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Yellowstone grizzly bears are no longer endangered. The government’s decision to take the bears off the list of threatened species means that Montana, Idaho and Wyoming could allow limited hunts so long as the number of bears stays above 600. There are now some 700 grizzlies in an area that includes northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana and eastern Idaho. But, there were only 136 back in in 1975, when they were declared endangered. The decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove Yellowstone grizzlies from the list of endangered species will likely be challenged in court by environmentalists who believe the bears still face threats. Some 125 Native American tribes have signed a treaty opposing the trophy hunting of grizzly bears, which they consider a sacred animal. – GUARDIAN

Several Arab states have issued 13 demands to end the diplomatic crisis with Qatar. The countries want Doha to shut down broadcaster Al-Jazeera, cut diplomatic relations with Iran and sever ties with Hezbollah, al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and the Muslim Brotherhood. The list also calls for Turkey to close its military base in Qatar, a demand that the Turkish government has rejected. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are involved in a diplomatic and economic spat with Qatar over allegations that the Gulf country supports Islamic terrorists. The document calls for Qatar to comply with all the demands in 10 days but it does not state what would happen if the country refuses to comply. – TIME

North Korea has tested a rocket engine that could be part of a long-range missile program. The revelation, by a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized China for not doing enough to rein in Pyongyang. Although some experts say North Korea may be years away from developing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has told Congress that if left unchecked, the regimen of Kim Jong-un would develop a nuclear-armed ICBM. Trump has warned that a “major, major” conflict with North Korea is in the cards over the country’s weapon programs. – REUTERS

Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray has filed a defamation lawsuit against John Oliver, accusing the HBO comedian of “ruthless character assassination”. The lawsuit alleges that the June 18 episode of “Last Week Tonight” incited viewers to “do harm to Mr. Murray and his companies.” It also claims that Oliver's statements constitute “false light invasion of privacy”. In a segment in the episode, the British comedian launched into a monologue comparing the 77-year-old coal executive to a “geriatric Dr. Evil.” Oliver also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump saying he won’t be able to revive the coal industry because it has been in decline for decades. Oliver acknowledged that Murray is “probably going to sue me.” He added, "You know what? I stand by everything I said." The segment has been viewed on YouTube 4.5 million times. – CNN

Johnny Depp joked about killing U.S. President Donald Trump during an appearance at the Glastonbury music festival. “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” he asked in reference to the killing of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. “I want to qualify. I am not an actor. I lie for a living. However, it has been a while and maybe it is time,” he told a 1,500-strong audience. Depp was in Glastonbury to present a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine. – GUARDIAN

A judge in Detroit has temporarily halted the deportation of more than 100 Iraqi Christians fearing they may be tortured if they are sent back home. The ruling grants a two-week stay in deportation proceedings against 114 immigrants that were arrested earlier this month in Detroit. They are being held in detention centers in Ohio, Louisiana and Arizona. The arrests were part of a coordinated sweep by immigration officials who detained nearly 200 Iraqi immigrants in the US. The roundup followed Iraq's agreement to accept deportees in exchange of being removed from President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. – AP

The man who stormed a pizzeria with a gun in Washington to investigate a false Internet rumor of a pedophile ring has been sentenced to four years in prison. Edgar Maddison Welch charged into the Comet Ping Pong restaurant in December holding a fully loaded AR-15 rifle and a revolver as he sought to investigate a viral Internet rumor. The false conspiracy theory known as “Pizzagate” linked Hillary Clinton to an alleged child-sex-trafficking ring run from the family restaurant. – WAPO

Ron Howard has been chosen to direct a Star Wars spin off about Han Solo, two days after the film’s directors were fired from the job. After almost five months working on the prequel, Philip Lord and Christopher Miller were let go by Disney-owned Lucasfilm over creative differences. "I'm beyond grateful to add my voice to the Star Wars Universe after being a fan since 5/25/77," Howard, who won an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind in 2002, said on Twitter. The cast of the Han Solo film includes Alden Ehrenreich, in the role of the iconic smuggler, as well as Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton. The film is due for release in May 2018. – HR

The shape and size of eggs depends on the birds’ flying abilities, a new scientific study says. For centuries, scientists have wondered why bird eggs have different shapes. “Long and pointed eggs are female; those that are round, or more rounded at the narrow end, are male,” Aristotle wrote in “The History of Animals” in the fourth century B.C. A new study published in Science indicates that there is a strong correlation between flying capabilities and egg shapes. As birds evolved to become skillful fliers, their bodies became more streamlined, which determines the size and shape of the eggs they lay. Birds that fly frequently, like barn swallows, lay eggs that are more elongated while birds that fly less, like the screech owl, have eggs that are more round and symmetric. – LAT

About 52% of Americans want stricter gun laws according to a Pew Research Center survey. The survey of nearly 4,000 American adults found that both gun owners and non-gun owners support background checks for gun sales, as well as barring terror suspects from buying guns – two policies that Republicans in Congress have rejected. The study indicates that there is a clear partisan divide in the gun debate. About 57% of Republicans reported owning a gun or living in a household with a gun, compared with 25% of Democrats. Pew found that about 30% of Americans own guns, a slightly larger number than other estimates. – GUARDIAN

Tesla is in talks with the music industry to create its own streaming service. The service will be bundled with Tesla cars. “We believe it’s important to have an exceptional in-car experience so our customers can listen to the music they want from whatever source they choose,” a Tesla spokesperson said. Tesla’s founder and CEO Elon Musk in June hinted that the company was looking into entering the music streaming business when he said that it was “very hard to find good playlists or good matching algorithms.” – Recode

Officials in Madras, a small town in Oregon, are preparing to accommodate visitors from all over the world for a solar eclipse that will cast a coast-to-coast shadow on the US for the first time in 99 years. The solar eclipse will throw the country into darkness for two minutes on Aug. 21. Madras will be among country’s best viewing spots because of its clear, high-desert skies, flat landscape and stunning mountain views. The peak of the Round Butte mountain near Madras should offer a superb view of the moon’s shadow as it crosses over Mount Jefferson. Oregon expects about 1 million visitors for the celestial event, 100,000 of them in and around Madras. – AP

