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At a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave NATO leaders engraved revolvers with six live bullets as gifts. These unusual presents caused surprise and security challenges, as leaders had to handle the guns carefully due to different laws on transporting firearms.
Key Facts
President Erdoğan gave each NATO leader a personalized revolver with six live bullets at the Ankara summit.
The guns came in red boxes lined in black and included a note exempting them from export controls.
Many leaders and security teams were surprised and puzzled by the gift.
Some leaders took their guns home, leaving the bullets in Turkey, while others left both gun and ammo behind.
The revolvers given to EU leaders were handled with extra security and will be decommissioned and sent to a military museum.
The Polish president received his revolver with caution due to a previous incident when a grenade launcher gift exploded in his office.
Transporting fully functional guns across borders requires following strict legal rules, causing logistical difficulties.
The Turkish presidency did not comment on why they chose to give these particular gifts.
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Courtney Grace gained attention for a brief but powerful role in Steven Spielberg's latest film, "Disclosure Day." Previously a journalist, Grace shared in an interview that her past experience helped her perform authentically, and she spoke about the courage it took to pursue acting.
Key Facts
Courtney Grace appears briefly near the end of Spielberg’s new movie, "Disclosure Day."
Her performance has received strong praise and is seen as a major breakthrough in her career.
Grace worked as a journalist for about seven years before becoming an actress.
She believes her journalism experience helped her stay calm and genuine on camera.
A mentor encouraged her to admit her true dream of acting, which she credits for her path forward.
Grace says success comes from taking the next right step and being brave, even when feeling unsure or scared.
She is grateful for the positive response to her role in the film.
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A Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jet crash-landed at Zakynthos airport after a technical problem during a training flight. The pilot was unharmed, but the plane caught fire on the runway, causing the airport to close and delaying flights.
Key Facts
The F-16 experienced a technical fault and landed around 13:45 local time.
The pilot is reported to be in good health.
Greek media said the jet showed signs of an onboard fire before landing and caught fire on the runway.
The plane landed without using its landing gear and slid along the runway.
Firefighters responded quickly to put out the fire.
The jet belonged to the 335 Squadron of the 116th Combat Wing, based in western Greece.
The airport was closed, delaying all flights until 21:00.
A special air force team is set to remove the damaged aircraft from the runway.
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David Axelrod criticized Graham Platner’s announcement about ending his campaign. Axelrod said Platner used a strategy similar to President Trump’s, which involves denying responsibility, avoiding blame, and attacking critics.
Key Facts
David Axelrod made comments about Graham Platner’s campaign suspension.
Axelrod compared Platner’s announcement to President Trump’s approach.
He said Platner denied responsibility for issues.
Platner was described as deflecting blame.
Axelrod said Platner played the victim role and attacked those who accused him.
The comments were made on the social media platform X.
Axelrod used the phrase “tawdry playbook” to describe the behavior.
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Andy Burnham, leader of the UK's Labour Party, apologized for the party’s early response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and said the party needs to improve its approach. He promised to increase pressure on the Israeli government, including sanctions and possible trade bans related to illegal settlements, while condemning violence and calling for accountability.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham admitted Labour's initial response to the Gaza conflict was not adequate and apologized.
He plans to pressure Israel with measures like sanctions and trade restrictions on illegal settlements.
Burnham criticized the UK government for being slow to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Labour leader Keir Starmer faced criticism for his early remarks supporting Israel’s right to withhold power and water from Gaza.
Starmer recognized Palestine as a state after months of pressure in 2025.
Burnham condemned Hamas’s attacks and antisemitism in the UK, stressing a balanced approach.
He acknowledged possible war crimes in Gaza but said international courts should decide on legal judgments.
Many Labour voters left the party because of its stance on Israel and Palestine, moving to the Green party.
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Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate in a Maine Senate race, announced he is leaving the race. This follows several months of dealing with a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. The outcome of this race could affect control of the U.S. Senate.
