3 mins read

A Chinese animated film mocked as ‘terrible’ becomes a box-office hit

The new sensation among some Chinese moviegoers is an animated film whose characters appear to have been created with rudimentary 3D animation and have been described as “ugly” and “eerie.” But it is the scathing online reviews that seem to have prompted interest in “Niu Lai,” an animated film about a calf who had a […]

5 mins read

Hundreds of guinea pigs fill Massachusetts sanctuary with squeals, purrs and lots of love

SALISBURY, Mass. | Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs. Depending on who you ask, tending to the daily barrage of guinea pig needs can be either a fairy tale or a horror show. For Smothermon, it’s often a mix of both. “If I could […]

5 mins read

OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teens, promising a more age-appropriate chatbot

SAN FRANCISCO | OpenAI is launching a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers — the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence — who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship. The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens, which launches Tuesday, is tailored for kids aged 13 […]

8 mins read

The best fabric for extreme heat? It’s more complicated than you think

When it’s really hot out, getting dressed seems pretty simple: Wear something light, loose and made for summer. But textile researchers say it’s actually a little more complicated than that. The fabric matters. But so does how heavy it is, how the clothing is made, how it fits and even what color it is. What […]

7 mins read

A dispute about fact vs. fiction at the trial over Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS | A prosecutor said Monday that while few have been willing to speak about the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, Duane “Keffe D” Davis is the “one person who has a hard time being silent.” “Let’s be clear, Duane Davis did not pull the trigger. But he did plan the shooting in retaliation […]

5 mins read

South Korea president stresses US alliance as many baffled by Trump order to cut exercises

SEOUL, South Korea | South Korea’s president said Tuesday a solid alliance with the United States underpins national security, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt order to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises left many many South Koreans baffled and concerned. Trump made the surprise announcement in a social media post just before U.S. and South […]

9 mins read

CDC’s new director is pressed to do something about its zombie programs

NEW YORK | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still has an Alzheimer’s disease program. Congress appropriated $41 million to it this year. There’s just no one staffing it. Then there’s the agency’s Office on Smoking and Health. Congress allocated $246 million for that. Its staffers were cut, too. Same for the epilepsy program. […]

5 mins read

Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools

WASHINGTON | A Trump administration task force created to combat antisemitism pushed for settlements with Ivy League universities despite government investigations that were rushed and incomplete or that failed to establish legal violations by the schools, a former Justice Department lawyer alleged in a whistleblower disclosure obtained by The Associated Press. The complaint alleges that […]

7 mins read

US and Canada hold last-minute talks to stop Trump’s 50% tariffs

WASHINGTON | The U.S. and Canada are negotiating in an effort to reach a truce on tariffs before a 12:01 a.m. Wednesday deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. If no deal is reached, Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products, ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. […]

3 mins read

Opening statements set to begin in Meta’s federal trial over child safety

OAKLAND, Calif. | Opening statements are set to kick off Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking a financial penalty that could, in […]