ISIS militants have destroyed the Grand al-Nuri Mosque and its minaret, as they lose control of the historic city of Mosul, in Iraq. ''Blowing up the al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque amounts to an official acknowledgement of defeat,'' the Iraqi Prime Minister said in a statement. Islamic militants have been pushed out of most of Mosul by Iraqi forces, but they still control about 4 square kilometers of the city. ISIS fighters used explosives to blow up the 800-year-old mosque. A picture distributed by the Iraqi army shows the mosque and minaret, which features on Iraq’s 10,000 dinar bank note, reduced to rubble in the district where the militants are under siege. The mosque and the 150-foot (45-metre) leaning minaret, which Iraqis called Al-Hadba, or "the hunchback", is among the many ancient sites that have been damaged or destroyed during three years of Islamic State rule. The militants' leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a self-styled "caliphate" spanning parts of Syria and Iraq in a speech at the mosque in 2014. – Reuters

George Clooney has sold his Casamigos tequila brand to British drinks major Diageo for up to $1bn. Since being founded by Clooney, Cindy Crawford’s husband Rande Gerber and property developer Mike Meldman in 2014, Casamigos has become the fastest growing premium tequila brand in the US. Diageo, which controls the Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Baileys brands, will pay $700 million now and a further $300 million based on performance over the next decade. “If you asked us four years ago if we had a $1 billion company, I don’t think we would have said yes,” Clooney said in a statement. Diageo’s CEO, Ivan Menezes, said the company planned to take Casamigos to other markets beyond the US and Caribbean “to capitalize on the significant international potential of the brand”. – Guardian

U.S. President Donald Trump says that fitting solar panels in his planned border wall was “his idea”. "Solar wall, panels, beautiful. I mean actually think of it, the higher it goes the more valuable it is. Pretty good imagination right? Good? My idea," he said at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. But some of the companies that have presented bids to build the border wall had already floated the idea of fitting solar panels in it, including Gleason Partners in Las Vegas, which proposed a wall of steel, cement and solar panels. Similar ideas have been proposed by academics and activists. More than 200 companies have submitted designs for a planned wall that Trump says would stop illegal immigration across the southern U.S. border. The Department of Homeland Security told the BBC that 20 companies had been shortlisted. – BBC

Boeing has won the race for new aircraft orders against archrival Airbus at the Paris Airshow. The US planemaker received orders for 443 aircraft, versus 326 aircraft for the European company. Boeing’s tally excludes conversions of previous aircraft orders to the new Boeing 737 MAX 10. "Is this a slower show than previous years? Yes, it is. Are we conceding that Boeing sold a few more airplanes than we did? Yes," Airbus sales chief John Leahy told a news conference. He said he had expected the Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 plane, rolled out to combat Airbus’s hot-selling A321neo, to make more of a splash. "We had expected they would have had a bigger launch on the 737 MAX 10, not quite as many conversions, more incremental orders." – Reuters

The Church of England "colluded" with and covered up the sexual abuse of young men by a former bishop, the head of the church has admitted. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologized to the victims of ex-bishop Peter Ball, who was jailed in 2015 after being convicted for indecently assaulting teenagers and young men over 20 years. Ball, who admitted to abusing 18 people, was released after serving 16 months. – AP

Millions of pyrosomes, also known as “sea pickles”, have swarmed the west coast of America, as scientists scramble to understand why these tiny marine creatures are booming in this part of the world. The animals, which are also popularly known as “unicorns of the sea” or “fire bodies”, are only a few millimeters long, but sometimes can gather in large colonies. Lately, they have been washing up on popular beaches and ruining fishermen’s nets. Usually found in warm, tropical seas far from the coastline, researchers have been baffled by the influx of pyrosomes along the west coast. “If we continue to see this many, what impact will it have on the ecosystems here, and what economic impact on the fisheries? There are so many unknowns at this point, it really is a remarkable bloom,” said Hilarie Sorensen, a graduate student at the University of Oregon, and a member of the research team. – Guardian

Some 600 buildings in England may have been fitted with flammable panels like the ones believed to have contributed to a fire in a London building that killed at least 79 people. "The estimate provided to us by councils is that there are approximately 600 high-rise buildings with similar cladding," a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Theresa May told reporters. The fire at 24-story residential Grenfell Tower last week was Britain's worst blaze since World War Two. Cladding is typically fitted to the outside of high-rise buildings to improve insulation. – BBC

No one within the British royal family has an eye on the throne, Prince Harry says. "Is there any one of the royal family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time," he told Newsweek. Queen Elizabeth, 91, has been on the throne since 1952 and is currently the world's oldest and longest reigning monarch. Prince Harry is fifth in the line of succession. "The monarchy is a force for good," he said. "We don’t want to dilute the magic ... The British public and the whole world need institutions like it." – CNN

Firefighters have brought forest fires under control that have killed more than 60 people in Portugal. “Higher humidity levels and lower temperatures allowed the firefighters to contain the fire and extinguish the remaining hotspots which had briefly broken out,” said Antonio Ribeiro, who led fire extinguishing efforts in the Pedrogao Grande area in central Portugal. Some 2,400 firefighters and over 20 water-dropping aircrafts had been fighting the fires since Saturday. The fires have burnt at least 50,000 hectares (193 square miles) of forest. Portugal’s prime minister, Antonio Costa, has asked emergency services to explain why officers had not closed the road where many of the people were killed after being trapped in their cars by the blazing fire. –

A Canadian sniper shot and killed an ISIS militant in Iraq last month from a distance of 3,540 meters. It's thought to be the longest confirmed kill shot in military history. “The Canadian Special Operations Command can confirm that a member of Joint Task Force 2 successfully hit a target at 3,540 meters,” the forces said in a statement. The world record was previously held by British sniper Craig Harrison, who shot a Taliban gunner from a distance of 2,475 meters in 2009. –

A study by a leading insurance research group has linked a spike in car accidents with the legalization of marijuana in some states. Collision claims in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon went up 2.7 percent when compared with surrounding states, in the years since legal recreational marijuana sales began there, says the Highway Loss Data Institute. "Crash risk has increased in these states and those crash risks are associated with the legalization of marijuana," said the institute's senior vice president Matt Moore. However, Mason Tvert, a marijuana legalization advocate, said the study may be flawed because it compares rural states, such as Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, with states that contain large cities, including Colorado, Oregon and Washington. "The study raises more questions than it provides answers and it's an area that would surely receive more study, and deservedly so," he said. – AP

