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WhatsApp will soon let users choose usernames instead of showing their phone numbers. This change aims to improve privacy by allowing people to be contacted through unique usernames rather than personal phone numbers.
Key Facts
WhatsApp is owned by Meta and is used by about three billion people worldwide.
Users can reserve unique usernames or "handles" starting later this year.
Usernames will replace phone numbers as the main way to find and contact people on WhatsApp.
There will be no public directory or autocomplete for usernames; you must know the exact username to contact someone.
Users can add optional "username keys," meaning others need both the username and a code to reach them.
WhatsApp will limit how many new people a user can contact to reduce spam and will block abuse patterns automatically.
Companies and creators with Meta accounts on Facebook or Instagram can claim the same usernames on WhatsApp.
The username feature will roll out gradually, and users need to update their WhatsApp app to use it.
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Large wildfires have spread rapidly in Colorado, burning tens of thousands of acres. The fires have destroyed buildings and caused people to leave their homes for safety.
Key Facts
New wildfires are burning across large areas in Colorado.
The fires have spread quickly over tens of thousands of acres.
Buildings have been destroyed by the flames.
Residents in affected areas have been ordered to evacuate.
Emergency teams are responding to control the fires.
The exact cause of the fires has not been mentioned.
Weather conditions may be contributing to the fire spread.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
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Representative Ami Bera from California said that the growing influence of democratic socialism in the Democratic Party is mainly focused on opposing President Donald Trump. He explained that the Democratic Party has many different ideas but shares the goal of working together to limit President Trump’s power.
Key Facts
Ami Bera is a Democratic representative from California.
He spoke about democratic socialism gaining popularity within the Democratic Party.
Bera said this rise is linked to efforts to stop President Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party includes many different viewpoints.
Despite differences, the party aims to unite against President Trump’s policies.
Bera made these remarks during an interview on CNN.
The focus is on creating a check or limit on President Trump’s influence.
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A man in New Orleans who legally changed his name to Santa Claus was arrested for trying to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy for sexual purposes. Police caught him during a sting operation and charged him with illegal solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Key Facts
The man is 75 years old and changed his name from George Quigley to Santa Claus.
He contacted an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old boy through a dating app.
Claus discussed illegal sexual acts and arranged a face-to-face meeting in Kenner, near New Orleans.
He sent explicit photos of himself to the undercover officer.
Claus surrendered without resistance when police confronted him.
Police found images of Claus dressed as Santa Claus, a figure associated with Christmas.
Claus faces charges of computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
He was one of 11 suspects arrested in the sting; 10 others were later targeted with arrest warrants by police.
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US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are in Doha to discuss how to apply a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. They will not meet directly with Iranian officials, but will meet mediators to talk about issues such as shipping disputes in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian assets.
Key Facts
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for talks about the Iran-US ceasefire.
No direct meetings with Iranian officials are planned in Doha.
Iran is sending a technical team to discuss how to implement an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The MOU covers issues like the ceasefire in southern Lebanon and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has concerns about how quickly the MOU is being put into action and objections to some parts, especially Article 1 (ceasefire) and Article 5 (shipping rules).
One dispute involves a new shipping route near Oman that Iran says was set up without its agreement.
Qatar helped stop recent fighting between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz through a dedicated hotline.
$6 billion in frozen Iranian assets have not yet been released to Iran.
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NASA plans to launch a robotic mission to save the aging Swift space telescope from burning up as it falls toward Earth. The robot will catch the telescope in orbit and move it to a higher, safer altitude to extend its life.
Key Facts
NASA will send a robotic rescue mission to the Swift space telescope, which is losing altitude and will soon burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
The mission will launch no earlier than July 1, 2026, from a Pacific Ocean site using a Pegasus rocket released from a jet aircraft.
The rescue robot will locate Swift in space, attach itself using three movable arms, and tow it about 300 km higher into a stable orbit.
The Swift telescope was launched in 2004 for a two-year mission to study gamma-ray bursts, very short bursts of intense energy from space.
Swift orbits at about 600 km altitude, where atmospheric drag gradually pulls satellites down, causing them to lose height over time.
This mission is one of the first attempts by NASA to extend the life of a satellite by moving it to a higher orbit, similar to a Chinese mission four years ago.
NASA started planning the rescue after detecting in early 2025 that Swift was nearing the end of its operational life.
The operation will take several months, with complex steps including locating, capturing, and raising the telescope.
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Azerbaijani officials have found hundreds more human remains in mass graves in the Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan took full control of in 2023. About 32 mass graves have been discovered, with many remains identified and returned to families, but thousands of people remain missing in the area due to past conflicts.
Key Facts
Since 2023, Azerbaijan has discovered 32 mass graves in the Karabakh region.
