Новости за 15.02.2017

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s culture ministry has rejected a request by Italian luxury brand Gucci to use the ancient Acropolis for a fashion event this summer. Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou told state television a panel of ministry experts turned down the request late Tuesday, adding she was in “total agreement.” The Acropolis is listed as

WASHINGTON — The Latest on Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s testimony to the House Financial Services Committee (all times local): 1 p.m. For a number of years, Republican House members have been pushing legislation that would impose limits on the independence of the Federal Reserve in various ways. These include requiring it to follow a

OROVILLE, Calif. — The Latest on problems with an emergency spillway at the nation’s tallest dam (all times local): 10:30 a.m. A California couple got married at an evacuation center on Valentine’s Day after they were displaced from their home amid fears that a damaged spillway at the Lake Oroville dam could fail and unleash

WASHINGTON — A jump in traffic fatalities last year pushed deaths on U.S. roads to their highest level in nearly a decade, erasing improvements made during the Great Recession and economic recovery, a leading safety organization said Wednesday. Fatalities rose 6 percent in 2016, reaching an estimated 40,200 deaths compared to 37,757 deaths the previous

HOCHFILZEN, Austria — Laura Dahlmeier won the women’s individual competition Wednesday for her third gold medal and fourth overall at the biathlon world championships. In a series that started last year in Oslo, Dahlmeier has won a medal in nine straight world championship races, matching the all-time record set by retired Norwegian great Tora Berger.

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova’s intelligence agency says it has broken up a suspected extremist Islamic group that was spreading propaganda online and whose members had illegal weapons. The Intelligence and Security Service said Wednesday that agents had searched the homes of a number of Moldovan citizens in the northeastern town of Soroca, and found pistols,

Starchy sides are a mainstay of the classic American dinner. It’s easy to get complacent and rely on a trusty, if unimaginative, rotation of mealtime regulars: rice, potatoes, noodles. The problem with serving essentially the same (white) thing over and over is that we are missing an opportunity to bring a variety of nutrients to

NEW YORK — Last season, “Billions” performed a delicate balancing act. Chuck Rhoades, the powerful and perverse U.S. Attorney (played by Paul Giamatti), was locked in a legal cage match with hedge-fund titan Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis). But through it all, Wendy Rhoades kept a foot planted in both worlds: as the wife of

MANCHESTER, England — Preparing for a new challenge at Manchester City, FIFA player of the year Carli Lloyd is relishing the chance to improve her game. After spending her entire career playing for clubs in her homeland, the United States captain signed Wednesday to play for English champion City this spring. The 34-year-old Lloyd is

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Fire Department says a paramedic training officer falsely claimed he ran to the aid of victims at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Shawn Daniel was honored at a St. Louis Blues hockey game in January. A posting on the Fire Department’s Facebook page on Jan. 18 said he was

DETROIT — If you do your homework, now is the time to practically steal a new sedan from your car dealer. For more than a year, sales of cars have been tanking because Americans have gone nuts over SUVs and trucks. As stockpiles of sedans such as the Chevrolet Malibu and Chrysler 200 stretch across

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses stockpiled more goods in December and posted the biggest sales increase in nearly six years. The Commerce Department says that business inventories rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent in December, led by an increase in stockpiles at stores that sell food and beverages. Auto and auto parts dealers trimmed inventories 0.6

JUPITER, Fla. — An offspeed pitch during a pre-spring training bullpen session effectively ended Alex Reyes’ season before it began. The St. Louis Cardinals said Wednesday the 22-year-old right-hander will have Tommy John surgery to replace a ruptured elbow ligament in his pitching arm. “I was throwing a side at home and I felt something

NEW YORK — Stocks and bond yields punched higher Wednesday after more reports showed the U.S. economy continues to strengthen. The encouraging data could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more aggressively from the record lows marked during the Great Recession. KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 8 points, or

VAN VLECK, Texas — Residents of a coastal area southwest of Houston are cleaning up debris after at least six tornadoes left a swath of damaged buildings. Among the homes destroyed was one where a woman inside held tightly to her two young children. Anthony Ovesny told KPRC-TV in Houston that his wife, Ashlie Ovesny,

BALTIMORE — A Baltimore school police officer caught on video slapping and kicking a teen at a school while another officer stood by has accepted a plea deal. News media outlets report Anthony Spence entered an Alford plea on Tuesday to a second-degree assault charge, not admitting guilt, but acknowledging prosecutors have enough evidence to

U.S. homebuilders are feeling a bit less confident this month, reflecting a dimmer outlook for sales in the months ahead and fewer would-be buyers dropping by builders’ sales offices. The surprising decline comes ahead of the spring home-buying season, which is traditionally builders’ busiest time of the year and helps set the pace for home

LANCASTER, N.H. — A Florida-based circus operator has agreed to pay $25,000 in fines to resolve criminal charges in New Hampshire following a tent collapse in 2015 that killed two people and injured dozens. The Caledonian-Record reports (http://bit.ly/2lhdfyS) a prosecutor says the plea agreement resolves eight charges, including operating without a license, and ensures the

WASHINGTON — The IRS says it’s following President Donald Trump’s executive order on health care by easing enforcement of the unpopular Obama-era requirement for people to have coverage or risk fines. Trump directed federal agencies to ease the health law’s rules after he took office. An IRS spokesman says the IRS had planned to start

NEW YORK — Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran and The Chainsmokers will perform at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. Additional performers announced Wednesday include Shawn Mendes, Thomas Rhett, Noah Cyrus and Big Sean. Bruno Mars has also been previously announced as a performer. Drake leads all nominees with 12 nominations, including male artist of

PARIS — French President Francois Hollande is calling for new security measures around the country’s presidential race, notably to protect against hacking. Hollande’s order came after the campaign of centrist Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of trying to sway the April 23-May 7 election. Hollande asked top security officials Wednesday to present electoral security measures next

DELPHI, Ind. — Authorities say autopsies are taking longer than expected on two bodies found near a northern Indiana creek during a search for two missing 13-year-old girls. State Police Sgt. Kim Riley says a pathologist who began the autopsies Wednesday morning in Terre Haute was still performing them around noon Wednesday. He says a

NEW YORK — Michael Kors put plus-size model Ashley Graham and a live orchestra on his runway, and Narciso Rodriguez presented what he called a “no shenanigans” collection — just sleek, impeccable tailoring on clothes constructed to last a lifetime. Some of the latest highlights at New York Fashion Week: PLUS-SIZED MODEL ASHLEY GRAHAM STRUTS

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s first weeks in office have spawned anxiety and even arguments at some workplaces, putting owners — especially at smaller companies — in the position of needing to protect peace and productivity. At software maker BetterWorks, CEO Kris Duggan has noticed a drop in productivity since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration,

NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local): 11:45 a.m. Bond yields climbed and U.S. stock indexes continued their march to record highs after more reports showed the economy continues to strengthen. The encouraging data released Wednesday could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more aggressively from the