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Rescuers were desperately searching for at least 20 girls missing from a riverside summer camp, officials said Friday, after torrential rains caused a “catastrophic” flash flood that killed at least 24 people as it swept through south-central Texas. “At this point we’re at about 24 fatalities,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told an evening press conference as rescue teams scrambled to locate stranded residents in the region northwest of San Antonio.Some of the dead were children, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said at a previous news conference.The county sheriff said there were “kids that are still missing”, adding that between 23 and 25 people were unaccounted for.Lieutenant Governor Patrick previously said “about 23″ girls attending a summer camp in the flooded Kerr County were missing.They were part of a group of around 750 children at Camp Mystic, a girls summer camp along the banks of the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes with heavy rainfall overnight.”That does not mean they’ve been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” he said.Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was signing a “disaster declaration” to boost resources in counties in the region.”It’s terrible, the floods,” US President Donald Trump told reporters Friday night. “It’s shocking.”Asked if Texas would receive federal aid, he said: “Oh yeah, sure, we’ll take care of it. We’re working with the governor.”- Rescue efforts -A massive rescue operation was underway in the region, with around 500 personnel and 14 helicopters helping in the search for survivors.Texas military official Major General Thomas Suelzer told reporters at least 237 people had been rescued or evacuated by emergency personnel, with 167 rescues performed using helicopters.Freeman Martin, director of the state’s public safety department, told the evening conference: “We had a hard time getting in this morning with the weather the way it was.” “As the day went on, it picked up and we were able to rescue more and recover more, that will continue tomorrow,” Martin said, calling the disaster a “mass casualty event.”US media reported that trucks had arrived at Camp Mystic to transport stranded people.State and local officials warned against residents traveling to the area which includes camp grounds dotted along the river, with dozens of roads “impassable.”Videos on social media showed houses and trees swept away by the flash flood caused by heavy overnight rain of up to 12 inches — one-third of Kerr County’s average annual rainfall.Governor Abbott shared a video on X of a victim being plucked from the top of a tree by a rescuer dangling from a helicopter, as floodwaters raged below.”Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,” he said.The Texas National Guard sent rescue teams and the US Coast Guard joined efforts as well.- ‘Another wave’ -Public safety official Martin warned of “another wave” that could impact other counties in the state, adding that “this is not going to end today”.Kerr County officials have repeatedly said they were unaware of an impending flood overnight from Thursday to Friday.”We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kerr County judge Rob Kelly said earlier on Friday, adding that the region has “floods all the time.” “This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” he added, referring to the Guadalupe River.Soila Reyna, 55, a Kerrville resident who works at a local church helping people who lost their belongings, witnessed the devastation unfold.”It has been years since we had a flood, but nothing like this,” Reyna said. “Nothing like as catastrophic as this, where it involved children, people and just the loss of people’s houses and you know, it’s just crazy,” she added.Forecasters issued a flood warning for Kerr County, urging those living near the river to “move to higher ground.”Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual.But scientists say in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and intense.In mid-June, at least 10 people were killed by flash flooding in San Antonio following torrential rains.In the northeastern state of New Jersey, at least two people were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle during a “severe storm,” local police confirmed on Friday.

Hundreds of protesters marched through the Mexican capital on Friday denouncing gentrification caused by foreigners, with some vandalizing businesses and shouting “gringos out!”The demonstration in the capital’s central area turned violent when hooded individuals smashed windows, damaged restaurant furniture and looted a clothing store. Mexico City’s government secretary Cesar Cravioto said 15 businesses and public facilities were damaged in what he called “xenophobic expressions” similar to what Mexican migrants have suffered in other countries. “We are a city of open arms… there are always ways to negotiate, to sit at the table,” Cravioto told Milenio television. Neighborhoods like Roma-Condesa have since 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, seen an influx of foreigners, mostly young Americans working remotely and attracted by lower living costs.Their arrival has driven up rent prices considerably, forcing Mexican residents to move to more affordable areas.”Housing is a right, not a commodity,” read placards carried by the mostly young protesters.As they passed street-side restaurants, some demonstrators heckled American diners, who either ignored them or left, AFP witnessed. “Mexico for Mexicans,” “Pay taxes, learn Spanish, respect my culture,” and “gringo go home” were among other protest slogans. Roma-Condesa, a bohemian sector of the Mexican capital, has been particularly affected by gentrification. While previous demonstrations against the phenomenon have occurred in Mexico City, this was the largest protest so far. Mexico is home to one-fifth of the five million expatriates counted by the Association of Americans Resident Overseas in 2023.The march also comes as US President Donald Trump intensifies his crackdown against illegal immigrants in the United States.