So far, the remains of 893 people have been found; 327 have been identified using DNA and forensic tests.
The remains of 226 identified individuals have been returned to their families.
Around 3,683 people are still missing from the area.
Mass graves appear as a result of war, often holding victims of killings or soldiers buried quickly after fighting.
The conflict over Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan has lasted decades, causing tens of thousands of deaths and many displaced people.
Azerbaijan fully regained control of Karabakh in 2023 after a military offensive.
In 2023, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement but have not signed a formal peace treaty.
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The House Oversight Committee held a hearing about the CIA’s MK-Ultra project, a program that ran for about 20 years and tested drugs and methods to change people’s behavior. Representative Anna Paulina Luna and the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets are working to reveal more information about this secret program.
Key Facts
The CIA’s MK-Ultra project involved testing behavioral drugs and modification techniques.
The project lasted for around two decades.
It used universities as places to conduct experiments.
The House Oversight Committee held a hearing to discuss the project.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna leads efforts to declassify and reveal more details about the project.
The Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets supports this push for transparency.
The hearing took place on a Tuesday morning.
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Powerful twin earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 1,700 people. Rescue teams from around the world continue to search for survivors amid the rubble of nearly 60,000 damaged or destroyed buildings, but finding people alive becomes harder with each passing day.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes with magnitudes 7.5 and 7.2 hit northern Venezuela within one minute of each other.
The death toll has risen to over 1,700 people as of six days after the earthquakes.
Around 60,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, according to a NASA satellite survey.
Thousands of people are still missing, and rescue efforts are ongoing but becoming more difficult.
An American rescue team from Fairfax, Virginia, is working near the earthquake epicenter.
Rescuers ask trapped survivors to signal by banging three times to be found under rubble.
Families of victims are still hoping to find loved ones alive or recover bodies.
NASA said its satellite damage estimate is preliminary and has not yet been confirmed on the ground.
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Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch mentioned FCC Chair Brendan Carr's criticism of Jimmy Kimmel in a recent opinion about President Trump's power over independent agencies. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump has the authority to fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission.
Key Facts
Justice Neil Gorsuch referenced Brendan Carr’s criticism of Jimmy Kimmel in his Supreme Court opinion.
Brendan Carr is the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Jimmy Kimmel is a late-night TV host on ABC.
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision on President Trump's authority over independent agencies.
The court ruled that President Trump can fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The case involves the limits of presidential power over independent government agencies.
The ruling sets a precedent for how much control the president has over appointed officials.
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A 31-year-old woman swimming in a Florida river was killed in a rare alligator attack that severed her arm. Authorities removed two large alligators from the river, and the investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
The attack happened in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, Seminole County, about 25 miles northeast of Orlando.
The woman’s boyfriend witnessed the attack and tried to rescue her.
Two large alligators, one 12 feet and the other 13 feet long, were caught and euthanized for DNA testing.
The woman was swimming in about 3 feet of water during a drought causing low water levels.
Alligator attacks in Florida are rare; the state has about 1.3 million alligators and averages eight unprovoked bites a year.
Since 1948, Florida has had 26 fatal alligator attacks.
The attack occurred during the end of alligator mating season when they become more territorial.
Officials remind people that all bodies of water in Florida could have alligators and advise caution near water.
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This summer, homebuyers may find several benefits despite mortgage rates still being above 6%. Experts highlight less competition among buyers, more negotiating power for buyers, and more homes available on the market as advantages this season.
Key Facts
Mortgage rates have slightly dropped from 6.62% in May to about 6.37% recently.
The U.S. is experiencing a strong buyer’s market with 47% more sellers than buyers.
Fewer buyers competing for homes means fewer bidding wars and more time to decide.
The condo and townhouse markets tend to have less competition than single-family homes.
Sellers are more willing to lower prices and offer concessions like covering closing costs.
Many sellers now agree to fix most issues found during home inspections.
Some buyers benefit from seller-paid temporary rate reductions to lower early loan payments.
Competition and advantages vary by location and local market conditions.
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Last week, global stock markets fell, led by drops in tech companies tied to artificial intelligence (AI), like Alphabet, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Despite this, the AI industry’s overall growth and stock gains this year remain strong, and experts do not see these drops as the end of the AI boom.
Key Facts
Alphabet had its worst stock market day in over a year after several top leaders left its AI unit, Deepmind.
Samsung and SK Hynix shares fell sharply due to concerns over their $500 billion spending plans and weaker demand for their AI-related memory products.
Samsung and SK Hynix make up half of South Korea’s main stock index and can strongly influence the country’s economy.
