Pope marks July 4 by praying for migrants who died seeking freedom

LAMPEDUSA, Sicily (AP) – Pope Leo XIV, who has sparred with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown, spent the Fourth of July on Saturday in the epicenter of Europe’s migration debate to honor the tens of thousands of people who have died trying to reach Europe to find freedom and prosperity.

Slovaks vote in a referendum on lifelong payments for populist leader Fico

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) – Slovaks will cast the ballot on Saturday in a referendum to decide whether to cancel lifelong payments for populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and other leaders after their terms in office expire.

Today in History - What Happened on this Day

Today in History - What Happened on this Day

Serena Williams withdraws from doubles match at Wimbledon due to injury

LONDON (AP) – Serena Williams withdrew from her doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon on Saturday due to a right knee injury. The 44-year-old Serena was injured during her singles return earlier in the week. It was a three-set loss.

A California farmer is giving away tons of nectarines that he's not allowed to sell

Thousands of visitors have flocked to Cesar Mora’s farm in central California this week to gather free nectarines. He’s giving his harvest away rather than watching it rot as he’s locked in a legal battle with a company that claims exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows. He’s shared more than 100,000 pounds (45,359 kilograms) since Monday.

Small business having a good summer as Americans travel closer to home

NEW YORK (AP) – Small business owners in U.S. tourist destinations say they’re seeing more Americans sticking closer to home this summer, trading overseas travel for road trips, choosing daylong sojourns over extended beach stays, and cooking instead of eating out while on vacation to save money.

Robotic elephants draw crowds and controversy in India's Hindu temples

CHALAKUDY, India (AP) – The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashan’s backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water. But that’s about all they have in common with their real-life counterparts revered across India as manifestations of the divine.

Autism remains widely misunderstood in parts of Africa. A mother in Guinea fights for her child

FRIA, Guinea (AP) – Kazaliou Balde’s parents started worrying about him when as a small child he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating.

People race through Madrid in high heels during Pride

MADRID (AP) – Participants wearing shoes with heels of at least 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) compete in an annual high heel race during Madrid’s Pride week on Thursday, July 2.