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All filed intelligence, newest first.- World Politics
US resumes Iran port blockade as Trump drops Hormuz transit fee
Trump abandoned a proposed 20% fee on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz and ordered the US naval blockade of Iranian ports reinstated, as fresh strikes and Iranian counterattacks left the June ceasefire in doubt.
- Business
HCA cuts profit outlook as more patients go uninsured
The largest US hospital chain lowered its 2026 profit forecast, saying more patients arrived uninsured after dropping ACA coverage when enhanced subsidies lapsed. HCA now expects a $1 billion to $1.2 billion hit.
- Health
FTC settles insulin-pricing case with CVS Caremark
The FTC settled its lawsuit accusing CVS Caremark of using a rebate system that inflated insulin list prices. The agency says the changes could save Americans up to $8.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs over a decade.
- Health
Cyclospora outbreak surpasses US record as investigators eye lettuce
A summer cyclospora outbreak has exceeded the previous US record of about 4,700 cases, with Michigan hardest hit. State officials point to lettuce as a likely source while the FDA runs traceback investigations.
- U.S. Politics
Trump pays E. Jean Carroll $5.6 million after failing to delay the judgment
President Trump paid writer E. Jean Carroll about $5.6 million in the sexual-abuse and defamation case, three years after a jury found him liable. The payment came after he exhausted appeals and the Supreme Court declined to intervene.
- U.S. Politics
Senate Democrats block the annual defense bill over Iran and Israel provisions
Senate Democrats voted 50-46 to deny debate on the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act, short of the 60 votes needed to advance it. Objections centered on Trump's ongoing military operations against Iran and on provisions deepening U.S.-Israel weapons and intelligence integration.
- World Politics
Israeli strike on a north Gaza police station kills eight
An Israeli drone strike on a police station in Jabalia in northern Gaza killed at least eight people, most of them police, according to Gaza's interior ministry. The attack is among continuing Israeli strikes since the October 2025 ceasefire, under which more than 1,100 people have been killed.
- U.S. Politics
ICE pauses most vehicle stops after two fatal shootings
Immigration and Customs Enforcement halted most non-urgent vehicle stops following two fatal shootings within days — one in which an agent killed a Colombian man in Maine, and an earlier killing in Houston. The pause marks a rare operational retreat as scrutiny of enforcement tactics grows.
- Business
Buffett drops the Gates Foundation from his annual donations
Warren Buffett directed nearly $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock to four foundations tied to his own family this year and gave nothing to the Gates Foundation — the first such exclusion since he began the gifts in 2006. The move follows a review of the foundation's past links to Jeffrey Epstein.
- World Politics
Yemen's Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia after strikes on Sanaa airport
Yemen's Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia in response to airstrikes on Sanaa's airport, and threatened a wider campaign against the kingdom, opening a new front in the escalating Iran-linked conflict in the region.
- Health
WHO says the DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be roughly double the official count
A WHO official said most new Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo are emerging outside known transmission chains and that the true size of the outbreak may be about double the reported tally, with many people dying in their communities before reaching care.
- Business
US inflation eased to 3.5% in June as gasoline prices fell
Annual US inflation slowed to 3.5% in June, helped by falling gasoline prices, though economists cautioned that renewed Iran-related tensions could push energy costs back up.
- World Politics
Sudanese court sentences RSF leader Hemedti to death in absentia
A court in Port Sudan sentenced Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and 15 other senior RSF figures to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in West Darfur.
- Science
Researchers repurpose a DNA-shredding CRISPR enzyme to target cancer cells
Scientists have repurposed a bacterial CRISPR enzyme that shreds DNA as a self-destruct mechanism, using it to selectively kill cancer cells in early laboratory experiments.
- Business
De Beers halts work at flagship South African mine as diamond demand slumps
De Beers said it will suspend production for two years at its flagship Venetia mine in South Africa, which employs more than 4,000 people, citing a prolonged slump in demand for natural diamonds.
- Business
California leads a multistate lawsuit to block the Paramount–Warner Bros merger
California is leading a coalition of a dozen states in a lawsuit to stop the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros, arguing the combination of two major Hollywood studios would harm competition.
- Health
Biogen's tau-targeting drug slowed cognitive decline in a mid-stage Alzheimer's trial
Biogen's experimental drug diranersen, an antisense therapy aimed at tau protein, slowed cognitive decline in a Phase 2 Alzheimer's trial at rates roughly comparable to approved medicines, supporting a move to a larger pivotal study.
- World Politics Priority
US strikes Iran for a third night as Tehran hits Gulf tankers and Washington reinstates a Hormuz blockade
US Central Command bombed Iranian coastal military sites for a third straight night, and Iran's Revolutionary Guard struck back across the Gulf, hitting two UAE tankers and killing an Indian crew member. Washington said it would reinstate a naval blockade of Iran's southern ports.
- Tech
PsiQuantum lays out its bet on a million-qubit computer built from light
PsiQuantum is pursuing a photonic quantum computer that uses individual photons as qubits, aiming for a million-qubit, fault-tolerant machine. It is now running three connected cabinets of chips and building fabs in Chicago and Australia.
- Tech
New York moves to impose the first statewide freeze on hyperscale data centers
New York is set to pause construction of new large data centers for up to a year while regulators write rules on their energy, water and environmental impact — the first statewide moratorium of its kind in the US.
- U.S. Politics
National Guard deployment in Washington extended through 2029
The Pentagon confirmed the National Guard will remain in Washington, D.C., through Inauguration Day 2029 as part of President Trump's anti-crime mission. Troop numbers have roughly doubled to nearly 5,000, at a cost the CBO estimates above $3 million a day.
- U.S. Politics
Judge voids Trump's $1.8 billion IRS settlement, calling the lawsuit collusion
A federal judge in Florida threw out the settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, which would have shielded him from tax audits and funded a $1.8 billion payout program. The judge found the executive branch had colluded to steer the outcome and referred a lawyer for discipline.
- U.S. Politics
ICE agent fatally shoots a Colombian man during a vehicle stop in Maine
A 26-year-old Colombian national authorized to work in the US was shot dead by an ICE officer in Biddeford, Maine. DHS said the driver tried to flee and the officer fired fearing for public safety; Maine's attorney general is investigating.
- World Politics
EU bans gold imports from Sudan to cut off war financing
The European Union banned the purchase, import and transfer of Sudanese gold, calling the trade a key source of funding for the civil war. It also barred exports of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, but stopped short of sanctioning the Rapid Support Forces.
- World Politics
Bangkok bar fire kills 30 as police examine blocked exits and negligence
A fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in Bangkok's Chatuchak area killed at least 30 people, with two dozen more in critical condition. Investigators are looking at a suspected electrical fault and blocked rear exits.
- U.S. Politics
Trump again cuts Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante by about 90 percent
Trump signed orders on July 13 shrinking Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by a combined 3 million acres, cutting them to roughly 121,000 and 182,000 acres. It largely restores the boundaries he set in 2017 that Biden reversed in 2021, and opens the removed land to grazing, recreation and potential development.
- World Politics
Iranian missiles hit UAE tankers in Hormuz, killing a crew member
The UAE said two of its oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani waters near the Strait of Hormuz on July 13, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight — the first reported death aboard a tanker in the standoff. The US launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets and said it disabled an Iranian vessel using drone boats, a first-of-its-kind attack.
- Tech
Economists and AI researchers urge governments to prepare now for AI's impact
More than 200 economists and AI researchers, including 16 Nobel laureates, signed an open letter organized through Stanford's digital economy lab warning that AI could drive change on the scale of the Industrial Revolution over a far shorter span. They call for guardrails, incentives and institutions before the disruption arrives, not after.
- Health
Appeals court revives more than 500 lawsuits tying Tylenol to autism
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals revived more than 500 lawsuits alleging that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to autism and ADHD, ruling that a lower court wrongly excluded expert testimony. The court stressed it was not deciding whether acetaminophen actually causes either condition.
- World Politics
Andy Burnham secures Labour support to become UK prime minister
Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, won backing from about 349 Labour MPs — more than 85 percent of the parliamentary party — clearing the field to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister. He is expected to take office within a week.
- Business
Volkswagen plans to cut up to 100,000 jobs
Volkswagen said it aims to shed as many as 100,000 jobs worldwide as falling profits and Chinese competition force a deep restructuring of Europe's largest carmaker.
- World Politics
UK moves to designate Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization
Britain said it will formally list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a step that criminalizes support for the force and hardens the UK's posture toward Tehran.
- World Politics
Sudan's RSF chief sentenced to death over war crimes
A Sudanese court sentenced Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to death in absentia, along with 15 associates, over atrocities committed during the country's war.
- Business
States sue to block Paramount-Warner Bros merger
A coalition of U.S. states led by California sued to stop Paramount's roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros, arguing the combination would concentrate too much of the film and television market in one company.
- Tech
Microsoft's emissions rose 25 percent as AI data centers expand
Microsoft reported its carbon emissions climbed about 25 percent in 2025, driven by the buildout of AI data centers, widening the gap with its pledge to be carbon negative by 2030.
- World Politics
Hungary's parliament votes to remove the president
Hungary's parliament voted to remove the country's president, a figure seen as aligned with former prime minister Viktor Orban, as the new governing majority consolidates its hold after Orban's electoral defeat.
- Health
HHS drops plan to cut health funding over gender-affirming care
The Department of Health and Human Services will not finalize a plan to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding from providers that offer gender-affirming care to young people, backing away from an earlier threat.
- World Politics Priority
Trump says US will blockade Hormuz and charge a 20 percent shipping toll
Trump said on July 13 that the United States would reinstate a naval blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and act as the waterway's 'guardian,' charging a 20 percent toll on cargo passing through to recover the cost of providing security. Iran rejected any US control of the strait and warned that cooperation would be treated as an act of war.
- Health
Second US citizen with Ebola evacuated to Germany for treatment
A second American citizen, a humanitarian aid worker, has been diagnosed with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak and evacuated to a hospital in Frankfurt, the World Health Organization said on July 13.
- World Politics
Rubio says US will campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on July 13 that the Trump administration will pursue a diplomatic campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, escalating a confrontation that has already seen US sanctions on court officials.
- Health
HHS moves to develop guidance for getting patients off antidepressants
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing an effort to help patients discontinue antidepressants, and federal officials met with mental health professionals in July to begin drafting clinical guidance on safely tapering SSRIs.
- World Politics
Flash floods and landslides kill dozens across Bangladesh
Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Bangladesh, killing at least 51 people and displacing thousands, authorities said on July 13.
- World Politics
EU sanctions nine people over a Russian cyber-espionage campaign
The European Union sanctioned nine individuals and four entities on July 13 over what it described as a years-long Russian cyber-espionage campaign targeting at least nine member states. Germany summoned Russia's ambassador, and the move landed as EU leaders met in Paris to weigh further support for Ukraine.
- Science
Astronomers detect the first true sugar molecule in space
Researchers report the first detection of a genuine sugar molecule, the four-carbon erythrulose, in interstellar space, adding to evidence that some of the chemistry underpinning life can form beyond Earth.
- Health
Study links more than 2,700 UK deaths to spring heatwaves
Researchers estimate more than 2,700 deaths in England and Wales during May and June heatwaves, and attribute much of the added heat to climate change.
- Entertainment
Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park and The Piano, dies at 78
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has died at 78, his family announced. Known for Jurassic Park, The Piano and decades of screen work, he had been treated for a rare lymphoma since 2023.
- U.S. Politics
McConnell says a fall and pneumonia caused his weeks-long absence
Senator Mitch McConnell said a fall last month left him briefly unconscious and hospitalized, where he also developed mild pneumonia. He has moved to a rehabilitation center and will not return to the Senate floor to vote yet.
- World Politics
Gibraltar and Spain to drop land border checks under new EU treaty
Physical checks at the Gibraltar-Spain land border are set to end on July 15 under a UK-EU treaty that ties Gibraltar to the Schengen area and a customs union, removing barriers in place for generations.
- World Politics
US launches new wave of strikes on Iran as Hormuz standoff continues
US Central Command said it struck Iranian drone, missile and naval targets on July 12, the third round in a week, framing the campaign as an effort to stop attacks on commercial shipping. Iran called the strikes aggression and again claimed the Strait of Hormuz is closed, which Washington disputes.
- World Politics
Israel sets national election for October 27
The Knesset confirmed on July 12 that Israel will hold national elections on October 27, the latest date legally allowed as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition completes its four-year term. Netanyahu says he will seek reelection despite trailing former army chief Gadi Eisenkot in early polling.
- World Politics
Gibraltar and Spain dismantle land border barriers under post-Brexit treaty
Physical barriers at the Gibraltar-Spain frontier were taken down this weekend ahead of a July 15 start to checkpoint-free land crossings, under a UK-EU-Spain treaty that ends routine border controls in place for more than a century. Immigration checks move to Gibraltar's airport and seaport.
- World Politics
South Africa says it has removed more than 53,000 foreigners in five weeks
A South African minister said 53,499 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated in about five weeks, one of the country's largest migrant crackdowns in years. It follows late-June anti-immigrant protests marked by violence and looting.
- World Politics
Mali's army retakes Anefis after a week of fighting, with about 30 soldiers killed
Mali's army recaptured the northern town of Anefis, seized on July 4 by Tuareg separatists and an al-Qaeda-linked group. The army chief said about 30 soldiers were killed and roughly 60 wounded.
- World Politics
Fire at a Bangkok pub kills at least 27
A fire tore through a crowded pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district overnight, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens. Many victims were trapped as smoke filled the venue; the cause is under investigation.
- World Politics
Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's prime minister in wartime cabinet reshuffle
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will step down after a year in office, part of a reshuffle he framed around foreign policy, arms procurement and EU accession.
- U.S. Politics
US Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71
Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican and Senate Budget Committee chair, died after what his office called a brief and sudden illness. His death removes one of the chamber's most prominent foreign-policy hawks amid an active US-Iran conflict.
- World Politics Priority
Iran strikes five Gulf states in response to US bombing
Iran fired missiles and drones at Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan after a third round of US strikes on Iranian territory. Qatar reported wounded and condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation, widening the conflict to the Gulf Arab states hosting US forces.
- World Politics
Former Qatari emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies at 74
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and built it into the world's largest LNG exporter and founder of Al Jazeera, has died at 74. Qatar declared four days of mourning.
- World Politics
UK police open murder investigation after Ann Widdecombe found dead
British police have opened a murder investigation after former Conservative MP and Reform UK figure Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home with serious injuries. Politicians across parties paid tribute.
- World Politics Priority
Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed after US strikes on its ports
Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed after the US carried out a third round of strikes this week, hitting several Iranian port cities. The US said the strikes answered an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the waterway.
- U.S. Politics
US makes first compensation payments to Havana Syndrome victims
The Pentagon said it has disbursed nearly $3 million to personnel affected by Havana Syndrome, the first payments made under the 2021 HAVANA Act under any administration. The cause of the reported symptoms remains officially undetermined.
- World Politics
US congressman Ro Khanna detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank
Representative Ro Khanna said armed Israeli settlers blocked his tour group's road and held them for more than an hour near Khirbet Zanuta in the occupied West Bank on July 9. He said Israeli soldiers who arrived sided with the settlers before police secured the group's release.
- World Politics
Moldova's president nominates financier Vasile Tofan as prime minister
President Maia Sandu nominated Vasile Tofan, a partner at investment firm Horizon Capital, to be prime minister after Alexandru Munteanu resigned earlier in July. Tofan has 15 days to present a cabinet and program to parliament, where Sandu's PAS party holds a majority.
- U.S. Politics
Justice Department subpoenas New York Times reporters over Air Force One security story
Federal agents delivered grand jury subpoenas to four New York Times journalists who reported that the Qatar-gifted Air Force One lacks some anti-missile defenses of the older plane. The Times called it an attempt to intimidate the press.
- U.S. Politics
Judge dismisses the remaining January 6 convictions of Proud Boys leaders at the DOJ's request
A federal judge dismissed with prejudice the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola after the Justice Department moved to end the case following presidential clemency. The judge made clear he acted under legal constraint, not agreement.
- U.S. Politics
ICE says the Houston man it fatally shot was not the intended target
Homeland Security acknowledged that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican construction worker fatally shot by an ICE officer in Houston, was not the target of the operation but merely resembled him. Passengers dispute the agency's self-defense account, and the city has opened its own probe.
- World Politics
Algeria and Mali restore diplomatic ties after a drone dispute
Algeria and Mali agreed to reinstate their ambassadors and reopen their shared airspace, ending a rift that began in April 2025 when Algeria shot down a Malian drone near the border.
- World Politics
US demands Iran affirm the Strait of Hormuz is open as ceasefire collapses
After a week of renewed strikes, Washington is demanding Iran publicly confirm the Strait of Hormuz is open to all shipping. Trump declared the provisional ceasefire over and issued fresh threats, while mediators press to keep talks alive.
- U.S. Politics
Minnesota pulls its National Guard from D.C. early over patrol use
Minnesota is withdrawing its National Guard members from Washington ahead of schedule after they were used for neighborhood presence patrols rather than the event support they were sent for. Pressure is building on Michigan to follow.
- Science
Long-necked dinosaur named from fossils found in northeast Thailand
Researchers have formally named a new long-necked sauropod from bones unearthed in Thailand's Kalasin Province, measuring up to 20 meters. It is described as the first mamenchisaurid dinosaur formally named from the country.
- Health
European fertility body urges tighter limits on sperm donation
ESHRE has called for a Europe-wide cap on the number of families a single sperm donor can help create, citing genetic risk and the psychological toll of large half-sibling networks. Enforcement across borders remains the hard part.
- Tech
EU tells Meta to strip addictive design from Facebook and Instagram or face fines
The European Commission's preliminary findings say Facebook and Instagram breach the Digital Services Act through features like infinite scroll and autoplay. Meta could face fines of up to 6% of global revenue if the findings are confirmed.
- World Politics
China evacuates more than 600,000 as Typhoon Bavi nears landfall
China moved more than 600,000 people out of coastal Zhejiang and Fujian as Typhoon Bavi approached, with landfall expected near Wenzhou early Sunday. The same storm system has already killed at least 17 in the Philippines.
- World Politics
Taliban orders officials to give up smartphones as restrictions spread
A Taliban directive that took effect in mid-June bars government employees, judges, police and soldiers in Afghanistan from using smartphones, permitting only basic feature phones. In some provinces the limits have already reached hospitals, schools and universities.
- World Politics
Nigeria rescues 46 schoolchildren and staff abducted in Oyo state
Nigerian forces freed all 46 students and staff taken from three schools in Oyo state in May, President Tinubu said. The captives were held for 56 days; one teacher was killed after the abduction and eight suspects were arrested.
- Tech
Meta suspends Instagram AI image feature over consent concerns
Meta pulled its new Muse image feature from Instagram three days after launch, following criticism that it let people generate AI images from other users' public photos without notice and only on an opt-out basis.
- U.S. Politics
Justice Department sues Maryland over sanctuary immigration law
The DOJ sued Maryland to strike down its Community Trust Act, which limits state and local cooperation with ICE, arguing the law obstructs federal immigration enforcement. It is the latest in a series of suits against sanctuary jurisdictions.