Key Facts
Graham Platner ran as the Democratic nominee for a Senate seat in Maine.
Platner has faced a sexual assault accusation from a woman, who said the incident happened in 2021 while Platner was drunk.
Platner denies the allegation and says it is not true.
After weeks of controversy, Platner decided to withdraw from the Senate race.
The Maine Senate race is important because it may influence which party controls the U.S. Senate.
This decision comes after a complicated political month in Maine.
The article does not mention who will replace Platner or the next steps in the race.
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Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups attacked a convoy of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers heading to a military camp in northern Mali. The convoy was trying to reinforce troops holding a key town called Anefis, which is near the separatists’ stronghold of Kidal.
Key Facts
The convoy included Russian paramilitary forces from Africa Corps and Malian soldiers.
The attackers are from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group called JNIM.
Anefis is an important town for controlling the larger northern town of Kidal.
The FLA and jihadists have taken control of Anefis after coordinated attacks.
Mali's government wants to hold Anefis to eventually retake Kidal from separatists.
The convoy was ambushed twice, with heavy fighting ongoing as of the report.
Russia supports Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger with military help against jihadists.
Russia is also pursuing energy and mining deals with these Sahel countries in Africa.
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Creditors can sometimes place a lien, a legal claim, on property you inherit if you have unpaid debts, but it is not automatic. Whether this happens depends on the type of debt, if the creditor has a court judgment against you, and state laws.
Key Facts
Creditors need a court judgment to place a lien on inherited property for most unpaid debts like credit cards.
If you inherit property before a creditor has a judgment, the property might later be used to collect debts.
If there is already a judgment against you before inheritance, placing a lien can be easier depending on state rules.
Debts owed by the person who died are usually paid from their estate before heirs inherit property.
Secured creditors like mortgage lenders and tax authorities have stronger legal claims than unsecured creditors.
Some states have protections that limit creditor claims on a primary home, even if a lien exists.
It is important to check your debts and any existing judgments before selling or refinancing inherited property.
Options like debt settlement or consolidation can help manage unpaid debts and reduce risk of liens on property.
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A young man named Harchie Sagoo, who had cerebral palsy after a viral illness, helped test and improve communication technology for people with disabilities. In recognition of his contributions, a Bristol-based company named its new testing laboratory "Harchie's Lab" in his honor.
Key Facts
Harchie Sagoo developed cerebral palsy after contracting viral encephalitis during a family holiday in Spain.
Despite his disability affecting movement and speech, Harchie understood everything and used eye-tracking technology to communicate and control devices.
He began using Eye Gaze technology at around four-and-a-half years old, which allowed him to operate screens and household devices like lights and heating.
Harchie worked closely with Smartbox, a company that creates communication aids for disabled people, testing their devices and providing feedback.
Smartbox named its new laboratory "Harchie's Lab" to honor Harchie's role in improving their technology.
Smartbox's communication aids are used by over 100,000 people worldwide.
The technology helps users express themselves, build relationships, and participate in daily life.
Harchie's father said Harchie valued being able to express himself and would have been very pleased by the lab naming.
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Neera Tanden, who previously worked with President Biden, criticized Graham Platner for the way he left the race for the Maine Senate seat. Platner announced his withdrawal in a long video on social media after facing strong pressure from Democratic officials and the state party.
Key Facts
Graham Platner was a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
He decided to quit the race and shared a long video explaining his decision.
Neera Tanden, a former advisor to President Biden, publicly criticized Platner.
The criticism focused on how Platner handled his exit from the race.
Platner faced pressure from Democratic lawmakers and the Maine Democratic Party before quitting.
The article centers on political events within the United States and the Democratic Party.
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David “Davey” Hearn, a former US Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty to charges of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. He is accused of damaging the pool’s new liner, installed under President Donald Trump’s orders for Independence Day celebrations, while his lawyers say the case aims to divert blame from renovation problems.
Key Facts
David Hearn, 67, is charged with damaging the reflecting pool’s liner on June 19, causing over $1,000 in damage.
