In Germany

Police in Berlin surrounded a supermarket after a woman was taken hostage. Staff who were inside at the time were able to leave unharmed and are being looked after by emergency services. The standoff is still ongoing.

In Ukraine

Russia launched a wave of missile and drone strikes overnight, including Iskander ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones, Ukraine’s air force said. At least 10 people were injured in Kyiv.

In Britain

Devon and Cornwall Police say a 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe has been released without charge and is no longer part of the investigation. Officers say they are still trying to identify those responsible and are reviewing all available evidence.

In science and space

China says its Long March 10B rocket completed its maiden launch and successfully recovered its first-stage booster on a sea platform, a first for the country in controlled launch-vehicle recovery. The payload reached its planned orbit, and the rocket is being developed for reusable flights.

In Washington

Senior U.S. officials now say a nuclear deal with Iran looks increasingly unlikely, a notable sign that talks may not deliver the limits on Tehran’s program the Trump administration wants. Officials are also pressing Iran to declare the Strait of Hormuz open and stop attacks on shipping, while warning of serious consequences if that does not happen by Saturday. Trump separately said he has left instructions for retaliation if Iran kills him, after a report of a possible Iranian plot against him that U.S. officials said has not been fully vetted. Treasury also announced new sanctions tied to an Iranian financial facilitator.

At the same time, the Homeland Security Department has told employers to begin letting go workers whose Temporary Protected Status work permits are expiring in the coming weeks, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Permits for Haitians expire July 24, while permits for workers from Ethiopia, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen expire July 17.

In U.S. politics

Democrats are still having trouble raising money under DNC chair Ken Martin, more than a year after he took over promising a grassroots rebuild. Republicans now hold about a 2-to-1 cash advantage, and some Democratic operatives say Martin never really built the donor and party ties he would need to become the center of the party’s internal argument over direction.

On the Main Line

Police in Lower Merion Township are warning residents after a series of burglaries that investigators say follow a similar pattern. Detectives believe an organized theft crew may be targeting wealthy neighborhoods, watching for empty homes, getting in through second-floor windows or doors, and taking small, high-value items. Police say the crimes may be tied to crews that travel using rental cars and fake identities, and they are urging homeowners to use lights, alarms, and delivery pauses when they travel.

Investigators are also looking at whether burglaries in Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood, and Penn Valley are linked to the South American Theft Group. In one case, police say they found a hidden camera outside a home in Gladwyne that may have been used to track the homeowner’s movements.

At the bridge

Canada and Michigan say the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Ontario and Detroit, is set to open at the end of July, 14 years after construction began. That is either a long-delayed infrastructure project or a monument to the concept of patience.

In U.S. politics and immigration

The Trump administration rescinded a key Endangered Species Act habitat rule, removing a protection that helped preserve critical wildlife habitat. In a separate move, the Justice Department’s civil rights division sent letters to election officials in every state warning of possible criminal penalties if they do not provide voter rolls. The White House is also planning new fences outside the building, with pedestrian access to the front potentially closed off if security risks are flagged.

Immigration enforcement is drawing fresh scrutiny after ICE deported a convicted child rapist two decades after a removal order, and after the fatal shooting of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by federal immigration officers in Texas. Officials say that shooting was a case of mistaken identity, and critics are calling for an independent investigation.

In tech and business

Apple has sued OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets as Apple works on its own hardware for ChatGPT.

Meta has backed away from an AI photo and video feature after backlash from Hollywood and criticism over how it handled public Instagram accounts. The company first scaled back the tool, then said it would discontinue it altogether after the opt-out setup drew complaints from talent agencies and others. In another business move, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged Samsung and SK Hynix to expand chip production in the United States as demand for AI memory chips keeps climbing.

In the Americas

Nicaragua’s government has stripped lawyers of their certification in its latest crackdown on dissent, adding to a long record of pressure on critics under Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

Cuba has suffered a second island-wide blackout in a week as fuel shortages continue to strain the power grid. The island is still dealing with a fragile energy system.

