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Japan says that China has detained 2 of its citizens suspected of smuggling banned items 06/24/2026 05:50am • TOKYO (AP) — China has detained two Japanese citizens suspected of smuggling items prohibited from import or export, a Japanese official said Wednesday, in a case reportedly linked to rare earths, critical materials that are largely controlled by Beijing. Japans's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru K North Korea's Kim claims progress on nuclear-armed navy as new warship is placed into service 06/24/2026 04:49am • SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un touts as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea. North Korea†Raising the steaks: 3 new DC restaurants add a twist on the classic steakhouse 06/24/2026 04:48am • For years, the District has been building a reputation as a steakhouse city, though this has not always been a compliment. The term could conjure images of power lunches, corporate dining rooms and predictable plates of creamed spinach, shrimp cocktails and oversized cuts of beef. But thre Molinari brothers reunited in Europe's backroom team for Ryder Cup defense 06/24/2026 04:33am • VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — The Molinari brothers are back in tandem for Europe's defense of the Ryder Cup. Francesco Molinari was named Wednesday as an assistant to European captain Luke Donald for next year's matches at Adare Manor in Ireland, joining older brother Edoardo in the backroom tea Archaeologists find huge Viking textile production site in Denmark 06/24/2026 04:22am • SØFTEN, Denmark (AP) — Archaeologists have discovered a huge Viking Age textile production site in Denmark that dates back more than 1,000 years and underlines the sophistication of Viking society. Experts from the Moesgaard Museum said this week that the sprawling 100,000-square-meter (more than Ukraine says it hit a railway bridge to Crimea, seeking to isolate the Russian-held peninsula 06/24/2026 04:11am • KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine said Tuesday its forces struck a railway bridge, a power plant and other key infrastructure targets in Crimea as Kyiv’s military seeks to isolate the vital Russian-held peninsula in the latest stage of the 4-year-old war. The drone attacks added to the woes on the Bl Montgomery Co. schools students push back on superintendent's response to censorship concerns 06/24/2026 04:10am • Some students in Montgomery County are gearing up to testify at the Board of Education meeting Thursday to address concerns over the superintendent’s response to an open letter concerning censorship of student publications. Earlier this month, over 150 students and staff from all 25 high school Today in History: June 24, Sally Ride completes historic space shuttle mission 06/24/2026 04:10am • Today is Wednesday, June 24, the 175th day of 2026. There are 190 days left in the year. Today in history: On June 24, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger — carrying America’s first woman in space, Sally Ride — coasted to a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Also on this d Reds bring home losing streak into matchup against the Brewers 06/24/2026 04:01am • Milwaukee Brewers (48-29, first in the NL Central) vs. Cincinnati Reds (37-41, fifth in the NL Central) Cincinnati; Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.40 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 47 strikeouts); Reds: Rhett Lowder (3-4, 4.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 42 strikeouts) LINE: Brewers St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday 06/24/2026 04:01am • Arizona Diamondbacks (40-39, third in the NL West) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (42-35, second in the NL Central) St. Louis; Wednesday, 7:45 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Mitch Bratt (0-0); Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (3-4, 5.23 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 67 strikeouts) LINE: Cardinals -120, Diamondb Washington Nationals host the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday 06/24/2026 04:01am • Philadelphia Phillies (43-36, second in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (41-39, fourth in the NL East) Washington; Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 77 strikeouts); Nationals: Miles Mikolas (2-6, 5.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 43 strikeouts) LIN US Education Dept. probes 3 Md. school districts and state over transgender student policies 06/24/2026 03:57am • The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Montgomery, Prince George's and Frederick County school districts and Maryland's education agency in the Trump administration's latest challenge of the region's school policies regarding transgender students. The federal education agency s Montgomery Co. student wins Yellowstone trip for America250 essay contest poem 06/24/2026 03:49am • Mengtong Xiang learned about all the celebrations in advance of America’s 250th birthday through news reports. Her curiosity prompted her to learn more about America250, the bipartisan organization that Congress created to help plan for and celebrate the milestone. Inspired by the events Philippine devotees honor St. John the Baptist with a mud-covered display of faith 06/24/2026 03:38am • BIBICLAT, Philippines (AP) — Hundreds of Catholic devotees wrapped themselves in dried banana leaves and covered their bodies with mud on Wednesday in the Philippine village of Bibiclat, taking part in a display of faith honoring St. John the Baptist. The Taong Putik, or Mud People, festival is h Photos show Philippine Catholics smearing mud on their bodies for festival honoring John the Baptist 06/24/2026 03:35am • BIBICLAT, Philippines (AP) — Devout Catholics smeared their bodies with mud and wore banana leaves as they participated in an annual festival in Bibiclat, a village in the Philippines, on Wednesday. The Taong Putik, or Mud People, festival has been passed on from generation to generation in the co