President Donald Trump posted on social media that more than 273 people had been shot in Chicago since the Iran war began. However, Chicago city records show that from February 28 to July 5, 523 people were shot, with 46 killed and 477 injured. The city tracks individual victims, counting both fatal and non-fatal shootings.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed over 273 people were shot in Chicago since the start of the Iran war.
Chicago’s official gunshot victim database records 523 people shot between February 28 and July 5.
Of those 523 victims, 46 were killed and 477 were wounded.
The database counts victims, not shooting events, and is updated as investigations progress.
The U.S.-Iran conflict began after Israel struck Iranian targets, leading to U.S. involvement.
About 16 U.S. service members have died and over 500 have been injured in the conflict so far.
Illinois has strict gun laws, including background checks, waiting periods, and limits on carrying guns publicly.
President Trump urged federal help to reduce Chicago’s gun violence, comparing it to crime reduction in Washington, D.C.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said during his July 4th speech on the National Mall that he felt he “wasn’t treated that well” regarding his legal cases and felony conviction. He linked this statement to the American principle of equal justice under the law while discussing the Constitution.
Key Facts
President Trump gave a speech on July 4th at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
He mentioned feeling unfairly treated in connection to his legal problems and felony conviction.
The president spoke about the American right to equal justice under the law.
He referenced the U.S. Constitution during his speech.
The remarks were made during the nation’s Independence Day celebration.
President Trump highlighted challenges he has faced related to the legal system.
The speech took place in a public, symbolic location important for U.S. history.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
On July 4, 2026, several problems disrupted Independence Day events across the United States as the country celebrated its 250th anniversary. Incidents included a skydiver crashing into a tent in California, a small fire on the Brooklyn Bridge during fireworks in New York, severe weather causing evacuation on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and problems with pyrotechnics at a celebration in Los Angeles.
Key Facts
A skydiver carrying an American flag crashed into a tent at the Folsom Pro Rodeo near Sacramento; no injuries were reported.
A small fire occurred on the Brooklyn Bridge during the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks in New York City; firefighters quickly put it out.
The Brooklyn Bridge remained safe and structurally sound despite the fire.
Severe thunderstorms caused thousands to evacuate the National Mall in Washington, D.C., delaying celebrations and requiring security rescreening.
President Donald Trump assured the public that his speech would continue despite the weather-related evacuation.
Some Fourth of July events were canceled or delayed on the East Coast due to bad weather.
A pyrotechnics malfunction caused chaos at a July 4 celebration hosted by Angel City FC in Los Angeles.
Most Independence Day events across the country proceeded without issues despite these mishaps.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Palestinian doctor, Hussam Abu Safia, has been held by Israel without charge for over 555 days and is now in life-threatening condition, according to his son and a human rights group. Abu Safia’s son says his father shows signs of severe abuse and poor health after being moved to solitary confinement in a high-security prison.
Key Facts
Dr. Hussam Abu Safia is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
He was arrested by Israeli forces on December 27, 2024, without any formal charges.
His health has deteriorated sharply, showing signs of abuse, difficulty breathing, and injuries.
Abu Safia was transferred to solitary confinement in Nitzan prison’s Rakefet section.
A lawyer visiting him reported seeing fresh bruises and severe injuries.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel said his life is in immediate danger and called for his release.
Israel has labeled him an “unlawful combatant,” a status used to detain Palestinians without trial.
Fourteen Palestinian doctors from Gaza are currently held by Israel without charges.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Venezuela experienced two strong earthquakes that caused nearly 3,000 deaths, according to updated official numbers. International rescue teams are now ending their search for survivors among the rubble.
Key Facts
Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes.
The official death toll is close to 3,000 people.
Rescue teams came from other countries to help with the search.
Search operations are now being wound down as chances of finding survivors decrease.
The earthquakes caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
The article was reported by FRANCE 24 from Caracas.
The official death number is expected to rise further.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Paris appeals court is about to make a decision on Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case. This ruling could affect whether she can run in France’s 2027 presidential election.
