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World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz beat reigning champion Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set men’s final on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title. The Spaniard prevailed after nearly five hours on Centre Court, eventually winning 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4, and jubilantly fell onto the grass in celebration before volleying a tennis ball into the crowd. The 20-year-old becomes the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and adds a second major title to his resume after winning the US Open last year. Through his extraordinary display of athleticism and skill, Alcaraz prevented Djokovic from leveling Margaret Court for the most grand slam singles titles of all time and Roger Federer on eight for the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles. But it was anything but straightforward for Alcaraz, who came from a set down against arguably the greatest tennis player in history performing at the peak of his powers. In the end, as Djokovic’s attempted forehand failed to make it over the net, a new Wimbledon champion was crowned and Alcaraz cemented his status as the leader of men’s tennis’ next generation. FULL STORY

The White House on Friday slammed congressional Republicans for “hijacking” the annual defense policy bill and loading it up with conservative amendments related to abortion, transgender rights and other issues, arguing it will undermine national security. “Holding America’s military readiness – as well as service members and their families – hostage to an extreme, divisive political agenda undermines our national security and disrespects the sacrifices that those who wear the uniform,” deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. “That’s what House Republicans, Senator Tuberville, and Senate Republicans who refuse to challenge him are doing by hijacking a bipartisan bill and devolving it into a hardcore rightwing wishlist,” Bates continued. “President Biden stands with the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe our military capabilities should never be endangered, especially not in furtherance of radical agendas meant to tear Americans apart for political gain. “Harm to every service branch is mounting daily. It’s imperative for congressional Republicans to put country over party,” he added. FULL STORY

Former President Trump praised the judge overseeing his classified documents case as his legal team seeks a postponement of his trial in Florida. Trump’s motion for a continuance of the trial, filed last Monday, awaits a decision by Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of the former president who presided over his initial challenge to the FBI search of his Florida home. Asked on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News whether he believes the judge will grant the motion, Trump said he did not know. “I know it’s a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge,” Trump said. When host Maria Bartiromo noted that Trump appointed the judge in the case, Trump said, “I did, and I’m very proud to have appointed her.” “But she’s very smart and very strong, and loves our country,” Trump said. “We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.” Cannon was confirmed as a district judge in the Southern District of Florida with a bipartisan vote in November 2020. FULL STORY

A wave of executives in the finance sector made early donations to Donald Trump's primary opponents in the second quarter, as many on Wall Street look for an alternative to the former president to lead the Republican Party in 2024. New Federal Election Commission filings show that dozens of Wall Street executives donated the legal maximum of either $3,300 for the primary or $6,600 for the entire election cycle to many of the Republican candidates polling below Trump in the primary, according to a joint analysis of the latest disclosures by NBC News and CNBC. Trump’s chief rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and other candidates regularly registering in the national polling averages — business owner Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina — all saw contributions from leaders in finance starting April 1 through June 30. STORY

Sit on the patio and control it .....

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US regulators are probing artificial intelligence company OpenAI over the risks to consumers from ChatGPT generating false information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a letter to the Microsoft-backed business requesting information on how it addresses risks to people's reputations. The inquiry is a sign of the rising regulatory scrutiny of the technology. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says the company will work with the FTC. ChatGPT generates convincing human-like responses to user queries within seconds, instead of the series of links generated by a traditional internet search. It, and similar AI products, are expected to dramatically change the way people get information they are searching for online. Tech rivals are racing to offer their own versions of the technology, even as it generates fierce debate, including over the data it uses, the accuracy of the responses and whether the company violated authors' rights as it was training the technology. The FTC's letter asks what steps OpenAI has taken to address its products' potential to "generate statements about real individuals that are false, misleading, disparaging or harmful". FULL STORY

Former President Trump said it was “probably” a mistake to appoint Christopher Wray to lead the FBI, attributing the decision partly to a recommendation from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R). In an interview with Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo set to air Sunday, Trump, who rarely acknowledges making an error, was asked if it was a mistake for him to put Wray in charge of the FBI. The bureau has recently faced unrelenting criticism from Republicans, including the former president. “Sadly, it probably was,” Trump said in an excerpt released Friday. “You know, he was recommended very strongly by Chris Christie, who is, you know, a sad case.” Trump went on criticize Christie over his poll numbers in the GOP presidential primary, where the former New Jersey governor has typically polled in the low single digits. Christie has spent much of his campaign attacking Trump over his character, saying he is unfit to serve another term in the White House. FULL STORY

A lawyer for Hunter Biden has sent a cease-and-desist letter to former President Trump’s legal team, saying that Trump’s rhetoric is putting Biden and his family in danger. In the Thursday letter, reported by ABC News, Abbe Lowell argues to Trump’s attorneys that Trump’s speech on social media and in other forums could lead to the “injury” of Biden or his family. He pointed to several instances of Trump’s speech that allegedly led to violence, including the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “This is not a false alarm. We are just one such social media message away from another incident, and you should make clear to Mr. Trump — if you have not done so already — that Mr. Trump’s words have caused harm in the past and threaten to do so again if he does not stop,” Lowell said. FULL STORY

China’s military has been on a surge of activity around Taiwan this week, sending dozens of warplanes past the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the key regions of the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity has a range of implications, none of them positive for Taiwan or cross-strait stability, analysts say. According to figures from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, 38 PLA aircraft were detected around the island in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, 33 in the same period Thursday and 30 during the same period Friday. Over those 72 hours, 73 PLA aircraft either crossed the strait’s median line – an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected – or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the island’s ADIZ. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its territory despite never having controlled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. FULL ARTICLE

Russia's lower house of parliament has passed a new law banning gender reassignment surgery, in the latest attack on LGBT rights in the country. The State Duma approved the bill, which will also ban people changing their genders on state documents, on Friday. It now needs approval from the upper house and President Vladimir Putin, moves normally seen as formalities. Speaker of the Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the bill would "protect our citizens and our children". In a telegram post on Friday, Mr Volodin also called gender-affirming surgery a "path to the degeneration of the nation". "We are the only European country that opposes all that is happening in the States, in Europe and does everything to save families and traditional values," he said during the debate on Friday. "And we need to understand that there won't be any future if we don't adopt the law, if we don't ban gender change." Fresh amendments added to the bill on Friday during its final reading included banning individuals who have undergone gender changes from adopting children, and annulling marriages where one party had undergone gender reassignment. FULL STORY

A blistering US heatwave is set to intensify, with warnings issued across the southwest up to Washington state. Heat advisories as of Friday are impacting at least 93 million Americans, from Florida to Texas to California. In Texas, air conditioner use has led the state to surpass its previous record for power consumption as people try to keep cool. The NWS has cautioned that this intense July heatwave could be dangerous. Around 27 million people will feel temperatures over 110F (43C) in the coming days, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasted. The heat is a result of an upper level ridge of high pressure, which typically brings with it warmer temperatures, the NWS said. The agency added it is "one of the strongest" systems of its kind that the region has ever seen. "The subtropical ridge responsible for this likely historic heatwave across the region is not showing signs of letting up anytime soon," the NWS said. About 700 people are estimated to die each year from heat-related causes in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new normal - why this summer has been so very hot What effect do heatwaves have on the body? Both Friday and Saturday will be exceptionally hot, with daytime highs forecasted to hit up to 115F (46C). For some areas, the scorching heat is expected to linger until next week. FULL STORY

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Hundreds of golden retrievers, and their owners, have gathered at the Highland ancestral home of the breed. The first golden retriever puppies were born at Guisachan House in Glen Affric 155 years ago. They were bred by aristocrat Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, who wanted a gun dog suited to Scottish Highland terrain. Owners from across the UK, continental Europe, North America, Australia and Japan have been meeting at the ruins of Guisachan House. A brief history of Guisachan's goldens A series of events, including talks, workshops, demonstrations and a night-time procession, have taken place this week at the site near Tomich, south of Inverness, and nearby Cannich. Thursday was expected to see one of the world's largest gatherings of the breed in one place, with hundreds meeting up below the ruined mansion house. FULL ARTICLE

LOS ANGELES — Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, died of small bowel obstruction, the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office ruled. Presley died Jan. 12 after she was rushed to the hospital in Southern California, according to her mother, who announced her death later that day. She was 54. The cause of death was stated as "sequelae," or aftereffect, "of small bowel obstruction." No additional causes or significant conditions were listed. The manner of death was determined to be natural, according to the medical examiner’s office. FULL STORY

