AP News Digest 6 p.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.

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NEW/DEVELOPING

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ISRAEL-GAZA-AID EXPLAINER; YOUTH-CENTER-ABUSE; TRUMP-INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES; BRITAIN-BOOKER-PRIZE; LOUIVILLE-BUSINESS-EXPLOSION; TUSKEEGEE-SHOOTING; TRUMP-DAY 1; ELECTION 2024-CERTIFICATION; WILDFIRE TERMS-EXPLAINER.

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TOP STORIES

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TRUMP-FIRST-WEEK — For a man who loves the spotlight, Donald Trump has been conspicuously out of view since his triumph in last week’s presidential election. There have been no rallies, no press conferences, no speeches. Instead, Trump has spent most of his first week as president-elect behind closed doors at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, where he’s working the phones, reconnecting with foreign leaders and building his new administration. By Chris Megerian and Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,250 words, photo, audio. With TRUMP-TRANSITION — President-elect Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel; TRUMP-PICKS — Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far; TRUMP-INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES — Trump is promising to clean house and overhaul agencies like the CIA (sent). (all sent).

TRUMP-HUSH MONEY — A judge has postponed a decision on whether to undo President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money case as prosecutors consider how to proceed in light of last week’s election and his lawyers argue for dismissal so he can run the country. By Jennifer Peltz and Michael R. Sisak. SENT: 780 words, photo.

CONGRESS — House Speaker Mike Johnson says Republicans are “ready to deliver” President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda after his election victory, insisting the GOP won’t make the mistakes of last time and will be much better prepared for a second-term Trump White House. By Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,010 words, photo. With ELECTION-2024-EXPLAINER-WHY-THE-WAIT — Many uncalled House races are in California. This is why it takes the state weeks to count votes (sent)

MIDEAST-WARS-GAZA-AID — The Biden administration says Israel has made some good but limited progress in increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and therefore it will not limit arms transfers to Israel as it had threatened to a month ago if the situation had not improved. Relief groups say conditions are worse than at any point in the 13-month-old war. By Julia Frankel and Samy Magdy. SENT: 1,330 words, photos. With MIDEAST-WARS — Israeli strikes kill 46 people in the Gaza Strip and 18 in Lebanon, medics say; MIDEAST-WARS-ISRAEL-SYRIA — UN elaborates on Israeli military building along Syrian demilitarized zone after AP report; MIDEAST-WARS-THE-LATEST; ISRAEL-GAZA-AID EXPLAINER — Why is only limited aid getting to Palestinians inside Gaza? (all sent).

BRITAIN-CHURCH-OF-ENGLAND — Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned after an investigation found that he failed to tell police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it. By Danica Kirka. SENT: 890 words, photos, video, audio. With BRITAIN-CHURCH-OF-ENGLAND-EXPLAINER — Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby takes personal responsibility in abuse scandal and resigns (sent).

NORWAY-BABIES-SWITCHED-AT-BIRTH — An elderly mother and two grown up girls who were accidentally switched at birth are suing the Norwegian state. They claim their human rights were violated when authorities discovered the error and decided to keep it secret. The two girls, now 59, were mixed up in a private post-natal ward in Heroey municipality in western Norway in 1965. A routine blood test in 1981 proved they were not being raised in biological families. By Mark Lewis SENT: 650 words, photos.

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RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR

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EUROPE-UKRAINE-US — The European Union must back Ukraine against Russia for as a long as it takes and persuade the United States that its strategic interests in China are tied up in the outcome of the war, the woman nominated as the bloc’s top diplomat for the next five years said. SENT: 380 words, photos.

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MORE NEWS

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TEKASHI-6IX9INE-ARREST -- Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been sentenced to 45 days in prison after repeatedly violating probation, disappointing a federal judge who rewarded his cooperation in a criminal case against him with leniency five years ago. SENT: 500 words, photo.

LOUISVILLE-BUSINESS-EXPLOSION — At least 11 employees were taken to hospitals and residents were urged to shelter in place on Tuesday after an explosion at a Louisville, Kentucky, business. SENT: 140 words.

WILDFIRES — The Northeast kept a wary eye on dozens of fires that killed at least one person and continues to burn amid bone-dry weather, while much larger and more destructive fires came under relative control in California. SENT: 440 words, photos, audio. With WILDFIRE TERMS-EXPLAINER —Contained, extinguished and mopping up: Here’s what some common wildfire terms mean (sent).

BRITAIN-BOOKER-PRIZE — British writer Samantha Harvey has won the Booker Prize for fiction with “Orbital,” a short, wonder-filled novel set aboard the International Space Station. SENT: 450 words, photos.