- U.S. Politics
Interior Department removes habitat destruction from Endangered Species Act harm rule
The Trump administration finalized a rule striking habitat destruction from the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act, meaning developers can degrade or destroy critical habitat as long as the animals themselves are not directly killed or injured.
- Science
Brazil reports Amazon deforestation at lowest first-half level since 2016
Brazil's space research agency INPE reported that about 1,295 square kilometers of Amazon forest were cleared in the first half of 2026, down 38% from a year earlier and the lowest for the period since 2016.
- U.S. Politics
White House removes remaining Election Assistance Commission members
The White House confirmed the dismissal of the two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the federal agency that helps administer U.S. elections with no sitting commissioners months before the midterms.
- U.S. Politics
Senators say they have a deal with Trump to advance Russia sanctions bill
A bipartisan group of senators said the Trump administration has agreed to move a stalled Russia sanctions bill, which would impose steep tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas and uranium.
- Science
NSF cuts core research budgets to fund a new tech initiative
The National Science Foundation is cutting this year's budgets for hundreds of basic-research programs by 20% to 30%, even as its overall budget falls just 3%, with insiders saying the money is being redirected to a new $1.5 billion applied-technology initiative.
- Tech
Apple sues OpenAI over alleged theft of trade secrets
Apple sued OpenAI and two former Apple employees in federal court, alleging they misappropriated confidential product designs, manufacturing processes and supply-chain strategies to accelerate OpenAI's push into consumer hardware.
- Business
SK Hynix raises $26.5bn in record US share sale
South Korean memory-chip maker SK Hynix raised $26.5bn in a US share sale, the largest listing by a foreign company on record, with the stock set to begin trading on the Nasdaq.
- Health
Roche ends two Huntington's gene-silencing programs after disappointing data
Roche is discontinuing two gene-silencing programs for Huntington's disease after disappointing clinical data, a setback for a field that has struggled to translate the approach into a working treatment.
- Tech
News publishers ask court to sanction OpenAI over withheld evidence
The New York Times, the Daily News and seven affiliated papers asked a Manhattan federal court to sanction OpenAI, alleging it concealed datasets and ChatGPT logs central to their copyright case. OpenAI called the claims false.
- U.S. Politics
New Mexico accuses Justice Department of stalling its Epstein investigation
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez says the Justice Department has withheld records his office needs for its state investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch. The DOJ denies impeding the probe.
- World Politics
Landslides kill at least 15 in the Philippines as Typhoon Bavi tracks toward East Asia
At least 15 people died in landslides in the southern Philippines triggered by Typhoon Bavi. The storm, which spared the Philippines a direct hit, is now heading toward Taiwan, Japan, and China, prompting evacuations.
- U.S. Politics
Housing affordability bill set to become law without Trump's signature
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will become law at midnight after Trump declined to sign it, using the bill as leverage to press Republicans on a stalled voting measure. It passed with lopsided bipartisan majorities.
- Tech
EU finds Facebook and Instagram's addictive design breaches its content rules
The European Commission issued preliminary findings that Meta's Facebook and Instagram breach the Digital Services Act through addictive design features such as infinite scroll and autoplay. If confirmed, Meta faces fines of up to 6% of global revenue.
- Health
ARPA-H commits up to $160 million to custom gene editing for rare diseases
The federal health research agency ARPA-H is funding seven teams under a program called THRIVE, aiming to make patient-specific gene-editing treatments for rare diseases routine rather than one-off efforts.
- World Politics
Wildfire in southern Spain kills at least 12
A fast-moving wildfire in Almeria province in Spain's Andalusia region has killed at least 12 people, several found in vehicles as they tried to flee, in what officials call the deadliest fire in the region's recorded history.
- Business
EasyJet backs a higher Apollo takeover bid over Castlelake
EasyJet's board switched its support to a £5.7bn approach from Apollo Global Management, dropping the Castlelake offer it had agreed to days earlier. Neither bid is yet firm under UK takeover rules.
- Science
China recovers an orbital rocket booster for the first time
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation recovered the first stage of a Long March 10B rocket after an orbital launch from Hainan, its first retrieval of an orbital-class booster and a step toward reusable rockets.
- World Politics
Shoe factory fire in China's Fujian kills at least 28
A fire at a footwear factory in Jinjiang, in China's Fujian province, killed at least 28 people on July 9. Piled-up sole material in stairwells slowed firefighters and trapped workers, some on the roof.
- World Politics
Mexico to file US criminal complaints over citizens' deaths in immigration enforcement
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will file complaints with US prosecutors and pursue civil suits against detention operators over the deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody and enforcement operations. The government counts 14 deaths in custody and three killed during operations.
- U.S. Politics
EPA proposes rolling back heavy-duty truck emissions requirements
The EPA proposed scaling back Biden-era rules meant to keep truck emissions systems working, including dropping a requirement that engines cut power when those systems fail. The agency estimates savings of $4,130–$6,152 per diesel engine, alongside higher nitrogen-oxide pollution.
- Tech
Anthropic maps a hidden layer where Claude works out future words
Anthropic researchers describe a 'J-space' inside Claude where the model appears to assemble words for outputs it has not yet produced. A new interpretability tool reads that space and, in one case, surfaced 'panic' and 'fake' as the model fabricated a result.
- World Politics
Abbas calls Palestinian legislative elections for November, first since 2006
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting legislative elections for November 28 across the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza — the first in 20 years. Voting in East Jerusalem and shattered Gaza remains far from assured.
- World Politics
Ukraine hits Russian oil depots and tankers deep behind the front
Overnight drone strikes hit Russian oil depots, an oil-pumping station and two tankers, some more than 1,000km from the border. The campaign against fuel infrastructure has left most Russian regions rationing supply.
- World Politics Priority
Iran strikes back after US hits Tehran as Hormuz traffic collapses
Iran launched fresh missile and drone strikes at Gulf targets after US strikes on Tehran, confirming the collapse of the June truce. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to roughly a quarter of its pre-war level.
- U.S. Politics
Graham Platner ends Maine Senate bid after assault allegation
Democrat Graham Platner withdrew from Maine's Senate race after a former partner accused him of a 2021 sexual assault, which he denies. His exit forces Democrats to find a new challenger to Republican Susan Collins in a seat they had hoped to flip.
- Tech
Four US microreactors reach criticality under federal pilot program
Four startup microreactors have achieved zero-power criticality under the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program, exceeding a federal target of three by July 4. The milestone is an early proof of concept, not grid-ready power.
- Health
Cyclospora outbreak grows past 1,000 cases across 29 states
A cyclosporiasis outbreak has topped 1,000 confirmed cases across 29 states, concentrated in Michigan and northwest Ohio. The source is still unknown; the parasite typically spreads via contaminated fresh produce.
- World Politics
UN fact-finding mission concludes Sudan's RSF committed genocide in el-Fasher
The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan concluded that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces committed genocide during their siege of el-Fasher, citing mass killings, gang rape and deliberate starvation. The mission warned that the same patterns are now emerging around el-Obeid.
- Entertainment
Bonnie Tyler, singer of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' dies at 75
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, whose raspy power ballads 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and 'Holding Out for a Hero' defined 1980s pop, has died at 75.
- World Politics
Australia agrees to export uranium to India for civilian nuclear power
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in Melbourne clearing Australian uranium exports to India for peaceful energy use, under IAEA safeguards. It expands a 2014 framework and deepens ties as both countries look to diversify away from China.
- Health
AstraZeneca and Ionis heart drug Wainua fails pivotal cardiomyopathy trial
Wainua, AstraZeneca and Ionis's therapy for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, failed to beat placebo at reducing cardiovascular death and clinical events in a pivotal trial. Shares of both companies fell sharply on the news.
- World Politics
US moves to remove Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US will lift Syria's 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation, in place since 1979, after formal assurances from President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The change takes effect in 45 days unless Congress blocks it and would open Syria to trade and investment.
- World Politics
Trump says US will license Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles
At the NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the US will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors domestically. The move aims to ease Ukraine's shortage of the interceptors it uses against Russian missile and drone attacks.
- Tech
OpenAI releases GPT-5.6 publicly after US government safety review
OpenAI is releasing its GPT-5.6 model family broadly after the US Commerce Department cleared it for wide distribution. The models had been held to about 20 trusted partners for two weeks while the government reviewed their cybersecurity capabilities.
- U.S. Politics
Judge clears E. Jean Carroll to collect $5.8m judgment from Trump
Federal judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that E. Jean Carroll can collect the full $5.8 million from her 2023 sexual-abuse and defamation verdict against President Trump, days after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal. Trump appealed the payment order the same day.
- U.S. Politics
Graham Platner ends Maine Senate bid after rape allegation
Maine Democrat Graham Platner dropped his Senate campaign after an allegation of rape prompted nearly all of his party's leaders to withdraw support. He denied the accusation but exited days ahead of a July 13 deadline for Democrats to field a replacement.
- World Politics
US charges Indian crime boss over 2023 assassination of Sikh activist
US authorities charged Indian gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi in connection with the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, part of a joint operation that indicted 37 defendants across North America and Europe.
- Health
RFK Jr. plans a Covid-19 vaccine injury table to ease compensation claims
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to designate a list of injuries presumed to be caused by Covid-19 vaccines, which would make it easier to claim government compensation. The conditions to be included are not yet specified.
- World Politics
NATO pledges 70 billion euros for Ukraine and clears Patriot production
At a NATO summit in Ankara, the alliance pledged 70 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine for 2026, and President Trump said the US would let Ukraine manufacture Patriot air-defense missiles under license.
- World Politics
Militant attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan kill 42 over three days
Pakistan's military said separatist and Taliban fighters killed 42 people in Balochistan between Monday and Wednesday, including 18 abducted police, 11 soldiers, and four civilians. Security forces said they killed 54 fighters in response.
- Business
IMF cuts 2026 global growth to 3% as Iran war offsets AI boom
The IMF lowered its 2026 world growth forecast to 3%, citing the energy shock from the Iran war, while booming AI investment partly cushions the blow. It expects oil roughly 32% higher and global consumer prices up 4.7% this year.
- World Politics
Trump threatens to cut off trade with Spain and renews Greenland demand at NATO summit
At the NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump called Spain a 'terrible partner,' said the US would stop trading with it, and again pressed for US control of Greenland, comments European governments dismissed.
- Tech
Meta's new image AI can generate pictures from public Instagram photos by default
Meta's new Muse Image tool lets people generate AI images using the photos of public Instagram profiles they tag, with reuse enabled by default unless users opt out, drawing privacy criticism.
- Health
Lung transplants extended survival for some patients with advanced lung cancer, study finds
A Northwestern Medicine study in JAMA reported that double-lung transplants kept 17 patients with stage 4 lung cancer confined to the lungs alive at one year, though editors cautioned that the approach draws on a scarce organ supply and needs larger trials.
- Health
FDA clears Casgevy gene therapy for children as young as two with sickle cell disease
The FDA expanded approval of the CRISPR-based gene therapy Casgevy to patients aged 2 and older with sickle cell disease, adding several thousand young children to those eligible for a one-time treatment.
- World Politics
Berlin court sentences palliative care doctor to life for murdering 15 patients
A Berlin court convicted a 41-year-old palliative care physician of murdering 15 patients with lethal doses of sedatives between 2021 and 2024 and sentenced him to life in prison.
- Health
ACA insurers seek double-digit premium increases for 2027 as enrollment falls
Many Affordable Care Act insurers are proposing double-digit premium increases for 2027, with a median request around 14 percent, as enhanced federal subsidies lapse and enrollment declines.
- World Politics Priority
Trump says US-Iran ceasefire is over after renewed strikes
President Trump declared the US-Iran ceasefire over after both sides traded strikes, with Iran hitting sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and the US striking more than 80 targets in Iran. The renewed fighting followed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and puts last month's interim agreement in doubt.
- World Politics
NATO allies commit £37bn to a new long-range missile project
Twelve NATO countries led by the UK unveiled a £37bn, decade-long program to build long-range precision strike weapons at the alliance's summit in Ankara. The 'Deep Precision' effort aims to field missiles capable of hitting targets hundreds of miles away, though the systems are not expected to be ready until the 2030s.
- U.S. Politics
ICE officer fatally shoots man during Houston traffic stop
An ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a vehicle stop in Houston tied to an immigration enforcement operation. DHS said the man rammed a government vehicle and ignored commands; the department's inspector general is investigating the shooting.
- World Politics Priority
US strikes Iranian coastal sites after tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command launched airstrikes on Iranian air-defense, radar and antiship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz after two commercial tankers were attacked. The Treasury simultaneously revoked the sanctions relief granted under a June memorandum, reopening the confrontation that a fragile interim deal had paused.
- World Politics
Hungary suspends public news broadcasts to dismantle Orban-era propaganda
Hungary's main state television channel halted its news broadcasts and aired an on-screen apology for past misinformation, as the post-Orban government moves to overhaul a public media system long criticized as a government mouthpiece.
- Health
FDA approves Vera Therapeutics drug for chronic kidney disease IgA nephropathy
The FDA cleared Trutakna, Vera Therapeutics' treatment for IgA nephropathy, a chronic autoimmune disease that damages the kidneys and can progress to kidney failure.
- Tech
23andMe data-breach victims to receive $47m under court-approved settlement
A judge approved a $47 million payout to people affected by the 2023 breach of genetic-testing firm 23andMe, in which hackers accessed personal data tied to millions of accounts.
- Business
US trade deficit jumps in May as AI-driven imports climb
The US trade deficit widened to $77.6 billion in May, a 42.2% jump from April, as imports of semiconductors and other goods tied to the AI build-out rose while exports fell.
- World Politics
Trump says he will lift Turkey sanctions and weigh F-35 sales
At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said he would lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and consider resuming F-35 fighter sales, reversing penalties imposed after Ankara bought Russian air defenses.
- World Politics
Tornadoes kill at least 17 in central China as Typhoon Bavi nears
Tornadoes across China's Guangxi and Hubei provinces killed at least 17 people and injured hundreds, as Super Typhoon Bavi is forecast to strike the eastern coast later in the week.
- U.S. Politics
McConnell's prolonged hospitalization raises questions over Senate absence
Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since mid-June, and his continued absence is complicating a Republican majority already stretched to 53-47.
- World Politics
IOC lifts Russia's suspension ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games
The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its suspension of Russia's Olympic Committee, clearing a path toward LA 2028 while leaving unresolved whether Russians may compete under their national flag.
- World Politics
Colombia's president-elect suspends transition, alleges coup attempt
President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended handover talks and accused outgoing President Gustavo Petro of plotting a coup, after Petro refused to recognize the June run-off result and alleged fraud.
- Tech
British Columbia sues OpenAI over warnings before mass shooting
British Columbia said it is suing OpenAI, alleging the company flagged violent ChatGPT conversations tied to the perpetrator of a February mass shooting but declined to alert police.
- U.S. Politics
Lawsuit alleges US shared Iranian asylum seekers' files with Tehran
A suit filed in Washington accuses the Trump administration of turning over Iranian asylum applicants' confidential files — including political views and reasons for fleeing — to the Iranian government, which lawyers say could expose them to persecution.
- World Politics
French appeals court trims Le Pen's ban, leaving a narrow path to a 2027 run
A Paris appeals court reduced Marine Le Pen's public-office ban and reworked her sentence in the European Parliament fake-jobs case, leaving her technically eligible for the 2027 presidential race but subject to electronic monitoring and home confinement.
- World Politics
Farage resigns as MP over funding scandal, forcing a Clacton by-election
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigned his Clacton seat amid a scandal over undeclared benefits from a convicted fraudster, triggering a by-election he says he intends to contest.
- World Politics
NATO leaders open Ankara summit as Trump presses on spending and Ukraine
NATO leaders convened in Ankara with defense spending and support for Ukraine's air defenses topping the agenda. President Trump arrived pressing allies to raise spending further and weighing a reversal that would return Turkey to the F-35 program.
- World Politics
LNG tanker set ablaze by projectile in the Strait of Hormuz
A liquefied natural gas tanker carrying cargo from Qatar caught fire off Oman after being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the British navy's monitoring center said. Iranian state media implied Tehran was responsible, saying the vessel ignored warnings to use its approved route.
- World Politics
Explosions wound 18 in Damascus during Macron's visit
Two blasts near central Damascus landmarks injured 18 people, including four police officers, shortly after President Macron passed through the area during a state visit. No group claimed responsibility; Syrian authorities said the explosives detonated as security forces tried to defuse them.
- World Politics
Venezuela earthquake death toll passes 3,500 as recovery drags
Authorities put the death toll from the June 24 twin earthquakes near Caracas at more than 3,500, with over 16,000 injured and tens of thousands displaced. Aid groups say the state response has lagged, leaving civil society to lead relief nearly two weeks on.
- Business
Samsung posts record quarterly profit as AI memory demand surges
Samsung Electronics said preliminary second-quarter operating profit hit a record 89.4 trillion won (about $61 billion), up roughly 1,810% from a year earlier, driven by demand for high-bandwidth memory used in AI systems.
- Health
Oral Wegovy goes on sale in the UK through private clinics
A daily oral version of the weight-loss drug semaglutide, branded Wegovy, has become available in the UK through private pharmacies and online clinics after MHRA approval in June. It is not yet offered on the NHS pending a cost-effectiveness review.
- U.S. Politics
Maine Senate candidate Platner faces withdrawal calls over assault allegation
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces calls to leave Maine's race after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Several Democrats and outside groups withdrew support; Platner denied the allegation and said he was weighing his path forward.
- World Politics
Canada selects Germany's TKMS to build new submarine fleet
Canada chose Germany's TKMS, bidding with Norway, to supply up to 12 submarines replacing its four-boat fleet, in a deal estimated at tens of billions of dollars. South Korea's Hanwha Ocean lost out after a months-long competition.
- Business
Vertex to acquire Crinetics for about $10 billion
Vertex Pharmaceuticals agreed to buy Crinetics Pharmaceuticals for $85 a share in cash, valuing the endocrine-disease specialist at roughly $10 billion. The deal, expected to close in the third quarter, adds Crinetics' newly approved acromegaly drug Palsonify to Vertex's portfolio.
- Tech
Supreme Court lets Texas enforce app store age-verification law
The Supreme Court denied an emergency request to block Texas's App Store Accountability Act, letting the state require app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors while a First Amendment challenge proceeds.
- U.S. Politics
Preliminary hearing opens for Charlie Kirk's accused killer
Utah prosecutors began laying out their case against Tyler Robinson, 23, accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025. The multiday preliminary hearing will determine whether Robinson stands trial; the state intends to seek the death penalty.
- World Politics
International operation reports more than 1,000 trafficking-related arrests
Europol, Frontex and Interpol reported 1,024 arrests and more than 2,000 identified or potential victims from Operation Global Chain, a June sweep across 59 countries targeting trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging.
- Tech
Illinois becomes first state to require third-party audits of frontier AI
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, making Illinois the first state to require annual independent audits of how frontier AI developers guard against catastrophic risks. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
- U.S. Politics
DOGE shuts down as its temporary charter expires
The Department of Government Efficiency ceased operations when the temporary organization behind it reached its July 4 expiration date. It claims $215 billion in savings, a figure its own records do not fully document, and no final accounting is planned.
- World Politics
Austrian court convicts former Syrian intelligence chief of torture
A Vienna court sentenced Khaled al-Halabi, who headed Syria's intelligence directorate in Raqqa from 2011 to 2013, to eight years for torture and other crimes. A co-defendant received the same term in one of the few European cases asserting jurisdiction over Assad-era abuses.
- Health
ACA enrollment fell sharply after enhanced subsidies expired
New federal data show about 2.6 million fewer Americans held Affordable Care Act plans in February 2026 than a year earlier, the first state-level look at losses following the January expiration of enhanced pandemic-era premium subsidies. Ohio and Oklahoma each lost more than 32% of enrollees.
- Health
Study finds weak clinical oversight in online GLP-1 prescribing
A JAMA secret-shopper study led by Yale researchers found that many telehealth platforms prescribe GLP-1 weight-loss drugs quickly and with limited clinical evaluation. The findings raise questions about safety as demand for the medications surges.
- Business
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and restructures Xbox
Microsoft said it will eliminate about 4,800 jobs — roughly 2% of its workforce — with the deepest cuts falling on its Xbox gaming division. Four studios are being spun off or sold and a fifth faces possible closure as the company redirects spending toward its AI buildout.
- World Politics
Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza governing body
Hamas announced it will dissolve the government that has run Gaza for nearly two decades and hand civilian administration to a technocratic committee. The move implements part of the US-brokered ceasefire, though the group's disarmament remains unresolved.
- World Politics
Russian missile and drone barrage on Kyiv kills at least 11 before NATO summit
Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 11 people in and around Kyiv and damaging 15 buildings. It was the second major strike on the capital in under a week, days before a NATO summit in Turkey where Zelenskyy is due to meet Trump.
- Business
OPEC+ agrees another oil output increase for August
Eight OPEC+ producers agreed to raise output by about 188,000 barrels a day in August, the fifth straight monthly increase as the group unwinds earlier cuts. The move comes with Brent crude back near $72 a barrel after the Iran-Israel conflict eased and the Strait of Hormuz reopened.
- Business
ITV agrees to sell its media and entertainment arm to Sky for up to £1.6bn
ITV agreed to sell its broadcast channels and ITVX streaming service to Comcast-owned Sky in a deal worth up to £1.6bn. ITV's studios arm, which produces shows such as Love Island, is not included. The sale is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the second half of 2027.
- World Politics
Impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte begins
The Philippine Senate opened the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6 over charges including misuse of confidential funds, failure to disclose wealth, and alleged death threats against President Marcos. A conviction would bar her from office and end her 2028 presidential bid.
- Business
EasyJet board agrees in principle to £5.2bn Castlelake takeover
EasyJet's board agreed in principle to a roughly £5.2bn takeover by US investment firm Castlelake at £6.90 a share, after rejecting four earlier bids. Because Castlelake is American, it would need EU-based partners to hold majority control of the airline; a firm offer with committed funding has yet to be made.
- World Politics
China's submarine-launched missile test in South Pacific draws regional criticism
China launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the South Pacific on July 6. Australia, New Zealand and Japan called the test destabilising and complained of inadequate transparency; Beijing described it as routine annual training.
- World Politics
At least 20 killed in clashes at Sri Lanka's Negombo prison
Fighting between inmates and guards at Negombo prison north of Colombo killed at least 20 people — 16 inmates and four guards — and wounded more than 100. The cause of the violence, which began Sunday and continued into Monday, was not immediately clear.
- U.S. Politics
White House report accuses Smithsonian leadership of ideological bias
A 162-page White House report released July 4 alleges the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has been captured by a radical activist ideology and brands its leaders as untrustworthy. It escalates a Trump administration effort, begun with a 2025 executive order, to reshape how federal institutions present US history.
- U.S. Politics
Three firefighters killed in Colorado wildfire as blazes keep spreading in the West
Three federal firefighters died in a burnover on the Knowles Fire near the Colorado-Utah border on June 27; their identities were released as fires continue to spread. The larger Aspen Acres Fire south of Colorado Springs has grown past 86,000 acres and is only 13 percent contained.
- World Politics
Wildfire in southern France forces about 10,000 to evacuate
A fast-moving wildfire in southern France near the Spanish border burned more than 1,500 hectares and forced the evacuation of roughly 10,000 people. Firefighters battled the blaze by ground and air as officials weighed disruption to the Tour de France.
- U.S. Politics
National Guard soldiers fatally shoot a man in Memphis
Two National Guard soldiers shot and killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in downtown Memphis early on July 5 after police and troops pursued him following reports of gunfire. It is a rare fatal shooting by Guard members during a federal crime task force deployed to the city since October 2025.
- World Politics
Rights group warns detained Gaza hospital director's life is in immediate danger
Physicians for Human Rights Israel says Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of northern Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital, is in life-threatening condition in Israeli detention. A lawyer who visited him on July 2 documented severe injuries, difficulty breathing and repeated loss of consciousness.
- World Politics
Nigeria says two of its nationals were killed in South African anti-migrant violence
Nigeria's foreign ministry said two of its citizens were killed in South Africa on June 28 amid a wave of anti-migrant violence — one allegedly by police during interrogation, the other by unidentified attackers. The deaths came two days before an unofficial protester deadline for foreigners to leave.
- World Politics
Houthi assault on Yemeni government forces near Hodeidah is deadliest in years
Fighting in Yemen's Red Sea province of Hodeidah killed at least 16 government troops and wounded 22 in what an officer called the deadliest Houthi attack in years. A Yemeni minister said more than 50 Houthi fighters also died as government forces retook lost positions by dawn.
- Science
A distant starburst galaxy emerges as a likely cosmic neutrino source
Astronomers linked a high-energy neutrino detected by IceCube in 2021 to a distant, dusty star-forming galaxy nicknamed the 'Shadow Blaster.' The finding suggests such galaxies could account for a fifth of the diffuse neutrino background whose origin has been largely unexplained.
- World Politics
Category 5 super typhoon Bavi bears down on Guam and the Marianas
Super Typhoon Bavi strengthened to Category 5 over the western Pacific, prompting a state of emergency in Guam and evacuations across Guam, Saipan and Tinian. Destructive winds are forecast for Monday, and Trump signed a federal emergency declaration ahead of landfall.
- World Politics
Trump offers to broker a Ukraine settlement in call with Putin
In a nearly 90-minute call, Trump told Putin he is ready to help end the war in Ukraine, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are prepared to return to Moscow. Trump spoke separately with Zelenskyy, and both sides pointed to a NATO summit in Ankara as the next venue.
- World Politics
China frees Zion Church pastor Jin Mingri after Trump appeal
Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of one of China's largest unregistered Protestant churches, was released from detention and arrived in Los Angeles. His family credited a direct appeal Trump made to Xi Jinping in May.
- U.S. Politics
White nationalist group marches through Washington area on July 4
Members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front marched in formation through the Washington, DC area during July 4 festivities marking the country's 250th anniversary. The demonstration drew condemnation from Democratic lawmakers; no formal government response was reported.
- World Politics
Iran holds mass funeral for slain supreme leader with message of continuity and revenge
Huge crowds gathered in Tehran for the multi-day state funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in an airstrike earlier this year. State messaging emphasized continuity under his successor and vows of revenge, with mourners chanting against the US and Israel.
- Science
France records more than 2,000 excess deaths at peak of European heatwave
France recorded roughly 2,025 excess deaths at the peak of the heatwave that has gripped Europe, as forecasters warned of more extreme weather to come.
- U.S. Politics
Trump pardons 11, most convicted of Clean Air Act violations
President Trump granted clemency to 11 people, nine of them convicted in cases tied to disabling truck emissions controls under the Clean Air Act. The batch, issued the day before the July 4 holiday, also covered a former Jack Abramoff associate and a former Texas mayor.
- Science
China expands research grants aimed at young scientists
China's National Natural Science Foundation says it will fund an extra 12,000 projects this year, a move framed as easing the intense competition faced by early-career researchers for state science funding.
- World Politics
Ukraine strikes oil terminal and naval facilities near St Petersburg
Ukraine said drones struck an oil terminal and military targets near St Petersburg, briefly halting flights at Pulkovo Airport. The attack extends a campaign against Russian oil infrastructure hundreds of kilometers from the front.
- World Politics
Pope Leo visits Lampedusa and urges Europe to protect migrants
On a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV called on Europe and the United States to receive, protect and integrate migrants, and to address the root causes of displacement. The trip echoed Pope Francis's 2013 visit to the same arrival point.
- Business
Federal 'Trump Accounts' open with a $1,000 seed for newborns
The Trump administration began rolling out Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investment accounts for children, seeded with a $1,000 federal deposit for those born between 2025 and 2028. The accounts are invested in the market and allow additional family contributions.
- World Politics
China promotes two generals as a corruption purge thins the military's top ranks
Xi Jinping promoted Zhang Shuguang and air force commander Wang Gang to the rank of general, filling vacancies left by an anti-corruption purge that has removed several of the military's most senior figures. The Central Military Commission has been reduced to two members.
- World Politics
Tuareg-led rebels attack five towns across Mali, including near the capital
The Azawad Liberation Front launched coordinated dawn assaults on five Malian towns, reaching a prison complex about 74km from Bamako. The attacks mark a further escalation against Mali's military government two months after strikes that killed its defense minister.
- U.S. Politics
Trump ties anti-communism to immigration in America 250th anniversary speech
In a Mount Rushmore address marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, President Trump warned of a 'communist menace' and linked the theme to his push to remove undocumented immigrants. The speech offered rhetoric rather than new policy.
- World Politics
Saudi-led coalition warns Houthis after Iranian flight lands in Sanaa
The Saudi-led coalition threatened 'unprecedented' force against Yemen's Houthis after an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation and patients reached Sanaa. The exchange signals renewed friction in Yemen as regional tensions run high following the death of Iran's supreme leader.
- World Politics
Russia claims capture of Kostiantynivka; Ukraine denies the city has fallen
Russia said its forces had taken Kostiantynivka in Donetsk after roughly nine months of fighting, a claim Ukraine rejected. The city anchors part of Ukraine's fortified defensive belt in the Donbas.
- World Politics
Albania's 'Flamingo Revolution' swells into calls for the prime minister to resign
Thousands rallied in Albania in the largest civic protest movement since the fall of communism, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama resign. The demonstrations began over a Kushner-backed luxury resort on protected coastland and have broadened into anti-corruption anger.
- U.S. Politics
Justice Department and FTC urge states to investigate gasoline price gouging
In a July 3 letter, the Justice Department and FTC told state attorneys general they are monitoring petroleum markets and urged states to pursue price-fixing or gouging as crude prices fall faster than pump prices. It follows Trump's order for a federal probe after the Iran war spiked fuel costs.
- World Politics
Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee dies in Taiwan at 70
Lam Wing-kee, one of five Hong Kong booksellers detained by mainland Chinese authorities in 2015, has died of cancer in Taipei at 70. He had rebuilt his Causeway Bay Books in Taiwan after fleeing Hong Kong in 2019.
- Business
Elevance sues CMS over recalculated Medicare Advantage star ratings
Elevance Health has sued the federal government, saying CMS recalculated its 2026 Medicare Advantage quality ratings in a way that dropped measures the insurer scored well on, costing it about $115 million in bonus payments.
- World Politics
Russian strike on Kyiv kills at least 30 in one of the war's largest attacks
An overnight Russian missile and drone barrage on Kyiv killed at least 30 people and struck residential buildings, in what Ukrainian officials called the most massive assault on the capital of the war. It came as Russia's summer offensive stalled, with Ukraine estimating nearly 40,000 Russian troops killed in June.
- World Politics
Peru's electoral court certifies Keiko Fujimori as president-elect
Peru's National Jury of Elections declared right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori the winner of the June 7 runoff by about 50,000 votes over leftist Roberto Sanchez. It is her fourth presidential bid and first victory; she will be sworn in in late July as Peru's ninth president in a decade.
- Science
Perfusion device keeps donor eyes alive, a step toward whole-eye transplants
Researchers in Barcelona built a device that pumps oxygen-rich fluid through a donor eye's artery, keeping the retina viable and light-responsive for hours after death. The work, reported in a preprint, is an early step toward transplanting whole, seeing eyes.
- World Politics
US pulls most troops from Nigeria after Lake Chad counterterrorism operation
The US has withdrawn the bulk of about 200 troops deployed to Nigeria in February to support operations against Islamic State's West Africa affiliate. Washington says it is shifting to an intelligence-sharing partnership while Nigerian forces continue the fight.
- Health
Roche's divarasib beats approved drugs in KRAS-driven lung cancer trial
Roche said its next-generation KRAS G12C inhibitor divarasib outperformed the approved drugs sotorasib and adagrasib in a head-to-head phase III lung cancer trial, improving both progression-free and overall survival. The company plans to seek regulatory approval.
- Science
NASA launches a robotic mission to rescue its falling Swift telescope
A commercial spacecraft launched Friday to catch NASA's aging Swift observatory and boost its orbit before atmospheric drag pulls it down. Without the roughly $30 million rescue, the gamma-ray telescope was expected to reenter and burn up by October.
- World Politics
Moldova's government falls as prime minister resigns over corruption scandal
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu resigned, dissolving Moldova's pro-European government amid a corruption scandal at the state air-navigation company. President Maia Sandu must now nominate a replacement as the country pursues EU membership.
- World Politics
Iran begins state funeral for supreme leader Khamenei, killed in February
Iran opened a seven-day state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose body lay in state in Tehran. Killed in a February air strike during the US-Israel war, he has been succeeded by his son Mojtaba; Western states supporting that campaign were not invited.
- Tech
EU's top court upholds Google's €4.1bn Android antitrust fine
The European Court of Justice dismissed Google's final appeal, confirming a €4.1 billion fine for using Android licensing terms to entrench its search dominance. The binding ruling clears the way for rivals to pursue damages claims.
- World Politics
Bombing at a Damascus cafe kills 10 near the main courthouse
A remotely detonated bomb tore through a cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus, killing at least 10 people, six of them lawyers. No group claimed responsibility for one of the worst security breaches in the capital since Assad's fall.
- Science
WMO warns of strengthening El Nino and more extreme weather
The World Meteorological Organization said an El Nino now under way is likely to strengthen rapidly through September, and urged governments and aid groups to prepare for heatwaves, drought, and heavy rainfall.
- Health
Medicare proposes cutting 340B drug payments to hospitals
Medicare proposed reducing what it pays hospitals for drugs bought through the 340B discount program by more than a third, drawing objections from safety-net, nonprofit, and academic hospitals that rely on the margin.
- World Politics
Israel approves 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank
Israel's security cabinet approved a plan for 13 new settlements in the central West Bank's Binyamin region, with a first phase of four to six settlements in the coming months. Palestinian officials called it a dangerous escalation that would fragment any future state.
- World Politics
Citizen Lab finds EU lawmaker who probed spyware was himself hacked with Pegasus
Researchers at Citizen Lab found that Stelios Kouloglou, a Greek former member of the European Parliament who sat on its committee investigating spyware abuse, was himself infected with NSO Group's Pegasus during 2022 and 2023.
- Business
Canada reaches deal for a Pacific oil pipeline to diversify exports away from the US
Prime Minister Mark Carney secured an agreement with British Columbia to build a one-million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, aimed at opening Asian markets and reducing Canada's reliance on the United States amid Trump's tariffs.
- Tech
BBC finds Instagram ran ads pointing users to child sexual abuse material in India
A BBC investigation found Instagram carrying advertisements that directed users toward child sexual abuse material hosted via Telegram in India, raising fresh questions about Meta's ad moderation.
- U.S. Politics
One-year federal Medicaid ban on Planned Parenthood set to lapse
The one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood, enacted in the 2025 budget reconciliation law, is expiring, restoring the provider's eligibility nationally. Neither chamber's 2026 budget resolution renews it, though a future reconciliation bill could revive it, and some states can still exclude the provider on their own.
- U.S. Politics
Louisiana attorney general indicted over alleged threats to New Orleans officials
An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 felony counts of public intimidation and malfeasance over letters she sent to New Orleans officials during a fight over the city's courts. Governor Jeff Landry said he would pardon her if she is convicted.
- Health
US death rate fell to a record low in 2025, CDC data show
Provisional CDC figures show the US age-adjusted death rate fell 4.6% in 2025 to 689 per 100,000, the lowest since federal recordkeeping began, driven mainly by fewer COVID-19 and drug-overdose deaths. Flu and pneumonia rose into the top 10 causes of death.
- World Politics
Spain receives 1.2 million applications under migrant regularization scheme
Spain said nearly 1.2 million undocumented migrants applied for legal status under a regularization program that ran from mid-April to the end of June. The government of Pedro Sanchez frames the policy as an economic necessity; the far right calls it an invasion.
- Tech
Singapore seizes 42m-dollar mansion in Nvidia chip smuggling case
Singapore issued an order barring the sale of a luxury bungalow valued at about $42m and froze other funds tied to a fraud investigation into the alleged diversion of Nvidia AI chips to China. Four people face money-laundering and fraud charges over servers bought from US suppliers.
- World Politics
German prosecutors allege Ukraine ordered the Nord Stream pipeline attack
German federal prosecutors charged a former Ukrainian army officer over the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage and said the operation was ordered by Ukraine to cut off Russian energy revenue. Kyiv says it lacks information to respond in detail.
- World Politics
China says Beijing skyscraper plane crash was a deliberate act
Chinese investigators concluded that the small plane that hit Beijing's tallest building on 26 June was flown deliberately, citing 'personal reasons.' The pilot, who died, had documented suicidal thoughts in a diary; 13 people were injured.
- Tech
Alleged Scattered Spider hacker extradited to the US after Finland arrest
US prosecutors said a 19-year-old dual US-Estonian citizen, arrested in Finland, has been extradited to face conspiracy, computer-intrusion and fraud charges tied to the Scattered Spider cybercrime group. The group is linked to more than 100 intrusions and over $100m in ransom payments.
- Business
US hiring slows sharply in June as hospitality sheds jobs
US employers added just 57,000 jobs in June, well below recent months, and prior months were revised down. Leisure and hospitality lost 61,000 jobs despite expectations that the World Cup would lift the sector.
- Health
Judge blocks Colorado's payment cap on Amgen's Enbrel
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping Colorado from imposing an upper payment limit on Amgen's Enbrel, finding the company likely to be significantly harmed. The ruling is a setback for state drug-affordability boards.
- World Politics
Bomb in central Damascus cafe kills at least six
An explosive device detonated in a cafe in central Damascus, killing at least six people and wounding 22. Syrian officials pointed to anti-government sleeper cells and opened an investigation.
- World Politics
Vatican declares Society of St Pius X in schism and excommunicates bishops
The Vatican formally declared the traditionalist Society of St Pius X to be in schism and excommunicated bishops it ordained without papal approval. The move marks a decisive break with a group the Church had spent years trying to reconcile.
- World Politics
Russian strike on Kyiv kills at least 17 as Ukraine hits Moscow's oil sector
An overnight Russian barrage on Kyiv killed at least 17 people in what officials called the most destructive assault on the capital of the war. Ukraine is meanwhile pressing a campaign of long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries.
- World Politics
More than 900 arrested in South Africa's anti-migrant protests
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant demonstrations, most of them peaceful but some marked by looting and shootings. President Ramaphosa condemned vigilantism while acknowledging public anger over immigration.
- World Politics
German coalition agrees tax, pension and labor overhaul
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU-SPD coalition agreed a package of tax cuts, pension changes and labor reforms aimed at reviving Germany's economy. The deal comes as the far-right AfD gains ground ahead of eastern state elections in September.
- Health
FDA clears first medical software using a patient-facing large language model
UpDoc disclosed an FDA clearance for a diabetes-management app that lets patients interact with a large language model by voice and text — described as the first US clearance for patient-facing generative AI in medical software. It raises the question of how far the model shapes treatment decisions.
- Tech
EU imposes 4.1bn-euro fine on Google over Android market abuse
European regulators confirmed a 4.1-billion-euro penalty against Google, finding it used the dominance of its Android operating system to shut out rivals. It is one of the largest antitrust fines the bloc has levied against a technology company.
- U.S. Politics
EPA approves three pesticides that may qualify as 'forever chemicals'
The EPA approved three new pesticides that, by international definitions, may count as PFAS 'forever chemicals,' even as the agency disputes that classification. The move continues a pattern of loosened restrictions on persistent compounds.
- Business
Alibaba to pay 600m dollars to settle US probe into illegal drug sales
Alibaba agreed to a 600-million-dollar settlement with the US Justice Department over its failure to stop roughly 80,000 illegal sales of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and counterfeiting equipment on its platforms. The company accepted responsibility and pledged stronger compliance controls.
- World Politics
US signs $1 lease with Israel for a permanent Jerusalem embassy
The United States and Israel signed a lease for land in West Jerusalem to build a permanent US embassy, with the price set symbolically at $1. The deal cements the embassy relocation begun in Trump's first term and further sidelines Palestinian claims to the city.
- Science
Researchers report a chemically defined synthetic cell that replicates its DNA
A University of Minnesota team led by Kate Adamala describes 'SpudCell,' fully synthetic lipid bubbles carrying DNA that appear to divide and copy their genetic material across generations. The work, posted as a preprint, revives the question of what counts as a living cell.
- U.S. Politics
Judge blocks USPS rule that would have withheld delivery of some mail ballots
A federal judge in Washington sided with the NAACP against a proposed Postal Service rule that would have required states to hand over lists of mail-in voters and let the USPS refuse to deliver non-matching ballots. The court found the rule likely violated a 2021 settlement on timely ballot delivery.
- World Politics
Iran and US agree to a communication channel after Qatar talks
Indirect US-Iran talks in Doha wrapped up with agreement to set up a channel for reporting breaches of their memorandum of understanding, and discussion of how Tehran will spend part of its unfrozen assets. Mediators reported 'positive progress' but tit-for-tat strikes have continued since the deal was signed.
- Health
Cholesterol and blood pressure drugs are blunting obesity's heart risks, study finds
A Lancet analysis of a million people across seven countries found that by 2024, older adults with obesity had blood pressure and cholesterol levels similar to or lower than normal-weight peers — largely because far more of them take statins and blood pressure drugs. The authors caution obesity has not become benign.
- Business
US declines to renew USMCA in its current form
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington will not renew the USMCA trade pact in its current form, opting instead for an annual review process while pressing Canada and Mexico to address what the administration calls the deal's shortcomings.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court leaves Trump liable in E. Jean Carroll case as Carroll moves to collect
The Supreme Court declined to hear President Trump's appeal of a jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, and Carroll's lawyers have asked a judge to release the roughly $5 million award, now near $5.8 million with interest.
- World Politics
Germany charges Ukrainian national over Nord Stream pipeline blasts
German federal prosecutors charged a Ukrainian man, identified as Serhii K, with orchestrating the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, including a war-crimes count for attacking civilian energy infrastructure.
- World Politics
Syria's first parliament since Assad's ouster begins legislative work
Syria's new 210-member parliament, its first since Bashar al-Assad was removed in December 2024, was sworn in and began legislative duties this week. Two-thirds of members were elected in staged voting; interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed the rest.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judges strike down Trump overhaul of public service loan forgiveness
Two federal judges vacated an Education Department rule that would have stripped Public Service Loan Forgiveness from workers at employers deemed to have a 'substantial illegal purpose.' The rulings, issued a day before the rule was to take effect, found the department exceeded its authority and risked violating the First Amendment.
- Health
FDA lets Zyn market nicotine pouches as lower-risk than cigarettes
The FDA granted modified-risk orders for 20 Zyn nicotine pouches, letting the brand tell consumers they carry lower risk of cancers, heart disease and stroke than cigarettes. It is the agency's most consequential reduced-risk authorization to date for a fast-growing product.
- Health
FDA approves Orca Bio's engineered cell therapy for stem cell transplants
The FDA approved Orca Bio's Tregzi, a precision-engineered cell therapy for adults undergoing matched-donor stem cell transplants for blood cancers. In its pivotal trial, 78% of recipients were alive and free of moderate-to-severe chronic graft-versus-host disease at one year, versus 38% with a conventional transplant.
- World Politics
Amnesty says RSF committed crimes against humanity in Sudan's el-Fasher
Amnesty International concluded that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their campaign to seize el-Fasher in North Darfur, documenting murder, torture, rape and mass detention. The group said the evidence may also be relevant to the crime of genocide and named three RSF commanders.
- World Politics
Germany counts almost 60,000 far-right extremists, intelligence agency says
Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported nearly 60,000 far-right extremists in the country, with more than a quarter judged to be potentially violent. The figures come as the far-right AfD leads in national polling.
- Science
Global oceans logged their hottest June on record, EU monitors say
The EU's Copernicus service reported that June 2026 was the warmest month on record for global oceans, with average sea-surface temperatures of 21.0°C. Marine heatwaves covered about 82% of the ocean in the first half of the year, and scientists expect further records as an El Niño builds.
- World Politics
Afghan Taliban strike into Pakistan as border tensions escalate
Afghanistan's Taliban carried out air strikes into Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, and Pakistan's military said it intercepted four drones fired across the border. The exchange marks a further escalation in months of cross-border violence.
- World Politics
Amnesty says Sudan's RSF committed crimes against humanity in el-Fasher
Amnesty International reported that Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces committed crimes against humanity in el-Fasher, adding to evidence of atrocities that UN investigators say bore the hallmarks of genocide.
- U.S. Politics
Democratic socialist unseats DeGette as Colorado primaries deliver upsets
In Colorado's June 30 primaries, democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 29-year Rep. Diana DeGette in a Denver-area House seat, and state Attorney General Phil Weiser beat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. It is the latest in a string of insurgent wins over establishment Democrats this cycle.
- Tech
US lifts export controls that had frozen Anthropic's most advanced AI models
The Trump administration lifted export restrictions imposed in early June on Anthropic's frontier Claude models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after the company and the Commerce Department worked through cybersecurity concerns. Anthropic said it would begin restoring access to the models.
- U.S. Politics
Trump's financial disclosure reports more than $1.4 billion in crypto income
An annual financial disclosure released by the Office of Government Ethics shows President Trump reported over $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency income for 2025, including roughly $635 million from $TRUMP meme coins and more than $500 million tied to World Liberty Financial.
- U.S. Politics
House rejects war powers resolution to end US military role in Lebanon
The House voted down a war powers resolution from Rep. Rashida Tlaib that sought to end unauthorized US military involvement in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have continued despite ceasefire efforts.
- Health
HHS cancels most teen pregnancy prevention grants and redirects the money
The Department of Health and Human Services terminated 53 of 67 grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, about $68 million across more than two dozen states, and reopened the funds under new priorities. A near-identical move in 2017 was reversed by the courts.
- World Politics
Gunmen abduct dozens of students in attack on Nigerian secondary school
Fighters linked to Islamic State West Africa Province raided a secondary school in Lassa, Borno State, killing at least three people and abducting dozens of students. About 37 students and one staff member remained unaccounted for.
- Science
Vaccine elicits broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies in primates
Researchers reported in Nature that an experimental vaccine regimen induced broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV in non-human primates, a long-sought milestone toward an HIV vaccine.
- World Politics
Roof collapse at a Lahore tuition centre kills at least 14 children
At least 14 children were killed when the roof of a tutoring centre collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan, in what police attributed to poor construction; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an investigation.
- Business
Meta builds a prediction-market app after Kalshi talks fell through
Meta weighed acquiring prediction-market platform Kalshi before deciding to build its own app, called Arena, that lets users wager play money on news and trending events, according to NPR.
- Health
FDA scientists warn on peptides as agency convenes industry-tied panel
FDA scientists are flagging thin evidence for trendy peptide therapies favored by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., even as the agency assembles an advisory panel that includes people who sell the products.
- Business
Australia sues Amazon over Prime contract terms and forced ads
Australia's competition regulator took Amazon to Federal Court, alleging unfair Prime subscription terms let the company push ads onto more than 850,000 paying subscribers with no way to get a refund.
- Tech
Anthropic launches Claude Science and its own drug-discovery effort
Anthropic released Claude Science, a version of its AI tuned for research labs and pharmaceutical work, and said it is starting an internal drug-discovery program focused on neglected diseases.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that West Virginia and Idaho may require student athletes to compete on teams matching their sex assigned at birth, validating similar laws in more than two dozen states.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court strikes down limits on coordinated party campaign spending
In NRSC v. FEC, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to invalidate decades-old caps on how much national party committees can spend in coordination with their candidates, finding the limits violate the First Amendment.
- U.S. Politics Priority
Supreme Court rules Trump's birthright citizenship order unconstitutional
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's executive order denying automatic citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented or temporary-status parents, holding it violates the 14th Amendment.
- Health
Marburg cases reported in Uganda as region battles record Ebola outbreak
Two cases of Marburg virus were detected in a family in western Uganda, threatening to complicate the regional response to one of the largest Ebola outbreaks on record. Uganda had not publicly confirmed the cases.
- Business
Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim sentenced to 10 years for corruption
An Indonesian anti-corruption court sentenced Gojek co-founder and former education minister Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison over a pandemic-era school laptop procurement, which it found caused about $120 million in state losses.
- Science
A fossil in a drawer turns out to be Antarctica's first dinosaur bone
A bone collected on James Ross Island in 1985 and stored for 40 years has been identified as a titanosaur tail vertebra — the first dinosaur fossil confirmed from Antarctica. The findings were published in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
- U.S. Politics
Johnson moves to attach voter-citizenship bill to must-pass defense measure
Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a plan to package the SAVE America Act with the annual defense authorization bill after conservatives stalled the House over the voter measure. The maneuver does not change the Senate math, where the bill remains short of 60 votes.
- U.S. Politics
US murder rate is on track for a record low in 2026
Federal data and analysts point to the lowest US homicide rate on record. Preliminary FBI figures showed murders fell about 18% in 2025, and 2026 is running roughly 10% below that, potentially pushing the rate under 4 per 100,000.
- Health
DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to a fourth province
DR Congo reported 1,307 confirmed Ebola cases and 377 deaths, with the virus reaching a fourth province, Haut-Uele, on the South Sudan and Central African Republic borders. The government has banned public gatherings in four provinces, including the capital.
- Health
AstraZeneca to pay $34 million to settle Texas Medicaid kickback claims
Texas alleged AstraZeneca offered free nursing and insurance support services to steer prescriptions covered by state Medicaid, prompting improper reimbursement claims. The drugmaker agreed to settle for $34 million.
- Business
EU presses China on trade imbalance as deindustrialisation fears grow
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic told Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao that a record €360.6bn goods surplus is 'not sustainable,' as Brussels rolls out new tariffs and procurement rules to shield European industry.
- World Politics
Keiko Fujimori leads Peru's presidential runoff as the vote count concludes
Peru's drawn-out runoff count concluded with Keiko Fujimori narrowly ahead of leftist Roberto Sanchez, 50.13% to 49.86%. Sanchez rejects the result; the electoral jury is set to certify a winner on July 3.
- Tech
House passes a kids' online safety package without KOSA's duty-of-care rule
The House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act 267-117, with age-verification and chatbot safeguards but without the legal duty of care at the heart of the original KOSA. It now faces a tougher Senate.
- Business
Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years for a $1 billion fraud
A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui to 30 years in prison for defrauding his online followers of more than $1 billion through his media and crypto ventures.
- World Politics
Gunman kills six at a youth welfare centre in Stade, Germany
A man embroiled in a custody dispute shot dead six people at a mother-and-child welfare facility in Stade, near Hamburg, on June 29. The victims were staff; the suspect was arrested after a brief chase.
- U.S. Politics
Twenty-six states sue to block Medicaid work requirements
A coalition of 26 states sued the Trump administration to stop new Medicaid work requirements enacted in the president's tax-and-spending law, arguing the rules will strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of enrollees. The case targets federal guidance the states say creates an unworkable bureaucratic burden.
- Entertainment
Tidal will label AI-generated music and cut it off from royalties
Streaming service Tidal said it will require AI-generated tracks to be labeled and will make them ineligible for royalties, with the policy taking effect July 15. The move goes further than Spotify and Apple Music by having the platform apply the labels itself.
- World Politics
South Africa braces for anti-migrant deadline as Ramaphosa warns vigilante groups
President Cyril Ramaphosa warned anti-immigration groups against vigilante action as a self-declared June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa approached. The campaigns, led by Operation Dudula and March and March, have driven mass departures despite the government stressing the date carries no legal force.
- World Politics
Putin acknowledges fuel shortages as Ukrainian strikes hit Russian refineries
President Vladimir Putin admitted for the first time that Russia faces fuel shortages, calling them real but 'not critical,' after a sustained Ukrainian drone campaign against refineries. A fresh overnight strike set the Sloviansk refinery ablaze, and several regions have introduced fuel rationing.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court upholds state grace periods for mail-in ballots
In Watson v. Republican National Committee, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that federal law does not pre-empt Mississippi's rule counting mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to five days later. The decision rejects a GOP challenge ahead of the midterms.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court rules geofence searches require Fourth Amendment protection
In a 6-3 ruling in Chatrie v. United States, the Supreme Court held that police use of a geofence warrant to gather cellphone location data is a search under the Fourth Amendment. The justices agreed a search occurred but sent the case back to a lower court for further analysis.
- U.S. Politics Priority
Supreme Court overturns Humphrey's Executor, expanding presidential power over independent agencies
In a 6-3 ruling in Trump v. Slaughter, the Supreme Court overturned the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent and held that the president may remove members of independent agencies without cause. The decision affects roughly two dozen multimember commissions across the federal government.
- U.S. Politics Priority
Supreme Court lets Fed governor Lisa Cook stay while her firing is litigated
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Trump v. Cook that Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook may remain in her post while she challenges her dismissal in lower courts. The carve-out came the same day the Court expanded presidential removal power over other independent agencies.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case
The Supreme Court declined to take up President Trump's appeal of the civil verdict finding he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll, leaving the roughly $5 million award in place.
- Tech
Ford rehires veteran engineers after AI quality tools fell short
Ford has rehired about 350 veteran engineers over three years to mentor junior staff and rebuild the data that trains its automated quality tools, after the systems failed to catch design flaws. The automaker now tops the latest J.D. Power initial-quality survey but still leads U.S. carmakers in recalls.
- Business
British American Tobacco to cut or outsource 9,000 jobs in cost-cutting push
British American Tobacco said it will remove 5,500 roles and outsource another 3,500 — about a fifth of its global workforce — as it targets £600 million in annual savings by 2028 and shifts toward smoke-free products.
- World Politics
Putin rejects Ukraine's proposal to halt long-range strikes
In a state television interview, Vladimir Putin said he turned down a Ukrainian proposal for a mutual halt to long-range attacks, arguing Russia's deep strikes are more damaging. Ukraine had struck Russian oil refineries the same day.
- World Politics
Australia and Vanuatu sign pact barring foreign military bases
Australia and Vanuatu signed the Nakamal Agreement, which blocks foreign military bases in Vanuatu and requires it to consult Canberra on critical-infrastructure investment, in exchange for increased economic support. The deal is widely read as aimed at limiting China's footprint in the Pacific.
- Business
Comcast to split NBCUniversal and cable into two companies
Comcast said it will separate into two publicly traded companies by mid-2027 through a tax-free spin-off — one holding broadband and wireless, the other holding NBCUniversal, Peacock, the studios, theme parks and Sky.
- Tech
South Korea unveils more than $1 trillion chip and AI investment drive
President Lee Jae Myung announced a plan to mobilize over $1 trillion in mostly private spending on chip fabs and AI data centers, led by Samsung and SK Hynix. The push aims to lock in South Korea's position in semiconductors and AI infrastructure.
- World Politics
China imposes export controls on dozens of Japanese entities
China's commerce ministry blacklisted or placed on a watch list about 40 Japanese organizations, citing Japan's military buildup. The move deepens a rift that widened after Tokyo signaled it could intervene over Taiwan.
- World Politics Priority
US and Iran agree to stand down after weekend strikes
After a weekend in which Washington and Tehran exchanged strikes and each accused the other of breaking the June ceasefire, a US official said the two sides agreed to 'stand down for now' and resume peace talks. The pause halts an escalation that had widened to US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
- U.S. Politics
Trump administration holds up opening of US-Canada Gordie Howe bridge
The Trump administration is blocking the opening of the newly built Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, with the president demanding Canada share ownership before traffic can cross. A planned grand opening was cancelled at the last minute.
- World Politics
Pakistan says it killed 29 fighters in strikes along the Afghan border
Pakistan said its forces killed 29 fighters in ground operations and air strikes on Pakistani Taliban hideouts in three Afghan provinces, after an attack on a paramilitary headquarters in Karachi left three soldiers dead. The clashes mark a further escalation of cross-border fighting that has killed hundreds since February.
- U.S. Politics
Trump-backed Letlow wins Louisiana Senate runoff after Cassidy's defeat
Rep. Julia Letlow won Louisiana's Republican Senate runoff, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming. Two-term incumbent Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in 2021, finished third in the first round and was eliminated.
- Science
Nature reports a new political screening is stalling NIH grants
Nature reports that a new political review layer in the grant-approval process at the U.S. National Institutes of Health is delaying funding decisions for biomedical researchers.
- Science
France reports about 1,000 excess deaths in European heatwave
France's public health agency reported roughly 1,000 excess deaths as a record heatwave that began on June 20 spread across central Europe, with most fatalities among people aged 65 and older.
- World Politics
Uganda's army chief orders Nation Media Group outlets off air
Defence chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni's son, ordered NTV Uganda, Spark TV and the Daily Monitor shut down, and security forces took the stations off air overnight. He said he does not believe in a free press.
- World Politics
Iraq arrests lawmakers and officials in corruption sweep
Iraqi counterterrorism forces arrested several officials, including five members of parliament whose immunity was lifted, in a Baghdad sweep tied to a deputy oil minister's corruption case. The operation is the first major test of new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's anti-graft pledge.
- World Politics Priority
Iran fires missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain
Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched ballistic missiles and drones at the US Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, retaliating for two nights of US strikes on Iran's coast. Drawing Kuwait into the fighting marks a new widening of the conflict.
- World Politics Priority
Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs past 1,400 as rescuers race the clock
Two powerful earthquakes near Caracas have killed more than 1,400 people, with tens of thousands still reported missing. Foreign rescue teams have begun arriving as authorities warn the window for finding survivors is closing.
- World Politics Priority
US strikes Iran for a second night after tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz
US forces struck Iranian military sites near Sirik and Qeshm Island for a second consecutive night after a drone hit a crude tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The exchanges are steadily eroding the June 17 memorandum that was meant to halt the fighting.
- World Politics
Kenyan rights groups say detained protesters were tortured and dumped
Six protesters arrested during anniversary demonstrations in Kenya were found dumped around Nairobi with injuries consistent with abuse, rights groups said, with one man still missing. Amnesty International Kenya called for an independent investigation.
- World Politics
Hezbollah rejects Israel-Lebanon framework as Israeli strikes hit the south
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the US-brokered framework agreement signed a day earlier, calling it a surrender of sovereignty. Israeli forces struck towns in southern Lebanon, killing one person in the first casualties since the deal was finalized.
- U.S. Politics
Trump nominates first Senate-confirmable ICE director since 2017
President Trump nominated former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a post that has had only acting directors since 2017.
- Tech
Australia doubles fines as children keep bypassing its under-16 social media ban
Australia will double maximum penalties for platforms that breach its under-16 social media ban to A$99 million and expand the eSafety Commissioner's investigative powers, conceding that children are still circumventing the rules.
- World Politics
Serbia's Vucic says he will resign and call early elections
President Aleksandar Vucic told a Belgrade rally he will step down within weeks and hold early presidential and parliamentary elections, a concession after more than a year of youth-led protests.
- World Politics Priority
Iran strikes back at US forces and Bahrain as the ceasefire frays
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it struck US military installations in the Gulf on June 27 after fresh US strikes on Iran's southern coast, and Bahrain reported a drone attack on its territory. The exchange pushes the month-old US-Iran memorandum of understanding to its breaking point.
- U.S. Politics
Trump religious liberty commission urges rethinking church-state separation
A draft report from President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission calls the strict separation of church and state a legal error and recommends the Justice Department issue new guidance on the Establishment Clause. It also urges repeal of the Johnson Amendment, which bars nonprofits from endorsing candidates.
- World Politics
Senior Ukrainian intelligence officer sentenced to life for spying for Russia
A Kyiv court sentenced Col. Dmytro Kozyura, former chief of staff of the SBU's Anti-Terrorist Center, to life in prison for high treason. Prosecutors say he passed Russia's FSB classified material on air defenses and critical infrastructure after being recruited in 2018.
- Science
Machine-learning screen finds new antibiotic candidates for drug-resistant gonorrhoea
Researchers used a deep-learning model to screen about six million compounds and identified candidate antibiotics active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Two structurally novel molecules cleared infection in mice and a tissue model without provoking resistance, though the work is still preclinical.
- Tech
US permits limited release of Anthropic's Mythos model to select companies
The federal government will allow Anthropic to release its Mythos model to a small set of approved companies, a partial easing of the export and access restrictions imposed earlier this month.
- U.S. Politics
Texas adds required Bible stories to public school reading
Texas is requiring public school students to read Bible stories as part of the curriculum, prompting objections over the separation of church and state.
- World Politics
Burkina Faso cuts diplomatic ties with France
Burkina Faso's military government severed diplomatic relations with France on June 26, accusing Paris of supporting subversive networks. The break deepens the Sahel's realignment away from its former colonial ruler and toward Russia and China.
- Health
About 5 million people drop ACA coverage after subsidies lapse
Roughly 5 million people have dropped Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage after enhanced federal premium subsidies expired and premiums rose sharply, according to NPR.
- World Politics Priority
US strikes Iran after Trump says a drone attack broke the ceasefire
US Central Command said it struck Iranian targets on June 26 in response to a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz the day before. Trump called the attack a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire, putting the fragile 60-day agreement under its sharpest test yet.
- World Politics
US announces a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a US-brokered framework between Israel and Lebanon on June 26, laying out a process to restore Lebanese sovereignty and disarm Hezbollah. Both Hezbollah and Israel signaled they would hold their positions, and Rubio called it only 'the beginning of the beginning.'
- Business
Trump threatens 100% tariffs on countries that tax US tech firms
Trump said on June 26 that any country imposing a digital services tax on US technology companies would face a 100 percent tariff on its goods. He pointed at European nations weighing such taxes and said the threat would override existing trade agreements.
- Tech
OpenAI staggers its GPT-5.6 release at the US government's request
OpenAI said on June 26 it will preview its GPT-5.6 model with select partners before a broader public launch, citing requests from the US government. The staggered rollout reflects a growing pattern of pre-deployment review for frontier AI models.
- World Politics
German court sentences Magdeburg Christmas market attacker to life
A German court sentenced Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen to life in prison on June 26 for driving into the Magdeburg Christmas market in December 2024, killing six people, including a nine-year-old child and five women.
- World Politics
DR Congo files case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice
The Democratic Republic of Congo filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice on June 26, accusing it of massacres, sexual violence and forced displacement in eastern Congo since 1996. Rwanda has long denied backing armed groups there and frames its presence as self-defense.
- Health
CDC raises its Ebola response to the highest level
The CDC elevated its Ebola response to the highest activation level on June 26 as the outbreak continues to spread across the Democratic Republic of Congo and into Uganda. The step unlocks additional staff and resources for an outbreak that has already topped 1,000 cases.
- World Politics
US sanctions Rwandan gold refinery over DR Congo mineral smuggling
The United States sanctioned Rwanda's Gasabo Gold Refinery, accusing it of smuggling gold sourced from the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The measure targets the trade in minerals that has helped finance fighting in the region.
- World Politics
Ukraine launches one of its largest drone barrages on Russia
Russia said it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 regions, including Moscow and Crimea, in one of the largest barrages of the war. Ukraine targeted oil refineries, energy infrastructure and an explosives-linked chemical plant, part of a campaign to degrade Russia's fuel and military supply lines.
- World Politics
South Korean court jails former first lady Kim Keon Hee for bribery
A Seoul court sentenced Kim Keon Hee, wife of ousted former president Yoon Suk Yeol, to seven years in prison for taking luxury bribes in exchange for political favors. It is her second conviction this year, following an April sentence for stock manipulation.
- U.S. Politics
John Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case
Former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to unlawfully retaining classified information, reversing an earlier not-guilty plea to 18 charges. The deal caps his exposure at five years and a $2.25 million fine, with sentencing set for October.
- Business
EU opens antitrust probe into Sanofi over flu-vaccine marketing
The European Commission is investigating whether Sanofi ran a misleading campaign disparaging CSL Seqirus's Fluad flu vaccine to favor its own Efluelda shot in Germany and France, where Sanofi holds a dominant position.
- Science
Climate change made Europe's June heatwave far hotter, scientists find
World Weather Attribution scientists concluded that human-caused climate change drove Europe's record June heatwave, which they call the most severe on record for the month. They estimate the event was about 3.5°C hotter than a comparable 1976 heatwave and would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago.
- Science
Base editing in human embryos advances, but mosaicism limits its use
Scientists reported in Nature that base editing — a more precise form of CRISPR — was used to alter DNA in early human embryos while studying a key developmental gene. The edits were not applied uniformly across cells, producing a mix of altered and unaltered cells that underscores why the technique is far from clinical use.
- World Politics
North Korea tests new missile and artillery systems as South expands drone force
North Korea test-fired a special-mission ballistic missile warhead and upgraded longer-range rocket and artillery systems, with Kim Jong Un calling for a more aggressive posture. South Korea responded by announcing plans to train 500,000 drone operators.
- U.S. Politics
New York board freezes rent on about 1 million stabilized apartments
New York City's Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 to freeze rents on roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments for both one- and two-year leases, delivering the first major policy win of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's term. It is the first time the board has frozen rents on two-year leases.
- U.S. Politics
Hegseth ousts top US Army commander in Europe as Pentagon purge widens
Gen. Chris Donahue, the four-star commander of US Army Europe and Africa, is leaving his post early after losing the confidence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His command will be downgraded to a three-star post, part of a broader effort to thin the Pentagon's senior ranks.
- Science
Gravitational-wave analysis reads the signature of a black hole's horizon
A Nature paper analyzing GW250114, the clearest black hole merger signal yet recorded, reports detailed signatures of the final black hole's horizon during its post-merger 'ringdown.' The measurements confirm long-standing predictions, including Hawking's area theorem and the Kerr description of rotating black holes.
- Entertainment
Directors guild ratifies four-year contract with AI safeguards amid production slump
The Directors Guild of America ratified a four-year contract with major studios, adding protections around AI-generated footage, raising health-plan contributions, and limiting how often non-director actors can direct TV episodes. Members approved the deal without a strike threat.
- Business
Asian markets slide as the AI and chip trade unwinds
South Korea's KOSPI fell about 5.7% and Japan's Nikkei dropped roughly 3.9% as investors sold semiconductor and AI-linked shares. The retreat followed a weak Wall Street lead and Apple's warning that rising memory and storage costs would push up device prices.
- U.S. Politics
Sanders releases HHS emails on pressure over CDC vaccine messaging
Sen. Bernie Sanders published internal Health and Human Services emails that he says show Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directing the CDC to pull vaccination ad campaigns and subject agency decisions to political review. Kennedy has previously defended his record and rejected accusations of undermining vaccine science.
- Science
Perseverance finds complex organic carbon in Martian mudstones
Scientists reported that NASA's Perseverance rover detected intact macromolecular organic carbon in two mudstones at the Bright Angel outcrop in Jezero Crater. The molecules can form through either biological or non-living processes, so the finding is a potential biosignature rather than evidence of past life.
- Tech
OpenAI and Broadcom unveil Jalapeño, their first custom AI chip
OpenAI and Broadcom revealed Jalapeño, OpenAI's first custom inference processor, built specifically to run large language models. Early testing points to better performance per watt than current chips, part of OpenAI's push to reduce its dependence on Nvidia.
- Health
Military reinstates flu shot requirement for recruits as base outbreak grows
With confirmed flu cases at Lackland Air Force Base reaching 275, the armed services are again requiring recruits to be vaccinated, reversing the removal of the mandate by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- World Politics
France seizes fifth Russian shadow-fleet tanker in the Mediterranean
The French navy boarded and seized a Russian oil tanker near Sicily, the fifth vessel France has detained from Moscow's sanctions-evading shadow fleet. Russia's embassy in France condemned the action as piracy.
- Entertainment
Ann Blyth, Oscar-nominated 'Mildred Pierce' actress, dies at 98
Ann Blyth, the actress and singer best known for her Oscar-nominated turn as Joan Crawford's scheming daughter in 'Mildred Pierce,' has died at 98.
- World Politics
UN pauses Strait of Hormuz evacuation after cargo ship is attacked
The UN's International Maritime Organization suspended its plan to move stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile on the new UN-promoted route. US officials attributed the attack to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, hours after Tehran warned ships not to use the corridor without its permission.
- Health
New CDC vaccine-panel charter drops vaccine-expertise requirement
A revised charter for the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, signed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and posted June 25, removes the requirement that members have vaccine research experience and redirects the panel toward weighing 'alternatives' to vaccines. Critics say it retrofits the rules to fit Kennedy's contested appointees.
- World Politics
Kenya arrests more than 350 on anniversary of deadly 2024 protests
Kenyan police detained 355 people on June 25 as demonstrators marked the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-tax protests, in which security forces killed at least 60 people. Authorities used tear gas and water cannon and blocked mourners from laying flowers at Parliament.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge blocks key parts of Trump's mail-voting order
US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston blocked core provisions of President Trump's executive order on mail voting, calling the federal intervention in state-run elections unconstitutional. The ruling halts the order — including the directive that tied Postal Service ballot delivery to federal voter lists — for the November midterms in two dozen Democratic-led jurisdictions that sued.
- Business
Fed's preferred inflation gauge rose to 4.1 percent in May
The personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, rose to 4.1 percent year-over-year in May from 3.8 percent in April, its highest reading since 2023. The jump was driven mainly by energy prices pushed up by the Iran war.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court strikes down advance-permission requirements for gun ownership
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a Hawaii law requiring residents to obtain advance permission before possessing a firearm, ruling such permit-to-acquire regimes unconstitutional. The decision extends the court's recent Second Amendment jurisprudence to the act of acquiring and keeping guns at home, not just carrying them in public.
- Business
Supreme Court shields pesticide makers from some state failure-to-warn claims
In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court sided with Monsanto owner Bayer, holding that federal pesticide law preempts state-law claims that a manufacturer failed to warn of health risks when its label matched what federal regulators approved. The ruling cuts off a major avenue of the Roundup cancer litigation that has cost Bayer billions in verdicts.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court hands Trump two immigration wins on asylum and protected status
In separate 6-3 decisions, the Supreme Court ruled that the government may turn away asylum seekers before they reach the border and that the president has largely unreviewable authority to end Temporary Protected Status. The rulings clear the way for the administration to resume 'metering' at the border and to begin removing Haitians and Syrians who had been shielded from deportation.
- Entertainment
Prosecutors drop a Weinstein rape charge after two juries deadlocked
New York prosecutors dismissed a third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after two juries deadlocked on the count and the accuser declined to testify again. The dismissal closes one strand of the long-running case while Weinstein's other convictions and legal exposure remain.
- Business
Filing shows Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO before antitrust settlement
A court filing indicates President Trump and Live Nation's chief executive discussed company business in February, before the Justice Department settled its antitrust case against the Ticketmaster parent. The disclosure raises questions about direct presidential contact with a company facing federal enforcement.
- Tech
China's LineShine tops global supercomputer ranking with a novel chip design
A Chinese system called LineShine has taken the top spot in the latest global supercomputer ranking, exceeding two exaflops — more than two quintillion calculations per second — using an unconventional chip design. The result signals China's continued push to build leading-edge computing capacity despite U.S. export controls on advanced processors.
- Science
Base editing of human embryos sharpens precision and revives ethical debate
Researchers report that next-generation base editing corrects DNA in human embryos more accurately than earlier CRISPR methods, and used the technique to show the gene NANOG is essential to early human development. The work advances basic embryology while reigniting debate over whether and how genome editing should ever be used clinically in embryos.
- Tech
Apple raises MacBook and iPad prices, citing rising chip costs
Apple increased prices on MacBook and iPad models, attributing the move to sharply higher component and chip costs. The change passes semiconductor-supply pressure directly to consumers from a company that rarely raises prices on existing lines.
- World Politics
Three ICC judges sue the Trump administration over US sanctions
Judges Kimberly Prost, Solomy Balungi Bossa and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou filed suit in federal court in Manhattan, arguing the 2025 US sanctions on them exceeded the law and were meant to pressure the International Criminal Court over its rulings. The sanctions blocked their US assets and cut off banking, credit cards and other everyday services.
- Business
Oil prices fall back to pre-Iran war levels as Hormuz traffic resumes
Brent crude slipped to about $72.68 a barrel and WTI to $69.58 on June 25, the lowest since late February before the Iran war began. The decline reflects reopened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and expectations of more Middle East supply after a ceasefire and a temporary easing of US sanctions on Iran.
- World Politics
Kenya's lawmakers approve a contested financial package two years after Gen Z protests
Kenya's parliament passed another controversial package of financial measures that the government says is needed to raise about $770 million ahead of the 2027 elections. The vote comes two years after deadly Gen Z protests forced President William Ruto's government to withdraw a tax bill.
- Tech
IBM unveils a stacked-transistor chip design it says can extend Moore's Law a decade
IBM revealed a prototype 'nanostack' chip that vertically stacks transistors in two layers, fitting roughly 100 billion transistors on a fingernail-sized die — double its 2021 density. Researchers say the approach could add 10 to 15 years to the semiconductor roadmap by shifting from shrinking transistors to stacking them.
- Entertainment
Comcast's Sky agrees terms to buy ITV's broadcast and streaming business
Sky, owned by Comcast, has agreed terms to acquire ITV's broadcast and streaming unit — including the ITVX service — for about £1.6 billion, according to reports. The ITV Studios production arm is not part of the deal, which would need approval from the UK's competition regulator and Ofcom.
- Health
Bipartisan bill would let doctors prescribe methadone for pharmacy pickup
Senators Ed Markey and Rand Paul reintroduced a bill that would allow addiction-medicine specialists to prescribe methadone directly to patients for pickup at pharmacies, rather than only through specialty opioid treatment clinics. The measure has cleared a Senate committee before but never reached a floor vote.
- Tech
Anthropic accuses Alibaba of a large-scale effort to extract its Claude models
In a letter to the White House, Anthropic says operators tied to Alibaba ran roughly 28.8 million exchanges through about 25,000 fraudulent accounts between April and June to distill its Claude models — what it calls the largest such campaign it has detected. The accusation lands as the administration tightens export controls on Anthropic's frontier models.
- U.S. Politics
White House asks Congress for $87.6 billion in extra funding, mostly for the Iran war
The Trump administration sent Congress a request for $87.6 billion in supplemental spending, the bulk of it to pay for the Iran war, alongside farm aid and money to fight the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
- World Politics
Two powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, with high casualties feared
Two strong earthquakes, measured at roughly magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck western Venezuela in quick succession late on June 24, leveling buildings as far away as Caracas. The US Geological Survey said significant casualties were probable.
- U.S. Politics
Postmaster general says USPS would withhold mail ballots from states that refuse voter data
Postmaster General David Steiner told senators that, under a proposed rule, the Postal Service would not deliver mail ballots in states that decline to share their voter rolls with the Trump administration. Lawmakers and election groups called the plan unlawful.
- U.S. Politics
Congress sends landmark housing bill to Trump, who cancels the signing
Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing affordability measure in decades, on overwhelming bipartisan votes. President Trump then canceled the signing ceremony, saying he wants Congress to pass a strict voter ID bill first.
- Health
WHO-led trial to test two Ebola drugs in Congo outbreak
A WHO-led consortium is launching a clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo to test Gilead's remdesivir and MappBio's MBP-134 antibody against the Bundibugyo strain driving the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
- World Politics
Ukraine strikes leave Sevastopol, Crimea's biggest city, without power
Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-occupied Crimea, suffered a major power outage following Ukrainian strikes, the latest in Kyiv's campaign against infrastructure on the peninsula and at Russian energy facilities.
- Health
U.S. health spending rose 7.3% to $5.7 trillion in 2025
Newly published government data show U.S. health spending grew 7.3% in 2025 to $5.7 trillion, driven by heavier use of care and the rapid uptake of GLP-1 drugs. Spending is projected to cross $6 trillion in 2026.
- Tech
Study finds AI training data can expose patients' medical records
Researchers report that AI models can leak the medical records used to train them, and that people from underrepresented groups face more severe identification risks. The finding complicates the use of patient data to build clinical AI.
- U.S. Politics
Judge blocks Texas subpoenas for transgender patient records at New York hospitals
A federal judge temporarily blocked subpoenas from Texas prosecutors seeking transgender patients' medical records from New York hospitals, citing constitutional concerns. The order pauses an out-of-state criminal probe of gender-affirming care.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge permanently blocks Trump's proof-of-citizenship voting order
A federal judge permanently blocked President Trump's executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, finding he exceeded his authority over elections that the Constitution leaves to the states and Congress.