Qatar Airways, the Gulf country's state-owned airline, wants to buy a stake of up to 10 percent in American Airlines in a deal that could be worth some $800 million. Qatar Airways said that it sees a "strong investment opportunity" in American and that it intends to buy a small stake that would not give it any power over the airline's management. The potential investment comes as Qatar Airways operations continue being disrupted after four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar this month over the country's alleged support of terrorism. Several U.S. airlines including American, United and Delta Air Lines have complained that their Gulf rivals, including Qatar, Emirates and Etihad Airways have received billions of dollars in unfair state subsidies. The Gulf carriers deny the allegations. – Reuters

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Uber’s embattled CEO, Travis Kalanick, has resigned amid sexual harassment scandals and allegations of a 'macho' corporate culture. In the past few months, several key executives have left the ride-hailing company. “I have accepted a group of investors' request to step aside, so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight,” Kalanick said in a statement to his employees, adding that he will continue being a member of Uber’s board. The announcement comes after five of Uber’s major investors asked for Kalanick’s immediate resignation, the NYT reported. Uber’s board said the resignation will give the company “room to fully embrace this new chapter in Uber’s history.” However, it raises questions about who may fill Kalanick’s shoes, since he founded and built the company into a $70 billion giant. Uber now has several key positions to fill, including CEO, chief operating officer, general counsel, senior vice president of engineering, chief marketing officer and board chair. – AP

Republican Karen Handel won Georgia's 6th Congressional District vote to fill the congressional seat vacated by Health Secretary Tom Price. Handel had 52% of the vote and Jon Ossoff, a 30-year-old Democrat newcomer, had 48%. In a victory speech, Handel said she would support the Republican agenda, including health care and tax reforms. It was the most expensive congressional campaign in the history of the United States, with both parties and allied groups spending some $50 million in the race. “Thank you @FoxNews “Huge win for President Trump and GOP in Georgia Congressional Special Election,” US President Donald Trump said on Twitter. – The New York Times.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman named his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as Crown Prince and deputy prime minister. Mohammed bin Salman will replace his 57-year-old cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, in the line of succession. The appointment comes as tensions mount in the Middle East. The world’s top oil producer has a strained relationship with Qatar and Iran and it is entangled in a war with Yemen. As oil prices continue falling, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, is expected to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil by partially privatizing state-run oil producer Aramco. – REUTERS

Men who start a family later in life are more likely to father “geekier” sons according to a new scientific study. For the study, researchers at King's College London developed a “Geek Index” that analyzed traits such as non-verbal IQ, ability to focus on a subject and social aloofness among 15,000 twins. Commenting on the findings, Professor Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, said that starting a family later in life carries an increased risk of infertility, miscarriage, or conceiving children with debilitating disorders. "However, I do find the idea of a 'geek gene' quite intriguing, and, given our recent trend to have our children later in life, perhaps we are destined for future society of geniuses that are going to help us solve all the world's problems," he said. – BBC

The British Queen has unveiled several laws to pave the way for a "smooth and orderly" detachment from the European Union. In a speech to Parliament, the Queen set out the UK government's plans for the next two years, rather than one, as the negotiations to leave the European Union will last until the end of March 2019. The new laws would allow the UK to formulate its own immigration, customs and trade policies. The Queen's speech to inaugurate the parliamentary sessions is actually written by the Prime Minister's staff and outlines the government's plans for the future. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was absent from the ceremony after being hospitalized for the treatment of an infection. – BBC

Orcas in Alaska are turning on fishers in big numbers, stalking their boats and waiting for them to haul their catch before launching assaults. An increasing number of killer whales are chasing down the halibut and black cod caught by long line fishermen off the coast of Alaska. A typical fishing day can bring in 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of halibut, but fishermen could get next to nothing if they are being tailed by a pod of killer whales. A rebound of North Pacific whale populations following the 1980s moratorium on commercial whaling may be one of the reasons why whale predation on fishing boats is on the up, reports the National Post. Before that, whale populations had been decimated by whaling fleets and boat engines would typically scare whales. – ADN

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the Chinese government over its failure to rein in North Korea. "While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!" Trump wrote on Twitter. The remark follows on from a meeting between the leaders in Florida in which Trump asked his counterpart for assistance with North Korea. The Chinese government hit back at Trump saying it had "always played and important and constructive role" to resolve tensions with Pyongyang. China supplies fuel and food to North Korea but this year decided to halt imports of North Korean coal, a move that could hurt Kim Jong Un's regime. – REUTERS

U.S. officials have granted preliminary trademark approval to a string of Ivanka Trump products in recent months including lingerie, rain ponchos and scarves. Regulators have given Ivanka Trump the preliminary go-ahead to use her name to sell bras and hosiery. In addition, she has registered four trademarks for handbags, online and retail jewelry stores, as well as rain gear since January, Bloomberg reports. Sales of Ivanka Trump goods were up 21 percent in 2016, and a move into the $13 billion women’s lingerie business could fuel brand revenues. Ivanka Trump in January said she was handing management of her brand over to a top aide, but she refused to divest from her companies. – BBG

The directors of a Star Wars spin off that focuses on Han Solo's early days as a smuggler have been fired. “Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are talented film-makers who have assembled an incredible cast and crew, but it’s become clear that we had different creative visions on this film, and we’ve decided to part ways,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Disney-owned Lucasfilm. The prequel starring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, is due in cinemas in May 2018. Deadline reports that Ron Howard is Lucasfilm's top choice to replace Lord and Miller as director. - VARIETY

The parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen killed by a white police officer, have settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with the city of Ferguson, Missouri. The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The agreement calls for changes in police operations in Ferguson, including sensitivity training for officers, adoption of community policing techniques, and court reforms. Michael Brown’s family sued the city, former Police Chief Tom Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson following months of protests after their son was fatally shot in 2014. The lawsuit alleged that police in Ferguson was hostile to black residents, and said Wilson used excessive force in shooting Brown. Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing, and the U.S. Department of Justice found no grounds to prosecute Wilson. – the Washington Post.

