Entertainment Capital of the World; a resort city in Nevada
Minions & Monsters has opened strongly, topping North American box office with $36.4 million for the holiday weekend and $61.4 million over five days. Toy Story 5 follows with $31 million, while Young Washington debuts around $21 million. Supergirl trails, and overall weekend revenue is down year-on-year but up for the summer period vs 2025.
Victor Willis, founder and lead singer of Village People, has died after a short, aggressive illness. He co-wrote hits including YMCA, Macho Man and In the Navy, helping define late-1970s disco. Willis left the group in 1980, later rejoined in 2017, and his passing ends a turbulent, influential career.
Through two weeks, home teams have won about 29% of games, the worst start in 30 years. New York is the only team with a winning record at home. Attendance is up 6%, and scheduling may be a factor. Chicago has started 3-1 on the road, defying the trend.
Rising jet fuel costs tied to the Iran war have pushed airfares up and led to higher fees. Airlines are adjusting pricing, loyalty programs, and baggage charges while travelers seek value through rewards cards.
The Heart Attack Grill, known for its extreme menu items, has ceased operating at Neonopolis in Las Vegas after its owner did not renew the lease, citing rising downtown costs and shifting consumer tastes. The restaurant plans to seek new opportunities while the city grapples with a tourism downturn.
Several firms have announced expansion plans and new measures that will accelerate commercial robotaxi rollouts. Mobileye has announced a 2027 U.S. launch with an initial 100-vehicle fleet and a five-year target of 17,000; Wayve and Uber are preparing a supervised London service in the coming months; Tesla and Waymo are expanding U.S. coverage; and new indices show Chinese robotaxi players are scaling faster than many expected.
A’s progress on their Las Vegas ballpark is advancing, with the lower suites rising and a phased plan for a plaza and parking. Officials say ceremonial groundbreaking has already occurred and financing plans are evolving amid rising costs.
The inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas has featured track, swimming and weightlifting with athletes allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Organisers say the event is safe and innovative, while anti-doping bodies warn it could normalize PED use and harm public health.
The world’s tallest thermometer in Baker, California, has been listed for sale as part of a 4.3-acre property for $1.85 million. The site includes an EV charger, a souvenir shop and potential for redevelopment, with the thermometer touted as 134 feet of vertical advertising space along I-15.
Older dancers, including the Rodeo City Wreckettes in Tucson, are shown benefiting from regular movement to music. Health professionals say dancing supports balance, mobility and brain health, while groups perform for memory-care patients and charity events.
McDonald’s has announced its global growth strategy, dubbed McDonald’s > NEXT, to enhance restaurant design, menu quality, customer service and automation. Details and financial targets are to be shared at an investor day in September, as the chain seeks to defend market share amid new rivals and cautious consumer spending.
Three horses were intentionally injured with a sharp object at a National Barrel Horse Association event in Las Vegas. A 17-year-old with access to the barn has been booked on 12 counts of animal maiming and three counts of property destruction. The horses are not expected to recover to compete soon.
The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes is underway with a dynamic start. Teams are balancing high-stakes play with personal life events as players welcome newborns during the playoffs.
Hilary Knight has been traded to Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade with Las Vegas after signing a foundational contract with the expansion team. The move follows Knight’s Olympic gold in Milan and positions her as a cornerstone for Detroit’s inaugural season, with Las Vegas acquiring Detroit’s first-round pick.
Health-tech data sharing is advancing, with real-time interoperability and AI-assisted tools promised by CVS Health and partners. Meanwhile, lawsuits involving Epic and Health Gorilla highlight ongoing security gaps as regulators push for seamless sharing. Biometric risks from AI-fuelled fingerprint extraction add new concerns for consumer protection.
Vegas clinches key moments as Brayden McNabb returns after a heavy blow to the face, logging near-40 minutes and two assists in a late push for the Stanley Cup Final.
Police and prosecutors have noted Ruggs’ speed, alcohol level, and the fatal crash in Las Vegas in 2021. He faces parole again ahead of his 2027 release date following his guilty plea and prison sentence.
McGregor has said he does not know what substances he used during his recovery from a broken leg, while new examinations reveal a doctor’s involvement and a shift in UFC anti-doping oversight. Investigations probe how banned drugs were involved and whether exemptions were properly pursued.
A string of aviation incidents has triggered renewed safety questions. A British Airways flight experienced a cell phone fire on board but landed safely; other incidents include a Turkish Airlines wing collision and an American Airlines lightning strike. Aviation bodies emphasize carrying devices in carry-on luggage and evacuations rules.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has moved toward ending federal monitorship after decades of oversight. Barbara Jones oversees the process with a path to a permanent compliance role; the union has implemented internal controls and vowed tougher discipline. The development follows ongoing mergers of union leadership and the approval of related reforms.
A set of studies and reports show weight-loss drugs can reduce fat while preserving muscle when paired with targeted therapies. Experts emphasize the importance of protein intake and strength training, while researchers investigate how these medications might help combat age-related muscle loss.
The Vegas Golden Knights have appointed an internal candidate, Ryan Craig, as head coach following the departure of John Tortorella after the team reached the Stanley Cup Final. The move marks a development-through-promotion for the franchise.
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have separated, with filings noting irreconcilable differences. The couple, who wed in 2016, renewed vows in 2023 and share two children. New allegations surface as Nicole Arbour claims the split has been exploited for publicity by Jelly Roll and his wife, amid prior drama involving Upchurch and a contentious online feud.
