Ring bling: Dodgers show off glittering World Series rings in pregame ceremony

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers received their glittering World Series rings in a pregame ceremony. Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw and manager Dave Roberts received some of the loudest cheers as they walked a blue carpet to a stage set up between home plate and the mound. The players and coaching staff received blue boxes and hugs from owner Mark Walter and other executives. A choir opened the ceremony by singing “We Are the Champions” and a brass band closed it playing “They Not Like Us.” Inside the ring box a video plays highlights of the team's championship run.

Cuba had record 26 players on opening-day MLB rosters and Japan had 12 for its most since 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — Cuba had a record 26 players on Major League Baseball’s opening day rosters and Japan had 12 for its most since 2012. The percentage born outside the 50 states remained at 27.8%, matching its lowest level since 2016. There were 265 players from 18 nations and territories outside of the 50 states among 954 players on opening day active rosters and injured, restricted and inactive lists, according to the commissioner’s office. Cuba’s total topped its previous high of 23 in 2016, 2017 and 2022. Japan’s total was its most since 13 in 2012.

An AI-based drone that speeds up the detection and monitoring of wildfires is presented in Germany

EBERSWALDE, Germany (AP) — A company that specializes in early wildfire detection has developed a new, AI-based drone that it says will help speed up the detection, location and monitoring of fires. The Silvaguard drone by Dryard Networks was presented Thursday in Eberswalde outside of Berlin as wildfires driven by extreme heat and climate change are becoming more common globally. The drone will deliver infrared video and works in combination with a second fire detection system that the company developed earlier and that’s already being used in several countries. That fire detection system, called Silvanet, is designed to detect wildfires at the smoldering stage using solar-powered gas sensors connected via a wireless network.

The woman who killed Tejano music icon Selena in 1995 has been denied parole

HOUSTON (AP) — The woman who has served nearly three decades in prison for killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, has been denied parole by a Texas board. A three-member panel of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Thursday that it voted to not release Yolanda Saldívar from prison. The panel says her case will be eligible for review again in 2030. Saldívar is serving a life sentence at a prison in Gatesville. She fatally shot the singer known to her fans as simply Selena on March 31, 1995, at a motel in Corpus Christi after the singer accused her of stealing money.

Ella Langley leads 2025 ACM Awards nominations. Beyoncé and Miranda Lambert are shut out

NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley leads the nominees for the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards with eight nods to her name. There are no nominations for Beyoncé’s landmark “Cowboy Carter,” which won the Grammy for both album of the year and country album of the year last month. Miranda Lambert’s “Postcards from Texas" was also shut out. Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen closely follow Langley’s nominations with seven each. Chris Stapleton has six, and Riley Green and Post Malone are tied with five. The 60th annual ACM Awards will take place on May 8 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Reba McEntire will host.

ChatGPT's viral Studio Ghibli-style images highlight AI copyright concerns

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fans of Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio behind “Spirited Away” and other beloved movies, were delighted this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular internet memes or personal photos into the distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. But the trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and what that means for the future livelihoods of human artists. Miyazaki, 84, known for his hand-drawn approach and whimsical storytelling, has expressed skepticism about AI’s role in animation.

Maine school officials won't comply with Trump administration agreement to bar transgender athletes

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — School officials in Maine say they will not comply with a proposed agreement from President Donald Trump’s administration that would bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. The U.S. Health and Human Services said earlier this month that the Maine Department of Education, Maine Principals’ Association and a high school are each in violation of Title IX because of the participation of transgender athletes. The federal investigation came after a public spat between Trump and Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills about the subject. The principals association and the school district both said Thursday they will not comply.

What to know after Prince Harry resigned from his African charity

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Prince Harry’s announced his resignation this week from an African charity that he co-founded in memory of his mother Princess Diana. It came amid allegations of bullying, harassment, sexism and racism made by the organization’s chairperson against unnamed board members. Harry announced his resignation in a joint statement with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. They co-founded the Sentebale youth-focused charity in 2006 and were patrons and not on the board of trustees. They said they were quitting in support of the trustees who left after a dispute with chairperson Sophie Chandauka. Sentebale has a special place for Harry and continued some of the work Princess Diana did by supporting AIDS charities.

One Tech Tip: Don't give your email to strangers, use a decoy address instead

LONDON (AP) — You’ve heard of burner phones. What about burner email? So much of the internet now requires that you hand over your email address before you’re able to use any services — from using an app you’ve downloaded to signing up for a newsletter or redeeming a special offer online. But who says you have to give your real email address? Next time you’re asked, consider using an email mask. There are a growing number of services that give out disguised email addresses that then relay any messages to your actual address. Experts say it can be a powerful tool to safeguard privacy and security.

Will Smith gets a street named in the Philadelphia neighborhood where he was born and raised

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In West Philadelphia where he was born and raised, there’s now a street called Will Smith Way. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and city leaders honored the Oscar and Grammy winner on Wednesday by renaming a street next to Smith's old high school. Smith smiled and laughed during a ceremony there. He also reminisced about learning the values of hard work and education from his mother and father before hitting it big. Among those who came out to see him was a former teacher who inspired his nickname “The Fresh Prince.”