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Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps are using combat drones in Mali that were previously mainly seen in the war in Ukraine. These drones, called Lancet loitering munitions, are small missile-like devices with cameras, used to target vehicles and armed groups in the Sahel region of Africa.
Key Facts
The Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary group, now supports the Malian army after replacing the Wagner Group.
They have deployed the Lancet drone, a loitering munition used since 2020 by Russia in Ukraine.
The Lancet drone can fly for a long time and is remotely piloted via a camera.
Images of drone debris found in Mali match parts sold on a Ukrainian resale website featuring captured Russian equipment.
The drone was found near Timbuktu after Russian mercenary drone strikes targeting rebel separatists and jihadist groups.
The Lancet drone was designed to hit armored vehicles and artillery, not for use in African environments or against insurgent forces.
The drones are used alongside reconnaissance drones to seek out and attack targets like pickup trucks in conflict zones.
The drone debris evidence came from an anonymous source linked to the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group active in northern Mali.
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Even though the U.S. hosted the World Cup, June job numbers do not show an increase in hiring for tourism-related businesses. Leisure and hospitality jobs, which include restaurants and hotels, actually fell by 61,000 in June, and data was revised down for May.
Key Facts
The U.S. hosted the World Cup in 2024.
Leisure and hospitality jobs dropped by 61,000 in June.
May's reported gain of 70,000 jobs was revised down to 40,000.
The leisure and hospitality sector lost an average of 9,000 jobs per month over the last three months.
In the 12 months before that, the sector had been adding an average of 13,000 jobs per month.
Monthly job numbers can change due to seasonal adjustments and sampling errors.
Other economic signs of the World Cup effect, like retail sales and tax collections, will be watched.
Local employment data for the cities hosting the World Cup will be released later.
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The Court of Justice of the European Union has confirmed a $4.7 billion fine against Google for abusing its dominant position in the Android phone market. The fine is related to Google making its search engine and Chrome browser the default options on many Android devices, which the EU says limits competition.
Key Facts
In 2018, Google was fined 4.34 billion euros (about $4.9 billion) by the EU for abusing its Android market monopoly.
A lower court later reduced the fine to 4.1 billion euros ($4.7 billion), which Google must now pay.
The EU's complaint focuses on Google bundling its search engine and Chrome browser as default apps on Android phones.
This affects devices from companies like Samsung and Xiaomi, making Google's apps automatically used.
Google argues there is plenty of competition because users can install alternative apps and search services.
Europe has a history of similar cases, like forcing Microsoft to offer browser choices in Windows.
Google has made some changes, like adding ballot screens and supporting third-party app stores, largely due to legal pressure.
The EU is using new laws, such as the Digital Markets Act, to increase oversight of big tech companies including Google.
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Prada appointed Palestinian singer Saint Levant as a brand ambassador. Some pro-Israel social media users are upset because Saint Levant wore a necklace showing the map of historic Palestine in a campaign video. This has led to calls for boycotting Prada.
Key Facts
Prada chose Palestinian singer Saint Levant to represent their brand.
Saint Levant wore a necklace with a map of historic Palestine in an ad video.
The necklace's image sparked anger among pro-Israel groups online.
Social media users have called for a boycott of Prada because of this.
The controversy connects to ongoing tensions between supporters of Israel and Palestine.
Prada’s decision highlights the sensitivity around symbols tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This backlash shows how brands can become involved in political and cultural disputes.
The issue gained attention through coverage by news outlets like Al Jazeera.
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A weather event called a heat dome will bring very hot temperatures to many parts of the United States during the Fourth of July weekend. This heat dome will cover much of the East Coast, the South, and other regions, leading to dangerous heat conditions.
Key Facts
Millions of Americans will experience the heat dome during Independence Day celebrations.
The heat dome causes a large area of high pressure that traps warm air.
This results in extremely hot temperatures over several days.
The affected areas include most of the East Coast and the southern United States.
Meteorologists warn that the heat could create dangerous health conditions.
The heat dome will last through the holiday weekend.
People are advised to take steps to stay cool and hydrated.
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A 43-year-old security guard, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was rescued alive after being trapped for eight days under a collapsed shopping mall in La Guaira, Venezuela, following two strong earthquakes. International rescue teams worked under difficult conditions to save him, while many others remain missing or injured.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela, killing nearly 2,200 people and injuring over 11,000.
Hernán Alberto Gil Flores was trapped in his security cabin in the basement of Galerías Playa Grande mall for eight days.
A pocket of air in his cabin helped him survive the collapse.
Rescue teams from Costa Rica, Chile, the US, Portugal, and Mexico worked together to find and extract him.
Rescuers used a telescopic camera and a narrow shaft to keep contact and provide water and nutrients.
The rescue was complicated by unstable buildings, heavy rain, and aftershocks.
Most collapsed buildings in La Guaira have been searched with no survivors found.
The community faces shortages of food and water, and there have been reports of theft and arrests of police officers involved.
