Iniaes

In U.S. politics

Donald Trump said Israel would have been “eviscerated” without U.S. support and claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will do as I say” on military operations, while the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah kept fraying with Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Hezbollah drones triggering alerts in northern Israel.

Elsewhere in Washington, three Democratic senators, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, and Elizabeth Warren, are pressing the FCC to pause the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, arguing foreign investors in the deal could pose a national security risk. Trump also said a former Qatari-owned jumbo jet converted for presidential use is nearly ready to become an interim Air Force One — a flying White House, which is exactly the kind of phrase that should make everyone sit down and check the wiring.

In the UK

One person has died and nearly 90 others have been injured after two trains collided near Bedford, about 100 kilometers north of London. Emergency services are still dealing with the aftermath.

In Ukraine and Europe

Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave Belarus a week to remove signal relay equipment he says Russia is using in attacks on Ukraine, warning Kyiv would act if it does not. He also urged Belarus to cut off refined oil supplies to the Russian military.

In wider developments, EU leaders defended keeping diplomatic contact with Moscow, Russia said it remains open to dialogue without ultimatums, Emmanuel Macron said Europeans would need a seat at any Ukraine peace talks, and Poland said it would strip Zelenskyy of a top honour over a wartime nationalist reference. Separately, Russian shelling killed three civilians in Kramatorsk, and French authorities detained a Belarus-born man on suspicion of spying on a drone manufacturer.

In sports

Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 at the World Cup, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinícius Júnior adding the third before halftime. Brazil moved to the top of Group C, while Haiti are out of contention for the knockout stage.

In the U.S.

A train crash in Bedford, with one driver killed and 33 people seriously injured, has been declared a major incident, with nearly 90 people hurt in all. In Kansas City, police say an Uber carrying Argentina soccer fans was caught up in a series of shootings that left one man dead and four people injured. And in Texas, Collin County has released trial exhibits from the case against Karmelo Anthony, including crime scene photos, the knife prosecutors say was used, 911 calls, and police body-camera video, after his conviction for the murder of Austin Metcalf.

Also in Washington, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is already showing algae and signs of peeling after a renovation that cost more than $15 million, which is a strong return on investment if the investment was in excuses. Separately, a federal judge rejected Joe Biden’s bid to block release of recordings made for his memoir.

In international news

Italy is pushing back after Donald Trump said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him at the G7, a remark that set off a diplomatic spat and helped scuttle a planned trip to the United States. In Cuba, the government has approved sweeping free-market reforms, the biggest economic shift since the revolution. And in the Middle East, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after overnight fighting in southern Lebanon threatened the fragile deal, with American and Iranian officials expected to meet soon on a longer-term agreement.

In international news

Police in Victoria, Australia, have charged a third man in the December 2024 arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue. In Norway, the government has opened consultation on a bill that would ban trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. And Cuba’s parliament has approved 174 economic reforms in a week, the biggest policy shift there in 15 years, though the details are still thin.

In the U.S.

A Boeing 747-200 has made its final flight as Air Force One after bringing President Trump home from Europe, as the Air Force unveiled the newer 747-8 that is expected to enter service after commissioning flights. Separately, California Governor Gavin Newsom brushed off reported Justice Department investigations involving him and his wife, daring the White House to “go after” him. And federal prosecutors say Mark Milk, whose life sentence was commuted by Kristi Noem in 2023, has now been charged in the death of his 14-year-old niece, along with a second man accused of helping conceal evidence.

In crime and court cases

Los Angeles police detained a streamer identified by other online creators as StomperIRL after shots were fired into a crowd of thousands at a World Cup watch party. One fan suffered a leg wound. In Massachusetts, passengers described the Bedford train crash scene as looking and feeling like a bomb went off. Meanwhile, Canadian auto parts mogul Frank Stronach, 93, has been found guilty of sexual assault and indecent assault for conduct dating back decades.

In Ukraine and Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia after a new wave of deadly strikes, while Ukraine also carried out a major drone attack on Moscow that set part of the city’s largest oil refinery on fire and sent a fuel storage vessel bursting into the air. Kyiv is signaling, again, that it can still reach deep into Russia.

In the Middle East

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew a ceasefire, according to officials, after days of fighting threatened to derail wider diplomacy. Even so, reports say there has been fresh Israeli air activity in southern Lebanon, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing political backlash at home and criticism from the United States over the continued strikes. Separately, far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir drew condemnation after saying “all of Lebanon must burn” following the killing of four Israeli soldiers.

In Europe

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photo at the G7, saying, “Italy and I never beg.” Italy’s foreign minister then canceled a planned trip to the United States, turning what should have been a photo-op into a diplomatic spat.

