, ammo into art
March 8, 2023 GMTA blacksmith in the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk is practically beating swords into ploughshares, and turning one man’s trash into treasures. Viktor Mikhalev takes weapons and ammunition and produces what he calls the flowers of war.
How passengers teamed up to restrain man on chaotic flight
March 8, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A passenger who helped restrain a threatening man on a weekend flight from Los Angeles to Boston said Tuesday that the entire chaotic episode was over within seconds thanks to teamwork.
Oklahoma voters reject legalizing recreational marijuana
March 8, 2023 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors.
Oklahoma would have become the 22nd state to legalize adult use of cannabis and join conservative states like Montana and Missouri that have approved similar proposals in recent years.
SoFi Bank sues to block Biden’s student loan payment pause
March 8, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A private bank is trying to force the Biden administration to end its pause on federal student loan payments, arguing the moratorium has no legal basis and has cost the bank, known for its refinancing business, millions of dollars in profits.
In Japan, women find rare parity in the prosecutors’ office
March 8, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — At the prosecutors’ office in Tokyo, everyone makes their own copies and tea — tasks often relegated to women in a country that's been criticized for its lack of gender equality.
Twenty years ago, only about 8% of Japanese prosecutors were women.
How (and where) to watch Oscar-nominated films online
March 7, 2023 GMTReplete with spellbinding multiverses, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” topped the 95th Academy Awards nominations with 11 nods. Elsewhere, stories of friendship and family permeated 2022 cinema and the nominations this year, as did big-budget blockbusters.
Chanel’s camellias, empty chairs close Paris Fashion Week
March 7, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Camellias that towered five meters (16 feet) high served as the ready-to-wear altarpiece for Chanel’s sparkling, bloom-inspired fall display.
Meanwhile, Miuccia Prada’s baby sister brand Miu Miu — another headline show on Paris Fashion Week’s last day – drew stars such as Kylie Minogue for its study in off-kilter creativity.
Coming soon: Reese’s Cups, chocolate bars made from plants
March 7, 2023 GMTReese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment.
The Hershey Co. said Tuesday that Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally.
Millennial Money: As Fed rates rise, save at a credit union
March 7, 2023 GMTIn the past year, the Federal Reserve has employed several interest rate hikes in an effort to stabilize the U.S. economy. Depending on your situation and financial institution, your debt may have gotten more expensive or your savings might have grown.
Lego posts boost in profit, sales as it raised some prices
March 7, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Lego said Tuesday that profits increased by 5% in 2022 from a year earlier and sales rose even as it raised prices on higher-ticket toys.
The Danish toy company said net profit rose to 13.8 billion kroner ($2 billion) from 13.3 billion kroner.
Vuitton draws stars as McCartney brings horses to Paris show
March 7, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Paris' Musee d’Orsay was, for the duration of Louis Vuitton’s 15-minute show, a museum transformed: A buzzing circus of sparkle and camera flashes where the rich, powerful and famous mingled on the penultimate day of Paris Fashion Week.
In ‘junk fee’ fight, US details airline family seating rules
March 6, 2023 GMTThe Transportation Department is rolling out a “dashboard” to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost.
The announcement Monday comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes.