Israel strikes an Iranian military base, but damage appears limited
The Israeli military struck Iran early Friday in retaliation for an aerial attack on Israel last weekend, according to two Israeli and three Iranian officials, but the strike appeared to be limited in scope and the reaction from both Israel and Iran was muted.
Florida man who lit himself on fire outside Trump trial courthouse touted conspiracy theories
NEW YORK — A Florida man set himself on fire in a city park across from Manhattan Criminal Court where former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial was being held Friday to draw attention to an array of conspiracy theories including his belief that Ivy League colleges were “fronts for the mob,” authorities said.
Final members of Trump jury chosen as trial races ahead
NEW YORK — The final jurors for Donald Trump’s criminal trial were selected Friday, with lawyers preparing to offer opening statements Monday in a landmark proceeding that was suddenly overshadowed at midday by the spectacle of a man setting himself aflame outside the courthouse.
Bitcoin’s latest ‘halving’ has arrived. Here’s what you need to know
NEW YORK — The “miners” who chisel bitcoins out of complex mathematics are taking a 50% pay cut — effectively reducing new production of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, again.
Ukraine, Israel aid advances in rare House vote as Democrats help Republicans push it forward
WASHINGTON — With rare bipartisan momentum, the House pushed ahead Friday on a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian support as a robust coalition of lawmakers helped it clear a procedural hurdle to reach final votes this weekend. Friday’s vote produced a seldom-seen outcome in the typically hyper-partisan House, with Democrats helping Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan advance overwhelmingly 316-94. Final House approval could come this weekend, when the package would be sent to the Senate.
USC cancels graduation keynote by filmmaker amid controversy over decision to drop student’s speech
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of Southern California further shook up its commencement plans Friday, announcing the cancelation of a keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu just days after making the controversial choice to disallow the student valedictorian from speaking.
Russia pummels exhausted Ukrainian forces with smaller attacks ahead of a springtime advance
Russian troops are ramping up pressure on exhausted Ukrainian forces to prepare to seize more land this spring and summer as muddy fields dry out and allow tanks, armored vehicles and other heavy equipment to roll to key positions across the countryside.
Police responded to alarm around time of $30 million LA heist, but thieves were undetected
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department responded to three separate alarms at GardaWorld’s Sylmar cash storage facility on the day that thieves stole as much $30 million from its vault during the biggest heist in the city’s history.
BNSF Railway says it didn’t know about asbestos that’s killed hundreds in Montana town
HELENA, Mont. — BNSF Railway attorneys told a Montana jury Friday that the railroad should not be held liable for the lung cancer deaths of two former residents of an asbestos-contaminated Montana town, one of the deadliest sites in the federal Superfund pollution program.
Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ star and Grammy winning Christian music singer, dies at 47
Mandisa, the Christian music singer who competed on “American Idol” and then pursued a Grammy Award-winning career, has died. She was 47.
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out.
Kennedy clan endorses Biden, in a show of force against RFK Jr.
WASHINGTON — A broad coalition of the Kennedy family endorsed President Joe Biden on Thursday at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, pointedly rejecting one of their own in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate who many Democrats believe poses a significant threat to Biden’s reelection chances.
Biden seeking to appeal to key constituencies with targeted policies
WASHINGTON — Last week, it was forgiving student loans. This week, it was calling for tariffs on Chinese steel. Soon, President Joe Biden is expected to protect federal land in the Alaskan wilderness.
In a Manhattan court, a jury is picked to judge a president
NEW YORK — At 4:34 p.m. Thursday, 12 citizens were selected to decide the guilt or innocence of a former president for the first time in American history, a moment that could shape the nation’s political and legal landscapes for generations to come.
NASA Langley is testing solar sail technology that could reduce costs of space missions
A sunlight-propelled satellite floating though space on huge metallic sails sounds like an idea straight from science fiction.
Meta’s newest AI model beats some peers. But its amped-up AI agents are confusing Facebook users
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Facebook parent Meta Platforms unveiled a new set of artificial intelligence systems Thursday that are powering what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls “the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.”
House leaders toil to advance Ukraine and Israel aid. But threats to oust speaker grow
WASHINGTON — House congressional leaders were toiling Thursday on a delicate, bipartisan push toward weekend votes to approve a $95 billion package of foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as several other national security policies at a critical moment at home and abroad.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Dickie Betts, who died Thursday at age 80, really was born a ramblin’ man.
NYC squatters got engaged, spent big after stuffing slay victim in duffel bag, prosecutors say
NEW YORK — The young squatter couple accused of beating a Manhattan woman to death and stuffing her body in a duffel bag went on a wild shopping spree, got engaged while on the lam and even bought a diamond ring with the victim’s credit card to seal the deal, authorities said Thursday.
US vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine
UNITED NATIONS — The United States vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent.