Preparing for Brexit meant the government was "match fit" to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has said. He told the Covid inquiry civil servants "honed and refined" crisis skills as they worked up ways the UK could leave the EU. At a previous session, senior civil servant Katharine Hammond said Brexit had distracted officials. But Mr Gove argued Brexit was "the best preparation" for any future crisis. UK's pandemic strategy was wrong, says Hancock Covid inquiry: The UK pandemic in numbers What is the UK Covid inquiry and how long will it take? The inquiry is aiming to learn lessons from the handling of the pandemic. The first phase of evidence gathering is focused on official planning and preparedness. A number of senior politicians and officials have already given evidence, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. FULL STORY

Former President Trump criticized the Secret Service Thursday for ending its investigation into the cocaine discovered at the White House, suggesting it shows a “two tier level of justice.” “Despite all of the cameras pointing directly at the ‘scene of the crime,’ and the greatest forensics anywhere in the World, they just can’t figure it out? They know the answer, and so does everyone else!” Trump posted on Truth Social. The Secret Service in a briefing with lawmakers Thursday said the probe into the cocaine found at the White House will officially end Friday, after authorities failed to identify a suspect. “In the meantime, they continue to target and investigate me, for years, in what has been called the greatest Witch Hunt of all time,” the former president wrote in response, adding that it shows a “Two Tier Level of Justice.” FULL STORY

Former President Trump could face charges under at least three statutes in connection with his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election, according to a review of the case by legal experts. The analysis, offered in a model prosecution memo akin to what is typically prepared by prosecutors ahead of bringing charges, determines there is sufficient evidence to bring a case against Trump as well as several co-conspirators. “Trump knew he lost the election but did not want to give up power, so he worked with his lawyers and others on a wide variety of schemes to change the outcome,” a group of former prosecutors and legal experts wrote in the memo published on Just Security. “Those schemes included creating fraudulent electoral certificates that were submitted to Congress, implicating statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States in the administration of elections.” Creating those fake electoral certificates could also implicate statutes that prohibit obstruction of an official proceeding, one of the charges also leveled at numerous rioters who entered the building, including members of the Oath Keepers and military and chauvinist group the Proud Boys. FULL STORY

Stars like Margot Robbie and Matt Damon express support for SAG-AFTRA strike Actors are standing in support of SAG-AFTRA going on strike and are pointing out the impact the move will have on both sides. The official strike declaration comes after SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee’s talks with major studios and streaming services about a new contract failed, even after the original deadline to make a deal was extended by weeks and a federal mediator got involved. On the red carpet of the “Oppenheimer” premiere in London — moments before the cast walked out in solidarity with the strike — Matt Damon told Deadline that a strike will impact his new production company that he started with Ben Affleck. “It’s going to be tough for the actors, for 160,000 actors. Nobody wants a work stoppage,” Damon added. “But if our leadership is saying that the deal isn’t fair then we’ve got to hold strong until we get a deal that’s fair for working actors.” Margot Robbie, who stars in the upcoming “Barbie” movie, told Sky News during the movie’s London premiere Wednesday night that she’s “absolutely” in support of a SAG-AFTRA strike. Full Story

The conversations keep happening – quiet whispers on the sidelines of events, texts, emails, furtive phone calls – as top Democrats and donors reach out to those seen as possible replacement presidential candidates. Get ready, they urge, in conversations that aides to several of the people involved have described to CNN: Despite what he has said, despite the campaign that has been announced, President Joe Biden won’t actually be running for reelection. They feel like time is already running out and that the lack of the more robust campaign activity they want to see is a sign that his heart isn’t really in it. It’s a persistent sense that the inner circle of advisers to the president and several of the very few aides who have been hired for his reelection campaign dismiss as absurd. Of course, he is running, they say. Of course, they’re taking preparations very seriously. And, with the always present Biden chip on their shoulder, of course they’re being written off again by the purported wise elders of the party and pundits who still refuse to take him seriously. “They are so underestimated, and they keep getting it right,” said Jim Messina, former president Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign manager, who has been one of the people privately advising Biden’s team to ramp up gradually. FULL STORY