Key Facts
Marine Le Pen faces an appeals court ruling related to embezzlement charges.
The case involves accusations of misusing European Union funds.
The ruling is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2026.
Marine Le Pen is a leading candidate in the upcoming 2027 French presidential election.
The court’s decision could disqualify her from running for president.
The National Rally, Le Pen’s political party, has also been investigated for EU fund misuse.
The French presidential election is set to take place in 2027 with many candidates expected.
The political climate in France includes concerns about legal and financial issues involving politicians.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States celebrated its 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, 2026. The events took place while the country experienced strong political divisions and a severe heat wave affecting many states.
Key Facts
The U.S. marked 250 years since gaining independence.
Celebrations happened across the country on July 4, 2026.
The political atmosphere in the U.S. is currently very divided.
A major heat wave affected millions of people in several states during the celebrations.
President Donald Trump gave a speech at Mount Rushmore as part of the anniversary events.
The article noted other recent news like Taylor Swift’s wedding and international rescue efforts in Venezuela but focused on the U.S. birthday events.
The political divisions and weather challenges were highlighted as background to the celebrations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Chemical accidents involving dangerous substances have increased significantly between 2021 and 2025. The Trump administration is proposing to weaken safety rules designed to protect workers and nearby communities from these hazardous industrial chemical releases.
Key Facts
Chemical accidents rose 57% from 83 incidents in 2021 to 131 in 2025.
Injuries and deaths from these accidents increased from 60 to 89 over the same period.
More than 650 chemical accidents were reported between April 2020 and May 2026, including 103 fatal incidents.
Hydrofluoric acid, a highly corrosive chemical used in manufacturing and refineries, can travel miles if released, posing severe health risks.
Over 150 million people live within 3 miles of facilities handling such dangerous chemicals.
Many refineries using hydrofluoric acid were built before 1985 and have aging infrastructure.
Communities of color, including Black and Latino populations, are most at risk from accidental chemical releases.
Despite petitions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not banned the use of hydrofluoric acid at refineries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises off China’s eastern coast near Qingdao next week. The drills will include ships and submarines from both countries and involve activities like reconnaissance and missile defense.
Key Facts
The exercises will take place from Monday until July 13 near Qingdao, a major Chinese port.
Russian Navy will send a cruiser, corvette, diesel-electric submarine, and a rescue ship for the drills.
China will participate with two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship, and a rescue vessel.
The drills will focus on reconnaissance (gathering information), air and missile defense, and surface strike exercises.
After the drills, China and Russia plan to conduct joint maritime patrols in parts of the Pacific Ocean.
These joint naval exercises, called Joint Sea, have happened annually since 2012.
The training follows a recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, where he praised strong ties with China.
China has not condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine and says it remains neutral while calling for peace talks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A US man named Michael Phillips, who says he has the world's smallest penis, has raised nearly $13,000 online for a medical procedure to enlarge it. He plans to undergo treatment to improve his condition called micropenis, which causes health and personal difficulties.
Key Facts
Michael Phillips claims his penis measures only 0.38 inches (0.97 cm) fully erect.
He has a medical condition called micropenis, defined as a stretched length under 2.67 inches (6.8 cm).
Phillips raised almost $13,000 on GoFundMe from over 250 people to pay for an enlargement procedure.
A Beverly Hills surgeon offered to do the surgery free but Phillips chose a closer facility for his treatment.
The procedure aims to increase girth to help with some urinary and personal challenges he faces.
Phillips speaks out against body shaming related to micropenis and shares his experiences publicly.
Some online users have doubted the truth of his story, but Phillips has shown proof for media appearances.
The condition impacts his dating life and makes simple tasks like urinating difficult.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new study shows that the British swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon britannicus, has been a separate subspecies for at least 200,000 years. This rare butterfly lives only in the Norfolk Broads wetlands and depends on a rare plant, milk parsley, which is threatened by rising sea levels caused by global heating.
Key Facts
The British swallowtail butterfly is smaller and darker than its continental relatives.
