WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's pick as NATO ambassador reassured senators at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the Trump administration's commitment to the military alliance was "ironclad." The U.S. commitment has been called into question by Trump's scathing criticism of European allies and his eagerness to build ties with...
NASA Astronauts Finally Closing in on Return to Earth After 9 Months in Space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have to wait until their replacements arrive at the International Space Station next week before they can check out later this...
Eagles Make Barkley Highest-Paid Running Back With 2-Year, $41.2M Deal, AP Source Says
PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley will become the highest-paid running back in NFL history after his record-setting season helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl. The Eagles are giving Barkley a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million with $36 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The...
BlackRock Strikes Deal to Bring Ports on Both Sides of Panama Canal Under American Control
A Hong Kong-based conglomerate has agreed to sell its controlling stake in a subsidiary that operates ports near the Panama Canal to a consortium including BlackRock Inc., effectively putting the ports under American control after President Donald Trump alleged Chinese interference with the operations of the critical shipping lane. In...
Scientists Genetically Engineer Mice With Thick Hair Like the Extinct Woolly Mammoth
WASHINGTON — Extinction is still forever, but scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences are trying what they say is the next best thing to restoring ancient beasts — genetically engineering living animals with qualities to resemble extinct species like the woolly mammoth. Woolly mammoths roamed the frozen tundras of...
The Lakers and LeBron Revel in What the Luka Trade Did for Their Title Hopes
The game hasn't gotten easy for the Los Angeles Lakers since the trade deadline. It just looks that way. Consider this moment from Sunday night's win over the Clippers: Jaxson Hayes got a defensive rebound, handed the ball to Luka Doncic, who took one step forward and fired a 75-foot...
Stephen Curry Scores 21 in Homecoming Game to Lift Warriors Past Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephen Curry had 21 points and 10 assists in his annual homecoming game, and the Golden State Warriors pulled away in the second half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 119-101 on Monday night for their sixth win in seven games. Curry, who was raised in Charlotte and...
Republicans Target 4 ‘Sanctuary’ Cities as Trump Pushes Mass Deportations
WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress are taking aim at four cities — often called "sanctuary cities" — over their policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement with a hearing this week that comes as President Donald Trump presses ahead with his campaign of mass deportations. Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon...
Trump’s Halt on Military Aid Will Hurt Ukraine’s Defenses. But It May Not Be Fatal
LONDON — The U.S. has been Ukraine's biggest military backer since Russia's full-scale invasion began three years ago. The suspension of that aid by the Trump administration doesn't mean Ukraine's defenses will quickly collapse. But it's a major blow that threatens to remove some of the most formidable weapons in...
iHeartMedia Says Legal Dispute With Drake Was Settled Because It ‘Did Nothing Wrong’
HOUSTON — Texas-based iHeartMedia said it settled its legal dispute with Drake over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” after demonstrating that it “did nothing wrong.” Drake had alleged in a legal petition filed in November that iHeartMedia received illegal payments from Universal Music Group to boost radio airplay...