Ingested Articles

Butler calls struggling Heat 'soft,' urges 'bully ball'

The Miami Heat are losing, and their highest-paid player isn’t happy. Jimmy Butler labeled the reigning Eastern Conference champions as “soft” after a loss in Minnesota on Friday night, Miami’s third straight defeat and one that dropped the Heat to 28-28 with 16 games left in the regular season. It was Miami’s 10th loss in its last 16 games. Says Butler: “It’s not frustrating because we do it so often. It’s almost like it’s expected.”

New conservative group would save 'Anglo-Saxon' traditions

Hard-right House Republicans are discussing forming an America First Caucus. One document obtained by The Associated Press describes its goals as championing “uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.” It also warns that mass immigration is putting the “unique identity” of the U.S. at risk. The caucus document was first reported by Punchbowl News, a news outlet that covers Capitol Hill. The AP could not independently confirm the organization’s origins or current status, but Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said he was joining and indicated that Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was behind it. 

Italy's Salvini to stand trial for 2019 migrant standoff

A judge in Sicily has ordered former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to stand trial for having refused to let a Spanish migrant rescue ship dock in an Italian port. Salvini is accused of kidnapping for having kept the migrants at sea off the coast of Lampedusa for days in August 2019. The judge set the trial date for Sept. 15. Salvini, who is the leader of the right-wing League party, was on hand for the preliminary hearing Saturday in the bunker courtroom of the Palermo tribunal. He tweeted that he was certain he did the right thing under Italian law, “defending the security and dignity of Italy” by refusing entry to the Open Arms rescue ship. 

Zimbabwe frees some inmates to reduce COVID-19 risk in jails

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe has begun releasing about 3,000 prisoners under a presidential amnesty aimed at easing congestion to reduce the threat of COVID-19 in the country’s overcrowded jails. About 400 prisoners were released from Chikurubi prison and other…

Pressure mounts for Merkel's bloc to end its power struggle

BERLIN (AP) — Pressure mounted Saturday on the two contenders hoping to lead German Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right bloc into September's national election to end their power struggle and agree which of them will run to succeed her. Armin Laschet,…

Lawyers: DOJ defense in Trump defamation suit is 'dangerous'

Lawyers for a woman who is suing former President Donald Trump say the U.S. Justice Department made a “wrong and dangerous” argument in seeking to defend him. E. Jean Carroll's lawyers wrote that in court papers filed late Friday. The Justice Department has been trying to make the United States, not Trump personally, the defendant in Carroll’s defamation lawsuit. She says he defamed her in denying her allegation that he raped her in the 1990s.  The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done. 

Clammers digging through pandemic, but shellfish are fewer

More New Englanders have dug in the tidal mudflats during the last year, but they’re finding fewer clams. The coronavirus pandemic has inspired more people in the Northeastern states to dig for the soft-shell clams, often called “steamers." They have been used to make chowder and fried clams for generations. But in the largest clam producing state of Maine, fishermen produced their lowest haul in more than 90 years at a little more than 1.3 million pounds. Clammers are contending with warming oceans and clam-eating predators.

Star British choreographer Liam Scarlett dies at 35

LONDON (AP) — Liam Scarlett, a star British choreographer whose career was clouded by abuse allegations, has died. He was 35. Scarlett’s family said Saturday that “it is with great sadness that we announce the tragic, untimely death of our…

Cuomo retreats from open news briefings that made him a star

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lately shied away from coming face to face with reporters as he faces sexual harassment allegations. The Democratic governor gained national attention last spring for televised news briefings at which he answered barrages of questions from journalists. But the Democrat hasn’t had an in-person news conference since December. That's when he switched to interacting with the media only via telephone and Zoom conference calls. The governor’s sudden refusal to allow reporters to freely question him has rankled media outlets. The governor says it is a needed pandemic safety precaution.

SolarWinds hacking campaign puts Microsoft in hot seat

The sprawling, monthslong hacking campaign came to be known as SolarWinds for the company whose software update Russian intelligence agents stealthily seeded with malware to penetrate  government and private networks. Yet it was Microsoft whose code the cyber spies persistently abused in the campaign’s second stage as they rifled through emails and vital files of high-value targets and hopped undetected among victim networks. And that has put the world's third-most valuable company in the hot seat. Lawmakers are insisting that Microsoft swiftly upgrade security to what they believe it should have provided in the first place, and do it without fleecing taxpayers. 

Iran names suspect in Natanz attack, says he fled country

Iran state television has named a suspect in the attack that damaged centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear site and says he fled the country. The report Saturday named the suspect as 43-year-old Reza Karimi. It showed a passport-style photograph of a man it identified as Karimi. The attack Sunday, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, has inflamed a shadow war between the two nations. Iran has begun enriching a small amount of uranium up to 60% purity — its highest level ever — in response amid talks in Vienna aimed at saving its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. 

American, 2 Russians return to Earth from space station

MOSCOW (AP) — An American astronaut and two Russians have returned to Earth after six months aboard the International Space Station. A Soyuz space capsule carrying NASA’s Kate Rubins and Russians Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov landed at 0455 GMT…

Riot declared after windows smashed in Portland protests

Police in Portland, Oregon, declared a riot on Friday night after authorities said protesters smashed windows and burglarized businesses. Demonstrations had started earlier in the day in a park after police fatally shot a man while responding to reports of a person with a gun. Deputy Portland Police Chief Chris Davis earlier Friday said that police shot and killed a white man in his 30s. The man killed was not identified, but a witness said he appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Authorities say the investigation into the shooting was hampered by a crowd that gathered at the scene and pulled down police tape designed to keep people away. 

LEADING OFF: Mets eye clear weather at last, Cubs HBP woes

Jacob deGrom and the Mets hope to finally play some baseball. New York had four games in six days either postponed or suspended due to weather, including a snow out Friday night for the opener of their series at Colorado. The club has had seven postponements, including all three games of its opening series against Washington, which was called off due to the Nationals’ COVID-19 outbreak. Saturday’s forecast in Denver looks chilly but clear for a doubleheader. Also, the Cubs are growing frustrated as they lead the majors in hit by pitches for a second straight year.

Order of Service for the funeral of Prince Philip

LONDON (AP) — This is the Order of Service for the funeral of Prince Philip on Saturday: ORDER OF SERVICE All stand. The Coffin is removed from the Land Rover and is carried to the West Steps where it rests…

Seager's homer in 12th sends Dodgers to 11-6 win over Padres

Corey Seager hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer on Tim Hill’s first pitch of the 12th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 11-6 in a tense, entertaining first matchup this season between NL West rivals who have visions of deep playoff runs. The teams met for the first time since the Dodgers swept the Padres in their Division Series last year en route to winning the World Series. Seager homered to center, his second, with Mookie Betts on second base after making the last out of the 11th. The Dodgers added three more runs in the inning. 

List of mourners attending the funeral of Prince Philip

LONDON (AP) — Here is the full list of mourners who will attend the funeral of Prince Philip on Saturday at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle: 1. Queen Elizabeth II 2. Prince Charles, eldest child of the queen and Prince…

LEADING OFF: Mets eye clear weather at last, Cubs HBP woes

Jacob deGrom and the Mets hope to finally play some baseball. New York had four games in six days either postponed or suspended due to weather, including a snow out Friday night for the opener of their series at Colorado. The club has had seven postponements, including all three games of its opening series against Washington, which was called off due to the Nationals’ COVID-19 outbreak. Saturday’s forecast in Denver looks chilly but clear for a doubleheader. Also, the Cubs are growing frustrated as they lead the majors in hit by pitches for a second straight year.

Highlights: An interview with China's vice foreign minister

BEIJING (AP) — China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng spoke with The Associated Press on a range of issues from U.S.-China relations to human rights. Below are highlights from Friday's interview: US-CHINA RELATIONS Le took on President Joe Biden's strategy…

EXPLAINER: What Chicago boy's death says about foot pursuits

A grim video of a Chicago police officer fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy puts a spotlight on the policies that govern foot chases. The video shows a 19-second chase that ended with the officer firing one bullet into the chest of Adam Toledo. It demonstrates the dangers of such pursuits and raises questions of what, if anything, can be done to prevent such deadly encounters. The Chicago Police Department does not have a formal foot pursuit policy but says it is drafting one. Mayor Lori Lightfoot demand a policy that would protect officers, suspects and bystanders.

Gaetz friend was lightning rod for controversy in Florida

Even before his arrest, a local Florida official, who is friends with U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, was a lightning rod for controversy. Former local tax collector Joel Greenberg has been charged with trafficking a minor, stalking a political opponent, producing fake IDs, identity theft, embezzlement and bribery. But it's his friendship with Gaetz that is attracting the most attention now as federal investigators have launched a sex trafficking probe into the Republican congressman from the Florida Panhandle. Two people familiar with the matter tell The Associated Press that the scrutiny of Gaetz stemmed from the Justice Department’s probe into Greenberg.

Padres activate Tatis ahead of big series against Dodgers

San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was activated from the 10-day injured list in time for the opener of a highly anticipated series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Tatis had been out since suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder while taking a violent swing on April 6. Tatis was in the starting lineup and batting second for the Padres, whose first playoff run in 14 seasons ended when they were swept by the Dodgers in the NL Division Series in October. 

Dodgers star Bellinger has hairline fracture in left leg

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says center fielder Cody Bellinger has a hairline fracture in his left fibula. Roberts disclosed the news before the defending World Series champions opened a highly anticipated three-game series against the Padres. Roberts said Bellinger had a scan Thursday that showed the hairline fracture. The manager has no timetable for his return. Bellinger was injured when he was spiked on a close play at first base at Oakland on April 5.