London, England – LeBron James saved the U.S. from what would have been a stunning loss.
James’ layup with 8 seconds left was the go-ahead basket on Saturday, and the U.S. Olympic team that’ll soon head to the Paris Games escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to avoid perhaps the biggest upset in the program’s history.
South Sudan, the African nation that gained its independence just 13 years ago and is about to play in the Olympics for the first time, led for more than half the game and had a chance to win at the end. But Carlik Jones’ runner off the glass missed with about 4 seconds left, and the Americans survived.
“I’m going to be honest: I like those better than the blowouts,” James said as he walked off the court. “At least we get tested.”
Oh, they got tested — by a team that came into the game as 43.5-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
“A good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to expect everyone to play like that.”
Down by 16 at one point, the Americans dug out of that hole with an 18-0 run in the second half — then needed heroics at the end anyway. JT Thor’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the Americans called timeout and put the ball in James’ hands.
Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli fighter jets have continued to strike Houthi military targets in the area of Hodeidah port in Yemen on Saturday, the Israeli military said, a day after a drone launched by the Iranian-backed group hit Israel’s economic hub Tel Aviv.
In the latest bombardments, at least 20 people were wounded, most with severe burns, in airstrikes that targeted oil facilities and a power station at Hodeidah, Al-Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by Yemen’s Houthi movement, quoted the health ministry as saying.
Hodeidah residents told Reuters by phone that explosions were heard throughout the city during an intensive bombardment and Al-Masirah TV said civil defense forces and firefighters were trying to extinguish fires in the port’s oil tanks.
Israel’s military spokesperson said the port had been used by the Houthis to receive weapons shipments from Iran. The targets, more than 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Israel, included dual-use sites such as energy infrastructure, he said.
The drone attack on Tel Aviv on Friday killed one person and injured more than 10 others, raising fears that the Gaza war, triggered by the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, could spiral into a regional conflict.
Israeli fighter jet ready for a take off.
The ongoing conflict in Hodeidah is raising alarms across the Middle East and globally, with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid warning of significant geopolitical ramifications. “The escalation in Yemen, particularly targeting crucial infrastructure, highlights the growing complexity of the regional conflict. Our operations aim to neutralize threats, but we urge international diplomacy to step in and prevent further deterioration,” Lapid stated.
Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde has issued a stern warning to top European clubs eyeing Spanish sensation Nico Williams, insisting the 22-year-old winger is content at the Basque club. This statement comes amid growing interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as La Liga powerhouse Barcelona.
Williams’ stock has risen dramatically following his standout performances for Spain in their victorious Euro 2024 campaign. Despite having a release clause of €58 million (£48.9 million), Valverde remains confident in retaining the young star.
“I have no doubts about Nico,” Valverde told the media. “He looks good and happy. This year we have many challenges ahead of us and I’m sure Nico will love to face them.”
The manager acknowledged the transfer speculation surrounding Williams but emphasized the club’s desire to keep their best players. He’s a great player and there may be clubs who might be interested in him, but he’s happy with us and we’re happy with him. We’re counting on Nico for when he returns from the holidays,” Valverde added.
While Williams’ release clause represents potential value in today’s inflated transfer market, his high wage demands have reportedly caused concern for Chelsea. Sources suggest Williams currently earns close to €200,000 per week, a figure the London club is reluctant to match.
Barcelona appears to be Williams’ preferred destination, with several of his Spain international teammates, including Lamine Yamal and Pedri, publicly urging him to join the Catalan giants.
As the transfer window remains open until the end of August, speculation about Williams’ future is likely to continue. However, Athletic Bilbao’s stance remains firm, with Valverde concluding, “We aspire to have the best players and that they want to be with us. We have a year for which we are very excited.”
This developing transfer saga underscores the growing demand for young, talented players like Williams in the competitive European football market. As clubs vie for his signature, Athletic Bilbao’s resolve to retain their prized asset will be tested in the coming weeks.
A global tech outage linked to a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike (CRWD) affected nearly 8.5 million Microsoft (MSFT) devices, Microsoft said in a blog post on Saturday.
“We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines,” the blog stated.
The software update by CrowdStrike, one of the largest operators in the cybersecurity industry, triggered system problems that grounded flights, forced broadcasters off the air, and left customers without access to essential services such as healthcare and banking.
The air travel industry was recovering on Saturday from the outage that caused thousands of flights to be canceled, leaving passengers stranded or grappling with hours of delays as airports and airlines were caught up in the IT outage.
Delta Air Lines (DAL), one of the hardest-hit airlines, said that as of 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) on Saturday, more than 600 flights had been canceled, with additional cancellations expected.
