A senior Congolese official says a boat capsized in Congo’s northwest killing at least 27 people. More than 70 others were missing as rescuers searched frantically for survivors. The locally made boat capsized late Friday in the town of Mbandaka in Equateur Province as it transported more than 100 passengers along the Congo River to the town of Bolomba. That’s according to Taylor Nganzi, deputy provincial governor, who said 27 bodies had been recovered. The New Civil Society of Congo, a local civil society group, said 49 people died in the accident, which it said occurred after an engine failure. The contradictory death tolls could not immediately be reconciled.
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Brooks Robinson, Orioles third baseman with 16 Gold Gloves, has died. He was 86
Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86. The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson’s family. The statement did not say how Robinson died. Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series and homered in Game 1 of the Orioles’ 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first crown.
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Michael Jackson sexual abuse lawsuits on verge of revival by appeals court
A California appeals court will consider reviving the lawsuits of two men who allege Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children. After hearing oral arguments Wednesday, the court could order the two cases to trial. The lawsuits were filed after Jackson’s death by Wade Robson in 2013 and James Safechuck in 2014. The two became known for telling their stories on the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.” They sued two corporations that were owned by Jackson, alleging the companies had a duty to protect them from years of abuse. A judge disagreed, and two years ago threw out the lawsuits. That ruling could soon be overturned.
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Michael Jordan selling majority ownership stake in Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan is finalizing a deal to sell the majority share of the Charlotte Hornets, a move that will end his 13-year run overseeing the organization, the team announced Friday. Jordan is selling to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, the Hornets said. Plotkin has been a minority stakeholder in the Hornets since 2019. Schnall has been a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks since 2015 and is in the process of selling his investment in that team.
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Who is Victor Wembanyama? The NBA is about to get the answer to that question
The Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes now has a winner. It’s the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA draft lottery was Tuesday night in Chicago. The Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Spurs all had the best chance of winning the lottery and getting the No. 1 pick. But the Spurs prevailed. While Wembanyama isn’t officially a member of the Spurs yet, it’s all but a foregone conclusion that he’ll be selected by San Antonio in June with the first pick in the draft. He could be with his new club for summer league games in early July.
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AP source: Harris/Rales group has deal to buy Commanders
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that a group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and including Magic Johnson has an agreement in principle to buy the Washington Commanders from longtime owner Dan Snyder. Harris and Rales are set to pay $6 billion for the storied NFL franchise. It’s the most money a professional sports franchise in North American has been sold for, topping the $4.65 billion paid by Walmart heir Rob Walton’s group for the Denver Broncos last year. The sale of the Commanders is pending approval from the rest of the league’s owners. That could come as soon as their annual meeting in Arizona later this month.
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Paris aims to keep Olympians cool without air conditioners
The Paris Olympics is going underground to find a way to keep athletes cool at the 2024 Games without air conditioners. Organizers are planning to install a water-cooling system under the Athletes Village like the one that has helped the Louvre Museum cope with the sweltering heat that broke records last year. The plan is in line with the Paris mayor’s resolve to drastically reduce the French capital’s greenhouse gas emissions and make the City of Lights carbon neutral by 2050. Two-time Olympic champion and marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge endorsed the Paris sustainability plan. He says “we all need to reduce our carbon.”
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Anti-vax group in Europe thrives online, thwarts tech effort
An anti-vaccine group that has harassed doctors and public officials in Italy and France is still active on platforms like Facebook despite efforts to rein in their abuse and misinformation. The organization, known as V_V, bombards its victims with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of abusive posts. V_V has also put up bounties for anti-vaccine graffiti, and tried to disrupt vaccine clinics. Facebook took action against the network last year but V_V remains active on that platform and others, showing just how difficult it can be for tech companies to stop coordinated harassment or potentially dangerous claims about vaccines.
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In Michigan, GOP discord threatens effort to oust Whitmer
Several little-known Michigan conservatives vied for the Republican nomination to face Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Polls closed Tuesday night, with five Republican hopefuls facing off. None of the five has been elected to public office before and many have personal baggage that could pose challenges in a general election. The four top candidates are conservative commentator and businesswoman Tudor Dixon; real estate broker Ryan Kelley; chiropractor Garrett Soldano; and former auto dealership owner Kevin Rinke. Pastor Ralph Rebandt also is running. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Dixon last week. Infighting over the 2020 election has split the state party and threatens to hobble the GOP’s efforts in the battleground state.
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Biden tests positive for COVID-19 after Massachusetts visit
President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after traveling to Massachusetts to give a speech on climate policy. Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the president is taking antiviral drug Paxlovid and experiencing “very mild symptoms.” The plan, she said, is for Biden to quarantine in […]
