Ford, Mazda caution owners to refrain from driving older vehicles with dangerous Takata air bag inflators
DETROIT (AP) — Ford and Mazda are issuing a warning to the owners of over 475,000 older vehicles in the U.S. advising them not to drive the vehicles due to the presence of dangerous Takata air bag inflators that have not been replaced. This warning, issued on Tuesday, applies to more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles from the 2004 through 2014 model years, as well as nearly 83,000 Mazdas from the 2003 through 2015 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that the inflators have the potential to explode with excessive force in a crash, rupturing a metal canister and projecting fragments that can cause severe injuries or fatalities. Although these vehicles were previously recalled, the necessary repairs have not been completed. According to the government, 27 individuals in the U.S. have died due to these inflators.
Burglary reported at Trump campaign office in Virginia
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — An investigation is underway by a Northern Virginia sheriff’s office following a burglary that occurred over the weekend at a campaign office for former President Donald Trump. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident took place on Sunday at an Ashburn office leased by the Trump for President 2024 campaign, which also functions as the headquarters of the Virginia 10th District Republican Committee. Surveillance video from the scene shows a suspect dressed in dark clothing with a dark cap and carrying a backpack. It is unclear if anything was stolen, but the investigation is ongoing. Both the campaign and the Republican committee have refrained from making any comments.
Starbucks announces change in CEO, names Chipotle chief as successor
In response to weak demand and dissatisfaction among investors, Starbucks disclosed on Tuesday that CEO Laxman Narasimhan will be stepping down after slightly over a year in the position. The Seattle-based coffee company announced that Brian Niccol, the chairman and CEO of Chipotle, will assume the role of Starbucks’ chairman and CEO on Sept. 9. Prior to his tenure at Starbucks, Narasimhan held a long-standing position at PepsiCo. He took over as Starbucks’ CEO in March 2023, succeeding Howard Schultz, the long-serving Starbucks leader and chairman emeritus who returned from retirement in 2022 to serve as the company’s interim CEO. Niccol has been at the helm of Chipotle since 2018.
Jets GM Joe Douglas denies Haason Reddick’s trade request
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The situation involving Haason Reddick’s holdout from the New York Jets has escalated as it enters its third week. Shortly after reports emerged that the star edge rusher had requested a trade on Monday, Jets general manager Joe Douglas reaffirmed the team’s stance of denying Reddick’s request. Reddick was acquired by the Jets from Philadelphia during the offseason after expressing a desire to be traded from the Eagles due to his contract status. He sought a new deal at that time, but the Eagles did not oblige.
Berlin Zoo anticipates more German-born giant pandas following confirmation of pregnancy
BERLIN (AP) — The Berlin Zoo has shared exciting news: Meng Meng the panda is expecting another cub, months after the first giant pandas born in Germany were sent to China. The zoo revealed on Tuesday that ultrasound scans conducted over the weekend indicated Meng Meng is carrying two cubs. Although the cubs still have a considerable amount of development ahead, the anticipated birth is set for the end of August, provided all goes smoothly. The breeding of giant pandas is a challenging task, and each birth is met with great enthusiasm. Currently, there are approximately 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity worldwide.
USA Gymnastics confirms arbitration panel’s decision regarding Jordan Chiles’ medal inquiry
Officials from USA Gymnastics have announced that an arbitration panel will not reconsider the decision asking gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal she was awarded in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics. Despite this decision, USA Gymnastics is committed to pursuing efforts to allow Chiles to retain the medal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) invalidated an on-floor appeal from Chiles’ coach that resulted in her securing third place, citing that the appeal was made 4 seconds beyond the one-minute time limit for scoring inquiries. USA Gymnastics contested the timing, stating that video evidence submitted to CAS indicated that Team USA coach Cecile Landi had initiated the appeal 13 seconds before the deadline.
Technical difficulties thwart Musk’s interview with Trump
Elon Musk’s highly anticipated interview with former President Donald Trump was plagued by technical issues on Monday, preventing individuals from accessing the audio conversation on X’s Spaces platform. The interview was scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. EDT. However, eighteen minutes into the conversation, Musk posted on X that the platform was experiencing a “massive” DDOS attack, which is a federal offense involving overwhelming a site with data to render it inaccessible. Downdetector, an outage tracker, reported a surge in reports of X being inaccessible to users, although it was not confirmed whether this was due to a deliberate attack.
Earthquake shakes Southern California, causing swaying buildings and minor disturbances
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 4.4 magnitude earthquake has struck the Los Angeles area. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred shortly after noon on Monday, with the epicenter located near the city’s Highland Park neighborhood, approximately 7.5 miles below the surface. The quake was centered about 6.5 miles northeast of Los Angeles’ City Hall. Residents across Southern California reported feeling the quake strongly, with minor damage reported such as swaying buildings, items falling off shelves, and plumbing issues at Pasadena’s City Hall. The earthquake served as a reminder of the potential seismic activity in a state where a large population resides along active fault lines.
Arkansas officer terminated after video captures beating of inmate in patrol car
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas police officer has been dismissed from duty after a video emerged showing him physically assaulting a handcuffed inmate in the back of a patrol car. Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott terminated Officer Joseph Harris on Friday, a day after footage from his patrol car revealed him punching, elbowing, and slamming the car door on Billy Lee Coram, who was being transported from the hospital to the local jail at the time. Elliott initiated the termination following a complaint from the Craighead County sheriff’s office. He intends to refer the case to the local prosecutor and has contacted the FBI.
New study indicates presence of substantial water beneath Mars’ surface
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A recent study suggests that Mars may harbor a significant amount of water beneath its surface, with enough water seeping into the crevices of underground rocks to generate a global ocean. Published on Monday, the findings are based on computer models and seismic data collected by NASA’s InSight lander, which detected over 1,300 marsquakes before ceasing operations two years ago. Scientists speculate that the water exists approximately seven to twelve miles below the Martian crust and likely originated from the planet’s surface billions of years ago, when Mars possessed rivers and lakes.
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