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.
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.
US Mint produces a $1 coin bearing Trump's face to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Mint has started producing a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The Treasury Department announced Wednesday the commemorative coin will be released in the fall. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts was appointed by the Republican president and approved the final design earlier this year, though this version differs from that coin in a few ways. The coin in production is not gold, as originally planned, but instead has a gold finish. Federal law prohibits depicting a living president on U.S. currency, though the treasury secretary has the authority to change that in some instances.
A 12-year-old baseball standout trains through tears after Venezuela quakes leave him homeless
GUARACARUMBO, Venezuela (AP) — There were many casualties in the earthquakes that rocked parts of Venezuela last month. Thousands of lives were lost, homes destroyed, livelihoods devastated. In the hardest hit state of La Guaira, the nation's most popular sport is providing solace and hope. Many baseball fields have been repurposed as campgrounds for the estimated 18,000 people made homeless by the twin temblors. And one abandoned baseball stadium provides a space for young players to train, remember and commiserate. Venezuela has long been an incubator for Major League Baseball stars, and coaches still believe that some of the boys have a future in the sport despite the hardship and loss.
France’s National Assembly gives final approval to assisted-dying bill after years of debate
PARIS (AP) — France's National Assembly has given final approval to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication. But the 291-241 vote in the lower house of parliament doesn’t mean the bill immediately becomes law. There will be a review to determine if it complies with the French Constitution. The approval on Wednesday marked the culmination of years of debate over end-of-life care. The bill will establish a right to medically assisted dying under strict conditions. The Senate rejected the bill but the National Assembly had the final say. The bill will be reviewed by the Constitutional Council.
Mystery bidder buys T. rex nicknamed 'Gus' for a record $50 million
NEW YORK (AP) — A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil billed as one of the world’s largest and most complete specimens has sold for a record $50.1 million at an auction. Sotheby’s said the 67-million-year-old fossil, nicknamed “Gus,” is now the most expensive set of dinosaur bones ever auctioned off, besting the almost $45 million price tag for a nearly complete stegosaurus sold by the same New York auction house in 2024. Before that, another T. rex sold for nearly $32 million in 2020. The fossil is about 61% complete. It was discovered in 2021 in South Dakota. The auction house said Tuesday’s mystery buyer outbid six others.
UK police say former politician and TV personality Ann Widdecombe was killed in ‘targeted attack’
LONDON (AP) — British counterterror police say former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe was killed in a targeted attack. The motivation is still under investigation. A 28-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of murder and terror crimes. Police arrested him Saturday in South Yorkshire, far from Widdecombe's rural home in southwest England. Authorities believe she was attacked Wednesday and found dead the next day. Widdecombe, known for her conservative views, was a former member of Parliament who later became a reality TV star. Her death has renewed security concerns for politicians, following previous attacks on MPs.
US-Russian crew arrives at the International Space Station for 8-month mission
MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S.-Russian space crew has arrived at the International Space Station for an eight-month mission. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian crewmates Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off Tuesday from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and docked at the station three hours later. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, marking the first visit to Baikonur by a NASA chief in eight years. This highlights ongoing cooperation between Moscow and Washington in space, despite tensions over Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
New York won't build big data centers for a year as it weighs energy and climate risks
NEW YORK (AP) — New York is blocking new large data centers that fuel artificial intelligence for up to a year to protect the environment and energy grid. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Tuesday for the country's first statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers. These facilities require massive amounts of energy and water to cool thousands of servers. The governor's order pauses state permitting and directs regulators to create standards addressing environmental impacts and energy demand. Tech companies argue this could hurt job growth and cede ground to China in AI development. The decision also carries political significance for Hochul's reelection campaign and the state's congressional races.
