President Joe Biden has appointed CIA Director William Burns to his cabinet, praising him for his expertise and leadership in confronting national security challenges. Burns has been instrumental in the White House strategy to declassify intelligence findings on Russia's attempted invasion of Ukraine, and his elevation to the cabinet is a testament to his influence and work in U.S. support for Ukraine. The move is seen as a symbolic gesture that underscores the Biden administration's commitment to intelligence in national security decision-making.
News Mash
Mega Millions has reached a new milestone, with the top prize soaring to an estimated $820 million for the next drawing on Tuesday. This is the fifth largest jackpot in the game's history, and no tickets were sold hitting all the winning numbers for the estimated grand prize of $720 million in the latest drawing. Players must pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, with the odds of winning the jackpot being 1 in 302,575,350. The next drawing will be held on Tuesday night.
Lionel Messi scored a dramatic free kick in the 94th minute to give Inter Miami their first victory in their brief history, securing a 2-1 win over Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. After Uriel Antuna equalized for Azul, Messi stepped up to take the free kick and curled the ball over a wall of four defenders into the top left-hand corner of the goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
On Friday, authorities believe they have found the body of 2-year-old Matilda Sheils, who was swept away in flash flooding last weekend in Philadelphia. The body was found in the Delaware River near the city’s wastewater treatment plant and the search for her 9-month-old brother, Conrad, is still ongoing. Upper Makefield Police Chief Kenneth Coluzzi expressed his condolences to the Sheils family and all those affected by the tragedy.
Vice President Kamala Harris made history on Friday as the first Black person to hold the position, and used the opportunity to criticize the Florida Board of Education's new standards for teaching Black history in schools. Harris called the standards an effort by extremist leaders to spread propaganda, and criticized Governor Ron DeSantis for his administration's controversial educational standards. Her visit to the state was a last-minute trip and a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching accurate history in schools.
A 13-year-old girl from Texas was rescued in California after she was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted by her abductor. The girl was able to escape and find help with a makeshift "help me" sign, leading to the arrest of Steven Robert Sablan, 61, of Cleburne, Texas. He has been charged with kidnapping and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and GOP presidential candidate, has met the Republican Party's donor requirements and is confident he will poll high enough to qualify for the party's first debate next month. The RNC requires candidates to register at least 1% support in three national polls, or 1% in two national polls and in two early-state polls from separate states. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol on Friday. The RNC will announce the list of candidates who qualify for the debate stage on Aug. 17.
The United States Women's National Soccer Team opened the 2019 Women's World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam, with Sophia Smith and Lindsey Horan scoring the goals. Vietnam put up a surprisingly strong fight, with goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh stopping Alex Morgan's penalty attempt. The US are the favorites to win the tournament, with Germany, France, England, and Japan also expected to make a strong showing.