CIA official: Plot to attack Taylor Swift show thwarted, suspect wanted to kill 'tens of thousands'
BERLIN (AP) — The suspects who thwarted a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna earlier this month had planned to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA uncovered intelligence that thwarted their plot and led to their arrests, according to CIA Deputy Director David Cohen. Cohen spoke about the foiled plot at an intelligence summit in Maryland on Wednesday. Austrian authorities have said the masterminds were inspired by the Islamic State. The suspects allegedly planned to use knives and homemade explosives to attack outside the stadium, where more than 30,000 fans were expected to attend. Swift called the cancellation of the concert “devastating” but thanked authorities for saving lives.
Wimbledon champion Krejcikova withdraws from US Open, Shelton and Tiafoe to meet in third round
NEW YORK (AP) — Frances Tiafoe will get a long-awaited rematch against Ben Shelton at the U.S. Open. But for Barbora Krejcikova, a second consecutive Grand Slam title won't be possible. The Wimbledon champion lost 6-4, 7-5 to Elena Gabriela Roos in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Roos reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and will face 26th-seeded Paula Badosa, who beat American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5. Tiafoe and Shelton both won their second-round matches and will meet on Friday. Shelton beat Tiafoe in the U.S. Open quarterfinals last year.
Oasis add three shows to 2025 tour as fans clamor for Gallagher brothers reunion tickets
LONDON (AP) — Oasis has added three more dates to its reunion tour in the U.K. and Ireland, citing “unprecedented demand” for tickets. The new shows announced Thursday will take place at Heaton Park in Manchester, England, on July 16, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London on July 30, and at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Aug. 12. The Britpop-era rock band now has 17 shows lined up in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Oasis was the dominant band of the 1990s Britpop era, producing hits such as “Wonderwall” and “Don't Look Back in Anger.” A key factor was the explosive chemistry between guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher and singer's brother Liam Gallagher. Oasis broke up in 2009 after a backstage fracas at a festival near Paris.
A Thai court has sentenced the YouTuber chef son of a Spanish actor to life in prison for murder.
BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai court has found Daniel Sancho Bronchallo, a member of a well-known Spanish acting family, guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced him to life in prison in a brutal case that involved dismembering the victim's body. A senior police investigator in the case, who attended the hearing, said the Koh Samui District Court initially sentenced Sancho to death but commuted the sentence to life in prison for his cooperation in the trial. Sancho, a 30-year-old chef with a YouTube channel, was charged with killing Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old plastic surgeon from Colombia, while vacationing in the Thai resort of Ko Phangan last August.
The Venice Film Festival is preparing to welcome “Maria,” a film starring Angelina Jolie and the famous opera singer.
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Angelina Jolie plays famed opera singer Maria Callas in a movie premiering Thursday at the Venice Film Festival. Chilean director Pablo Larraín's “Maria” focuses on Callas' life in Paris in the '70s before her death at age 53. Larraín brought to Venice his previous, well-known historical films about women, “Jackie” and “Spencer,” both of which earned Oscar nominations for their leading actresses. “Maria,” which Netflix has acquired streaming rights to, is the final instalment of a so-called trilogy and is one of 21 films competing for the festival's award, which will be announced Sept. 7.
Your own 'SportsCenter'? ESPN is prepping for upcoming streaming service
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Sports fans may be able to click through personalized versions of “SportsCenter” highlight shows developed with the help of artificial intelligence as early as next year on a new streaming service being developed by ESPN. The flagship streaming service is expected to launch in the fall of 2025 and will target cable-cutters and encompass much of ESPN's current TV slate. It's one of several projects ESPN executives described during a press conference on Wednesday, including a new “Where to Watch” feature on the app and website that's designed to make it easier for fans to search and click through multiple different sporting events, provided they're paying subscribers.
A newborn rattlesnake born in a “mega burrow” in Colorado has been seen alive for the first time.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Colorado's “megaden” of hundreds of rattlesnakes is getting bigger as late summer approaches and babies are being born. Thanks to livestreamed video, scientists monitoring the den are learning more about the rattlesnakes, including how they care for their young. The rattlesnake den can house as many as 2,000 rattlesnakes at a time. Cal Poly researchers are also enlisting the public's help with tasks such as identifying the snakes. Project Rattlescome's latest highlight is dozens of baby rattlesnakes crawling among much larger adult rattlesnakes.
Second baby elephant born in two weeks at California zoo
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A second baby elephant has been born in two weeks at a California zoo. African elephant Amare gave birth Monday, according to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Amare's mother, Nolwazi, gave birth to another male calf earlier this month at the zoo, about 150 miles southeast of San Francisco. The zoo is working on an elephant breeding program with the goal of making elephants available to zoo visitors for years to come. Some animal rights activists have criticized keeping elephants in zoos, citing the animals' complex needs.
Scientists say the unprocessed Alaskan glacier melt that Ludacris drank was perfectly fine.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Rapper-turned-actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges recently drew concern from his social media followers after kneeling on an Alaskan glacier and dipping an empty plastic bottle into a clear, bluish puddle of glacial meltwater. Some worried he might get sick from drinking untreated water. But glaciologist Martin Truffer called the online furor “absurd.” Truffer said the rapper is “totally fine.” He said glacial meltwater is not subject to biological activity and is “some of the cleanest water you're ever going to get.” Ludacris had visited the Knik Glacier while performing at the Alaska State Fair.
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