| Libyan forces claim port in Islamic State stronghold of Sirte Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:02 PM PDT  Forces aligned with Libya's unity government said on Friday they had taken control of the port of Sirte, making further gains in Islamic State's North African stronghold. Brigades largely composed of fighters from Misrata advanced this week to the perimeter of Sirte's city center, after launching a counter attack against Islamic State last month and driving the militant group back along the coastal road between the two cities. The brigades are part of an operation backed by Libya's U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), which arrived in Tripoli in March and has been gradually working to establish its authority.
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| U.S, Iraqi officials can't confirm report Islamic State leader wounded Posted: 10 Jun 2016 01:22 PM PDT  BAGHDAD/FALLUJA (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi officials said on Friday they could not confirm a report by an Iraqi TV channel that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been wounded in an air strike in northern Iraq. A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the radical Islamist militants, Colonel Chris Garver, said in an email that he had seen the reports but had "nothing to confirm this at this time". Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the coalition, told a daily briefing at the White House in Washington that there was no reason to believe that Baghdadi was not alive "even though we haven't heard of him since late last year." "We presume that he's still alive," he added.
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| U.N. says Israeli move on Palestinian permits may be collective punishment Posted: 10 Jun 2016 01:14 PM PDT  By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Israel's cancellation of entry permits for Palestinians following a deadly attack in Tel Aviv may amount to collective punishment, which is banned under international law, the United Nations' top human rights official said on Friday. Israel responded that its actions were "legitimate steps in order to defend its citizens from terrorists". The Israeli military on Thursday revoked permits for 83,000 Palestinians to visit Israel and said it would send hundreds more troops to the occupied West Bank a day after a Palestinian gun attack that killed four Israelis in Tel Aviv.
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| Muhammad Ali feted by the famous and fans in final farewell Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:22 PM PDT  By Nick Carey and Steve Bittenbender LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - Religious and political leaders joined celebrities, sports stars and tens of thousands of ordinary people on Friday in bidding farewell to Muhammad Ali, the boxing champion who jolted America with his showmanship and won worldwide admiration as a man of conviction. Ali, a once-controversial convert to Islam who lost three prime years of his boxing career for refusing U.S. military service during the Vietnam War, died a week ago at age 74 as one of the most respected men in the United States. "What does it say of a man, any man, that he can go from being viewed as one of his country's most polarizing figures to arguably its most beloved?" sportscaster Bryant Gumbel told an interfaith memorial service with 15,000 people in a sports arena in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
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| Peru's Fujimori vows to lead opposition in sour concession Posted: 10 Jun 2016 12:56 PM PDT  Keiko Fujimori conceded defeat to centrist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in Peru's tightest presidential election in decades, but said on Friday that her populist party's solid majority in Congress would wage a "watchful" opposition during his government. Fujimori, the daughter of the country's imprisoned ex-president, said that former investment banker Kuczynski had only won the run-off race with the support of "promoters of hate." "In the second-round our opponent was joined by the political power of the outgoing government, economic powers and media power," Fujimori said in her first press conference five days after Sunday's election.
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| Russia: We will respond to entry of U.S. naval vessel into Black Sea Posted: 10 Jun 2016 01:43 AM PDT  The Russian Foreign ministry said Moscow would respond to a U.S. naval ship's entry into the Black Sea with unspecified measures, saying it and other deployments were designed to ratchet up tensions ahead of a NATO summit, the RIA news agency reported. Russian state media reported that the USS Porter, a U.S. naval destroyer, entered the Black Sea a few days ago on a routine deployment, a move it said raised hackles in Moscow because it had recently been fitted with a new missile system. U.S. Navy officials told reporters on Wednesday the U.S. military would also have two aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean this month ahead of a July NATO summit in Warsaw as Washington sought to balance Russian military activities.
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| 'Ali! Ali!': The Greatest is laid to rest in his hometown Posted: 10 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Greatest was laid to rest in his hometown Friday after an all-day send-off that was a lot like Muhammad Ali himself — serious at times, but also exuberant, bracingly political, and funny.
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| Gordie Howe, the gritty and mighty 'Mr. Hockey,' dies at 88 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:53 PM PDT  DETROIT (AP) — Gordie Howe worked all his remarkable life to earn the respect and awe that came with being "Mr. Hockey."
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| France wins in peaceful Paris, but more trouble in Marseille Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:46 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — France made a perfect start to the European Championship on Friday, with its national team beating Romania and its security forces ensuring that everyone stayed safe at the Stade de France.
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| Munoz earns 1st career IndyCar pole at Texas, Dixon is 2nd Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:11 PM PDT  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Carlos Munoz qualified second for the Indianapolis 500 in his IndyCar Series debut. Three years later, he finally has his first pole.
