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Biden angrily pushes back at special counsel’s report that questioned his memory, handling of docs

The Associated Press WASHINGTON — A special counsel report released Thursday found evidence that President Joe Biden willfully retained and shared highly classified information when he was a private citizen, including about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, but concluded that criminal charges were not warranted. The report from special counsel Robert Hur resolves a criminal investigation that had shadowed Biden’s presidency for the last year. But its bitingly critical assessment of his handling of sensitive government records and unflattering characterizations of his ...

Lakers unveil statue honoring late Bryant

The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of Kobe Bryant on Thursday, honoring their late superstar with a 19-foot bronze likeness outside their downtown arena. The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant in his white No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, said during the dedication ceremony that the statue is the first of three that will be created to honor the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in Lakers ...

Jackson is near-unanimous for 2nd AP NFL MVP award

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Accepting the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award in person was bittersweet for Lamar Jackson. Jackson was a near-unanimous choice for his second MVP award announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night but the quarterback’s Baltimore Ravens fell one win short of playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl. “I’d rather send in a video to win the award,” Jackson said. “To be here for the award, it’s an honor but I’d rather be in the Super Bowl accepting this award.” The All-Pro QB received 49 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of ...

Monumental prizes: Medals for Paris Olympics embedded with pieces of Eiffel Tower

The Associated Press PARIS — An Olympic medal inlaid with a piece of the Eiffel Tower. How’s that for a monumental prize? A hexagonal, polished chunk of iron taken from the iconic landmark is being embedded in each gold, silver and bronze medal that will be hung around athletes’ necks at the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Games and Paralympics that follow. Games organizers revealed their revolutionary design on Thursday. Simone Biles has seven medals from her two previous Olympics and LeBron James has two golds and one bronze from London, Beijing and Athens. But neither of those ...

MAGA Attacks America’s Sweetheart. Why Not Football, Too?

There’s always some pre-game Superbowl story. This year the MAGA Republicans have provided it. And they’ve gone way beyond their lunatic call of duty by accusing America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift, of diabolical cunning for urging her fans to vote. And for extra measure, they are attacking the National League Football, as well, for something to do with the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce, being her guy. The campaign on the right is accusing Swift of underhanded conduct for supporting Joe Biden and Biden for letting her. Ah, so Biden is politicking? Guilty as ...

Blinken says Hamas-Israel deal is still possible though sides remain far apart

TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement between Israel and Hamas was still possible, despite the two sides being far apart on the central terms for a deal. Blinken was in the region trying to broker an arrangement that could bring some respite in Israel’s war against Hamas, which is entering its fifth month after killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, displacing much of the territory’s population and sparking a humanitarian catastrophe. Those diplomatic efforts were rattled earlier in the day when ...