A soldier killed a man who tried to set off a nail bomb in a busy train station in Brussels on Tuesday. The attacker was Moroccan and known to police for drug offenses but not for links to radical Islamic groups. He tried to blow up a suitcase beneath the main concourse of Brussels Central Station and the device partially exploded and caught fire. He then ran shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great in Arabic) before being fatally shot by a soldier. Several European cities including London, Manchester and Paris have been hit by terrorist attacks in recent weeks. – NYT

The rapper Prodigy, one half of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep has been found dead in Las Vegas, where the hip-hop duo performed last weekend. He was 42. The exact causes of his death have yet to be determined, but Prodigy was hospitalized recently due to complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis, his publicist said in a statement. Mobb Deep sold more than 3 million records in the 1990s. Prodigy's longtime Mobb Deep partner, Havoc, posted photos in remembrance. Musicians such as Nicki Minaj, Nas, and Questlove offered their condolences in social media. – Rolling Stones.

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A US student who was released from a North Korean jail last week has died. Otto Warmbier, 22, returned to the US in a coma after 17 months imprisoned in North Korea. US doctors concluded that Mr. Warmbier had sustained a catastrophic brain injury sometime before April 2016. He died in a Cincinnati hospital, his parents announced on Monday. “Otto’s fate deepens my Administration’s determination to prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law,” President Donald Trump said in a statement. – BBC

DNA tests of long-dead felines show that all house cats come from one single ancestor: the African wildcat. After analyzing bone, teeth, hair and skin from mummified cats in Egypt, and remains from Viking graveyards and stone age sites, researchers from the University of Paris Diderot found that cats were first domesticated 9,000 years ago, when early farmers in the Near East began to stockpile grain. “With the invention of agriculture, stocks of grain built up in villages, the stocks attracted rodents, and the rodents attracted cats,” said Thierry Grange in a study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. Grange and his team say that remains found in Bulgaria and Romania dating back 6,000 years show that migrating farmers carried cats with them when they moved into Europe. - GUA

British police have identified the man who drove a van into pedestrians in North London as Darren Osborne. One man died and ten people were injured in the attack against people gathering near a mosque in the Finsbury Park neighborhood. Osborne, a resident of Cardiff in Wales, was pinned down by bystanders before being arrested. The police raided his house on Monday. – NYT

The personal information of 200 million voters compiled by Republican contractors was exposed online due to a security flaw. The leaked information, compiled by Republican data firm Deep Root Analytics and two other GOP analytics firms, included names, birth dates, addresses, voter registration details and social media posts. Deep Root's database includes information from the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns. The leak was discovered on June 14 and secured two days later. – CNN

Philippine aircraft and troops have launched an offensive to recapture the southern city of Marawi from Islamist militants. The attack came amid concerns that rebel reinforcements could arrive in the city after the Eid al-Fitr festival this weekend. Nearly 350 people have been killed in the battle for Marawi over the past five weeks. – REUTERS

Over two thirds of US citizens oppose Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris accord, an AP poll indicates. The survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research earlier this month found that only 18 percent believe the withdrawal will help the U.S. economy, while 52 percent worry that the decision will actually hurt the economy. Twenty-seven percent think it won’t have an impact either way. A number of US cities and states are considering the implementation of their own Paris accord regulations, though not without obstacles. – AP

The killing of a Muslim teen in Virginia last week was the result of road rage and not a hate crime, police said. High school student Nabra Hassanen died of blunt-force trauma to the head and neck after being abducted by a driver who tried to run over a group of teens following an argument. The driver has been identified as Darwin Martinez Torres, a 22-year-old construction worker from Sterling. – WAPO

A heat wave in the Southwestern United States is forcing airlines to cancel flights. American Airlines canceled 43 flights on Tuesday to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport due to extreme heat. Scorching temperatures delayed at least three flights in the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Las Vegas may see its highest temperature ever recorded this week, while temperatures could reach 119 degrees in Phoenix, and 127 degrees in Death Valley, California. On Sunday, several Californian cities saw record hot temperatures – including Sacramento (106 degrees), San Jose (103 degrees) and San Francisco (88 degrees). – DN

A Russian law banning promotion of homosexuality among minors is discriminatory and encourages homophobia, the EU Court of Human Rights said in a ruling. Under the law, adopted in 2013, private individuals, public officials, businesses and schools face fines if they are deemed to be promoting “homosexual behavior” among people under 18. Russia's justice ministry says it will appeal the ruling, arguing that the law aims to protect “the morals and health of children”. – BBC

NASA's Kepler telescope has found 10 Earth-like exoplanets. The newly discovered rocky worlds could potentially have liquid water on their surface because of their lukewarm conditions, NASA's data indicates. With these new additions, Kepler has now identified 49 worlds that may be about the same size and temperature as Earth. – GUA

British and European Union officials have started talks to discuss the terms of their break up. On day one of the negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May’s government gave in to EU demands that a future trade deal between Britain and Europe will only be discussed after the UK leaves the EU. The parties must strike an agreement by March 29, 2019, when the UK will leave the EU, with or without a deal. – BBG

Upstart digital currency Ether could soon dethrone Bitcoin as the world’s dominant cryptocurrency. After gaining backing from JPMorgan Chase and Microsoft, the value of Ether has risen 4,500 percent since the beginning of the year. The outstanding units of the Ether are now worth $34 billion – or 82 percent as much as all the Bitcoin in existence. At the beginning of the year, Ether was only about 5 percent as valuable as Bitcoin. – NYT

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A van rammed into a crowd on Monday near the Finsbury Park Mosque in London, injuring at least 10 people and killing one. Police said that the attack deliberately focused on Muslims, but they are still working to determine if it was an act of terrorism. A witness said that the driver stated, “I wanna kill more people, I wanna kill more Muslims,” before he was restrained. Eight people have been hospitalized for their injuries, and two of them are in critical condition. – REUTERS

Researchers are preparing to recruit 10,000 New Yorkers for the $15 million-a-year “Human Project,” a 20-year-long study. Participants will receive $500 per family, and they will be asked to provide medical, financial and educational records. Each participant will get a wearable activity tracker, and individuals will need to submit blood and urine tests every three years. The goal of the study is to determine how everything from health and behavior can impact the development of conditions ranging from asthma to Alzheimer’s disease. – AP

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy now says that at least 79 people are believed to be dead in the Grenfell Tower fire incident. "Sadly, for many families, they have lost more than one family member," Cundy said. "This is an incredibly distressing time for all of them." Due to the intensity of the fire in the 24-story building, it has not been possible to identify all of the victims – only five people have been formally identified thus far. "I've investigated major crime for most of my service, and I've seen some terrible things,” said Cundy. “But I don't think anything prepared me for what I was going to see when I was in there.” – NPR

