Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said Tuesday it's scrapping its third-party fact-checking program and replacing it with Community Notes written by users similar to the model used by Elon Musk's social media platform X. Starting in the U.S., Meta will end its fact-checking program with independent third parties. The company...
Hurdles Remain as Israel and Hamas Once Again Inch Toward a Ceasefire Deal
JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas once again appear to be inching toward a ceasefire that could wind down the 15-month war in Gaza and bring home dozens of Israelis held hostage there. Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure from outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to...
First US Bird Flu Death Is Announced in Louisiana
NEW YORK — The first U.S. bird flu death has been reported — a person in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. State health officials announced the death on Monday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it was the nation's first due to bird...
Gov. Newsom Proposes $322B Budget With No Deficit
TURLOCK, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a $322 billion budget without a deficit, a welcome change after two years of significant budget shortfalls in the nation's most populous state. But the budget Newsom announced Monday is mostly a placeholder as California waits to see if incoming President...
Trump Is Certified as the 2024 Election Winner Without Challenge
WASHINGTON — Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings that unfolded Monday without violence or mayhem, in stark contrast to the Jan. 6, 2021, violence as his mob of supporters stormed the Capitol. Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to meet...
Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Out 3 Weeks With Ankle Injury
SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga will be sidelined at least three weeks for the Golden State Warriors because of a sprained right ankle he injured Saturday night against Memphis. An MRI exam confirmed the diagnosis and the team said Sunday he will be re-evaluated in three weeks. Kuminga jumped to...
Jaguars’ Pederson Becomes the Fifth NFL Coach Fired This Season
JACKSONVILLE — Doug Pederson is out as Jacksonville's head coach after the franchise's "best team assembled" won just four games. Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Pederson on Monday, a day after a 26-23 loss at Indianapolis in overtime. It was the team's 18th loss in its last 23 games. But...
Fox Sports Host Offered Hairstylist $1.5M for Sex, Lawsuit Alleges
LOS ANGELES — A woman who worked as a hairstylist for Fox Sports alleges in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including an offer of $1.5 million to have sex with him. Attorneys for Noushin Faraji, who was a hair stylist at...
Rams Say They’re Playoff Ready After Resting Starters in Loss
INGLEWOOD — Matthew Stafford and nearly all of his fellow offensive starters watched the Los Angeles Rams' regular-season finale in street clothes. Coach Sean McVay knew his NFC West champions would fall from the third to the fourth playoff seed if they lost to Seattle, but he didn't care. Jimmy...
Canada’s Trudeau Resigns as Liberal Party Leader, Spelling End to Time in Power
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday in the face of rising discontent over his leadership and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister signaled growing turmoil within his government. A misty-eyed Trudeau said it had become clear to him that he cannot "be the...