European leaders are also calling for tighter coordination against the bloc’s illegal drug market, estimated at €31 billion, while the UK government is facing fresh scrutiny over Heathrow’s planned third runway after analysis suggested it would add far less to GDP than previously claimed.

In business and technology

Apple is expected to raise prices across its iPhone, MacBook and iPad lines as chip shortages keep costs elevated. In Los Angeles, local officials say David Ellison’s $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger could put about 2,500 county jobs at risk, with another 6,000 threatened worldwide.

In the Americas

Cuba’s power crisis continues to leave millions without electricity for long periods, as the country keeps improvising its way through an energy system that sounds less like infrastructure and more like a survival exercise.

In international diplomacy

Planned U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland have been postponed, according to Swiss officials, adding another wrinkle to already fragile negotiations. The meeting at Bürgenstock was meant as a follow-up round, but no new date was announced. The wider picture is not encouraging, with renewed strikes in the region and the usual mix of diplomacy and delay doing its best impression of a strategy.

Separately, South Korea’s president said Trump raised North Korea at the G7 and suggested it was time to focus on the issue, though no details were given on what that approach would actually be.

In Britain

Britain’s information commissioner, John Edwards, has resigned after admitting poor judgment in a conduct investigation. He said his position had become untenable and that he did not want to distract from the regulator’s work. Deputy commissioner Paul Arnold will handle the office’s statutory duties in the meantime.

In technology and science

Researchers from China and Japan say they have developed a flexible, all-organic brain implant that kept 94 percent of its signal after 18 months in rabbit tests. The team says the device is thin, highly conductive, and designed to move more naturally with soft brain tissue, which is the sort of engineering goal that sounds simple until you remember what brains are made of.

In U.S. government and institutions

The Boeing jet that has served as Air Force One for more than 35 years is nearing retirement, marking a handoff for one of the most recognizable aircraft in the presidency. The timing also leaves Trump waiting on a replacement jet donated by Qatar, which is a very specific way to update a symbol of national power.

In the Middle East

Four Israeli soldiers were killed when a tank was hit during an operation near Kfar Tebnit, as fighting in Lebanon intensified. An Israeli minister then said, “All of Lebanon must burn,” which is the sort of language that tends to make diplomacy harder, not easier.

That broader tension is also feeding into markets. Brent crude rose as traders watched the fighting in Lebanon and slow traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, talks tied to a U.S.-Iran peace deal were postponed after the Iranian delegation refused to travel to Switzerland, with Pakistani mediators now saying any signing may happen remotely.

In Europe and around the Channel

A Russian frigate has returned to the English Channel after firing warning shots near a British couple’s yacht off the Isle of Wight. The ship was escorting a sanctioned tanker, while the Royal Navy monitored the movement. Britain says the tanker is part of Russia’s shadow fleet and is carrying Russian oil illegally.

In the UK

UK government borrowing in May came in higher than economists expected, adding fresh pressure on the public finances.

Separately, the probation union Napo says excessive workloads are putting the public at direct risk in England and Wales, and it is warning of industrial action as ministers prepare to release and monitor tens of thousands more prisoners this autumn.

In business and trade

Washington has opened a trade investigation into Germany over medicine prices, accusing Berlin of keeping the prices it pays for new drugs too low while U.S. buyers pay much more. If the probe finds Germany’s policies unfair, the White House could move toward tariffs.

And in London’s tech world, Julie Meyer’s former partners are describing unpaid bills, missing money, and broken promises. The details are messy, which is usually not a great sign for a business story, or for the people left holding the invoices.

In the Middle East

Israel says it has launched a new ground offensive in southern Lebanon, reopening a front that has been edging toward wider war for weeks. Hezbollah says it has inflicted heavy losses on Israeli forces, though no independent details were given. The fighting is intensifying fast, which is not a great sign for anyone hoping for a quiet week.

Vice President JD Vance also defended the preliminary Iran ceasefire deal, but his case rested on a lot of airy promises and not much precision. He called it a win for Americans, while critics said the explanation did more to blur the terms than clarify them.

In U.S. politics and law

The Justice Department has sued Philadelphia over a new city law that would bar federal officers from wearing masks, require them to identify themselves, and ban unmarked vehicles. The department says the measure interferes with federal operations and could put officers at risk of harassment and doxing. The city’s law is set to take effect next month unless a court stops it first.

In Missouri, a circuit judge has restored access to medication abortion in a ruling for Planned Parenthood. The decision comes more than a year after Missouri voters approved abortion access, and it could reopen care that the state had kept restricted.

In Europe and public life

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington will review its military posture in Europe during a rare visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels. He also took aim at European allies, accusing them of leaning too hard on liberal ideals and not hard enough on practical defense. Subtle diplomacy was not the theme of the day.

In Iran, singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced to 74 lashes, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on artistic activity, after an online concert without a hijab spread widely on social media. It is a stark punishment for an act of expression that drew attention precisely because it challenged the rules.

