Associated Press stories, Page 556
No. 1 Iga Swiatek loses in Wimbledon’s third round to Yulia Putintseva of KazakhstanVideo
LONDON — After putting a shot into the net, Iga Swiatek muttered to herself. After another point went awry, she placed her hand over her mouth. Generally, she looked as flustered as she ever does on a tennis court. Again, she went from unbeatable on the French Open’s red clay...
To a defiant Biden, the 2024 race is up to the voters, not to Democrats on Capitol Hill
WILMINGTON, Del. — To a defiant President Joe Biden, the 2024 election is up to the public — not the Democrats on Capitol Hill. But the chorus of Democratic voices calling for him to step aside is growing, from donors, strategists, lawmakers and their constituents who say he should bow...
Biden faced a low bar in his first post-debate interview. It’s not certain he cleared it
NEW YORK — With the survival of his candidacy in question, Joe Biden sat down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday for one of the most important interviews of the Democratic president’s decades-long political career. The 22-minute sit-down came a full eight days after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, in which...
Fiery railcars with hazardous material mostly contained after derailment in North Dakota
Enflamed railcars carrying hazardous material were mostly extinguished Saturday, a day after they derailed in a remote area of North Dakota. Officials said Friday no one had been hurt. The threat to those living nearby remained low, according to county emergency management, which reported no air contamination in the area...
Vikings’ Khyree Jackson, 2 former college football players killed in car crash in Maryland
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was killed Saturday morning in a car crash in Maryland, police and the team said. Jackson, 24, was one of three people who died in an overnight three-car crash in Prince George’s County, according to Maryland State Police. The Vikings...
A green flag for clean power: NASCAR unveils its first electric racecar
CHICAGO — Part of the experience of a NASCAR race is hearing the engine roar, the rumble of each car’s approach and the zip when it whizzes past at more than 150 mph. NASCAR unveiled its first electric racecar Saturday in downtown Chicago, but it doesn’t thunder when the grand...
More records expected to shatter as long-running blanket of heat threatens 130 million in U.S.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Roughly 130 million people were under threat Saturday and into next week from a long-running heat wave that already has broken records with dangerously high temperatures — and is expected to shatter more from East Coast to West Coast, forecasters said. Oppressive heat and humidity could team...
As ‘Bachelor’ race issues linger, Jenn Tran, its 1st Asian American lead, is ready for her moment
Jenn Tran can’t stop thinking about being the first Asian American lead in the history of “The Bachelor” franchise — not that she wants to. “I think about it every day, all the time. I think if I pushed it aside, that would be such a dishonor to me in...
Hamas clears the way for a possible cease-fire after dropping key demand, officials say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza — Hamas has given initial approval for a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire deal in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel give an up-front commitment for a complete end to the war, a Hamas and an Egyptian official said Saturday. The apparent compromise by the...
Putin sees no need for nuclear weapons to win in Ukraine. But he’s also keeping his options open
The message to NATO from President Vladimir Putin was simple and stark: Don’t go too far in providing military support for Ukraine, or you’ll risk a conflict with Russia that could quickly turn nuclear. As the war in Ukraine turns slowly in Moscow’s favor, Putin declared he doesn’t need nuclear...
Republicans turn their focus to Harris as talk of replacing Biden on Democratic ticket intensifies
NEW YORK — For years it’s been a Republican scare tactic. A vote to reelect President Joe Biden, the GOP often charges, is really a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s an attack line sometimes tinged with racist and misogynist undertones and often macabre imagery. But after Biden’s dismal...
Biden dismisses age questions in interview as he tries to salvage reelection effort
MADISON, Wis. — President Joe Biden, fighting to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a “bad...
Reformist Pezeshkian wins Iran’s presidential runoff election, besting hard-liner Jalili
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian promised no radical...
Aaron Rai and C.T. Pan share the John Deere Classic leadVideo
SILVIS, Ill. — Aaron Rai of England went from a close call last week in Detroit to another chance at his first PGA Tour victory, playing another bogey-free round of 8-under-par 63 to share the lead with C.T. Pan going into the weekend at the John Deere Classic. Still in...
Rangers activate World Series closer Josh Sborz, put Dane Dunning on IL
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers reliever Josh Sborz, who got the final seven outs in the team’s World Series-clinching game last fall, was activated from the injured list Friday after missing nearly two months because of a right rotator cuff strain. The Rangers brought Sborz back from his second IL...
Air travel is getting worse, passengers tell government
WASHINGTON — Air travel got more miserable last year, if the number of consumer complaints filed with the U.S. government is any measure. The Transportation Department said Friday it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many complaints...
Aaron Boone says Yankees unconcerned about criticism from Aaron Judge’s hitting coach
NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was unconcerned about criticism from Aaron Judge’s personal hitting coach. Richard Schenk posted Thursday on X: “They’ve lost 13 out of 18 while he’s hitting like an MVP. The Yankees offensive player development is terrible.” “People are going to say things,...
Shane van Gisbergen is back in Chicago after his career-altering NASCAR Cup Series win a year agoVideo
CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen prefers the countryside to a big city, so Chicago isn’t exactly his type of place. Except for the Windy City streets. He likes those a lot. Van Gisbergen is back in Chicago this weekend, the scene of his career-altering victory just over a year ago....
Trump denies knowing about Project 2025, his allies’ sweeping plan to transform the government
MIAMI — Donald Trump distanced himself Friday from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former officials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution. “I know...
Red Sox reliever Chris Martin placed on injured list with elbow inflammation
NEW YORK — Boston Red Sox right-hander Chris Martin was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday because of right elbow inflammation, and left-hander Cam Booser was recalled from Triple-A Worcester. Boston made the placement retroactive to Thursday, a day after the 38-year-old Martin pitched one inning against Miami. “We’ll...
France beats Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Euro 2024 quarterfinals to knock out RonaldoVideo
HAMBURG, Germany — France ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to win the title at his last European Championship by beating Portugal, 5-3, in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals Friday. After the game finished 0-0 following extra time, Portugal substitute Joao Felix hit a post with the only miss in...
Multiple injuries reported after fireworks veer into crowd at Utah stadium
PROVO, Utah — Malfunctioning fireworks veered into the stands at a crowded Utah football stadium and struck members of the audience during a Fourth of July celebration, sending up to six people to the hospital, according to authorities and the event organizer. The accident occurred during the opening ceremonies of...
Biden asserts he’s ‘most qualified’ to lead Dems against Trump
MADISON, Wis. — President Joe Biden, fighting to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a “bad...
Reporter settles part of lawsuit over police raid on Kansas newspaper for $235K
TOPEKA, Kan. — A former reporter for a weekly Kansas newspaper has agreed to accept $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit over a police raid on the paper that made a small community the focus of a national debate over press freedoms. The settlement removed the former police...
Shark attacks reported at Texas’ South Padre Island
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — Shark attacks disrupted Fourth of July celebrations Thursday at South Padre Island as two people were taken to the hospital with bites, at least one of them severe, authorities said. Police were called for the attack on the man who was severely bitten about 11...