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The French TV show Paris des Arts featured a special edition in Fez, Morocco, focusing on the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music. The program highlighted Moroccan singer Nabyla Maan and pianist Rami Khalifé, who shared their personal connections to music and its cultural importance. A local guide also explored the historic medina of Fez.
Key Facts
Paris des Arts is a French cultural TV show.
The special edition was filmed in Fez, Morocco.
It covered the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music.
Singer Nabyla Maan performs traditional Moroccan and Arab-Andalusian music.
Pianist Rami Khalifé views music as a form of political expression.
The medina of Fez is an ancient, large old city within Fez.
The episode aimed to show the dialogue between different cultures and spiritual traditions.
The show was produced by Valérie Fayolle, Stéphanie Cheval, and Pauline Heilmann.
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Research in the UK shows that women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than white women to receive epidural pain relief during childbirth. Experts say this highlights racial inequalities in healthcare, where people of color often get less pain treatment.
Key Facts
The study looked at data from over 2.7 million births in the UK up to 2021.
Women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean backgrounds were 24%, 15%, and 8% less likely than white women to get epidurals during vaginal births.
Black Caribbean-British women were 58% more likely to receive general anesthesia rather than regional anesthesia during planned C-sections compared to white women.
General anesthesia puts the mother fully to sleep and is mostly used in emergencies, while regional anesthesia (like epidurals) allows the mother to stay awake and recover faster.
The findings reflect wider racial inequalities in pain treatment in UK healthcare, from emergency care to cancer pain relief.
Medical professionals call for better data to understand and fix how pain is treated for ethnic minority patients.
The report links these inequalities to deeper problems, including institutional racism and harmful stereotypes about Black and Asian women.
Similar racial disparities in maternity care have also been reported in other countries like the US and Australia.
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The U.S. job market showed slower growth in June than expected, with fewer new jobs added and fewer people working or looking for work. While wages increased slightly, overall hiring has slowed, and fewer industries are creating jobs, raising questions about the job market’s strength.
Key Facts
The U.S. added 57,000 jobs in June, about half the number economists predicted.
Hiring numbers for April and May were revised down by a total of 74,000 jobs.
Job gains averaged 111,000 per month over the last three months, lower than the 164,000 in May but higher than last year’s pace.
The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2%, mainly because fewer people were working or looking for work.
The labor force participation rate dropped 0.3 percentage points to 61.5%, with a notable decline among prime-age workers (25 to 54 years old).
Wages grew by 0.3% in June and are 3.5% higher than a year ago.
Fewer industries are offering new jobs, limiting opportunities for workers to change jobs or reenter the workforce.
Financial markets still expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year to control inflation despite weaker job growth.
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Frederick Douglass gave a speech on the Fourth of July in 1852, pointing out the contradiction of celebrating freedom while slavery was still happening. Today, Black Americans continue to experience economic and social challenges, but there have been ongoing efforts to achieve racial justice and equality.
Key Facts
Frederick Douglass spoke about the unfairness of celebrating independence during slavery.
His 1852 speech highlighted the gap between American freedom and the reality of slavery.
Black Americans still face economic and social difficulties today.
An Albanian-American man, Artur Shehu, who sold land for a luxury resort project supported by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is under investigation in Albania for drug trafficking, money laundering, and financial fraud. The planned resort has caused large protests in Albania due to concerns about environmental damage and government corruption.
Key Facts
Artur Shehu, an Albanian-American living in Miami, is being investigated for drug trafficking and money laundering by Albanian prosecutors.
He sold land in a protected natural coastal area to a company linked to Jared Kushner and other investors planning a luxury resort.
The resort plans have triggered over a month of protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, involving many groups worried about wildlife and corruption.
Albania’s anti-corruption agency has issued arrest warrants for people involved in international drug trafficking, though names are not publicly confirmed.
Albanian courts have frozen a bank account with more than $127 million linked to the land sale involving Shehu.
Albanian residents claim disputes over the rightful ownership of the land Shehu sold; legal challenges are ongoing.
The investigation into the project does not currently include Kushner’s company, according to Albanian prosecutors.
Shehu has stated his ownership of the land is undisputed and that he sold it through a middleman.
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The Vatican has declared the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to be in formal schism for consecrating four bishops without the pope’s approval. This led to the excommunication of those bishops and others who support the group, banning them from certain church duties.
Key Facts
The SSPX consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV’s permission.
Consecration is a religious ceremony where a bishop gives authority to new bishops through prayer and symbolic actions.
The Vatican declared this act a schism, which means a serious break in church unity.
Those involved, including the new bishops and their supporters, were excommunicated, the strictest Church penalty.
The SSPX rejects many changes made by the Catholic Church during the 1960s reforms known as Vatican II.
The SSPX began in 1970 and follows traditional Catholic practices like the Latin Mass.
The Vatican does not officially recognize the SSPX as part of the Catholic Church.
Despite warnings from Pope Leo XIV, the SSPX proceeded with the consecrations, calling them a necessary defense of tradition.
