Fire on Los Angeles container ship prompts shelter-in-place order for nearby communities
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A fire aboard a Los Angeles container ship continues to burn, prompting a shelter-in-place order for nearby communities. The fire broke out Friday, and all 23 crew members are safe, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials have identified hazardous materials on the vessel, the One Henry Hudson. Mayor Karen Bass announced the order for areas around the port, including San Pedro and Wilmington. The fire started below deck and spread, causing an explosion mid-deck. More than 100 firefighters are battling the blaze at the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest seaport in North America.
Rural Greece struggles to cope with predator comeback
LEVEA, Greece (AP) -- Populations of brown bears and wolves are burgeoning in Greece, thanks to conservation efforts. But not everyone is enthusiastic about the comeback. Farmers and residents of small villages, fearful for their livelihoods and their own safety, are calling for greater protection after increased sightings and a series of attacks. It's a phenomenon playing out elsewhere in Europe, too, with some arguing conservation has gone too far and pushing to roll back restrictions.
2 robbers overpower a guard and steal dozens of ancient gold coins from a Swiss museum
GENEVA (AP) -- Swiss authorities are searching for two robbers who overpowered a security guard at an ancient Rome-themed museum in Lausanne, smashed a display case and made off with dozens of gold coins that had been displayed inside. City police said late Thursday that the suspects had purchased tickets and waited until other visitors had left shortly before closing time before assaulting and restraining the guard, then breaking the display case. The monetary value of the loot was not immediately revealed but police said the coins had "archaeological value." Officials said the Lausanne museum employee, a 64-year-old Swiss national, was interviewed by investigators and that he was not injured in the incident.
Wax Diana in 'revenge dress' is unveiled in Paris decades after her death in the city
PARIS (AP) -- A Paris wax museum has unveiled a figure depicting Princess Diana attired in what has come to be known as her "revenge dress." The Grevin Museum dressed the life-size figure in the black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress that Diana wore on the night in 1994 when her husband Prince Charles, now King Charles III, admitted to infidelity. Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, and the city still honors her memory. Diana's figure joins other British royals and historical figures in the museum.
Why does this NYC subway station smell 'Christmassy'? It's an ad
NEW YORK (AP) -- A new advertisement inside the Grand Central subway station is filling the air with a seasonal scent. The campaign for Bath & Body Works sees diffusers release visible bursts of vapor onto one platform with a gentle fragrance that riders liken to "pine" and "fabric softeners." Rider Jerome Murray says it "smells better than the normal New York City tunnels that we normally smell here." The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says this is the first ad campaign of its kind inside the transit network. Bath & Body Works estimates that 20 to 30 pounds of fragrance will have been dispersed when the campaign ends at the end of November.
Wisconsin archaeologists identify 16 ancient canoes in a prehistoric lake 'parking lot'
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Archaeologists have identified more than a dozen ancient canoes that Indigenous people apparently left behind in a prehistoric parking lot along a Wisconsin lakeshore. The Wisconsin Historical Society announced Wednesday that archaeologists have identified 16 canoes submerged in the lake bed of Lake Mendota in Madison. The discoveries began in 2021 when researchers uncovered the remains of a 1,200-year-old canoe in the lake. The following year they discovered a 3,000-year-old canoe, a 4,500-year-old canoe under it, as well as another 2,000-year-old canoe next to it. The oldest canoe of the 16 the society has now mapped is about 5,200 years old. Maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen says the canoes were positioned near a network of indigenous trials.
Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun to leave Meta and start new AI research company
Yann LeCun, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, has announced he will leave his role as Meta's chief AI scientist at the end of the year. He plans to start a new company focused on advanced AI research. This research aims to develop AI that can understand the physical world, have memory, reason, and plan complex actions. Meta will partner with the new startup, with some research overlapping with its commercial interests. LeCun joined Facebook in 2013 and co-founded Meta's AI research division. He also teaches part-time at New York University and won the Turing Award in 2019.
Ford recalls more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sports for instrument panel failure
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash. Federal auto safety regulators said in a report that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information. The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Ford is not aware of any injuries caused by the instrument failure. Owners will be instructed early next month to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the software updated.
Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupts, blanketing villages with ash and prompting evacuations
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia's Mount Semeru has erupted, covering villages in ash and prompting evacuations. Authorities raised the alert to the highest level as the volcano unleashed clouds of hot ash, rock, lava, and gas on Wednesday. The eruptions forced over 300 residents to evacuate to shelters. No casualties have been reported. Videos showed ash sweeping through valleys, and local media reported 178 people stranded on the mountain. They are safe at a monitoring post, but bad weather has kept them there. Semeru has a history of eruptions, with the last major one in December 2021.
Injured Giants running back Cam Skattebo defends his WWE 'Monday Night Raw' appearance
NEW YORK (AP) -- Cam Skattebo has not played for the New York Giants since undergoing season-ending surgery in late October, but the rookie running back still has his teammates and plenty of others talking. Skattebo went viral for shoving a wrestler during a skit at the WWE "Monday Night Raw" event at Madison Square Garden. He defended himself on social media against criticism, and Giants players who spoke to reporters Tuesday had his back. Skattebo is recovering from a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle.