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A wealthy Maltese businessman named Yorgen Fenech is on trial for paying €150,000 to have journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia killed in 2017. Caruana Galizia died when a bomb exploded under her car, and Fenech denies the charges against him.
Key Facts
Daphne Caruana Galizia was an investigative journalist killed in 2017 by a bomb placed under her car.
Yorgen Fenech, a wealthy property owner connected to the Hilton Malta, is accused of hiring hitmen for €150,000 to kill her.
The bomb was hidden in a children’s shoebox and detonated while Caruana Galizia was driving.
Fenech allegedly instructed a friend, Melvin Theuma, to find someone to carry out the murder.
George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred were named as potential hitmen in the plot.
The murder plan began in April 2017 but was delayed due to a general election, then resumed after the election.
Fenech has pleaded not guilty and faces charges of complicity in murder and conspiracy.
The trial is held in Malta’s capital, Valletta, with special rules for the jury to prevent outside influence.
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Progressive candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are winning important primary races in several states ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans are using these victories to argue that socialism is a growing threat in America, aiming to motivate their supporters by highlighting this shift.
Key Facts
Progressive Democratic candidates aligned with the DSA won primaries in New York, Colorado, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in 2026.
The DSA currently has two seats in Congress, and this election cycle’s wins could double that number if they succeed in remaining races.
President Donald Trump called communism the biggest threat to the U.S. since major past attacks and wars.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said communism is now present on American shores.
Republicans use the term "socialism" as a political tool because it sounds scarier to many voters than the policies themselves.
Some Republican strategists say that many progressive policies actually receive support when not labeled as socialist.
Democratic strategists worry that the rise of DSA candidates beyond large cities could hurt Democrats in more areas.
A recent Gallup poll found that only 54% of Americans view capitalism positively, the lowest since 2010, while views on socialism have remained mostly unchanged.
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Couples are spending about 8.5% more on weddings this year compared to last year, mainly due to higher prices caused by tariffs and general inflation. The average wedding cost rose to $36,000 in 2025, partly because tariffs increased prices on imported items like flowers and chocolate.
Key Facts
Wedding spending increased by 8.5% compared to the previous year.
Inflation reached 4.2% in May, the highest in over three years.
The average wedding cost $36,000 in 2025, up $3,000 from the year before.
Tariffs set by President Trump raised costs on imported goods like flowers and cocoa.
Couples in the South are spending on weddings five times faster than couples in the Midwest.
Gen Z weddings have tripled since 2019, while millennial weddings have dropped about 20%.
More couples are choosing lab-grown diamonds to lower ring costs.
Wedding costs vary widely based on size, location, and style of celebration.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ended its recent term with mixed rulings for President Donald Trump, rejecting some of his major policies while supporting others. The court, led by a conservative majority, has continued to strengthen the power of the presidency in several ways.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship, ruling it violated the 14th Amendment.
The court stopped Trump’s reciprocal tariffs policy, saying he misused emergency powers.
The court upheld the independence of the Federal Reserve, preventing Trump from firing member Lisa Cook without following legal steps.
The court rejected Trump’s attempt to block states from accepting mail-in ballots after polls close.
The court confirmed the president can fire leaders of executive agencies, even if Congress intended those agencies to be independent.
The court ruled that presidents have “absolute immunity” for official acts, shielding them from criminal prosecution while in office.
Trump’s efforts to expand presidential power continue to influence political debates, especially around birthright citizenship.
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Two people climbed the Empire State Building’s transmission tower in New York City without safety gear and got engaged at the top. They were taken into custody and have done similar climbs before.
Key Facts
The climbers are Ivan Kuznetsov (32) and Angelina Nikolau (33) from East Orange, New Jersey.
They have a history of climbing tall buildings without ropes or safety equipment.
They were shown in a documentary climbing Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 Tower, which is very tall (2,227 feet).
They climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s transmission tower, which sends out radio and TV signals.
A witness saw them pass through a gate on the observation deck to start their climb.
Climbing the tower while it is active with signals is dangerous.
The couple shared photos and posts on social media during their climb, including a marriage proposal.
The Empire State Building officials said there was no danger to visitors and that the matter was handled with help from the police.
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John Brennan, the former CIA Director, has sued the Trump administration to make sure records about investigations into him are kept safe. He is worried that the government might destroy or hide these records as part of a political attack against him.
Key Facts
John Brennan filed a lawsuit in Washington D.C. federal court to preserve records related to investigations against him.
Brennan’s lawyers say the Trump administration changed rules on keeping records, which is different from past practice.
The lawsuit claims the Justice Department has a history of irregular actions in cases that seem like political revenge.
Brennan believes these investigations are part of President Trump’s effort to punish his critics, including Brennan himself.
A Justice Department spokesperson called Brennan’s claim of a “retribution campaign” ironic but did not explain further.
Brennan plans to fight strongly if he is formally charged.
The lawsuit mentions past actions by the Trump administration that appeared to target political opponents, like subpoenas to Jerome Powell and an investigation of Minnesota’s Governor.
The court order Brennan seeks is meant to ensure records are kept intact for courts to review his claims about retaliation.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing over 1,000 grand jury cases in Illinois after a major case was dropped due to prosecutor misconduct. The review aims to make sure all prosecutors followed ethical rules and to check if other cases might have similar problems.
Key Facts
The review covers grand jury presentations from nearly 20 years and ongoing cases in the Northern District of Illinois.
The review started because of problems in a case involving four activists protesting an immigration crackdown.
Prosecutors dropped charges against the activists after a judge raised concerns about misconduct during grand jury proceedings.
Misconduct included a prosecutor meeting privately with a grand juror and excluding jurors who disagreed about the case dismissal.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said the review is extensive and aims to restore trust in the justice process.
The judge made grand jury transcripts public, revealing strong disagreement from one grand juror about the case.
The case was part of the immigration enforcement actions in Chicago and nearby areas last year.
Boutros emphasized no one intended to mislead the court but apologized for the unacceptable conduct.
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President Donald Trump made about $1.2 billion last year from various sources, with cryptocurrency businesses earning him more money than his real estate holdings. His financial report shows earnings from crypto tokens, real estate in foreign countries, lawsuits against media companies, and sales of branded products like watches and Bibles.
Key Facts
President Trump earned approximately $1.2 billion in the past year.
His crypto businesses brought in over $1.1 billion combined from selling governance tokens, stablecoins, and "meme" coins.
Real estate continued to generate income, including from new foreign property holdings.
He made tens of millions from lawsuits against media companies concerned about broadcast licenses and regulatory approvals.
Sales of branded items such as Bibles, guitars, and watches added millions to his revenue, with watches alone bringing in $4.7 million.
A Chinese billionaire purchased large amounts of Trump-related crypto, but later faced a lawsuit that was settled with a fine.
A company linked to the United Arab Emirates government invested $500 million in one of Trump’s crypto businesses shortly before his inauguration, with Trump receiving nearly $200 million from that deal.
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Alibaba will pay $600 million to settle claims that it sold and imported illegal drugs, chemicals, and pill-making equipment into the United States. The U.S. government said Alibaba failed to stop merchants from breaking laws on its e-commerce sites from 2016 to 2024.
Key Facts
Alibaba operates big online shopping sites like Alibaba.com and AliExpress.com.
The U.S. Justice Department accused Alibaba’s payment processor of allowing illegal sales of drugs and chemical products.
Alibaba admitted it did not stop about 80,000 unlawful product sales that broke U.S. federal laws.
Alibaba employees warned that the company’s controls to prevent illegal sales were not strong enough.
Some sellers used Alibaba’s messaging tools to steer buyers to other platforms to finish illegal sales.
U.S. law enforcement made over 40 secret purchases of illegal products through Alibaba’s sites.
Alibaba and the Justice Department made a non-prosecution agreement, so Alibaba will not face criminal charges.
The IRS Criminal Investigations chief said the case shows the importance of companies following U.S. laws.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to celebrate their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Local officials, including police and the mayor, have confirmed preparations and security plans for a large event at the venue.
Key Facts
The wedding celebration is planned for Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.
A smaller rehearsal dinner will happen on Thursday night.
A law enforcement official shared information about the security plans but asked to remain anonymous.
Workers have been seen unloading equipment and setting up outside Madison Square Garden this week.
Neither Taylor Swift nor Travis Kelce has publicly confirmed the wedding plans.
New York Police Commissioner said the police will provide security but gave no further details.
New York’s mayor confirmed a permit was filed for a large event and that city officials are prepared.
The event coincides with speculation about a July Fourth weekend wedding at a famous New York location.
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The Trump administration sued California and Virginia over their new laws that limit the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms. The Justice Department argues these laws go against the Second Amendment right to bear arms, while both states say their laws protect public safety.
Key Facts
The Justice Department filed separate lawsuits against California and Virginia over new gun laws.
Both laws restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic guns.
Virginia’s law bans the sale and manufacture of certain semiautomatic firearms and started this year.
California’s law stops gun shops from selling specific handguns that can be easily changed to fully automatic.
Virginia’s Attorney General and California’s Attorney General both support their states’ gun laws.
California claims its gun laws have helped reduce gun-related deaths.
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case about whether banning semiautomatic rifles is constitutional.
The Supreme Court has recently made rulings that expand gun rights.
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The United States, Canada, and Mexico have started talks to update their trade agreement. These talks are important because the three countries trade a lot of goods and services with each other, making them key partners for the U.S.
Key Facts
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico trade about $1.9 trillion worth of goods and services each year.
This amount equals roughly $5 billion traded daily between the countries.
Canada and Mexico have become the U.S.'s top two trading partners, surpassing China.
Trade includes goods like Canadian auto parts sent to U.S. factories in the Midwest.
Tourism and beverages, such as Mexican tequila enjoyed in U.S. cities, are part of the trade relationship.
President Donald Trump’s tariff policies last year affected the trade environment between the three countries.
Businesses in all three nations want to restore steady and predictable trade rules.
The current negotiations aim to renew and improve the North American trade pact.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to ban a tax strategy called "buy, borrow, die" that some wealthy people use to avoid paying taxes. This strategy lets rich individuals borrow money using their assets instead of selling them and paying taxes, and their heirs inherit those assets without capital gains taxes. However, experts say this method is not widely used by the richest families, who mostly grow wealth by holding onto assets without selling.
Key Facts
The "buy, borrow, die" strategy involves buying assets, borrowing money against them, and passing them on to heirs who get a stepped-up tax basis.
Borrowing against assets avoids paying capital gains taxes because loan money is not taxable income.
When heirs inherit assets, they pay no capital gains tax on the increase in value during the original owner’s life.
Elon Musk and billionaire John Malone have used this strategy.
Governor Newsom calls this a loophole that benefits only the richest Americans and wants Congress to close it.
Analysis shows the strategy accounts for only 1% to 2% of economic income for the wealthiest 1%.
Experts say most rich people increase wealth by holding assets and letting gains grow without selling, deferring taxes.
Some states, including California, propose new taxes on unrealized gains to tax rich people’s total wealth, not just income.
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Israeli opposition leaders spoke at a conference about their foreign policy views, which are very similar to those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. They mainly criticized how Netanyahu has conducted wars with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, rather than opposing the wars themselves.
Key Facts
Opposition figures include Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Lapid, and Naftali Bennett, who have military and political experience.
The opposition agrees with Netanyahu’s policies on conflicts with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran but disagrees on how he manages them.
Bennett and Lapid plan to run together in upcoming elections.
They accuse Netanyahu of being too influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump, limiting Israel’s military actions.
Netanyahu continues to use strong rhetoric about Israel’s need for strength in ongoing conflicts.
Some critics say Israel is more isolated internationally and seen as more extreme.
The main disagreement between opposition and government is on domestic issues, not on foreign policy or military campaigns.
Israeli public opinion largely supports the attacks against Iran and Lebanon.
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Melat Kiros won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s first congressional district. She said she will not support any party leader who takes money from corporate political action committees (PACs).
Key Facts
Melat Kiros is 29 years old and identifies as a democratic socialist.
