AP National News

AP Film Writer Of all the movie protagonists you might have seen this year, none is quite like Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s Pansy in Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths.” Pansy, a middle-aged woman in contemporary London, is foul-tempered from beginning to end in Leigh’s film. For everyone, Pansy is a test. She tests the patience and empathy of

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton

Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Members of Greece’s former royal family have expressed “deep emotion” after being granted Greek citizenship, ending a decades-old dispute with the country’s government. Ten descendants of the late King Constantine II, who died last year aged 82, adopted the surname “De Grece” — French for “of Greece.” They formally

Associated Press Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s doctors say they are pleased with his prognosis after the governor was injured by a horse bucking him off. Pillen underwent a procedure for his injured spleen and was in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Omaha Monday. He was expected to leave the unit sometime later

Associated Press TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s main opposition party has blocked the capital Tirana’s main intersections in an anti-government protest calling for a technocratic caretaker cabinet. Hundreds of activists from the main center-right Democratic Party on Monday defied the cold and rain to block traffic at Tirana’s five main intersections. The protesters accuse the

AP Pro Football Writer The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up

AP Basketball Writer Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots in the AP Top 25 after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 on Saturday night in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won.

Associated Press A third endangered whale has been spotted entangled in fishing gear off the East Coast, marking an alarming end to the year for a species threatened with extinction. The whales are North Atlantic right whales, which number fewer than 400 and are vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in gear. The National Oceanic

Associated Press PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian real estate entrepreneur, whose killing of a young couple sparked public outrage, has been sentenced to the maximum 31 years in prison. Srey Sina shot dead 27-year-old Long Lysong and his 25-year-old fiancée Khin Kanchana in June while intervening in a property dispute between neighbors. The

Associated Press KOSCIUSKO, Miss. (AP) — A new historical marker has been unveiled in the hometown of civil rights icon James Meredith. He is a Black man who fought white supremacy by integrating the University of Mississippi in 1962. Meredith is now 91 years old, and he watched the ceremony in Kosciusko from a pickup

Associated Press MAPUTO, Mozambique. (AP) — Mozambique’s highest court has upheld the governing party’s win in the October presidential election following weeks of opposition protests in which more than 100 people have died. The court on Monday said irregularities in the election “did not substantially influence the results” and that Daniel Chapo with the governing

Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software

Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government has vowed to open controversial migrant processing centers in Albania that have remained dormant after Italian courts refused to validate the transfer of the first two groups of migrants. A government statement that confirmed Italy’s intention to reopen the centers did not give a timeline.

AP Sports Writer Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix” begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The

Associated Press If you’re feeling too overwhelmed to cook during the holidays, maybe a new book by Margaret Eby can help. It’s called “You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible.” It’s more of a funny guide to raiding the pantry than a traditional cookbook. But it’s filled with practical tips