In the rest of the news

A special counsel is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja over allegations tied to political funds and bribery.

In Maine, Graham Platner has formally withdrawn from the Senate race, leaving Democrats still looking for a candidate who can seriously challenge Senator Susan Collins.

And in a more surreal corner of the internet-age economy, crypto billionaires are pitching private nations where wealth determines voting power.

In crime and investigations

In the UK, police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder after the death of former minister Ann Widdecombe was reclassified as suspicious. Separately, prosecutors have authorised charges against Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma over a triple murder in Bedford, and he has been arrested in South Africa.

In Ireland, officials say American mother Jamey Carney died from suffocation after head injuries at her home in County Kerry, and investigators are treating the case as murder while they search for a person of interest who may have left the country.

In New Jersey, prosecutors say Conor Hanlon found his wife unconscious and bleeding at home, called 911 for CPR instructions, and investigators later determined she had died from multiple sharp force injuries.

In U.S. politics and security

The Justice Department has sued Maryland over its new sanctuary immigration law, arguing the state’s Community Trust Act interferes with federal enforcement. The lawsuit seeks to block the law from taking effect.

On Capitol Hill, House Republican leaders plan a vote next week to make daylight saving time permanent, after a revolt led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.

A Senate committee has also rescheduled its confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, while bipartisan senators say they have reached agreement with the White House on a long-stalled Russia sanctions bill.

And eight people have been charged over an alleged plot to attack a White House UFC event last month, which drew President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and a large crowd.

In business and regulation

British airline EasyJet says it is considering a $7.7 billion takeover bid from Apollo Global Management.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it has reached a $26 million settlement over a 2022 Keystone Pipeline oil spill in Kansas.

Belgium’s regions say a new road tax is planned for 2027 and would also apply to drivers just passing through the country, with officials saying residents may get some offset through lower taxes.

In Europe

The European Union says Instagram and Facebook features may push users into an “autopilot mode” and could violate its rules, increasing pressure on Meta over how its platforms are designed and how they keep people engaged.

Georgia was left off the NATO summit partner list in Turkey, a move drawing criticism and renewing concerns that the country is slipping further into isolation.

In international affairs

The incoming Colombian government says it will close its embassies in Cuba and Nicaragua, while restoring diplomatic relations with the United States and Israel.

In the UK

British police have opened a murder investigation after Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home with serious injuries. Investigators have not said what happened or suggested a motive, and that is where the facts currently stop.

In business

Chile and Argentina have revived a nearly 30-year-old border mining treaty to push forward projects along their shared frontier. The planned investment could top $20.7 billion, a useful reminder that some countries still treat geology as an economic strategy.

In technology and security

NASA is trying to save its Swift telescope from falling out of orbit after solar activity expanded the upper atmosphere and increased drag on the spacecraft. The agency has turned to a startup, Katalyst Space Technologies, to attempt a robotic rescue, a gamble involving a company that has never flown a spacecraft before.

Separately, a new research paper says terrorist groups are using generative AI to improve battlefield tactics, including advice on modifying motorcycles for attacks. The report says the tools are being used directly by militant groups despite the guardrails meant to keep them from doing exactly that.

In the United States

A Monroe County sheriff’s deputy in South Florida was arrested after investigators said he used police databases and license-plate tools to track a woman he had met on set, then pulled her over without legal justification. Court records say he later entered a two-year pretrial intervention agreement and was removed from the sheriff’s office after his arrest.

In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says he is running against both parties and taking aim at the state’s political establishment. He made the comments at a Mackinac Island gathering of executives, lobbyists, and consultants, which he described as part of the problem with American politics.

And in Washington, a bipartisan Senate task force is backing the Jewish American Security Act as antisemitism rises. The effort centers on Holocaust education, protection for houses of worship, and better action against antisemitism online.