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The Supreme Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. have citizenship by birthright. In response, some conservatives, including officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, have proposed stopping pregnant women from entering the U.S. to try to limit birthright citizenship.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship in the U.S.
President Donald Trump had issued an executive order early in his term to restrict birthright citizenship.
The court’s decision overturned President Trump’s Day 1 executive order on this issue.
Some far-right groups and members of Trump’s administration reacted strongly against the court’s ruling.
These groups have suggested barring pregnant women from entering the U.S. to prevent “birth tourism.”
Birth tourism means traveling to the U.S. to give birth so the baby gains U.S. citizenship.
The idea to limit pregnant women’s entry aims to reduce this practice.
The debate focuses on immigration and citizenship laws in the United States.
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As the United States marks its 250th birthday, many Americans are focusing on personal and local experiences of the nation rather than political disagreements. People from different states expressed feelings of resilience, unity, and appreciation of freedoms while tuning out political noise.
Key Facts
The U.S. celebrated its 250th anniversary around July 4, 2026.
Many Americans chose to ignore political arguments and social media conflicts during the celebration.
Joe Fuqua-Bejarano in Kansas highlighted resilience as a key American trait.
Christina Zhou from Massachusetts emphasized focusing on local, controllable events.
Mindy Dean, a New Hampshire farmer, said she and her family simply enjoy their freedoms quietly.
Neil Casey and Maureen Regan in New Hampshire visited historical sites and Fourth of July events to connect with the nation’s history.
Some Americans found hope and pride in positive experiences like visitors enjoying the U.S. during the World Cup.
The overall mood included mixed feelings but a shared desire to celebrate the country’s history and unity.
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The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, might be visible at the start of the July 4 weekend. This natural light show in the sky could offer a colorful display alongside typical holiday events like fireworks.
Key Facts
The northern lights are natural lights seen in the night sky near the North Pole.
They occur when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere.
The lights can show many colors, like green and red.
This natural display might be strong enough to be seen over the July 4 weekend.
People often watch the northern lights in places with dark skies away from city lights.
The event could offer an alternative to typical July 4 fireworks and celebrations.
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Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina said the SAVE America Act, which is President Donald Trump's top law project, will not pass because there is not enough time to change voting rules before the upcoming elections. Even if many Senate Republicans support the bill, it probably won't gather the needed votes to pass.
Key Facts
The SAVE America Act is a priority bill for President Donald Trump.
Senator Thom Tillis is a Republican from North Carolina.
Tillis said the bill is effectively "dead" because of time constraints.
The bill aims to change election laws.
The midterm elections are coming soon.
Senate Republicans may not get the 60 votes required to pass the bill.
Changing voting rules before elections requires enough time and support in the Senate.
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The FBI has announced that there are no real threats to July 4th celebrations this year. However, there will be more security measures in place at many events to keep people safe.
Key Facts
FBI reports no credible threats for July 4th celebrations.
Security will be increased at many July 4th events.
The information was reported on July 2, 2026.
Heightened security aims to protect public gatherings during the holiday.
The announcement comes amid a busy summer travel period.
Emergency services and law enforcement are preparing ahead of the holiday.
The focus remains on ensuring safe and peaceful celebrations nationwide.
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The price of silver has dropped by nearly 49% since January 2026, falling from $116.61 to $59.88 per ounce by July 2. Despite this decline, silver is still much more expensive than it was a year ago, and experts suggest it could be a good time for a small, careful investment in silver as part of a diversified portfolio.
Key Facts
Silver's price fell from $116.61 per ounce in January 2026 to $59.88 by July 2, a 48.6% drop.
One year ago, silver cost just under $37 per ounce.
Silver is considered cheaper than gold but offers many similar investment benefits.
Precious metals like silver are often used to protect investments against inflation.
Inflation is currently above 4%, making inflation protection important for investors.
Experts recommend keeping precious metals to no more than 10% of an investment portfolio.
Silver's price is more volatile (goes up and down more) than gold’s price.
The recent price drop may be a temporary chance to buy silver at a lower cost before prices rise again.
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A new study reviewed evidence on artificial and low-calorie sweeteners and found they may affect metabolism and gut bacteria. The research showed these sweeteners could raise markers linked to blood sugar control and potentially change gut microbes, though long-term health effects are still uncertain.
Key Facts
The study analyzed 21 clinical trials and large observational studies on non-nutritive sweeteners.
Sweeteners were compared with noncaloric controls like water or placebo to focus on their direct effects.
Consumption was linked to higher fasting insulin and higher HbA1c, a long-term blood sugar measure.
Results suggest artificial sweeteners might not be metabolically inactive as previously thought.
Types of sweeteners studied mainly included synthetic ones like aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium.
Artificial sweeteners may change the composition and function of gut bacteria, based on microbiome testing.
Experts say reducing sugar intake remains important despite potential sweetener effects.
More research is needed to understand how different sweeteners impact health over time and in typical amounts consumed.
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