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

World

World

MacKenzie Scott's $250 million open call for donations yields applications from 6,353 nonprofits

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s first open call for grants yielded 6,353 applications from nonprofits — meaning candidates have at least a 4% chance of being selected for a $1 million grant. Lever for Change, the nonprofit overseeing the application process, said Wednesday that the applications came from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 250 winners will be announced in early 2024. Scott has shaken up philanthropic giving since 2019, dropping large, unrestricted and unexpected donations on nonprofits when she began giving away the fortune she came into after divorcing Amazon founder

July 19, 2023
MacKenzie Scott's $250 million open call for donations yields applications from 6,353 nonprofits
World

Suspected gas explosion in Johannesburg rips open roads and flips cars during rush hour, injuring 9

A suspected underground gas explosion during Johannesburg’s evening rush hour ripped open roads and flipped more than 20 cars in South Africa’s biggest city Wednesday, injuring at least nine people, authorities said. The nine were sent to the hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life threatening. Other people were evacuated from the area due to fears of a second explosion or that multi-story buildings in a downtown section of the city that has become rundown in places might collapse. “Buildings are in danger of collapsing,” Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province, where Johannesburg is

July 19, 2023
Suspected gas explosion in Johannesburg rips open roads and flips cars during rush hour, injuring 9
World

The next chapter of Lionel Messi's career begins Friday at 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium

The seats at DRV PNK Stadium filled up quickly with fans eager to get a glimpse at Inter Miami’s new superstar. Lionel Messi — arguably the greatest soccer player ever — stood on a runway in the middle of the field looking out at his new home. “Thank you Miami,” Messi said to the crowd. “I’m happy to be here with you all.” The next chapter of the 36-year-old’s storied career will begin here. Not at Camp Nou in Barcelona or Parc des Princes in Paris. At Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium — a cozy

July 19, 2023
The next chapter of Lionel Messi's career begins Friday at 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium
World

CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Here's what you need to see and know today

When intense heat hits, the elderly are often its first targets. As southern Europe bakes under a heat wave, Associated Press photographer Andrew Medichini recorded Sant’Egidio Catholic group volunteer Michela Tassani checking up on 98-year-old Armando Frajegari at his home in Rome on Wednesday. Temperatures in many Italian cities were closing in on 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Alongside the heat, firefighters in Greece continued battle Thursday with wildfires near Athens that have prompted days of evacuations. Aircraft and crews from other countries were heading to join the fight. Heat in southern Greece was expected to grow worse later this

July 19, 2023
CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Here's what you need to see and know today
World

United Airlines says it made $1 billion in the second quarter and sees strong remainder of 2023

United Airlines said Wednesday it earned more than $1 billion in the second quarter despite canceling 3,800 flights in the last two weeks of June, when it struggled to recover from storms that crippled its key operation in the New York City area. United indicated that it sees no let-up in strong demand for tickets: It raised its forecast of third-quarter and full-year profit. The report underscores how airline revenue and profits are soaring as travel bounces back after the pandemic. Big carriers like United are benefitting especially from the strong recovery in international travel after the lifting of COVID-19-related

July 19, 2023
United Airlines says it made $1 billion in the second quarter and sees strong remainder of 2023
World

How hard is it to win the lottery? Odds to keep in mind as Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots soar

There’s no shaking it. Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim — even as more and more eye top prizes soaring to jaw-dropping heights. Ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing, the estimated jackpot for Powerball reached $1 billion — marking the seventh largest prize across U.S. lottery history. And Mega Millions’ jackpot grew to an estimated $720 million after there was no winner Tuesday. But don’t plan on entering a new tax bracket anytime soon. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot — no matter the size — stand near 1 in 292.2 million. Chances

July 19, 2023
How hard is it to win the lottery? Odds to keep in mind as Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots soar
World

Netflix's 2Q subscriber growth surges in a sign that crackdown on password sharing is paying off

Netflix enjoyed its biggest springtime spurt in subscribers since the early days of the pandemic three years ago, providing the latest sign that a recent crackdown on password sharing and the rollout of a cheaper version of its video streaming service are paying off. The video streaming service added 5.9 million subscribers during the April-June period, according to numbers released Wednesday along with its latest quarterly financial results. The gains easily surpassed the roughly 2.2 million additional subscriber that analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had anticipating. Netflix ended June with 238.4 million worldwide subscriber. The performance

July 19, 2023
Netflix's 2Q subscriber growth surges in a sign that crackdown on password sharing is paying off
World

Tesla's Q2 income jumps 20%, although shares stayed flat amid concerns about profits

Elon Musk’s big bet that Tesla price cuts could boost sales and profits amid increasing competition and poor economic sentiment appears to be yielding mixed results. The company beat analyst expectations for net income in the April-June quarter, although its shares barely budged. The Austin, Texas, maker of electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries reported net income of $2.7 billion in the quarter, a 20% increase from a year ago. Earnings per share also rose 20% to 78 cents when measured via generally accepted accounting principles. Analysts, however, tend to focus on Tesla’s own measurement of

