Новости за 12.02.2016

BOSTON - The Latest on the death of a woman whose vehicle was struck by a manhole cover on a Boston highway (all times local):

Spring training is a time for optimism, when players bask under the warm sun of Florida and Arizona while fans dream about their team reaching the bright lights of October.

BURNS, Oregon - The Latest on the standoff at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon (all times local):

AUSTIN, Texas - "Havoc" is finally taking hold at Texas, where first-year coach Shaka Smart and the No. 24 Longhorns have shaken off a slow start to join the hunt for the Big 12 title.

BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil's health minister said Friday that authorities were "absolutely sure" that the Zika virus is connected to devastating birth defects and rejected criticism that the government was slow to investigate the surge of cases that set off international alarms.

NEW YORK - Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say a Florida man has been sentenced to 3½ years in prison for defrauding over 70 investors of $3.3 million.

DENVER - The federal government is abandoning plans to open a temporary shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children in suburban Denver, saying it would take too much time and money to get the site ready.

NEW YORK - A court-appointed mediator reported more progress Friday in efforts by Argentina to resolve a dispute with bondholders who claim they are owed about $10 billion by the financially strapped South American nation.

GENEVA - Saudi Arabia's permanent representative in Geneva says his country sent letters to the U.N. humanitarian agency chief calling on aid groups to "be careful" to avoid damage from air strikes led by the Saudi-led coalition in war-torn Yemen.

More than 1 million ceiling lamps sold at Ikea are being recalled this week because the glass shades can fall and shatter. Other recalled consumer products include 118 million gallons of propane gas and infant booties with decorative pompoms that pose a choking hazard.

NEW YORK - Arturo O'Farrill's Grammy-nominated "Cuba: The Conversation Continues" just happened to be made in Havana by American and Cuban musicians at a dramatic turning point in relations between the two countries.

LOS ANGELES - The walls and shelves inside William Shatner's office are covered with the kinds of memorabilia you'd expect from someone who's served for over 50 years as a pop-culture icon.

FORT STEWART, Georgia - Military bases in three U.S. states will share $17.5 million in conservation funding to protect longleaf pine forests used for training troops while assisting the recovery of threatened species, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday.

NEW YORK - Shares of the Pandora Media plummeted Friday, a day after the Internet radio company reported fourth-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Sebastian Saiz's final stats from Mississippi's game against Florida on Tuesday weren't all that impressive: Four points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.

RIO DE JANEIRO - If the Zika virus - or fear of it - keeps spreading, the head of a sports travel agency handling tour packages for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics fears for her business.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Latest on the start location of this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska (all times local):

MILWAUKEE - The Green Bay Packers have re-signed defensive tackle Letroy Guion, a move that could impact the return of fellow lineman B.J. Raji.

ERIE, Pennsylvania - Police in Pennsylvania say a 3-year-old boy suffered serious burns when a one-pot methamphetamine lab exploded.

WASHINGTON - Eager to share Bernie Sanders's claim to the grass roots, Hillary Clinton is having trouble owning up to the deep pockets helping her campaign. For his part, Sanders is struggling to make a convincing case that the numbers add up in his hugely expensive health plan.

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis police say a sandwich shop employee has been critically injured after a motorist drove her SUV into the business.

Diplomats from a dozen countries, led by the United States and Russia, are struggling to make progress in Syria, even as fighting in the north sends tens of thousands fleeing and threatens a deepening humanitarian crisis. Next month, Syria's civil war will reach the end of its fifth year, and its consequences continue to reach new and disastrous levels.

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa is facing a wide-ranging federal civil rights investigation into allegations that its athletics department does not provide equal opportunities for female athletes, correspondence obtained by The Associated Press shows.

IGLS, Austria - German bobsledder Anja Schneiderheinze and pushing partner Annika Drazek built a commanding lead in the first two heats of the women's competition at the world championships on Friday.

PITTSBURGH - Greg Warren is sticking with the Pittsburgh Steelers.