US President Donald Trump said Russia just wanted to “keep killing people” and hinted at sanctions  after Moscow launched its largest ever drone and missile attack on Ukraine in the three-year-old war.Trump said Friday he was “very unhappy” about his telephone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying: “He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good”.The US president said he and Putin talked about sanctions “a lot”, adding: “He understands that it may be coming”.Hours-long Russian bombardments sent Ukrainians scurrying for shelters across the country and came after the call between Trump and Putin, which ended without a breakthrough.AFP journalists in Kyiv heard drones buzzing over the capital and explosions ringing out throughout the night as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack.Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke to Trump Friday and said they agreed to work on bolstering Kyiv’s defences.”We spoke about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies,” Zelensky said on social media after the call.Tymur, a Kyiv resident who said he had experienced previous Russian attacks, told AFP that the assault in the early hours of Friday felt different from others.- ‘Nothing like this happened’ -“Nothing like this attack had ever happened before. There have never been so many explosions,” he said.The Kremlin said Friday it was “preferable” to achieve the goals of its invasion through political and diplomatic means.”But as long as that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, referring to Russia’s invasion.At least three people were wounded in Russian drone and artillery strikes on several parts of Eastern Ukraine overnight Friday to Saturday, regional governor Sergiy Lysak said on Telegram.Zelensky said Friday air alerts began echoing out across the country as the Trump-Putin call was getting under way.He urged the United States in particular to increase pressure on Moscow, which on Friday announced fresh territorial gains on the front line with the capture of a village in the Donetsk region.Poland said its embassy building in Kyiv had been damaged in the attack but that staff were unharmed.In Kyiv, one person was pulled from the rubble after the strikes, which also wounded at least 26 people, emergency services said.The barrage, according to the air force, comprised 539 drones and 11 missiles. A representative of Ukraine’s air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion.- Escalating overnight attacks -Overnight Russian attacks have escalated over recent weeks.An AFP tally found Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June, when direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall.In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station.Yuliia Golovnina, who said she sheltered at the metro regularly, described the worry that came with hearing an explosion during an attack.”Will there be another one? Will something collapse on you?” the 47-year-old said.”In those seconds, you just hold your breath and wait to see what happens next,” she added.In Kyiv, concerns mounted over whether the US would continue delivering military aid, which is key to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages. The US announced this week it was reducing some of its aid deliveries.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this was a clear signal that the 27-nation European Union needed to “step up”.Ukraine has also ramped up its retaliatory strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed by a Ukrainian drone attack overnight, the acting governor of the Rostov region said.Talks, spearheaded by the United States to secure a ceasefire, have stalled.Delegations from the two sides last met more than a month ago, when they agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.Russia announced a fresh swap of prisoners of war with Ukraine on Friday as part of that agreement.

