First Run News

KABUL, Afghanistan — Early Thursday morning, Taliban fighters in southern Helmand Province launched a daring attack: They packed explosives into three stolen Humvees originally supplied to Afghan forces by the United States and drove them into Afghan security outposts.

FRANKFURT — Germany’s high-end carmakers face a potentially destructive new scandal after European antitrust authorities said on Saturday that they were looking into allegations that Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW colluded illegally to hold down the prices of crucial technology, including emissions equipment. If proven, the allegations threaten to further damage the country’s reputation for engineering excellence.

WASHINGTON — Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, resigned Friday after telling President Trump he vehemently disagreed with his appointment of Anthony Scaramucci, a New York financier, as his new communications director. After offering Mr. Scaramucci the job on Friday morning, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Spicer to stay on as press secretary, reporting to Mr. Scaramucci. But Mr. Spicer rejected the offer, expressing his belief that Mr.

On a leafy side street in East Harlem is a small park with a wrought-iron gate holding a heart-shaped design. To most, the heart is a charming architectural flourish, but to others, like Migene González-Wippler, it is indisputable proof of occult activity. “Someone was practicing serious voodoo in this park,” she said. “That heart is there for a reason. It is there to summon a god.” The heart, she said, indicates that the park was once the site of secretive voodoo rituals.

Margaret Pennoyer, an elementary school teacher in Manhattan, had just returned from a bachelorette party in Napa Valley when she received an email that had been sent to all the guests. The two organizers had itemized each woman’s individual expenses, which they had covered, and requested reimbursement through Venmo, an app that transfers money between users who have linked their bank accounts to their phones. Ms.