Four guests have been killed at a Mali luxury resort near the capital of Bamako. Security Minister Salif Traore said that this was “without a doubt” a terrorist attack, and officials worked through the night to try to rescue people from unidentified gunmen. Five “terrorists” were killed overnight, according to Traore. As of late Monday morning, the resort was cordoned off as an anti-terrorist squad worked in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. "I am tired, shocked. I have no other words to say," said resort owner Manou Morgane. "All I want to do is to see the list of my clients. I want to find them (anyone missing)." – REUTERS

According to election results, France voted a record number of women into parliament. Out of the 577 newly elected members, 223 of them were female; this number surpasses the previous record of 155. France has now moved into 17th place in the world in terms of female parliamentary representation, and it is 6th in Europe, passing both Britain and Germany. – REUTERS

A Syrian army jet flying over southern Raqqa on Sunday was shot down by a U.S. warplane. The U.S. claimed that the jet had been dropping bombs near U.S.-backed forces, while Damascus says that the jet was on a mission against ISIS militants. “[The] flagrant attack was an attempt to undermine the efforts of the army as the only effective force capable with its allies ... in fighting terrorism across its territory,” said the Syrian army. U.S. Central Command went on to call it a move of “collective self-defense.” - REUTERS

Boeing has debuted a new 737 aircraft at the Paris Airshow, and it says it already has more than 240 orders from at least 10 new customers. The 737 MAX 10 can carry up to 230 people in a single-class configuration, according to Boeing. "The MAX 10 is going to add more value for customers and more energy to the marketplace," said Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg. Around the same time as the company’s announcement, competitor Airbus announced that it had 100 orders for its A320neo planes. – REUTERS

The United Arab Emirates said that unless Qatar accepts the new demands that will be rolled out by Arab nations later this week, sanctions against the country may last years. "If they want to be isolated because of their perverted view of what their political role is, then let them be isolated,” said UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash. “They are still in a phase of denial and anger.” President Trump has supported the sanctions against Qatar, which is being accused of supporting terrorism; the country has denied these claims. – REUTERS

Jay-Z has announced his thirteenth album, “4:44,” to be released on June 30 on Tidal. A 30-second promotional video featuring the song “Adnis” premiered over the weekend. In order for fans to legally acquire the album, they will need to subscribe to Tidal or Sprint; Sprint acquired a 33 percent stake in the streaming service earlier this year. Sprint customers are eligible for a six-month-long free trial of Tidal. – VAR

The Japanese Coast Guard is attempting to determine why it took one hour for the collision between the ACX Crystal and USS Fitzgerald to be reported. The ships collided on Saturday, and seven of the destroyer’s crew died in the incident. “Because it was in an emergency, the crewmembers may not have been able to place a call,” explained Nanami Meguro, a spokeswoman for NYK Line, the ACX Crystal’s operator. Japanese coast guard official Tetsuya Tanaka intends to get a hold of communication records to further examine the crash, and Japan’s Transport Safety Board has also begun an accident investigation. – AP

During a string of appearances on Sunday news shows, Jay Sekulow of Trump's legal team claimed that the president is not under investigation. This is despite a tweet posted by President Trump that seemingly confirmed he was being investigated as of last week. “I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt,” President Trump tweeted. When asked about the possibility that an investigation has developed and the president is unaware, Sekulow said, “I can’t read people’s minds, but I can tell you this, we have not been notified that there’s an investigation to the president of the United States.” – AP

In a new blog post, Google describes updates in its efforts to combat terror online. In the piece, the search giant said it intends to use technology to identify extremist video content and increase its staff of YouTube flaggers. Google also plans to take a “tougher stance” on video as a whole and expand its counter-radicalism efforts by promoting “YouTube voices against hate.” It confirmed that it has committed to working with Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter to combat online terrorism. – AP

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President Trump mentioned that he was being investigated by the government in a tweet on Friday. "I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt," the president tweeted. Although he did not specifically identify “the man” in his tweet, it could be Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. He is responsible for appointing Robert Mueller to serve as special counsel in the Russian investigation. Rosenstein penned a letter to President Trump back in May, criticizing former FBI director James Comey. – REUTERS

Michelle Carter, who sent text messages to her boyfriend encouraging him to commit suicide, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The 20-year-old sent the messages to Conrad Roy III back in 2014, as he was in the process of taking his own life. Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin, who testified for the defense, claimed that Carter herself was a “troubled youngster” who suffered from depression. At the time of Roy’s death, Carter was taking a medication that impacted her empathy and decision-making. She is now facing up to 20 years in prison, and she will be sentenced in August. – BOSTON

A man with a knife was detained at the gates of Parliament in Westminster, London this morning. British police noticed the man was acting suspiciously, and when they approached him, he reached for a knife. Officers fired a Taser stun gun at the individual and detained him at the scene. "At this time it is too early to understand the motivation so we have not declared this a terrorist incident,” the police said in a statement. “However given the location, the circumstances and recent tragic events, the MPS Counter Terrorism Command will be investigating this incident." – REUTERS

President Trump will keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in place. According to the Department of Homeland Security, recipients of DACA “will continue to be eligible” for renewal, and no work permits will be terminated prior to their expiration dates. Although President Trump had said he would terminate DACA while campaigning in 2016, he said in an interview that recipients “shouldn’t be worried.” “This is a big victory for Dreamers amid months of draconian and mean-spirited immigration enforcement policy,” said David Leopold, an immigration lawyer. – ATLANTIC

McDonald’s has ended its 41-year-old partnership with the Olympic Games, three years earlier than originally planned. The fast food company announced in 2016 that it was re-evaluating its “relationship with the Olympics.” McDonald’s, which had been one of the top sponsors of the Games, had been contributing about $1 billion every four years to the event. "In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, we understand that McDonald's is looking to focus on different business priorities," Timmo Lumme, managing director of International Olympic Committee Television and Marketing Services. – REUTERS

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR claims that there are 100,000 civilians still trapped behind ISIS lines in Mosul, Iraq. ISIS militants are shooting at families trying to flee the city by foot or boat. "These civilians are basically held as human shields in the Old City," said UNHCR representative Bruno Geddo. "There is hardly any food, water, electricity, fuel. These civilians are living in an increasingly worsening situation of penury and panic because they are surrounded by fighting." The offensive to retake Mosul has been ongoing since Oct. 17. – REUTERS