The death toll from flash floods in south-central Texas rose to 24 on Friday, officials said, as the search for at least 20 girls missing from a summer camp continued.”At this point we’re at about 24 fatalities,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told an evening press conference as rescue teams scrambled to locate stranded residents in the region northwest of San Antonio.Some of the dead were children, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said at a previous news conference.The county sheriff said there were “kids that are still missing,” adding that between 23 and 25 people were unaccounted for.Lieutenant Governor Patrick previously said “about 23″ girls attending a summer camp in the flooded Kerr County were missing.They were part of a group of around 750 children at Camp Mystic, a girls summer camp along the banks of the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes with heavy rainfall overnight.”That does not mean they’ve been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” he said.Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was signing a “disaster declaration” to boost resources in counties in the region.”It’s terrible, the floods,” US President Donald Trump told reporters Friday night. “It’s shocking.”- Rescue efforts -A massive rescue operation was underway in the region, with around 500 personnel and 14 helicopters helping in the search for survivors.Texas military official Major General Thomas Suelzer told reporters at least 237 people had been rescued or evacuated by emergency personnel, with 167 rescues performed using helicopters.Freeman Martin, director of the state’s public safety department, told the evening conference: “We had a hard time getting in this morning with the weather the way it was.” “As the day went on, it picked up and we were able to rescue more and recover more, that will continue tomorrow,” Martin said, calling the disaster a “mass casualty event.”US media reported that trucks had arrived at Camp Mystic to transport stranded people.State and local officials warned against residents traveling to the area which includes camp grounds dotted along the river, with dozens of roads “impassable.”Videos on social media showed houses and trees swept away by the flash flood caused by heavy overnight rain of up to 12 inches — one-third of Kerr County’s average annual rainfall.Governor Abbott shared a video on X of a victim being plucked from the top of a tree by a rescuer dangling from a helicopter, as floodwaters raged below.”Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,” he said.The Texas National Guard sent rescue teams and the US Coast Guard joined efforts as well.- ‘Another wave’ -Public safety official Martin warned of “another wave” that could impact other counties in the state, adding that “this is not going to end today.”Kerr County officials have repeatedly said they were unaware of an impending flood overnight from Thursday to Friday.”We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kerr County judge Rob Kelly said earlier on Friday, adding that the region has “floods all the time.” “This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” he added, referring to the Guadalupe River.Forecasters issued a flood warning for Kerr County, urging those living near the river to “move to higher ground.”Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual.But scientists say in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and intense.In mid-June, at least 10 people were killed by flash flooding in San Antonio following torrential rains.In the northeastern state of New Jersey, at least two people were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle during a “severe storm,” local police confirmed on Friday.

At least 13 people were dead after flash flooding hit south-central Texas early Friday, officials said, with more than 20 girls at a summer camp still unaccounted for.”We have identified 13 fatalities,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told a press conference after devastating floods swept through the region northwest of San Antonio, warning more casualties were likely. Some of the dead were children, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said.”About 23″ girls were unaccounted for from Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, which rose 26 feet (eight meters) in 45 minutes overnight, Patrick added.”That does not mean they’ve been lost, they could be in a tree, they could be out of communication,” he said.Patrick read out a message from the director of the summer camp, which had some 750 campers over the July 4 holiday weekend, reporting that it had “sustained catastrophic level of flooding.””We have no power, water or Wi-Fi,” the message said.Massive rescue efforts were underway to search for the missing girls, with trucks reaching the campsite to start bringing out people on Friday evening, according to US media.State and local officials warned against residents traveling to the area, which includes camp grounds dotted along the river, as dozens of roads remain “impassable.”Videos on social media showed houses and trees swept away by the flash flood caused by heavy overnight rainfall of up to 12 inches — one-third of Kerr County’s average annual rainfall.Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared a video on X of a victim being plucked from the top of a tree by a rescuer dangling from a helicopter, as floodwaters raged below.- ‘Another wave’ -“Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for,” he said.Freeman Martin, director of the state’s public safety department, said the flood was a “mass casualty event.”About 500 rescue personnel and 14 helicopters were deployed, with the Texas National Guard sending rescue teams and the US Coast Guard joining efforts.”The rain has let up, but we know there’s another wave coming,” Martin warned, saying more rain would be hitting areas around San Antonio and Austin.”We didn’t know this flood was coming,” Kerr County judge Rob Kelly said earlier on Friday, adding that the region has “floods all the time.” “This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” he added, referring to the Guadalupe River that flows through the region.Forecasters issued a flood warning for Kerr County, urging those living near the Guadalupe River to “move to higher ground.”Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual.But scientists say in recent years human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves more frequent and intense.In mid-June, at least 10 people were killed by flash flooding in San Antonio following torrential rains.Meanwhile, at least two people were killed when a tree fell onto their vehicle during a “severe storm” in the northeastern state of New Jersey, local police confirmed on Friday.