The reflecting pool was recently renovated with a new blue liner ordered by President Trump.
Hearn admitted touching part of the liner that was already peeling but denied removing or damaging it.
The damage charge can lead to up to 10 years in prison.
The renovation cost $14.7 million and was done before the US 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4.
After reopening, the pool developed algae and peeling liner issues, which experts linked to the new dark liner and natural algae growth.
President Trump claimed vandals damaged the pool with chemicals and knives, but no charges have been made for those allegations.
At least six people were arrested on suspicion of vandalism, and extra security including National Guard troops was used to protect the pool.
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Capita announced it expects to lose up to £40 million in profits due to problems managing a civil service pension scheme. The company is facing criticism for poor service that caused delays in pension payments and is working with the government to fix the issues.
Key Facts
Capita is responsible for managing the civil service pension scheme, which has 1.7 million members.
The company admitted poor service has caused thousands of civil servants to wait months for payments and retirement details.
Capita expects extra staff costs and penalties will reduce its annual profits by £25-40 million.
The government has withheld nearly £10 million from Capita because of missed service targets.
Over 6,700 retirement quotations and 4,100 bereavement cases were still outstanding at the end of the last month.
The government lent £15.6 million in interest-free loans to about 2,700 people affected by the delays.
A taskforce led by HMRC is working to clear the backlog, costing the government around £12.5 million.
Capita executives said the pension scheme’s complex rules and missing data have slowed processing.
The company’s public services chief considered resigning but stayed to support staff during the crisis.
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New data shows that wages for lower-income workers are growing nearly as fast as those for higher earners, reducing the usual gap between them. Spending by lower- and higher-income households is also becoming more alike, although wealth differences still remain large.
Key Facts
Lower-income workers saw after-tax wage growth rise to 4.1% in June, up from 2.9% in May.
Middle-income workers’ wages grew by 3.4%, and higher-income workers’ wages grew by 4.2%.
The wage growth gap between lower-income and higher-income workers is the smallest in years.
Spending differences between lower- and higher-income households are the narrowest in three years.
Improved hiring and job-switching are helping raise wages for lower-income workers.
Some wage growth may be due to tax changes under the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act."
Wealth, such as stocks and home values, still benefits mostly affluent households.
The overall economic divide, called the "K-shaped" recovery, is lessening in wages and spending but continues in wealth.
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Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, has asked a Utah judge to show all evidence related to her husband’s killing in open court. She wants to prevent conspiracy theories after some evidence was shown to the court but not to the family during the preliminary hearing for the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson.
Key Facts
Erika Kirk filed a motion for full public display of all exhibits connected to Charlie Kirk’s killing.
The preliminary hearing is in Provo, Utah, led by Judge Tony Graf.
Tyler Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last September.
Some evidence was shown in court but not made available for the Kirk family to see.
Utah law gives crime victims and their families certain rights to observe evidence.
Prosecutors and the defense have disputed how some video evidence was edited.
Questions have been raised about DNA testing and the handling of forensic evidence like a screwdriver and a rifle.
Robinson allegedly confessed in messages to his roommate, but the legal team is fighting to keep some statements out of court to protect Robinson’s fair trial rights.
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Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said he is not surprised that the temporary ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran is failing as fighting increases. He stated that Iran has always been strongly opposed to the United States, and that President Trump tried to address this.
Key Facts
Scott Jennings is a conservative political commentator.
Jennings spoke about the ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran.
The deal was meant to temporarily stop hostilities.
Hostilities between the U.S. and Iran are increasing again.
Jennings said Iran has historically been very adversarial to the U.S.
He mentioned that President Trump attempted to manage the situation.
Jennings expressed no surprise at the failure of the ceasefire.
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Republican Senator Susan Collins faces a tougher reelection in Maine after Graham Platner, a key Democratic candidate, announced he is suspending his campaign amid new allegations against him. With Platner likely withdrawing, Democrats’ chances of winning the seat have increased, making the race more competitive ahead of the November election.