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has turned over several items to investigators looking into an alleged money laundering scam by a Malaysian investment fund. Production company Red Granite has been accused of using $100 million that had been diverted from the 1MDB fund to finance “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Some of the items DiCaprio returned came from people linked to the 1MDB wealth fund; they were gifts given to the actor for a charity auction. DiCaprio is cooperating with the investigation, and has agreed to return any suspicious gifts or donations. – REUTERS

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed a bill that requires utilities to purchase excess power generated by solar panels at a near-full retail rate. The process, known as net metering, will ideally draw residential solar panel installers to Nevada. “[The bill will] bring in thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in positive economic benefit,” said Tesla CTO J.B. Straubel. Tesla’s solar division and Sunrun Inc. will return to Nevada to take advantage of residential installation opportunities, ending an 18-month absence. – REUTERS

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CNN is suing the FBI for the release of the memos former FBI director James Comey wrote on his conversations with President Trump. “We think the public has the right to see them,” said CNN president Jeff Zucker. “It’s in the pursuit of what we do every day. We think it’s in every journalist’s interest and we are happy to take the lead on this.” CNN believes that it has the right to view the memos under the Freedom of Information Act, but the FBI has not complied with their request. – Variety

It has been revealed that James T. Hodgkinson, who was responsible for opening fire at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia, had a history of police encounters. In March, Illinois sheriff deputies addressed Hodgkinson after they received calls that he had fired at least 50 shots on his property. In 2006, he was involved in an alleged domestic battery case, which included the discharge of a shotgun; the case was eventually dismissed. The FBI is now seeking additional information from the public on interactions they had with him in either Virginia or Illinois. – ABC News

A recording of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull doing an impression of President Trump has gone viral. In a speech that was blocked off to reporters and lawmakers, Turnbull imitated the president addressing opinion polls, saying, “They are so easy to win. I have this Russian guy...believe me, it’s true, it’s true.” A local news station aired an audio clip of the impression, which Turnbull has since called “affectionately light-hearted.” He said he was “disappointed” that the imitation had been leaked. – BLOOMBERG

A new study suggests that broccoli may be able to help type 2 diabetes patients reverse or slow the disease. Scientists honed in on 50 genes associated with type 2 diabetes and identified a compound called sulforaphane, which is naturally found in broccoli. The compound, which is also in Brussels sprouts and cabbage, can turn down the expression of these genes, according to the researchers. Obese patients who participated in the study and received a form of the compound had more control over their glucose levels, and their bodies produced less glucose. – Live Science

Lyle Jeffs, leader of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been recaptured. Jeffs had been on supervised home release when he slipped out of his GPS ankle bracelet and fled in June 2016. The FBI issued a $50,000 reward for his recapture and claimed that he was “armed and dangerous.” Prosecutors initially accused Jeffs of telling sect followers to buy items with food stamp cards and give them to church leaders to distribute. Some food stamps were cashed at sect-operated stores where buyers received nothing in return. – AP

National Music Publishers Association CEO David Israelite says a process is underway to credit Yoko Ono as a co-writer of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The ballad recently received the “Centennial Song” award at the association’s annual meeting. "I know she helped on a lot of the lyrics but I wasn't man enough to let her have credit for it,” the late Lennon said in an interview. “I was still selfish enough and unaware enough to take that contribution without acknowledging it." Portions of the song’s lyrics came from Ono’s poetry book, “Grapefruit.” – TRIBUNE

A fishing boat has discovered a portion of the Myanmarese army plane that went down last week with 122 people on board. Since the military has begun its search efforts in the Andaman Sea, 90 bodies have been recovered, along with some of the passengers’ personal belongings and plane debris. The Y-8-200F plane disappeared on June 7 while on a weekly flight to Yangon, Myanmar. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and the search for additional bodies is ongoing. – REUTERS

The jury in the Bill Cosby sexual assault case now says it's deadlocked. The members have been attempting to reach a verdict in the case for more than 27 hours, and they have stopped multiple times to review significant pieces of evidence. The comedian is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault, and each count carries a maximum 10-year prison term. "This is an incredible jury that has just acted with incredible dignity and fidelity," said Judge Steven O’Neill. – AP

Nike has announced that it will trim its global workforce by two percent and shed one-quarter of its shoe styles. The company will also reduce its number of business segments from six to four as it concentrates on 12 cities in 10 countries. These cities, which include New York and Paris, are predicted to represent 80 percent of the company’s projected growth through 2020. As of May 31, 2016, Nike had about 70,700 employees. The latest changes will result in 1,400 employees being laid off. – REUTERS

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At least six people died and 70 others were hurt when a fire broke out in the 24-story Grenfell Tower building in London. Witnesses reported seeing residents screaming for help outside of their windows and attempting to throw children down to safety. Police Commander Stuart Cundy warned that the death toll could rise, as there could be unaccounted people in the building. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and this story is developing. – REUTERS

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot and five others were wounded in Virginia this morning. Scalise was participating in baseball practice when an Illinois man named James Hodgkinson opened fire, hitting him in the hip. Police said that the suspect was shot and taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Hodgkinson reportedly belonged to several anti-Republican online groups. Scalise is now in stable condition and out of surgery. "Many lives would have been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers, who took down the gunman despite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very very brutal assault," said President Trump. This story is developing. – FOXN

Uber Director David Bonderman has resigned from the company’s board. During a discussion at an all staff Uber meeting, Bonderman implied that more female staff members would mean 'more talking.'" At the moment, an investigation is ongoing into sexual harassment claims at the company. In a statement to Reuters, Bonderman said that he did want to create further “distraction” for Uber, as it looks to move past its sexual harassment scandal. – REUTERS

An anonymous official says that President Trump has given Defense Secretary James Mattis the power to set troop levels in Afghanistan, although the Pentagon has declined to comment. "We are not winning in Afghanistan right now," Mattis said on Tuesday. "And we will correct this as soon as possible." Troop levels in Afghanistan are currently set at 8,400, and Mattis says that the Taliban are “surging.” No immediate decision has been made about the troop levels. – REUTERS

Google and a group of scientists have created a solar eclipse simulator. A solar eclipse is slated to occur on August 21, and the simulator is designed to show people what will happen to the sun in their location on the day of the event. “There are lots of online animations of the 2017 eclipse, but you can’t use them like ours to get a sense of the full experience, including your surroundings,” said project leader Dan Sevin. The researchers say that users can also use the tool to determine the best possible location to watch the upcoming solar eclipse. – NEWSWEEK