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| France's poor defense already an open secret at Euro 2016 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 04:04 PM PDT  SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — It's not a case of whether France's defense will get found out later on in the European Championship against better sides. It's already an open secret.
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| US likely to advance in Copa America with tie vs Paraguay Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:55 PM PDT  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The United States almost certainly needs merely a tie against Paraguay on Saturday to reach the Copa America quarterfinals.
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| Tardy, Vaughn help US pull even in Curtis Cup Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:48 PM PDT DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) — Bailey Tardy and Monica Vaughn teamed to win two matches Friday to help the United States tie Britain and Ireland 3-3 after the first day of the Curtis Cup. |
| France enjoys 'smooth' start to anxious Euro 2016 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:45 PM PDT  French President Francois Hollande hailed a smooth start to Euro 2016 on Friday as the transport strikes failed to disrupt a winning start for the anxious host nation. More than 80,000 fans endured stringent security to attend the opening match between France and Romania at the Stade de France, which was targeted by suicide bombers in the jihadist attacks across Paris on November 13.
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| Emotional farewell to Muhammad Ali in Louisville Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:40 PM PDT  Early Friday, thousands lined the streets of Louisville -- the largest city in the southern state of Kentucky where Ali was born and launched his career -- to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying Ali's remains, before a private family burial. Then former president Clinton, comedian Billy Crystal, Ali's wife Lonnie and others addressed mourners gathered at a Louisville arena -- remembrances that lauded his athletic gifts, his passionate civil rights activism and his quick wit.
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| Wiggins won't play as Canada seek Olympic basketball berth Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:34 PM PDT  Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Andrew Wiggins has opted out of Team Canada duty as the country makes a last-gasp bid to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph headlines the preliminary squad released on Friday by Basketball Canada for the July 5-10 qualifying tournament in the Philippines. "After much thought, consideration and speaking with my family, I will not be participating in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament with the Canadian Men's National Team in July," Wiggins said in a statement.
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| Prominent British entrepreneur Dyson backs exit from EU Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:29 PM PDT Billionaire entrepreneur James Dyson came out on Friday in favor of Britain leaving the European Union, a significant endorsement for the "Leave" camp less than two weeks before a referendum. A British exit, or "Brexit", would have far-reaching implications for politics and the economy in Britain and far beyond. The "Remain" campaign has received the backing of many well-known business leaders, big companies and banks as well as institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. |
| Dixon, Kanaan could use another good IndyCar Texas two-step Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:17 PM PDT  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan had a 1-2 finish a year ago at the high-banked Texas oval, and Dixon went on to win his fourth IndyCar Series title.
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| Daimler to unveil long-distance electric car in October Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:17 PM PDT  By Ilona Wissenbach FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Daimler will lift the curtain on its much-anticipated long-distance electric car at the Paris Motor Show in October, as the automaker gears up to compete with Tesla Motors Inc's Model X sport-utility vehicle (SUV). The company will display a prototype of an electric-powered Mercedes car with a 500-kilometre (310 miles) range, Chief Development Officer Thomas Weber said this week in Stuttgart at an event for journalists. Daimler and European rivals are stepping up investments in electric vehicles in order to meet new EU pollution targets and catch up with U.S. battery-car specialist Tesla.
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| Libyan troops find bodies of handcuffed IS fighter Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:16 PM PDT BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Libya's pro-government forces fighting to dislodge the Islamic State group from its key bastion of Sirte seized the city port on Friday as a Libyan spokesman said the group's leaders have fled the city to the open desert south of Sirte. |
| Man charged in Wyoming crash that killed 3 German bikers Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:11 PM PDT  CODY, Wyo. (AP) — A 61-year-old Oregon man whose pickup truck slammed into a group of motorcyclists from Germany who were heading to Yellowstone National Park in northern Wyoming, killing three, was charged with misdemeanor homicide by vehicle on Friday.
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| 4-time Canadian GP winner Hamilton fastest in practice Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:10 PM PDT  MONTREAL (AP) — Ever since his first career victory in Montreal as a Formula One rookie in 2007, Lewis Hamilton has taken a liking to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
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| Sable Mining CEO says Liberia indictment 'politically motivated' Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:09 PM PDT Sable Mining Chief Executive Officer Andrew Groves said on Friday that his indictment this week by a grand jury in Liberia in relation to a corruption investigation was politically motivated. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last month ordered an inquiry into London AIM-listed Sable's unsuccessful attempt to acquire an iron ore concession in northern Liberia after the watchdog group Global Witness made accusations of wrong-doing. "Andrew Groves was surprised to learn from media reports that a grand jury in Liberia appears to have indicted him on unspecified charges," Groves's public relations firm said, adding he had not been given a chance to respond to the charges. |
| Jobe leads Senior Players, Langer stroke back Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:07 PM PDT FLOURTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Two-time defending champion Bernhard Langer pulled within a stroke of leader Brandt Jobe on Friday in the Constellation Senior Players Championship. |
| Jack Bausman, former AP bureau chief in Moscow, dies at 92 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:04 PM PDT  STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jack Bausman, a Cold War-era correspondent and former Moscow bureau chief for The Associated Press, has died, his daughter said Friday. He was 92.
