Olly Robbins, who was removed from his job at the Foreign Office due to a security clearance issue involving Peter Mandelson, is in talks to take a national security adviser role under Andy Burnham, the likely new UK prime minister. Robbins’s return is controversial because he overturned security advice against Mandelson, raising concerns among some Labour officials.
Key Facts
Olly Robbins lost his Foreign Office role after a scandal involving security vetting for Peter Mandelson.
Robbins overturned a recommendation to deny Mandelson security clearance.
Mandelson was linked to controversial figures, including those connected to convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
Robbins is in early talks with Andy Burnham’s team for a national security adviser position.
Some senior Labour figures are alarmed by Robbins’s return to a top government role.
Robbins was supported by some civil servants who said he acted on No 10’s wishes.
Robbins has considered legal action over damage to his reputation.
The national security adviser advises the prime minister on security matters and reports to the Cabinet Office.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A sharp knife or razor was used to cut the liner at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool earlier this month, the National Park Service said. The U.S. Park Police responded to the report and are investigating the damage.
Key Facts
The liner is located at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
It was cut with a sharp knife or razor.
The incident happened earlier in the same month.
The National Park Service reported the damage.
The U.S. Park Police are involved in the investigation.
A sworn declaration about the incident was filed on Wednesday.
The damage could affect the pool’s water and maintenance.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other House Democrats are holding a forum to talk about threats to elections. They plan to discuss voting rights and proposed laws backed by Republicans, such as President Trump’s SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voting.
Key Facts
House Democrats are hosting a forum focused on election threats.
The event is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The forum will look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats want to discuss concerns about voting access.
They will talk about Republican proposals to change voting rules.
One key proposal is President Trump’s SAVE America Act.
The SAVE America Act would require voters to prove their citizenship.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is leading the forum.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Anthropic accused Chinese company Alibaba of illegally copying its AI model called Claude by making millions of fake interactions to steal its capabilities. This activity happened despite President Trump’s warnings against such actions, and Anthropic wants stricter laws to stop foreign companies from stealing U.S. AI technology.
Key Facts
Anthropic claims Alibaba created almost 25,000 fake accounts to interact more than 28.8 million times with Claude between April 22 and June 5.
The goal was to copy Claude’s advanced functions like reasoning and software engineering without paying for research and training.
Alibaba used methods to hide their identity online and avoid being detected.
This copying effort continued even after President Trump warned China about industrial-scale AI theft.
Anthropic said these attacks waste billions of dollars of U.S. investment and give unfair advantages to foreign competitors.
Alibaba is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has U.S. business ties but is accused of ignoring U.S. regulations.
Alibaba is suing the Trump administration to remove a blacklist designation, denying any military connections.
Anthropic urged Congress to create stronger laws to protect American AI technology and prevent future attacks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scientists have discovered the detailed 3D structure of human cone opsins, the proteins in the eye that allow us to see color. This new understanding helps explain how these proteins work and could aid future research into vision problems like color blindness.
Key Facts
Cone opsins are proteins in the eye’s retina that detect color by converting light into signals for the brain.
Researchers used special methods like cryo-electron microscopy under dim red light to capture detailed images of blue- and green-sensitive cone opsins.
Cone opsins have tiny internal "microswitches" that keep them ready to respond quickly to light.
Green-sensitive opsins are more flexible, responding to lower-energy light, while blue-sensitive opsins have a tighter structure requiring higher-energy light.
The study may help explain how certain genetic mutations cause color vision deficiencies by affecting the protein structure.
This research is fundamental and does not yet provide direct treatment methods for vision disorders.
Understanding cone opsins better could eventually assist in developing ways to preserve vision in diseases like macular degeneration.
Humans have three types of cone opsins, each detecting different colors, influenced by the protein's structure surrounding the light-sensitive part.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow chancellor of Reform UK, said it is reasonable for the media to ask questions about Nigel Farage’s £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire. Farage has said the donation is private, but the money is currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million personal donation from Christopher Harborne, a crypto investor based in Thailand.
Farage initially said the money was for personal security, then later referred to it as a Brexit-related reward.
The donation is being investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards.
Robert Jenrick said voters have not asked him about this money during elections, but media questions about it are legitimate.
Jenrick assured there is no donor influencing Reform UK’s policies.
Labour’s Anna Turley has asked the Financial Conduct Authority to look into whether Farage’s comments on cryptocurrency benefited the donor.
Reform UK is facing internal disagreements and competition from another right-wing party, Restore Britain.
Farage’s party’s poll ratings have slightly dropped recently, while Labour’s ratings have improved.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scientists studied a star called GJ 436, which has a large planet orbiting very close to it every 2.6 days. They found that the star’s and planet’s magnetic fields interact, causing changes in the star's brightness that follow the planet’s orbit pattern with some variations.
Key Facts
GJ 436 is a red dwarf star about 30 light-years from Earth.
It has one known planet, about four times the mass of Earth, orbiting every 2.6 days.