- U.S. Politics
Congress passes a war powers resolution on Iran for the first time
Both chambers of Congress approved a war powers resolution constraining U.S. military action against Iran, the first time such a measure has cleared Congress. Its practical effect is limited, since the president can veto it.
- Health
A $500 million nonprofit launches to fight respiratory viruses
A new nonprofit called Intercept launched with $500 million from backers including Stripe, Anthropic, the OpenAI Foundation, Bill Gates, and Flu Lab, aiming to curb and eventually eliminate respiratory infections through vaccines, air cleaning, and novel treatments.
- Entertainment
Rockstar sets GTA 6 for November launch at $80, single-player only
Rockstar Games said Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, priced at $79.99 standard and $99.99 ultimate, and will ship as a single-player game with multiplayer absent at release.
- Business
Paramount-Warner Bros merger nears EU clearance with conditions
The European Commission is expected to approve the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger by a July 7 deadline, subject to remedies that could include exiting an international film-distribution venture, after the deal cleared US antitrust review earlier in June.
- World Politics
IAEA says inspectors will return to Iran's nuclear sites under war-ending deal
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the agency is preparing procedures to send inspectors back to Iran's nuclear sites under the memorandum that ended the US-Iran war, but Tehran signaled it has made no new commitments and tied broader access to a comprehensive accord.
- Health
AI model flags hidden heart scarring as a marker of sudden cardiac death risk
A study in Nature describes an AI model that identifies people at highest risk of sudden cardiac arrest by detecting cardiac fibrosis, scar tissue in the heart that had been considered relatively benign, potentially helping doctors decide who needs an implantable defibrillator.
- Science
Record heatwave grips Europe, triggering red alerts and power cuts
An intense heatwave pushed temperatures to record levels across western Europe this week, prompting red alerts in Italian cities, school closures in Britain and a heat-related power outage that cut electricity to tens of thousands of homes in France.
- World Politics
North Korea commissions its largest-ever warship
North Korea has commissioned a roughly 5,000-tonne destroyer it describes as nuclear-capable, its largest warship to date, as Pyongyang signals plans for a sharp naval buildup over the next five years.
- U.S. Politics
Mamdani-backed candidates sweep New York Democratic primaries
Candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their Democratic House primaries on Tuesday, ousting two sitting members of Congress and signaling the growing strength of the party's progressive wing.
- Health
France confirms its first Ebola case in the current outbreak
France's health ministry says a doctor who returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola, the first imported case of an outbreak that has killed more than 260 people in central Africa.
- Tech
YouTube settles a teen's social-media addiction lawsuit
Google's YouTube reached a confidential settlement with a Florida teenager who alleged the platform was designed to be addictive. The deal removes YouTube from a case still set for trial against Meta, TikTok, and Snap in July, and follows a $6 million verdict against YouTube and Meta earlier this year.
- World Politics
UN begins evacuating 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
The UN's maritime agency started removing more than 11,000 crew stranded when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during its war with the US and Israel. Traffic is resuming under last week's ceasefire deal, but hundreds of ships remain stuck and the US and Iran are already at odds over transit fees.
- Tech
Meta pauses its employee-tracking AI program after an internal data leak
Meta suspended an initiative that recorded US employees' keystrokes, mouse activity, and screen content to train AI agents, after a security error exposed sensitive data — including private chats and performance reviews — across the company. More than 1,600 workers had already petitioned to cancel the program over privacy concerns.
- Health
Eli Lilly granted compassionate-use access to its experimental obesity drug for a single patient
STAT reported that a 79-year-old received Eli Lilly's not-yet-approved obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate-use program, a pathway normally reserved for life-threatening conditions. The case drew the interest of senior health officials, raising questions about whether access reflected connections rather than medical need.
- U.S. Politics
Eight sentenced to decades in prison over anti-ICE protest shooting in Texas
A Texas court sentenced eight defendants to terms ranging from 30 to 100 years over a July 4 shooting that wounded an officer outside an immigration detention center. Prosecutors tied the group to antifa in the first such sentencing since Trump designated the movement a domestic terrorist organization.
- Business
Tech stocks slide as investors question AI spending
The Nasdaq fell 1.4% as anxiety over heavy AI infrastructure spending hit chipmakers and most of the Magnificent Seven. SpaceX, recently public, had dropped 16% the prior day, part of a roughly $600bn swing in its market value.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court lets officers detain returning green card holders on criminal allegations
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that immigration officers may place lawful permanent residents on immigration parole based on criminal accusations alone, without proving the underlying offense. The dissent warned it weakens due process for green card holders.
- U.S. Politics
Senate passes Iran war powers resolution as four Republicans break ranks
The Senate voted 50-48 to direct the president to pull US forces from hostilities with Iran absent explicit congressional authorization. Four Republicans and one independent-leaning Democrat crossed party lines, but the measure faces a near-certain veto.
- Health
Justice Department charges 455 people in $6.5bn health care fraud sweep
Federal prosecutors announced charges against 455 defendants over more than $6.5 billion in false insurance claims, citing schemes that ranged from unnecessary heart screenings for college athletes to fraud targeting homeless and hospice patients.
- World Politics
EU holds first official talks with Taliban delegation over Afghan deportations
European Commission officials and representatives of 15 member states met a Taliban delegation in Brussels to discuss returns of Afghans — the first official Taliban visit to the EU since 2021, despite no member state recognizing the government.
- U.S. Politics
Appeals court lets Trump expand fast-track deportations to the US interior
A divided DC Circuit panel overturned a lower-court block, allowing the administration to apply expedited removal to non-citizens found anywhere in the US who cannot prove more than two years' residence — a sharp expansion beyond the border.
- Tech
Alibaba sues Pentagon over 'Chinese military company' designation
Alibaba asked a federal court to strike its addition to the Pentagon's list of 'Chinese military companies,' arguing the designation has no basis in fact or law. The label bars the firm from supplying the Defense Department starting June 30.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court ends lawsuit accusing Cisco of aiding China's surveillance of Falun Gong
The Supreme Court shut down a long-running suit claiming Cisco built surveillance technology China used to track and torture Falun Gong members, further narrowing the use of the Alien Tort Statute against multinational corporations.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court rules prisoners cannot sue officials for money damages under religious-freedom law
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that a Rastafarian man whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved in a Louisiana prison cannot sue individual officials for damages under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
- World Politics
US and Iran reach interim deals but clash over nuclear inspections on first day of talks
On the opening day of talks in Switzerland, the US waived oil sanctions for 60 days and set up a Hormuz communication line, but the two sides openly contradicted each other on nuclear inspections, frozen assets and Iran's enriched-uranium stockpile.
- World Politics
UN commission of inquiry finds Israel's killing of Gaza children amounts to genocide
A UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel's deliberate targeting and killing of Palestinian children in Gaza constitutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel's mission in Geneva rejected the report as a defamatory sham.
- Business
UK antitrust claim against Apple cleared to proceed, opening door to £3bn in payouts
A collective antitrust claim against Apple has been given the go-ahead in the UK, meaning millions of consumers could share in compensation estimated at around £3bn. The case targets Apple's conduct in its App Store ecosystem.
- Science
Record heat grips western Europe as France logs scores of heat-related drownings
A severe heatwave is pushing temperatures toward 40C across France, Italy and Spain, with red alerts in place and at least 40 people drowned in France since last week while trying to cool off. Forecasters expect the heat to intensify and break records before easing late in the week.
- Health
Pfizer lung cancer drug fails to beat chemotherapy in late-stage trial
Pfizer's experimental lung cancer therapy sigvotatug vedotin failed to outperform standard chemotherapy in a closely watched late-stage trial, a setback for one of the company's pipeline bets in oncology.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge blocks restrictions on buying soda with SNAP benefits
A federal court has struck down Trump administration restrictions that would have barred SNAP recipients from using benefits to buy sugary drinks. The ruling halts a key piece of the administration's effort to limit what food assistance can purchase.
- Health
FDA-cleared AI tool to screen for structural heart disease from ECGs reaches clinicians
An FDA-cleared AI tool called EchoNext, which screens for seven types of structural heart disease from electrocardiogram images, is being rolled out to clinicians through the OpenEvidence platform. It aims to flag conditions that standard ECG reads often miss.
- World Politics
US to release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds as inspection terms stay disputed
Iran's lead negotiator confirmed a US agreement to unfreeze $12 billion in Iranian funds, and the Treasury temporarily eased oil sanctions through August 1. Washington says the steps follow an Iranian commitment to readmit nuclear inspectors — a characterization Tehran has disputed.
- Tech
Trump signs executive orders to expand quantum research and security
President Trump signed executive orders aimed at accelerating quantum computing research and strengthening related security. The push reflects concern that quantum advances could eventually threaten current encryption.
- U.S. Politics
Senate passes bipartisan housing affordability bill
The Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan housing affordability bill by a wide margin. The measure now moves toward the House as lawmakers respond to sustained pressure over high housing costs.
- Business
Oracle cuts about 21,000 jobs over the past year as it leans on AI
Oracle has shed roughly 21,000 jobs over the past year, with the company pointing to artificial intelligence taking over some roles. The cuts are among the clearest signs yet of AI reshaping headcount at a major enterprise software firm.
- U.S. Politics
Interior Department moves to loosen drilling rules on public lands
The Interior Department moved to relax rules governing oil and gas drilling on federal public lands. The change would make it easier for companies to lease and develop acreage, reversing tighter restrictions.
- Tech
House committee reaches bipartisan deal on child social media safeguards
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee announced a bipartisan agreement requiring social media platforms to offer safety tools for children and parents. The deal omits the 'duty of care' Democrats had sought and lets states pass stronger laws.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court declines to hear Texas intellectual-disability death penalty case
The Supreme Court refused to take up the appeal of a Texas death-row inmate whose experts say he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution, leaving his sentence in place.
- World Politics
Kenyan court finds health minister in contempt over US-backed Ebola facility
A Kenyan court ruled that Health Minister Aden Duale was in contempt for defying an order to halt construction of a US-funded facility intended to treat Americans infected with Ebola.
- World Politics
Japan raises visa fees fivefold in first increase since 1978
Japan announced it will quintuple its visa fees, the first such increase since 1978, while saying it expects no immediate effect on tourism.
- Science
Isotopes point to a cold, distant origin for interstellar object 3I/ATLAS
An isotopic analysis of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS indicates it formed in the cold outer reaches of another planetary system, offering rare direct evidence about conditions around other stars.
- Science
First ticking nuclear clocks arrive
Research teams have demonstrated the first working nuclear clocks, which keep time using a transition inside an atomic nucleus rather than its electrons, opening a path to far more precise and robust timekeeping.
- World Politics
Fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow kills 15
A fire at an exam-coaching centre in Lucknow, India, killed at least 15 people, renewing concern over fire safety at the country's crowded private tutoring institutes.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge blocks Trump administration's centralized personal-data database
A federal judge struck down the Trump administration's effort to build a centralized database merging Social Security numbers, citizenship status and other sensitive records held across multiple federal agencies.
- Health
FDA launches pilot to speed up early-stage clinical trials
The FDA unveiled a pilot program to shorten the path through early-stage clinical trials, which officials say could cut development timelines by six to 12 months. The agency framed the move as a response to China's growing share of global drug research.
- Tech
Fatal Tesla crash in Texas comes under federal investigation
U.S. auto-safety regulators are investigating a Texas crash in which a Tesla struck a house and killed a woman, after the driver said the car's automated driving system was engaged.
- World Politics
US military strikes another alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two
US Southern Command says it struck an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing at least two people. It is the latest action in a months-long campaign that has hit more than 60 boats and killed over 210 people, drawing legal challenges.
- World Politics
US issues 60-day waiver easing Iran oil sanctions as Switzerland talks advance
The US Treasury issued a 60-day license authorizing purchases of Iranian crude and petroleum products through August 21, the first concrete sanctions relief from the US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland. Brent crude fell more than 3.5 percent on the news.
- World Politics
UN says Myanmar's military killed more than 700 civilians around its elections
A UN report attributes at least 702 civilian deaths to Myanmar's military between last August and the end of January, when the junta staged elections. Air strikes accounted for 57 percent of the toll, with women and children among the dead.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court lets stand ruling barring private Voting Rights Act suits in seven states
The Supreme Court declined to hear an Arkansas case, leaving in place an 8th Circuit ruling that private individuals and groups cannot sue to enforce the Voting Rights Act. The decision removes a long-used enforcement tool across seven mostly Midwestern states.
- Tech
Google invests $75 million in A24 to build AI filmmaking tools
Google is investing about $75 million in independent studio A24, with its DeepMind unit collaborating on AI-powered filmmaking workflows. The deal notably does not give Google access to A24's content library or data.
- Health
Confirmed Ebola cases top 1,000 in DR Congo as conflict hampers response
Authorities say the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's Ituri province has passed 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths. Armed conflict is cutting off villages and displacing populations, leaving contact tracing at 55 percent and the peak still expected ahead.
- Entertainment
Clive Davis, record executive who built Arista and signed Whitney Houston, dies at 94
Clive Davis, one of the most influential record executives of the past half-century, has died at 94. Over a career spanning Columbia, Arista and J Records, he developed artists from Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen to Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys.
- Business
Alan Greenspan, longtime Federal Reserve chair, dies at 100
Alan Greenspan, who led the Federal Reserve for more than 18 years across four presidents, has died at 100 from complications of Parkinson's disease. Credited with steering the economy through the 1990s boom, his reputation was later damaged by the 2008 financial crisis.
- Business
AbbVie to buy Apogee Therapeutics for about $10.9 billion
AbbVie agreed to acquire immunology biotech Apogee Therapeutics for roughly $10.9 billion, or $135.11 a share — about a 50 percent premium. The deal centers on zumilokibart, an experimental IL-13 drug dosed as infrequently as a few times a year.
- Health
US abortions have nearly doubled since Dobbs, driven by telehealth pills
New reporting finds the number of abortions in the US has nearly doubled since the 2022 Dobbs decision, even as more states enacted bans. The main driver is medication abortion prescribed through telehealth, including to patients in states with bans under shield laws.
- World Politics
Right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella wins Colombia's presidential runoff
Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer with no prior political experience, narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7 percent to leftist senator Iván Cepeda's 48.7 percent. He has pledged to end peace talks with armed groups, expand oil and gas, and pursue a US-backed offensive against dissident fighters.
- Business
Pharma's biotech buying spree hits $123 billion in the first half of 2026
Drugmakers have struck 32 biotech acquisitions worth $1 billion or more so far in 2026, spending about $123 billion in six months. That already exceeds all of 2025, when 26 such deals totaled $112 billion, as large pharma races to refill pipelines.
- Health
LSD-based therapy succeeds in late-stage depression trial
Definium Therapeutics reported that its LSD-based pill, DT120, outperformed placebo in a Phase 3 trial for major depression, cutting symptom scores by 13.3 points versus 5.2 for placebo at six weeks. The data moves a psychedelic medicine closer to regulatory review.
- World Politics Priority
Keir Starmer announces he will resign as UK prime minister
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on June 22 that he will step down, triggering a Labour leadership contest. He will stay on as caretaker while nominations open July 9 and a successor is chosen by September; Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is the front-runner.
- Health
FDA reverses course on Regenxbio's gene therapy for Hunter syndrome
The FDA will reconsider Regenxbio's gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, reversing a rejection from four months ago. It is the latest in a series of reversals following leadership turnover at the agency, including the departure of former commissioner Marty Makary.
- Business
Explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG hub injures 54, leaves 18 missing
An explosion at the Barzan plant in Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial city injured 54 people and left 18 missing on June 22. Authorities blamed a technical malfunction and said there was no dangerous leak; the site anchors a hub that handles roughly a fifth of the world's LNG supply.
- Business
EasyJet rejects £4.7bn US takeover bid as undervaluing the airline
EasyJet rejected a £4.7 billion takeover approach from a US bidder, saying the offer tried to buy the airline 'on the cheap' and undervalued the business.
- Tech
China restricts exports to US defense firms in response to American controls
China announced new export restrictions targeting American defense companies, retaliating against recent US controls that have tightened access to advanced technology. The move escalates a tit-for-tat over the supply of strategic materials and components.
- World Politics
US and Iran agree a 60-day roadmap on the first day of Switzerland talks
On the opening day of negotiations in Switzerland, the US and Iran agreed a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days and set up an oversight committee and a 'de-confliction cell' aimed at halting military operations in Lebanon, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said.
- World Politics
Ramiro Valdés, one of Cuba's last revolutionary commanders, dies at 94
Ramiro Valdés, a comandante of Cuba's 1959 revolution who twice served as interior minister and helped build the island's state security apparatus, has died at 94, President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced on June 21.
- World Politics
Lebanese sea-turtle conservationist Mona Khalil dies of injuries from an Israeli strike
Mona Khalil, a 77-year-old conservationist who founded a long-running sea-turtle sanctuary on Lebanon's southern coast, died June 20 of injuries from an Israeli strike on her home in al-Mansouri on June 4.
- Science
Heatwave grips western Europe as France issues red alerts
An early-summer heatwave is pushing temperatures toward 40C across Spain, Italy, France and Belgium, with health warnings issued in several countries and parts of France under red alert. Authorities are restricting outdoor events as the peak is expected at the start of the week.
- Tech
Early studies suggest reliance on AI tools is eroding professionals' skills
Early research reported by Nature finds that heavy reliance on AI tools appears to degrade the underlying skills of physicians and software engineers. The findings add evidence to a growing concern that automation can weaken the human expertise meant to supervise it.
- Business
CMS recalculates Medicare Advantage star ratings again after insurer lawsuits
Federal officials have recalculated quality ratings for 2026 Medicare Advantage plans following a wave of insurer lawsuits, the second such redo in two years. The ratings drive bonus payments that reached about $16 billion in 2026, giving carriers a strong incentive to litigate.
- World Politics
Abiy Ahmed's party wins Ethiopian election as analysts warn of renewed conflict
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party secured a comfortable parliamentary majority in elections held this month, with results announced June 21. The vote took place amid an insurgency in Amhara, renewed tensions in Tigray, and warnings that the country could slide back into wider conflict.
- World Politics
Ukraine strikes Crimea and Krasnodar oil sites, forcing fuel rationing
Ukrainian strikes overnight hit an oil depot in Crimea's Kerch and a fuel transport site in Russia's Krasnodar region, killing at least five people. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea cancelled Sunday's petrol allocation to private motorists, reserving fuel for official services.
- U.S. Politics
Judge clears DOJ to release Biden audio and transcripts to the Heritage Foundation
A federal judge ruled the Justice Department may release audio recordings and transcripts from a special counsel probe of Joe Biden to the Heritage Foundation, which had sued for access. The material had been withheld for years.
- World Politics
Israeli strike in Gaza kills six, including an Al Jazeera cameraman
Gaza officials say an Israeli strike on Saturday killed six people, among them Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah. The network described the strike as targeted, the latest in a series of journalist deaths during the war.
