British rapper Stormzy banned from driving for using phone behind wheel of his Rolls-Royce
LONDON (AP) -- British rapper Stormzy has been banned from driving for nine months after admitting that he drove his Rolls-Royce through London while using his phone. The 31-year-old whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr. is known for bringing the grime genre of rap into the commercial mainstream. His debut "Gang Signs and Prayer" won album of the year at the Brit Awards in 2018 where he was named best male British solo artist. But a judge at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Thursday said that his record on the road is poor. He has previous offenses for speeding and for tinting the windows of his Lamborghini too darkly.
Ágnes Keleti, Holocaust survivor and the oldest living Olympic medal winner, dies at age 103
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- Ágnes Keleti, a Holocaust survivor and the oldest living Olympic medal winner, has died at age 103. Hungary's state news agency says Keleti died Thursday morning in Budapest. She was hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia on Dec. 25. She won a total of 10 Olympic medals in gymnastics, including five golds, for Hungary in 1952 and 1956. She overcame the loss of her father and several relatives in the Holocaust to become one of the most successful Jewish Olympic athletes. Forced off her gymnastics team in 1941 because of her Jewish ancestry, Keleti went into hiding in the Hungarian countryside, where she survived the Holocaust by assuming a false identity and working as a maid.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, returns to Instagram and posts a New Year's video
NEW YORK (AP) -- Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is starting the new year with her first Instagram account since 2020. The Associated Press confirmed Wednesday that @meghan belongs to the Duchess of Sussex, whose first post is a black and white video of herself at the beach, wearing white and drawing 2025 in the sand on an overcast day. The account already has more than 200,000 followers. The account @Sussex Royal was discontinued in 2020, around the same time that Meghan and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, announced they were stepping back from their official roles.
Blake Lively sues 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni alleging harassment and smear campaign
Actor Blake Lively has sued the director of the film "It Ends With Us" alleging harassment on the set and a coordinated campaign to smear her reputation. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, just hours after the director, Justin Baldoni, and several others tied to the film filed their own lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging it coordinated with Lively to smear them. Lively's suit filed in federal court in New York says the director schemed with publicists to plant negative stories about her. Baldoni's suit says it was Lively and the Times that engaged in a scheme to smear his reputation. The Times said it stands by its reporting.
Harry Chandler, Navy medic who survived Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 103
HONOLULU (AP) -- A Navy medic who helped pull injured sailors from the oily waters of Pearl Harbor after the 1941 Japanese attack on the naval base has died at the age of 103. Harry Chandler's family says he died at a senior living center in Tequesta, Florida on Monday. He had congestive heart failure but his doctors and nurses noted his advanced age when giving a cause of death. Chandler was a hospital corpsman 3rd Class when waves of Japanese fighter planes dropped bombs and fired machine guns on battleships in the harbor. He first thought the aircraft were American planes flying from the U.S. mainland until they started releasing munitions.
No. 5 Penn State bottles up Jeanty, beats No. 8 Boise State 31-14 in Fiesta Bowl
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes and No. 5 Penn State bottled up Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty for a 31-14 win over No. 8 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Nittany Lions opened their first CFP berth with a blowout win over SMU and appeared headed toward the latest lopsided victory in the new 12-team format by jumping out to a 14-0 lead against the Broncos. Boise State fought back, pulling to 17-14 on Matt Lauter's 53-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter. Penn State shut down the Broncos from there, earning a spot in the Jan. 9 Orange Bowl. Jeanty had 104 yards on 30 carries, leaving him 27 yards short of Barry Sanders' single-season NCAA record.
PlayStations for guns are offered up in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The city of New Orleans and local community groups are offering PlayStations to people willing to turn in guns. One of the exchanges took place Tuesday as part of a series of gun buybacks over the past six months. The trades are intended to improve public safety and come even as Louisiana loosens gun ownership requirements. In August, the state enacted a law allowing most people 18 or older to carry concealed guns without permits. Community leaders with the local nonprofit Unchained Realities helped organize the gun buybacks. They say they hope that providing gaming systems to New Orleans residents will open up new opportunities.
Thief swipes $13 million in jewels, handbags and cash from a London mansion
LONDON (AP) -- Police in London are searching for a burglar who broke into an occupied mansion and stole more than 10.5 million pounds -- about $13.2 million -- worth of jewelry, designer handbags and cash. The owners of the estate, identified in British media as an Instagram influencer and her developer husband, were not home at the time on Dec. 7. But employees were there and a housekeeper had a near run-in with the armed intruder, according to surveillance footage. Among the stolen items were a 10.73-carat diamond ring, diamond earrings and a clip studded with gold, diamonds and sapphires. Police announced the theft on Monday.
Wimbledon finalist Gabriela Dabrowski reveals she played through 2024 after breast cancer diagnosis
Former U.S. Open doubles champion Gabriela Dabrowski has revealed she played through 2024 while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She delayed part of that treatment so she could compete at Wimbledon where she reached the women's doubles final. "I know this will come as a shock to many, but I am OK and I will be OK," the 32-year-old Canadian said. Dabrowski said she had found a first lump in the second half of 2023 and was initially told not to worry about it.