Scientists previously thought the subspecies formed about 8,000 years ago but now believe it separated from European cousins 200,000 to 1.7 million years ago.
The butterfly’s caterpillars only eat milk parsley, a rare wetland plant.
Rising sea levels and salty water are harming milk parsley and the butterfly’s wetland habitat.
The continental swallowtail butterfly is becoming more common in Britain due to warmer weather.
There is concern that the continental butterfly might breed with the British subspecies, potentially mixing the two.
Experts say the British swallowtail is unique to Britain and should be protected with new conservation efforts.
Plans include moving the butterfly and its food plant to safer wetlands to help them survive.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A financial adviser explains how parents can help their children become millionaires by age 30 through early investing and smart money habits. Key steps include avoiding large student debt, investing from birth, encouraging good financial behavior, avoiding costly mistakes, and not rushing to buy a home.
Key Facts
Investing $1,000 a month from a child's birth at a 7% average return can grow to about $1.2 million by age 30.
The goal is to help children become financially independent, not just to give them money.
Student loan debt should ideally be zero or at most equal to one year’s starting salary; options to reduce debt include 529 plans, scholarships, and tuition reimbursement.
Start investing early, such as funding a Roth IRA for a teenager with earned income, to benefit from decades of compounding interest.
Parents should match children’s good financial habits, like contributions to retirement accounts, instead of giving cash.
Common wealth destroyers include large student loans, expensive car payments, credit card debt, buying too much house too soon, and delaying investing early in a career.
Owning a home is not always a good investment for young adults and can sometimes be a financial mistake.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Joe Manchin said the Democratic Party is facing leadership problems. He pointed to divisions within the party caused by some members supporting democratic socialist candidates.
Key Facts
Senator Joe Manchin previously was an independent before becoming a Democrat.
Manchin spoke during an interview on the radio show "Cats Roundtable."
He mentioned the party’s leadership has a “void,” meaning a lack of strong guidance.
Manchin connected this leadership gap to disagreements over democratic socialist candidates.
Some democratic socialist candidates recently won elections in certain states.
The divisions within the Democratic Party have become more visible and troubling to some members.
Manchin’s comments focus on internal party challenges rather than external political issues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a Palestinian pediatrician and hospital director, has been held by Israeli authorities since December 27, 2024, after surrendering Kamal Adwan Hospital following a siege. He is accused of ties to Hamas but has not been formally charged or given a chance for an independent review of evidence; his lawyer reports he is in poor health after over 500 days of detention.
Key Facts
Dr. Abu Safia surrendered Kamal Adwan Hospital on December 27, 2024, after an 85-day siege in Gaza.
The hospital faced attacks that killed at least 30 people and injured 20 during an Israeli military operation on December 6, 2024.
His teenage son was killed outside the hospital, adding to his personal loss amid the conflict.
Israel accuses him of affiliation with Hamas under the Unlawful Combatants Law but has not provided public evidence or formal charges.
He was seen in poor condition during a rare video court appearance on June 10, 2026, after more than 500 days in detention.
Many Palestinian medical workers, including 14 doctors, remain detained by Israel; some have died, and many healthcare workers have been killed.
Palestinian medical facilities and staff have been repeatedly targeted in the conflict, raising concerns about violations of international law.
Israel claims some hospitals serve as bases for armed groups but has not verified this publicly.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scientists studied how Earth's first continents formed about four billion years ago. They found that many big asteroid impacts heated the planet’s early crust, helping thick continental landmasses to develop.
Key Facts
Earth’s continents began forming around 4 billion years ago.
The earliest continental rocks date from the end of the Hadean eon (first 500 million years).
Scientists are unsure exactly how the first continents formed.
Two main ideas are tectonic plates moving or hot mantle plumes creating crust.
Models before did not include heat from asteroid impacts.
The Moon’s surface, with many craters but no plate tectonics, helps estimate impact rates.
Earth was hit by thousands of asteroids larger than 10 kilometers early on.
