Iniaes

In Washington

July 4 brought the usual blend of ceremony, branding, and political theater. The Treasury Department launched Trump Accounts for children under 18, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also previewed a new U.S. bill carrying Trump’s signature ahead of the 250th birthday celebrations. The president is also set to speak on the National Mall before a fireworks show being billed as one of the biggest ever staged in the capital.

Separately, Trump’s lawyers are asking for more time to pay the $5 million judgment in the E. Jean Carroll civil case, after the Supreme Court declined to take up his appeal. The filing says the new lead counsel needs time to get up to speed. The paperwork, in other words, has become the venue.

And in the Washington area, white nationalists marched during the holiday festivities, drawing renewed criticism over Trump’s refusal to forcefully reject them during his presidency.

In business

Sky is expected to announce a deal to buy ITV’s TV and streaming channels, a move that could reshape UK television ownership if it is confirmed. The details are not yet public, but the headline implication is clear enough, one fewer company gets to pretend the media landscape is simple.

In labour

PECO’s utility workers strike entered its second day after contract talks stalled, with a federal mediator now involved. The union reported several alleged incidents involving striking workers in Philadelphia and Chester County, including claims of rough treatment at a picket line and at a PECO yard in Tredyffrin Township. PECO says its offer includes nearly a 20 percent wage increase over five years, plus better retirement and medical benefits.

In France and overseas

Marine Le Pen is appealing her conviction for misusing European Union funds, a ruling that could complicate any future presidential bid. In Indonesia, construction has begun on two Scorpène-class submarines with French support, part of a broader effort to build domestic naval manufacturing capacity.

In the weather

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the Philadelphia region until 11 p.m., with forecasters warning of frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and potentially damaging wind gusts.

In U.S. news

Union officials say three striking PECO workers have been injured since the walkout began just after midnight Saturday. In Philadelphia, a judge has delayed changes at the President’s House site, so the exhibit will stay as it is through the July Fourth weekend, including material on the enslaved people held at George Washington’s home.

Washington’s fireworks are still set to go ahead under an extreme heat warning, and experts say the smoke could briefly push air pollution around the National Mall to levels seen in Beijing during a bad stretch. President Trump has also pardoned 11 people, including nine convicted under the Clean Air Act, a phrase that does a lot of work for a very small car problem.

In international news

Ukrainian drones hit an oil terminal and port infrastructure near St. Petersburg in an overnight attack, according to Russia, which said there were no casualties. In the Middle East, Iran has begun funeral rites for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, four months after he was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, with ceremonies planned in Tehran and other cities and renewed warnings over the Strait of Hormuz.

In business and geopolitics

Canada and Japan have signed more than CA$1 billion in deals and are exploring joint stockpiles of critical minerals, part of a broader effort to cut dependence on China for rare earths and related materials. The companies involved are looking at supplies such as graphite and gallium, both increasingly sensitive commodities in a very calm and totally non-strategic global market.

In sports

Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals after Azzedine Ounahi put them ahead in the second half, ending Canada’s tournament and making Morocco the first African side to reach that stage twice. The team’s improvement under coach Mohamed Ouahbi has been clear over the last five months.

In tech and security

Security researchers say a flaw called GuardFall can exploit old Bash behavior to slip past safeguards in many open source AI coding agents. By hiding commands in files like repositories, README files, and Makefiles, attackers could push an agent to run code that steals credentials or compromises developer systems. Researchers tested 11 popular agents and said only one blocked every technique they tried.

In Europe

Portugal is battling wildfires as hot weather settles in, with the Vouzela blaze now the main concern. Fire crews from Spain and Italy are already on the ground helping with the response.

In archaeology

Archaeologists in northern Israel say they have found a prehistoric cave near Foreidis that was sealed for hundreds of thousands of years. The site appears unusually intact, with tools, animal bones, and signs of long-term occupation, offering a rare look at a little-understood stage of early human evolution before Neanderthals.

In U.S. crime and public safety

Police in the St. Louis area say a woman was found with about 30 stab wounds after neighbors heard her scream from a balcony that she was going to die. Investigators say she identified her husband as the attacker and said he threatened their 6-year-old child before leaving with the girl. Officers later found the child safe in Illinois and arrested the father, who now faces assault, armed criminal action, and child endangerment charges.

In U.S. news

The latest employment report showed the U.S. economy added just 57,000 jobs in June, with hospitality losing 61,000. It’s a weak reading for an economy that was supposed to get a lift later this year from big event spending. Separately, the CDC says West Nile virus season is starting earlier than usual, with 48 human cases reported across 12 states by the end of June, the highest total for that point in the year since 2004. The agency is urging people heading outside for Fourth of July gatherings to use repellent and avoid mosquito-heavy times at dusk and dawn.

Also in Washington, dozens of intelligence officials have reportedly begun receiving termination notices under acting national intelligence director Bill Pulte, in what the administration is framing as a purge of the “deep state.” Intelligence leaders say the workers had not provided complete pictures of available intelligence.

In Thailand

Thai police say they have arrested a 21-year-old British woman after her boyfriend was found stabbed to death at a luxury rental home in the Pattaya area. Local media reported that the man operated a cannabis farm. The investigation is ongoing.

In U.S. news

President Trump’s memecoin has left nearly 1 million investors in the red, with Nansen estimating losses of $3.81 billion through the end of June. Hype does not count as a business model.

Pope Leo, in his first major address to Americans, praised the United States for its history of welcoming migrants and urged the country to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. The message was an implicit rebuke to Donald Trump, delivered with considerably more grace than the target usually merits.

Separately, Washington’s Fourth of July marking of 250 years of self-governance has run into political bitterness, performers dropping out, and even algae in the Reflecting Pool. A celebratory mood is still under review.

In Britain

A survivor of the Rotherham grooming gangs has warned that Labour’s prison space plans could see two men convicted of abusing her considered for early release. Sarah Wilson said the prospect has left her devastated, and said it would send the wrong message to victims. The Ministry of Justice says the policy is needed to deal with overcrowding.

Police in Essex are investigating after a man died in the early hours of Friday after falling from Grampian Tower in Westcliff-on-Sea. Officers were called after reports of a disturbance and found the man dead outside the housing block. No arrests have been made.

And Rolls-Royce has started work on a new submarine reactor manufacturing site that the company says will more than double its current footprint and support both UK and Australian programmes. The investment is expected to create up to 1,170 jobs, which is one way to make a defence project sound almost cheerful.

In international news

The United States has begun moving all six B-52 bombers out of RAF Fairford in Britain and back toward the U.S. as talks with Iran continue in Doha, with Qatar and Pakistan mediating. The aircraft had been deployed for Operation Epic Fury, and their departure suggests Washington is trying to ease pressure while negotiations remain fragile. The Air Force has not said why the bombers left.

In Germany, thousands of protesters gathered in Erfurt to try to disrupt the far-right AfD’s annual conference. Unions, civil society groups and left-wing parties all joined the demonstration.

In sports

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli beat Lewis Hamilton to win the Silverstone sprint at the British Grand Prix. It was an action-packed result and, for Mercedes, probably the sort of afternoon that produces a very busy debrief.

In U.S. politics

Donald Trump opened the 250th birthday events at Mount Rushmore with a partisan speech, praising the Army while warning of a revived “communist menace” and casting his opponents as enemies of July 4th.

In the UK

A rare copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence has been discovered in Britain, and the National Archives says it is one of the rarest known versions of the document.

Separately, a woman identified as Annie is suing the Crown Prosecution Service over how her stepfather’s abuse case was handled, saying the prosecution was so badly managed it breached her human rights. She says the case began with a report to police after childhood abuse.

Brexit is still producing small, tidy acts of administrative damage, this time for British teenagers living in the EU. From 2028, they could lose “home fee” status for UK universities and face international tuition rates and no student finance.

