A trip to the United Arab Emirates' darkest spot reveals a rare view of the Milky Way
AL QUAA DESERT, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The gleaming skyscrapers and brights lights of the United Arab Emirates draw the eyes of all who travel here. Then landscape is sign of this Arabian Peninsula nation’s rapid, oil-fueled development over the past decades into a major hub for commerce and tourism. But something lost has been a clear vision of the night sky across nearly all of the country's inhabited land. A group of volunteers from the Dubai Astronomy Group has been helping people in the Emirates reconnect with the sight of stars and the Milky Way by taking them to Al Quaa Desert, one of the darkest spots in the country.
Dead humpback whale brought to shore in Denmark with autopsy set next week
ANHOLT, Denmark (AP) — The carcass of a humpback whale has been dragged onto a Danish beach after two weeks of the body languishing in shallow waters. The whale had gained the nicknames “Timmy” and “Hope” as German media outlets sent push alerts and updated live blogs with the status of its health since it was first spotted off the German coast on March 3. It was dragged Saturday onto a beach of the small island of Anholt in the Kattegat, the broad strait between Denmark and Sweden that connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. The carcass will be examined next week.
3 climbers who fell near treacherous pass on Alaska’s Mount McKinley are dead; 1 rescued
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Latvian mountaineering group says three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley who fell near a treacherous pass on North America’s tallest peak have died. A fourth climber has been rescued. The group said Friday that the four were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition. The National Park Service says the climbers were traversing a route known for its exposed sections when they fell earlier this week. Denali National Park and Preserve rangers had to wait for the weather to clear before attempting to reach the climbers, who were in a group of seven on the mountain. The fall happened near Denali Pass, which is about 18,200 feet. McKinley stands at about 20,310 feet.
Atlanta police investigate whether their officer had sex with federal judge in the judge's chambers
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police have launched an investigation to determine if a high-ranking officer found to have had sex with a federal judge in the courthouse is from their department. The judge, part of the 11th Judicial Circuit, received a private reprimand for having sex in chambers during business hours and later lying about it. The investigation followed a complaint from a law clerk. The judge initially denied the allegations but later admitted to them. Despite the misconduct, the judge received a private reprimand, prompting criticism about accountability for judges. The judge agreed to write apology letters and refrain from certain roles.
When Sue Tilley met Lucian Freud, it changed her life. Now a painting of her could fetch $47 million
LONDON (AP) — Sue Tilley was working in an unemployment office when she met artist Lucian Freud. His paintings of her in the 1990s are now famous, and very valuable. “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” considered one of Freud’s masterpieces, is up for sale at Sotheby’s on June 24. It has a presale estimate of between $33 million and $47 million. Tilley hasn’t received any money from the portraits but doesn’t regret it. She says the experience changed her life. Freud, known for his fleshy nudes, painted Tilley in four monumental portraits. One sold for $33.6 million in 2008 and another for $56 million in 2015.
Conan O’Brien speaks at Harvard commencement as Trump tightens pressure on the school
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard graduates heard from comedian and television host Conan O’Brien at their commencement. The appearance Thursday of O'Brien, a Harvard alum, came during one of the most fraught periods in the Ivy League school's recent history, as it faces mounting legal and financial pressure from President Donald Trump. The administration sued Harvard in March, accusing its leadership of failing to address antisemitism on campus and creating grounds for the government to freeze existing grants and seek repayment for grants already paid. That came months after a judge sided with Harvard in another lawsuit and ordered the administration to reverse billions of dollars in cuts.
Claude Lemieux, the feisty four-time Stanley Cup champion for Avalanche, Devils and Habs, dies at 60
Four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux has died after taking his own life, according to authorities. He was 60. The Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office said deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to a suicide call at a furniture store showroom in Lake Park, Florida. The sheriff’s office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux. The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux’s death in a post on social media. Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens' torch bearer prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with New Jersey in 1995.
Naomi Osaka's latest French Open fashion ensemble includes an ivory train and gold jacket
PARIS (AP) — Naomi Osaka keeps bringing the fashion in Paris. For her walk-on before a second-round win at the French Open the tennis star had on a metallic gold bomber jacket over her sequined gold playing dress offset by an ivory train in a look that mixes sportswear with couture. Osaka then took off the train and jacket and handed the garments to a ball kid to remove them. Osaka beat Donna Vekic 7-6 (1), 6-4 to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2019. For her match Tuesday Osaka walked on in a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice before revealing her gold dress which she said reminded her of the Eiffel Tower at night.
Caesars Entertainment, a Las Vegas Strip icon, is sold for nearly $6 billion
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Caesars Entertainment is being acquired for almost $6 billion by Fertitta, the company that owns Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget and chains like Rainforest Cafe and Morton’s. Caesars became an iconic name after the opening of Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas Strip in 1966. However, its roots date back to the 1930s in Reno, Nevada. Fertitta Entertainment will pay $5.7 billion and take on close to $12 billion in debt from Caesars, putting the total value of the deal at about $17.6 billion. Shares of Caesars Entertainment, which are up 15% since merger rumors emerged, rose almost 2% before the opening bell Thursday. Tilman Fertitta is a billionaire hospitality mogul who owns Fertitta Entertainment. He is also the largest shareholder in Wynn Resorts as well as DraftKings.
Happy, who taught researchers that elephants can recognize themselves, is euthanized at Bronx Zoo
NEW YORK (AP) — A Bronx Zoo elephant who gave researchers new insights and became the crux of a closely watched animal rights case has died. The zoo says 55-year-old Happy was euthanized Tuesday after a weekslong decline. The zoo says she showed signs of potential declining kidney or liver function, and a necropsy revealed several large inoperable uterine tumors and arthritis. The Asian elephant lived at the zoo since 1977. In 2005, she showed researchers that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror. A group called the Nonhuman Rights Project sued the Bronx Zoo in 2018, seeking to have Happy declared a “person” for legal purposes and moved to a large animal sanctuary. New York’s top court ultimately rejected the activists’ claim.