US President Donald Trump signed his flagship tax and spending bill into law Friday, capping a grandiose White House Independence Day ceremony featuring a stealth bomber fly-by.”America is winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said before signing the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” while flanked by Republican lawmakers who helped push it through Congress.Trump also played down criticism by Democrats that the unpopular legislation will slash social welfare programs, saying: “You won’t even notice it.”With First Lady Melania Trump at his side, Trump watched from the White House balcony as two B-2 bombers — the same type that recently struck Iranian nuclear sites — roared overhead, accompanied by F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.The 79-year-old’s victory lap came a day after Republicans fell into line and passed the sprawling mega-bill, allowing him to sign it as he had hoped on the Fourth of July holiday.The bill honors many of Trump’s campaign promises: extending tax cuts from his first term, boosting military spending and providing massive new funding for Trump’s migrant deportation drive.- ‘Never been anything like it’ -The legislation’s signing caps two weeks of significant wins for Trump that have seen him tighten his grip on power and his party alike.The successes include the recent Iran-Israel ceasefire that was sealed after what he called the “flawless” US air strikes on Iran.Pilots who carried out the bombing on Iran were among those invited to the White House event, which included a picnic for military families on the South Lawn.”The last two weeks, there has never been anything like it, as far as winning,” said Trump.Trump had however forced through the tax bill despite deep misgivings in the Republican Party that it would balloon the national debt.The legislation is expected to pile an extra $3.4 trillion over a decade onto the US deficit.It squeezed past a final vote in the House of Representatives 218-214 after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson worked through the night to corral the final group of dissenters.Trump thanked Johnson at the White House event, saying: “What a job.”- ‘Horrible day’ -Trump’s billionaire former ally Elon Musk was among the most vocal critics, and he has pledged to set up a new political party to oppose Republicans who backed the bill. Democrats and many voters have meanwhile expressed concerns that the “big beatuiful bill” will gut health and welfare support.The bill will force through the largest cuts to the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income Americans since its 1960s launch, while also shrinking federal food assistance programs. Up to 17 million people could lose their insurance coverage under the bill, according to some estimates. Scores of rural hospitals are expected to close as a result.But Trump played down the concerns.”They’ve developed a standard line, and we can’t let them get away with it. ‘Oh, it’s dangerous. Oh, everybody’s going to die.’ It’s actually just the opposite,” said Trump.Democrats hope public opposition to the bill will help them flip the House in the 2026 midterm election, pointing to data showing that it represents a huge redistribution of wealth from the poorest Americans to the richest.People attending the Fourth of July parade in Washington on Saturday had mixed feelings.”Yesterday was a horrible day, today is the best part of America,” said Elisabeth Hubir, 70.

BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday are expected to decry Donald Trump’s hardline trade policies, but are struggling to bridge divides over crises roiling the Middle East.Emerging nations representing about half the world’s population and 40 percent of global economic output are set to unite over what they see as unfair US import tariffs, according to sources familiar with summit negotiations.Since coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive tariffs.His latest salvo comes in the form of letters due to be sent starting Friday informing trading partners of new tariff rates expected next week on July 9.Diplomats from 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have been busy drafting a statement condemning the economic uncertainty.Any final summit declaration is not expected to mention the United States or its president by name. But it is expected to be a clear political shot directed at Washington.”We’re anticipating a summit with a cautious tone: it will be difficult to mention the United States by name in the final declaration,” Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University said.This is particularly the case for China, which has only recently negotiated with the US to lower steep tit-for-tat levies.”This doesn’t seem to be the right time to provoke further friction” between the world’s two leading economies, Fernandez said.- Xi no show -Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power.But the summit’s political punch will be depleted by the absence of China’s Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president.”I expect there will be speculation about the reasons for Xi’s absence,” said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think tank.”The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing,” said Hass.The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the Kremlin.Hass said  Putin’s non-attendance and the fact that India’s prime minister will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi’s absence.”Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi,” who will receive a state lunch, he said.”I expect Xi’s decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors.”Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage.In the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year, in which he is expected to run.- Middle path -Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel is also skipping the meeting. A source familiar with the negotiations said the BRICS countries were still in disagreement over how to respond to the wars in Gaza and between Iran and Israel.  Iranian negotiators are pushing for a tougher collective stance that goes beyond referencing the need for the creation of a Palestinian state and for disputes to be resolved peacefully.Artificial intelligence and health will also be on the agenda at the summit.Original members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.Analysts say that it has given the grouping more potential international punch.But it has also opened many new fault lines.Brazil hopes that countries can take a common stand at the summit, including on the most sensitive issues.”BRICS (countries), throughout their history, have managed to speak with one voice on major international issues, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case this time on the subject of the Middle East,” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told AFP.