These impacts generated enough heat to keep Earth’s crust thin and allowed continents to form.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A large Russian attack using missiles and drones hit Kyiv, killing at least 30 people and causing heavy damage. Meanwhile, America celebrated its 250th Independence Day anniversary, and notable events included singer Taylor Swift marrying NFL player Travis Kelce.
Key Facts
On July 2, 2026, Kyiv was hit by a massive missile and drone attack from Russia.
At least 30 people died in the Kyiv attack.
Kyiv’s mayor called it the largest attack on the city so far.
The United States marked 250 years of independence with fireworks in Washington, DC.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden on July 3, 2026.
France defeated Sweden in the World Cup round of 32 in a match in New Jersey.
A large earthquake in Venezuela left many trapped and caused rescues, including a man found after a week.
Other events included a visit by Pope Leo XIV to a migrant landing point in Italy and a public mourning ceremony in Iran for their late leader.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Police in Lancashire found two dead men in a crashed car while searching for them after their families reported them missing. The car was hidden in thick bushes near a road, and police believe the bodies are those of William Hutchinson and Stuart Tallis, last seen in Preston in late June.
Key Facts
William Hutchinson, 31, was last seen on June 24 in Preston.
Stuart Tallis, 27, was reported missing three days later in the same city.
Police found two bodies inside a blue Peugeot 106 on July 4 near the A584 Preston New Road.
The car was hidden in thick undergrowth off the westbound side of the road.
Officers are asking for witnesses or drivers with dashcam footage from around the time of the crash.
Formal identification of the bodies has not yet been completed but is believed to be William and Stuart.
Family members have been informed and are receiving support from trained officers.
The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. on June 24, according to police reports.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many people find it hard to focus for a long time because of habits like checking phones and watching short videos. The trend called "attention-span-maxxing" encourages spending longer on activities like reading or watching without interruption to rebuild focus. Experts say attention can be improved but the process is complex and involves managing how the brain expects rewards from what it pays attention to.
Key Facts
The average attention span on digital devices is around 47 seconds.
Short-form content like TikTok encourages impatience and constant stimulation.
Genuine cognitive effort, like reading, helps build attention better than passive activities like gaming.
Attention rebuilding involves learning to tolerate discomfort and boredom during longer tasks.
Frequent use of short videos trains the brain to quickly avoid boredom by seeking new stimuli.
There is no clear evidence yet of lasting damage from short-form content, but it conditions how attention works.
Mindfulness research distinguishes “doing mode” (searching for tasks) from “being mode” (staying with one experience).
Spending longer focused on one task brings benefits such as better understanding and calmness.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, is reported to have received help from George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, before being elected to parliament. Farage did not fully declare these benefits, which may break parliamentary rules, leading to calls for an investigation.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage got support like security, drivers, staff, and housing paid for by George Cottrell before his 2024 election.
George Cottrell was jailed in the US in 2017 for money laundering and is trying to get a pardon from President Donald Trump.
Farage declared only one payment of about £9,200 from Cottrell, related to travel, but not other listed benefits.
The parliamentary rules say politicians must declare all benefits over £300 received within a year before election if linked to their political work.
Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde asked for an official investigation into Farage’s failure to declare these benefits.
Cottrell confirmed he hired and paid staff for Farage’s office and provided security payments in early 2024.
Farage is already being investigated for accepting £5 million from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Farage’s spokesman says no rules were broken and calls the report baseless.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nigeria reported that two Nigerian citizens were killed in South Africa during recent anti-immigrant protests. The deaths happened in late June amid violence targeting foreign workers, leading Nigeria and other countries to bring their citizens home.
Key Facts
Two Nigerians died on June 28 during anti-immigrant unrest in South Africa.
One was reportedly killed by police, the other by unknown attackers.
Protests blamed foreigners for unemployment, crime, and strained public services.
Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi have repatriated citizens due to the violence.
Nigeria summoned South African diplomats to address the issue.
Nigerian officials said the killings raise concerns about unfairly labeling Nigerians as criminals.
South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence, including deadly attacks in 2008.
South African police did not immediately comment on the recent killings.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
