The United States military has more than 12,000 personnel stationed at bases across the UK. When US service members are accused of crimes on British soil, many are tried by US military courts called courts martial instead of British courts. This practice comes from an agreement between the US and UK governments made in 1951.
Key Facts
There are over 12,000 US military personnel at at least 15 bases in the UK, mostly in England and one in Scotland.
US service members accused of crimes, including serious offenses like sexual assault and violent attacks, are often tried in US military courts on UK bases.
Courts martial are military trials that follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the US military's own legal system.
These trials happen on military premises and are generally not open to the public like British courts.
The 1951 Status of Forces agreement between the US and UK sets the rules for who prosecutes US troops in the UK.
The US prosecutes troops for crimes committed while on duty or involving US military people or property.
For other crimes, British authorities technically have the first right to prosecute but often allow US military courts to handle the cases.
UK police and prosecutors can choose to give jurisdiction to US military courts if requested, which can lead to fewer British criminal trials for offenses by US personnel.
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France is facing record-breaking high temperatures, causing many people to suffer in homes that are not built to stay cool. Poorly insulated apartments, especially in low-income areas, are trapping heat and making it hard to live comfortably or sleep. The extreme heat has led to health problems, school closures, power cuts, and damage to agriculture.
Key Facts
Over 44 million people in France were under the highest heat alert during the recent heatwave.
Many French homes, especially older buildings, lack proper insulation and cooling features, making them very hot inside.
Schools have closed because classrooms reached unsafe temperatures, affecting many children’s education.
Power outages affected thousands, preventing people from using fans or electric blinds to cool down.
High temperatures reduced nuclear energy production because cooling water was unavailable.
The heatwave caused a rise in hospital visits, high air pollution, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of farm animals.
Poorer areas with concrete housing estates and little green space are most affected, showing a growing climate inequality problem.
French government funding cuts have slowed projects to improve housing and infrastructure for changing climate conditions.
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President Donald Trump spoke at the start of the Great American State Fair, held on the National Mall in Washington to mark America's 250th birthday. Instead of focusing on unity or inspirational themes, his speech and the event had strong political tones, with some scheduled performers withdrawing due to concerns about politicization.
Key Facts
The event celebrated 250 years of American independence on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
President Trump spoke from behind protective glass near the Washington Monument.
His speech included comments on transgender issues, a White House ballroom, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
He praised a cleaned statue of Christopher Columbus and mentioned vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool without proof.
The event included music from the US Marine Band and Christopher Macchio after several artists withdrew.
Some attendees wore Trump campaign gear, and no Democrats were present.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised Trump highly and criticized the performers who canceled.
Military jets flew overhead during the event, which had a patriotic theme mixed with political messaging.
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Two strong earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, 2026. These quakes caused building collapses, injuries, and widespread damage, leading the acting President Delcy Rodríguez to declare a state of emergency and cancel school classes for several days.
Key Facts
The earthquakes occurred shortly after 6 p.m. near Morón on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.
The first quake had a magnitude of 7.2 and the second, a minute later, was 7.5.
Many buildings collapsed in Caracas, the capital, and other parts of Venezuela experienced damage.
Falcon state reported 32 people hospitalized and 15 trapped after the earthquakes.
Key infrastructure like Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas subway were damaged or closed.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and asked citizens to report damage via a government app.
School classes were suspended and some schools will serve as shelters and donation centers.
Several countries, including the United States and neighboring nations, offered aid and assistance to Venezuela.
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Two trains collided near Bedford, causing one death and injuring over 100 people, with some passengers stranded. Bedford Borough Council apologized for issuing parking fines to drivers who could not move their cars due to the crash.
Key Facts
The crash involved two East Midlands Railway trains traveling to London St Pancras.
The accident happened around 17:15 BST on Friday near Bedford.
A 60-year-old train driver, Shaun Burton, died in the crash.
More than 100 people were injured; 53 remained in hospital days later, with eight in critical condition.
Some passengers were stuck and could not access their parked cars at Bedford railway station.
Bedford Borough Council issued parking fines to some stranded drivers but apologized for this after complaints.
The council took corrective action and invited people to request ticket cancellations.
An interim report said the Corby train moved past a red signal before hitting the stationary Nottingham train.
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Karl Stefanovic will not appear on his Friday radio show with Eddie McGuire after criticism of his interview with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson. ARN Media is reviewing Stefanovic’s contract due to threats of an advertising boycott, and Nine Entertainment is expected to end its relationship with Stefanovic.
Key Facts
Karl Stefanovic recently started co-hosting The Long Weekend on Gold FM with Eddie McGuire.
Stefanovic’s interview with Tommy Robinson faced widespread criticism.
Advertisers threatened to boycott if Stefanovic continued, leading to a contract review.
ARN Media confirmed McGuire will host the show alone on Friday.
Nine Entertainment is likely to end its contract with Stefanovic but has not announced details.
Stefanovic was expected to appear on Friday’s show from the UK but now will not.