In World Cup news

Mexico became the first team to reach the World Cup knockout stage after a 1-0 win over South Korea. A defensive mistake opened the door, Luis Romo finished the chance, and Raúl Rangel saved the result late on.

In Washington

Opposition is building in Congress over President Trump’s Iran deal, with Republicans including Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, and Roger Wicker joining Democrats in questioning the terms and what the agreement actually delivers. The White House is attacking the critics, which is always a strong sign that the critics have noticed the fine print.

In New York and Los Angeles

A 17-year-old is in police custody after a large fight in Times Square led to a slashing and gunfire on Thursday. Authorities have not released more details yet, but the incident adds another ugly scene to one of the city’s most watched blocks.

In Los Angeles, comedian Carlos Mencia has been charged with 12 felony tax fraud counts after prosecutors said he failed to report $8.7 million in income. He was arrested Thursday and remains in custody, in the first case brought by the district attorney’s new Business Tax Fraud Unit.

In business and tech

JPMorgan has reportedly restricted staff in Hong Kong from using Anthropic’s AI tools after pressure from the U.S. government and Anthropic itself. Goldman Sachs has made a similar move, underscoring how the AI race now comes with export controls, national security limits, and a lot of very expensive caution.

Business leaders are also warning that EU regulation is discouraging investment. A steel executive and the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund say emissions rules and a broader regulatory climate are making the bloc harder to navigate, while EY says foreign direct investment into the EU fell 7% in 2025.

In the war on Ukraine

Ukraine says it carried out its largest drone strike of the war on Moscow, hitting the capital’s main oil refinery and disrupting neighborhoods. The strike is being framed as both symbolic and economically damaging, part of a broader effort to pressure Russian fuel production and transport far from the front lines.

In U.S. politics and courts

The Supreme Court narrowed a federal ban on gun possession by illegal drug users, ruling that it cannot be applied so broadly. The decision could matter in cases like Hunter Biden’s, though he had already been pardoned before sentencing. Both the ACLU and the NRA backed parts of the ruling, which is a rare bit of overlap the court probably won’t be framing for a group photo.

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis released Tina Peters after his clemency board twice rejected early release. In Washington, Sen. Elissa Slotkin introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending soldiers or federal agents to polling places during elections.

In Britain, Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has been suspended from the party and had the whip removed after a police investigation began. He is understood to have been arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday night.

In public health

Health officials say a rare strain that can cause Lyme disease has been detected in a new state, well outside its usual range. The finding matters because it suggests the pathogen is spreading beyond the areas where it has typically been tracked.

In the Middle East

The U.S. says it has lifted its naval blockade enforcement in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and Iranian ports, while keeping forces in the area. Reports say vessels are now leaving through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Supreme Leader said he had reservations about the memorandum of understanding with the United States to end the war, but agreed to move ahead with it anyway. He said President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who heads Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wanted the deal signed.

In business

Apple says price increases are coming as it tries to offset higher costs for memory and storage chips. CEO Tim Cook said the company sees those costs as unavoidable, which is a familiar phrase in tech whenever consumers are about to help with the bill.

In California

A healthy young male mountain lion that had been roaming a California neighborhood was captured in a homeowner’s backyard and released back into the wild. Everyone involved appears to have preferred that outcome, including the mountain lion.

In Europe

An Italian aristocrat is under investigation in a probe into claims that wealthy foreigners paid to shoot civilians during the Bosnian war.

Separately, Lebanese families returning to Tyre found their homes in ruins after Israeli strikes, even as some voiced cautious hope about a new US-Iran agreement.

Elsewhere, French fishermen gathered in Cherbourg as the sector faces fuel costs and broader strain, with the government promising €13 million in support. Switzerland is also moving toward a referendum on whether to allow new nuclear plants, while several EU countries are weighing tougher steps against goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

In the United States

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously for a Texas marijuana user in a gun rights case, backing a challenge to state law and adding to the court’s recent expansion of firearms protections. In a separate legal filing, the Trump administration is accused of removing dozens of signs, exhibits, and films from at least 37 National Park Service sites over claims that they disparaged Americans.

Also in Texas, Joshua Baer, the founder of Capital Factory, died when a private jet crashed on a highway after reporting mechanical trouble on the way to Austin.

On the campaign trail and in sports

Tulsa pastor and Trump ally Jackson Lahmeyer has dropped his congressional bid and stepped back from his Oklahoma pulpit after admitting to an affair that was uncovered during an investigation. In Congress, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced a bipartisan bill to regulate college sports, sending the Protect College Sports Act to the full Senate.

And in a bit of international tournament admin, Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi was denied entry to Canada ahead of a World Cup match while he remains under investigation in France over alleged match-fixing.