She defeated long-time Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in the primary.
Kiros opposes leaders who accept campaign donations from corporate PACs.
She is part of a growing group of Democrats seeking changes in the party’s practices.
Her victory reflects a shift in support toward candidates challenging the party’s establishment.
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Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates have recently won many primary elections across the US, including in New York City, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The group is growing quickly and aims to expand its influence beyond winning individual offices to create bigger political changes.
Key Facts
DSA-backed candidates won nine of ten Democratic primary races in New York City recently.
Zohran Mamdani was elected as New York City’s first immigrant, Muslim, and DSA member mayor in 2024.
Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist, defeated longtime US representative Diana DeGette in Colorado.
Janeese Lewis George is expected to become mayor of Washington DC.
Chris Rabb was selected as the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s third congressional district.
DSA’s New York chapter grew from 5,900 members in fall 2024 to 14,000 before the recent primaries, with more joining after the wins.
There are over 200 local DSA chapters across the US, with 20 chapters having more than 1,000 members each.
DSA leaders want to continue increasing their political power and influence beyond just winning a few offices.
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Sixteen children, aged 18 months to 18 years, were taken from a rural Ohio home after officials found them living in very poor conditions. Four adults, identified as the children’s parents and grandparents, were charged with multiple counts of child endangerment. Some children needed urgent medical care, and the case is being investigated further.
Key Facts
The children were found in a home in Hamden, Vinton County, Ohio.
Authorities described the living conditions as extremely bad and unhealthy.
The children included an 18-year-old with developmental delays treated as a child in this case.
Four adults—Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr., and Elizabeth Siders—were arrested and charged.
Each adult faces 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
Some children were airlifted to trauma centers, and others were taken to hospitals.
The lawyers for the accused will likely be court-appointed.
Prosecutors said the case is a family matter, not related to human trafficking.
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Karen Norris Newsome, a 74-year-old woman from Darlington County, South Carolina, shared her life story, personal values, and Southern accent as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. CBS News interviewed her to highlight her experiences growing up and her connection to Southern culture.
Key Facts
Karen Norris Newsome is 74 years old.
She lives in Darlington County, South Carolina.
She spoke about her childhood experiences.
She shared her personal values.
She has a distinctive Southern accent.
The interview was done by CBS News.
The interview was part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
The focus was on personal stories reflecting American culture.
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After the Supreme Court confirmed that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal law enforcement will focus on stopping “birth tourism.” This is when visitors come to the U.S. to have a baby so the child becomes a U.S. citizen.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment stands.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said prosecutors will target birth tourism cases.
Birth tourism involves visitors or undocumented immigrants giving birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for the child.
The Justice Department’s fraud division is instructed to investigate and charge cases of birth tourism fraud.
The exact scale of birth tourism is unclear, with estimates of 20,000 to 26,000 births per year on tourist visas, less than 1% of all U.S. births.
President Trump has argued against birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents.
Trump’s executive order aimed to redefine who qualifies as “subject to the jurisdiction” under the 14th Amendment but was rejected by the Court.
Trump plans to push new laws to limit birthright citizenship, but such bills face high hurdles in Congress.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ), under President Donald Trump’s administration, sued Virginia over its new law banning assault weapons, including AR-15-style rifles. The DOJ claims the law violates the Second Amendment rights to own and buy guns. Virginia officials say the law is meant to protect public safety and will be defended in court.
Key Facts
Virginia passed a law (SB749) banning the sale, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons like AR-15 rifles.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit in federal court saying the law breaks the Constitution’s Second Amendment.
The lawsuit argues that the Second Amendment protects not just owning guns but also buying and selling them.
The law took effect despite some local legal challenges that created uncertainty over enforcement.
Virginia’s Attorney General said the state will defend the law against the DOJ’s lawsuit.
The governor of Virginia supports the law, saying it aims to protect communities and law enforcement from gun violence.
The DOJ points to Supreme Court cases saying the right to bear arms includes the right to acquire common firearms like AR-15s.
The government asked the court to stop the law while the case proceeds, but no decision has been made yet.
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