Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Storms bearing down on waterlogged Southern California could cause more flooding and mudslides
SUMMARY: Southern California is bracing for another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides. Heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths on Christmas Eve. Forecasters say the region could see its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires in January. On Wednesday, a falling tree killed a San Diego man. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash. Residents around burn scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County are under evacuation orders.
WORDS: 754 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaStormsstLdWritethru/97d37667e11f56dcc6e35e5023f4bd3f/text___
Public release of Epstein records puts Maxwell under fresh scrutiny amid her claims of innocence
SUMMARY: British socialite and onetime Jeffrey Epstein girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is back in the spotlight with the public release of investigative records that led to her 2021 sex trafficking conviction. Among items unsealed are the grand jury transcripts of testimony that led to her indictment. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence. She was moved to a minimum-security camp in Texas earlier this year soon after she submitted to two days of questioning by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two weeks ago, she asked a federal judge to free her, claiming she was unjustly convicted. The public release of investigative materials brings fresh light to the evidence against her.
WORDS: 1042 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentJeffreyEpsteinMaxwell/ad68cf52d66cdbe0167ba8e37b04ccca/text___
A Powerball player in Arkansas has won a $1.817 billion lottery jackpot
SUMMARY: A Powerball player in Arkansas has won a $1.817 billion jackpot Wednesday amid the Christmas holiday. That ends the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner. The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previous expected. Organizers say that made it the second-largest in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025. The jackpot has a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9 million.
WORDS: 373 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 5:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSPowerballJackpotthLdWritethru/289d1c7e4d43986b0984e70d4ca33ef3/text___
Rescuers rushed into flames to save nursing home residents after deadly explosion
SUMMARY: Rescuers braved shooting flames, falling debris and the threat of more explosions to save nursing home residents after a blast at a Pennsylvania facility killed a resident and employee, and set off a dramatic and chaotic evacuation. The blast happened Tuesday at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center. Bristol Police Chief Charles Winik said Wednesday that searchers accounted for everyone considered missing. The Bucks County coroner's office says an employee who died was 52-year-old Muthoni Nduthu. Authorities didn’t immediately identify a resident who died. The cause of the blast is under investigation. Authorities say a utility crew was on site responding to reports of a gas odor when the explosion occurred.
WORDS: 788 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 3:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNursingHomeExplosionthLdWritethru/177e76bc77732de1de24c5d0f2e30623/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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After missing deadline, DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish releasing Epstein files
SUMMARY: The Justice Department says that finishing the release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein files could take a “few more weeks,” further delaying compliance with a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress. The department said Wednesday that U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, as well as the FBI, found more than a million more documents that could be relevant to the Epstein case. DOJ did not say in its statement when they were informed of those new files. DOJ insisted in its statement that its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review those documents and make the redactions required under the law, passed nearly unanimously by Congress last month.
WORDS: 1008 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 6:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentJeffreyEpsteinthLdWritethru/fe7de7947b4e5b0bd7f8194cdc760f1f/text___
DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files despite Dec. 19 deadline
SUMMARY: The Justice Department said Wednesday that finishing the release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein files could take a “few more weeks,” further delaying compliance with a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress. The department said the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, as well as the FBI, found more than a million more documents that could be relevant to the Epstein case. DOJ did not say in its statement when they were informed of those new files.
WORDS: 145 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 7:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpEpsteinndLdWritethru/95bf26cf22d0c2854da00f42fc05ab49/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Pope Leo XIV urges the faithful on Christmas to shed indifference in the face of suffering
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV, during his first Christmas Day message, has urged the faithful to shed indifference toward those who are suffering. The first U.S. pontiff highlighted the suffering in Gaza, Yemen, and that of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent. Addressing 26,000 people from St. Peter's Square, he called for peace, justice, and stability in troubled regions like Lebanon, Ukraine, and Syria. The pope emphasized that everyone can contribute to peace through humility and responsibility. He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru, where he served as a missionary and then as archbishop.
WORDS: 684 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 11:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APChristmasDayGlobalthLdWritethru/6ca774ce1ac49190c9ed3a4fc199d396/text___
King Charles III calls for kindness and unity in Christmas message amid global conflicts
SUMMARY: King Charles III has urged people to focus on kindness instead of conflict in his annual Christmas address. Speaking from Westminster Abbey on Thursday, he highlighted the importance of companionship and kindness, especially during uncertain times. The speech, which concluded with a Christmas carol sung by a Ukrainian choir, comes as European leaders rally support for Ukraine. At home, British politics remain tense over immigration issues. Charles emphasized learning from the past, referencing World War II's lessons of courage and unity. The message was clear: peace and hope are always possible.
WORDS: 790 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainKingsSpeechrdLdWritethru/5078139bf94f0e953562b8af3d37ebfe/text___
Saudi Arabia calls on Yemen separatists to leave 2 governorates as anti-Houthi coalition strains
SUMMARY: Saudi Arabia has called on separatists in Yemen to withdraw from two governorates they now hold. The move could spark tensions within the coalition fighting the Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the Southern Transitional Council to leave Hadramout and Mahra. The council is supported by the United Arab Emirates while Saudi Arabia supports the National Shield Forces. The ministry emphasized the need for Yemeni factions to cooperate and avoid destabilizing actions. The council's actions have strained Saudi-UAE relations as they both seek influence in the region.
