Today: September 25, 2024
Today: September 25, 2024

World

World

Play, swim and eat: Europe's largest casino resort opens its doors in Cyprus as tourism rebounds

A new casino resort touted as the largest of its kind in Europe has opened its doors in Cyprus, aiming to transform the east Mediterranean island nation into a year-round destination for luxury tourism, officials said Tuesday. The 600 million euro ($659 million) City of Dreams Mediterranean is one of the largest development projects ever undertaken in the eastern Mediterranean island nation. The resort boasts a 14-story, 500-room hotel replete with a casino, sporting facilities, a family adventure park, the island’s largest pool complex, an outdoor amphitheater, eight restaurants and bars, and a conference center. Lawrence

July 11, 2023
Play, swim and eat: Europe's largest casino resort opens its doors in Cyprus as tourism rebounds
World

Elina Svitolina beats top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach Wimbledon semifinals

Three months after returning from maternity leave, Elina Svitolina reached the Wimbledon semifinals by beating top-ranked Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 Tuesday. The 28-year-old Ukrainian gave birth to her daughter in October and returned to the WTA tour in April. Swiatek, a four-time major champion, won the French Open last month but was playing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

July 11, 2023
Elina Svitolina beats top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach Wimbledon semifinals
World

UN ends aid to northwest Syria from Turkey after Security Council fails to renew approval

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday failed to renew authorization of the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria’s rebel-held northwest from neighboring Turkey, officially ending a U.N. operation that had been vital to helping a region of 4.1 million people. The council failed to adopt either of two rival resolutions to authorize further deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, where the latest six-month mandate expired on Monday. Syrian President Bashar Assad opened two additional crossing points from Turkey at Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai to increase the flow of assistance to victims of the devastating magnitude

July 11, 2023
UN ends aid to northwest Syria from Turkey after Security Council fails to renew approval
World

Judge declines to block Microsoft's record $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard

A federal judge has handed Microsoft a major victory by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard. Regulators are seeking to ax the deal because they say it will hurt competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in a ruling that the “FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.” Microsoft appeared to have the upper hand

July 11, 2023
Judge declines to block Microsoft's record $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard
World

Amazon pushes back against Europe's pioneering new digital rules

Amazon is disputing its status as a big online platform that needs to face stricter scrutiny under European Union digital rules taking effect next month, the first Silicon Valley tech giant to push back on the pioneering new standards. The online retailer filed a legal challenge with a top European Union court, arguing it’s being treated unfairly by being designated a “very large online platform” under the 27-nation bloc’s sweeping Digital Services Act. Amazon, whose filing to the European General Court was made available Tuesday, is the second company to protest the classification. German online retailer Zalando

July 11, 2023
Amazon pushes back against Europe's pioneering new digital rules
World

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia in October

Boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia, promoters announced Tuesday. The latest high-profile crossover boxing match between a mixed martial artist and a professional boxer will take place in a regulation ring, with three ringside judges using the 10-point scoring system. The fight announcement by promoter Top Rank didn’t specify whether the bout will count on the fighters’ professional boxing records or whether Fury’s WBC heavyweight title will be on the line. Fury and Ngannou have talked about a potential meeting for more than

July 11, 2023
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia in October
World

The invasion of Ukraine spurred NATO to revamp its defense plans against Russian attack

U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts on Tuesday endorsed the biggest shakeup since the Cold War of the way the military alliance would respond to any attack on its territory by Russia. Inspired in part by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the highly-secretive defense plans lay out which of the 31 member countries would be called on to respond an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas. “Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered,” the leaders said in a statement,

July 11, 2023
The invasion of Ukraine spurred NATO to revamp its defense plans against Russian attack
World

In fight against Canada fires, dancing South Africa crews are a familiar and uplifting sight

Some three dozen South African firefighters, clad in their bright yellow jackets and dark blue pants, danced, sang and cheered in a sprawling parking lot close by the majestic woods of central Alberta. The mood was light as the men and women smiled and clapped, some taking out smartphones to record video of their dancing colleagues before heading off to another day battling the fires raging through Canada. The group gathered on an early July day in the small town of Fox Creek had traveled nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) to help fight the hundreds

July 11, 2023
In fight against Canada fires, dancing South Africa crews are a familiar and uplifting sight
World

Stewart has Liberty one win away from spot in Commissioner's Cup title game

Breanna Stewart has already won one Commissioner’s Cup championship. She hopes to get New York to this year’s in-season tournament title game to have a chance at another one. The Aces have already clinched a spot in the final which will be played in Las Vegas on Aug. 15. The Aces won the Cup last year and are looking to defend their title. The Liberty need a victory over Indiana on Wednesday or a loss by Connecticut in Chicago to earn a trip to Las Vegas to play the Aces in the championship game. New York

July 11, 2023
Stewart has Liberty one win away from spot in Commissioner's Cup title game
World

In Ukraine, civilians train on survival skills to cope with dangers from Russia’s war

In a cramped municipal building in a residential area of the Ukrainian capital, a group of people take turns training to shoot using a replica of a machine gun with the help of a weapons training simulator relying on virtual reality. The nearly 20 participants — all of them civilians and most of them women — have never held a weapon before. With Russia’s war on Ukraine in its 17th month, the Kyiv City Administration has opened up training for civilians who want to learn survival skills, including how to shoot, provide first aid and recognize

July 11, 2023
In Ukraine, civilians train on survival skills to cope with dangers from Russia’s war
World

Train derails at Union Station in Washington, causing delays but no serious injuries

A pair of Amtrak train cars derailed Tuesday morning outside of Washington D.C.’s Union Station, causing delays but no significant injuries, according to authorities. The incident took place before 9 a.m. in a tunnel near the Union Station entrance, and involved an incoming train arriving from Norfolk, Virginia. Both derailed train cars remained upright. Fire officials and medics boarded the train but reported no serious injuries among the passengers, although one Amtrak employee was taken to a medical facility for a minor issue. Union Station is a major regional hub and the derailment has caused delays and

July 11, 2023
Train derails at Union Station in Washington, causing delays but no serious injuries
World

With Wembanyama, other top picks out, NBA Summer League spotlight is for the taking

Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama and many of the highest 2023 draft picks are out for the rest of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but several other players are worth watching. Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, this year’s No. 16 overall pick from Baylor, is second in the league with 29.5 points and third with 8.5 assists per game. He opened with 33 points and 10 assists Saturday in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. On Monday in a win over Minnesota, he scored 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting and had seven assists. Others who are off to

July 11, 2023
With Wembanyama, other top picks out, NBA Summer League spotlight is for the taking
World

Iraq's $27B deal with TotalEnergies could ease its longstanding energy crisis, but challenges remain

A multi-billion dollar agreement signed with France’s TotalEnergies could help resolve Iraq’s longstanding electricity crisis, attract international investors and reduce its reliance on gas imports from neighboring Iran, a point of tension with Washington. The $27 billion agreement signed in Baghdad on Monday after years of negotiation marks the largest foreign investment in Iraq’s history. It could even help combat climate change by reducing oil flares, and relieve some of the stress on Iraq’s dwindling waterways through a new desalination plant. But that’s only if the parties implementing the agreement can overcome the endemic corruption and political

July 11, 2023
Iraq's $27B deal with TotalEnergies could ease its longstanding energy crisis, but challenges remain
World

Smuggler sentenced to prison for deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants who suffocated in truck in UK

A Romanian man who was part of an international human smuggling ring was sentenced Tuesday to more than 12 years in prison for the deaths of 39 migrants from Vietnam who suffocated in a truck trailer on their way to England in 2019. Marius Mihai Draghici was the ringleader’s right-hand man and an “essential cog” in an operation that made huge profits exploiting people desperate to get to the U.K., Justice Neil Garnham said in the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey. Victims, who paid about 13,000 pounds ($16,770) for so-called VIP service, died after

July 11, 2023
Smuggler sentenced to prison for deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants who suffocated in truck in UK
World

Turkey's pledge of support for Sweden's NATO entry is tied to goals on security and EU membership

Turkey made a surprise pledge to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, paving the way for the Nordic country to become a member of the Western military alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg heralded the agreement Monday after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Stoltenberg said Turkey had agreed to support Sweden’s NATO bid – by putting the issue to a vote in Parliament — in return for deeper cooperation with Sweden on security issues and a pledge from Sweden to revive Turkey’s quest for EU membership. The agreement

July 11, 2023
Turkey's pledge of support for Sweden's NATO entry is tied to goals on security and EU membership
World

Amazon union is sued by former members seeking a new election for union officers

A dissenting group composed of some former members of the fledgling union that successfully organized an Amazon warehouse in New York has filed a lawsuit accusing the union of violating its own constitution and is asking a court to step in and force an election for union officers. The complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York, comes as the upstart Amazon Labor Union – the only certified group representing Amazon workers – struggles to capture the momentum that led to its surprising victory last year following a series of

July 11, 2023
Amazon union is sued by former members seeking a new election for union officers
World

Ticketmaster halts Taylor Swift ticket sales in France, cites issue with third-party provider