The planet orbits so close that their magnetic fields can connect and influence each other.
Researchers observed changes in the star’s chromosphere, a thin outer star layer affected by magnetic activity.
These changes cause periodic brightening roughly aligned with the planet’s orbit.
The timing of the brightening shifts slightly due to the star’s rotation and the planet’s magnetic field tilt.
Sometimes the magnetic interaction signal disappears during high activity cycles of the star.
The study used years of existing observations to track the star and planet’s magnetic activity over time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The White House praised two Supreme Court decisions that support President Trump's immigration policies. The court allowed the government to end temporary legal protections for many Haitians and Syrians.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made two important rulings about immigration.
These decisions help the Trump administration enforce stricter immigration rules.
The rulings permit ending temporary legal protections for Haitians and Syrians.
The White House called the decisions a significant success.
The court's decisions affect the status of thousands of people living in the U.S. under temporary protection programs.
These cases relate to policies begun during President Trump's first term.
The rulings clear the way for the administration to move forward with its immigration measures.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
South African civil groups warn that cuts to U.S. funding for HIV programs will harm vulnerable groups, especially adolescent girls and women. The U.S. is ending its support through the PEPFAR program, which has funded South Africa's HIV fight for 20 years and helped save millions of lives.
Key Facts
The U.S. plans to phase out over $400 million in annual HIV program funding to South Africa by September 2025.
South Africa has about 8 million people living with HIV, the highest number in the world.
President Donald Trump ordered the cut in foreign aid due to political disagreements, including South Africa’s land and racial policies.
The U.S. State Department required South African officials to condemn race-based violence as part of the conditions for continued aid.
PEPFAR funding made up about 17% of South Africa’s HIV program budget but did not cover most HIV medication costs.
Some local HIV programs have already closed, and around 3,000 health workers lost their jobs after funding was reduced.
South Africa created a $45 million emergency fund to address the funding gap from the U.S. cutbacks.
Prevention services for HIV have suffered, with focus shifting to maintaining treatment for existing patients.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge blocked part of President Trump’s order that aimed to create a national list of voters eligible for mail-in ballots. The judge said the Constitution gives states, not the federal government, the power to manage elections and voter eligibility.
Key Facts
Judge Indira Talwani blocked the creation of a national list of approved mail-in voters.
The ruling also stopped new rules to increase Postal Service control over mail-in voting.
The judge ruled that only states can decide who is eligible to vote, not the federal government.
President Trump’s March 2025 executive order was found to exceed presidential authority.
This is the third time in a week a judge has limited Trump administration election actions.
Earlier rulings blocked proof-of-citizenship voting rules and a federal voter database.
The Postal Service said it would refuse to deliver ballots without state voter lists, but the ruling stops this policy.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the judge’s decision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The National Park Service reported that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was intentionally damaged with a sharp knife or razor around June 9, 2026. This damage included cuts to the pool’s coating and about 70 fence posts thrown into the water. Several people have been arrested or cited for vandalism related to this case.
Key Facts
Damage to the Reflecting Pool was reported to U.S. Park Police on June 9, 2026.
The damage involved cuts made by a sharp knife or razor to the pool’s sealant coating.
Around 70 fence post tops were thrown into the reflecting pool.
The National Park Service plans to drain and repair the pool after the July 4th celebrations.
At least five people have been arrested, and five more received federal citations for vandalism.
President Donald Trump has stated vandals caused the damage and said evidence will be shown in court.
The damage relates to a $14.7 million sealant project on the pool.
The statement was made in a court filing connected to a lawsuit against the Interior Department over the pool’s renovation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A dog expert explains that hugging dogs may make them uncomfortable because it limits their freedom to move. Many dogs tolerate hugs but do not enjoy them, and owners should watch for signs that their dog is uneasy during close contact.
Key Facts
Hugging is a human way to show love, but it is not natural or comfortable for most dogs.
Dogs may feel pressured or trapped by hugs because they can’t easily move away.
Some dogs tolerate hugs due to trust but do not necessarily enjoy them.
Dogs scared by hugs might include rescue dogs, those with health issues, or dogs not used to close contact.
Signs of discomfort include freezing, turning the head away, licking lips, yawning, showing the whites of eyes, pinned ears, tucked tail, avoiding eye contact, or trying to move away.
Children often hug dogs tightly and may not recognize warning signs of stress or fear in dogs.
Owners should never punish a dog for growling, as growling is a way dogs communicate discomfort.
Alternative ways to bond include gentle petting, playing games, and letting dogs have choices in interactions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vice President Vance hosted a dinner with Republican senators on Wednesday evening after President Donald Trump had a tense meeting with GOP senators earlier that day. The dinner occurred a few hours after Trump strongly disagreed with Senator Bill Cassidy over his vote.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance organized a dinner with Republican senators on Wednesday night.
This dinner happened after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and GOP senators on Capitol Hill.
President Trump clashed with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana during the earlier meeting.