Qatar has withdrawn peacekeeping troops from the region between Djibouti and Eritrea. The two East African countries have sided with Saudi Arabia in the Qatar isolation conflict, prompting the move. "Qatar has been an impartial diplomatic mediator in resolving crises and disputes between brotherly and friendly countries and will continue to be a major player in the international community," said Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, although it did not cite a specific reason for the withdrawal. There had been about 200 troops stationed between the two countries. – REUTERS

The death toll in Bangladesh and India due to landslides has risen to 156. Heavy rains have triggered landslides over the past two days. As rescuers search for bodies, officials warn that the death toll could rise. Shah Kamal, the secretary of Bangladesh's disaster ministry, says that rescue efforts are “in full swing” as the rain comes to a halt. "It is a great relief,” he said. “Some areas in the district are still cut off but people are being moved through navy boats.” – REUTERS

London’s Borough Market has reopened following the deadly attack that killed eight people on June 3. A moment of silence was held to honor the victims before the market bell rang, signaling the reopening. "It's been really hard. Business-wise, we suffered, but emotionally, all of us here have been struggling with it,” said stallholder Paul Wheeler. “I'm just glad we're back open.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan attended the opening, which was emotional for the attendees. "Strong and together, London is open. Borough Market is open,” said market chairman Donald Hyslop. – REUTERS

YouTube star Austin Jones has been charged with two counts of production of child pornography. The 24-year-old reportedly encouraged two fans, around 14 years-old, to make videos for him via social media. Jones has created music videos for YouTube, which have reeled in millions of views. The complaint filed against him noted that his primary fan base “appears to be teenage girls.” Jones was arrested Monday in Chicago and is being held at a nearby federal jail. – USAT

A class-action lawsuit is calling for more oversight of the Chicago police force. In January, a Justice Department report was publicized showing significant civil rights violations by Chicago police. Now, several community groups claim that an overhaul of the police system will not work without scrutiny from a court-appointed monitor who is answerable to a judge. “Absent federal court supervision, nothing will improve,” the lawsuit reads. “It is clear that federal court intervention is essential to end the historical and on-going pattern and practice of excessive force by police officers in Chicago.” – AP

Nick Lyon, the head of the Michigan health department, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the investigation into Flint’s water crisis. Lyon is accused of failing to inform the public of an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in Flint. Some believe that the poor water quality in the city led to instances of the disease. The condition, which is a type of pneumonia, can be caused by bacteria in the mist or vapor inhaled by people. Between 2014 and 2015, there were 100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Flint, 12 of which resulted in death. – AP

Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic may be heavily fined for failing to comply with a 2015 plan to accept refugees. European Union countries had agreed to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers among them; at the time, the Czech Republic and Hungary were among the countries that voted against the mandatory quota. Now, Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulo is citing the three countries for failing to take their fair share. They could be referred to the European Court of Justice and face stiff fines. – BBC

The Conservatives have lost the majority in British Parliament. The Labour Party won 261 seats in yesterday's election, while the Conservatives won 318 seats, falling short of the 326 they needed for the majority. British Prime Minister Theresa May will attempt to form a new government, with permission from Queen Elizabeth II. “I will now form a government — a government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country,” May said. “What the country needs more than ever is certainty.” – Washington Post.

President Trump tweeted for the first time on Friday since former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony to the Senate. “Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!” the president tweeted. Yesterday during his testimony, Comey said the president had asked for his “loyalty” and suggested he end his investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s ties to Russia. President Trump's personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, denies that the president told Comey he expected loyalty in “form or substance.” – NPR

At least 41 people have been arrested by Iranian authorities in connection to the terrorist attacks in Tehran. ISIS claimed responsibility for the incidents, which occurred at Iran’s Parliament building and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. A total of 17 people were killed in the attacks. "With the help of security forces and families of the suspects, 41 people linked to the attacks and to Daesh (Islamic State) have been arrested in different provinces," the interior ministry said, according to state TV. "Lots of documents and weaponry have been seized as well.” – REUTERS

Taylor Swift has made her entire back catalog of music available on Tidal, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, and other streaming services. The singer notably pulled her music from Spotify back in 2014 before the release of her album, “1989.” Swift has argued that the streaming service model devalues her music. In response to her move, Spotify attempted to encourage her to change her mind and help build “a new music economy that works for everyone.” The new development comes in celebration of “1989” sales reaching more than 10 million worldwide. – BILLBOARD

Japan’s upper house of Parliament has approved legislation that will allow 83-year-old Emperor Akihito to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne. Because the lower house of Parliament already approved the measure, it will officially become law. According to Japanese media, the official abdication will occur in late 2018, and Crown Prince Naruhito is next in line to the throne. The 57-year-old has one daughter; his younger brother, Prince Akishino, has two daughters and a son. Succession in the Japanese monarchy runs through the males of the royal family. – NPR

Chinese authorities have closed in on a network of people who stole information from Apple databases and sold it on the black market. The network consisted of employees of direct Apple suppliers, as well as firms to which Apple outsources, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The individuals took user names, phone numbers, Apple IDs, and other data to sell on the black market for between $1.47 and $11.78 per piece. The net worth amounted to $7.36 million. Arrests were carried out this past weekend. – VERGE

The House has approved the Financial Choice Act, which will scale back and eliminate some of the Dodd-Frank law's regulations. Retirement advisers will no longer have to put their clients’ interests ahead of their own, and government-insured banks will have more leeway in terms of making “risky” investments. "Dodd-Frank represents the greatest regulatory burden on our economy, more so than all the other Obama-era regulations combined," said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, who penned the new act. "There is a better way: economic growth for all; bank bailouts for none." – NPR

SoftBank has announced that it will buy Boston Dynamics and Schaft from Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. The two companies design and manufacture robots, which are specifically created to mimic human movement. "Smart robotics are going to be a key driver of the next stage of the information revolution, and Marc (Raibert) and his team at Boston Dynamics are the clear technology leaders in advanced dynamic robots," said SoftBank Group Chairman Masayoshi Son. The terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. – REUTERS

