Volkswagen sales plunge as German automaker lays out plan to slash number of brands
BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen has reported weak sales numbers, with a significant drop in China. The company said Friday plans to cut its model lineup by nearly half. Volkswagen said group sales fell 8.6% in the second quarter to just under 2.1 million vehicles. Sales in China alone plummeted by more than one-third. CEO Oliver Blume aims to make VW faster and more competitive by reducing complexity and overcapacities. Volkswagen cited challenges like geopolitical tensions and rising costs. On Thursday, employees protested outside the Zwickau plant, demanding job protections as the factory shifts to electric car production.
New 'Little House' series explores complicated history but keeps heart, community at the center
Netflix is set to premiere a remake of “Little House on the Prairie” on Thursday. Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine says the series still resonates with the American dream. Set in the late 1800s, it follows the Ingalls family as they settle in the frontier. The show explores themes of rugged individualism and the complexities of pioneer life. Sonnenshine emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse perspectives, highlighting interactions with the Osage Nation. Luke Bracey plays Pa, a character portrayed as good but flawed. Filming for Season 2 is already underway, with a fan favorite addition to the cast.
France returns 23 Syrian treasures after 15 years as Macron visits Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — France has returned 23 Syrian archaeological treasures after they remained in the country for about 15 years. Their return coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark visit to Damascus, the first by a major Western leader since the ouster of Bashar Assad in late 2024. The artifacts include Roman bronze objects, Byzantine and Islamic-era pieces, and a richly colored mosaic panel. Syria’s former director-general of antiquities and museums, Maamoun Abdulkarim, said the return closes a chapter that stretched across years of war, diplomatic isolation, and failed attempts to retrieve the collection.
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had a brain abnormality linked to repeated head trauma when he killed himself after a high-speed chase with police in November 2025. The findings of a postmortem analysis of Kneeland's brain tissue were released Tuesday by his family through the Concussion and CTE Foundation. Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center determined Kneeland was in stage one of four of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Kneeland was 24. He had played at Western Michigan University, before he was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Former NBA star Lamar Odom expected to enter plea deal in Las Vegas DUI case
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former NBA star Lamar Odom is expected to enter a plea deal in a DUI case in Las Vegas. The deal will result in the DUI charge being lowered to a reckless driving charge. The plea deal comes in lieu of a bench trial that was scheduled Tuesday. According to an arrest report, the former Los Angeles Lakers player was arrested in mid-January after a state trooper observed him speeding. Odom won championships in 2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks during a 14-year NBA career.
Ex-Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum arrested on drug possession charges
DAPHNE, Ala. (AP) — Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum has been arrested on drug possession charges in Alabama after police say they pulled him over for erratic driving and found marijuana and meth in his vehicle. It’s the latest legal trouble for the ex-Tallahassee mayor, who narrowly lost to Republican Ron DeSantis for governor in 2018 and was once considered a rising star of the Democratic Party. The 46-year-old was arrested on July 2 in Daphne, about 11 miles east of Mobile on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. He is charged with marijuana possession and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, the Daphne Police Department said. Jail records show he was released on July 3. Information on a lawyer who could speak on his behalf wasn’t immediately available.
Utah revokes license for boarding school where Paris Hilton says she was abused as a teen
Utah has revoked the license of a boarding school where Paris Hilton says she was abused as a teenager. The state cites multiple noncompliance issues against Provo Canyon School's Springville campus. The action took effect Monday. The school has 15 days to request a hearing. Citations include failing to increase staff-to-client ratios, unnecessary restraint, neglecting care and not verifying employee information. Hilton spent almost a year there in the late 1990s and has testified about her experiences and helped pass laws to protect teens. The state says all services must end by Aug. 6. Provo Canyon School didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donate $26M to charities ahead of wedding
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have donated $26 million to charities this week ahead of their Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden. According to Swift's publicist, the donations were spread out across 20 local and national charities. The announcement did not include any mention of Swift and Kelce’s wedding, but a law enforcement official briefed on security plans has told AP that the wedding will be held Friday, with a smaller rehearsal dinner Thursday night. Nine of the selected organizations are based in New York, ranging from the Food Bank For NYC, City Harvest, to Musical Mentors, a nonprofit that connects music teachers with students in need.
Actor and activist Danny Glover says he has Alzheimer’s disease
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor and activist Danny Glover says he has Alzheimer’s disease. The “Lethal Weapon” star, who turns 80 on July 22, was diagnosed three years ago. He told “Today” and People magazine that he’s still coming to terms with the disease. Alzheimer’s affects more than 6 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide. Glover earned four Emmy nominations and an honorary Oscar in 2022. He also received awards from the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Program.
California to institute Bruce Lee Day, a first for a Chinese American in the state's history
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Martial arts icon Bruce Lee, who was born in San Francisco, will become the first Chinese American in California history with an annual namesake day. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday officially designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day. That's the date in 1959 that an 18-year-old Lee returned to San Francisco after spending his childhood in Hong Kong. Lee’s daughter, Shannon, says the honor is a testament to her father’s enduring legacy as a bridge between cultures. Lee is credited for challenging racial stereotypes with his portrayal of a strong, Asian male through martial arts cinema.