In business

Severn Trent has doubled the long-term pay potential for its new chief executive, James Jesic, lifting the maximum value of that reward plan to £3.1 million. The company says his total annual package could reach £4.8 million.

In science and space

NASA is looking for volunteers for a year-long isolation mission simulation at Johnson Space Center, starting no earlier than August 2027. The exercise is meant to test how people cope with deep-space confinement ahead of future Moon and Mars missions.

In Europe and beyond

Spain’s wildfire season is intensifying, with nearly 50,000 hectares already burned this year and Cantabria among the worst-hit areas. Officials have recorded 14 large forest fires so far, and June has been the most destructive month.

In U.S. politics and the courts

The Trump administration has sent more than 200 FBI analysts to Georgia, even though no evidence of fraud has surfaced there from the 2020 election. Critics say the move is part of a broader push to keep election trust permanently on the operating table, in case anyone needs another look before the next vote.

Separately, an appeals court has let the administration restore contested slavery-history panels at George Washington’s Philadelphia home site while the underlying fight continues. Opponents say the panels downplay slavery there; the court says they can go back up for now.

Heat, storms, and the systems that have to survive them

The Fourth of July forecast is ugly in the usual summer way, with another 100-degree day expected, then severe storms later in the day and more rain risk on Sunday.

That’s the backdrop for a possible PECO strike in Philadelphia, where about 1,500 workers say they will walk out at 12:01 a.m. Saturday if no contract deal is reached. The utility says it has a competitive offer and backup plans, which is comforting in the same way a flashlight is comforting during a blackout.

The heat is also forcing events indoors, or at least into damage control. A delayed concert with Idina Menzel and the Philly Pops still drew thousands to Independence Mall, while the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., shut down temporarily on Friday amid the extreme temperatures.

In brief

Firefighters are battling a four-alarm church fire in Burlington County.

And in Wyoming, remains found near Sweetwater Gap have been identified as a British man who disappeared while camping around 2020. Officials say the cause of death is still unknown, and the remains are being prepared for return to Scotland.

In the Americas

A Venezuelan tourist town has been left in ruins after earthquakes, with the local economy badly damaged and the death toll still rising. In the U.S., the East Coast is bracing for a record-breaking July Fourth heat wave, with triple-digit temperatures disrupting travel, straining power grids, and forcing some celebrations to change plans.

One year after the deadly flooding at Camp Mystic, parents are still pressing for stronger camp safety rules. The disaster killed 28 people, most of them young girls, and investigators later said the camp did not respond adequately to storm warnings.

In world news

Reports from Ukraine say Russia is increasingly relying on foreign recruits, including African soldiers, as its war drags on and casualties remain high. In Iran, funeral ceremonies have begun for Supreme Leader Khamenei.

In business and technology

Chinese machinery maker Zoomlion says it has unveiled five new-energy technologies for construction, mining, and farm equipment, part of a wider push into hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell machines. The company says it now has about 240 new-energy products.

Infineon has opened a $5.7 billion power semiconductor factory in Dresden months ahead of schedule, adding 1,000 jobs and doubling its local manufacturing capacity. The plant will make chips for AI data centers, electric grids, renewable energy systems, industrial equipment, and software-defined vehicles.

Longsys says it has reached monthly output of 1 million micro SSDs for edge AI devices, with Lenovo and ASUS already qualifying the modules for commercial use. The company says the storage supports current PCIe Gen4 and Gen5 systems, with Gen6 compatibility later.

In public safety

The NTSB says it still has not found an obvious cause for last month’s skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, which killed 12 people. Investigators say the case remains open.

In U.S. public health

The CDC is warning about a cyclosporiasis outbreak reported in 17 states, with cases tied to imported fresh produce including raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro. The illness can cause severe diarrhea.

In U.S. news

At least two people were killed in a shooting at Fairlane Town Center in Michigan, and police said an innocent bystander was also hit. No suspect or motive has been released, and investigators are still working the scene.