July 19, 2023
Tesla's Q2 income jumps 20%, although shares stayed flat amid concerns about profits
World

American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why

Family members of the U.S. Army private whosprinted across the border into North Korea said Wednesday that he may have felt overwhelmed as he faced legal troubles and his possible looming discharge from the military. Relatives described Pvt. Travis King, 23, as a quiet loner who did not drink or smoke and enjoyed reading the Bible. After growing up up in southeast Wisconsin, he was excited about serving his country in South Korea. Now King’s family is struggling to understand what changed before he dashed into a country with a long history of holding Americans and

July 19, 2023
American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why
World

Speas big relief in debut, Heim homers as Rangers win 6th in a row, 5-1 over slumping Rays

Alex Speas struck out his first three batters in his big league debut for the Texas Rangers, getting two outs with his first one when All-Star catcher Jonah Heim threw out a runner trying to steal second base. That relief from Speas, a second-round draft pick in 2016, came before Heim’s big three-run homer in the eighth inning as the AL West leaders stretched their winning streak to six games with a 5-1 victory over the slumping Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. So much for Texas manager Bruce Bochy looking for a soft landing spot for

July 19, 2023
Speas big relief in debut, Heim homers as Rangers win 6th in a row, 5-1 over slumping Rays
World

Big expectations and lots of attention greet Jets as they begin training camp with Aaron Rodgers

It all now seems officially real for the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers strolled into the team’s facility Wednesday with the rest of his raring-to-go teammates — veterans and rookies — and reported for training camp for the first time with the franchise that made the stunning trade for him in April. The Jets tweeted a photo of Rodgers wearing his green and white jersey — instead of the red no-contact practice version he wore during offseason workouts — for the first time, adding: “This is not an AI-generated photo.” Nope, no more clever edits

July 19, 2023
Big expectations and lots of attention greet Jets as they begin training camp with Aaron Rodgers
World

A gunman in New Zealand has killed 2 people on eve of Women's World Cup soccer tournament

A gunman killed two people at a construction site in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland on Thursday, as the nation prepared to host games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer tournament, authorities said. Police said there were also multiple injuries during the incident, which took place near the hotel where Team Norway has been staying. New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead as planned. “Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government has spoken

July 19, 2023
A gunman in New Zealand has killed 2 people on eve of Women's World Cup soccer tournament
World

Union in Canadian province of British Columbia rescinds port strike notice after Trudeau meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with top officials Wednesday after the longshore union renewed a 72-hour strike notice. The noticed was later rescinded by the union which had earlier blocked shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said late Wednesday in a brief note to its locals that strike notice set for July 22 at 9 a.m. “has now been removed.” With the 72-hour notice lifted, the union can’t resume strike action unless it files another notice,

July 19, 2023
Union in Canadian province of British Columbia rescinds port strike notice after Trudeau meeting
World

Warriors youth campers help present former Golden State players Bjelica, Chiozza championship rings

In a post-lunch session at Warriors youth basketball camp, 11-year-old Vanessa Lewis stood and beamed as she asked a very important question to a pair of very important guests: “Have you seen your rings yet?” Nope, answered Nemanja Bjelica and Chris Chiozza. Then, moments later Wednesday, fellow campers Amari Chiefelk and Will McCloskey appeared from around the blue Golden State Warriors partition and handed each man a box containing his sparkling 2022 championship ring. Awestruck, their eyes lit up immediately. “I didn’t realize it was going to be that big,” said an emotional Bjelica, who traveled

July 19, 2023
Warriors youth campers help present former Golden State players Bjelica, Chiozza championship rings
World

Women's World Cup security heightened ahead of opening match following deadly shooting in Auckland

Security will be heightened ahead of Thursday night’s opening Women’s World Cup game after a gunman killed two people at a downtown construction site in Auckland, roughly 12 hours ahead of co-host New Zealand’s match against Norway. Norway’s team hotel was located within a short distance of the shooting, which occurred in the tourist area of the city near the harbor ferry terminal. Norway captain Maren Mjelde said teammates were awakened by a helicopter hovering outside the hotel. “We felt safe the whole time,” Mjelde said in a statement. “FIFA has a good security system

July 19, 2023
Women's World Cup security heightened ahead of opening match following deadly shooting in Auckland
World

Judge orders man charged with killing 2 teenage girls to remain at northern Indiana prison

A man charged with killing two teenage girls will remain held at a northern Indiana prison after a judge concluded Wednesday he’s being treated better there than other inmates. Special Judge Fran Gull denied a request from attorneys for Richard Allen to relocate him from the Indiana Department of Correction’s Westville Correctional Facility because of what they said were his deteriorating health and poor living conditions at the prison where he has been held since last November. His lawyers argued, among other things, that Allen sleeps on a pad on a concrete floor; must wear the

July 20, 2023
Judge orders man charged with killing 2 teenage girls to remain at northern Indiana prison
World

Judge on possibility of Ohtani breaking his AL home run mark: 'Records are meant to be broken'

