Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by President Donald Trump, will become Colombia’s president in August. His election follows a trend where several Latin American countries have chosen conservative leaders who focus on tough crime policies and economic changes.
Key Facts
Abelardo de la Espriella, called "The Tiger," will be Colombia's next president and was supported by President Trump.
De la Espriella wants to stop peace talks with rebel groups and build large prisons like those in El Salvador.
Argentina elected Javier Milei, nicknamed "The Lion," who is cutting government spending to fight high inflation.
Ecuador’s leader Daniel Noboa was reelected and has increased the military’s role in fighting drug gangs.
Noboa’s government faced criticism for human rights issues during its anti-drug campaigns.
Honduras elected Nasry Asfura from the conservative National Party, supported by President Trump.
Chile elected José Antonio Kast, a conservative who plans to tighten border controls and limit illegal immigration.
These recent elections show a shift in Latin America toward conservative governments focusing on security and economic reform.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
British actor Aneurin Barnard stopped a robber who tried to steal a handbag from an elderly woman in Annecy, France, before the premiere of his new film. He caught and held the thief until the police arrived and then returned the bag to the woman.
Key Facts
Aneurin Barnard is a British actor known for roles in Dunkirk and Peaky Blinders.
The incident happened in the city center of Annecy during an animation film festival.
Barnard chased, tackled, and held the bag snatcher until police arrived.
The robbery victim was an older woman who was left traumatized.
The film Barnard was promoting is called Rogue Trooper, based on a UK sci-fi comic.
The film is an animated science fiction story about a super soldier seeking a traitor.
Director Duncan Jones shared the story on social media and praised Barnard’s actions.
The film features other actors like Sean Bean, Asa Butterfield, and Diane Morgan.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The White House has asked Congress for $87.6 billion in extra funds, mostly to cover costs of President Trump's war with Iran. Many Democrats oppose funding the conflict since Congress never officially approved it, and there is a political fight over a separate voting rights bill.
Key Facts
The White House requests $87.6 billion in new funds, with $67.1 billion for the Iran war.
$21 billion of the requested funds is for munitions and defense production.
The request includes $1.4 billion to fight Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
$11.1 billion is set aside to support US farmers affected by tariffs and high costs linked to the Iran conflict.
The proposal also wants Congress to allow selling E15 gasoline, which has more ethanol but can increase air pollution in warm weather.
President Trump has linked approval of the funding to passing a voting restrictions bill called the Save America Act, which is stalled in Congress.
Senate Democrats oppose new war funding, pointing out that the Pentagon already has $100 billion left unspent.
The Senate passed a non-binding resolution to limit the president’s authority to restart fighting with Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Defense gave Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $35 billion to make hundreds of THAAD missile interceptors each year for seven years. This effort aims to rebuild the U.S. missile stockpiles, which have been running low.
Key Facts
Lockheed Martin received a contract from the Pentagon worth up to $35 billion.
The contract lasts for seven years.
The contract requires Lockheed Martin to produce hundreds of THAAD interceptors annually.
THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, which is a missile defense system.
The goal is to replenish U.S. missile supplies that have been depleted.
The Missile Defense Agency announced the contract.
Lockheed Martin will initially receive $842.9 million as part of the deal.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
There are rumors that singer Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce might get married at Madison Square Garden in New York City over the July 4th weekend. City officials confirmed a street closure permit near the arena, and other signs suggest a wedding event there, though neither Swift nor Kelce’s names are on the permit.
Key Facts
A street closure permit was filed for roads near Madison Square Garden from July 2 to July 4.
The permit application did not include the names Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce.
Several Kansas City Chiefs players have booked hotel rooms near the arena during the holiday weekend.
Amtrak police at nearby Penn Station were told to expect a wedding event related to Taylor Swift.
Reports indicate two celebrations: a smaller one with around 100 guests on July 2, and a larger event on July 3.
Madison Square Garden is an indoor arena with no natural light or scenic views, unlike the outdoor locations some expected for the wedding.
Fans have mixed opinions, with some saying the venue fits the couple’s music and sports careers, and others finding the choice unusual.
The arena offers strong security features, including private entrances and restricted access to prevent paparazzi interference.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that it might never be clear who caused the missile strike on a girls' school in Iran, which killed over 100 people. He mentioned that missiles were flying in many directions, making it hard to determine responsibility.
Key Facts
The missile strike hit a girls' school in Iran.
More than 100 people died in the strike.
President Trump said it may never be known who was at fault.
He explained that many missiles were flying around at the time.
The event took place amid ongoing military tensions in the region.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cambodia has taken strong steps to fight online scams by passing a new law and increasing police actions. The government has also deported nearly 19,000 foreign suspects connected to scam activities and is collaborating with other countries to stop these scams.
Key Facts
Cambodia introduced a new law to combat online scams.
