Wrestling Legend Known for Ric Flair Feud Dies at 77

Siva Afi, whose wrestling career stretched from Japan to Hawaii before a memorable run in Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation, has died at 77, his family announced Thursday. A cause of death was not disclosed. Afi, born Papali’itele Max Amata Taogaga, arrived in the WWF in 1986 under the nickname “Superfly” and was billed as Jimmy Snuka’s cousin, having previously competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Though his stint with the company was short-lived, he became one of Hawaii’s biggest wrestling stars, highlighted by a celebrated 60-minute draw against Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. His life later took a dramatic turn after he served prison time for his role in a 1996 robbery and kidnapping case before eventually returning to Samoa, where relatives said he dedicated himself to faith, community work, and rehabilitation programs. Following news of his death, tributes poured in from family members and wrestling historian Dave Meltzer, who remembered Afi as a standout performer whose legacy extended well beyond the ring.

FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, six years after he was detained during a police raid described as a “sex party.” The 46-year-old official was caught up in a 2020 operation in the city of Bijeljina that targeted what authorities determined as a gathering involving drugs and prostitution. Police detained 35 people, including nine women and 26 men, and reportedly seized four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests, and more than $11,000 in cash. Vincic was questioned as a witness and later released without charge. He has consistently denied any involvement in illegal activity. Speaking to the Slovenian newspaper Vecer after the incident, Vincic said he had traveled to Bosnia for a business meeting, which unexpectedly brought him to the gathering. “I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake,” he said, adding that neither he nor his business associates knew the people arrested. Despite the controversy, Vincic’s refereeing career continued to advance. He took charge of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and has already officiated three matches at this summer’s World Cup. The final match will take place in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium this Sunday at 3 p.m, ET.

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Dubbed the “softest blanket ever,” the brand’s premium faux-fur throws have amassed more than 30,000 five-star reviews, making them among the most beloved blankets online. Available in an impressive range of colors, patterns, and four different sizes (along with weighted and pet-friendly versions), there’s a Lola Blanket for just about every sofa, bed, and perpetually chilly person. The ultra-soft blankets strike that rare balance of looking elevated enough to leave draped over your couch while still being the blanket everyone instinctively reaches for the second they sit down.

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Brenda Fricker, the Oscar-winning Irish actress beloved by generations of moviegoers as both the heartbroken mother in My Left Foot and the kindhearted Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died at 81. Her agent, Phil Belfield, said Fricker died after a period of ill health. Fricker made history in 1990 as the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award, beating out fellow nominees Julia Roberts (Steel Magnolias), Angelica Huston (Enemies, A Love Story), Dianne Wiest (Parenthood) and Lena Olin (Enemies, A Love Story). She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Christy Brown’s mother in My Left Foot, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, who also won an Oscar for the film. While that role cemented her place in film history, many younger fans came to know her as the lonely Central Park Pigeon Lady who befriends Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2. Fricker’s decades-long career also included roles in A Time to Kill, So I Married an Axe Murderer, and the BBC medical drama Casualty. Paying tribute, Phil Belfield, her agent, said, “We will never see her like again,” adding that “the world is lesser for the lack of her.”

Health officials announced Thursday that the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak that has struck multiple states and affected thousands of people has been identified. The outbreak of the intestinal infection, which causes severe diarrhea and fatigue, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said that investigators traced the outbreak to a single supplier of lettuce from Mexico used at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. Officials urged consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in those states while the investigation continues. The CDC and FDA did not name the supplier, but two individuals familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that investigators have identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of the lettuce in question. More than 1,600 people affected by the outbreak reported eating at Taco Bell restaurants in the five states affected. “The investigation remains active, and additional states, restaurants, retailers, or products may be identified as more information becomes available,” a spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department said.

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A 3-year-old boy who was thrown into a crocodile enclosure at an English zoo is fighting to recover after undergoing seven surgeries, his family has revealed. The child, who was hurled roughly 15 feet into the reptile habitat during the June attack, remains hospitalized after suffering multiple broken bones and severe injuries to his arms, neck, head, and face. His latest procedure: a nerve graft intended to restore movement in one of his hands, which offers hope, but doctors won’t know for months whether it was successful. The boy’s grandmother said his first emergency operation lasted 12 hours, during which relatives were forced to sign consent forms covering possible resuscitation and even amputation. Despite the ordeal, she said the toddler is now smiling again, chatting with nurses, and even finding ways to play using his feet. A fundraiser for the family has raised more than $107,000 as his parents remain by his bedside and prepare for what they say will be a lengthy rehabilitation.