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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS

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ELECTION 2024-CERTIFICATION — Local officials are beginning to certify the results of this year’s presidential election in a process that so far has been playing out quietly. SENT: 940 words, photos.

LEAKED-DOCUMENTS-INVESTIGATION – A federal judge has sentenced a Massachusetts Air National Guard member to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine. SENT: 870 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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TUSKEEGEE-SHOOTING — A man accused of having a machine gun at Tuskegee University during a hail of gunfire that left one man dead and at least 16 others hurt told a federal agent that he fired his weapon during the shooting, but denied aiming at anyone. SENT: 780 words, photos.

TEN-COMMANDMENTS-LOUISIANA -- A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked by a federal judge who said the law is “unconstitutional on its face.” SENT: 560 words, photo.

CAMPUS-DEATH-GEORGIA — A man waived his right to a jury trial in the killing of a Georgia nursing student, a case that became a flashpoint in the national immigration debate. Jose Ibarra was charged in the February killing of Laken Hope Riley, whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus. A 10-count indictment accused Ibarra of hitting the 22-year-old Augusta University College of Nursing student in the head, asphyxiating her and intending to sexually assault her. SENT: 430 words, photo.

ABU-GHRAIB-RETRIAL -- A U.S. jury on Tuesday awarded $42 million to three former of Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, holding a Virginia-based military contractor responsible for contributing to their torture and mistreatment two decades ago. SENT: 880 words, photo.

YOUTH-CENTER-ABUSE — The judge who oversaw a landmark civil trial over abuse at New Hampshire’s youth detention center has issued a preliminary order slashing the $38 million verdict against the state to $475,000. SENT: 510 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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HAITI-VIOLENCE — The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will prohibit U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs shot two planes and the United Nations will temporarily suspend flights to Port-au-Prince, limiting humanitarian aid coming into the country. SENT: 950 words, photos, video, audio.

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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MED-STD-TRENDS — The U.S. syphilis epidemic slowed dramatically last year, gonorrhea cases fell and chlamydia cases remained below prepandemic levels, according to federal data. The numbers represented some good news about sexually transmitted diseases, which experienced some alarming increases in past years due to declining condom use, inadequate sex education, and reduced testing and treatment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. SENT: 710 words, photos.

SCI-MAUNA-LOA-ERUPTION -- Scientists can’t know precisely when a volcano is about to erupt, but they can sometimes pick up telltale warning signs. That’s what happened two years ago with the world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii. About two months before Mauna Loa spewed lava, geologists detected small earthquakes nearby and other signals. Now a study of the volcano’s lava confirms that molten rock within Earth’s crust was rising upward about 70 days before the eruption in late November 2022. SENT: 400 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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ENT-MUSIC-SONGWRITERS-HALL -- Eminem, Boy George, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, the Doobie Brothers, N.W.A. and Alanis Morissette are among the nominees for the 2025 class at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an eclectic group of rap, rock, hip-hop and pop pioneers. SENT: 690 words, photos.

MEDIA-CNN-WALLACE — Veteran broadcaster Chris Wallace is leaving CNN after three years but, at age 77, he’s not interested in retiring. Wallace says he’s interested in following journalists who are going independent, either in the podcasting or streaming world. “That seems to be where the action is,” he said. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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SPORTS

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BKC--T25-KANSAS-MICHIGAN STATE -- No. 1 Kansas faces Michigan State in an early showdown of powerhouse programs at the State Farm Champions Classic in Atlanta. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos. Game starts at 6:30 p.m.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1600. For photos, Donald E. King ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.

Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its 12th year, with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Gillian Anderson arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The body of a man who was shot dead by a stray bullet, is secured to the floor of a tap-tap, in the Solino neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Vice President Kamala Harris smiles to hundreds of gathered administration staff as they give her an ovation after she arrived outside the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A firefighter, right, extinguishes a fire as smoke rises from a house hit in an Israeli airstrike in Baalchmay village east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Mourners attend the funeral of Israeli soldier Orr Katz, who was killed in a battle in the Gaza Strip, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse, right, forces a fumble on Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, center left, and Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Ginette Petitpas Taylor watch as Canadian Forces members march off to conclude the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nikki Fuller, 56, sets up flags on her truck near the Mar-a-Lago estate of President-elect Donald Trump, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

In this image provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, a smoke rises out of an apartments building after a Russian attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

AP News Digest 7 a.m.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

AP News Digest 7 a.m.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 2, 2025--

Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, today announced the winners of its 2024 On-Time Performance Review, celebrating airlines and airports that excelled in on-time and operational performance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250101214982/en/

Cirium’s Annual report is the gold standard for global airline and airport performance analytics. An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 14:59 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival time. Airports measure punctuality as departing flights within 14:59 minutes of their scheduled departure time.

