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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US launches strikes against Islamic State group in Nigeria after attacks target Christians
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says the U.S. launched a deadly strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians. Trump posted news of the strike Thursday night on his social media site. He said last month that he'd ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department then announced that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians. The U.S. recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
WORDS: 753 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 11:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpNigeriaMilitaryStrikesthLdWritethru/43478823f0562cafc527fad1448a0542/text___
Rain-soaked California still at risk of floods and high surf
SUMMARY: A strong storm system that has brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California is expected to ease. But there is still risk Friday of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches around Lake Tahoe. A mountain town northeast of Los Angeles has been under an evacuation warning due to the risk of mudslides. The storms were the result of so-called atmospheric rivers and were blamed for at least two deaths earlier this week. The system has brought the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in decades.
WORDS: 587 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 5:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaStormsstLdWritethru/00419cbf7f9ab00110639a1daaee86dd/text___
New storm hitting waterlogged Southern California could bring mudslides and high surf
SUMMARY: Another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides is rolling across Southern California. Officials issued evacuation warnings in mountain towns and warned of possible high-surf conditions along the coast. Forecasters say the region could experience its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires in January. Heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths on Christmas Eve. 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.
WORDS: 721 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaStormsthLdWritethru/97d37667e11f56dcc6e35e5023f4bd3f/text___
Christmas Eve winner in Arkansas lands a $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot
SUMMARY: A Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot just before Christmas. The winning numbers were announced on Christmas Eve, ending 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 previously expected. Organizers say it is the second-largest pot 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: 465 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 5:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSPowerballJackpotthLdWritethru/289d1c7e4d43986b0984e70d4ca33ef3/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Palestinian man kills 2 in car-ramming and stabbing attack in northern Israel, police say
SUMMARY: Police say that two people have been killed and at least two more injured in northern Israel in a car-ramming and stabbing attack by a Palestinian man. Police said that the attacker first crashed his vehicle into people in the northern city of Beit Shean on Friday, killing a 68-year-old man. The assailant then sped onto a highway where he fatally stabbed a teenage woman and injured another person. Israel’s rescue services said that both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Two other people were injured. The attacker was hospitalized with injuries.
WORDS: 467 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 12:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsthLdWritethru/e80f99771c1586529bcddf9bb24a2eb8/text___
Trump's talks with Zelenskyy to address security guarantees and reconstruction, Ukraine leader says
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that he will meet on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida. Zelenskyy told journalists on Friday that the two leaders will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine during Sunday’s talks, and that the 20-point plan under discussion “is about 90% ready.” The announced meeting is the latest development in an extensive U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war. But efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.
WORDS: 656 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 8:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/9e37a9612d73cab7d3e74060aac46a36/text___
Nigerian villagers are rattled by US airstrikes that made their homes shake and the sky glow red
SUMMARY: A U.S. airstrike that targeted an alleged Islamic State camp in Nigeria has caused panic in the village of Jabo. On Thursday, residents witnessed the sky glowing red from the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strike, which was confirmed as a joint effort with Nigeria. Villagers, who had never experienced a terror attack, were confused and scared. The Nigerian government has not disclosed details about the militants targeted. Analysts suggest the strike may have aimed at the Lakurawa group, a new threat in the region. Locals remain anxious, fearing further attacks and uncertainty.
WORDS: 782 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 3:22 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFNigeriaMilitaryStrikesReactionstLdWritethru/d2795bbc099255d71f2c371c60832157/text___
Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak sentenced to 15 years and hefty fine in 1MDB corruption trial
SUMMARY: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and must pay 13.5 billion ringgit ($3.3 billion) for his role in the 1MDB corruption scandal. On Friday, the High Court found him guilty of abuse of power and money laundering, linked to over $700 million channeled into his accounts. The new sentence will run after his current term ends. Najib denied wrongdoing, claiming the funds were a Saudi donation. The judge rejected this, citing evidence of Najib's ties to financier Low Taek Jho. Najib's lawyer plans to appeal. The scandal has been one of the world's largest financial frauds.
WORDS: 931 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 8:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASMalaysiaNajibTrialthLdWritethru/c10c6edf4af838327052206628a57da1/text___
What to know about the militants targeted by US airstrikes in northwest Nigeria
SUMMARY: The United States airstrikes targeting militants affiliated with the Islamic State group in northwestern Nigeria are a major escalation of an offensive that Nigeria’s overstretched military has struggled with for years. U.S. President Donald Trump said the “powerful and deadly” strikes were carried out against IS militants on Thursday. Although officials did not say which group was targeted, security analysts said the target is most likely the Lakurawa group, an IS-affiliated jihadi group that became more active and lethal in Sokoto and other northwestern states in the last year. Here is what to know about the militants.
WORDS: 757 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 5:37 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFTrumpNigeriaMilitaryStrikesWhatToKnowrdLdWritethru/1fd77ce78e5d72ca776b788a762866fa/text___
Japan's Cabinet OKs record defense budget that aims to deter China
SUMMARY: Japan’s Cabinet has approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen for the coming year. The approval on Friday aims to fortify strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region. The draft budget for fiscal 2026 beginning April is up 9.4% from the previous year. The increase marks the fourth year in Japan’s five-year program designed to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product. It comes as relations between Japan and China worsened over remarks about Taiwan.
