Tahiti’s youth surf culture gets a boost as island hosts the Paris Olympics
TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (AP) — Tahiti is hosting the surfing competition for the Paris Olympics and has been a coveted destination for the sport for decades, but it’s only in more recent years that local surf culture and talent begun to develop among younger generations. Residents say local professional surfers have been critical in the development of local surfing talent and culture. Two French Polynesian surfers competing in the 2024 Olympics has been a boost for the promotion and development of local surfing. The surfing community expects local interest in the sport to grow.
Who is Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral at the 2024 Olympics?
CHATEAUROUX, France (AP) — Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has gone viral on social media for his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. The most-shared images show Dikec shooting in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, a seemingly standard pair of glasses and an impassive look on his face. He’s been likened to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman. Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting Tuesday. It was Turkey’s first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.
Don’t panic! Taylor Swift warned fans to expect sirens for WWII anniversary in Warsaw before concert
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Taylor Swift warned fans traveling to her first concert in Warsaw this week to not panic when they hear sirens marking a World War II anniversary. Some stood in silence to honor the Poles massacred by Germans 80 years ago. Across the Polish capital observances have been held to mark 80 years since the start of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, which was a 63-day revolt by Polish insurgents and civilians after five years of brutal Nazi German occupation. The entire city stops and alarm sirens sound every Aug. 1 at the exact time when the ill-fated revolt was launched.
Remember the ice bucket challenge? 10 years later, the viral campaign is again fundraising for ALS
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts governor, several sports stars and dozens more dumped cold water on themselves to mark the 10th anniversary of the ALS ice bucket challenge. The event Thursday at Fenway Park is part of an effort to renew interest in the viral social media campaign that raises money to find a cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease. Pat Quin and co-founder Pete Frates helped popularize the challenge. Both were diagnosed with ALS and have since died. When Quin and Frates picked it up, the phenomenon exploded. Thousands of people participated in the viral trend, including celebrities, athletes and politicians. Online videos were viewed millions of times.
Video game performers protest unregulated AI use at Warner Bros. Studios
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s video game performers are picketing at the Warner Bros. Studios lot to protest what they call an unwillingness from top gaming companies to protect voice actors and motion capture workers equally against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence. The protest, set to begin at 9 a.m. Pacific time, marks the first large labor action since game voice actors and performance workers went on strike last Friday. The work stoppage came after more than 18 months of negotiations with gaming giants stalled over protections around the use of AI. Union leaders say AI in particular poses an existential crisis for game performers.
MrBeast, YouTube’s biggest star, acknowledges past ‘inappropriate language’ as controversies swirl
NEW YORK (AP) — MrBeast, YouTube’s biggest star and a philanthropic force with nearly unrivaled influence among young audiences, acknowledged Wednesday that he used inappropriate language in his early online days, as numerous controversies bubbled up around him and a former collaborator. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has drawn a record 307 million YouTube subscribers with his highly produced videos of whimsical challenges and lavish gifts, often accompanied by expressive thumbnails and punchy titles. His latest uploads include “Ages 1 – 100 Decide Who Wins $250,000” and “I Built 100 Houses And Gave Them Away!” which, like most of his videos, garnered more than 100 million views.
US stands by decision that 50 million air bag inflators are dangerous, steps closer to huge recall
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators say they stand by a conclusion that more than 50 million air bag inflators are dangerous and should be recalled. It’s another step toward a massive recall. The move Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involves inflators made by ARC Automotive Inc. and another parts manufacturer. It comes despite opposition from automakers. The inflators in about 49 million vehicles from 13 manufacturers can explode and hurl shrapnel into drivers and passengers. The agency has said the inflators are responsible for at least seven injuries and two deaths in the United States and Canada since 2009.
Florida school board suspends employee who allowed her transgender daughter to play girls volleyball
PLANTATION, Fla. (AP) — A Florida school employee who let her transgender daughter play on her high school’s girls volleyball team is being suspended by the district’s board for 10 days. The Broward County school board found on Tuesday that Jessica Norton violated state law but said firing her would be too severe. The board voted 5-4 to suspend her. She can also no longer work at Monarch High School as a computer information specialist but must be given a job with equal pay and responsibility. The majority felt firing her was too harsh. The minority disagreed, saying she had intentionally violated the law. Norton said she wasn’t sure if she would return to work.
German city renamed ‘Swiftkirchen’ for Taylor Swift concerts gets 1,400 bids for the signs
BERLIN (AP) — The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” before the American superstar played three concerts there in mid-July, says it received about 1,400 bids from Germany and abroad for signs it put up with the name. The new name was one of a flurry of fan attractions around the concerts on July 17, 18 and 19. The city then held an auction for 20 original “Swiftkirchen” signs. It said in a statement that the highest offer was 3,000 euros, and the 20 highest bidders will be informed by email. It added that a total sum for the auction will be announced once all payments have been received.
Former ballerina in Florida is convicted of manslaughter in her estranged husband’s 2020 shooting
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida ballerina has been convicted of manslaughter in the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband. Court records show that a Manatee County jury returned the guilty verdict late Tuesday against Ashley Benefield. She had been charged with second-degree murder, but the jurors opted for a lesser offense. The 32-year-old Benefield claimed she acted in self-defense when she killed her then-58-year-old estranged husband, Doug Benefield, during a September 2020 argument at her mother’s home, where she had moved from South Carolina after leaving him. She faces up to 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
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