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As World Cup fever grips Brazil, scrutiny mounts over its sports betting industry 07/03/2026 01:26pm • RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When World Cup season descends upon soccer-mad Brazil, green and yellow banners decorate restaurants, bars and apartment buildings, streets are painted with flags and soccer balls, and discussions of the beloved national team's games are ubiquitous. But this year, another top Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that's falling back to Earth 07/03/2026 01:18pm • CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit Friday to rescue a NASA telescope that’s in danger of crashing back to Earth. Northrop Grumman launched Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. The Pegasus rocket blasted of 2 men jailed for stabbing an Iranian journalist in London in an attack blamed on Tehran 07/03/2026 01:17pm • LONDON (AP) — Two Romanian men were sentenced Friday to eight and 12 years in prison over the stabbing of a journalist from a Persian-language television station, an attack the judge said was carried out on behalf of the Iranian state. Pouria Zeraati, a presenter at London-based Iran International Hornets acquire Dorian Finney-Smith, more draft picks from Rockets, AP source says 07/03/2026 01:16pm • CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round draft picks in a trade with the Houston Rockets on Friday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the leag US win over Bosnia-Herzegovina most-watched soccer telecast in English language history 07/03/2026 01:16pm • The United States has World Cup fever. The U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night was the most-watched soccer telecast in English language history with more than 24.4 million viewers, according to Fox Sports. The peak audience was 31.8 million. The United States won the game 2-0 i Longtime college football coach Jim Walden, who led Washington State to a bowl game, dies at 88 07/03/2026 01:13pm • AMES, Iowa (AP) — Longtime college football coach Jim Walden, who played quarterback in the Canadian Football League before leading Washington State to a bowl game and spending nine seasons at Iowa State, died Thursday. He was 88. The two schools announced his death in statements Friday. No cause Catholic group that defied pope and caused schism defends its actions and casts itself as the victim 07/03/2026 01:09pm • ROME (AP) — The traditionalist Catholics who defied Pope Leo XIV and caused a schism defended their actions Friday, insisting they were merely saving souls and were victim of an unjust sanction by the Holy See. The head of the Society of St. Pius X wrote to Leo a day after the Vatican excommunicat Netherlands defender Aké leaves Man City to join Fenerbahce's quest for Turkish league title 07/03/2026 12:58pm • ISTANBUL (AP) — Netherlands defender Nathan Aké left Manchester City on Friday to join Fenerbahce as the Istanbul club seeks a first Turkish league title in 13 seasons. Fenerbahce announced the signing on its social media accounts without giving details of the transfer fee or the 31-year-old Aké Salah starting after hamstring injury in Egypt's World Cup knockout debut 07/03/2026 12:54pm • ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mohamed Salah is in the starting lineup for Egypt's debut in the knockout round of the World Cup against Australia despite a hamstring injury sustained in the group stage finale. The former Liverpool star was set for the start at the home of the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, a Elkridge facility offers new alternative to burial and cremation 07/03/2026 12:48pm • For most people, end-of-life planning comes down to two choices: burial or cremation. But a company in Elkridge, Maryland, is offering a third option through what it said is the first human composting facility on the East Coast. Earth Funeral specializes in a process known as natural organic Pope urges US to recommit to founding ideas of protecting life, human dignity on 250th anniversary 07/03/2026 12:46pm • ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV prayed Friday for the United States to recommit itself to its founding ideals of protecting life and human dignity as he participated remotely in an event on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. History’s first U.S.-born pope recalled Amer Fourth of July DC-area celebrations away from the National Mall 07/03/2026 12:33pm • Towns and cities across the D.C. region are giving their best small-town flair to mark the U.S.' 250th anniversary, but the heat is on, not just because of the fireworks, but because of the triple-digit heat indexes that have been baking the area and leading to some events being canceled or postpone Native American families reflect on complicated history as US marks 250th anniversary 07/03/2026 12:30pm • Flags, fireworks and freedom may come to mind on July Fourth. But others in the U.S. don’t view America’s 250th anniversary as a celebration. For some Native American families, the country’s complicated past shapes how they see the holiday. At a recent rally hosted by the Next250 Louisiana's top court halts the criminal case against the state attorney general 07/03/2026 12:22pm • The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday halted the criminal case against state Attorney General Liz Murrill a day after she was indicted on accusations that she threatened the jobs of officials in New Orleans. The state's top court said the local court and special prosecutor in the case did not follow Puppy love as dog walker turns his pack of 13 into Argentina jersey-clad World Cup followers 07/03/2026 12:11pm • BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Thirteen Argentina followers are roaming the streets of Buenos Aires proudly sporting their team's jersey — but they're not on two legs, they're on all fours, letting out the occasional bark. As Argentina rides World Cup fever and dreams of beating Cape Verde in th