Watchdog for $46 billion tribal gambling industry can't enforce the law without a chairperson
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma opened its new Harrah’s-branded casino in April. But plans for Harrah’s to take over casino management are stalled because of a vacancy at a federal watchdog. The National Indian Gaming Commission hasn't had a chairperson since January and President Donald Trump has yet to nominate a replacement. That’s left the commission unable to carry out enforcement duties or management deals like the one in Oklahoma. Industry leaders say the vacancy risks delaying business deals and weakening oversight. It also deprives tribes of a key advocate as prediction markets threaten to encroach on the $46 billion tribal gambling industry.
Two drivers of Mercedes AMG cars file class action lawsuit over an alleged burn hazard in its logo
NEW YORK (AP) — Two drivers of Mercedes AMG cars have filed a class action lawsuit against the luxury car company, saying that the AMG logo on their driver’s seat gets so hot that it literally brands them and causes burns. A court document filed earlier this week in California say plaintiffs Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep “Karina” Bath allege the front seats of certain Mercedes AMG vehicles have a design defect where the raised metallic AMG logo can be expected to touch a person's upper back, neck, or shoulder. The plaintiffs want Mercedes to compensate them for medical and other costs. Mercedes-Benz couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' keeps record pace, ‘The Odyssey’ sets new high for Nolan
NEW YORK (AP) — “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continued its blistering pace in theaters, collecting $144.5 million domestically over its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. And Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” set a new high for the director. “Brand New Day” has rapidly accrued $1.67 billion worldwide in just 10 days, on track to become among the biggest blockbusters ever. It took only seven days to become the highest grossing movie of the year. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” also crossed $1 billion. In its fourth weekend, the Universal Pictures release added $31.5 million domestically for a global total of $1.1 billion. That's a new career-best for Nolan.
Israel rejects Trump's Gaza plan, more details emerge on the Strait of Hormuz and other Mideast news
Israel’s prime minister is rejecting President Donald Trump’s announced deal for Gaza and says Israeli forces won’t withdraw from the Palestinian territory until Hamas disarms. Meanwhile, more details are emerging on Iran and Oman’s deal to manage the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran suggests that vessels linked to “hostile countries” will be barred. Iran also has changed its top security post. Elsewhere, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have targeted a crucial Yemeni government-held port on the Red Sea and attacked an oil facility in Saudi Arabia. A Houthi spokesperson says Sunday's attacks were in response to Saudi drones breaching Yemen’s airspace.
Cyprus natural gas to supply Europe by first half of 2028, minister says, as EU seeks new sources
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — European consumers can expect natural gas from Cyprus to help meet their energy needs by March 2028, Cyprus' energy minister says. The East Mediterranean is becoming an alternative energy source for Europe as Russia’s war in Ukraine and Middle East upheaval push Europe to find new sources. Partners TotalEnergies and Eni decided to develop the Cronos gas field off Cyprus' coast. A pipeline to Egypt’s Zohr deposit will begin later this year. Gas will be liquefied in Egypt for transport to Europe. Cyprus is also working on a project to connect its power grid with Europe and Israel.
Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel spends a chunk of the company's massive cashpile
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO Greg Abel has invested $10 billion in Google’s parent company and repurchased about $4.5 billion of its shares. The conglomerate that legendary investor Warren Buffett built reported its second-quarter earnings Saturday morning and disclosed that its cash holdings had shrunk more than $30 billion to $365.5 billion. Abel announced in March that Berkshire had resumed buying back its own shares for the first time in more than two years, but investors were underwhelmed with the buybacks in the first quarter.
A pillar of environmental enforcement is targeted by Trump and Musk's AI company
WASHINGTON (AP) — Right-leaning legal activists and Elon Musk's AI company are challenging the right of private groups to sue to enforce several major laws. They are challenging so-called citizen suit provisions and argue that the Constitution reserves tremendous power to the president and federal agencies to enforce the law. The Trump administration has supplied critical backing. The Supreme Court's conservative majority has expanded executive power, raising concerns about the outcome. Critics argue that citizen suits are essential for holding polluters accountable, especially when government resources are limited. Momentum has built in recent years to challenge the authority of private individuals to sue.
A New Mexico judge ordered new child safeguards for Meta. Advocates hope other courts follow
In a landmark ruling against Meta, a New Mexico judge likened the company’s social media platforms to factories. The psychological harm to children who use Facebook and Instagram, he said, can be seen as their pollution. Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined the company $567 million in his ruling Thursday, but he also ordered new safety measures including time limits for kids and AI chatbot restrictions. How easily those features can be implemented, and how effective they could be at protecting young users from mental health harms, are unresolved questions. But the judge’s order showed a possible path forward for other court fights around the country as Meta faces mounting legal challenges.
Africa wants more homegrown solar to boost self-reliance, but China's shadow remains
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Africa's largest economies are ramping up efforts to develop their domestic solar manufacturing capacity. Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria are building solar equipment factories, a trend that industry experts say reflects both industrial ambitions and concerns over reliance on imports from China. China dominates the global solar supply chain, even in projects in other regions. In 2010-2024, Chinese renewable energy investment and relevant construction projects in Africa reached an estimated $66 billion. Experts say Africa’s manufacturing ambitions won’t easily displace Chinese imports. However, South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco are already seeing more domestic and joint venture-led investments.
US job market stalled in July as employers cut 23,000 jobs, delivering political setback to Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month, and Labor Department revisions shaved 103,000 jobs off payrolls in May and June. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% only because Americans left the job market. The July jobs numbers from the Labor Department Friday marked a sharp reversal for the American labor market and amount to a political setback for President Donald Trump less than three months before his Republican party seeks to keep full control of Congress in the upcoming midterm election. Forecasters had expected job creation to approach 100,000 last month.
