Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle join Biden for early Juneteenth celebration on White House lawn
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has celebrated the Juneteenth holiday early with a concert on the White House South Lawn. Singers Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle were among the performers. Biden signed a law in 2021 that made June 19, or Juneteenth, a federal holiday. It commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. The concert comes as this year’s presidential election is intensifying, with Black voters sure to play an important role.
Apple leaps into AI with an array of upcoming iPhone features and a ChatGPT deal to smarten up
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple has jumped into the race to bring generative artificial intelligence to the masses. During its World Wide Developers Conference Monday the tech giant spotlighted a slew of features designed to soup up the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Even as it tried to put its own stamp on the hottest area of technology, Apple tacitly acknowledged it needed help to catch up with companies like Microsoft and Google, which have emerged as the early leaders in the AI field. Apple is leaning on ChatGPT, made by the San Francisco startup OpenAI, to help make its often-bumbling virtual assistant Siri smarter and more helpful.
Fire at Thailand’s famous Chatuchak Weekend Market kills hundreds of caged animals
BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of caged animals died after a fire struck Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the most famous markets in Thailand’s capital. The fire was reported in the early morning of Tuesday and quickly swept across more than 100 shops in the pet zone of the market, according to Bangkok’s government. Officials said it took them about an hour to bring the fire under control. There are no reports of human casualties, but Thai media reports suggested that the fire killed several hundreds of animals, such as puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, kept in cages and locked inside the shops. The cause of the fire is being investigated, said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.
Panthers now 2 wins from the Stanley Cup, top Oilers 4-1 for 2-0 lead in title series
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Evan Rodrigues had two goals in the third period, Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad also scored and the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots for Florida, which was 1-8 all-time in Cup final games before this series started — and now is two wins away from capturing its first championship. But the win came with a price for Florida as the Panthers lost captain Aleksander Barkov when Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl launched toward him midway through the third period and hit him in the head. Mattias Ekholm scored and Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots for the Oilers, who now have to buck some serious history.
Why Germany’s 2006 World Cup patriotic fervor is unlikely to repeat at Euro 2024
BERLIN (AP) — When Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup, it unleashed an unexpected burst of national pride across the country. It was the first time many Germans felt they could wave the flag unburdened by the country’s dark past. Germany is getting ready to host another major soccer tournament, the European Championship. But the scenes of patriotic fervor from 2006 are hard to imagine happening again. The national team could yet coax reluctant Germans to celebrate. But the country itself is going through difficult times politically, with a far-right surge making many uncomfortable about public displays of national pride. There are few German flags hanging from balconies or windows just days before Germany’s opening game against Scotland on Friday.
Palestinian DC chef and Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans win coveted James Beard Awards
CHICAGO (AP) — A Palestinian chef using ancient cooking techniques, a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans and an upscale Thai restaurant in Oregon have won coveted James Beard awards. More than 100 restaurants and chefs were finalists in 22 categories for the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars. The red carpet awards ceremony took place Monday in Chicago. Just being a finalist can bring wide recognition outside chef’s geographic area and boost business. The most-anticipated categories include awards for outstanding restaurateur, chef and restaurant. The James Beard Foundation started bestowing the awards in 1991. Michael Rafidi won outstanding chef among five finalists.
The Library of Congress wants more visitors. Spider-Man, Santana and Lincoln are on deck
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Library of Congress is unveiling an eclectic new exhibit drawing on the institution’s vast historical archives and designed to make the Library a more popular and accessible destination for visitors and tourists. “Collecting Memories” — which opens to the public on June 13 — is an intensely curated exhibit that brings together items as varied as 15th-century illustrated Hebrew religious texts, the contents of President Abraham Lincoln’s pockets when he was assassinated, the first sketches of Spider-Man and videos of Carlos Santana in concert. The new exhibit, along with a revamped gift shop, comes as part of a campaign to make the Library of Congress more attractive to everyday tourists and school groups.
The Rev. James Lawson Jr., civil rights leader who preached nonviolent protest, dies at 95
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rev. James Lawson Jr. has died. He was 95. His family said Monday that Lawson died peacefully on Sunday. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called Lawson “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson and King were both 28 years old when they bonded over the ideas of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi. Lawson schooled civil rights activists to withstand brutal treatment from white authorities. He shaped the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to organize the sit-in movement, and he organized the sanitation workers strike that brought King to Memphis. Lawson said decades after King’s assassination that he was still anxious and frustrated because their work remains unfinished.
Dan Hurley turns down offer from Lakers, will stay at UConn to seek 3rd straight NCAA title
Dan Hurley is staying at UConn and has decided to turn down an offer to take over the Los Angeles Lakers, ending several days of speculation about his future and giving him an opportunity to try to guide the Huskies to a third consecutive NCAA championship. Hurley had the option of taking over one of the most famed franchises in pro sports, not to mention perhaps the chance to coach NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James. But in the end, his stay in the coaching version of the transfer portal was brief — and back he goes to UConn, where he has gone 68-11 over the last two title-winning seasons.
An investment firm has taken a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and wants to oust the CEO
DALLAS (AP) — Activist shareholder Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and wants to get rid of the CEO. The investment firm alleged that Southwest failed to keep up with other airlines and suffers from outdated technology and operations. In a letter to Southwest’s board, the firm said that Southwest’s “stubborn unwillingness to evolve” is causing deeply disappointing financial results. The airline’s shares have lost more than 50% in the last three years. Southwest says it’s confident that CEO Robert Jordan and Executive Chairman Gary Kelly can carry out plans to improve returns for shareholders. Shares in the airline rose 7% on Monday.
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