In Washington, the Great American State Fair shut down for several hours as temperatures reached 102 degrees and the heat index climbed above 110. Organizers reopened it later, once the heat eased enough to make the day less punishing.

In the Middle East

Israeli settlers attacked a foreign activist and another man while blocking Palestinians from reaching farmland.

In Latin America

Keiko Fujimori has won Peru’s presidential runoff, after a campaign dominated by voter anger over crime and extortion by violent gangs. She says she will crack down hard, which is a familiar promise in a country that has heard plenty of them.

Separately, the U.S. military is continuing disaster relief in Venezuela after last week’s earthquakes, with airlifts, transport flights, and the USS Fort Lauderdale helping move supplies and support communications. The death toll is nearing 2,000.

In science and energy

France has started work on its next nuclear aircraft carrier, a 78,000-ton program built around French industry but dependent on American electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear. In the UK, a private consortium has proposed 14 small modular reactors at three sites, aiming to add 4.2 gigawatts of capacity if regulators and financiers sign off.

In the U.S.

The Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that states may bar transgender girls from girls’ school sports, upholding laws already on the books in 27 states. The decision clears the way for more lawsuits.

Federal investigators are still sorting through ransom notes in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, saying some were fake and others are still being checked as possible leads. A California man has admitted to exploiting the family with bogus ransom demands.

In Louisiana, the state Supreme Court has paused the criminal case against Attorney General Liz Murrill one day after her indictment over claims she threatened New Orleans officials’ jobs. The court said the lower court and special prosecutor did not follow proper procedure.

And in San Francisco, the Ruby Princess was docked for disinfection after a norovirus outbreak sickened more than 120 passengers and crew.

In Europe

France has recorded its hottest June on record, with average temperatures on June 24 and 25 reaching the highest levels ever measured in the country.

In Brussels, the European Commission is pushing five new defense projects meant to get EU states to buy capabilities together instead of separately, with 18 member states and Ukraine involved. In Berlin, Chancellor Merz met Baltic leaders ahead of the NATO summit, where they pledged stronger deterrence against Russia and more aid for Ukraine.

In the Middle East

Mourners in Damascus buried victims of a cafe bombing as officials promised justice, though there is still no clear indication of who carried out the attack. Many quickly blamed loyalists of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.

In the Middle East and energy markets

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has surged as confidence returns that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will hold, though analysts say the backlog may still take weeks to clear and thousands of non-Gulf sailors are still stuck in the strait. With oil prices easing, countries are also moving to rebuild energy stockpiles, from India’s expanded crude storage plans to Europe’s push for larger reserves. One forecast now has crude sliding as low as $60 a barrel by year end, the sort of calm markets like to find after an extremely expensive panic.

Separately, U.S. and Iranian technical talks have been paused while Iran prepares a multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies beginning in Tehran and ending with burial in Mashhad next week.

In U.S. news

Philadelphia police have identified the suspect in the deadly Hunting Park shootings as 21-year-old Jahylin Melchur.

In Washington, former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn has been indicted on a felony property-destruction charge after prosecutors said he deliberately damaged the new lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Separately, Donald Trump Jr. is facing renewed scrutiny over his stake in GrabAGun, a Texas firearm retailer, while the administration weighs major federal gun reforms.

In Europe

Spanish conservatives have struck another deal with Vox to keep governing Andalucía, tightening the two parties’ cooperation and nudging them closer to a possible national alliance. In Britain, police and local officials condemned graffiti in Folkestone reading “Assassinate Nigel Farage,” which targeted the Reform UK leader.

And in Monaco, Interpol has issued a red notice for a Ukrainian woman suspected in a parcel bomb attack that seriously injured Ukraine-born businessman Vadym Iermolaiev and two family members.

In tragedies and rescue efforts

Rescuers in Venezuela are still searching the ruins after twin earthquakes hit the country’s northern coast last week. Thousands of volunteers and overseas teams are working through the rubble, with the worst damage reported in La Guaira and children among those feared trapped in a collapsed beachfront apartment block.