London, England – Heading into the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles has never been faster. The American world champion warmed up for the Paris Games by setting a personal best in the 100 meters at Saturday’s Diamond League meet in London, clocking 9.81 seconds to beat a strong field in the last major meet before the Olympics.
Lyles trailed his rivals at the start before powering past the field over the last 50 meters. Akani Simbine of South Africa was second in 9.86 and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana was third in 9.88, with the top five finishers all breaking the 10-second mark.
“I could have had a better start. I’ve been having a lot better starts in practice,” Lyles said. “I wanted to drop under 9.80, but I’ll take a PR every day of the week.”
Lyles’ previous best was the 9.83 he clocked at last year’s world championships in Budapest — where he won the 100, 200, and the 4×100 relay — and then matched in the U.S. Olympic trials last month.
Saturday’s result further underlines him as the favorite for the gold medal in Paris, where he can cement his status as the world’s fastest man.
And Lyles isn’t shy about his goal at the Olympics.
“I’m going to win,” he said. “That’s what I always do.”
Other notable results at the London Stadium — which hosted the 2012 Olympics — included Matt Hudson-Smith of Britain setting a world-leading time of 43.74 in the men’s 400 and world champion Femke Bol taking the women’s 400 hurdles in 51.30, her second fastest time ever.
In the women’s 200, Gabrielle Thomas came from behind to pass Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith to win in 21.82.
A massive fire broke out at the historic First Baptist Dallas church on Friday evening, resulting in the collapse of much of the structure. The blaze, which began around 6 p.m. local time, has been contained as of Saturday morning, with no injuries or deaths reported.
First Baptist Dallas, a Baptist church with roots dating back to 1890, saw significant damage to its secondary chapel. Dallas Fire Rescue (DFR) responded to the initial call and arrived to find heavy smoke engulfing the building.
“The structure has largely collapsed, which has caused many void spaces with ‘hot spots’,” the city of Dallas stated in a communication to ABC News on Saturday. While the primary fire has been extinguished, DFR is maintaining an extended presence at the scene to address lingering hotspots and ensure a safe perimeter around the unstable structure.
Despite the extensive damage, church leadership remains optimistic. Dr. Robert Jeffress, a pastor at First Baptist Dallas, tweeted late Friday, “We are grateful that no one was injured today and are thankful for the first responders who helped contain the fire to our Historic Sanctuary. They continue working but the primary fire has been extinguished. One way or another, we intend to meet for church this Sunday.”
The fire department has not ordered any large-scale evacuations but is maintaining a safety perimeter around the affected area. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities yet to provide details on potential origins or contributing factors.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of historic structures to fire damage and the challenges faced by first responders in managing such events. It also underscores the resilience of religious communities in the face of adversity, as evidenced by the church’s determination to hold services despite the significant damage to their building.
As the situation develops, local authorities and church officials will likely be assessing the extent of the damage and planning for potential restoration efforts. The community’s response to this event will be crucial in the coming days and weeks as First Baptist Dallas navigates the aftermath of this destructive fire.
Salinópolis, Pará, Brazil – A Brazilian musician tragically died after being electrocuted during a live performance on Saturday, July 13, in Salinópolis, Pará, Brazil. The incident was reported by Brazilian news outlets Istoe Gente, The Sun, and The Mirror.
Ayres Sasaki, 35, died almost instantly after hugging a soaking-wet concertgoer during his performance on stage at the Solar Hotel in Salinópolis, Brazil. The contact between Sasaki and the wet fan triggered a nearby cable to jolt, causing a fatal electric shock, per The Mirror.
The reason why the fan was wet is still unclear, but Salinópolis Police are investigating the incident. According to the Pará Civil Police, witnesses have provided statements, and the authorities have requested expert reports, as reported by Istoe Gente.
The Solar Hotel released a statement on Sunday, July 14, clarifying that the facility is cooperating with the authorities in the investigation. “We are fully dedicated to providing support to his family and taking the necessary measures. We reaffirm our commitment to fully cooperating with the competent authorities for the proper clarification of the events,” the hotel’s official Instagram account read, via translation.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Ayres Sasaki’s family and friends at this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
Sasaki’s aunt, Rita Matos, told Istoe Gente, “We are contacting people who were with him at the moment to understand how everything happened. We will gather all the information in a statement that we will share with the press.”
Ayres Sasaki was also an architect and urban planner. His friends and fans have honored him with Instagram tributes following his tragic death.
Kampala, Uganda – President Museveni has endorsed the National Environment Management Authority’s (NEMA) ongoing efforts to evict encroachers from wetlands across the country. In a national address on Saturday, the president emphasized that encroaching on wetlands is foolhardy and destructive.
“Those claiming they were born in the encroached wetland areas should be aware that we have records tracing the history of forests and wetlands. We know what exactly happened and when,” Museveni said.
The president responded to criticisms against NEMA, stating, “Blaming NEMA on why it allowed people to settle in the wetlands is fine but doesn’t exonerate the encroachers. Are you a Ugandan or from Europe? It is the duty of everyone to protect the environment.”
For the past month, NEMA has intensified its operations against encroachers in wetlands. These actions started in Lubigi, where several properties, including houses, were razed. NEMA’s operations have since expanded to other parts of the country.
Despite some public backlash, President Museveni firmly supported NEMA’s actions during his Saturday address. He noted that those seeking compensation should not waste time, as no one will be compensated for encroaching on wetlands. “All the people in the wetlands, please leave peacefully. We cannot compensate you for breaking the law and not using common sense.”
The president highlighted the vital role of wetlands in Uganda, warning that destroying them could turn the country into a dry land. “Wetlands generate 40% of our rain, and if you remove them, the whole of Uganda will be like Karamoja or worse. Where will the water come from if you destroy the wetlands? Wetlands are not mere wastelands. Swamps are areas of great value,” Museveni stressed.
Kampala, Uganda – Dr. Shamim Nabuma, a Ugandan medical doctor and entrepreneur, has introduced KETI, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot designed to interpret medical records and answer health-related questions. This groundbreaking tool operates similarly to ChatGPT and can handle laboratory tests, prescription notes, discharge forms, and complex medical jargon. KETI supports multiple languages including Swahili, French, Arabic, and English.
Dr. Nabuma highlighted that KETI has the capability to interpret handwritten medical documents and respond to every health-related query with the precision of ChatGPT. “This revolutionary tool allows users to write any text or upload medical documents, and KETI will provide clear, easy-to-understand explanations in their native language,” Dr. Nabuma stated.
She clarified that the purpose of KETI is not to replace doctors but to make medical information accessible and understandable for everyone, especially those who struggle with medical terminology. “Patients have the right to understand any treatment given or planned for them. Providing clear, easy-to-understand information upholds this great human right,” Dr. Nabuma emphasized.
As the group Chief Executive Officer and visionary behind KETI, Dr. Nabuma believes the invention will significantly enhance the health sector. “We collaborate closely with rural health facilities and understand the challenges patients face in remembering everything a doctor says during a visit. The KETI AI Medical Records Interpreter is accessible via web and WhatsApp, making it convenient for both urban and rural communities,” she noted.
This initiative is also user-friendly, as patients only need a mobile phone or tablet to use KETI, which can interpret handwritten notes and prescriptions effectively.
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations announced nearly $203 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Sudan on Thursday. This move comes amidst warnings that the money alone is not a “panacea” and calls for other countries to fulfill their financial pledges to address what has been termed the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield
During a donors conference in Paris in April, world leaders pledged more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid for Sudan. However, U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield highlighted that only about a quarter of the promised funds have been received three months later.
The northeastern African country descended into chaos in April 2023 when simmering tensions between the country’s military and a notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), erupted into open fighting in the capital of Khartoum.
This devastating conflict has primarily affected western Darfur and has resulted in more than 14,000 deaths and wounded over 33,000 individuals, according to the United Nations. The conflict has also triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 11 million people forced to flee their homes.
Thomas-Greenfield stated that Thursday’s contribution increases total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Sudan to $1.6 billion since September 2023, making the United States Sudan’s largest single donor. “We hope this new round of aid serves as a catalyst for other nations to follow,” she said.
The ambassador detailed that the additional $203 million will be allocated towards food supplies, emergency medical and health services, and cash assistance to refugees to help them pay their rents. The funds will also support neighboring countries where over 2 million Sudanese refugees have fled, seeking asylum.
In her address to the U.N., Thomas-Greenfield briefed U.N. diplomats on the severity of the crisis in Sudan, where a record 25 million people face acute food insecurity and an anticipated 275,000 people face famine in the coming months, according to the latest data from the U.N. global network on monitoring risk of famine.
Thomas-Greenfield’s remarks underscored the dire situation: “The international community must step up and respond to this unprecedented humanitarian disaster. The scale of human suffering in Sudan is immense, and immediate, coordinated action is crucial to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of millions.”
The U.S. continues to play a leading role in humanitarian efforts, but officials emphasize that a collective global response is necessary to address the crisis effectively. The urgency of the situation demands that other nations fulfill their financial commitments and provide the necessary resources to support Sudan and its displaced population.