WORDS: 875 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLYementhLdWritethru/2e25b990a91b5eae67a47ded687d1d65/text___
Turkey detains dozens of IS suspects planning attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations
SUMMARY: Istanbul police have launched simultaneous raids at 124 locations, detaining over a hundred suspected members of the Islamic State group. The raids took place on Thursday. Authorities say the suspects were allegedly planning attacks against Christmas and New Year's celebrations. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the IS group had issued a call to action against non-Muslims during these upcoming events. Warrants were issued for 137 suspects, and 115 have been detained so far. Officers seized firearms, cartridges, and organizational documents during the raids. The police counter-terrorism operation is still ongoing.
WORDS: 112 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 1:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUTurkeyIslamicState/49a275e5b5d8071b68ff78d1ac4fa82e/text___
Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras' presidential vote
SUMMARY: Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura has won Honduras’ presidential election, according to electoral authorities. This result continues Latin America's shift to the right, following Chile's recent election of a far-right leader. Asfura, of the conservative National Party, narrowly defeated Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party. The election faced delays and accusations of fraud, with Asfura's supporters celebrating his victory. Trump endorsed Asfura days before the vote, sparking controversy. The European Union and other leaders have congratulated Asfura. The election is seen as a setback for the current leftist leader, Xiomara Castro, and her party.
WORDS: 806 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 9:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTHondurasElectionthLdWritethru/7ebbae3330cba08e0fbb62eaadc71bcb/text___
Blast at mosque in Nigeria kills 5 and injures more than 30 in apparent suicide attack
SUMMARY: A bomb has exploded during prayers at a mosque in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing five people. Police describe it as a likely suicide attack. On Wednesday night, 35 people were injured in the explosion. Police say they found remnants of a suicide vest at the site. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Nigeria's troubled northern region. No group has claimed responsibility, but Boko Haram is often linked to such attacks. Analysts note the group's use of suicide bombers has decreased but remains a threat.
WORDS: 219 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 3:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFNigeriaExplosionrdLdWritethru/242c38ef57056201bf2a689858a62cbe/text___
Faithful return to Bethlehem and Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's
SUMMARY: On Christmas Eve, thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square and other Holy Land sites, after two years of subdued Christmas celebrations because of the war in Gaza. Scouts groups marched and played festive music on Wednesday in Bethlehem and Nazareth, the cities where Christians believe Jesus was born and grew up. At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first, packed Christmas Eve Mass as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. And around the globe, people gathered to pray but also donned Santa hats and took to ice-skating rinks and the ocean for charity plunges.
WORDS: 1150 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 12:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APChristmasEveGlobalthLdWritethru/ffa3e7842d1843899d580322d97a7e9c/text___
Zelenskyy says he's open to creating demilitarized zone in Ukraine's industrial heartland
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia’s war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. He made the proposal Tuesday in conversations with reporters. It offered another potential compromise on control of the Donbas region, which has been a major sticking point in peace negotiations. Zelenskyy said the U.S. proposed the creation of a “free economic zone,” which he said should be demilitarized. But it was unclear what that idea would mean for governance or development of the region.
WORDS: 1166 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 9:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/d0c476bfa9ec218da5c8d5ff0c1d25c9/text___
Explosion in Moscow kills 3 people. Official says Ukrainian intelligence was behind it
SUMMARY: Russian investigators say that an explosion in Moscow has killed three people, including two police officers. Wednesday's blast comes days after a car bomb killed a high-ranking general not far away. An official from Ukraine’s military intelligence said the attack had been carried out as part of an agency operation. Another official from the agency said the police officers had taken part in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian authorities did not comment on who may be behind the attack. A spokesperson from Russia's Investigative Committee said two police officers were approaching a suspicious individual when a device detonated. The officers and another person nearby died.
WORDS: 548 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 8:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaExplosionthLdWritethru/dfe6caee0f0087ff5866dd9df1d85edd/text___
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BUSINESS
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Asian shares are mixed after US stocks drift to more records
SUMMARY: Asian shares are mixed in thin holiday trading, with most markets in the region and elsewhere closed for Christmas. Shares rose in Tokyo and Shanghai but fell in Bangkok and Jakarta. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks drifted to more records in a holiday-shortened trading session. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up 0.2%. The S&P 500 is up more than 17% this year, driven by optimism about artificial intelligence and deregulatory policies. Investors' focus is on the U.S. economy's direction and Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Unemployment claims fell last week, indicating a still-healthy labor market.
WORDS: 583 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsstLdWritethru/9d7c1b00b9249fd75581b1c7a1d3089c/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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'The best gift ever': Baby is born after the rarest of pregnancies, defying all odds
SUMMARY: Doctors say just 1 in 30,000 pregnancies occur in the abdomen instead of the uterus. And Ryu Lopez is among the rare cases. He developed outside his mom’s womb, hidden by a basketball-sized ovarian cyst. It's a dangerous situation so uncommon that his doctors at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles are planning to write about the case for a medical journal. Ryu was born in August, weighing in at 8 pounds. Doctors removed the cyst during the same surgery. Ryu's parents say they feel blessed that their son defied all odds.
WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 2:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDBabyRarePregnancyndLdWritethru/f0232c1d9a3eb7a819345c17b10e9b83/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Mohammad Bakri, renowned and controversial Palestinian actor and filmmaker, dies at 72
SUMMARY: The family of Palestinian director and actor Mohammad Bakri says he has died at 72. Bakri was known for exploring Palestinian identity through works in Arabic and Hebrew. His 2003 documentary “Jenin, Jenin” focused on an Israeli military operation and was banned in Israel. He also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” alongside his sons. Born in northern Israel, Bakri held Israeli citizenship and studied at Tel Aviv University. He faced backlash for his work, including legal battles over “Jenin, Jenin.” His family said he died Wednesday from heart and lung issues.
WORDS: 553 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 1:33 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelObitBakri/201bf148a68304b52abc361cca79b348/text___
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