In U.S. courts and politics

ICE says the Mexican man killed during a Houston traffic stop was not the intended target, and Mexico is calling for an investigation. Separately, U.S. officials have not confirmed reports that Israel warned Washington about a new Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. More verified, and more immediate, is the court testimony in Utah, where the roommate of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk said the suspect admitted the shooting and said he regretted it.

Also in Washington, critics are blasting Trump for firing the last members of the election commission, warning that it could deepen midterm chaos. And after three years of appeals, Donald Trump has been ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll. The paperwork has finally outrun the motion practice.

In Europe

Wildfires in southern Spain have killed at least 11 people and injured 8, with 19 more still unaccounted for as crews work to contain the flames. Authorities are treating this as a major emergency.

Hungary is set to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, opening the door to investigations into alleged misuse of EU funds going back to June 2021, including corruption allegations tied to the Orbán era.

In business

Business leaders in South Africa say anti-migrant unrest is turning into a lasting cost of doing business, with protests disrupting Johannesburg, Durban, and Pretoria and forcing companies to spend more on security. Logistics firms along the N3 corridor say the hit is already running into the millions, and manufacturers and retailers are warning that shortages and more shutdowns could follow if the pressure on foreign workers continues.

In sports

Spain faces Belgium in a World Cup quarterfinal on Friday in Inglewood, with the winner moving on to play France. Spain arrives unbeaten and without conceding a goal in the tournament, while Belgium has scored seven goals in its last 130 minutes.

In business

Volkswagen has laid out a four-year restructuring plan aimed at cutting production capacity and making the company more competitive, though it still has not said how many jobs or factories could be at risk. In a separate market milestone, South Korea’s SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion in the U.S., the largest debut ever by a foreign company on an American exchange.

In U.S. news

In Bellevue, Washington, police arrested software engineer Avinash Narne in connection with the death of his wife, Rajitha Sabbineni. Investigators say the case involved alleged deception and an attempted cover-up.

In Houston, the Department of Homeland Security says Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was not the intended target when he was fatally shot during an ICE operation on July 7. His family is now speaking out after the shooting.

In Europe

The European Commission is suing Spain, France, and two other countries for failing to implement the EU’s NIS2 cybersecurity law. The rules are meant to force national cybersecurity strategies and stronger protections for critical infrastructure across member states.

In science

Researchers drilling beneath the Pacific say they have identified a clay-rich layer under the Japan Trench that helped the 2011 earthquake rupture all the way to the seafloor. That shallow rupture helped drive the tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people, and the findings could improve forecasts for future megaquakes.

In Asia

China is investigating a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, that killed 28 people. President Xi Jinping has ordered a full probe into the blaze.

In international news

Mexico is escalating its challenge to U.S. authorities over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals in enforcement operations, with the dispute sharpening after a fatal shooting by federal agents in Houston. It’s adding another layer of strain to border relations already carrying plenty of tension.

In eastern Poland, police say a 19-year-old Ukrainian was attacked by a group of about 12 youths after speaking Ukrainian on a call with his mother. His family says he suffered a broken nose and spinal injuries.

Iranian state media reported strikes on military headquarters in Bushehr province and in the city of Konarak, while the United States denied carrying them out. Separately, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply as U.S.-Iran fighting resumes, though Brent crude has held steady for now.

Australia has recorded its first case of deadly H5 bird flu in local wildlife, after a greater crested tern found dead on South Australia’s Limestone Coast tested positive.

In Spain, a wildfire in Almería province killed 12 people and injured six more as the southern European heatwave continues.

In business and tech

SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion in a major U.S. share sale, with its shares set to begin trading on Nasdaq Friday. If all goes as planned, it would be the largest debut ever by a foreign company.

Kia has told owners of 460,000 vehicles to park outside over a fire risk, the company’s third such warning in recent years.

Microsoft’s latest round of Xbox layoffs is reportedly hitting Bethesda and id Software especially hard, with more uncertainty now hanging over the remaining staff and further cuts still expected later this fiscal year.

