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African countries have secured $900 million to expand access to clean cooking technologies that use less polluting fuels. This new funding adds to previous commitments, pushing total investments above $3.1 billion aimed at replacing harmful fuels like firewood and charcoal with cleaner options such as ethanol, biogas, and electricity.
Key Facts
African nations have raised $900 million to support clean cooking projects.
Total funds committed for clean cooking in Africa now exceed $3.1 billion.
Nearly 1 billion people in Africa still use polluting cooking fuels like charcoal and firewood.
These fuels contribute to about 850,000 early deaths annually due to air pollution.
Clean cooking uses low-emission fuels such as ethanol, biogas, and electricity, improving health.
Leaders from Africa, Norway, and the U.S. participated in the meeting organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Since 2024, there have been 121 new clean cooking policies introduced in over 30 African countries.
The IEA and the African Union are working on a continent-wide strategy to support clean cooking access.
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Senior British police officials say that technology and online platforms are being used more to threaten the UK by hostile countries, extremists, and far-right groups. The biggest threat is still Islamic extremism, but threats from hostile states and far-right groups have grown a lot in recent years.
Key Facts
British police are facing a growing number of online threats from hostile states, extremists, and far-right groups.
Islamic extremism remains the largest threat, but threats from hostile countries are increasing the fastest.
In 2025, over 20 plots backed by Iran, including assassinations and kidnappings, were reported against the UK.
Attacks linked to Russia include a fire in a London warehouse that stored equipment for Ukraine.
Russia uses apps like Telegram to recruit people in Europe to carry out sabotage and vandalism.
Teenagers as young as 15 have been arrested for involvement in proxy plots linked to these threats.
The UK threat level from far-right extremism was raised from "substantial" to "severe" in April.
Police stress the importance of help from technology companies to fight these online threats.
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Christopher Nolan has made a new movie called "The Odyssey," based on the ancient story by Homer, to be released on July 17, 2026. The film features well-known actors like Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, aiming to make the classic story easy to understand for modern audiences.
Key Facts
"The Odyssey" movie is directed by Christopher Nolan and releases on July 17, 2026.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the King of Ithaca and hero of the story.
Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, who has waited 20 years for his return.
Tom Holland plays their son Telemachus.
The story follows Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War.
The movie tries to make the old story clear and relatable for people who know little or nothing about it.
The cast includes other famous actors like Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron.
Photographs show the cast and director at the film’s premiere and photo call events in London.
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U.S. home prices reached a new high in June, with the median price of existing homes at $440,660, according to the National Association of Realtors. A bipartisan housing bill aimed at making homes more affordable is waiting for President Trump’s approval, but he has delayed signing it until another elections bill passes.
Key Facts
The median price of existing homes in the U.S. hit $440,660 in June, up 1.8% from last year.
Home prices have increased for 36 months in a row.
Median prices vary by region: Northeast $564,800, Midwest $346,600, South $377,700, West $633,600.
Rising home prices and slow wage growth have made housing less affordable for many Americans.
Only about 40% of households that don’t own homes can afford a typical starter home priced around $200,000.
Households need about $117,000 a year in income to afford the average home, according to Redfin.
Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to lower home costs by easing building rules and limiting investors buying homes.
President Trump delayed signing this housing bill because he wants lawmakers to pass a separate elections bill first.
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Millions of Americans have until July 10, 2026, to claim refunds from the IRS related to penalties, interest, or missed tax benefits during the COVID-19 disaster period. This deadline follows a federal judge’s ruling that extended tax filing and payment deadlines due to the COVID disaster declaration from January 2020 to May 2023.
Key Facts
The IRS must extend tax deadlines by 60 days after the COVID disaster declaration ended on May 11, 2023, making July 10, 2023, the final tax deadline.
Taxpayers now have until July 10, 2026, to file claims for refunds related to this period.
Refund claims do not happen automatically; taxpayers must file a claim to protect their right to a refund.
