Associated Press stories, Page 2334
Taiwan’s leader reelected as voters back tough China stance
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen won a second term in a landslide election victory Saturday, signaling strong support for her tough stance against China. Tsai soundly defeated Nationalist Party candidate Han Kuo-yu with 57.2% of the vote to Han’s 38.6%, with 99.75% of precincts’ votes counted. She...
Iran says it ‘unintentionally’ shot down Ukrainian jetliner
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran announced Saturday that its military “unintentionally” shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile...
Las Vegas ‘black widow’ denies killing millionaire husband
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — One of Nevada’s most notorious convicted murderers, dubbed a “black widow killer,” said after being released from prison Friday that she did not kill her millionaire husband 25 years ago in Las Vegas, and plans to use proceeds from her story to offer money for...
Gun case delayed for man cleared of San Francisco pier death
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Friday delayed a gun possession trial against a Mexican man who was acquitted of killing a woman on a San Francisco pier in a case that became a national flashpoint, saying he has questions about the man’s mental competency. U.S. District Judge Vince...
Rare salt formations appear along the Great Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY — Rare salt formations have been documented for the first time on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, and they could yield insights about salt structures found on Mars before they disappear for good. They’re showing up now in part because water levels at the largest...
Ruling barring discharge of HIV-positive airmen upheld
RICHMOND, Va. — An injunction barring the Trump administration from discharging two Air Force members who are HIV-positive was upheld Friday by a federal appeals court panel that called the military’s rationale for prohibiting deployment of service members living with HIV “outmoded and at odds with current science.” The airmen...
Ravens, Lamar Jackson launch playoff run against underdog TitansVideo
BALTIMORE — Containing Lamar Jackson has been virtually impossible for opposing defenses this season, and now the task falls on the Tennessee Titans to find a way to slow down a versatile quarterback who is equally adept at running the ball and throwing downfield. “Other than try to tie his...
Mookie Betts agrees to record $27 million deal with Red SoxVideo
BOSTON — Outfielder Mookie Betts agreed Friday to a $27 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, the largest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player. Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. also agreed to an $11 million deal, ensuring Boston will avoid salary arbitration with two of its biggest stars. Betts’ deal...
Chat logs, emails show cavalier attitude by Boeing employees
NEW YORK (AP) — Internal documents reveal that Boeing employees were aware of problems with the Max 737 jet ahead of two deadly crashes, and that the company emphasized speed over safety during the approval process with the Federal Aviation Administration. The documents were made public Thursday by Boeing at...
Epstein gave $850,000 to MIT, visited 9 times, report finds
BOSTON — Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein donated $750,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and visited campus at least nine times as he sought to rehabilitate his image following a 2008 sex crimes conviction, according to findings released Friday by a law firm hired to investigate Epstein’s ties with the...
‘Bullitt’ Mustang sells for $3.74 million at Florida auction
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT featured in the film “Bullitt” was sold Friday at a Florida auction house for $3.74 million. The sale at Mecum Kissimmee marks the most expensive Mustang ever sold, surpassing a 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake that sold last year for...
Former Titans see game vs. Ravens as chance to avenge lossesVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chris Johnson’s rookie season ended at Baltimore with his ankle so injured he missed the Pro Bowl. To Eddie George, a divisional-round loss to the Ravens after the 2000 season ranks as possibly his most painful. The Titans playing the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round Saturday...
Paul Newberry: Long layoff, regional dominance tarnish CFP title gameVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Gloomy clouds were lingering over the Big Easy as the contestants were scheduled to arrived for the so-called national championship game. The weather conditions Friday were an appropriate mood-setter. The tedious, 16-day-long break since the semifinals has largely stifled the momentum of the college football season, turning...
Kyle Shanahan, Kirk Cousins on opposite sides for playoff meetingVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kirk Cousins starting the 49ers’ first playoff game at Levi’s Stadium was how coach Kyle Shanahan planned it when he took over in San Francisco in 2017. The surprise is Cousins is starting for the Minnesota Vikings instead of the Niners when the teams meet in...
U.S. bans charter flights to Cuban cities besides Havana
HAVANA — The Trump administration is banning charter flights to Cuban cities besides Havana in a new tightening of U.S. restrictions on the island. In October, the administration banned commercial flights to cities outside the capital. The State Department said in a press release Friday that charter operators would have...
San Francisco’s Beefeater doorman retires after 43 years
Another bit of old, quirky San Francisco will be no more when Tom Sweeney finally hangs up his white pressed collar and signature Beefeater jacket this weekend after more than four decades of opening doors at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel downtown. Sweeney has taken the luggage of movie stars...
China mourns native paddlefish scientists say is now extinct
BEIJING — The Chinese paddlefish’s sharp, protruding snout made it one of the largest freshwater species in the world. Since scientists declared it extinct in a research paper published last week, Chinese internet users and media outlets have been paying tribute to the hefty creature. “It’s farewell at first sight,”...
Shapiro heads into reelection year with $3M in account
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro will report that he headed into his 2020 reelection year with more than $3 million in his campaign bank account, about 40% of what he spent to get elected in 2016 to his first four-year term. In a preliminary report his campaign gave...
U.S. announces new sanctions on Iran after missile strikes
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Friday announced a new wave of sanctions on Iran following this week’s missile strikes by the Islamic Republic on U.S. bases in Iraq. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the new sanctions will target eight senior Iranian officials involved...
Nets going up to prevent suicides at Sunshine Skyway bridge
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nets will be going up along a portion of Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which spans the mouth of Tampa Bay and has become a magnet for suicides. The Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that the steel mesh nets will be installed along a 1.5-mile section of...
Man convicted of assault for hitting Trump protester
A man accused of punching a protester outside a rally for President Donald Trump has been found guilty. A jury convicted Dallas Frazier, 30, Thursday of misdemeanor assault for hitting Michael Alter, 61, outside the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati in August. Thousands attended the rally at the Cincinnati arena....
U.S. adds 145,000 jobs; unemployment holds at 3.5%
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers downshifted on hiring in December, adding 145,000 jobs, with steady spending by Americans continuing to steer economic growth heading into a presidential election year. The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate held at 3.5% for the second straight month, prolonging a half-century low. Hiring...
Virginia lawmakers set to vote on Capitol gun ban
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers are set to vote Friday on whether to ban guns at the state Capitol. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have set a meeting to vote on new rules that are widely expected to include a proposed new gun ban for the Capitol and...
Puerto Ricans settle in quake shelters, refuse to go home
GUAYANILLA, Puerto Rico — A new community has popped up in this earthquake-damaged town in southwest Puerto Rico: it houses 300 people, a dozen police officers and one macaw. Cries of “Uno!” filled the air early Friday morning as children on cots played card games while men with a pillow...
Ex-Mrs. Florida headed to prison for stealing mom’s checks
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida ordered Mrs. Florida 2016 to spend a month in jail for stealing her mother’s Social Security checks rather than using the money to pay for nursing home care. U.S. Magistrate Bruce Reinhart also sentenced Karyn Turk on Thursday to five...
