Associated Press stories, Page 711
Russia and Ukraine exchange long-range attacks as their front-line forces remain bogged down
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that its air defenses shot down 10 Ukrainian air-launched missiles over Crimea, as both sides in the war pounded each other with long-range aerial strikes while fighting along the front line remained largely deadlocked. The White House, meanwhile, said U.S. intelligence officials have determined that...
Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic Technology is attempting the first U.S. moon landing since the Apollo missions a half-century ago
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — China and India scored moon landings, while Russia, Japan and Israel ended up in the lunar trash heap. Now two private companies are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game, more than five decades after the Apollo program ended. It’s part of a NASA-supported...
MetLife Stadium to remove 1,740 seats for 2026 World Cup, officials hoping to host final
NEW YORK — MetLife Stadium officials plan to remove 1,740 seats to widen the field for World Cup matches as they hope to host the 2026 final but will retain a narrower surface for this year’s Copa América. The stadium in suburban East Rutherford, New Jersey, is among the contenders...
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell declares for NFL draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell is heading into the NFL draft. Braswell joined fellow linebacker Dallas Turner and offensive tackle JC Latham in announcing plans to leave the Crimson Tide for the NFL. He announced his decision in a post Thursday on Instagram. “Throughout my tenure at UA,...
Jeffrey Epstein documents: Here’s what we know so far
NEW YORK — The release of dozens of previously sealed court documents from a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein might disappoint online sleuths who anticipated explosive new information. The 40 documents released late Wednesday largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epstein’s and victims who have...
Microsoft’s new AI key is first big change to keyboards in decades
Computer keyboards are making room for an artificial intelligence chatbot button as Microsoft unveils its first major keyboard redesign in three decades. Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot. Getting...
Feeling caucus confusion? Your guide to how Iowa works
WASHINGTON — The race for the White House officially begins in less than two weeks, and despite some prolonged jockeying over the election calendar, the long primary season will once again begin in Iowa with a caucus process that has served as the lead-off voting event since the 1970s. While...
Trump’s lawyers want special counsel Jack Smith held in contempt in 2020 election interference case
WASHINGTON — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed to have special counsel Jack Smith’s team held in contempt, saying the prosecutors had taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judge’s order last month that temporarily put the case on...
The key question about fiery crash at Tokyo airport: Did one or both planes have OK to use runway?
Passengers on Japan Airlines Flight 516 were buckled up and ready to land at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport as their pilot made a final approach. “Cleared to land,” the pilot repeated after receiving an instruction from air traffic control to put the jet down on a specific runway. About two minutes...
Police say 17-year-old killed a 6th grader and wounded 5 in Iowa school shootingVideo
PERRY, Iowa — A 17-year-old opened fire at a small-town Iowa high school on the first day of school after the winter break, killing a sixth-grader and wounding five others as students barricaded in offices and fled in panic. The suspect, a student at the school in Perry, died of...
U.S. airstrike in Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate
BAGHDAD — A U.S. airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad on Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said. Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. It also coincides...
Vatican says no heresy in allowing blessings for same-sex couples after pushback by some bishops
ROME — After pushback by some bishops in Africa, Poland and elsewhere, the Vatican on Thursday defended the recent move by Pope Francis to allow blessings for same-sex couples, insisting there is nothing “heretical” involved. In a five-page statement, the Holy See’s office to safeguard doctrinal orthodoxy expressed understanding that...
Teen gamer becomes 1st to beat the ‘unbeatable’ Tetris — by breaking it
SAN FRANCISCO — The falling-block video game Tetris has met its match in 13-year-old Willis Gibson, who has become the first player to officially “beat” the original Nintendo version of the game — by breaking it. Technically, Willis — aka “blue scuti” in the gaming world — made it to...
Speaker Johnson demands hard-line policies during a border visit as Ukraine aid hangs in the balance
EAGLE PASS, Texas — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson led about 60 fellow Republicans in Congress on a visit Wednesday to the Mexican border to demand hard-line immigration policies in exchange for backing President Joe Biden’s emergency wartime funding request for Ukraine. He expressed serious doubts about whether he would...
Nevada judge attacked by defendant during sentencing in Vegas courtroom scene captured on videoVideo
LAS VEGAS — A Nevada judge was attacked Wednesday by a defendant in a felony battery case who leaped over a defense table and the judge’s bench, landing atop her and sparking a bloody brawl involving court officials and attorneys, officials and witnesses said. In a violent scene captured by...
Diggins scores 16 as Massachusetts downs Duquesne 80-61Video
AMHERST, Mass. — Rahsool Diggins scored 16 points, and Massachusetts beat Duquesne, 80-61, in an Atlantic 10 opener on Wednesday night. Diggins shot 5 of 8 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line for the Minutemen (10-3). Matt Cross scored 15 points and added eight rebounds. Jaylen...
Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their 1st Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacksVideo
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It’s the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was...
More hospitals requiring masks as flu and covid-19 cases surge
NEW YORK — More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, covid-19 and other illnesses. While many experts say this season likely won’t prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could...
New vehicle sales rise 12% as buyers shake off high prices, interest rates, and auto strikesVideo
DETROIT — Undeterred by high prices, rising interest rates, autoworker strikes and a computer-chip shortage that slowed assembly lines, American consumers still bought 15.6 million new vehicles last year, 12% more than in 2022, the biggest increase in more than a decade. Yet sales still haven’t returned to the 17...
Justice Department sues Texas over law that would let police arrest migrants who enter U.S. illegally
AUSTIN, Texas — The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Texas over a new law that would allow police to arrest migrants who enter the United States illegally, taking Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to court again over his escalating response to border crossers arriving from Mexico. The lawsuit draws Texas into...
Alzheimer’s drugs might get into brain faster with new ultrasound tool
WASHINGTON — Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster by temporarily breaching its protective shield. The novel experiment was a first attempt in just three patients. But in spots in the brain where the new technology took aim, it enhanced removal of Alzheimer’s...
Firefighters put out large fire at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek HillVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after fire rescue crews responded to a large fire at his South Florida home Wednesday afternoon. The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was shown Wednesday on local station...
Michigan QB McCarthy says sign-stealing saga masked work of players who ‘did things the right way’Video
The sign-stealing scandal that has hung over Michigan’s season has overshadowed the work the team has put in to go unbeaten and reach the College Football Playoff championship game, quarterback J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. Michigan plays Washington for the national title in Houston on Monday as the NCAA continues to...
Trump asks Supreme Court to review Colorado ruling barring him from the ballot over Jan. 6 attack
DENVER — Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling barring him from the Colorado ballot, setting up a high-stakes showdown over whether a constitutional provision prohibiting those who “engaged in insurrection” will end his political career. Trump appealed a 4-3 ruling in...
McIlroy eases off criticism of LIV Golf. He’s says Rahm defection was a smart business moveVideo
KAPALUA, Hawaii — Rory McIlroy has gone from being the harshest critic of LIV Golf to extending an olive branch. He said on a British soccer podcast Wednesday he was too judgmental about players defecting and has accepted that LIV is “part of our sport now.” He referred to Jon...