Despite recent losses, Samsung’s share price is up 183% and SK Hynix’s is up 310% this year.
Google’s stock price has increased 20% year-to-date.
SpaceX, which owns Elon Musk’s xAI, saw big stock losses after its recent market debut and plans for a large bond sale.
Elon Musk lost his status as the world’s first trillionaire due to SpaceX’s stock drop.
The AI sector’s current market decline has not caused a crash but has impacted tech-heavy indexes like Nasdaq and contributed to higher tech product prices, like those from Apple.
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Wildfires are spreading in Colorado due to strong winds and dry air. Several firefighters have died while trying to stop the fires. Many residents have evacuated and fear their homes might be destroyed.
Key Facts
High winds and low humidity are making the wildfires worse in Colorado.
The fires are large and difficult to control.
Several firefighters have died while fighting the fires.
Many Colorado residents have evacuated their homes.
Some residents say they might lose their homes to the fires.
Efforts to contain the fires are ongoing.
News correspondent Jonah Kaplan is reporting from the area.
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Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the country will spend nearly 300 billion pounds over the next four years to upgrade its armed forces. The plan includes increasing the defence budget by 15 billion pounds and investing in drones and autonomous systems amid growing security threats.
Key Facts
The UK plans to spend about 300 billion pounds ($397 billion) on defence over four years.
Defence spending will increase by 15 billion pounds ($20 billion) during this period.
Over 5 billion pounds ($6.6 billion) will be invested in drones and autonomous systems.
The announcement follows disagreements in Starmer’s Labour government about defence funding.
Defense Secretary John Healey resigned, saying the plan could make Britain less safe.
Starmer aims for the UK to spend 3.5% of its GDP on defence by 2035.
The plan will be presented at a NATO summit in Ankara in early July.
Starmer expects the next government to continue improving on this defence plan.
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Rescue teams in Venezuela are trying to find people trapped under debris almost a week after strong earthquakes hit the country. Families and helpers are working hard as time is critical to save survivors.
Key Facts
Deadly earthquakes struck Venezuela nearly a week ago.
Many people remain trapped under rubble from collapsed buildings.
Rescue workers are actively searching for survivors.
Families are involved and concerned about their missing loved ones.
Time is running out to find people alive under the debris.
The situation is urgent and ongoing.
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A JetBlue pilot reported that the airplane hit a drone while landing at New York's JFK airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, but JetBlue's inspection found no damage or signs of a collision.
Key Facts
The incident happened during the plane’s final approach to JFK airport in New York.
The JetBlue pilot said the drone hit the plane above the cockpit.
The FAA is looking into the situation to understand what happened.
JetBlue inspected the plane after the flight.
The inspection showed no damage or evidence of a collision.
The report came from a CBS News broadcast.
No information about injuries or delays was provided.
The event involves concerns about drones near airports.
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Political commentator Bill O’Reilly said that socialism is becoming more popular in the U.S. because of a culture where people expect to receive benefits easily. He pointed to social media as influencing young people’s views about the country.
Key Facts
Bill O’Reilly discussed the rise of socialism in the United States.
He linked this rise to a growing sense of entitlement among people.
O’Reilly said social media shapes how younger generations see the country.
He made these comments during an interview on the program "On Balance with Leland."
O’Reilly described the current culture as one where people expect to be given things.
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A Catholic nun named Sister Leticia Ugboaja was stopped by US immigration agents while walking to church in Texas. After lawmakers intervened, she was released and returned home.
Key Facts
Sister Ugboaja was walking to Our Lady of Sorrows church in McAllen, Texas, near the US-Mexico border.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained her on Sunday.
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville said she volunteers at the church and is a registered nurse.
Local politicians, including Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz, spoke to federal officials to secure her release.
Sister Ugboaja was released and returned home on Monday.
The detention happened during immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term.
Some religious leaders are helping members who fear leaving their homes by offering online services and errands.
Neither DHS nor ICE has commented publicly on the situation yet.
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In South Africa, many immigrants face attacks and hostility linked to xenophobia. Experts say that while people are frustrated about problems like unemployment and poor services, migrants are wrongly blamed for these issues because it is politically easier to do so.
Key Facts
South Africa experiences repeated waves of anti-immigrant actions and anger.
Public frustration in South Africa is high due to unemployment, inequality, corruption, and poor public services.
Migrants are used as scapegoats rather than the true causes of these social and economic problems.
Anti-immigrant views persist even though evidence does not support blaming migrants.
Political leaders find it easier to blame migrants than to address complex structural problems.
The information comes from Aimée-Noel Mbiyozo, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies.
Migration data and labor market conditions were used to analyze the situation.
Thousands of foreigners have fled South Africa due to anti-immigration threats.
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