Law enforcement efforts against online scams have increased in the country.
Nearly 19,000 foreign nationals were deported for involvement in scam operations.
The government is working with international partners to break up scam networks.
These actions aim to reduce online fraud and protect people from scams.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Leonard Cohen’s estate objected to President Donald Trump’s use of Cohen’s song "Hallelujah" at the Freedom 250 rally, saying the use was unauthorized and not approved. Several other musicians have also opposed Trump using their songs at events without permission.
Key Facts
Leonard Cohen’s estate said using "Hallelujah" at Trump’s Freedom 250 rally was unauthorized and not supported.
Cohen passed away in 2016, and the estate made its statement via Cohen’s official Instagram account.
The Freedom 250 rally commemorates America’s 250th anniversary and has featured multiple concerts.
Many artists originally scheduled for the Freedom 250 concert withdrew due to political reasons.
Other musicians who have opposed Trump’s use of their songs include Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and Sinéad O’Connor’s estate.
Some artists have accused Trump of misusing songs that promote peace, love, and tolerance.
Unauthorized use of music at political events has led to public statements and legal actions by artists and their estates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France is experiencing a severe heatwave that is making life difficult in its overcrowded prisons. Many prisoners are packed into small cells without good ventilation or cooling, causing extremely uncomfortable and unsafe conditions. Prison guards are also struggling with the heat inside these poorly maintained buildings.
Key Facts
France is facing a historic heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).
Prisons in France are overcrowded, holding 140% of their capacity on average.
Some remand centres have overcrowding rates above 172%, housing people awaiting trial or with short sentences.
There are nearly 89,000 detainees in French prisons as of May 2026, with only 750 new places created in the past year.
Many prisoners share cells built for only one person and some sleep on mattresses on the floor.
Prison buildings are old, poorly maintained, and not insulated against heat or cold.
Prison staff also suffer from heat inside the facilities, making their work very difficult.
The heatwave exposes long-standing problems in France’s prison system related to overcrowding and infrastructure.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A group of conservative members of the House of Representatives is blocking much of the House’s work until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. This bill would require people to show proof that they are citizens before voting. Speaker Mike Johnson is facing difficulty in pushing the House agenda because of these demands.
Key Facts
Conservative hard-liners in the House are stopping most House actions.
Their main demand is the passage of the SAVE America Act.
The SAVE America Act requires proof of citizenship to vote.
This blockage is creating problems for Speaker Mike Johnson.
The stalled House agenda depends on Congress acting on this bill.
The issue involves voting rules and election integrity.
Speaker Johnson is a Republican from Louisiana.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protected status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti and Syria. This decision affects around 356,000 people and removes their legal protection from deportation.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of ending TPS for Haitians and Syrians.
TPS is a program that protects people from countries facing violence or natural disasters from being deported.
The ruling overturns lower court orders that had blocked ending these protections.
The court’s conservative majority said courts cannot question decisions made by immigration officials about TPS.
The Trump administration argued that TPS was meant to be temporary and should end when conditions improve.
Some justices disagreed, saying that race and unfair process influenced the decision to end protections.
Haiti and Syria are still considered unsafe by immigration lawyers who warned returning migrants would face danger.
Advocates and groups like the NAACP protested the decision, calling it harmful to Haitian families living in the U.S.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge blocked parts of President Donald Trump's executive order that aimed to create a list of citizens eligible to vote and to limit mail-in voting. The judge said the order overstepped the president’s authority and tried to pressure local election officials using flawed citizen lists.
Key Facts
Judge Indira Talwani stopped the government from enforcing parts of Trump’s order on voter citizenship lists and mail-in ballot transmission.
The order required federal agencies to create citizen voter lists and asked the Postmaster General to propose rules restricting mail-in ballots.
Judge Talwani ruled that these actions exceeded the president’s constitutional powers.
The judge ordered the administration to report on how they will follow her ruling within a week.
White House spokeswoman said President Trump supports election security and plans to continue trying to implement the order.
The Postmaster General confirmed USPS would not deliver mail ballots in states that don't share voter data.
The judge said Congress did not allow USPS to control voting by mail or create rules for it.
Another federal judge recently blocked most of Trump’s earlier order demanding proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK has recorded its hottest June day ever, with temperatures reaching 36.4°C in Somerset. A red weather warning for extreme heat has been extended, and multiple NHS trusts have declared critical incidents due to the heatwave.
Key Facts
The temperature of 36.4°C in Somerset is the highest ever recorded in the UK during June.
This new record broke the previous one set just a day earlier.
A red weather warning, which signals extreme heat, has been extended in parts of the UK until Friday.
At least six NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents, meaning the heat is putting heavy pressure on healthcare services.
