Extreme heat bears down as America 250 celebrations ramp up. Trump speaks at Mount Rushmore
WASHINGTON (AP) — Festivities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence are ramping up across the United States. President Donald Trump spoke from Mount Rushmore, where he called the holiday “one of the most extraordinary days in the history of the world.” New York City's Times Square will have a ball drop at midnight to kick off the July Fourth holiday. Across much of the country, extreme heat is a concern this holiday. Philadelphia canceled its Salute to Independence parade. The Great American State Fair, on the National Mall in Washington, shut down for a few hours in the early afternoon even as more than 200 people were waiting in line for the Ferris wheel.
Iran begins dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has begun a dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war. He was 86. Khamenei's body will be on display at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran’s capital, beginning Saturday. Iran’s government expects to see millions flood the streets of the capital in scenes reminiscent of the burial of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. That could provide a boost for Iran’s government, particularly as it tries to leverage its hold on the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the United States over a permanent end to the war.
Rescue mission launches to save NASA telescope that's falling back to Earth
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A three-armed spacecraft is rushing to the rescue of a NASA telescope that’s in danger of crashing back to Earth. Northrop Grumman launched Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft on Friday from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. The Pegasus rocket blasted off from the belly of a modified airplane, putting Link on course to reach NASA’s Swift Observatory in about a month. Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because of recent solar storms. NASA is paying $30 million for Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit so it can continue tracking the universe’s biggest explosions.
Fallout from Venezuela's earthquakes turns political as opposition leader Machado seeks return
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The fallout from Venezuela’s powerful twin quakes has evolved into a major test for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, sending her scrambling to prevent the humanitarian disaster from becoming a political one in the face of fierce public criticism and efforts by the Venezuelan opposition leader to return from exile. Rodríguez's 180-day mandate as interim leader expires on Friday. A day after Rodríguez angrily defended the competence of her government’s relief effort at her first press conference since the June 24 disaster, her main rival, exiled Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, issued her own appeal. She argued the government’s quake response exposed its critical weaknesses and that her return would help recovery efforts.
Venezuelans are rushing to identify the bodies of their loved ones as earthquake deaths multiply
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — The rush is on across Venezuela’s north coast to identify loved ones before it’s too late. With at least 2,295 people killed in the deadly earthquakes last week, the country is overwhelmed with bodies that officials are struggling to collect, identify and preserve. Many fear mass graves are coming as they search for the bodies of loved ones who died in the earthquakes that struck the South American country on June 24. Thousands are still missing.
Catholic group that defied pope and caused schism defends its actions and casts itself as the victim
ROME (AP) — The traditionalist Catholics who defied Pope Leo XIV and caused a schism are defending their actions. The Society of St. Pius X is insisting it was merely saving souls and has been the victim of an unjust sanction by the Holy See. The head of the group wrote to Leo a day after the Vatican excommunicated its bishops and priests and warned its faithful to not participate in the schism, or rupture in church unity. The Vatican took action after the group consecrated four new bishops without papal consent, one of the gravest crimes in church law.
Egg producers will pay $3.3M and donate 53 million eggs to settle price-fixing claims
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and 17 states have reached settlement agreements with three major egg producers over allegations of that the companies illegally colluded in a multiyear scheme to raises prices. The companies — Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch — are accused of colluding between June 2022 and March 2025 to inflate egg prices. To resolve the states' claims, the settlements require the companies to collectively pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs. They must also adopt antitrust compliance programs and stop communicating with competitors about pricing. The settlements still require court approval. Critics criticized the terms, saying they're too lenient.
Interpol names suspect in Monaco bombing that reportedly targeted Russia-linked Ukrainian tycoon
PARIS (AP) — Interpol has identified a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman as the main suspect in a Monaco bombing that reportedly targeted a Ukrainian tycoon linked to Russia. Anastasiia Berezovska remains at large, with a Red Notice issued for her arrest. The bombing on Monday injured three people, including a woman and a child. Media reports suggest Ukrainian construction tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev was among the wounded. Monaco authorities say the bomb was detonated remotely. The suspect was initially mistaken for a man. Investigators believe she may have had accomplices. Her last known address is in Germany, where police recently searched her apartment.
NATO commander says Europe has backfilled most gaps from US cutbacks on military equipment
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO’s top commander says European allies have mostly filled gaps left by the U.S. reducing its military contributions to the organization's crisis plans. For weeks, U.S. Gen. Alex Grynkewich has been urging Europe to provide more equipment after the U.S. announced on June 3 it would cut assets like an aircraft carrier and fighter jets. He also considered backup plans in case of an attack. The NATO Force Model outlines available military assets from member nations. Grynkewich says the Europeans has largely filled the gaps and are weighing alternatives if the same equipment can't be found.
Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin remains unfazed by Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries, despite severe fuel shortages. He dismisses the situation as "not critical" and insists the war will continue until his goals are met. Analysts note that Russian forces have been stalled in recent months. On Thursday, the Russian military launched a deadly attack on Kyiv, killing at least 30 people. There have been over 50 reported Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea since March, badly denting the country's refining capacity. Putin downplays the impact, pledging to accelerate repairs and boost air defense production. He rejects ceasefire proposals, demanding Ukraine withdraw from contested regions.
