Associated Press stories, Page 616
Bette Nash, who was named the world’s longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88
NEW YORK — Bette Nash, who was once named the world’s longest-serving flight attendant, has died. She was 88. American Airlines, Nash’s employer, announced her passing on social media Saturday. The carrier noted that Nash spent nearly 70 years warmly caring for customers in the air. “Bette was a legend...
Pope apologizes after being quoted using vulgar term about gay men in talk about ban on gay priests
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis apologized Tuesday after he was quoted using a vulgar and derogatory term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni issued a statement acknowledging the media storm that erupted about Francis’ comments, which were delivered behind closed...
U.S. consumer confidence rises in May after 3 months of declines
WASHINGTON — Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose in May after three straight months of declines, though Americans are still anxious about inflation and interest rates. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose in May to 102 from 97.5 in April. Analysts...
Hong Kong police arrest 6 people accused of violating the city’s new national security law
HONG KONG — Hong Kong police on Tuesday arrested six people, including a former organizer of the city’s decades-long annual vigil that commemorated China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown, for allegedly publishing seditious social media posts, in what were the first publicly known arrests under the city’s new national security law. Secretary...
Biden campaign sends allies De Niro and first responders to Trump’s N.Y. trial
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s campaign on Tuesday showed up outside former President Donald Trump’s New York City criminal hush money trial with actor Robert De Niro and a pair of former police officers in an effort to refocus the presidential race on the former president’s role in the Jan....
Judge nixes bid to restrict Trump statements that could endanger officers in classified records case
WASHINGTON — The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case in Florida on Tuesday denied prosecutors’ request to bar the former president from making public statements that could endanger law enforcement agents participating in the prosecution. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in her order that prosecutors on special counsel...
U.S. vows more returns of looted antiquities as Italy celebrates latest haul of 600 artifacts
ROME — Italy on Tuesday celebrated the return of around 600 antiquities from the U.S., including ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics and manuscripts valued at $65 million, that were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums, galleries and collectors and recovered as a result of criminal investigations. U.S. Ambassador...
‘We have nothing’: As Israel attacks Rafah, Palestinians are living in tents and searching for food
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The tent camps stretch for more than 10 miles along Gaza’s coast, filling the beach and sprawling into empty lots, fields and town streets. Families dig trenches to use as toilets. Fathers search for food and water, while children dig through garbage and wrecked buildings...
‘Son of Sam’ killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attempt
ALBANY, N.Y. — “Son of Sam” killer David Berkowitz, who set New York City on edge with late-night shootings in the 1970s, was denied parole after his 12th board appearance. Berkowitz, 70, was rejected after a Board of Parole prison interview on May 14, according to information listed on a...
Hollywood movies rarely reflect climate change crisis. These researchers want to change that
PORTLAND, Maine — Aquaman might not mind if the oceans rise, but moviegoers might. That’s one of the takeaways from a new study conducted by researchers who set out to determine if today’s Hollywood blockbusters are reflective of the current climate crisis. The vast majority of movies failed the “climate...
Israeli army says it used small munitions in Rafah airstrike, and fire was caused by secondary blast
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military said Tuesday that an initial investigation into a strike that sparked a deadly fire in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has found the blaze was caused by a secondary explosion. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said the military...
T-Mobile to buy almost all of U.S Cellular in deal worth $4.4 billion with debt
T-Mobile is buying U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations and certain spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion, and further consolidating the industry. T-Mobile would get more than 4 million new customers and control of U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations and about 30% of spectrum assets across several spectrum bands. T-Mobile...
Trump prosecutor focuses on ‘cover-up’ in closing arguments while defense attacks key witness
NEW YORK — Donald Trump engaged in a conspiracy “to hoodwink voters” in 2016, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday during closing arguments in the former president’s hush money trial, while a defense lawyer branded the star witness as the “greatest liar of all time” and pressed the panel for an...
Commanders kicker Brandon McManus and the Jaguars are being sued in civil courtVideo
The Washington Commanders said Monday they were made aware of a lawsuit filed in civil court last week against kicker Brandon McManus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they also are being sued. A Commanders spokesperson said the team is looking into the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and...
Reaction to the death of Bill Walton, the Hall of Famer who died MondayVideo
Reaction from the basketball world to the death Monday of Bill Walton: ——— “My very close friend, fellow Bruin and NBA rival Bill Walton died today. And the world feels so much heavier now. On the court, Bill was a fierce player, but off the court he wasn’t happy unless...
Down 2-1, Panthers still have plenty of hope in East final against RangersVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Carter Verhaeghe pulled his vehicle out of the players’ parking lot after leaving the Florida Panthers’ practice facility Monday afternoon, only to notice about 50 fans standing on the side of the road clamoring for autographs. So he stopped and signed for a while. Brandon Montour...
New Jets coach Scott Arniel says he’s learned lessons since being fired by ColumbusVideo
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Scott Arniel believes overcoming the lowest point in his career will help him reach higher aspirations with the Winnipeg Jets. Arniel was named coach of the Jets on Friday, 12 years after his only other time in the role ended with him being fired by the Columbus...
Seattle Kraken expected to name Dan Bylsma as coach
SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken are expected to name Dan Bylsma as their coach, according to a person with knowledge of the choice, putting the man who won the 2009 Stanley Cup title with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in charge of an NHL team for the first time since 2017....
North Korean rocket carrying its 2nd spy satellite explodes in mid-air
SEOUL, South Korea — A rocket launched by North Korea to deploy the country’s second spy satellite exploded shortly after liftoff Monday, state media reported, in a setback for leader Kim Jong Un’s hopes to field satellites to monitor the U.S. and South Korea. Monday’s failed launch came hours after...
Biden says each generation has to ‘earn’ freedom, in solemn Memorial Day remarks
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden marked Memorial Day with a pledge that the United States would continue the work of the nation’s fallen toward creating a more perfect union, “for which they lived, and for which they died for.” Delivering remarks at a solemn remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery,...
14-time champion Rafael Nadal loses in the French Open’s 1st round to Alexander Zverev
PARIS — The noise was loud and relentless, a chorus of thousands of belting out “Ra-fa! Ra-fa! ” whenever their guy found the occasional moment of brilliance of the sort he has conjured up so often at the French Open and elsewhere through the years. The 15,000 or so on...
Iran further increases its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, watchdog says
VIENNA — Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report on Monday by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the latest in Tehran’s attempts to steadily exert pressure on the international community. Iran is seeking to have economic sanctions imposed over...
Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player who became a star broadcaster, dies at 71
Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71. He was...
Netanyahu acknowledges ‘tragic mistake’ after Rafah strike kills dozens of Palestinians
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Monday that a “tragic mistake” had been made after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and, according to local officials, killed at least 45 people. The mistake...
Iran’s acting president addresses new parliament after helicopter crash killing president, others
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s acting President Mohammad Mokhber addressed the country’s new parliament Monday in his first public speech since last week’s helicopter crash that killed his predecessor and seven others. His speech comes as Iran prepares for a presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi in just a...
