Nudification Law Challenge, FIFA Boycott, & a Two-Headed Gecko

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Adam Rogers
July 31, 2026

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A Georgia judge sentenced Colin Gray to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for giving his 14-year-old son the assault-style rifle used in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting.
The shooting killed two students and two teachers and wounded nine others. Earlier this week, Gray's son, Colt, was sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to carrying out the attack. The elder Gray bought his son the rifle months after authorities investigated the teen over alleged school shooting threats.
Gray's conviction marks only the second time a U.S. parent has been held criminally responsible for a child's mass school shooting. The first came in Michigan, where James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter after buying their son the handgun used in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting and failing to respond to warning signs.

Elon Musk's xAI has sued Minnesota over a first-in-the-nation law that would hold AI companies liable for allowing users to create fake nude images of real people. The lawsuit, filed days before the law takes effect on Saturday, argues that the measure imposes unconstitutional restrictions on AI platforms like Grok.
xAI says it supports banning the nonconsensual distribution of AI-generated nude images but argues Minnesota's law goes much further. The company says it could penalize platforms for consensual or self-created images, lacks a legal safe harbor for companies that make good-faith moderation efforts, and carries fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
The case could shape future AI regulation across the U.S. as most existing deepfake laws punish users who create or share explicit fake images.

Europe's soccer federation, UEFA, says its 55 member nations will boycott FIFA competitions if the organization moves forward with plans to sell a minority stake in the World Cup's commercial rights.
UEFA argues the World Cup "is not for sale" and says FIFA developed the proposal without meaningful consultation. The planned company, valued at about $20 billion, would oversee broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticketing and licensing. Private investors would acquire up to a 20% stake, and FIFA says the proposal would raise billions to invest in the sport globally.
The proposal faces a vote by FIFA's 211 member associations in September. A European boycott would threaten the participation of teams that have appeared in nine of the last 10 World Cup finals.

New Mexico's attorney general sued the state's child welfare agency, alleging it forced a 15-year-old U.S. citizen to cross alone into Mexico. (More)

A Wisconsin teenager missing since 2022 was found alive in Virginia, where investigators allege she had been held captive for four years. (More)

A Senate committee advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sending it to the full Senate. (More)

Saudi Arabia is preparing for a possible military offensive against Yemen's Houthis as it seeks to secure Red Sea oil shipping, according to Yemeni sources. (More)

An English village will hold a symbolic referendum on joining the United States in protest of government plans to house asylum seekers nearby. (More)

Thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain's Ceuta enclave, overwhelming border authorities as local officials called for a national emergency. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +1.66%, Nasdaq +2.78%, Dow +1.19%) as stocks bounced back from a selloff after the Fed decided to keep rates steady. (More)

AI hedge fund Situational Awareness liquidated its entire portfolio after heavy losses and margin pressure forced the once-$20 billion-plus firm to unwind its positions. (More)

Microsoft shares surged 15.5% after strong earnings, marking the largest single-day market-value gain in its stock market history. (More)

Kody Clemens hit a two-out, walk-off grand slam with two strikes in the ninth inning, lifting the Twins to a 4-3 comeback win over the Royals. (More)

Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions merged with the Professional Fighters League, creating a combined boxing and mixed martial arts company. (More)

Netflix struck a reported $500 million licensing deal for all Walking Dead series and spin-offs, expanding the franchise to global audiences. (More)

People exposed to less sugar before birth and during their first two years of life had a lower risk of dementia, a study found. (More)

Astronomers observed a wandering black hole tearing apart a star, marking the first confirmed star-shredding event ever detected so far from a galaxy's center. (More)

A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil contains the oldest known largely complete reptile digestive system, offering new clues about early evolution. (More)

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