- World Politics
Colombia heads to a presidential run-off between a leftist and a Trump-backed hardliner
Colombians vote Sunday in a run-off pitting leftist lawmaker Ivan Cepeda against far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who is endorsed by Donald Trump. The contest turns on how to confront a surge in violence a decade after the FARC peace deal.
- World Politics
Albania protests against a Kushner-backed coastal resort swell to tens of thousands
Demonstrations against a luxury resort project on Albania's southern coast linked to Jared Kushner have grown to tens of thousands, entering their third week. Protesters carry signs reading 'Albania is not for sale' and demand Prime Minister Edi Rama resign.
- World Politics
US and Iran open ceasefire talks in Switzerland as Hormuz access disputed
US and Iranian delegations gathered in Switzerland for negotiations beginning June 21, aimed at turning this week's memorandum of understanding into a final deal. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it was restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, but the US military said traffic was flowing normally.
- Health
Stalled federal grants threaten US disability research and services
More than 90 percent of this year's forecast grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research remain unreleased, putting spinal cord injury care centers, ADA accessibility centers and long-running disability research at risk.
- Entertainment
Toy Story 5 opens to $71 million, heading for franchise-best weekend
Pixar's Toy Story 5 earned $71 million on its opening Friday from 4,425 theaters and is projected to take in roughly $150 million over the weekend, on track to be the franchise's biggest debut.
- U.S. Politics
Justice Department memo questions whether disability law bars needless institutionalization
A new Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion argues the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 do not make unnecessary institutionalization illegal, a reading disability advocates say undercuts the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision.
- World Politics
African and Caribbean nations adopt plan demanding formal apologies for transatlantic slavery
A conference in Accra, Ghana closed with a 19-point plan calling on former slave-trading powers to issue full, formal apologies and to provide debt relief and financial compensation, shifting the reparations push from symbolic recognition toward concrete demands.
- World Politics
Spanish court bars prime minister's wife from leaving the country in corruption inquiry
An investigating judge ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to surrender her passport and report to court twice a month while she awaits trial on charges including embezzlement and influence peddling. She denies wrongdoing and the Socialist Party calls the case political persecution.
- World Politics
Poland revokes Zelensky's top honour over an army unit's name, and Ukraine returns its awards
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he would strip President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle after Ukraine named a military unit for the WWII-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army, blamed for massacres of Poles. Zelensky and several top officials returned their Polish honours in response.
- World Politics
Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli strikes on Lebanon
Iran's military command said it was shutting the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli air strikes on Lebanon, which Tehran calls a violation of its memorandum of understanding with Washington. US and Iranian negotiators are still expected to meet Sunday in Switzerland.
- World Politics
Bolivia declares a state of emergency as road blockades choke fuel and food supplies
President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency that lets the military clear road blockades that have cut off fuel, food and medical supplies. The measure follows roughly seven weeks of protests over austerity, including the end of fuel subsidies, that have left at least 17 people dead.
- World Politics
Israeli strikes on Lebanon test the new ceasefire as US-Iran talks resume in Switzerland
Israeli air strikes killed several people in southern Lebanon, including a Lebanese soldier, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took hold. US envoys headed to Switzerland for talks Iran says the strikes could derail.
- Health
H5N1 bird flu reaches Australia, completing its spread to every continent
Australia confirmed its first mainland H5N1 case in a migratory seabird in Western Australia, the last continent to record the virus. Officials say poultry and farms are not yet affected.
- World Politics
UNICEF says a Palestinian child has been killed daily in Gaza despite ceasefire
UNICEF said on June 19 that at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire began — an average of about one a day for more than eight months — and called the truce a 'cruel and deadly illusion.'
- Health
Tennessee's prescription-free ivermectin market is booming as more states follow
A STAT investigation details how a 2022 Tennessee law lets pharmacies sell ivermectin without individual prescriptions, fueling a growing market driven by an anti-vaccine physician. Poison-control calls have risen, and at least four other states have adopted similar laws.
- U.S. Politics
Qatar-gifted Boeing jet unveiled as new Air Force One
President Trump on June 19 unveiled the refurbished Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, now configured to serve as Air Force One, as the aircraft arrived at Joint Base Andrews. The gift has drawn ethics and security scrutiny since it was accepted.
- World Politics
Fatal train collision near Bedford prompts major incident response
Two East Midlands Railway passenger trains collided south of Bedford on the evening of June 19, killing one person and injuring others. British Transport Police declared a major incident and services through London St Pancras were suspended.
- World Politics
US to end HIV funding for South Africa, citing Afrikaner persecution claims
A US State Department official confirmed a phased drawdown of PEPFAR support for South Africa's HIV programmes, tied to the country's alleged failure to act on the administration's policy demands. South Africa hosts the world's largest HIV-positive population.
- U.S. Politics
Some local police have access to an ICE facial recognition app
An NPR review of a DHS document found that local officers deputized under ICE's 287(g) Task Force Model can use a facial recognition app to identify people, resembling the Mobile Fortify tool already used by ICE and CBP. Legal experts said the disclosure raised more questions than it answered.
- World Politics
Norway proposes ban on trade with Israeli settlements
Norway's government opened a consultation on a bill to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, covering goods, real estate and construction services. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called the settlements a breach of international law.
- Entertainment
James Burrows, 'Cheers' co-creator and sitcom director, dies at 85
James Burrows, who co-created 'Cheers' and directed more than 100 television series across five decades, died on June 19 at 85. He won 11 Emmy Awards and helped define the modern multi-camera sitcom.
- World Politics
Italy's foreign minister cancels US trip amid Trump-Meloni rift
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani scrapped a weekend visit to Miami after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly disputed Trump's claim that she had 'begged' him for a photo at the G7. The episode marks a notable cooling between Trump and one of his closest European allies.
- World Politics
Israel and Hezbollah agree a ceasefire as strikes continue in Lebanon
US officials announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered with Qatar and Iran and set to take effect at 4pm local time. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon were reported continuing past the deadline.
- Health
Flu outbreak sickens over 160 troops at Lackland after vaccine mandate lifted
More than 160 trainees fell ill with influenza at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the flu shot optional for service members. Vaccination among recruits at the base reportedly dropped from near-universal to about 40%.
- Tech
A startup claims it broke a bottleneck holding back large language models
Miami-based Subquadratic says its SubQ model replaces dense attention with dynamic sparse attention, citing third-party tests showing large speed and cost gains and 12-million-token context. Independent researchers say the public evidence does not yet justify the strongest claims.
- World Politics
UK bar regulator suspends ICC prosecutor Karim Khan over misconduct findings
Britain's Bar Standards Board suspended International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan on June 19, a week after the ICC suspended him over findings of serious misconduct tied to sexual-misconduct allegations he denies. The court is set to vote on his permanent removal in July.
- Health
Donor stem-cell transplants hold a severe autoimmune disease in remission for 15 years
Two patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, a severe autoimmune disease, have remained in remission for more than 15 years after receiving donor stem-cell transplants that rebuilt their immune systems, researchers reported.
- Business
Democratic senators ask FCC to halt Paramount-Warner Bros. merger over foreign ownership
Senators Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff urged the FCC to block the close of the $111 billion Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger until a foreign-investment review finishes, citing plans that would leave the company nearly half-owned by Gulf sovereign wealth funds.
- World Politics
Afghanistan says it struck militant targets inside Pakistan
Afghanistan's defence ministry said it carried out air strikes on Thursday night against alleged ISIS-K and hostile-intelligence sites in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Pakistan dismissed the claims as false, deepening a months-long border crisis.
- Tech
US order to block foreign access to Anthropic models unsettles allies
A US order directing Anthropic to cut off foreign access to its Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5 models on national-security grounds led the company to take both offline. Allied leaders, including France's Macron and Canada's Carney, criticized the move and pressed for AI sovereignty.
- Business
Reliance Jio moves toward what could be India's biggest IPO
Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms is advancing an initial public offering that analysts say could be the largest in Indian history. A roughly 2.5% stake sale at the telecom and digital arm's reported valuation of up to about $180 billion would raise well over $4 billion.
- U.S. Politics
Missouri judge clears the way for medication abortion to resume
A Jackson County judge struck down Missouri restrictions on medication abortion on June 18, including licensing rules and a requirement that pills be taken in a physician's presence. Planned Parenthood said it would resume medication abortions, available in the state for the first time since 2018.
- World Politics
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 18, postponing US-Iran talks
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 18 people overnight into June 19 amid renewed fighting with Hezbollah, and Israel said four of its soldiers were killed. The escalation led Iran to delay its delegation, postponing US-Iran talks scheduled in Switzerland and prompting Vice President JD Vance to call off his trip.
- World Politics
Burnham wins UK by-election, opening a path to challenge Starmer
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election with 24,927 votes, beating Reform UK by more than 9,000. Now holding a Commons seat, Burnham is positioned to mount a Labour leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said he will not step down.
- Entertainment
Amazon drops finished Sam Altman film after OpenAI deal
Amazon MGM Studios dropped 'Artificial,' Luca Guadagnino's nearly finished film about OpenAI's Sam Altman, after striking a $50 billion partnership with OpenAI in February. The studio is shopping the film, which stars Andrew Garfield as Altman, to other buyers.
- Health
Nitazenes, opioids far stronger than fentanyl, spread across the US
Nitazenes — synthetic opioids that can be far more potent than fentanyl — have now been seized in 48 states, with confirmed US overdose deaths rising from 27 in 2020 to 409 in 2024. As governments schedule the drugs, makers are already shifting to chemically similar 'orphines' that evade the new rules.
- U.S. Politics
Judge orders release of Palestinian advocate held by ICE on free-speech grounds
A federal judge on June 18 ordered the release of Salah Sarsour, head of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, after roughly 80 days in ICE detention, finding he had raised a substantial First Amendment claim that his detention targeted protected pro-Palestinian speech.
- Tech
FERC orders grid operators to speed connections for AI data centers
FERC issued six orders on June 18 directing regional grid operators to rework how they connect large electricity users, aiming to accelerate interconnection for AI data centers. The orders cover regions serving about 200 million people across more than 30 states, but not Texas, which runs its own grid.
- World Politics
Cuba's Communist Party approves sweeping market opening
Cuba's Communist Party approved an emergency package of free-market measures on June 18, including expanded private enterprise, private banking, foreign investment from overseas Cubans, and conversion of state firms into private ventures. The plan went to the National Assembly, where passage is considered assured.
- Science
Bird flu killed an estimated 13,000 seal pups on a sub-Antarctic island
A new study estimates H5N1 bird flu killed about 13,000 of 17,000 seal pups — more than 75% — on remote Heard Island since August, with elephant seal mortality reaching 97% in some groups. The findings underscore the virus's spread into marine mammals and toward Antarctica.
- Business
Bank of England company data points to a 6% Brexit hit to UK output
Research drawing on Bank of England company-level data estimates Brexit had cut UK economic output by about 6% by the end of 2025, with larger drops in business investment and productivity. The work, revised in June 2026, attributes the loss to uncertainty, weaker demand and misallocated resources.
- World Politics
Zimbabwe lawmakers back bill to extend the president's term
Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament approved a bill on June 18 to extend the presidential term from five to seven years, a step that could prolong President Emmerson Mnangagwa's time in office.
- World Politics
US lifts naval blockade of Iranian ports after ceasefire deal
US Central Command said on June 18 it had stopped enforcing its naval blockade of Iran's ports, following the memorandum of understanding signed a day earlier to end the war. US forces remain in the region.
- Health
Shingles vaccine linked to lower dementia risk in new study
A new study found that nursing home residents who received the Shingrix shingles vaccine were about 24% less likely to develop dementia over four years, adding to evidence linking the shot to cognitive protection.
- Health
FDA advisers endorse Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine
An FDA advisory panel voted unanimously on June 18 that the benefits of Moderna's seasonal mRNA flu vaccine outweigh its risks, clearing a key hurdle for a shot that had drawn political controversy.
- Business
Eli Lilly cuts 340B discounts to hospitals that withhold claims data
Eli Lilly said it has stopped providing 340B drug discounts to roughly 50 large hospital systems that declined to share claims data, escalating a long-running fight between drugmakers and hospitals over the federal discount program.
- U.S. Politics
Education Department offers student loan rate cut for automatic payments
The Education Department said on June 18 it will cut interest rates by 1 percentage point for two years for federal student loan borrowers who enroll in automatic payments. The discount takes effect July 1, 2028.
- Health
Ebola death toll passes 200 as outbreak spreads to Uganda
The Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 200 deaths and roughly 894 confirmed cases, with cases now also reported in Uganda. Officials say it is the worst outbreak at this stage on record.
- World Politics
Dozens of countries warn of atrocities as fighting escalates in Sudan's el-Obeid
At least 29 countries issued a joint warning on June 18 about serious human rights abuses in and around el-Obeid in Sudan's North Kordofan, urging pressure on the warring parties as the conflict escalates.
- Health
Senate Democrats open inquiry into Kennedy's vaccine panel overhaul
Senate Finance Committee Democrats Ron Wyden and Maggie Hassan demanded records on June 18 over Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s restructuring of the federal vaccine advisory panel, after he fired its members and appointed vaccine skeptics. They set a deadline of the following week.
- Health
Infant botulism cases put premium baby formulas under FDA scrutiny
Three new infant botulism cases tied to Nara Organics formula, following dozens linked to ByHeart in 2025, have drawn FDA scrutiny to premium formulas made with organic whole milk powder. Manufacturers are not currently required to test for the bacterium, and no deaths have been reported.
- World Politics
UK sentences two men in first convictions for spying for China
A UK court on June 18 sentenced Chung Biu Yuen and Chi Leung Wai, both dual Chinese-British nationals, to 8 and 10 years for surveilling Hong Kong pro-democracy dissidents in Britain. They are believed to be the first people convicted of spying for China in the UK.
- Business
Bank of England holds its key rate at 3.75% amid energy-price risks
The Bank of England kept its benchmark rate at 3.75% on June 18, citing inflation at 2.8% that remains above its 2% target and energy-price uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict. Policymakers judged inflation cooling but not fast enough to justify another cut.
- Business
Apple says it will raise prices as AI demand drives up memory chip costs
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company will raise prices to offset a surge in memory and storage chip costs, which have roughly quadrupled over the past year as AI companies buy up supply. Cook did not say when increases would take effect or which products they would cover.
- World Politics
Hegseth orders review of US forces in Europe and presses NATO allies
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced at NATO headquarters on June 18 a review of up to six months into American troop levels in Europe, paired with a threat to withhold some US dues from allies that fall short on defense spending.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court narrows ban on gun ownership by drug users
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled on June 18 that the federal ban on firearm possession by illegal drug users could not be applied to a Texas marijuana user, narrowing the 1968 statute on Second Amendment grounds while leaving restrictions on addicts and intoxicated people intact.
- World Politics
Armed assault on Niamey airport and airbase kills 13 in Niger
Gunmen attacked Niger's main international airport and an adjacent military airbase in Niamey early on June 18, killing 11 soldiers and 2 civilians before the army repelled them. Twenty-two attackers were killed and about 20 suspects detained; no group immediately claimed responsibility.
- World Politics
Ukraine launches its largest drone attack on Moscow, hitting an oil refinery
Ukraine struck the Moscow Oil Refinery and more than a dozen Russian regions on June 18 in what appeared to be its largest drone assault on the capital region since the 2022 invasion. Russia said its defenses downed hundreds of drones; Kyiv framed the strike as retaliation for attacks on a historic Kyiv monastery.
- Science
Twenty-year study finds NIH diversity programs doubled odds of earning a PhD
A study in Science Advances found that two NIH programs for underrepresented students roughly doubled their rate of earning a doctorate. The Trump administration cut funding for both programs in 2025, along with the grant supporting the study itself.
- World Politics Priority
Trump and Pezeshkian sign memorandum formally ending US-Iran war
Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 formally ending the US-Iran war and committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Core questions about Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles remain unresolved.
- Tech
Pentagon AI chief says Grok was used to direct 2,000 strikes on Iran
In a sworn court filing, the Pentagon's chief digital and AI officer said a government version of Elon Musk's Grok model was used to help select targets and direct about 2,000 munitions during the Iran war. The disclosure is the first explicit admission tying a commercial chatbot to US strike decisions.
- Science
Ancient DNA reveals plague outbreaks among Siberian hunter-gatherers 5,500 years ago
Researchers found Yersinia pestis DNA in the teeth of nearly 40% of hunter-gatherers buried near Lake Baikal, evidence of two plague outbreaks beginning about 5,500 years ago. The findings push deadly plague outbreaks back to before the rise of farming and cities.
- Entertainment
Daveigh Chase, voice of Lilo and the villain of The Ring, dies at 35
Daveigh Chase, who voiced Lilo in Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' and played Samara Morgan in 'The Ring,' has died at 35. Her boyfriend said she died of meningitis and a blood infection after being hospitalized in Los Angeles for malnutrition.
- Science
A 98-qubit trapped-ion computer adds qubits without losing accuracy
Researchers reported in Nature a 98-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer, called Helios, with all-to-all connectivity, meaning any two qubits can be linked directly. The result is notable for scaling up the number of qubits while maintaining accuracy, a combination that has been hard to achieve.
- U.S. Politics
Trump halts his DNI nominee's confirmation hearing to keep an acting chief
President Trump directed his nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, not to appear at his Senate confirmation hearing on June 17, forcing its postponement. Trump said he would keep acting DNI Bill Pulte in place until Congress passes surveillance and voter-ID legislation.
- Health
FTC and four states sue transgender health group over marketing of youth care
The Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on June 17, alleging it made deceptive claims about the evidence behind gender-related treatment for minors. WPATH says the FTC has no jurisdiction over its noncommercial speech.
- Business
Fed holds rates steady at Warsh's first meeting as chair
The Federal Reserve voted unanimously on June 17 to keep its benchmark rate at 3.5–3.75%, citing inflation at a three-year high of 4.2% driven by energy prices. It was Kevin Warsh's first policy meeting as chair, and he signaled a shift away from formal forward guidance.
- World Politics Priority
US and Iran finalize a 14-point ceasefire memorandum, with key terms still open
A US official released the text of a 14-point memorandum to end the US-Iran war, covering a ceasefire, a phased lifting of sanctions, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and IAEA-supervised down-blending of enriched material. The document is preliminary, with nuclear and sanctions details left to 60 days of further talks; a formal signing is set for June 21.
- Tech
UK regulator orders Google to make search rankings more transparent
Britain's Competition and Markets Authority ordered Google to rank organic search results using objective, non-discriminatory criteria, explain its rankings to businesses and let users move their search data elsewhere. It is the first major use of the UK's new digital markets regime against Google.
- U.S. Politics
Trump invokes Defense Production Act to expand munitions output
A presidential memorandum made public on June 16 invokes the Defense Production Act to ease bottlenecks in US munitions manufacturing, citing solid rocket motors, igniters and guidance systems as critical, capacity-constrained components. The move follows concerns about stockpiles exposed by the war with Iran.
- Business
Strait of Hormuz reopens slowly as most ships stay put
Days after the US-Iran agreement reopened the Strait of Hormuz, only about seven ships have transited and more than 550 remain stranded. Mines, high war-risk insurance premiums and lingering instability are keeping traffic far below the pre-war norm.
