Host Jalen Brunson brings the Knicks to premiere of 'SNL,' with many nods to team's NBA title run
Jalen Brunson brought his NBA champion teammates to "Saturday Night Live" for the show's 52nd season premiere. The New York star and reigning NBA Finals MVP hosted the episode, with Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, O.G. Anunoby, and Josh Hart in the audience. Brunson joked about not singing, Stephen A. Smith owing him an apology, and Madison Square Garden being where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married. His teammates joined in the fun, asking humorous questions during the monologue. Brunson is the first active NBA player to host "SNL" since LeBron James in 2007.
Bodies of 6 people, including 4 Americans, recovered from collapsed building in Athens
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Rescuers have recovered six bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Athens' Plaka district, near the Acropolis. Media reported four of the victims were Americans. The blast on Friday morning was believed to have been caused by a massive gas leak, according to Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. Neighboring buildings were also damaged and evacuated. The fire department said the search involved 30 firefighters and three dogs. Video footage showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by debris. An investigation into the blast is underway.
America In Focus: Money pressures climb as mortgage rate tops 7%, bond yields rise
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week above 7% for the first time since January 2025, the latest affordability setback for prospective homebuyers following a five-week run of rate increases. The weekly average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate home loan rose to 7.03% from 6.95% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.30%. Meanwhile, the Energy Department said Thursday that it will spend almost $2 billion to try to squeeze more electricity out of the nation’s aging and stressed power grid, as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up efforts to avoid blackouts amid skyrocketing energy demand spurred by artificial intelligence.
It's officially Dolly Parton Day, with parades, pink lights and book drives
Communities worldwide are dedicating Friday to honoring Dolly Parton. The day falls on Sept. 25, a wink at her hit song “9 to 5.” Parton, who died of cancer last month at age 80, left a legacy as a singer-songwriter, actor, philanthropist and entrepreneur. In the U.S., many states are establishing Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, highlighting her career and commitment to improving literacy. People can celebrate by donating to her Imagination Library or dressing in her signature style. Parton hoped her songs would have a lasting impact.
Cheetah cubs at Prague Zoo are doing well after a period of strong storms and their mother’s illness
PRAGUE (AP) — Five cheetah cubs at the Prague zoo are doing well after surviving a weather scare and their mother's illness. The zoo said Friday that the four males and one female born on June 18 faced challenges from the start. Their mother Daenerys gave birth outdoors on June 18 with a period of storms hitting Prague soon after. She showed exemplary care for the five despite her inexperience by protecting them from rain by licking water from their fur. Daenerys later suffered an intestinal infection in August. Curator Pavel Brandl said that the cubs are fine and healthy now. Scientists say every cub is critical to saving the species which faces extinction in the wild.
Volkswagen to recall 2.86 million VW, Audi models over potential steering problem
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen Group said it is recalling 2.86 million Volkswagen and Audi branded vehicles as a precautionary measure over a screw whose failure could cause a loss of steering. The affected vehicles are Volkswagen Tiguan, Touran, Golf, Golf Variant and Caddy models built between September 2013 and July 2024, and Audi Q3 models made between October 2017 and May 2024. There have been no known incidents with damage to persons or properties, according to Germany’s KBA motor vehicle agency. The defective screw is to be replaced with a more corrosion resistant one, KBA said.
Xi says 2 giant pandas from China will arrive at Atlanta's zoo in the coming days
ATLANTA (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping says two giant pandas from China will arrive at Zoo Atlanta in the coming days. Their arrival will bolster a loan program that at one time lapsed as part of tensions between Beijing and Washington. China and the zoo had said in April that Ping Ping, a male, and Fu Shuang, a female, would go to the United States. But Xi’s announcement at the White House on Thursday before talks with President Donald Trump marked the first public confirmation of the timing. The National Zoo in Washington in the fall of 2024 accepted Bao Li and Qing Bao after Atlanta lost its four pandas.
Starbucks to shutter 250 stores in North America this week in 2nd wave of closings
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores later this week. Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said the locations targeted either aren’t delivering acceptable financial results or can’t provide the experience Starbucks wants for customers and employees. The company didn’t say Thursday which coffeehouses will close or how many are located in the U.S. It also didn’t say how many of the affected coffeehouses are unionized. More than 700 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late 2021. Starbucks said it's continuing to retrofit its stores to be cozier and more welcoming, and that process has helped it identify locations that don't meet its standards.
'Catman' to the rescue, as man pulls stuck Long Island pet to safety after long ordeal
He doesn’t wear a mask or cape, but John DeBacker is a hero to one Long Island family. Wearing his “Catman” T-shirt, DeBacker pulled off the intricate rescue of a frightened and exhausted cat named Lola last Friday. She had spent about five days trapped, likely upside down for most of that time, behind a wall in her family’s old home in the New York City suburbs. The ordeal started with the cat disappearing about two weeks before the rescue. After trying to get Lola to come out of her own accord, she fell and got stuck behind a first-floor wall. DeBacker, who has been rescuing cats professionally for years, says freeing her was the best feeling in the world.
More than 160,000 pounds of meat bearing false USDA inspection labels recalled
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 83 tons of meat are being recalled across the country because the products were not properly inspected by federal authorities and were shipped out with false inspection stickers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that the nationwide recall impacts more than 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat produced by Star Meat Delivery Inc. of North Carolina. The USDA said the meat was produced before Sept. 22 and has fake inspection stickers bearing establishment number “EST. 1363.” So far, there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses or injuries. The company claims a fake USDA stamp was not used on the products.
