The Mirage casino, which ushered in an era of Las Vegas Strip megaresorts in the ‘90s, is closing
{The iconic Mirage hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip will shut its doors on July 17. It marks the end of an era for a property credited with helping transform Sin City into an ultra-luxury resort destination. The closure will clear the way for major renovations and construction on the property. It is expected to reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Las Vegas with a 700-foot hotel tower in the shape of a guitar. The Mirage opened in 1989 as the Strip’s first megaresort, and its success ushered in a building boom through the 1990s.
Defendants unmasked in court face cost of damage for allegedly felling famous 150-year-old tree
Two men charged with cutting down the beloved 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree have made their first appearances in a northern England courtroom. A prosecutor says the men caused criminal damage exceeding $785,000. The tree was cut down last September, damaging Hadrian’s wall that was built to protect the Roman Empire. The sycamore’s majestic canopy framed between two hills made it a popular photo subject. One of accused men pleaded not guilty while the other did not enter a plea in a short hearing in Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. Both men arrived at court with their faces concealed behind black masks.
YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest anthem after court injunction bans song in the city
YouTube has blocked access to videos of a protest song in Hong Kong to comply with a removal order, days after a court approved an injunction to ban the song in the city. YouTube has blocked access to more than 32 videos of the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” which have been deemed “prohibited publications” under the injunction. Attempts to access the YouTube videos from Hong Kong on Wednesday showed they were unavailable. A message appeared saying “This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order.” “Glory to Hong Kong” was an anthem of anti-government protests in 2019.