ARN Media said Stefanovic’s podcast is a personal project and not connected to the company.
ARN is still recovering from a $12 million legal case with another star, Kyle Sandilands.
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President Donald Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals but now looks "perfect." He said those responsible are mostly caught and the pool will be fully restored. Security around the pool has been increased, and some officials question the handling of the restoration project.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the Reflecting Pool was "gruesomely vandalized" but is now looking good.
He said the vandals damaged the pool by cutting a 350-foot hole and using chemicals.
The vandals have mostly been caught and are being prosecuted, according to the president.
Security has been increased with fencing around parts of the pool.
The Interior Department said fencing was planned before but was put up earlier due to vandalism concerns.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned the quality and cost of the pool’s renovation.
Blumenthal raised concerns about contractors with ties to President Trump and the quick return of algae problems.
The administration has not publicly shared evidence of the vandalism claims.
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President Donald Trump gave his first public comments on Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, in relation to the possibility of Burnham becoming UK prime minister. Trump called Burnham "the mayor of a town" and said he had heard Burnham is "extremely liberal." Burnham had said the UK should avoid the US's "polarised, poisonous politics."
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is the former Mayor of Greater Manchester in the UK.
Burnham is considered a candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as UK prime minister.
Burnham said the UK should avoid political division like that seen in the US.
President Trump commented on Burnham during a campaign event in the UK.
Trump described Burnham as "the mayor of a town."
Trump said he had heard that Burnham is "extremely liberal."
The article was published about 24 minutes after Trump's comments.
The context is UK politics and the leadership race within a UK political party.
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Two strong earthquakes struck Venezuela near its capital, Caracas, causing buildings to collapse and forcing many people to evacuate. The government declared a state of emergency while rescue teams work to find survivors, but no official death toll has been confirmed yet.
Key Facts
The first quake measured magnitude 7.2, and the second, stronger one was magnitude 7.5, both occurring seconds apart near Caracas.
Tremors were felt as far as Bogotá, Colombia, over 1,000 km away.
More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded, mainly along Venezuela’s northern coast.
At least two buildings in the Caracas area have completely collapsed.
Over 500 emergency workers are involved in rescue efforts.
Venezuela’s main international airport and public transportation have been closed or paused due to damage.
Internet outages and fuel supply cuts have been reported in Caracas.
Classes in schools are suspended for the rest of the week.
The official number of casualties has not been confirmed, though some deaths have been mentioned.
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Two strong earthquakes hit west of Caracas, Venezuela, with magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.5. The damage is severe, and the government declared a state of emergency as experts expect many deaths.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes struck west of Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
The earthquakes measured 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude.
The area suffered widespread damage.
Interim President Rodriguez declared a state of emergency.
Officials fear thousands of people may have died because of the earthquakes.
Emergency services are responding to the crisis.
The earthquakes caused disruptions in local communities.
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From 2020 to 2025, the number of children under 18 in the U.S. dropped by 1.8 million in every region except the South, where child population increased. The South also saw overall population growth and is facing challenges like crowded schools and housing pressures.
Key Facts
The U.S. child population fell by 1.8 million between 2020 and 2025.
The South is the only region where the under-18 population grew, adding about 304,000 children.
The West saw the largest decline in children, down by over 1 million (5.7%).
The South's total population grew 6%, nearly twice the national average of 3.1%.
Growth in the South includes more children, adults in family-building years, and retirees.
Most child population growth in the South happened in metro counties, while rural and small counties saw declines.
The U.S. median age rose to 39.4 years in 2025, reflecting an aging population.
People aged 65 and older increased by 16.2% nationally during this period.
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The Senate voted to block a resolution that would limit President Trump's power to take military action in Iran. Senator Bill Cassidy, who had earlier supported a similar resolution, joined most Republicans in stopping the new measure.
Key Facts
The Senate blocked a resolution aimed at limiting President Trump's war powers regarding Iran.
Senator Bill Cassidy initially supported a previous war powers resolution.
Cassidy argued with President Trump earlier during a GOP lunch at the U.S. Capitol.
After a briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Cassidy voted with most Republicans to block the resolution.
The vote marked a change from Cassidy’s earlier position on limiting war powers.
President Trump publicly criticized Cassidy for supporting the earlier resolution.
The issue relates to how much authority the president has for military actions without congressional approval.
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Thousands of people gathered in Tehran to mark Ashura, an important day in the Shia Muslim calendar. This was the first Ashura since the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in the ongoing conflict involving the US and Iran.
Key Facts
Ashura is a significant religious event for Shia Muslims.
Thousands gathered in Tehran to observe the day.
The gathering was the first since the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Attendees carried flags, banners, and images of Khamenei.
The killing is part of the broader conflict between the US and Iran.
The event took place on the eve of Ashura.
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Papua New Guinea is facing serious food shortages because of the El Niño weather pattern, which has caused frost and drought that damaged crops and water supplies. About 3 million people, especially in the Highlands, may be affected as farms struggle to produce enough food and clean water becomes scarce.
