Munich’s Oktoberfest roars to life as the mayor taps the first keg
MUNICH (AP) — Munich's Oktoberfest has kicked off with the city's mayor tapping the first beer keg, marking the start of the 191st edition of the festival. Thousands of revelers in traditional Bavarian attire flocked to the beer tents on Munich's Theresienwiese fairground. They enjoyed brass music, freshly tapped beer, pretzels and sausages. The festival runs for 16 days, expecting around six million visitors from Munich, southern Germany and worldwide. German authorities have tightened security, using AI-powered cameras to detect large crowds. There are bans on knives, drones and large bags, with more than 600 police officers on duty.
Princess Diana's famous 'revenge dress' goes on show ahead of Sotheby's auction
LONDON (AP) — A striking black dress worn by Princess Diana on the day her estranged husband admitted adultery is going up for auction at Sotheby’s. Known as the “revenge dress,” it has a presale estimate of up to $300,000. Diana wore the off-the-shoulder silk dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, to a gala in London on June 29, 1994, the day the then-Prince Charles' TV interview was broadcast. Sotheby’s Morgane Halimi says Diana used the dress to seize control of her story. The dress will tour internationally before its sale in New York on December 9. Diana's enduring appeal continues to captivate collectors and fans worldwide.
A truck driver built a model of NYC with over 800,000 structures for fun. Now it's a museum exhibit
NEW YORK (AP) — A truck driver who spent two decades building a massive scale model of his native New York City was delighted when it went viral on TikTok. Now, Joe Macken’s sprawling balsa wood and foam board creation is on display at the Museum of the City of New York. The immense model is 50 feet long and nearly 30 feet wide, covering all five boroughs, parts of New Jersey and suburban Long Island. More than 800,000 balsa wood structures are laid out in street-level detail across more than 300 large foam boards like interconnecting puzzle pieces. The exhibit runs through Oct. 12.
Mets' Jared Young has concussion symptoms, CT scan negative after scary collision with Nolan McLean
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets first baseman Jared Young was carted off the field in the sixth inning of a 3-0 loss to Philadelphia after he was knocked out when struck on the head by a knee of pitcher Nolan McLean as the two converged on Justin Crawford’s slow grounder. New York manager Andy Green said a CT scan at a hospital was negative and Young had concussion symptoms and full use of his extremities. With the Phillies ahead 1-0, McLean broke to first on contact and Young initially moved back toward the bag. McLean briefly paused, at which point Young reached for the ball with his right hand as he tried to keep a foot on the base.
Knicks pause ticket sales after mistake caused them to be listed at prices too high
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks are pausing ticket sales after a mistake caused them to be listed for amounts that were too high. The NBA champions put individual game tickets for the 2026-27 season on sale this week. The get-in price for the Oct. 20 season opener against Philadelphia was more than $1,000. The team said Thursday they are rolling back to last year’s prices plus an average increase of 12%. They added that sales will restart shortly with the correct prices, and anyone who already purchased individual tickets would be refunded the difference.
Holdout juror in Clancy trial didn't have 'any doubts' that she was responsible for killing her kids
BOSTON (AP) — The lone juror who wanted to convict Lindsay Clancy of murder for killing her three children said he was certain of her guilt, but that other jurors wouldn’t listen to him. That's according to a statement released Friday by juror Michael Desronvil in his first public comments on the case. Eleven of 12 jurors were ready to clear Clancy of criminal responsibility, with the majority feeling the Massachusetts mom was in the grip of a rare condition called postpartum psychosis when she strangled her kids. But juror Desronvil sided with the prosecutors, who had argued that Clancy knew what she was doing. Desronvil says “I didn’t have any doubts.”
Buckingham Palace hits back at claims in a book by Princess Diana's brother
LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace is denying 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.
The psychedelic pop artist Peter Max has died at 88, his son says
NEW YORK (AP) — The artist Peter Max has died at age 88. Max was known for colorful, psychedelic pop art that expressed the optimism of the “flower power” movement of the 1960s and graced everything from postage stamps to a cruise ship. His son said he died Monday. No cause was given, but he had advanced dementia. Max began his career in graphic design in the 1960s, and his swirly, colorful, instantly recognizable designs epitomized the era’s “flower power” art. Max’s work remained well known and popular well into the 21st century. Max was the official artist for the Olympics, the Super Bowl and other events. His portrait subjects ranged from U.S. presidents to Taylor Swift.
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.