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| US to cut water monitoring because of Puerto Rico debt Posted: 10 Jun 2016 03:04 PM PDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey said Friday it can no longer monitor water resources in Puerto Rico because the territory's government owes it $2 million amid a worsening economic crisis. |
| Shootout forces Brazilian archbishop to seek shelter Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:49 PM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Roman Catholic archbishop of Rio de Janeiro said he had to seek shelter behind his car on Friday during a gunbattle between police and armed men near one of the city's shantytowns. |
| Hamilton fastest in Montreal as rivals close in Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:44 PM PDT  A revitalised Lewis Hamilton kept Mercedes on top in Friday practice for this weekendâ s Canadian Grand Prix with a dominant display as rival teams Ferrari and Red Bull closed in on the championship pace-setters. The defending three-time champion, who won for the first time in seven months at the Monaco Grand Prix to trim team-mate Nico Rosbergâ s championship lead to 24 points, was at his confident best at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Hamilton clocked a best lap of one minute and 14.212 seconds to outpace nearest rival four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, in a Ferrari powered by an updated engine, by 0.257 seconds.
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| The Latest: Man charged in Wyoming crash that killed 3 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:43 PM PDT CODY, Wyo. (AP) — The Latest on the wreck that killed three motorcyclists in northern Wyoming (all times local): |
| 3-time defending champ Park likely to miss Women's PGA cut Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:39 PM PDT  SAMMAMISH, Wash. (AP) — Three-time defending champion Inbee Park was in position to miss the cut Friday in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
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| Column: On Euros' opening night, a new chapter for France Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:39 PM PDT  SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Ultimately, the game of football or even the result, 2-1 for France against Romania, didn't matter as much as the simple fact that people came for it in their tens of thousands. From across France and beyond, packed tight into a stadium that suicide bombers recently targeted.
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| The Latest: Billy Crystal jokes lighten mood at Ali memorial Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:38 PM PDT  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Latest on the memorial service for Muhammad Ali (all times local):
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| The Latest: Ferguson working with Moyes at Euro 2016 Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:33 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — The Latest from soccer's European Championship (all times local):
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| Cricket's Cook among British sportspeople in Queen's honors Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:31 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — England cricket captain Alastair Cook led British sportsmen and women in the Queen's birthday honors list on Friday.
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| 'Leave' 10 points ahead in ORB poll on Britain's EU referendum Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:31 PM PDT  The "Leave" camp was 10 points ahead of "Remain" with less than two weeks to go before Britain's referendum on whether to stay in the European Union, according to a poll by ORB for The Independent newspaper published on Friday. It was the biggest lead enjoyed by those wanting Britain to quit the 28-member bloc since the poll series started a year ago, The Independent said. Britons will vote on June 23 on whether to leave the world's largest free trading area, a decision with far-reaching implications for politics, the economy, trade, defense and migration in Britain and the rest of the EU.
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| Venezuela lets Maduro recall advance, with threats Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:30 PM PDT  Facing mounting pressure from food shortages, looting and increasingly violent protests, Venezuelan authorities on Friday announced the next stage for a recall referendum against embattled President Nicolas Maduro. The decision by the National Electoral Board (CNE) to let the lengthy recall process move ahead also came with a warning from the board's chief, Tibisay Lucena, who told Maduro's opponents that any acts of violence would immediately halt the proceedings. After repeated opposition protests, Lucena finally announced the CNE would take fingerprint scans from June 20 to 24 to confirm the identity of people who signed the opposition's referendum petition, submitted on May 2 with 1.8 million signatures.
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| US stocks give up recent gains as oil prices sink Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:19 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks skidded Friday in a wave of selling that wiped out most of the market's gains from earlier this week. A drop in oil prices took energy companies sharply lower. Investors were also troubled by a poll showing Britain may be more likely to leave the European Union.
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| A glance at Peru's presidential election Posted: 10 Jun 2016 02:13 PM PDT  LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has eked out a victory in Peru's closest presidential election since 1962, defeating the daughter of imprisoned ex-President Alberto Fujimori. With all votes counted, electoral authorities said Kuczynski won 50.1 percent compared to Keiko Fujimori's 49.9 percent.
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