- World Politics
Israel keeps striking Lebanon as US-Iran deal nears signing
Israeli forces carried out fresh drone strikes across southern Lebanon this week despite a US-brokered framework with Iran set for signing on June 20. Iran called the continued attacks ceasefire violations and warned of a 'harsh response,' raising the risk to the deal.
- Health
FDA reverses course, clears UniQure to file Huntington's gene therapy
UniQure said the FDA has dropped its earlier objections and agreed the data behind its gene therapy AMT-130 can support a marketing application. If approved, it would be the first treatment to slow Huntington's disease. The company plans to file for accelerated approval in the third quarter.
- Business
UK inflation holds at 2.8% as food price rises ease
UK consumer price inflation stayed at 2.8% in the year to May, defying forecasts of a pickup, as a slowdown in food price rises offset upward pressure from the Iran war on energy costs.
- Business
Japan's antitrust regulator raids six ice cream makers over price-fixing
Japan's Fair Trade Commission searched six major ice cream and confectionery firms, including Meiji and Lotte, over suspicions they coordinated annual price increases since around 2022 in violation of antimonopoly law.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge blocks Idaho law criminalizing transgender bathroom use
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of an Idaho law that would have jailed transgender people for using public restrooms matching their gender identity, and extended the order statewide.
- World Politics
Equatorial Guinea's government resigns after missing its targets
Equatorial Guinea's entire cabinet stepped down after the government met only about 10% of its objectives, the vice president said. President Teodoro Obiang, in power since 1979, will name a new government.
- World Politics
UK investigates Russian warship firing warning shots near yacht in Channel
Britain is investigating a reported incident in which a Russian navy ship fired warning shots near a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel. Moscow confirmed its warship signalled the vessel, saying the yacht was on a dangerous collision course.
- U.S. Politics
Trump endorsements split as Georgia and other states hold runoffs
Republican primary runoffs delivered mixed results for President Trump: his pick Mike Collins won Georgia's Senate nomination to challenge Jon Ossoff, but Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones lost the governor's runoff to Rick Jackson.
- U.S. Politics
Haitian immigrants ask Supreme Court to dismiss TPS case over new evidence
Lawyers for Haitian immigrants asked the Supreme Court to throw out the Trump administration's bid to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 330,000 Haitians, citing newly released DHS documents they say show the termination was predetermined.
- Tech
Florida sues TikTok over state child-safety law
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued TikTok, accusing the platform of violating a state law that bars children under 14 from holding accounts and of misrepresenting how much violent and sexual content young users encounter.
- U.S. Politics
Federal judge lets stand ex-Wisconsin judge's conviction for aiding ICE evasion
A federal judge declined to overturn the obstruction conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who was found guilty of helping a man avoid immigration agents who came to her courtroom to detain him.
- World Politics
Brazil's top court convicts Eduardo Bolsonaro of courting US interference
A Brazilian Supreme Court panel convicted lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison for lobbying the Trump administration to pressure Brazil over the trial of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
- Business
Yum! Brands sells Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion
Yum! Brands agreed to sell Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion, splitting the chain between private equity firm LongRange Capital and Yum China after a prolonged stretch of weak sales.
- U.S. Politics
Trump moves special education and civil rights oversight out of Education Department
The administration is shifting special education oversight to Health and Human Services and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department, further hollowing out the Education Department the president has vowed to close.
- Business
Robinhood cuts 10 percent of staff in restructuring
Robinhood is laying off about 290 employees, roughly 10 percent of its workforce, in a restructuring CEO Vlad Tenev framed as flattening the company even as trading revenue hits records.
- U.S. Politics
Ohio Governor DeWine calls for abolishing the death penalty
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who helped write the state's 1981 death penalty law, said Ohio should abolish capital punishment, reversing a position he held as a young prosecutor and legislator.
- Health
NIH launches office to reduce animal testing in research
The National Institutes of Health created an office dedicated to cutting animal testing and promoting research methods that, in its words, better reflect human biology.
- U.S. Politics
Justice Department charges 15 Minnesota activists over immigration-raid protests
Federal prosecutors charged 15 people linked to a Minnesota activist group with conspiring to obstruct immigration enforcement, alleging they organized blockades of ICE operations. Twelve were taken into custody.
- World Politics
Israeli strikes kill four in southern Lebanon as ceasefire questions linger
Israeli drone strikes on vehicles in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh governorate killed at least four people, even as a US-Iran agreement was meant to wind down the fighting.
- World Politics
Israel takes planning control of Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque from Palestinians
Israel's Higher Planning Council seized planning and construction authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron from Palestinian officials, reversing a provision of the 1997 Hebron Agreement.
- Health
Africa CDC warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak could become the worst on record
Africa CDC says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, now at 837 confirmed cases and 196 deaths, risks surpassing the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic as funding and contact tracing fall short.
- World Politics
Venezuela signs deal with General Electric to rebuild power grid
Venezuela signed an agreement with General Electric to help rebuild its power grid, the latest sign of cooperation between US companies and the country's interim administration.
- Health
US infant mortality rate falls to record low
Provisional CDC data show the US infant mortality rate fell to a record low of just under 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, down from 5.5 in 2024. The rate still trails many other wealthy nations, and wide racial and geographic gaps persist.
- Business
SpaceX buys AI coding startup Cursor for $60bn
SpaceX agreed to acquire the AI coding assistant Cursor for about $60 billion, days after its record stock market debut. A post-IPO surge in SpaceX shares lifted the company past Amazon to become the world's fifth most valuable firm.
- World Politics
Somaliland opens embassy in Jerusalem after Israeli recognition
Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem, roughly six months after Israel became one of the few states to recognise the breakaway East African territory's independence. The move deepens an unusual diplomatic alignment between the two governments.
- Tech
India blocks Telegram over leaked medical entrance exam
India temporarily blocked Telegram, saying cheating rings used the app to defraud candidates for the NEET medical entrance exam, which was cancelled last month after questions leaked. A retake is set for 21 June; Telegram's founder said the block punishes more than 150 million ordinary users.
- U.S. Politics
FBI says it foiled drone plot targeting White House UFC event
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau disrupted an alleged plot to attack a UFC event held on the White House South Lawn, with at least five people arrested out of about 23 said to be involved. Officials described a plan to use explosive-laden drones followed by an attempt to storm the gates.
- U.S. Politics
Supreme Court leaves New York gun-industry liability law in place
The Supreme Court declined to hear a gun-industry challenge to a New York law that lets the state and victims sue gunmakers and dealers over harms from the criminal misuse of firearms, leaving a lower-court ruling that upheld the statute in place.
- World Politics
Russian satirist who mocked Putin shot dead in Poland
Semyon Skrepetsky, a Russian caricaturist known for satirizing Vladimir Putin and other leaders, was shot dead in the Polish town of Biala Podlaska. Polish police detained a suspect and sealed the town's exits.
- Health
Medicare to cover weight-loss drugs through a temporary program
The Trump administration will make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries through a temporary demonstration program called Bridge, a workaround of the law barring Medicare from covering obesity drugs that analysts say will be politically hard to end.
- Business
Bank of Japan raises rates to 1%, highest since 1995
The Bank of Japan lifted its benchmark rate a quarter-point to 1 percent, the highest level since 1995, citing the risk that inflation pushed up by higher oil prices settles above its 2 percent target.
- U.S. Politics
B-52 bomber crashes on test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, killing eight
A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a radar-modernization test flight, killing all eight people aboard, including two Boeing employees.
- Science
Australia warns of a strong El Nino, possibly the most intense since 1950
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said an El Nino has formed in the tropical Pacific and may strengthen into one of the most intense events since 1950, with knock-on effects for rainfall, temperatures, and crops across several continents.
- Business
Thames Water moves closer to state control after government rejects rescue deal
The UK government objected to the creditor-led rescue plan for Thames Water, pushing Britain's largest water utility closer to a temporary state-run special administration.
- Health
Penicillin shortage leaves emergency syphilis program failing newborns
A STAT investigation found that Pfizer's emergency program for treating syphilis in pregnancy failed to deliver in time in at least one case, resulting in a preventable congenital syphilis diagnosis amid a year-long shortage of the only approved treatment.
- World Politics
Hungary adopts prime ministerial term limits, barring Orban's return
Hungary's parliament passed a constitutional amendment capping prime ministers at eight years in office, a change that bars Viktor Orban from returning to power and unwinds part of the system he built over 16 years.
- U.S. Politics
Haitian woman's hypothermia death after ICE release ruled a homicide
A medical examiner classified the hypothermia death of a Haitian woman as a homicide after she was released from US immigration custody, intensifying scrutiny of detention and release practices.
- World Politics
EU opens membership accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova
The European Union formally opened accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, launching the first cluster of policy chapters after Hungary dropped its long-standing veto under a new government.
- Tech
Anthropic meets White House after pulling AI models over access dispute
Anthropic executives met senior US officials after the company withdrew its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models rather than impose government-demanded restrictions on foreign access, a standoff feeding warnings about ad hoc AI regulation.
- Business
SpaceX's IPO ends up larger than first reported after over-allotment
SpaceX's Nasdaq listing raised about $10 billion more than reported at its debut last week, after underwriters exercised their full over-allotment option. It remains the largest IPO on record, valuing the company in the low trillions of dollars.
- U.S. Politics
Newsom says the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife
California Governor Gavin Newsom said federal agents are investigating him and his wife, calling it a politically motivated probe by the Trump administration. The Justice Department has not confirmed any investigation.
- Tech
Judge dismisses xAI's trade-secret lawsuit against OpenAI
A federal judge in San Francisco dismissed, with prejudice, Elon Musk's xAI lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing Grok trade secrets through a former engineer. The court found no evidence OpenAI induced or knew of any disclosure.
- Entertainment
Jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim dies at 91
Abdullah Ibrahim, the South African pianist and composer who shaped modern South African jazz over seven decades and became a musical voice against apartheid, has died at 91.
- Health
FDA clears Colorado to import prescription drugs from Canada
The FDA authorized Colorado to import certain prescription drugs from Canada to lower costs, making it the second state cleared to do so after Florida. Practical hurdles, including Canadian resistance to exporting supply, have kept such programs from delivering savings so far.
- World Politics
Dutch court convicts a Syrian of torture under universal jurisdiction
A court in The Hague sentenced a former interrogator for the Assad government to 26 years for torture, rape and crimes against humanity against eight victims. It was the Netherlands' first prosecution of sexual violence as a crime against humanity.
- World Politics
Doctors Without Borders says its staff sexually abused Sudanese refugees in Chad
An internal MSF investigation found that its staff sexually exploited at least 59 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad, often trading food or jobs for sex. The charity says it dismissed 18 people and that some patterns may amount to sexual trafficking.
- Health
Large study links recent Covid vaccination to fewer cardiac events
A study of more than 1 million U.S. veterans, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that recent Covid vaccination was associated with roughly a 38% lower risk of Covid-related major cardiovascular events and a nearly 24% lower risk of cardiac events overall. The benefit was largest in adults 75 and older and those with chronic conditions.
- Business
Fox agrees to buy Roku in $22 billion streaming deal
Fox Corporation will acquire Roku for about $22 billion in cash and stock, pairing Fox's content and its Tubi service with Roku's connected-TV platform and its direct relationship with more than 100 million streaming households. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.
- Health
DR Congo Ebola death toll reaches 181 after record daily jump
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths, with a record 72 new cases and 32 deaths reported in 24 hours. Conflict, falling contact-tracing coverage and a large funding gap are undermining containment as the virus spreads across provinces and into Uganda.
- World Politics
China detains two leaders of prominent underground church
China detained two leaders of the Early Rain Covenant Church, Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing, after armed police broke up a Sunday service in Jiangyou and rounded up dozens of congregants, including children. The church is one of China's best-known unregistered Protestant congregations; its founding pastor is serving a nine-year sentence.
- Tech
Anthropic sends staff to Washington to lift its model export ban
Anthropic dispatched senior technical and policy staff to Washington to negotiate an end to a U.S. export-control directive that barred all foreign nationals — including its own overseas employees — from using its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. The company disputes the security finding behind the ban, saying the demonstrated capability is available from other deployed models.
- Science
ALS patient becomes long-term home user of a speech brain implant
Researchers at UC Davis report that Casey Harrell, who has ALS, has used a speech brain-computer interface independently at home for more than 3,800 hours, decoding his attempted speech into words with about 97.5% accuracy. The implant has kept working for three years, easing a long-standing concern that such devices degrade over time.
- World Politics
UK appeals court upholds terrorist designation of Palestine Action
Britain's Court of Appeal ruled that the government's proscription of the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000 was lawful, overturning a February High Court finding that the ban was unlawful and disproportionate.
- World Politics
Russian strikes kill nine in Ukraine and burn a historic Kyiv cathedral
An overnight Russian missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least nine people and set fire to the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral at the UNESCO-listed Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Five rescuers died in a second strike on the same fire in Kharkiv.
- Health
FDA approves first new sunscreen filter in about two decades
The FDA has cleared bemotrizinol, a broad-spectrum UV filter, for use in over-the-counter sunscreens at up to 6% — the first new sunscreen active ingredient added to the US monograph since the late 1990s. Products are expected to reach US shelves by the end of 2026.
- Tech
Britain to ban social media for under-16s
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will bar children under 16 from major social media platforms, with legislation targeted for late 2026 and the ban taking effect in spring 2027. The move follows Australia's under-16 ban and a similar bill in Canada.
- Health
Large study links switching from cigarettes to vapes with higher lung-cancer risk than quitting
A large study reported in Nature found that people who took up e-cigarettes had a higher lung-cancer risk than those who stopped using nicotine entirely. The comparison is against complete cessation, not against continued smoking, which vaping is still generally thought to undercut on harm.
- Business
UK sets January 2027 deadline to ban diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude
The UK will fully ban imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude in third countries from 1 January 2027, closing a loophole in existing sanctions. A temporary import licence, reviewed every two weeks, eases the transition for industry.
- Business
UK economy contracted 0.1% in April as the Iran war weighed on output
UK GDP fell 0.1% in April, the first monthly decline since August 2025, as a drop in services output pulled growth lower. The Office for National Statistics linked the slowdown to the Iran war, with firms citing higher energy and fuel costs and reduced turnover.
- World Politics
Investigation finds Israeli forces control about 1,000 sq km across Gaza, Lebanon and Syria
An Al Jazeera investigation comparing official Israeli maps with satellite imagery concludes that Israeli forces hold roughly 1,000 square kilometers across Gaza, southern Lebanon and southern Syria, with actual control extending beyond the lines drawn in recent ceasefire deals.
- World Politics Priority
US and Iran announce a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz
President Trump announced a ceasefire to end the roughly five-and-a-half-month war with Iran, including an immediate halt to hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign ministry confirmed the agreement, with a signing ceremony set for June 19 in Switzerland.
- Business
UK signals it will weaken its electric-car sales target
The UK government is reconsidering the electric-vehicle sales targets set by its zero-emission mandate, with lower figures under consideration. A softer target would ease near-term pressure on carmakers while slowing the country's EV transition.
- Health
Primary care doctors warn as telehealth firms move into obesity drugs
Primary care doctors are raising concerns as telehealth companies expand into prescribing GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and offering lifestyle support, while employers press to contain the soaring cost of those medications.
- Health
CMS proposes closing a loophole drugmakers use to delay Medicare price negotiation
The Trump administration proposed a rule to stop drugmakers from resetting the clock on Medicare price negotiation by adding active ingredients to existing drugs. Selections under the rule would be named by February 2027, with negotiated prices taking effect in 2029.
- Health
Chile's food warning labels linked to lower childhood obesity risk
A Lancet study of more than 300,000 children found Chile's black warning labels on high-sugar, -salt, and -calorie foods were associated with a modest drop in the risk of being overweight or obese within 18 months. The findings add real-world evidence that front-of-package labeling can shift diets.
- World Politics
Armed men kidnap a senior security official in Haiti
A high-ranking security official was abducted by armed men in Haiti, in what the BBC describes as the highest-profile kidnapping in recent memory. The abduction underscores how far state authority has eroded amid the country's gang crisis.
- Tech
Google DeepMind funds research on the risks of millions of interacting AI agents
Google DeepMind is committing about $10 million to research the safety risks that arise when large numbers of autonomous AI agents interact online without direct human oversight.
- World Politics
US says it killed Tren de Aragua's leader in a strike in Venezuela
Trump said on June 12 that a US military strike killed Héctor Guerrero Flores, longtime head of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Venezuela's government described it as an operation coordinated with its own security forces.
- World Politics
UK boards and detains a sanctioned tanker tied to Russia's shadow fleet
British forces boarded and detained the tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel on June 14, in what the UK called its first operation of its kind against Russia's sanctioned 'shadow fleet.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the vessel is suspected of shipping oil in breach of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
- Business Priority
SpaceX goes public in record IPO, making Musk the first trillionaire
SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq on June 12, closing up about 18% and valued near $1.9 trillion in the largest IPO on record. The debut lifted Elon Musk's combined net worth past $1 trillion, a first.
- World Politics Priority
Israeli strike on Beirut imperils a near-final US-Iran deal
Israel struck a Hezbollah command center in Beirut on June 14 after Hezbollah launched drones at northern Israel, hours before the US and Iran were due to sign a deal ending their war. Trump faulted the strike and urged all sides to stand down as Iran warned it could collapse the agreement.
- Tech
Bezos-backed Prometheus raises $12 billion to build an 'artificial general engineer'
Prometheus, the AI startup co-founded by Jeff Bezos and scientist Vik Bajaj, raised $12 billion at about a $41 billion valuation to build AI for designing and manufacturing physical products. Backers include Bezos, JPMorgan, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, DST Global and Arch Venture Partners.
- Business
UK and Japan strike £18bn investment deal
The UK and Japan agreed a deal under which Japanese companies will invest about £18bn in British infrastructure and offshore wind and renewable energy projects, according to Downing Street.
- Health
FDA clears Sanofi's teplizumab for children with stage 3 type 1 diabetes
The FDA approved Sanofi's teplizumab (Tzield) for children aged 8 and older with stage 3 type 1 diabetes, expanding use of the drug to younger patients, though the decision came after its expedited review deadline.
- Health
WHO chief 'really worried' as Ebola outbreak becomes third largest on record
The WHO's director-general said he is deeply concerned about an Ebola outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, now the third largest on record, with conflict in the region compounding the response.
- World Politics
Swiss voters reject 10 million population cap
In a national referendum, nearly 55% of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million by sharply curbing immigration.
- World Politics
Iran war set to dominate G7 as Trump faces wary allies
The U.S.-led war in Iran is poised to overshadow the economic agenda at the G7 in France, where President Trump arrives amid tensions with allies. Anti-G7 protests in Geneva turned confrontational.
- World Politics Priority
Democrats criticize a prospective U.S.-Iran deal before it is signed
Democratic lawmakers criticized the terms of a prospective U.S.-Iran agreement, arguing the deal would be unfavorable to the United States even as the U.S.-led war in Iran continues.
- Tech
Anthropic suspends a new model over misuse concerns as the White House objects
Anthropic suspended access to a new model after cybersecurity and misuse concerns, and the move drew sharp criticism from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other White House allies.