Qualcomm has unveiled a data-center CPU, announced the acquisition of Modular to boost AI software capabilities, and detailed its broader data-center AI roadmap. The moves position Qualcomm to challenge Nvidia in enterprise AI and expand its reach into cars, robots, and connected devices, while continuing its growth in China amid export-control considerations.
Floyd Mayweather has not appeared at a Las Vegas hearing; his attorney represents him as prosecutors pursue two felony counts — theft and drawing or passing a check with intent to defraud — tied to a December 2024 $200,000 check, with a September hearing set.
The BBC has suspended a second series featuring Ashley Cain after revelations of abusive and misogynistic comments he posted online. The corporation says it expects the highest standards and will review vetting processes as the drama around Cain unfolds while a cost-cutting round adds pressure on leadership.
Chase has died at age 35 from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. She has been living homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died. The New York Times reports she voiced Lilo in the 2002 film and Samara in The Ring, among other roles. Her father confirmed the cause and circumstances, and an online fundraiser has raised about $4,000 for her memory.
Since late June, civil aviation has faced several safety scares: a JetBlue A321 has reported a collision with a drone near JFK and landed safely; a United and a helicopter pilot have reported near-misses with unmanned aircraft near Newark and Manhattan; Delta 1076 reported a firework strike during descent into Chicago Midway; and LOT Polish Airlines flight 155 emitted a false hijack transponder code and was escorted to Burgas before authorities blamed a transponder error.
A federal crackdown targets healthcare fraud across the United States. More than 450 defendants, including doctors, nurses and clinic owners, are charged in schemes that falsified records, billed for unrendered or unnecessary care, and laundered funds. Several defendants have faced seizures and high-value assets, with charges spanning Medicare and TRICARE programs.
General Intuition has raised $320 million at a $2.3 billion valuation, backing a world-model AI that can plan in real-world spaces. The funding supports its push into physical AI, training on gameplay before applying to real-world robotics.
Zoox has unveiled interior and interface improvements to its bidirectional robotaxi as it eyes a wider rollout later this year, including a lighter interior, new seating, larger cupholders, improved touchscreens, and two-way audio for riders and first responders. Production is planned at the Hayward facility with up to 100 vehicles weekly pending regulatory approval.
David Vander Meer, a former Las Vegas youth pastor, has been arrested on murder and insurance-fraud charges related to his wife Bernadette’s 2006 death on Angels Landing. Vander Meer has since died in custody ahead of a scheduled extradition hearing.
Bad Bunny has taken Tottenham’s stadium by storm across two nights, delivering a bilingual, genre-blending spectacle rooted in Puerto Rican culture. The gigs are a landmark for UK Latino visibility, with La Casita staging and a community-led build underscoring the scale and significance of Latin music here.
AWS launches an internal org for AI-focused forward-deployed engineers, embedding them with customers to deploy agents and accelerate value. Microsoft follows suit with its Frontier Co. FDE program, promising rapid deployments and multi-model integration as competitors race to embed expertise inside client environments.
A long view on how all-you-can-eat buffets rose with mid-20th-century farming advances and spread nationwide, only to face decline as casual dining and COVID-19 altered consumer habits. The debate over origin stories continues among Vegas legends and historians.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis’s attempt to bar the 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend and related police statements from being used at trial has been denied, keeping those statements admissible as prosecutors prepare for an August trial in Las Vegas over the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have tied the knot at Madison Square Garden in New York. The ceremony was officiated by Adam Sandler; Swift’s brother Austin Swift served as her man of honor and Jason Kelce was best man. Attendees include Camila Cabello, Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid and several athletes. Details on attire remain undisclosed, but Dior Haute Couture designs by Jonathan Anderson and Cartier jewelry are confirmed. The Empire State Building lit in blue as Swift’s “something blue.” Donations totaling $26 million to charities were announced in the lead-up.
Swift and Kelce have donated a total of $26 million to 20 charities across the United States ahead of their reported Madison Square Garden wedding, including groups in New York, Kansas City, Nashville and Rhode Island. The gifts span food banks, hospitals, education and animal charities, with national organizations also receiving support. The wedding at MSG is reportedly planned for Friday, with security and venue setups underway.
The NBA has adopted a single free-throw rule for summer leagues in Salt Lake City, Northern California and Las Vegas to speed up play. The rule replaces multi-shot free throws with one shot worth the total points and applies only to non-final periods, not overtime.
Firework displays across the U.S. are rising in price or being canceled as communities chase larger, more elaborate 250th anniversary shows. Tariffs, demand, and limited vendor capacity are driving up costs, with some towns funding bigger shows through private donations while others cancel due to budget strains.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have married in a private ceremony at Madison Square Garden, Swift's publicist has confirmed. Actor Adam Sandler officiated, the couple did not use bridesmaids or groomsmen, and Austin Swift and Jason Kelce served as man of honor and best man. Both wore Christian Dior Haute Couture; Swift wore Cartier and Christian Louboutin shoes.
UBTech has unveiled the U1, a hyper-realistic humanoid robot intended to combat loneliness among singles and the elderly. The robot features emotional AI, camera eyes for stress detection, and comes in male and female versions. It is positioned for mass production with significant pre-orders, signaling China’s push to elevate robotics as a core industry.
Strategy has disclosed further bitcoin sales, weighing on sentiment as bitcoin trades near $60,000. Trump publicly endorses crypto, citing national competitiveness, while the crypto treasury approach shifts toward liquidity and cash.