Mexico’s Flag Carrier Tops Global Rankings

Aeromexico claimed the prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airline” in 2024, achieving an impressive On-Time performance rate of 86.70%. Saudia followed closely as the runner-up with 86.35%, while Delta Air Lines secured third place with 83.46%, continuing to showcase its operational reliability on the world stage.

Cirium’s Annual Review also acknowledges the operational excellence of airlines across the world, with five regional awards. Iberia Express, member of the International Airlines Group, had success as both the most On-Time airline in Europe, and the most On-Time Low-Cost airline globally. Japan Airlines ranked first within Asia-Pacific, just slightly ahead of All Nippon Airways.

Delta Air Lines continued its dominance in North America, while Copa Airlines achieved a landmark 10th win in Latin America. Safair’s also won most On-Time airline in the Middle East and Africa. The full tables of results by region and category are presented below.

Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport Takes Top Honors in the Global Airport Category

In the Airport categories, Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s capital, claimed this year’s prestigious title of the most On-Time “Global Airport” with an impressive 86.65% of flights departing on time. The Middle Eastern hub further distinguished itself by securing victory in the ‘Large Airport’ category, outperforming top contenders from around the world.

The title of most On-Time ‘Medium Airport’ was awarded to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport - the home base for Latin American winner Copa Airlines, while the ‘Small Airport’ winner was Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Ecuador.

Special Recognition of Operational Excellence: The Cirium Platinum Awards

Delta Air Lines topped the table for a fourth consecutive year, landing Cirium’s Platinum Award for global operational excellence. This prestigious accolade comes as the Atlanta-based airline continues to be praised for its unwavering commitment to operational performance.

The Platinum award considers the complexity of the carrier’s network, volume of flights, and the ability to limit the impact of flight disruptions on passengers over the entire year. The airline was recognized for its on-time performance over the course of 2024 at 83.46%, on more than 1,712,529 total flights in 2024.

This year, Cirium also presented its first annual Platinum Award to a global airport, with El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia receiving this prestigious award. The Airport Platinum Award considers a broader range of factors including the impact of delays on passengers, the duration of disruptions, operational complexity, and the airport’s appeal, with a particular focus on growth. This holistic approach highlights excellence across multiple dimensions, setting a new benchmark in airport performance evaluation.

Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, said: “In an industry defined by operational complexity, we are extremely proud to be celebrating the airlines and airports who have provided customers the most on-time flights and best performance in 2024, acknowledging their operational excellence.”

“2024 was a difficult year for airlines, facing a large-scale IT outage, and unseasonable and severe weather patterns. Despite these challenges, these airlines and airports have worked tirelessly to ensure their customers have a smooth journey and reach their destination on-time.”

“We extend our congratulations to all the winners of this year’s On-Time Performance Review, each of whom has set new standards in operational excellence. A special recognition goes to Delta Air Lines for continuing their outstanding winning streak with Cirium’s Platinum Award for airlines, Copa Airlines for achieving its 10th title as Latin America’s most On-Time airline, Iberia Express for its consistent performance as Europe’s most On-Time airline, and Bogotá El Dorado Airport for securing Cirium’s first-ever Platinum Award for an airport.”

Now in its 16th year, the Cirium On-Time Performance Review remains the definitive benchmark for monitoring global airline operational performance. Powered by Cirium’s vast and impartial data—sourced from over 600 real-time feeds, including airlines, airports, global distribution systems, and civil aviation authorities—it offers a thorough and objective view of the industry. The program is further strengthened by the guidance of an independent advisory board composed of seasoned industry experts with decades of experience.

Cirium’s full 2024 On-Time Performance Review is available to view and download at www.cirium.com/on-time-performance.

Notes to editors:

The results for 2024 for the top ten performers in all categories include the following:

Global Airline leaders were:

In Europe the leading airlines were:

In North America the leading airlines were:

In Asia Pacific the leading airlines were:

In Latin America the leading airlines were:

In the Middle East and Africa the leading airlines were:

The leading low-cost carriers were:

Global Airport leaders were:

Large Airports leaders were:

Medium Airports leaders were:

Small Airports leaders were:

About Cirium

Cirium® is the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. Equipping airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.

Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.

For further information please follow Cirium® on LinkedIn or visit cirium.com.

Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2024 (Photo: Business Wire)