In cybersecurity and tech

Experts say the move to post-quantum cryptography is not a quick software patch. It is a multi-year shift that will touch infrastructure, vendors, governance, and policy. The big message is that plenty of organizations are still nowhere near ready.

The European Commission is also taking Spain, France, and other countries to court over delays in implementing the NIS2 cybersecurity law, which is meant to tighten protection for critical infrastructure, from energy and transport to cloud services. Europe, in other words, is still in the thrilling phase where the rules exist before the paperwork does.

Barracuda has acquired Evo Security to expand its SMB identity security platform with privileged access management, multifactor authentication, and single sign-on. And this week’s security roundup brought the usual reminder that nobody ever runs out of ways to get breached, with hidden incidents, critical flaws, and new payout numbers all landing at once.

Separately, OpenAI’s Fidji Simo will step down from her full-time role after medical leave, saying she is focusing on recovery from a chronic illness.

In U.S. politics

AIPAC is spending heavily to try to stop Cori Bush’s comeback bid, as the former congresswoman runs again against Wesley Bell and tries to turn anti-establishment energy into a rematch win.

A freshman House Republican has introduced a bill to codify Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship order, aiming to narrow the long-standing principle that citizenship is granted to anyone born on U.S. soil.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez says the Trump administration is withholding records and obstructing his Jeffrey Epstein investigation, which is a familiar look for an administration that keeps discovering transparency only in campaign speeches.

In Europe

Hungary’s new pro-European prime minister, Péter Magyar, is moving to remove political appointees and institutional heads he says propped up Viktor Orbán’s system. Orbán’s allies are protesting the shake-up after his 16 years in power finally ran into a voter base with a pulse.

In Venezuela

The United Nations has launched a roughly $300 million appeal for survivors of Venezuela’s earthquakes, as the death toll has climbed to 3,889 and the risk of disease is growing.

In science and sports

A new study says giant kangaroos may have survived on New Guinea’s north coast until about 6,500 years ago, far later than scientists once thought, suggesting extinction across Australia and New Guinea happened in a more staggered way than the old story allowed.

In crime and courts

In Texas, El Paso County deputies say 21-year-old Kevin Guerrero fled a traffic stop over an obscured license plate, crashed in a desert lot, and was arrested after a foot chase. He faces charges including evading arrest with a vehicle and unlawfully carrying a weapon, with bond set at $37,500. Body-camera video shows him asking to call his mother while being taken into custody.

In North Carolina, police in Pineville say 31-year-old Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and fatally stabbed his 5-year-old son. Officers found the child shortly after midnight Thursday and later arrested Echoles at a Taco Bell about a mile away. He is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond.

In Indiana, police in Lafayette say a father left his three children in a hot car outside a Walmart for more than 10 minutes while he went inside. A witness heard the children screaming, called 911, and officers stopped him as he tried to drive away. The children were sweaty but not overheated, and police said the car reached 94 degrees inside.

In Tennessee, a former soccer coach in Franklin has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to child exploitation and fraud charges. Prosecutors said Camilo Campos-Hurtado used alcohol and drugs to abuse children and produced child sexual abuse material over several years. The investigation began after explicit videos were found on a phone he left at a business.

And in New Jersey, a judge has temporarily allowed Camden’s EMR metal shredder to reopen if its fire suppression system is working and it follows safety recommendations. The city had tried to keep the site shut after a May fire sent hazardous air pollution into the neighborhood. A hearing in August will decide whether the shutdown becomes permanent.

In energy and infrastructure

A new grid-planning platform called Energize is aiming to find unused capacity on the U.S. power grid, with its backers saying it could unlock about 300 gigawatts within three to five years. GridCARE says the software models millions of operating conditions and could help utilities connect solar, batteries, and large power users faster without waiting for new lines or substations. The company says it is already being tested, with reported gains at National Grid and in Oregon.