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel recently called for a solution to the Qatar crisis, specifically citing concerns around sea and air blockades. "Along with our American colleagues but above all our colleagues in the region, we must try to find solutions, especially lifting the sea and air blockades," Gabriel told reporters. "We're talking about food and many other things.” His spokesman, Martin Schaefer, later emphasized that Iran should avoid making any moves that may “exacerbate” the crisis. – REUTERS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking Endo Pharmaceuticals to stop selling the extended release version of its opioid drug, Opana. The FDA claims that some people are crushing the pills, dissolving them, and injecting them to get high. "We are facing an opioid epidemic — a public health crisis, and we must take all necessary steps to reduce the scope of opioid misuse and abuse," said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA's commissioner. In a statement, Endo said it is reviewing the FDA’s request and “evaluating a full range of potential options.” – NPR

A referendum will be held on Oct. 1 in Catalonia to determine if it should split from Spain and become a republic. Catalonia, which has its own language, has attempted to secede from Spain in the past. Previous attempts have been blocked by Spain’s government and Constitutional Court. "We have always made very diverse offers and all of them have been rejected without any exception," said Carles Puigdemont, president of the government of Catalonia. – REUTERS

A Chinese man and woman who were kidnapped by armed forces on May 24 in Quetta, Pakistan, have been reportedly killed by ISIS. The two, who were thought to be a couple, were on their way to teach a class when they were taken by militants. Amaq, the ISIS-affiliated news agency, has released video footage of the individuals being shot. It reported that ISIS fighters had killed the couple. "Given Pakistan's complex security situation, both sides need to study and formulate a more comprehensive security plan to fully cover Chinese in Pakistan," reports The Global Times, China’s state-run publication. – CNN

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Former FBI Director James Comey said in his testimony today that he found some of President Trump’s actions “disturbing” surrounding the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. "I don't think it's for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct,” Comey stated. “I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning.” He also said that he thought the Trump administration had told lies and tried to defame him after he was fired on May 9. Comey’s testimony is a part of a special investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. This story is developing. – REUTERS

North Korea has reportedly fired land-to-ship missiles, according to South Korea’s military. Yesterday, the South had announced its plan to postpone the full deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. According to South Korea’s Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles flew about 124 miles. They are “more defensive in nature,” and specifically designed to defend against certain types of threats, such as warships. – REUTERS

UK voters head to the polls today to elect a new Prime Minister. Theresa May had a slim lead over the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn, according to earlier polling. "May is hoping for a stronger majority to help her negotiate Britain's exit from the European Union, but her once-strong lead shrank during the campaign,” reported NPR’s Peter Kenyon. The main topic May and Corbyn have addressed as of late is national security, following the attacks in London and Manchester. Polls will close in the snap election at 5 p.m. ET. – NPR

Ten bodies have been discovered 22 miles off the coast of Myanmar, and officials believe they may be some of the passengers from a plane that disappeared Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday, a plane carrying more than 100 people went missing en route to Yangon. It lost contact 29 minutes after takeoff, and search efforts went on throughout the day. Ships searching for the missing plane found the bodies – six adults and four children – as well as aircraft debris. – REUTERS

Three more people have been arrested by British police in connection with the London attacks last weekend. One was arrested on suspected drug charges, while two others were detained on suspicion of terrorism plotting. Newly released CCTV footage shows the attackers - Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba – violently assaulting a victim before police arrive. Eight people died in the incident last weekend, and 50 others were injured. – REUTERS

Twenty soldiers were killed today in an attack launched by Al Shabaab militants on a military base in Somalia. The incident, which occurred in the town of Af Urur, involved heavy fighting, and 14 military vehicles were torched. A few days ago, five Al Shabaab members were sentenced to death after driving a car full of explosives through Bosaso, the capital of Somalia’s Puntland region. – REUTERS

Reality Winner intends to enter a not guilty plea, according to her lawyer, and she could be released on bond on Thursday. The government contractor was arrested on Saturday after she was suspected of "removing classified material from a government facility and mailing it to a news outlet." The information removed by Winner was thought to be the basis of a report leaked by The Intercept, citing Russian efforts to launch a cyberattack on a U.S. election software company. "There's not much to comment on right now as far as whether there is a connection between my client and Intercept," said Winner’s lawyer, Titus Nichols. "I know that there is documents circulating on the Internet and everything else, but as far as concrete proof, we're just not at that stage, yet." – NPR

Five of the attackers who raided Iran’s Parliament building and the Ayatollah Khomeini mausoleum yesterday were Iranian ISIS fighters, according to local officials. A total of 17 people were killed when gunfire and bombings erupted in two separate incidents in Tehran. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. "[The attackers] earlier left Iran and were involved in the crimes of the terrorist group in Raqqa and Mosul," said the intelligence ministry. "Last year, they returned to Iran ... to carry out terrorist attacks in the holy cities of Iran.” – REUTERS

After a year of delays, Russia’s Proton-M booster rocket has successfully launched a U.S. communications satellite into space. It took off this morning from the Baikonur facility in Kazakhstan. In a launch in 2016, the rocket malfunctioned in its second-stage engine. A probe into the issue found manufacturing flaws in the booster’s engine, requiring Russia’s space agency to keep the rocket grounded. Russia typically relies on Proton-M to launch most commercial satellites. – AP

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry met with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli today at the clean energy conference in Beijing to discuss nuclear energy, carbon capture, and liquefied natural gas. He cited these as areas that China and the U.S. could cooperate on moving forward. “Those are three areas that I think we have extraordinary opportunities to be partners to work on clean energy issues,” Perry said. While visiting Japan on Monday, Perry said he hopes China will become a “real leader” on climate issues in the future. – AP

Al Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, says it will maintain editorial independence amid tensions between the country and other Arab nations. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies cut ties to Qatar amid fears that the country was supporting terrorism. "If we bring (in) guests who are opposing certain governments, does that mean we are interfering in the countries' business? No,” said Mostefa Souag, acting director-general of Al Jazeera Media Network. “Al Jazeera’s editorial policy is going to continue the same regardless of what happens with this event." – REUTERS

Ariana Grande has resumed her tour following the Manchester attack and her benefit concert for the victims. "Thinking of our angels every step of the way. I love you with all my heart," Grande wrote on Instagram, following her recent show in Paris. It was the first time she performed since May 22. Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Coldplay were some of the many musicians who participated in Grande’s benefit “One Love Manchester” concert. More than 100 people were injured and 22 people died in the incident. – THR