Mark Snow, a composer of music for television — including the distinctively eerie theme for “The X Files” — has died at age 78, his agent confirmed.A cause of death was not provided, but Hollywood trade publication Variety said Snow died Friday at his residence in the northeastern state of Connecticut.In addition to “The X Files” main theme, which was released as a single in 1996 and charted internationally, Snow composed the music for over 200 episodes and both feature films of the hit science fiction show about a pair of paranormal FBI investigators.Born Martin Fulterman on August 26, 1946, Snow grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended the prestigious Juilliard School. He began composing music for television in the late 1970s, garnering 15 Emmy nominations over the course of his career. In addition to “The X Files,” Snow composed the music for other US television series, including “Blue Bloods,” “Smallville” and “Hart to Hart.”He is survived by his wife Glynnis, three daughters, and grandchildren, Variety reported.

BRICS leaders will meet in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday, with the bloc depleted by the absence of China’s Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual summit of emerging economies for the first time in 12 years.The grouping — often seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power — meets as members face imminent and costly tariff wars with the United States.Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be dominated by Beijing, which grew much faster and larger than the rest.China has not said why Xi will miss the summit, a first since he became president in 2012.”I expect there will be speculation about the reasons for Xi’s absence,” said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think tank.”The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing,” said Hass.The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the Kremlin.So too will Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel. Hass said that Putin’s non-attendance and the fact that India’s prime minister will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi’s absence.”Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi,” who will receive a state lunch, he said. “I expect Xi’s decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors.”Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage.In the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year.Lula is expected to run again for an unprecedented fourth term in office.- ‘Cautious tone’ -For BRICS leaders who do make the trip to the “cidade maravilhosa” — the marvelous city — the economy will be top of the agenda.Lula on Friday defended the idea of finding an alternative to the dollar for trade among BRICS nations.”I know it is complicated. There are political problems,” Lula said at a BRICS banking event. “But if we do not find a new formula, we are going to finish the 21st century the way we started the 20th.”But with many, including China, locked in difficult trade negotiations with the United States, they may be wary of roiling the mercurial US president.President Donald Trump has warned that starting Friday, countries will receive letters stating the amount their exports to the United States will be tariffed.He has also threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on countries that challenge the dollar’s international dominance.”We’re anticipating a summit with a cautious tone: it will be difficult to mention the United States by name in the final declaration,” Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University, told AFP.This is particularly the case for China, she said: “This doesn’t seem to be the right time to provoke further friction” between the world’s two leading economies.On a range of other issues, from the Middle East to climate, BRICS members will have to overcome deep-seated differences.- Consensus-building difficult -Original members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.Analysts say that it has given the grouping more potential international punch. The BRICS now represent nearly half of the world’s population and 40 percent of its GDP. But it has also opened many new fault lines, not least over how strongly to challenge the United States.This expansion “makes it all the more difficult to build a strong consensus,” said Fernandez.BRICS members did not issue a strong statement on the Iran-Israel conflict and subsequent US military strikes due to their “diverging” interests, according to Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.Brazil, nevertheless, hopes that countries can take a common stand at the summit, including on the most sensitive issues.”BRICS (countries), throughout their history, have managed to speak with one voice on major international issues, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case this time on the subject of the Middle East,” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told AFP.Artificial intelligence and global governance reform will also be on the menu.

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut recaptured his title at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on Friday in Brooklyn, downing 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in the July 4th holiday classic.The 41-year-old American missed last year’s event after signing a deal with Impossible Foods, whose plant-based products include hot dogs, but he was allowed to enter this year and made his Coney Island comeback a triumphant one.Chestnut won by 24 hot dogs over last year’s winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, but the maestro of mastication could not break his own record of 76 hot dogs that he consumed in 2021.It marked the 17th time Chestnut claimed the “Mustard Belt” symbolic of supremacy in the gastronomic showdown and his ninth triumph in 10 years.”Oh my gosh, I was nervous,” Chestnut told event telecaster ESPN after his victory. “First couple of hot dogs, I was fumbling a little bit, but I found a pretty good rhythm.”Chestnut said that despite his blowout triumph, he was hoping to make a better show of challenging his record consumption total.”My goal was 70 to 77,” he said. “I really wanted a little bit more. There’s next year and I’m just happy I’m here.”On the women’s side, American Miki Sudo won by eating 33 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, her 11th victory in the past 12 years, with American Michelle Lesco second on 22.75 dogs and buns.Sudo, who set the women’s record of 51 last year, did not compete in 2021 while pregnant, with Lesco winning that year.