Bill Chappell

The Boston Bruins have a new number hanging over their home ice after Willie O'Ree's No. 22 was lifted to the rafters Tuesday night. O'Ree broke hockey's color barrier with the Bruins in 1958, when he became the first Black man to play in the NHL. And he did it while keeping a secret: He could only see out of one eye.

Novak Djokovic's rivals are reacting to the latest twists in his fight to compete in the Australian Open with a mix of sympathy and a desire for a final resolution, to put the focus back on the Grand Slam tournament.

Quebec's plan to put a "significant" health tax on unvaccinated people — who account for a large share of COVID-19 hospitalizations — quickly drove a rush of new appointments this week, health officials say.

"It's encouraging!" said Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé, in a tweet announcing the new gains.

Dubé said the number of new vaccine appointments shot up in the 48 hours around the announcement, reaching what he called a record for several days.

One day after Prince Andrew lost his bid to quash a sex-abuse lawsuit, he has been stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday.

The move comes with Queen Elizabeth II's "approval and agreement," the palace said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is apologizing for 10 Downing Street, his official residence, hosting a happy-hour party in May 2020, when the rest of the country was under a strict COVID-19 lockdown. For the first time, Johnson said he was at the party — but the admission didn't appease his rivals, who called it one more reason for him to resign.

Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew can continue, a federal judge has ruled, denying "in all respects" the Duke of York's request to dismiss the case.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office is under fire after an email emerged showing his private secretary invited people to a lawn party at 10 Downing Street when the rest of the country was under a strict COVID-19 lockdown. Martin Reynolds' email concluded, "bring your own booze!"

The house that anchored the 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street has been sold after nearly three months on the market, going for $2,980,000.

Despite its nightmarish movie ties, the house can be seen as a dream home, with 3 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, along with a pool and a guest house.

The idea that Ukraine, Russia's neighbor, might someday join NATO "is one of the areas where we have the greatest difference of views with the U.S.," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday, after an hours-long discussion with his U.S. counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

The pilot of a small airplane was lucky to survive a crash on a Los Angeles street Sunday — and he was even luckier when he was yanked out of the aircraft just seconds before a train hit the plane, which had come to rest on railroad tracks.

A Los Angeles police officer's body camera video captured the dramatic sequence, showing police and a bystander working to free the man from the wreckage as an oncoming Metrolink train's horn blares.

Travis and Greg McMichael, who were convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, have been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. William "Roddie" Bryan, who was also convicted in the case, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole — meaning he must serve at least 30 years before he's eligible for release.

Every small town should have a dream. And in Mineral Point, Wis., the long-running dream was that some day, Betty White would come back for a visit.

The local brewpub was ready. On its chalkboard that tracks beers people buy in advance for buddies who might pop in, White's name has long been the most popular on the list.

In 2019, she had more than 40 beers waiting for her at the Commerce Street Brewery, just in case she stopped by.

On the eve of the Jan. 6 anniversary, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the riot "a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol," drawing the ire of several Republican pundits, including Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson.

"Of all the things that Jan. 6 was, it was definitely not a violent terrorist attack," Carlson said Wednesday night. "It wasn't an insurrection. Was it a riot? Sure. It was not a violent terrorist attack — sorry!"

In normal times, Novak Djokovic would be warmly welcomed to the Australian Open, as the world No. 1 and the tournament's defending champion. But now, the reigning Australian Open men's champion — who is famously skeptical about the COVID vaccine and received a medical exemption from being vaccinated — is being barred entry to the country.

Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men's tennis player who is also famously skeptical about coronavirus vaccination, will play in the Australian Open later this month, after receiving a special exemption from COVID-19 requirements.

"I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022!" Djokovic announced on several social media platforms Tuesday.