Associated Press stories, Page 51
White House budget office tells agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of potential shutdown
WASHINGTON — The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week. In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget said agencies should consider a reduction in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse next...
Trump is hosting Turkey’s Erdogan at the White House as the U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday as the Republican leader has indicated that the U.S. government’s hold on sales of advanced fighter jets to Ankara may soon be lifted. During Trump’s first term, the United States...
Paris court rules former President Sarkozy will have to go to prison even if he appeals
PARIS — A Paris court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to 5 years in prison and — in a major surprise — said he’ll be incarcerated even if he appeals, after finding him guilty Thursday in his trial for alleged illegal campaign financing by Libya. Sarkozy said he was...
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcome 3rd child, Rocki
LOS ANGELES — Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have announced the birth of their third child, a girl. Rihanna announced the birth of Rocki Irish Mayers in an Instagram post Wednesday. The post featured one photo of the multihyphenate, 37, with the baby and another photo of baby shoes. It was...
Analysis: Ryder Cup has power to divide — or unite — during fraught, fragile time in U.S.Video
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Often sports, at their best, are the purest form of competition. They offer a chance to pick winners and losers in showdowns between rival teams, countries, sometimes even worldviews, in an arena where the games are played for high stakes but, ultimately, not for life and death....
Vikings-Steelers game gives thriving Brian Flores a reflection of gratitudeVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — Brian Flores found the perfect pit stop for his coaching career in Pittsburgh. Regardless of where this track winds up, he has clearly been enjoying the ride with Minnesota since then. The third-year defensive coordinator of the Vikings gets the chance this weekend to catch up with...
Ukrainians cautious after Trump shifts stance, saying they can win the war against Russia
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainians were cautious Wednesday in their response to a surprise pivot in U.S. President Donald Trump’s views on their prospects for defeating Russia’s invasion, after he said they could win the three-year war and retake land captured by Moscow. Russian officials, meanwhile, said developments on the battlefield...
Trump says he was victim of ‘triple sabotage’ at U.N. and Secret Service is looking into the matter
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was the victim of “three very sinister events” during his time at the United Nations on Tuesday and that the Secret Service will be looking into the issues. The president was attending the U.N. General Assembly, where he gave a speech...
Jaxson Dart ‘ready’ to be Giants’ starting QB; Brian Daboll won’t say why change now
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jaxson Dart took over as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback at practice Wednesday, more than 24 hours after finding out the job is his. The rookie’s emotions about the promotion are simple. “I’m ready,” Dart said. “It wasn’t anything extra. You always say like, ‘I’m...
Judge rules feds can’t require states to cooperate on immigration to get disaster money
BOSTON — A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Wednesday that it’s unconstitutional to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get funding for disasters, which is overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general in May filed a federal...
Justice Department to try to charge ex-FBI Director James Comey
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is preparing to ask a grand jury as soon as Thursday to indict former FBI Director James Comey on allegations that he lied to Congress as prosecutors approach a legal deadline for bringing charges, according to two people familiar with the matter. Officials are hoping...
Pentagon adds exemptions to requirement for all troops to get the flu shot
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has stepped back from the policy that requires all troops to get the flu shot every year by introducing exemptions for reservists and proclaiming that the shot is only necessary in some circumstances for all service members, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press....
Ryder Cup banter, blunders get started at Bethpage without a shot being hitVideo
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The opening tee shot still two days away, the gamesmanship at the Ryder Cup began Wednesday when European captain Luke Donald took a few subtle jabs on pay-for-play during his speech at the opening ceremony. “We’re fueled by something money cannot buy,” Donald said. Europe, 1 up....
Federal judge refuses to reinstate 8 former inspectors general fired by Trump administration
WASHINGTON — A federal judge refused on Wednesday to reinstate eight former inspectors general who filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration fired them with no warning and little explanation. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said that while President Donald Trump likely violated the federal law governing the process for...
Kimmel is back on ABC, but some affiliates still refuse to air his show
NEW YORK — Jimmy Kimmel is back on his ABC late-night show, but it’s still a mystery when — or if — viewers in cities such as Seattle, Washington and St. Louis will be able to see him again on their televisions. ABC stations owned by the Nexstar and Sinclair...
Trump snubs Biden with autopen photo on new Presidential Walk of FameVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has added a Presidential Walk of Fame to the exterior of the White House, featuring portraits of each of the previous commanders-in-chief — except for one. Instead of a headshot of Joe Biden, the Republican incumbent instead hung a photo of an autopen signing the...
Guardians’ David Fry sustains broken nose, facial fractures after being hit in face by 99 mph pitchVideo
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry sustained a broken nose and facial fractures after he was hit in the face by a pitch from Detroit’s Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 5-2 win over the Tigers, a victory that deadlocked the AL Central division race....
Justice Department official ordered to drop inquiry into Sandy Hook lawsuit against Alex JonesVideo
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has ordered a senior U.S. Justice Department official to drop an inquiry into a retired FBI agent’s involvement in a defamation lawsuit involving Alex Jones’ conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, according to a person familiar with the matter. Ed Martin Jr.,...
Judge scolds Justice Department over public statements in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case
NEW YORK — At least two senior Justice Department officials likely broke court rules governing the conduct of prosecutors by reposting comments President Donald Trump made about Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating the CEO at UnitedHealthcare, a federal judge said Wednesday. Judge Margaret M. Garnett said in an...
Sister Jean, longtime Loyola Chicago chaplain and March Madness icon, retires at 106
Longtime chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team, Sister Jean, has retired at 106 because of health concerns. The school’s student newspaper, The Loyola Phoenix, announced her retirement earlier this month. Sister Jean rose to the spotlight during Loyola Chicago’s trip to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament....
Trump’s Rose Garden Club is a lavish new hangout for political allies and business elites
WASHINGTON — Washington’s hottest new club has everything — Cabinet secretaries, a new stone patio, food from the White House kitchen and even a playlist curated by President Donald Trump. But good luck getting a spot on the guest list. So far, only some of the president’s political allies, business...
Trump’s touting of an unproven autism drug surprised many, including the doctor who proposed it
WASHINGTON — When President Donald Trump’s administration announced it would repurpose an old, generic drug as a new treatment for autism, it came as a surprise to many experts — including the physician who suggested the idea to the nation’s top health officials. Dr. Richard Frye told The Associated Press...
Iran’s president says U.S., Israeli attacks inflicted ‘grievous blow’ on international trust
UNITED NATIONS — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took the stage at the U.N. on Wednesday to blast Israeli and U.S. attacks in June as inflicting “a grievous blow upon international trust and the very prospect of peace in the region.” His comments at the General Assembly are the first time...
Ukraine’s president says the world is in ‘the most destructive arms race in history’
UNITED NATIONS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told world leaders Wednesday that the world is in “the most destructive arms race in history” and called on the international community to act against Russia now, asserting that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his war in Europe. “We are now living through...
Dozens injured in remote Ladakh after protesters seeking self-rule clash with India police
SRINAGAR, India — Dozens were injured in the remote Indian region of Ladakh on Wednesday as hundreds of people demanding federal statehood from the Indian government clashed with law enforcement, officials and residents said. Some protesters threw stones at officers as police tried to stop them from marching in the...
