15-year-old rescued after clinging to capsized boat for days in Alaska's Bering Sea
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A fishing crew in Alaska’s Bering Sea rescued a teenager who clung to a capsized boat for days in the frigid waters. The rescuers say they also recovered the bodies of the boy’s brother and a cousin who died sometime after the small boat flipped. The Coast Guard says it began searching for the skiff Monday morning. An air crew spotted the boy hours later on top of the small boat near Alaska’s remote St. Lawrence Island. A nearby fishing vessel then approached the overturned skiff. Video of the rescue shows the boy kneeling atop the skiff before the boat’s crew pulled him into a rescue basket.
Ella Langley leads Country Music Association Awards nods, with mentor Miranda Lambert close behind
NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley leads the 2026 Country Music Association Awards nominations with nine nods, thanks to her hit “Choosin’ Texas.” Her mentor, Miranda Lambert, follows with six nominations. The top nominees, announced Thursday, also include Kacey Musgraves and Ben West with five nominations each. Langley competes for entertainer of the year alongside Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. Her songs “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” are up for single of the year. The 60th annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 18.
Snoop Dogg brings the VMAs back to Los Angeles as host for Sept. 27 show
NEW YORK (AP) — The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to the West Coast with Snoop Dogg as host. The rapper will MC the show live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27. This marks the first time since 2017 that the VMAs won't be in New York or New Jersey. Snoop is a 13-time nominee. He says MTV has been a big part of his career. Madonna leads with 11 nominations, including video and artist of the year. Taylor Swift follows with nine nods. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven nominations each. Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard award.
Little Mercury may be shrinking faster than scientists expected
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected. Scientists from the German Aerospace Center reported Thursday that Mercury's shrinkage may be 30% greater than previously believed. They say that represents a loss in diameter of as much as 14 miles, significant for a planet that is barely 3,000 miles across. Mercury has been shrinking ever since its formation 4.5 billion years ago because of internal cooling, which is tightening the surface like a girdle to fit its new slimmer self.
One Tech Tip: New iPhones arrive, but you can keep your old phone longer by caring for it
Apple's latest iPhones come with new features and hefty price tags. If you're planning to splurge on a new iPhone, you will want to take good care of it to make it last. Or you can save your money and hold on to your current device and make it last longer. Batteries are the biggest factor in device longevity. Avoid exposing your phone to extreme temperatures, which can damage the battery. Don't let your phone die or charge it to 100%, which can both stress the battery.
Hockey player and coach-turned-broadcaster Barry Melrose dies at age 70
Barry Melrose, a hockey player-turned-coach who led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before going on to a long career in broadcasting the sport, has died. He was 70. ESPN announced Melrose’s death Wednesday after his wife informed the network. Melrose stepped away from the role in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. From Kelvington, Saskatchewan, the hard-nosed defenseman played over 300 games in the NHL after nearly 200 in the World Hockey Association.
'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone 'rename' show to 'South America' in jab at Trump
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of "South Park," are changing the show's name to "SOUTH AMERICA," at least for now. They announced the change on the show's Instagram page. This move comes after President Donald Trump declared he is renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in the U.S. Apple and Google have already adopted the new name in their maps. The change comes a week before the 29th season premiere. Parker and Stone have also criticized their parent company, Paramount, which owns Comedy Central, where "South Park" airs. A recent storyline on “South Park” depicted Trump as a villain-like character romantically involved with Satan.
John Malkovich cancels performance in Israel over fabricated quote circulated by promoters
ABU SNAN, Israel (AP) — John Malkovich has canceled a planned performance in Israel after promoters circulated a false quote attributed to him. The American actor was set to perform “The Music Critic” in Tel Aviv in April. A press release quoted him as expressing “solidarity” with the Israeli people, but Malkovich told Hollywood Reporter he never made those statements. The show's Israeli producer acknowledged the mistake, citing “human error," and issued an apology. Israel has faced mounting cultural isolation over the war in Gaza. Malkovich has performed in Israel before, stating that performing in a country doesn’t mean he supports its politics.
Girl Scouts' first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January
Man’s best friend is getting some love from the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the USA says its first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January. The blueberry muffin-flavored cookies were developed with Bark, a New York-based seller of dog treats and toys. The cookies, dubbed Patch Pals, will only be sold online. Also joining the Girl Scout cookie lineup in January are Sparkables, the organization’s first allergy-friendly cookie. The crunchy oatmeal cookie, which has chocolate chips and colored sprinkles, is made in a facility designed to avoid nine major allergens, including eggs, dairy, peanuts and wheat. Sparkables will also be sold online only.
Norway bids final farewell to popular King Harald V as crowds and royals converge for his funeral
OSLO, Norway (AP) — Norway has bid its final farewell to Harald V as crowds line the streets and foreign royals and leaders converge on Oslo for the funeral of the long-serving king. He was remembered on Wednesday as a popular monarch with a down-to-earth touch. A 21-gun salute rang out over the Norwegian capital at the start of a funeral procession from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. Harald’s son, new King Haakon VIII, and other senior royals walked behind the coffin, draped with the red Norwegian royal standard. Harald’s widow, Queen Sonja, and Haakon’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, followed in a car.
