Associated Press stories, Page 219
Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated, 2 die in Turkey
ATHENS, Greece — Firefighters battled blazes Thursday near Athens and on the island of Crete, where thousands were forced to flee holiday resorts, while blazes in neighboring Turkey claimed at least two lives. More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents were evacuated from the Ierapetra area along Crete’s southern...
Average long-term U.S. mortgage rate falls to 6.67%, the lowest level since early April
NEW YORK — The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell for the fifth straight week to its lowest level since early April, an encouraging sign for potential buyers who have wrestled with rising home prices. The long-term rate fell to 6.67% from 6.77% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie...
Guardians’ Luis Ortiz placed on leave by MLB amid gambling investigation, AP sources say
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary leave on Thursday due to a gambling investigation by Major League Baseball, two people with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the investigation. The...
NASA identifies newly discovered object as an interstellar comet that will keep a safe distance
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has discovered an interstellar comet that’s wandered into our backyard. The space agency spotted the quick-moving object with the sky-surveying Atlas telescope in Chile earlier this week, and confirmed it was a comet from another star system. It’s officially the third known interstellar object to...
How Ukraine can cope with the U.S. pause on crucial battlefield weapons
KYIV, Ukraine — The decision by the United States to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine has come at a tough time for Kyiv: Russia’s bigger army is making a concerted push on parts of the roughly 620-mile front line and is intensifying long-range drone and missile attacks that increasingly...
Putin and Trump discuss Iran and Ukraine in 6th phone call this year, Kremlin official says
MOSCOW — U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine and other issues on Thursday in a “frank and constructive” phone call, the Kremlin said, in their sixth publicly disclosed chat since Trump returned to the White House. While discussing the situation around Iran and in...
8 remain hospitalized from skydiving plane’s crash shortly after takeoff from New Jersey airport
CAMDEN, N.J. — Three men remained hospitalized in critical condition and five others were listed as serious Thursday, the morning after a skydiving plane with 15 people aboard crashed into a wooded area near a small airport in southern New Jersey. The single engine Cessna 208B radioed about having engine...
U.S. labor market continues to surprise as the unemployment rate falls
U.S. employers added 147,000 jobs in June as the American labor market continues to show surprising resilience despite uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s economic policies. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% from 4.2% in May, the Labor Department said Thursday. Hiring rose modestly from a revised 144,000 in May...
Drive-by shooting in Chicago leaves 4 dead and 14 others wounded, police say
CHICAGO — Four people have died from gunshot wounds and 14 others have been hospitalized following a drive-by shooting in Chicago, police said Thursday. At least three were in critical condition. The shooting happened late Wednesday in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, a popular nightlife destination with many restaurants and bars....
Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain, police say
MADRID — Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday. The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that the 28-year-old Jota and his 25-year-old...
94 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 45 people waiting for aid, authorities say
TEL AVIV, Israel — Airstrikes and shootings killed 94 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, including 45 who were attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid, hospitals and the Health Ministry said Thursday. Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the strikes. Five people were killed while outside sites associated with the Gaza...
House passes Trump’s big tax bill and sends it to him to sign
WASHINGTON — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline. The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with...
NBA stars to turn filmmakers at Summer League fest with Kevin Garnett, Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor
LOS ANGELES — Lights, camera, layup. The NBA Summer League is giving athletes another shot that takes place behind the camera. With assists from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Hollywood power players Mark Wahlberg and Deon Taylor, the Summer League Film Festival is coming back starting July 17 in...
Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach out with broken elbow, hopes to return this yearVideo
ATLANTA — Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach broke his right elbow during a start last weekend and was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday as left fielder Jurickson Profar returned from an 80-game drug suspension and slumping outfielder Alex Verdugo was designated for assignment. Schwellenbach said he felt tightness while...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail
WASHINGTON — Kilmar Abrego Garcia said he suffered severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation and psychological torture in the notorious El Salvador prison the Trump administration had deported him to in March, according to court documents filed Wednesday. He said he was kicked and hit so often after arrival that by...
Diego Luna scores twice to lead U.S. over Guatemala, into CONCACAF Gold Cup finalVideo
ST. LOUIS — Diego Luna scored twice in the first 15 minutes, and the United States hung on to beat Guatemala, 2-1, on Wednesday night to reach its first CONCACAF Gold Cup final since 2021. Luna put the U.S. ahead with a left-footed shot in the fourth minute, then scored...
Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospital
Fifteen people were taken to a hospital when a skydiving aircraft went off a runway and crashed in the woods near an airport in southern New Jersey on Wednesday evening, according to authorities. The incident at the Cross Keys Airport, about 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia, involved a Cessna 208B...
FDA vaccine official restricted covid vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff
WASHINGTON — The government’s top vaccine official working under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently restricted the approval of two covid-19 vaccines, disregarding recommendations from government scientists, according to federal documents released Wednesday. The new memos from the Food and Drug Administration show how the agency’s vaccine chief, Dr....
Coco Gauff disappointed by Wimbledon loss but doesn’t want to dwell on it
LONDON — Before Wimbledon began, Coco Gauff reflected on the significance of her breakthrough performance at the place six years ago — a run to the fourth round at age 15 — and what aspirations she harbored as she prepared to return. “Even when I see videos of me during...
Freddie Freeman, Will Smith join Shohei Ohtani to give Dodgers 3 All-Star starters
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have three fan-elected starters in the All-Star Game, with first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith joining designated hitter Shohei Ohtani as winners in final ballot totals announced Wednesday. Detroit will have three fan-picked starters for the first time since 2007 after second baseman...
Red Panda has fractured left wrist, released from hospital after fall at WNBA gameVideo
Good news, basketball fans: Red Panda intends to be ready for next season. Red Panda, the popular performer who fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during halftime of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx, has a broken left wrist and...
Bronny James says he doesn’t follow rumors around LeBron while preparing for 2nd season with Lakers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Although Bronny James tries to stay off all social media, that strategy didn’t stop one of his friends from calling him up this week and asking him about LeBron James’ thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers’ direction and what it all might mean for Bronny’s future....
Nearly 368,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon recalled over possible listeria contamination
Nearly 368,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon products are being recalled over possible contamination with listeria bacteria that can cause food poisoning, federal health officials said Wednesday. No illnesses have been confirmed to date, U.S. agriculture department officials said. Kraft Heinz Food Company of Newberry, South Carolina, announced the...
Reports: Deandre Ayton to sign with Lakers, join LeBron James, Luka DoncicVideo
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Center Deandre Ayton agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, according to multiple reports. The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton’s contract last weekend, and he has agreed to join Doncic and LeBron James on a one-year deal with a player option...
Boston’s Chapman lights up radar gun at age 37 and has bigger numbers in mind than his 350th saveVideo
BOSTON — At 37-years-old, Boston closer Aroldis Chapman routinely lights up the radar gun at 100 mph. He also sees a bigger number he would like to reach. Chapman pitched a perfect ninth inning Wednesday and earned his 350th career save as the Red Sox beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3,...