WORDS: 916 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 1:57 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASJapanDefenseBudgetthLdWritethru/221b2cb5da0760d6e07f63ac01deba93/text___
At least 15 injured in a knife and chemical attack at a factory in Japan
SUMMARY: A man has been arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with a chemical believed to be bleach at a tire factory in central Japan. The attack happened Friday at the Yokohama Rubber Co. in Mishima, Shizuoka prefecture. Eight people were taken to hospitals with stab wounds, and five are in serious condition. The Fujisan Nanto Fire Department provided these details but did not have further information. The attacker's identity and motive remain unknown. Seven additional people were injured by a substance believed to be bleach thrown during the attack. Police arrested the suspect at the factory.
WORDS: 215 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 9:53 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASJapanStabbingrdLdWritethru/27851c68d86437cf0e2f70dea5286988/text___
Yemen separatists accuse Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes against their forces
SUMMARY: Separatists in southern Yemen are accusing Saudi Arabia of targeting their forces with airstrikes. The Southern Transitional Council says the strikes happened in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate. It’s unclear if there were any casualties. The Council’s satellite channel aired footage that appeared to show the strikes, with a man blaming Saudi aircraft. Officials in Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment. On Thursday, the kingdom called on Emirati-backed separatists to withdraw from two new governorates they control. This move has threatened to spark a confrontation within a fragile coalition battling the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north.
WORDS: 792 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 8:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLYementhLdWritethru/2083dc8bb99bc040e26527d74cc43e27/text___
The Kremlin says Moscow made an offer to France regarding a French citizen imprisoned in Russia
SUMMARY: The Kremlin is in talks with French authorities about French scholar Laurent Vinatier, who is serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly faces new espionage charges. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, arrested last year for collecting military information. Peskov refused to provide details. The French Foreign Ministry had no comment. Vinatier was arrested in June 2024, accused of failing to register as a “foreign agent.” His sentence has been criticized as “extremely severe.” Detentions on similar charges have increased in Russia since the Ukraine invasion.
WORDS: 626 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 2:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaFrancendLdWritethru/18bbe269269508454da92e00163158df/text___
A Venezuelan family's Christmas: From the American dream to poverty
SUMMARY: Mariela Gómez and thousands of Venezuelan immigrants have faced a challenging Christmas after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Gómez, her partner, and two sons returned to Venezuela in October after being deported from the U.S. They spent the holiday in northern Venezuela for the first time in eight years. Gómez struggled with unemployment and poverty, managing only a modest dinner. Her journey back was perilous, involving a dangerous trek by boat. Over 14,000 migrants have returned to South America since Trump limited migration. Gómez hopes for a better future, praying for health and a job.
WORDS: 598 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 5:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaMigrantsChristmasndLdWritethru/7a711863ce30f97924e25132a4c11172/text___
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___
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 militant 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 public prosecutor’s office said the militant group had issued a call for action against non-Muslims during these celebrations. 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: 288 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 1:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUTurkeyIslamicStaterdLdWritethru/49a275e5b5d8071b68ff78d1ac4fa82e/text___
Russian court sentences pro-war activist and Putin critic to 6 years in prison
SUMMARY: A Russian court has sentenced pro-war activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison for justifying terrorism. Udaltsov, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested last year. The charges relate to an article he posted supporting activists accused of forming a terrorist organization, according to Russian independent news site Mediazona. Those activists received prison sentences earlier this month. Udaltsov, who has rejected the charges as fabricated, announced a hunger strike after the verdict. He will serve his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony. Udaltsov was a prominent opposition figure during the 2011-12 mass protests in Russia, triggered by reports of widespread rigging of a parliamentary election.
WORDS: 324 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 6:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaCrackdownstLdWritethru/df20958e79433d234b3774a7b3da0602/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/APEUBritainKingsSpeechthLdWritethru/5078139bf94f0e953562b8af3d37ebfe/text___
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BUSINESS
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US stocks hover at record highs in quiet trading; gold, silver jump
SUMMARY: Stocks are mostly flat in quiet morning trading on Friday as investors return from the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 index is up less than 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is roughly unchanged, and the Nasdaq composite is down less than 0.1%. The S&P 500 has climbed nearly 18% this year, boosted by deregulatory policies and optimism about AI's impact on profits. Gold and silver prices continue to climb, with silver rising over 4.5% due to supply constraints. Shares of Target rose 2% after news of an activist investor taking a stake. Markets in several countries remain closed.
WORDS: 262 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 5:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/b7cbbbf8f21baa5079888124a13703e8/text___
Trump overturned decades of US trade policy in 2025. See the impact of his tariffs, in four charts
SUMMARY: Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has overturned decades of U.S. trade policy — building a wall of tariffs around what used to be a wide open economy. His double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth have disrupted global commerce and strained the budgets of consumers and businesses worldwide. They have also raised tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury. Still, the erratic way the president rolled out his tariffs made 2025 one of the most turbulent economic years in recent memory.
WORDS: 660 - MOVED: 12/26/2025 11:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSYETariffs/d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868/text___
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