Buckingham Palace hits back at claims in a book by Princess Diana's brother
LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace denies a claim by Princess Diana's brother that King Charles III said she would soon be forgotten after her death. In a new book, Charles Spencer recounts arguing with the then-Prince Charles over plans for Prince William and Prince Harry to walk behind Diana's coffin in 1997. Spencer claims Charles said, "rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough." The palace issued a strong statement late Wednesday, suggesting grief can affect judgment and memory. Tensions between the palace and Diana’s family after her death have been dramatized in programs, including “The Crown.” The book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” is set to be published next week.
Paralyzed A's minor leaguer Ryan Lasko leaves hospital more than two months after spinal-cord injury
WEST ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Ryan Lasko, a minor league prospect with the Athletics who was paralyzed in an outfield collision more than two months ago, has been released from an in-patient rehabilitation hospital. He will continue his recovery from home. The 24-year-old Lasko was released exactly two months after arriving at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey. It's about 35 miles from where he attended college at Rutgers and became a second-round draft pick by the A’s in 2023. Staff members at the facility celebrated his departure with a “clap out” farewell ceremony as he exited the building’s main entrance.
The Obamas' family dog Sunny dies, the former president says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obamas’ pet dog Sunny has died. Former President Barack Obama posted about the family's loss on social media Wednesday. Sunny was a 13-year-old Portuguese water dog. The Obamas got her while living in the White House. The former president remembered Sunny as being athletic, full of energy and protective of the family's other dog, Bo. Despite Sunny's breed, she hated getting wet. While many presidents kept dogs as companions, President Donald Trump does not have any pets at the White House. Sunny died Tuesday.
Zuckerberg distances Meta from calls for a coordinated approach on an AI slowdown
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says it's up to each AI company to ensure its technology is safe, distancing himself from calls for a coordinated slowdown in AI development. His comments, posted on social media, appear to respond to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's proposal for a collaborative approach. Researchers have warned about AI's potential threats to humanity, sparking debate among industry leaders. Zuckerberg argues that AI companies are already motivated to develop models safely due to significant liability. He emphasizes that companies should focus on building safe AI models rather than systems that can improve themselves automatically.
Centenarians living in Japan exceed 100,000 for the first time
TOKYO (AP) — The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan has surpassed a record 100,000 this year. The latest figures from Japan's government underscore the country’s rapid aging and population decrease. The Health Ministry statistics released Tuesday show Japan has 107,677 centenarians, up 7,914 from last year. The figures were released ahead of this year’s Sept. 15 Respect the Aged day. Japan’s total population during the 2020 census stood at 126 million, almost 30% of which were 65 or older. Experts estimate there will be a decline to 87 million by 2070 with nearly 40% aged 65 or older.
Texas QB Arch Manning apologizes to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe for laughing about fake video of slap
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas quarterback Arch Manning has apologized for publicly joking about an AI-altered video that depicted Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe in the moments after Texas’ big win over Ohio State. Manning was asked Monday at a news conference if he’d seen any social media posts about the postgame celebration. He mentioned the fake video clip, called it “hilarious” and laughed about it. The comments drew widespread criticism on social media. Manning publicly apologized to Rowe on Tuesday in a statement on Instagram. Rowe posted a note accepting his apology.
Capitals say Alex Ovechkin was asked to film United Russia ad while home this summer
WASHINGTON (AP) — After Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, the Washington Capitals said their long-time captain was asked to participate while back in his home country this summer. Team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov says in a statement to The Associated Press that Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow during the offseason and plans to return there after retiring from his NHL career. Kocharov says Ovechkin is a pillar of the community in Washington and that his and the team's focus is on the coming season and the impact he makes on and off the ice.
A Paris court awards Kim Kardashian 1 euro after her 2016 robbery
SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — A Paris court has awarded Kim Kardashian 1 euro in compensation for an armed robbery she experienced in 2016. The court found eight people guilty last year for their roles in the robbery, which Kardashian described as “the most terrifying experience of my life.” The court also awarded a former hotel receptionist 109,516 euros for trauma suffered during the heist. The hotel received 50,000 euros, and Kardashian’s stylist was awarded 1 euro, an amount she had requested. Because of their ages, the robbers became known in France as “les papys braqueurs,” or the grandpa robbers. Kardashian and her stylist expressed gratitude to the French justice system for recognizing the impact of the crime.
American incomes finally top pre-pandemic levels, fighting against inflation all the way
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. household income finally topped pre-pandemic levels last year, a stark sign of how the past five years of rising prices have limited Americans’ earnings and purchasing power. The figures show that even after taking into account higher prices, the typical household is now earning more than it did before the pandemic. But it’s a small gain over a six-year period, which helps explain the generally sour mood Americans have had about the economy.
Inquiry blasts hospital for failure to protect babies after nurse Lucy Letby convicted of 7 murders
LONDON (AP) — An English judge has issued a scathing report blaming dysfunctional management for failing to protect babies at the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven infants. The inquiry found the Countess of Chester Hospital could have saved some newborns if they had acted sooner. Justice Kathryn Thirlwall said errors were made by nurses, doctors, and managers, with a complete failure to invoke safeguarding procedures. Letby is serving a life sentence but maintains her innocence. Thirlwall's inquiry focused on institutional failures and how staff and management responded to the crisis. The report was issued on Tuesday.