A new safety campaign from the Federal Aviation Administration is urging travelers to leave their carry-on bags behind during emergency plane evacuations. The FAA shared a public service announcement on social media under the slogan “Save a Life, Not a Bag.” The video shows passengers exiting aircraft during emergencies, carrying suitcases and backpacks, with some even taking their luggage onto emergency slides. According to the agency, stopping to retrieve personal belongings can delay evacuations, block aisles, damage emergency equipment, and increase the risk of injuries. The FAA says more than 40 injuries have been reported during emergency evacuations since Jan. 1, 2023. The campaign is part of a broader effort launched by the International Air Transport Association in June, following a growing number of incidents in which passengers ignored evacuation procedures. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said officials are seeing an increase in travelers failing to follow crew instructions during emergencies. Connecticut flight attendant Leanna Coy also highlighted the danger in a viral video earlier this year, noting that aircraft evacuation plans are designed for passengers to leave the plane within 90 seconds. Even a brief delay to grab luggage, she warned, can become deadly if dozens of people do the same.

The U.S. Marshals Service has finally apprehended a man who spent more than two decades on the run, after intercepting his boat during a daring sea raid. The agency said in a statement on Wednesday that Ronald L. Fischer was in custody after its agents, working with the FBI, tracked him to a 56-foot sailing vessel about an hour off the coast of New York. Fischer had become one of Rhode Island’s most-wanted fugitives after absconding ahead of a criminal trial where a judge later found him guilty in absentia of serious sexual assault. He remained wanted for failing to appear before the court and for fleeing prosecution. “This arrest demonstrates that time does not erase accountability,” Wing Chau, a U.S. Marshal in Rhode Island, said. “For more than twenty years Ronald Fischer believed he had successfully escaped justice,” he went on. Chau added that “we hope today’s arrest brings a measure of justice and long-awaited closure to the victim and everyone impacted by these crimes.”

Prime Video’s God of War has been forced to recast its lead after Ryan Hurst suffered a serious injury while filming the highly anticipated PlayStation video game adaptation, according to Deadline. Hurst, who was to play the Spartan warrior Kratos, tore a bicep while performing a stunt on set in late June, TMZ first reported. He subsequently underwent surgery and is recovering, according to sources. Production on the fantasy drama series paused immediately and has not yet resumed. Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios apparently decided to recast the role after determining that Hurst’s recovery timeline could not be accommodated within the series’ production schedule. Hurst would likely not have been cleared for filming until 2027. The recasting marks an unfortunate turn for Hurst, who had reportedly gained 40 pounds of muscle in preparation for the role. He spent months filming in Vancouver, completing four episodes, which will now be reshot with a new actor. Preparation to reshoot the series will begin in mid-August, with filming planned for mid-October.

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Investigators believe a flock of birds may have triggered last year’s catastrophic Hudson River helicopter crash that killed a pilot and a family of five visiting from Spain. Newly released National Transportation Safety Board records indicate the sightseeing helicopter struck multiple large birds moments before it broke apart and plunged into the water in April 2025. However, the agency has not yet issued its final determination. Analysis by the Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab found bird remains on both the rotor blades and the helicopter’s horizontal stabilizer, identifying species including Canada geese and black-backed gulls. Videos captured the aircraft’s rotors separating as it fell into the Hudson. The victims included Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, their three children, and the pilot. Attorneys representing the family cautioned that the newly released investigative files should not be mistaken for the NTSB’s conclusions, which have yet to be issued.

A Walt Disney World guest died after going into cardiac arrest while riding the iconic “It’s a Small World” attraction. The 54-year-old man died April 24 while aboard the 10-minute Fantasyland boat ride and had a pre-existing heart condition, according to a new Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services report. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The death marks the second fatality linked to the gentle Disney attraction. In December 2014, a 22-year-old woman with a pre-existing health condition also died after passing out on the ride. Earlier this month, guests were forced to evacuate the attraction after smoke filled the building when a portable phone charger inside a visitor’s bag caught fire. No one was injured in the incident, and guests praised employees for reacting quickly. According to the New York Post, the Florida theme park has recorded around 70 deaths since opening in 1971, with most attributed to natural causes or pre-existing medical conditions. The Daily Beast has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment.