Seattle Food Festival Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 4 Hurt

Three people were killed and at least four wounded Sunday, July 26, when two groups exchanged gunfire during the Bite of Seattle festival at Seattle Center, police said. The dead were a 44-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, both bystanders, and a 19-year-old man police believe was one of the shooters. A 15-year-old is in juvenile detention. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes called the shooting targeted and gang-related, said police are seeking at least one more, unidentified suspect, and said investigators don't yet know who fired the fatal shots.

 

Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister as Starmer Exits

Andy Burnham became Britain's prime minister on July 20, appearing outside 10 Downing Street shortly after Starmer's departure. "I go with good grace, I go with a smile," Starmer told his wife, cabinet and colleagues on Monday, ending a premiership that began with a landslide win just two years earlier.

Starmer resigned as Labour leader on June 22, having clung on after May elections in which Labour lost nearly 1,500 English council seats and power in Wales, where it fell to third with nine of 96 Senedd seats. Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until his automatic disqualification in June, was blocked by Labour's NEC from contesting a February by-election but entered Parliament by winning Makerfield on June 18, after its MP resigned to make way. He was declared leader unopposed on July 17, backed by 379 of Labour's 403 lawmakers. Burnham is Britain's seventh prime minister since 2016. He inherits a sluggish economy, a cost-of-living squeeze and overstretched public services, though Labour has since drawn level with Reform UK in the polls. "I will work to build a new politics. The country is crying out for it," he said on becoming leader. The next general election is due by August 15, 2029.

 

Spain Wins Second World Cup, Beating Argentina 1-0 in Extra Time

Spain won its second World Cup title on July 19, beating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time before a crowd of more than 80,000 at MetLife Stadium.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, finishing a header back from Nico Williams after a cross from Pedro Porro, early in the second period of extra time. Argentina had been a man down since second-half stoppage time, when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second bookable offense. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was credited with 11 saves, a record for a World Cup final, though Argentina became the first finalist not to attempt a shot in regulation time.

Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente, completed the tournament unbeaten, conceding one goal in eight matches. Rodri won the Golden Ball, Unai Simón the Golden Glove and defender Pau Cubarsí the Best Young Player award. France's Kylian Mbappé took the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Lionel Messi, 39, became the oldest outfield player to appear in a final. England beat France 6-4 for third place.

The tournament, held June 11 to July 19, was the first men's World Cup with 48 teams and 104 matches, and the first co-hosted by three countries, with matches played in 11 U.S. cities, three Mexican cities and two Canadian cities. FIFA reported 6.8 million spectators, nearly double the 1994 total across twice as many matches, at 99.7% of capacity.

All three hosts reached the knockout stage and exited in the round of 16: Canada to Morocco, Mexico to England, the United States to Belgium. Bank of America reported host-city spending up 6.3% year over year from June 10 to 21, though economists noted international arrivals trailed projections and most tournament revenue accrued to FIFA.