Donald Trump holds a Playboy magazine and gold Trump sneakers at Sneaker Con Philadelphia, an event popular among sneaker collectors, in Philadelphia, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)

Crypto boosts

Trump’s wealth

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest disclosure report listing President Donald Trump’s financial holdings shows he took in about $1.2 billion last year from crypto holdings, overshadowing a real estate business that first brought him fame.

It’s a stunning development, sped along by his own friendly policies toward the industry and help from billionaires and others with business before the presidency. The report also shows Trump took in tens of millions from new properties in countries beholden to the U.S. for military support or seeking tariff relief. He got tens of millions more suing media companies.

The White House says the president has no financial conflicts with his government role and only acts in the public interest.

Trump got more than $500 million from his World Liberty Financial business selling “governance tokens” and “stablecoins” and other crypto assets. Another crypto business, CIC Digital LLC, took in more than $600 million from sales of souvenir-type “meme” coins stamped with his face.

Both the tokens and the meme coins have plunged in value since his sales, partly because they are so difficult to value.

Talks focus

on ending war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators have met separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators and host Qatar is reporting positive progress in talks. The plan is to continue discussions after the funeral of Iran’s previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is set to start on Saturday.

The talks focus on ending the war and resolving issues over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran insists on controlling ship routes and charging fees, which the U.S. and Gulf Arab states oppose. Meanwhile, a U.S. Navy helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea, with one crew member missing.

Qatari jet

takes flight

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has taken his maiden voyage on a new Air Force One. Trump’s plane landed in North Dakota on Wednesday morning.

The retrofitted Boeing 747-800, worth $400 million, was a gift from Qatar. Gone is the trademark light blue hull that helped Air Force One blend into the sky.

The refurbished jet is painted in Trump’s preferred color scheme: a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes. It has luxury features like plush carpets, lie-flat seats, wood paneling and a presidential seal on the seat belts. Trump is in North Dakota visiting the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which opens on the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Proposal leads

to NY arrest

NEW YORK (AP) — Two people have been arrested after scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna and unfurling a banner about “the power of love.” It was apparently part of an audacious, high-altitude marriage proposal.

News helicopter video showed a pair dressed in black and wearing masks balancing on a narrow ledge on top of the antenna and flying the banner Wednesday. After collecting the banner and descending to another ledge, they were seen kissing and hugging after one of them got down on one knee. Police body camera video later recorded one of them saying what sounds like, “We are engaged.” It’s unclear how the pair gained access to the antenna.

Swift-Kelce

wedding near

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will host their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. That’s according to a law enforcement official briefed on the security plans.

The official said the festivities will kick off with a smaller rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the events. Speculation about the superstar singer and football player’s nuptials has built to a frenzy in recent days.

Unconfirmed reports said it would take place over July Fourth weekend at one of New York’s iconic landmarks. Nothing has been publicly confirmed by the couple, despite multiple requests for comment.