Eligible taxpayers include those charged penalties or interest during the disaster period or those who missed tax benefits like credits or withholding.
To claim refunds for penalties or interest, taxpayers should file IRS Form 843 and mark it as a "Protective Refund Claim."
For changes to income or deductions, taxpayers should file an original or amended tax return using Form 1040-X.
The court ruling that extended deadlines might be appealed, so the law could still change.
Missing the July 10, 2026 deadline may permanently prevent taxpayers from getting refunds related to this case.
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A federal judge approved a $1.5 million settlement between Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over Musk’s failure to disclose a large Twitter stock purchase on time. The judge raised many concerns about the settlement but said the court cannot block it because the legal rules set a high bar for rejection.
Key Facts
Elon Musk did not disclose buying a 9% stake in Twitter within 10 days as required by law.
The SEC sued Musk in January 2025 over this disclosure failure.
The lawsuit claimed Musk’s late disclosure hurt Twitter investors by about $150 million.
The settlement requires Musk’s trust to pay a $1.5 million fine and prohibits future violations, but Musk does not admit wrongdoing.
The SEC dropped demands that Musk return profits made during the violation.
The judge noted the penalty is much smaller than the alleged investor losses.
The judge expressed doubts about the SEC’s deal but said it meets the minimum legal standards.
This case connects to broader investor lawsuits against Musk alleging false statements worth billions.
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Tyler Robinson is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university rally in Utah. Robinson’s former roommate said he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting but later found a note that seemed like a confession.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in Charlie Kirk’s killing on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Robinson’s ex-roommate, Lance Twiggs, told investigators he never heard Robinson mention Kirk before the shooting.
Twiggs found a handwritten note from Robinson saying, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.”
Robinson planned the shooting for about a week, according to messages between him and Twiggs.
Robinson surrendered to police a day after the shooting and told Twiggs he wished he hadn’t done it.
Prosecutors want the death penalty for Robinson, who has not entered a plea yet.
There are court debates about which evidence and interviews can be shown during the trial.
Kirk’s family is seeking transparency and the right to see all evidence during the legal process.
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Democrat Graham Platner plans to officially leave the Maine Senate race on Monday. He had announced earlier that he was stopping his campaign because of growing controversy.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate for the Maine Senate.
He announced on Wednesday that he would suspend his campaign operations.
Platner is facing controversy, which influenced his decision to leave the race.
A source close to his campaign said he will file paperwork to withdraw on Monday.
Platner has privately informed his staff about his decision to quit the race.
Monday is the official deadline for candidates to withdraw from the race in Maine.
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France is experiencing its third heatwave this season, causing problems like wildfires, dry rivers, and strain on hospitals. The country struggles to adapt its cities and homes to extreme heat, with challenges including old building designs, water shortages, and economic inequality.
Key Facts
France is facing a third heatwave before Bastille Day, 2026.
Hospitals are under pressure due to heat-related health issues.
Wildfires are spreading and riverbeds are drying up.
Many homes and buildings are not designed to stay cool in summer.
There is debate about the use of air conditioning and other cooling solutions.
Water resources are becoming scarce, affecting farming and power plants.
Heat impacts poorer populations more because they cannot afford expensive cooling upgrades.
Political debates focus on how much regulation should be kept or rolled back to address climate issues.
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Senator Adam Schiff is investigating why the Justice Department stopped a criminal case against Abbott Laboratories involving dangerous bacteria found in baby formula. The Justice Department chose to resolve the issue through a civil settlement instead of pursuing felony charges, despite prosecutors recommending criminal prosecution.
Key Facts
Senator Adam Schiff sent a letter asking why the DOJ ended the investigation into bacterial contamination at Abbott Laboratories.
The contamination involved Cronobacter bacteria found in baby formula produced at an Abbott plant in Michigan.
In 2022, Abbott recalled several powdered formula brands after reports of infant illness and hospitalizations due to bacterial infections.
The FDA reported that the bacteria may have contributed to the deaths of two infants.