It took 61 years for Roger Maris’ American League season home run record to be broken. Aaron Judge’s hold on the mark could be ended by Shohei Ohtani after one year. “Records are meant to be broken, It would be exciting for the game if he we went out there and got 63-plus. So, we’ll see what happens,” Judge said Wednesday before the Yankees faced the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani went into Wednesday with 35 homers in 94 games, on pace to hit 60. Judge hit 62 last year, one more than Maris in 1961. Ohtani

July 20, 2023
Judge on possibility of Ohtani breaking his AL home run mark: 'Records are meant to be broken'
World

Cancer survivors Liam Hendriks and Carlos Carrasco team up to host pediatric patients at Citi Field

Even though they’re in opposing dugouts this week, New York Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco and Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks are part of the same inspiring club. Fellow cancer survivors, they teamed up Wednesday to host pediatric cancer patients from Cohen Children’s Medical Center at Citi Field as part of Carrasco’s program called Cookie’s Kids. “It was really nice,” Carrasco told MLB.com. “He came over and he wanted to do this. There’s a lot of people who can see that (and realize) if we can make it, they can make it, too.” The kids were

July 20, 2023
Cancer survivors Liam Hendriks and Carlos Carrasco team up to host pediatric patients at Citi Field
World

Protesters in Iraq storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad amid continuing anger over Quran burning

Protesters angered by the burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire. Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada Sadr. It wasn’t clear if there were any staff inside the complex at the time. The Swedish Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The videos showed dozens of men climbing over the fence at the complex, with the sound of them trying to

July 20, 2023
Protesters in Iraq storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad amid continuing anger over Quran burning
World

Declan Rice comes in as 2nd-half sub in Arsenal's 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars

Newly acquired midfield star Declan Rice came on as a second-half substitute and helped Arsenal finish off a 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday night. Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all scored — and those weren’t the only highlights for the many red-clad Arsenal supporters in the crowd at Audi Field. Rice moved from West Ham to the Gunners for a British-record transfer fee last weekend, reported to be 105 million pounds ($138 million). The crowd roared when he came in just over an hour into the match, and cheered

July 20, 2023
Declan Rice comes in as 2nd-half sub in Arsenal's 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars
World

New York City agrees to pay $13 million to 2020 racial injustice protesters in historic class action

New York City has agreed to pay more than $13 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of roughly 1,300 people who were arrested or beaten by police during racial injustice demonstrations that swept through the city during the summer of 2020. If approved by a judge, the settlement, which was filed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, would be among the most expensive pay-outs ever awarded in a lawsuit over mass arrests, experts said. The lawsuit focused on 18 of the many protests that erupted in New York City in the week following

July 20, 2023
New York City agrees to pay $13 million to 2020 racial injustice protesters in historic class action
World

Oklahoma prepares to execute man for 1995 slaying of Tulsa woman

Oklahoma is preparing to execute a man Thursday for stabbing a Tulsa woman to death with a butcher knife in 1995 after his escape from a prison work center. Jemaine Cannon, 51, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. It will be the second execution in Oklahoma this year and the ninth since the state resumed lethal injections in 2021. Cannon was convicted of killing 20-year-old Sharonda Clark, a mother of two with whom Cannon had been living at an apartment in Tulsa after his escape

July 20, 2023
Oklahoma prepares to execute man for 1995 slaying of Tulsa woman
World

Hiker's parents are retracing her final steps to raise money for safety education programs

A young girl chatters to her mother as they descend Mount Pierce, her voice as bright and bouncing as her footsteps. “You’re amazing!” she calls out to a slower couple she passes on the trail. Until then, the couple has been focused on the physical effort of hiking, the precision required to step just so onto the rocks and around the roots. Motion, yes. Emotion, no. But just for a moment, watching the girl disappear from view reminds them of their daughter. How could it not? ___ No one would blame Jorge Sotelo and Olivera

July 20, 2023
Hiker's parents are retracing her final steps to raise money for safety education programs
World

Reeling Yankees show frustration at end of disappointing trip

Carlos Rodón and Tommy Kahnle visibly displayed the New York Yankees’ struggles. Rodón sarcastically blew a kiss while walking to the dugout after the second inning and Kahnle took out his frustrations on a cooling fan in the dugout on Wednesday during the Yankees’ 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The loss marked the first time in 14 years New York was swept in a three-game series by the Angels, The Yankees completed a 1-5 trip that saw them drop to last place in the AL East. They have lost four straight and nine of

July 20, 2023
Reeling Yankees show frustration at end of disappointing trip
World

The wait is over as Powerball finally has a winner for its jackpot worth over $1 billion

A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth largest in U.S. history and the 3rd largest in the history of the game. The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The California Lottery said on Twitter that the winning ticket was sold in Los Angeles at Las Palmitas Mini Market. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $1 billion to $1.08 billion at the time of the drawing, moving it from the seventh largest

July 20, 2023
The wait is over as Powerball finally has a winner for its jackpot worth over $1 billion

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