America In Focus: US inflation cooled in June, but AI build-out poses latest threat
U.S. inflation cooled last month as the cost of gas, clothes, and used cars fell, providing some relief to consumers, while underlying price pressures also cooled more than expected. Prices dropped 0.4% in June from May, the largest monthly drop in four years, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the gusher of investment in data centers — likely topping $700 billion this year — to power artificial intelligence has made memory chips, computer processors, and other equipment, as well as electricity, more expensive. Economists expect it will continue to push up inflation at least through the end of this year.
Man charged with hate crimes after confrontation with 'Today' show's Melvin at NBC studio
NEW YORK (AP) — A 40-year-old New York man faces hate crime charges following a confrontation with “Today" show host Craig Melvin at NBC’s studio in Manhattan. Police say Friday that the man was arrested Thursday morning inside 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown by an officer responding to reports of a disorderly individual inside the building. NBC News says an individual approached Melvin after entering an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A. Melvin notified security, who held the man until police arrived. The network says no altercation occurred and no injuries were reported. NBC did not say how the man gained access to the area.
Brenda Fricker, the first Irish actress to win an Oscar, for 'My Left Foot,' dies at 81
LONDON (AP) — Brenda Fricker, who became the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in the 1989 film “My Left Foot,’’ has died. She was 81. Her agent, Phil Belfield, says the Irish character actor died Thursday night in Dublin after a period of ill health. Fricker became the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award in 1990 for best supporting actress for her portrayal of the determined mother of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy and could control only his left foot. Daniel Day-Lewis, who played Christy Brown, won the award for best actor.
A Brazilian bay’s surprise shark nursery sparks conservation project
ANGRA DOS REIS, Brazil (AP) — Scientists have discovered that a cove in Brazil's Ilha Grande bay is a nursery for pregnant blacktip sharks. This has led to conservation efforts to protect the area. Brazil is a major market for shark meat, but sharks face extinction threats from overfishing and climate change. The Sharks of Ilha Grande Bay project, supported by Petrobras, aims to protect these habitats. The project also educates local communities about the ecological importance and health risks of consuming shark meat. Conservationists hope ecotourism can provide alternative income for the community while preserving shark populations.
Trump's teleprompter operator on unpaid leave for alleged prediction market bets on Trump speeches
ATLANTA (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator is on unpaid leave after reports that he used his inside knowledge to make bets about the president's speeches on the online prediction market Kalshi. The firm's enforcement chief said Kalshi contacted federal regulators about bets allegedly made about what Trump would say in speeches. ABC News first reported Thursday that Gabriel Perez used his inside knowledge to win more than $100,000 betting on what the president would say in addresses like the State of the Union speech earlier this year. Perez has been operating Trump’s teleprompter since 2016.
UK urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup
LONDON (AP) — The British government has urged FIFA to investigate Argentina's soccer team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The incident happened Wednesday after Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal in Atlanta. The banner read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which means “The Falkland Islands are Argentine.” FIFA rules ban political messaging on the pitch and the team could face disciplinary action. U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle called the behavior “entirely inappropriate.” The rivalry between the countries is heightened by political tensions over the South Atlantic archipelago. Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war over the islands in 1982.
America already tried permanent daylight saving time. It lasted less than a year. Could it work now?
NEW YORK (AP) — The twice-yearly changing of the clocks could be a thing of the past if legislation currently in Congress that calls for permanent daylight time makes it through. But even as annoying as some find the back-and-forth of the time shift in the spring and the fall, that doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to one would go over well. America has tried it before. In 1973, Congress passed a law instituting permanent daylight saving time for what was supposed to be a trial period from January 1974 to April 1975. It lasted until October, when it was repealed after public outcry.
Fed probe suggests Tesla's self-driving feature wasn't to blame in crash that killed a grandmother
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal safety investigators say the driver of a runaway Tesla that killed a grandmother in her home last month had pressed the accelerator to full speed, suggesting the vehicle’s self-driving software was not to blame. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded Wednesday that the driver had overridden that feature by pressing on the pedal before slamming into the Katy, Texas, home and killing a 76-year-old woman in the front room. The crash drew national attention because Tesla CEO Elon Musk is seeking to assure the public its self-driving feature is safe as he prepares to turn Teslas already on the road into fully automatic vehicles.
George Santos' next gig? Reality TV show contestant
NEW YORK (AP) — George Santos has worn many hats: Serial swindler, congressman, expelled congressman, federal prison inmate, clemency recipient, podcast host, online betting influencer under investigation by the federal government. The obvious next gig? Reality TV show contestant. In September, Santos will appear on the fifth season of Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a grueling contest where participants will be subjected to chemical gassing and other military themed challenges in a Malaysian jungle. The network on Wednesday said he will go up against more than a dozen other contestants — including former NBA player Matt Barnes and actor Ruby Rose.
Donald Trump endorses 'Pillow Man' Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor
President Donald Trump has endorsed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor, praising him as “one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots.” Lindell has a national profile from his TV advertising campaign and he's been one of Trump’s most outspoken supporters, echoing the Republican president’s false claims his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden was fraudulent. Trump posted Wednesday online, “Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!!" Trump says Lindell “loves Minnesota” and “wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment.” Trump has accused outgoing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of allowing rampant fraud in federal spending on childcare, which Walz disputes. Lindell's Republican rivals avoided criticizing Trump's choice. Minnesota's primaries are Aug. 11.