Abbott states unopened formula tested negative for the bacteria, but one used container tested positive for two strains.
Federal prosecutors and an Assistant Attorney General supported felony charges, but senior DOJ leaders closed the case.
The DOJ is working on a civil settlement with Abbott, including a large monetary penalty, to handle the issue.
The DOJ said they believe a civil deal offers the best way to protect the public and encourage accountability.
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The rape and murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna in France has caused public anger. This crime has led people to question how well the French justice system is working.
Key Facts
Lyhanna was an 11-year-old girl who was raped and murdered.
The case has caused widespread outrage among the French public.
People are concerned about possible failures in the justice system.
The incident has brought attention to how France handles such serious crimes.
Officials and citizens are calling for improvements in law enforcement and legal processes to prevent similar tragedies.
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A pro-Israel group called AIPAC is spending a lot of money to support Rep. Wesley Bell in a primary election against Cori Bush, who held the seat before but lost it two years ago. Bush, known for criticizing Israel's policies, hopes to win back her seat with help from progressive groups despite heavy spending against her.
Key Facts
AIPAC's political action committee has spent $865,000 on ads supporting Wesley Bell in Missouri's 1st Congressional District.
Bell has also raised significant funds, but Cori Bush's campaign has spent only $30,000 on ads so far.
Two years ago, AIPAC spent over $9 million to help defeat Bush, who was then an incumbent congresswoman.
Bush is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has criticized Israel after the 2023 conflict with Hamas.
Progressive groups like Justice Democrats support Bush and want to help her win back the seat.
Bush faces criticism linked to an ethics scandal during her previous term.
Voters in St. Louis express frustration over outside money influencing their local elections.
The primary election is scheduled for August 4, with both sides actively campaigning.
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Recent attacks between the U.S. and Iran have raised doubts about a peace agreement signed last month that aimed to reduce conflict in the Middle East. A Qatari official said the violence threatens progress but talks between the countries are still continuing.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Iran have exchanged multiple military strikes in the past two days.
The conflict has disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on June 17 to ease tensions and included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Qatar and Pakistan helped create the 14-point MOU.
The MOU included a 60-day ceasefire period to negotiate a final deal covering issues like Iran’s nuclear program.
President Donald Trump said the MOU was "over" after recent attacks and described Iranian leaders harshly.
Qatar denies Iranian claims that attacks targeted its territory, saying their military was prepared and no direct hits occurred.
Despite the violence and tough words, diplomats from all sides remain engaged in talks.
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Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has started writing essays on the website Substack. His first essay discusses the controversy about his laptop that arose in recent years.
Key Facts
Hunter Biden announced a new series of essays on Substack.
The essays will cover events from the last seven years of his life.
The first essay focuses on the issue surrounding his laptop.
The laptop controversy has been a topic of public and political interest.
Hunter Biden describes his writing as a “first draft” of his story.
Substack is a platform where writers can publish directly to readers.
Hunter Biden is President Biden’s son.
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OpenAI is involved in a legal dispute with news organizations, including The New York Times, over the use of news content by its AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The news groups accuse OpenAI of hiding evidence related to users bypassing paywalls, which has led to calls for penalties against OpenAI.
Key Facts
News organizations, led by The New York Times, are suing OpenAI over copyright issues with ChatGPT using their news articles.
OpenAI reportedly hid information and made false statements about its ability to search ChatGPT’s user logs.
These logs show whether users accessed news content behind paywalls through ChatGPT.
OpenAI had two large samples of anonymized logs but did not disclose them for two years.
The company had already searched these logs to develop a filter to block copyrighted content.
News plaintiffs say OpenAI’s actions delayed the legal process and increased costs.
OpenAI denies wrongdoing and says the lawsuit is an attempt to invade user privacy.
The dispute centers on whether ChatGPT’s use of news content is fair use or infringement.
