How a warrant for Putin puts new spin on Xi visit to Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week highlighted China’s aspirations for a greater role on the world stage. But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after Friday’s announcement of the trip, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, taking at least some wind out of the sails of China’s big reveal. The flurry of developments came as the Biden administration watches warily Beijing’s moves to assert itself more forcefully in international affairs.
Officials are preparing security in case of Trump indictment
NEW YORK (AP) — Law enforcement officials in New York are making security preparations for the possibility that Donald Trump could be indicted in the coming weeks by a Manhattan grand jury and appear in a courtroom in an investigation examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president. That's according to four law enforcement officials who spoke Friday to The Associated Press. There has been no public announcement of any timeframe for the grand jury’s secret work. The officials say authorities are just preparing in case of an indictment, so they are considering security, planning and the practicalities of a potential court appearance. Trump has cast the investigation as a political “witch hunt.”
Fairleigh Dickinson stuns No. 1 seed Purdue in March Madness
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson became the second No. 16 seed in history to win an NCAA Tournament game, stunning top-seeded Purdue 63-58 behind 19 points from Sean Moore and a relentless, hustling defense. The shortest team in the tourney, the Knights showed no fear in swarming 7-foot-4 All-America center Zach Edey from the start. FDU’s players were quicker and more composed than the Big Ten champion Boilermakers. Five years ago, UMBC showed the way for the little guys by overwhelming Virginia in the first 16-over-1 victory after numerous close calls over the years. Still, No. 16s had a 1-150 record against No. 1s and were 1-151 overall before FDU’s shocker.
Wyoming governor signs measure prohibiting abortion pills
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed a bill prohibiting medication abortions in the state and also allowed a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature. In a statement, Gordon expresses concern that the latter law would result in a lawsuit that will “delay any resolution to the constitutionality of the abortion ban in Wyoming.” He notes that earlier in the day, plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit filed a challenge to the new law in the event he did not issue a veto.
Judge orders more Trump lawyer testimony in Mar-a-Lago probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge has ruled in a sealed order that federal prosecutors investigating the potential mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate will be able to again question a Trump lawyer before a grand jury. The order will require M. Evan Corcoran to answer additional questions as prosecutors pursue their investigation into classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago as well as potential efforts to obstruct that probe. The order was described by a person familiar with it, who was not authorized to discuss a sealed proceeding and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Lance Reddick, 'The Wire' and 'John Wick' star, dies at 60
NEW YORK (AP) — Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” "Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, has died. He was 60. Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall taciturn and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series “The Wire,” where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department. He earned a SAG Award nomination in 2021 as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film “One Night in Miami.”
New COVID origins data point to raccoon dogs in China market
BEIJING (AP) — The mystery to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic now has some new clues. International scientists have found raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus in previously unavailable genetic data. It came from samples collected in early 2020 at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, shortly after the first human cases were detected in the city. It could mean that the pandemic originated from animals, not one of the labs near the market. But their analysis has not been reviewed for publication and other scientists say how the virus began sickening people remains to be determined.
Mother: Irvo Otieno was 'brilliant and creative and bright'
The mother of a Black man who died in police custody at a Virginia mental hospital says her son was “brilliant, creative and bright.” Caroline Ouko said Thursday that Irvo Otieno had realized his passion: making hip-hop. He could write a song in less than five minutes. And he was streaming his music under the moniker “Young Vo.” He also was working toward starting his own record label. Otieno died March 6 at Central State Hospital south of Richmond. Seven sheriff's deputies and three hospital employees were charged Thursday with second-degree murder.
Former Air Force officer gets prison term for Capitol attack
WASHINGTON (AP) — A retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear and carried zip-tie handcuffs into the Senate gallery has been sentenced to two years in prison. U.S. District Judge John Bates also sentenced Larry Brock on Friday to two years of supervised release after prison and 100 hours of community service. Brock declined to speak in court before the judge imposed his sentence. Brock joined other rioters on the Senate floor only minutes after then-Vice President Mike Pence, senators and their staff evacuated the chamber to escape the mob attacking the building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Lack of hugs caused US fentanyl crisis, Mexico's leader says
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's president has said that U.S. families are to blame for the fentanyl overdose crisis because they don't hug their kids enough. The comment by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador caps a week of provocative statements from him about the crisis caused by the synthetic opioid. Fentanyl has been blamed for about 70,000 deaths per year in the United States. López Obrador said family values have broken down in the United States, because parents don't let their children live at home long enough. He has also denied that Mexico produces fentanyl. On Friday, the Mexican president said the problem was caused by “a lack of hugs, of embraces.”