Climate experts, including BBC’s Climate Editor and a university scientist, have discussed why the heatwave is so severe.
The episode also features a discussion about business leaders' feelings on the upcoming government.
The report was part of the BBC’s Newscast podcast, hosted by Adam Fleming.
Listeners can access this content on smart speakers and online platforms like BBC Sounds.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump is delaying progress on a housing reform bill called the Save America Act. Housing affordability is important to many Americans, and lawmakers from both parties had agreed on a plan, but the President's actions are now blocking it.
Key Facts
Housing affordability is a key issue for many Americans.
Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers agreed on housing reform legislation.
The legislation is part of the Save America Act.
President Trump is holding up the progress of this housing bill.
The delay is preventing the bill from moving forward in government.
The issue had bipartisan support before President Trump intervened.
Housing reform could help make homes more affordable if passed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Strong earthquakes hit northern Venezuela, causing severe damage and collapsing many buildings. Rescue teams from Venezuela and other countries are working quickly to find survivors, while thousands of people are feared dead.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck northern Venezuela less than 40 seconds apart.
The Simón Bolívar international airport and surrounding coastal cities suffered heavy damage.
Over 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira region alone, including apartment blocks and hotels.
Thousands of people are feared dead or missing, including children and elderly residents.
Rescue teams, including support from the US Department of Defense and French specialists, are helping with search and rescue efforts.
The earthquakes were felt as far away as Manaus, Brazil, over 1,000 miles from Caracas.
Venezuela declared a state of emergency and designated the area a disaster zone.
World leaders, including President Trump, offered condolences and prepared aid for Venezuela.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iran has rejected a UN-supported plan to help evacuate ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global trade. The rejection comes amid tensions over control and safety in the strait, as Iran and other Gulf countries have different plans for managing ship traffic.
Key Facts
Iran refused a UN plan supported by Oman to create new ship evacuation routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
The plan included setting up a management system for the strait, possibly charging voluntary fees like in the Malacca and Singapore straits.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards called the new routes unsafe and insisted ships must coordinate with them to pass through.
A previously used shipping route is blocked by mines, making it dangerous for ships.
Iran and the US recently signed a deal aimed at ensuring free navigation without fees in the strait for at least 60 days.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to hold talks between Gulf states and Iran for a peace pact were harmed by Iran’s rejection.
Iran is using control over the strait as a bargaining chip in ongoing talks about US sanctions, asset relief, and its nuclear program.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon continue disagreements over Israeli troop withdrawals from southern Lebanon, complicating regional peace efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The National Park Service reported that the liner at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor, causing damage after recent repairs. The Park Service plans to drain the pool after Independence Day to assess and fix the damage while a nonprofit group is suing to stop further renovation work.
Key Facts
The Reflecting Pool’s liner was cut with a knife or razor on June 9, damaging the foam sealant and surface material.
About 70 fence post tops were thrown into the Reflecting Pool.
The National Park Service reported the incident to U.S. Park Police, who are investigating.
President Donald Trump blamed unidentified vandals for damage, saying "sick people" used razors and box cutters.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the damage, according to President Trump, but details were not provided.
The pool was recently renovated with a new waterproof liner as part of a $16 million project before the nation’s 250th birthday.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued to stop further renovation work, urging a review with experts and public input.
The Park Service will drain the pool after July Fourth celebrations to carry out repairs and assess damage.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Hunter Biden said the Democratic Party needs to change its political approach after progressive and socialist candidates won primary races in New York. He believes these wins show that voters want a new style of leadership.
Key Facts
Progressive and socialist candidates won primary elections in New York this week.
These candidates were supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Hunter Biden spoke about the results and advised the Democratic Party to rethink its strategy.
He said the victories show voters want change from usual management.
Hunter Biden is the son of President Joe Biden.
The wins indicate growing support for progressive and socialist ideas within the party's base.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A small commercial plane made an emergency landing in a remote area of Alaska's Brooks Range. All ten people on board escaped without injuries and were rescued by helicopter.
Key Facts
The plane crashed in a remote wilderness area in Alaska called the Brooks Range.
Ten people were on board the flight, including the pilot.
The pilot had to make an emergency landing.
No one was hurt in the crash.
A helicopter rescued the pilot and passengers afterward.
The incident relates to aviation safety in Alaska.
The news was reported shortly after the event occurred.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge stopped President Trump’s order to make a national list of eligible voters. The judge said states have the right to manage their own elections, confirming earlier rulings against the order.
Key Facts
President Trump issued an executive order in March to create a federal list of eligible voters.
The goal was to overhaul the election system using available data.
District Court Judge Indira Talwani blocked the order.
Judge Talwani was appointed by President Obama.
The judge agreed with earlier decisions that states control elections, not the federal government.
This is the fourth time a court has stopped this effort by President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