Key Facts
El Niño caused frost and long dry spells in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, damaging food gardens.
Oxfam PNG says the country is the worst affected in the Pacific by El Niño’s effects, including frost, drought, and pests.
Around 3 million people may be affected nationwide, with 1.9 million in the Highlands region at risk.
Some farming communities have food supplies lasting only two to three months.
Frost damage includes large losses to key crops like potatoes.
Rivers and creeks are drying up, reducing access to clean water.
Schools have reduced hours due to heat and water shortages.
The government is urging local areas to prepare for an extended dry season without causing alarm.
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Hundreds of migrants in Paris are facing very hot weather with little protection or help. Some migrants have been swimming in unsafe places to try to cool down as temperatures reach record highs.
Key Facts
A heatwave is affecting Europe, including Paris.
Many migrants in Paris do not have enough shelter.
The high temperatures are breaking records.
Some migrants swim in unsafe areas to stay cool.
There is little aid available to help migrants during the heatwave.
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The Senate voted 50 to 47 against a measure that would limit President Trump's power to conduct war against Iran. Some Republican senators who had supported restricting these war powers earlier changed their votes after discussions with the White House, while President Trump expressed frustration with Congress's actions on this issue.
Key Facts
The Senate blocked a resolution that aimed to restrict President Trump's ability to wage war against Iran.
The vote was 50 against and 47 in favor, with two Republicans joining Democrats to support the measure.
The resolution was introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and would have required the president to end military hostilities with Iran unless authorized by Congress.
The Trump administration argues the U.S. is no longer in conflict with Iran due to a current ceasefire.
President Trump criticized the Congress's attempts to limit his war powers and had a tense meeting with Senate Republicans.
Some Republican senators who had voted to limit war powers reconsidered and voted against advancing the resolution after briefings from White House officials.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso helped negotiate support to block the resolution.
President Trump recently signed an agreement with Iran to extend a ceasefire and start discussions on Iran's nuclear program.
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Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. The acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency as rescue teams searched for survivors and assessed damage, especially in the capital city, Caracas.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes struck Venezuela on the same day.
The first quake had a magnitude of 7.2.
The second quake had a magnitude of 7.5.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency.
Caracas, the capital, suffered heavy damage.
Rescue crews are actively searching for survivors.
Videos show the destruction caused by the earthquakes.
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US AI company Anthropic has accused Chinese tech firm Alibaba of illegally copying its Claude AI model’s abilities by making millions of fake interactions. Anthropic says this copying method, called "distillation attacks," helps rivals steal and reuse their AI technology, and it asked the US government to take action against such practices.
Key Facts
Anthropic alleges Alibaba-linked groups made nearly 29 million fake exchanges with its Claude AI using thousands of fraudulent accounts.
This activity is called "distillation attacks," where answers from a powerful AI are used to train a weaker AI.
The attacks targeted Claude’s best features, like handling complex tasks and decision-making skills.
Anthropic believes these attacks give Chinese companies free access to US AI advancements.
The company sent a letter on June 10 to US Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren about these concerns.
The US Department of Defense claims Alibaba and other Chinese firms have ties to the Chinese military, which Alibaba denies.
Alibaba recently sued the US government to remove its name from a Pentagon blacklist.
Other US AI firms like OpenAI have also accused Chinese groups of stealing AI technology through similar attacks.
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The Senate voted 47-50-1 against formally criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration again over its military actions in Iran. Republican leaders convinced some senators that condemning the administration could hurt ongoing negotiations related to the conflict.
Key Facts
The vote took place late Wednesday night.
The final count was 47 in favor, 50 against, and 1 abstention.
The resolution aimed to officially criticize the Trump administration’s military actions in Iran.
This would have been the second time Congress tried to formally rebuke the administration over this issue.
Republican leaders persuaded some swing votes to oppose the resolution.
Senators were concerned that a rebuke might negatively affect peace talks or conflict negotiations with Iran.
The vote reflects disagreements in Congress about how to handle the Iran conflict.
The issue involves the balance of power between Congress and the President in decisions about war.
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California lawmakers are considering a bill that would give public school teachers up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave funded by the state. The bill includes language that could also allow paid leave for elective abortions, making California possibly the first state to offer taxpayer-funded paid abortion leave for teachers.
Key Facts
The bill, Assembly Bill 65, is authored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
It aims to provide up to 14 weeks of state-funded paid pregnancy disability leave to California teachers.
Teachers currently can’t access pregnancy disability benefits through the State Disability Insurance program like many private-sector workers.
The bill’s language includes paid leave for "termination of pregnancy," which refers to abortions.
Some lawmakers and critics are concerned about the lack of an annual limit on leave and privacy issues for teachers.
The measure passed the California Assembly with bipartisan support and now goes to the Senate for further debate.
Lawmakers expect the bill to be amended, possibly removing or changing the abortion-related provisions.
Governor Gavin Newsom supports providing paid pregnancy leave for teachers after several previous efforts failed.
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