King Charles clarifies status of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, after their return to the UK
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III authorized the release of a letter clarifying the status of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, now that they’ve returned to the U.K. The letter on Monday confirms that the couple are no longer working members of the royal family and will not use the titles “his or her royal highness.’’ It adds that any security issues are the responsibility of relevant police agencies and the couple’s charity work will be carried out in a private capacity. The letter states that the king authorized the communication “to help avoid doubt or confusion’’ about the couple’s status.
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' makes it 6 weeks in a row at No. 1 as Hollywood wraps a banner summer
NEW YORK (AP) — “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” remained the No. 1 movie in theaters over the weekend, becoming just the second film this decade to top the box office for six straight weeks. The last release to enjoy such a long stretch leading the box office was 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” “Brand New Day,” the fourth standalone Spider-Man starring Tom Holland, collected $18 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey,” as it has for much of the “Spider-Man” run, remained in second place. Christopher Nolan’s epic added $13 million. Both blockbusters helped lead Hollywood to its best summer since before the pandemic.
A Kentucky man with a meat allergy was craving a burger. So he got into ostrich farming
DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. ostrich farmers say they’re finding new customers who developed a red meat allergy triggered by tick bites. Ostrich meat is red when raw and has a taste similar to beef. Kentucky farmer Brent Williams was diagnosed about seven years ago with alpha-gal syndrome. So he was eager to get into the ostrich business when farmer W.D. King proposed raising them on his central Kentucky farm. King and other farmers say they are seeing interest from alpha-gal sufferers who crave red meat. There are about 10 to 15 ostrich farms in the U.S. dedicated to raising the African native birds.
Even snakes have to audition for the opera at the Met. Princess the boa constrictor got the part
NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Opera in New York requires auditions for everyone on stage. Even the snake in its adaptation of Mozart's "Così fan tutte." Zoe Ziegfeld is the snake handler in the performance. The carnival performer-turned-opera actor auditions each snake to ensure they're comfortable on stage. A boa constrictor named Princess won the role, and another named Nala was chosen as understudy. This is Ziegfeld's third time as the snake charmer in this production. The Met's version of Mozart's opera about love, fidelity and deception is set at a 1950s Coney Island carnival instead of Naples, Italy.
What's open on Labor Day? Most retailers. Closed? Government, banks and the stock market.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The origins of Labor Day date back to the late 19th century, when activists first sought to establish a day that would pay tribute to workers. While many workers have the day off, most big consumer-facing businesses are open, with many offering promotional sales to lure customers. Here’s what is open and closed this year on Labor Day, and some tips for those who are traveling on the long holiday weekend.
Nearly 2,000 fall ill in suspected food poisoning linked to Indonesia's free school meals program
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Nearly 2,000 people, most of them students, have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals program between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3. About 1,950 students, teachers and Islamic boarding school pupils were affected in Central Java, East Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi. No deaths were reported. The latest incidents add to a growing number of food poisoning cases associated with President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program, which aims to feed nearly 90 million beneficiaries. Health Ministry data show more than 50,000 people have been affected in 560 cases nationwide since the program’s launch in January 2025.
Chimpanzees once used for vaccine research get health checks as part of long-term care
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Chimpanzees once used in hepatitis B vaccine experiments are getting health checks at their new home in Liberia. The West African chimpanzees receive care such as teeth cleanings and X-rays at the Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge. American researchers used more than 400 chimps from the 1970s until the early 2000s. Liberia has the second-highest number of chimpanzees in West Africa. The checks assess long-term health and tailor care plans. The sanctuary's veterinarian says these checks are vital for the chimps' well-being. The impact of the experiments on the chimps is still being assessed.
Greek air force jet crashes at an annual aerial show, killing 2 pilots
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek air force jet has crashed at an air show north of Athens and the plane's two pilots were killed. The crash of the twin-seat Phantom F4 jet occurred during a low-altitude maneuver. The resulting fire sent large plumes of black smoke into the air in front of several thousand spectators on Saturday. There were no injuries among the attendees. Air force officials in Greece said that the bodies of the two pilots were located during a rescue operation 60 kilometers or about 40 miles north of Athens. Air show organizers canceled remaining events.
America In Focus: US hiring bounces back in August; mortgage rates climb
The U.S. job market rebounded in August as employers added a surprising 162,000 jobs. The unemployment rate stayed at a low 4.1%. The jobs report, issued by the Labor Department Friday, could be good news for President Donald Trump two months before midterm elections in which the health of the economy is weighing on voters’ minds. Meanwhile, mortgage rates rose again this week, driving the average long-term U.S. home loan rate to its highest level in more than a year. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.71% from 6.66% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.50%.
China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu looms over opponents on debut at Women’s Basketball World Cup
BERLIN (AP) — China’s Zhang Ziyu had everyone looking up to her on the opening day of the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. The 19-year-old Zhang is 7-foot-3. She gave the United States a tough physical challenge to overcome in the four-time defending champion’s opening 94-61 victory. Zhang is taller than basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and just an inch shorter than San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama. There was a buzz of excitement any time Zhang appeared on the court. The teenager finished with 13 points in her worlds debut.
