Author: News Desk

President Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Tuesday hailed a new era of relations in which American oil companies in the Mideast country will effectively replace U.S. soldiers. Mr. Trump said it’s a far cry from the U.S. military invasion in 2003 that resulted in a lengthy troop presence in Iraq. “We don’t need the military there,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office alongside Mr. al-Zaidi. “Our oil companies are going in there at levels that have never been seen before.” Mr. Trump said Energy Secretary Chris Wright will announce a series of oil partnerships with Iraq…

The Royals announced Tuesday that they’ve acquired right-hander Easton McGee from the Brewers in exchange for cash. McGee, who’d been designated for assignment last week, has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha with his new organization. The Royals opened a 40-man roster spot by transferring righty Nick Mears from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. The 28-year-old McGee has pitched in parts of four major league seasons but has only 26 1/3 total innings in that time. He tossed two scoreless frames for Milwaukee this season — his second in the Brewers organization. McGee has also pitched briefly for the…

The federal government dropped the ball on the transition to electric cars when it killed the EV tax rebate last year. However, Governor Gavin Newsom has come up with an alternate solution for those in California in the form of up to $3,500 in instant rebates for first-time EV buyers. Dubbed the MyFirstEV program, Newsom’s bill — which will go into effect sometime later this summer — is part of a larger $600 million investment by California to improve the state’s clean transportation economy. As for the rebates specifically, half of the program’s $270 million fund comes directly from California’s…

On this episode, Alternative Press Editor-in-Chief Anna Zanes sits down with Taylor Momsen — frontwoman of the Pretty Reckless and former actor — to talk about the band’s fifth album, Dear God. Momsen breaks down why the record is the most personal and vulnerable she’s ever written, how years of loss, growth, and life on the road found their way into the songs, and why the album feels like “a rebirth in a lot of ways.” Read more: 20 albums that paved the way for alternative as we know it She also talks about writing as the way she’s always…

Austin Reaves has admitted life at the Los Angeles Lakers will feel very different without LeBron James, saying: “I don’t know if I’ve honestly processed it yet.” The guard was speaking publicly for the first time since signing a new four-year, $180 million contract extension with the Lakers, having initially agreed terms on a deal worth $185m before restructuring it to give the franchise greater financial flexibility. “Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me,” Reaves said of James’ departure after eight seasons in Los Angeles. “He’s kind of all I’ve ever…

DeepSeek, the Chinese large language model developer, is preparing for a 2027 IPO debut, but it could come as early as the end of this year as it also looks to raise around $1.5 billion in new funds at about a $71 billion valuation, Bloomberg reports. The news comes after the company raised $7 billion in funds just a month ago at around a $50 billion valuation in its first-ever outside funding round.  The China-based startup, founded in 2023, made headlines early last year after releasing AI technology that was both more efficient and more cost-effective than U.S. model makers. It…

Kentucky Republicans are positioned to challenge Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear if he plans to appoint a successor to ailing GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell. That law requires any Senate vacancy to be filled through a special election. The 2024 law was passed over Mr. Beshear’s veto, but the governor said recently, amid the monthlong hospitalization of Mr. McConnell, that he’s prepared to go to court should any of the state’s seats become vacant. “If we end up there, and I hope we don’t, there’s at least going to be probably a disagreement,” the governor said Sunday on MSNOW’s “Politics Nation.” Kentucky…

Charli XCX announced her new album on Instagram on Monday, and the release date is closer than most people would have predicted. “Music, Fashion, Film” arrives July 24, 2026, ten days from today, with pre-orders already open. The announcement was brief. On Instagram, she wrote: “My new album Music, Fashion, Film is out july 24th. 11 songs, 30 minutes, 5 seconds. available to pre order now, love you xx.” Pre-orders went live at the same moment, with nothing in the way of a lead-up. The project spans 11 tracks at a total runtime of 30 minutes and 5 seconds. That…

Ariana Grande may be off the market, at least that’s what some fans believe. The sensational singer and actress has been keeping fans guessing about her relationship status following speculations of a reunion with her ex Ricky Alvarez. The rumors skyrocketed when Ariana Grande made multiple lyric changes to her hit 2018 song, “Thank U, Next,” all of which hinted at a possible rebound after her separation from Ethan Slater. 3ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Grande recently hit the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Monday, July 13, for another performance in her ongoing Eternal Sunshine Tour. While performing her…

Looking for the best day trips from Toronto? Whether you’re craving waterfalls, wineries, beaches, or small towns, Ontario is packed with incredible places to explore just a short drive from the city. The best day trips from Toronto include Niagara Falls, Elora, Blue Mountain, and Prince Edward County, all within 2 to 3 hours from the city. We’ve lived in Toronto and traveled all around the province—and trust us, you don’t need to go far to find adventure. From hiking trails along the Niagara Escarpment to paddling the Grand River or sipping wine in Prince Edward County, there’s a day…