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Trump launches 250th birthday celebration on Washington’s National Mall, in photos 06/24/2026 10:15pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump launched celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary with a rally on Washington’s National Mall, opening the 16-day Great American State Fair. The event marks the start of 16 days of festivities honoring the nation’s 1776 founding, with themed days c Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine help Morocco rally to beat Haiti 4-2 at the World Cup 06/24/2026 10:13pm • ATLANTA (AP) — Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine came off the bench to help Morocco rally for a 4-2 victory over Haiti on Wednesday and erase the Caribbean nation's hopes of a first ever point at the World Cup. Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals four y Natasha Howard and Olivia Miles lead Lynx to 78-76 win over Mystics 06/24/2026 10:09pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — Natasha Howard had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Olivia Miles scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter, and the Minnesota Lynx rallied from a 12-point deficit Wednesday night to beat the Washington Mystics 78-76. Kayla McBride made five 3-pointers and finish World Cup what to know: US faces decisions for final group-stage game against winless Turkey 06/24/2026 10:09pm • The United States returns to the pitch for its final World Cup group-stage game with some decisions to make. The Americans have already won Group D to lock up a spot in the knockout stage and will face winless Turkey in Inglewood, California, on Thursday. Christian Pulisic returned to training after Leader of secretive South Korean church arrested on suspicion of election influence 06/24/2026 10:04pm • SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The leader of a secretive South Korean church was arrested on suspicion of election influence Wednesday as authorities widened an investigation into allegations that he illegally recruited thousands of followers into the conservative People Power Party. The Shincheonji C Derek Hill hits 2-out, 2-run pinch homer in 9th to lift the Phillies past the Nationals, 5-4 06/24/2026 10:02pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — Derek Hill hit a two-out, two-run pinch home run in the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies past the Washington Nationals, 5-4 on Wednesday night. The comeback came a night after the Phillies had an eight-run ninth inning in a 14-9 victory over the Nationals. Maj Airport closed, classes canceled after Venezuela earthquakes damage several states, acting President Rodríguez says 06/24/2026 09:55pm • CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Airport closed, classes canceled after Venezuela earthquakes damage several states, acting President Rodríguez says. Duke's Isaiah Evans lands with Minnesota in Round 2 of the NBA draft 06/24/2026 09:51pm • It took a little longer than he had hoped, but Duke's Isaiah Evans has his landing spot in the NBA draft. The sophomore guard is heading to Minnesota, the move coming after the Brooklyn Nets selected Evans with the 33rd overall pick in Wednesday night's second round with a pick that will be shipped Loperfido scores winning run on errant pickoff throw as Astros beat Blue Jays 3-1 for 6th win in 8 06/24/2026 09:49pm • TORONTO (AP) — Joey Loperfido scored the tiebreaking run on Jeff Hoffman's errant pickoff throw in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night for their sixth victory in eight games. Loperfido tripled off the center field wall with one out and scored Gilberto Mora becomes the youngest to start in a World Cup for Mexico at age 17 06/24/2026 09:44pm • MEXICO CITY (AP) — Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to start in a World Cup for Mexico when the 17-year-old sensation took the field against the Czech Republic on Wednesday night. Mora is the youngest competitor in this World Cup. The midfielder became the eighth 17-year-old to play in the Rugby league player banned for 6 matches over homophobic slur in Australian competition 06/24/2026 09:41pm • SYDNEY (AP) — A professional rugby league player has been suspended for six matches after pleading guilty to making a homophobic comment in Australia's second-tier competition last week. Newcastle Knights forward Asu Kepaoa, who has played 42 National Rugby League matches with West Tigers, was sen Jax shines as Díaz ties Rays' RBIs record in 5-3 win over Royals 06/24/2026 09:38pm • ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Griffin Jax pitched five strong innings, Yandy Díaz tied Tampa Bay's franchise record for career RBIs and the Rays defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Wednesday night. Jax (3-5) struck out seven while allowing two unearned runs and five hits. It was his fourth start The Latest: Crowd gathers on the National Mall to hear Trump rally for America 250 kickoff 06/24/2026 09:36pm • President Donald Trump is on Washington’s National Mall on Wednesday for a campaign-style rally that he hopes gets Americans excited about his presidency and the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. The event comes after a day of tense meetings between Trump and Republicans in Congress over t Vinícius Júnior scores 2 goals as Brazil beats Scotland 3-0 to win its World Cup group 06/24/2026 09:33pm • MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Vinícius Júnior made it look easy. So did Brazil. Vinícius scored two goals — one of them practically into an empty net to open the scoring — and five-time World Cup champion Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 on Wednesday, advancing to the knockout stage as the Group C win Ashcraft, Rodriguez, O'Hearn help Pirates rout AL West-leading Mariners 11-1 06/24/2026 09:29pm • PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft pitched six strong innings, batterymate Endy Roriguez drove in three runs and Ryan O’Hearn had three hits to help the Pittsburgh Pirates rout the Seattle Mariners 11-1 on Wednesday night. Ashcraft (7-3) had 10 strikeouts without a walk while allowing one run an