Associated Press stories, Page 689
Painting by René Magritte may fetch $64 million at auction marking century of surrealism
LONDON — A major work by surrealist painter René Magritte that hasn’t been shown in public for a quarter century could fetch 50 million pounds ($64 million) at auction next month. Christie’s auction house announced Saturday that it will offer “L’ami intime” (The Intimate Friend) at a March 7 sale...
U.S., Britain begin new strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, retaliating for attacks by Iran-backed militants
WASHINGTON — The United States and Britain struck at least 30 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday in a second wave of assaults meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, U.S. officials told The Associated Press....
Hamas deploys police, distributes funds in sign of resurgence in Gaza areas Israeli troops have left
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas has begun deploying police forces and making partial salary payments to some of its civil servants in Gaza City in recent days, resurfacing in areas from which Israel had withdrawn the bulk of its troops a month ago, four residents and a senior official in...
Tesla ordered to pay $1.5 million over alleged hazardous waste violations in California
STOCKTON, Calif. — A California judge on Friday ordered Tesla Inc. to pay $1.5 million as part of a settlement of a civil case alleging the company mishandled hazardous waste at its car service centers, energy centers and a factory, multiple county district attorneys announced. The complaint filed in San...
Judge dismisses case against Michigan man accused of threatening Biden, Harris
BAY CITY, Mich. — A federal judge on Friday dismissed a criminal case against a northern Michigan man accused of threatening President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. After a preliminary examination in federal court in Bay City, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Morris concluded there was no probable cause...
Prosecutors in classified files case: Trump team’s version of events ‘inaccurate, distorted’
WASHINGTON — Prosecutors in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump told a judge Friday that defense lawyers had painted an “inaccurate and distorted picture of events” and had unfairly sought to “cast a cloud of suspicion” over government officials who were simply trying to do their jobs....
Scheffler finishes strong for a 64. He shares Pebble Beach lead with Aberg, DetryVideo
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Pebble Beach became a signature event for the elite on the PGA Tour and delivered what was expected. Scottie Scheffler and a host of big names are contending going into the weekend, and the amateurs are headed home. Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world,...
The Chiefs have built one of the NFL’s best defenses in part because they traded away Tyreek Hill
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It has taken two full years to accurately evaluate one of the most important deals that the Kansas City Chiefs have ever made, when they traded game-breaking wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for a package of draft picks. The Chiefs knew that if...
Arizona Coyotes arena situation remains a concern with no long-term plan for where they will playVideo
TORONTO — Past the midway point of their second season in a 5,000-seat arena, the Arizona Coyotes still do not have a concrete plan for a long-term home. While NHL commissioner Gary Bettman voiced optimism about owner Alex Meruelo getting something done to keep the team in the Phoenix area,...
Orioles send message in acquiring star pitcher Corbin Burnes
A few months ago, general manager Mike Elias said the Baltimore Orioles would keep their “foot on the gas pedal” after winning 101 games and the AL East title. This is what that looks like. When they acquired All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes on Thursday night, the Orioles sent a message...
Athletics sign lefty Alex Wood, acquire righty Ross Stripling from Giants
OAKLAND, Calif. — David Forst and Farhan Zaidi are longtime friends who worked together for years in Oakland, and now executives of each Bay Area team. They made a trade Friday that had been discussed for months, and the Athletics acquired a pair of pitchers to join their rotation who...
Mets agree to 1-year deals with relievers Shintaro Fujinami, Jake Diekman
NEW YORK — The New York Mets beefed up their bullpen with two moves Friday, agreeing with free agents Shintaro Fujinami and Jake Diekman on one-year contracts. Fujinami’s deal is for $3.35 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...
U.S. hits militias in Iraq and Syria, beginning retaliation for fatal drone attack
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military launched an air assault on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in the opening salvo of retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend. President Joe Biden...
NASCAR returns to the Coliseum with the future of Clash event uncertain in Southern CaliforniaVideo
NASCAR’s debut on a temporary track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum two years ago was a bold experiment that featured a pre-race show by Pitbull, a halftime performance by Ice Cube, a rowdy USC student section and some pretty decent racing. The made-for-TV event was a clear success in...
Federal judge in D.C. postpones Trump’s March trial on charges of plotting to overturn 2020 election
WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Washington formally postponed Donald Trump’s March trial on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election as a key legal appeal from the former president continues to work its way through the courts. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday vacated the March 4...
Judge rules escape charge against convicted murderer Cavalcante can proceed to trial
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — A district judge said Friday that Pennsylvania prosecutors have sufficient grounds to continue to press escape and other charges against a convicted murderer captured last year after two weeks on the run. The judge found there is enough evidence to forward to county court for trial...
Actor Carl Weathers, who starred in ‘Rocky’ movies and ‘The Mandalorian,’ diesVideo
NEW YORK — Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” has died. He was 76. Matt Luber, his manager, said Weathers...
NHL announces plans to send players back to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030 for 1st time since 2014
TORONTO — NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade. The world’s top hockey league will allow its players to participate in the Games in 2026 in Milan and in 2030 under an agreement announced Friday by the NHL, the NHL Players’...
Great escapes exhibit explores how World War II captives coped with tedium and torment
LONDON — Eighty years ago in one of the most ingenious and audacious acts of defiance of World War II, 76 prisoners of war tunneled out of a German POW camp into a snowy forest. For most of the escapees, it ended tragically. Three made it to safety, but the...
London judge acquits climate activist Greta Thunberg of refusing to leave oil industry conference
LONDON — Climate activist Greta Thunberg was acquitted Friday of a charge of refusing to follow a police order to leave a protest blocking the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. The courtroom gallery erupted with applause as Judge John Law told Thunberg...
Theo Epstein to return to Red Sox as advisor and part-owner of parent company, Fenway Sports Group
BOSTON — Theo Epstein, who as Red Sox general manager was the architect of two World Series championships, is returning to the organization as a minority owner and part-time senior adviser to its parent company, Fenway Sports Group. Epstein, who also helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 title —...
Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized
PHILADELPHIA — For weeks, scrutiny over singer Taylor Swift’s travel in private jets has been bubbling up on social media, with people pointing out the planet-warming emissions of carbon dioxide released with every flight. The megastar is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, one of the NFL’s most...
Fat Tuesday means big business for New Orleans bakers under exploding demand for King Cakes
NEW ORLEANS — It’s Carnival season in New Orleans and that means lines are long outside local bakeries and the pace inside is brisk as workers strive to meet customer demand for king cakes — those brightly colored seasonal pastries that have exploded in popularity over the years. “Mardi Gras...
Biden left with few choices as immigration takes center stage in American politics
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Almost immediately after he walked into the Oval Office on his first day as president, Joe Biden began rolling back his predecessor’s immigration policies, which he had assailed throughout the 2020 campaign as harsh and inhumane. A lot has changed in three years. Biden, now sounding increasingly...
Tesla recalling nearly 2.2M vehicles for software update to fix warning lights that are too small
DETROIT — Tesla is recalling nearly all of the vehicles it has sold in the U.S. because some warning lights on the instrument panel are too small. The recall of nearly 2.2 million vehicles announced Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a sign of stepped-up scrutiny of...