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The Bashar al-Assad government in Syria was overthrown about 18 months ago. The new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working to reconnect Syria with other countries, including the US, while the United States is lifting sanctions and planning to remove Syria from its list of terrorism-supporting states. However, security problems and regional tensions remain.
Key Facts
Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown about a year and a half ago.
Ahmed al-Sharaa is the interim president leading a transitional government.
Al-Sharaa has visited nearby countries and the US to rebuild relationships.
The US has lifted some sanctions on Syria and plans to remove it from the “state sponsor of terrorism” list.
Syria has been on this list since 1979.
Recent security issues include two attacks in the Syrian capital.
Israel occupies additional land in southwest Syria, increasing tensions.
Syria’s chemical weapons watchdog restored its voting rights due to some progress.
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U.S. lawmakers asked the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary to create stricter rules to watch over medically assisted suicide in hospices. They want to make sure no one is pressured or treated unfairly, especially older adults and people with disabilities.
Key Facts
Lawmakers from both political parties sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
They want strict hospice reporting rules to prevent discrimination and coercion in assisted suicide.
Concerns include insurance companies denying life-saving care but covering assisted suicide drugs instead.
Federal money cannot be used for assisted suicide, but some states like New York and California allow it.
Patients eligible for assisted suicide usually have a terminal illness and six months or less to live.
Lawmakers worry that the witness rule might not stop financial abuse, where witnesses could gain money after a patient’s death.
Disability groups say legal assisted suicide may send a message that disabled lives are less valuable.
Since 1997, over 14,000 Americans have died using physician-assisted suicide, according to a nonprofit group.
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NASA's view on UFOs, now often called unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), has changed over time. In the 1940s and 1950s, UFO sightings were taken seriously, but later they became stigmatized. Recently, the agency has focused more on studying UAPs using scientific methods as government interest and public reports have increased.
Key Facts
In the 1940s and 1950s, UFO sightings received serious attention and people could discuss them without fear.
The modern UFO era began in 1947 with pilot Kenneth Arnold’s sighting and the Roswell incident.
The U.S. Air Force started Project Sign in 1948, its first formal UFO investigation.
A famous UFO photo from the 1950s shows four bright objects in a V-formation, taken by Coast Guard photographer Shell R. Alpert.
Around the 1960s, attitudes toward UFOs shifted, with many sightings given conventional explanations.
Astronauts like Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Buzz Aldrin reported seeing unusual objects but did not conclude they were alien spacecraft.
Project Blue Book, the longest-running government UFO investigation, ended in 1969 after a report said further studies were unlikely to yield scientific results.
Recently, NASA and the government have renewed scientific interest in UAPs as the topic gains more public and official attention.
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The Mexican government plans to file criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of more than a dozen Mexican citizens while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody or during ICE operations. The move follows the recent fatal shooting of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Houston, which has also sparked protests and calls from U.S. lawmakers for a full investigation.
Key Facts
The Mexican government says 14 Mexican citizens died in ICE custody and 3 more died during ICE arrest operations.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco announced legal action to protect Mexicans' rights in the U.S.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican worker, was shot and killed by ICE in Houston during a vehicle stop operation.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims Salgado tried to ram an ICE vehicle and ignored orders before the officer fired in self-defense.
Over 1,000 people protested in Houston after Salgado’s death.
Four U.S. Democratic lawmakers have demanded an independent and transparent investigation into Salgado’s shooting and other cases of deadly force by ICE.
Mexico plans to pursue criminal complaints and civil cases against U.S. detention center companies linked to detainee deaths.
Mexican officials criticize the Trump administration for its handling of these deaths and say diplomatic notes are not enough.
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A recent Gallup poll shows that most Americans still think immigration is good for the country, but support has dropped compared to last year. The survey asked 1,001 people in early June about their views on immigration.
Key Facts
73% of people surveyed said immigration is good for the U.S.
21% said immigration is bad for the country.
The poll was done from June 1 to June 15.
A total of 1,001 people took part in the survey.
Support for immigration has decreased since last year but remains high overall.
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