The trouble between Ticketmaster and Taylor Swift’s“Eras” tour isn’t over — with the latest snafu impacting fans hoping to score tickets in France. On Tuesday, after some fans reported issues with accessing Ticketmaster’s site, sales for six of Swift’s upcoming shows in Paris and Lyon were abruptly postponed. An explanation wasn’t immediately clear, but in posts on Ticketmaster’s French Twitter several hours after the pause began, the ticket seller cited a problem with a third-party provider. Ticketmaster directed The Associated Press to the Twitter statement. In the posts, Ticketmaster maintained that tickets to the France shows

July 11, 2023
Ticketmaster halts Taylor Swift ticket sales in France, cites issue with third-party provider
World

Oakland Athletics start process of applying to MLB for move to Las Vegas

The Oakland Athletics have started the process of applying to Major League Baseball to move to Las Vegas. MLB last month established a relocation committee to evaluate the move, a group headed by Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio. Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman were also on the committee. “They have begun to submit information related to their relocation application,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday. “It’s not complete at this point.” Nevada’s Legislature approved providing $380 million in public financing for a proposed

July 11, 2023
Oakland Athletics start process of applying to MLB for move to Las Vegas
World

Insurance companies sue energy corporation after it was blamed for helping start Colorado wildfire

Dozens of insurance companies are suing Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy to recoup money paid out to homes and businesses lost in Colorado’s most destructive wildfire in 2021. The lawsuit was filed Thursday, a few weeks after investigators announced that a sparking power line owned by Xcel was one of the causes of a fire that, fanned by high winds, destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and left two people dead. Embers from a smoldering scrap wood fire set days before on a nearby property used by a Christian religious communal group was also found to have been another cause. The two fires combined

July 11, 2023
Insurance companies sue energy corporation after it was blamed for helping start Colorado wildfire
World

Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer with 46 Slam semifinals and meets Jannik Sinner next at Wimbledon

As Novak Djokovic pursues more history-making victories and more milestones, he is well aware that every opponent he faces would love nothing more than to stop him. “I know they want … to win. But it ain’t happening, still,” he told the crowd at Wimbledon on Tuesday after reaching a 46th Grand Slam semifinal to tie Roger Federer’s record for men. Hearing the spectators’ loud reaction to that boast, Djokovic laughed and observed about himself: “Very humble.” His 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Andrey Rublev was the 33rd in a row at the All England

July 11, 2023
Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer with 46 Slam semifinals and meets Jannik Sinner next at Wimbledon
World

MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseason

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the postseason but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success. In the first season of the clock, the average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours, 38 minutes, on track to be the fastest since 1984. It is down from 3:04 last year and 3:09 in 2021, the last season before PitchCom was introduced. “We’re going to continue to talk to the players,” Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday. “I think you ought to

July 11, 2023
MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseason
World

Leslie Van Houten, follower of cult leader Charles Manson, released from California prison

Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten walked out of a California prison Tuesday after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for her participation in two infamous murders. Van Houten “was released to parole supervision,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement. She left the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, in the early morning hours and was driven to transitional housing, her attorney Nancy Tetreault said. “She’s still trying to get used to the idea that this real,” Tetreault told The Associated Press. Days earlier

July 11, 2023
Leslie Van Houten, follower of cult leader Charles Manson, released from California prison
World

Saints' Alvin Kamara pleads no contest to a misdemeanor in the beating of a man at a Las Vegas club

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a fight last year that left a man unconscious at a Las Vegas nightclub, his attorney said Tuesday. Kamara and three other men faced felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly punching, kicking and stomping on Darnell Greene Jr. of Houston outside an elevator at the club. The altercation came a day before the NFL’s 2022 Pro Bowl. Kamara played in the Pro Bowl and was arrested after the game. A felony battery charge carried up to a five-year sentence. Kamara

July 11, 2023
Saints' Alvin Kamara pleads no contest to a misdemeanor in the beating of a man at a Las Vegas club
World

Georgia coach Kirby Smart still looking for way to slow down his players despite tragedy

Coach Kirby Smart acknowledged Tuesday that he is still struggling to find a way to persuade his Georgia players to slow down when driving, even after a player and employee were killed in a January crash. Smart has led Georgia to back-to-back national championships for the first time in school history, but the offseason has been marred by off-the-field problems, including a string of reckless driving and speeding offenses. Only hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their latest title with a parade and ceremony at Sanford Stadium, a Jan. 15 crash dramatically changed the tone of the

July 11, 2023
Georgia coach Kirby Smart still looking for way to slow down his players despite tragedy
World

Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball, and said the sport’s commercial deals with gambling companies have no impact on the status of the career hits leader. Rose agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation for Major League Baseball by lawyer John Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. The Hall of Fame’s board decided in 1991 that players on the permanently ineligible list also may not appear on the Hall ballot.

July 11, 2023
Manfred has no intention of altering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball

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