British leader reportedly exchanged messages with impostor of top White House official
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reportedly exchanged messages with an impostor posing as U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff. Politico on Monday revealed Burnham believed he was communicating with Susie Wiles before becoming suspicious and cutting off contact. A spokesperson for Burnham declined to comment, citing national security policy. The White House said the incident had nothing to do with Wiles’ devices being hacked. Last year, the U.S. government investigated similar incidents involving impostors. The State Department warned diplomats about attempts to impersonate officials using AI. The FBI has warned of “malicious actors” misusing AI to impersonate senior U.S. government officials.
Corgis run, bark and sniff their way to glory at a growing international race
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — It’s not all about short-legged speed when 150 corgis gather for an international race celebrating the little dogs. There’s a costume parade, the “smartest nose,” and — of course — the loudest bark. The fifth Corgi Race Vilnius drew dogs and their owners to the Lithuanian capital’s Vingis park on Saturday for what organizers said was the biggest edition yet. There were competitors from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the United States and Britain — the country most closely associated with the breed, famously a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dead at 83
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy John, the pitching great known for the surgery that bears his name, has died at 83. According to agent Mike Maguire, John died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday night. John had a remarkable 26-year career, winning 288 games and becoming the first pitcher to successfully return after groundbreaking elbow surgery. This procedure, now known as Tommy John surgery, has saved the careers of many baseball stars. John was a four-time All-Star and played for several teams, including the Yankees and Dodgers. His legacy extends beyond his pitching, as his surgery revolutionized baseball.
Bonnie Tyler fans line the streets of a Welsh village as her coffin is brought home
LONDON (AP) — Fans have gathered in a Welsh village to bid farewell to singer Bonnie Tyler. Her coffin was brought home on Saturday. The Grammy-nominated star, known for "Total Eclipse of the Heart," died last month in Portugal. She was 75. Locals and fans from the United Kingdom and beyond lined the streets of Mumbles, near Swansea, to see the hearse, which carried her coffin draped in a Welsh flag. Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, was a coal miner’s daughter from Skewen in Wales. She earned three Grammy nods and was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022. A celebration of her life is planned for Monday in Swansea.
Europe's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary is inaugurated in a small Polish village
KONOTOPIE, Poland (AP) — An enormous statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be Europe’s tallest has been inaugurated in a small Polish village. It was financed by one of Poland’s richest businesspeople. The monument towers 55.6 meters (182 feet) over Konotopie in central Poland. Its height includes a crown-shaped 15-meter (49-foot) pedestal. It’s taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which measures some 38 meters (125 feet) including its pedestal. The vast majority of Poles identify as Catholic, but the influence of religion in public life has gradually declined in recent years.
America In Focus: Inflation cools in July, but so do consumers with their spending
U.S. inflation slowed last month and a measure of underlying price pressures also cooled, suggesting higher oil and gas prices from the Iran war are only having a limited impact on broader costs in the economy. Consumer prices rose 3.4% in July from a year ago, down slightly from 3.5% in June, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July as a boost from government tax refunds faded. Retail sales slipped 0.6% last month, the biggest drop since May 2025, from a revised gain of 0.2% in June, according to Commerce Department data released Friday.
Record-breaking rain floods Chiba east of Tokyo, killing at least 5 people
TOKYO (AP) — Record-breaking rainfall has flooded cities east of Tokyo, killing at least five people and injuring over two dozen others. Authorities reported the deluge stranded thousands overnight. On Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its severe rain warning in Chiba prefecture but forecasted more rain. The area saw unprecedented rainfall levels Thursday, causing widespread damage. Homes, cars, and railway tracks were submerged, and some areas lost power. Chiba officials said five deaths occurred, including individuals found in flooded cars. The Ground Self-Defense Force helped evacuate about 4,000 stranded people. Train services partially resumed Friday morning.
Persistent Etna ash shuts Sicily's busiest airport during peak holiday week
MILAN (AP) — Ash spewing from Sicily’s Mount Etna has forced the closure of the island’s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day. Hundreds of summer holiday travelers are stranded during the biggest travel week of the year. Catania’s airport will remain closed until Saturday afternoon, coinciding with the Ferragosto holiday. This is the longest emergency since 2002. Volcanic ash poses a significant risk to aircraft, potentially stalling engines. The closure has led to rerouted flights, increased taxi fares, and higher car rental prices. Trenitalia has added trains to ease travel pressure.
Nero’s Bridge emerges from Tiber River as Rome faces water crisis
ROME (AP) — Rome’s ancient Nero’s Bridge has reemerged from the Tiber River as exceptionally low water levels expose parts of the historic structure near St. Peter’s Basilica. Weeks of little to no rain have caused the Tiber’s flow to fall below 80 cubic meters per second, according to Rome’s civil protection service. Archaeologists say the bridge, traditionally associated with Emperor Nero, may actually predate his reign and have been built under his uncle, Emperor Caligula. The discovery comes as Rome faces a water crisis after prolonged dry periods followed relatively abundant winter rainfall.
Winning ticket for $1 billion Powerball jackpot was sold in Illinois
A Powerball ticket sold in western Illinois has won a $1 billion jackpot. Lottery officials say the ticket that won the jackpot on Wednesday night was purchased at a Hy-Vee gas station in Quincy along the Missouri border. It's not clear if the winner has come forward yet. The prize can be taken as a $1 billion annuity over 29 years or a lump sum of $450.5 million in cash. Most winners take the lump sum. This is the first jackpot win since May 2. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292 million. The Powerball jackpot now resets to $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday.