Key Facts
Graham Platner said he is suspending his campaign but had not officially withdrawn as of Thursday morning.
Maine law allows candidates to withdraw until July 13 and lets parties choose a new nominee if they do.
Democrats see Maine’s Senate seat as important to gain control of the U.S. Senate.
Susan Collins is a strong incumbent known for broad appeal across parties.
Platner’s departure has improved Democrats’ chances to win, according to prediction markets.
Several other Democrats have declared or may enter the race to replace Platner.
Prediction markets show Democrats now have about a 63% chance to beat Collins, up from about 51% earlier.
The race remains competitive and important for control of the Senate in the upcoming election.
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A New York City artist named Justin Gignac collected trash from outside Madison Square Garden on the day of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. He turned the trash into small cubes called "Pocket Garbage" and sold them online for $25 to $100 each.
Key Facts
Justin Gignac is an artist based in New York City.
He collected garbage outside Madison Square Garden during Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding day.
The collected trash was made into small cubes called "Pocket Garbage."
He posted a video about the collection on TikTok.
The "Pocket Garbage" cubes sold out online quickly.
Prices for the cubes ranged from $25 to $100.
The event took place recently, as the news was published 16 minutes ago.
The story is connected to Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and New York City.
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Several California public universities have military-grade weapons like AR-15 rifles and stun grenades for campus police to help keep campuses safe. A 2021 state law requires transparency about this equipment, including annual reports and public meetings, but many campuses are not fully following these rules.
Key Facts
California law allows campus police to have military equipment only if necessary for civilian safety.
Schools must report their military equipment yearly and hold public forums for feedback.
Not all 148 public California campuses consistently publish or fully detail these reports online.
Some universities, like San Jose State and San Francisco State, have AR-15 rifles despite unclear authorization under policies.
Several campus police departments failed to hold required public meetings in 2025 or provide details about them.
The University of California delayed publishing its police equipment list until after being asked multiple times.
Cal State’s board has not reviewed the systemwide weapon policy publicly since 2022.
Some campuses do not send their required reports to governing bodies as the law demands.
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The UK government has shortlisted 15 towns for the first-ever UK Town of Culture title. These towns will receive funding to develop cultural bids, and three winners (small, medium, large) will be chosen next year, with one overall winner receiving £3 million to host cultural events.
Key Facts
The shortlist includes 15 towns across the UK, such as Pontypridd, Birkenhead, Isle of Bute, Basildon, and Rotherham.
Each shortlisted town will get £60,000 to help prepare a full cultural bid.
The competition divides towns into three size groups: small (under 20,000 people), medium (20,000–75,000), and large (over 75,000).
Three winners will be picked early next year: one from each size group.
The overall winner will get £3 million to host cultural events in 2028.
The two runners-up will receive £250,000 each for part of their programs.
The competition aims to celebrate towns’ culture, support storytelling, involve local communities, and boost visitors and investment.
Nearly 400 towns applied, showing strong interest in promoting local culture across the UK.
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Microsoft's new environmental report shows its efforts to build artificial intelligence technology are increasing its greenhouse gas emissions and water use. Though the company is improving water efficiency and investing in new clean energy, expanding AI infrastructure is making its climate goals harder to reach.
Key Facts
Microsoft's greenhouse gas emissions rose 25% due to AI growth and changes in electricity sourcing.
Emissions from purchased electricity jumped 945% between 2024 and 2025, while electricity use grew 24%.
Microsoft shifted from buying certificates for existing renewable energy to investing in new clean energy projects.
The company claims it matches 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy purchases.
At least two Microsoft data centers will use natural gas power to ensure reliable and fast energy as AI demand grows.
Microsoft improved data-center water-use efficiency by 25% from 2022 and aims for a 40% improvement by 2030.
The company returned more water to local watersheds than it withdrew worldwide for the first time.
Microsoft faces challenges because AI infrastructure is growing faster than many sustainability solutions can keep up.
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