The disagreement was about Senator Cassidy’s recent vote, which President Trump opposed.
The dinner took place several hours after the meeting ended.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A mother from Nebraska used a baby camera to check on her twin two-year-old sons and saw them sitting inside a drawer talking and rubbing lotion on each other’s feet. The twins had just been moved from cribs to beds, which led to new mischief at bedtime.
Key Facts
Taylor Dane has twin sons named Briggs and Breck, who are close and care for each other.
The twins were moved from cribs to big kid beds after climbing out of their cribs.
After moving to beds, the boys started new mischievous behaviors at night.
One night, at 10:45 p.m., Dane saw on the baby cam that the twins pulled out a drawer and sat inside it talking.
The twins were rubbing lotion on each other’s feet during this time.
Dane laughed but eventually put them back to bed against their wishes.
The video of this event was recorded four years ago, when the twins were two years old.
Even though they are now six, the twins continue to be playful and active.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A priest from the rebel Catholic group Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) compared their situation to that of Joan of Arc, who was condemned by the Church but later declared a saint. The SSPX plans to consecrate four new bishops without approval from the Pope, a move that could lead to their excommunication.
Key Facts
The SSPX is a breakaway Catholic group that opposes certain modern Church changes.
They will consecrate four new bishops on July 1 without papal approval.
The Vatican warns this could result in the SSPX being excommunicated.
SSPX Father Denis Puga compared the group’s persecution to Joan of Arc’s condemnation.
Joan of Arc was condemned for heresy in 1431 but later retried and declared a saint.
The SSPX rejects a Vatican 2023 declaration allowing blessings of same-sex couples.
The SSPX split from the official Church after unauthorized bishop consecrations in 1988.
Pope Benedict XVI lifted some SSPX excommunications in 2009 but did not restore full Church status.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, causing severe damage and many deaths. Rescue teams are searching for survivors amid ongoing efforts to assess the impact.
Key Facts
Venezuela experienced two earthquakes in a short time on Wednesday night.
The earthquakes caused significant destruction in affected areas.
The death toll has risen substantially after the events.
Emergency crews are actively looking for people trapped or injured.
Authorities are still evaluating the full extent of the damage.
Experts, including geologists, are analyzing the earthquakes to understand them better.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
This week, peace talks continued between the United States and Iran. In other news, the former head of the Scottish National Party, Peter Murrell, was sentenced to prison for stealing over £400,000 from the party, and a man in Cardiff returned dumped rubbish to the person who illegally left it after checking CCTV footage.
Key Facts
The US and Iran held ongoing peace talks this week.
Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, was jailed for embezzling more than £400,000.
A Cardiff resident returned seven bags of illegally dumped rubbish to the fly-tipper’s home.
The man found the fly-tipper by reviewing CCTV recordings.
The quiz mentioned in the article covers various current world events.
The article briefly involves former President Donald Trump but does not detail the specific incident.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Rutgers University study found that many city mice are developing genetic changes that make common mouse poisons less effective. These mutations help mice survive poison treatments, which could make controlling rodent problems in U.S. cities harder.
Key Facts
About 70% of tested mice had mutations that help them resist common rodent poisons.
Rats also showed some mutations, but are still more vulnerable to poisons than mice.
The study focused on mice and rats from cities like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
The genetic changes affect a gene called Vkorc1, linked to how poisons disrupt blood clotting in rodents.
Resistance to rodenticides grows because mice with mutations survive and reproduce more.
Rodents spread disease and can damage property and food supplies.
New York City has struggled with rat infestations, but recent efforts may have reduced sightings by about 15%.
The findings are important because rodent control is already a challenging issue in many U.S. cities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland has publicly supported Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic Senate primary election in Michigan. Abdul El-Sayed is competing against Representative Haley Stevens and State Senator Mallory McMorrow for the Democratic nomination.
Key Facts
Senator Chris Van Hollen is from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party.
Van Hollen endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for the Michigan Senate Democratic primary.
Abdul El-Sayed is a former director of health-related services in Wayne County, Michigan.
El-Sayed is considered a progressive candidate.
His opponents in the primary include Representative Haley Stevens and State Senator Mallory McMorrow.
The primary election will decide who becomes the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Michigan.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Ron Wyden accused the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of planning to deport over 500 unaccompanied migrant children using a new legal process. He warned that this effort could send children back to unsafe countries without proper legal review and asked HHS to stop the plan immediately.
Key Facts
Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the planned deportations.
The children targeted have been in federal care for more than 180 days and lack sponsors in the US.
Most of these children have legal representation in their immigration cases.
Wyden said deporting them without involving their lawyers would violate due process rights.
The children come from countries including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Afghanistan.
The move seems timed to avoid immigration court decisions by targeting children before a June 30, 2026 deadline.
HHS has not answered previous questions about changes to its child welfare mission in handling migrant children.
HHS responded by denying plans to deport these children, stating their priority is placing children with properly vetted sponsors.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
