Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that his meeting with former US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague was positive. The leaders discussed various topics, including the Middle East, protecting Ukrainian citizens, the procurement of American air defense systems, and the Istanbul talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Zelenskyy also presented Trump with battlefield updates, emphasizing that Russia was not prevailing. The 45-minute meeting occurred after the main NATO leaders’ session and a declaration pledging support for Ukraine’s armed forces.
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The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has refuted claims that a Norwegian traveler, Mads Mikkelsen, was denied entry due to a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance. According to CBP, Mikkelsen was denied entry for admitting to drug use, not for political reasons. Despite the CBP’s statement, the traveler claims that officials reviewed his phone, saw the meme, and denied him entry, raising questions about potential heightened scrutiny. This incident is part of a broader trend of increased denials and scrutiny by the Department of Homeland Security, fueled by stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration and has caused some countries to issue travel warnings.
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The Axiom-4 mission successfully launched from Florida, carrying a multi-national crew that included Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to journey into space. Piloting the commercial flight to the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla is poised to become the first Indian to visit the orbiting laboratory, marking India’s return to space after 41 years. The mission, a collaboration between NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and others, also includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary. This significant event has generated considerable excitement in India, with ISRO recognizing the valuable experience Shukla will gain, supporting its future spaceflight endeavors.
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Despite recent US bombing campaigns targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, Senator JD Vance suggests Iran’s substantial enriched uranium stockpile remains intact. The focus is now on Iran’s ability to enrich the uranium to weapons-grade, and convert it into a nuclear weapon, rather than the uranium’s physical location. While some reports suggest the uranium may have been moved from facilities like Isfahan before the bombings, experts like David Albright note unaccounted-for centrifuges remain a concern. Vance asserts that the bombing achieved its goal by eliminating Iran’s ability to weaponize the fuel, although ongoing negotiations with Iran are necessary to ensure the stockpile’s ultimate disposition.
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Preliminary reports indicate a landscape fire, igniting dry grass and causing unexploded ordnance to detonate at a military facility near Bolshaya Tura, leading to significant explosions. The area has been cordoned off, and firefighting aircraft are being deployed to contain the blaze. This is not the first instance of a fire at this depot, as a similar incident in 2014 resulted in fatalities and evacuations. This incident is part of a concerning trend, as explosions at Russian military storage sites have become more frequent since the invasion of Ukraine, including a recent detonation at a major ammunition depot near Moscow.
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Upon arriving at the NATO summit in The Hague, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that NATO has no place in Ukraine, as it is not a member of the Alliance, and his primary objective is to maintain this status quo. Orbán doesn’t perceive Russia as a significant threat to NATO, citing the Alliance’s greater strength. He identifies the loss of economic competition, rather than security concerns, as the primary threat facing Europe. Furthermore, Orbán expressed admiration for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach, suggesting it contributes to shorter conflicts.
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During a House committee hearing, Rep. Kim Schrier criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading misinformation about vaccines. Schrier, a pediatrician, specifically stated she would hold Kennedy responsible for any deaths from vaccine-preventable illnesses, citing his long history of questioning vaccine safety. Kennedy’s actions include removing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Schrier accused Kennedy of lying to parents and specifically to Senator Cassidy and said she does not trust him.
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Following the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the United States is the primary force behind Israel’s military actions against Iran, asserting that Washington intervened after observing Israel’s perceived “impotence.” The attacks, which targeted the Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities, were declared a “spectacular military success” by US President Donald Trump. These strikes followed a week of intense conflict initiated by Israeli attacks on Iranian infrastructure, escalating tensions in the region. While Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, Israel views it as an existential threat, leading to continued conflict and significant casualties.
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During an address to the Dutch parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russia has deployed 28,743 Shahed drones against Ukraine since the full-scale war began on February 24, 2022, with 2,736 launched in June alone. Zelenskyy highlighted Russia’s reliance on Iranian support for this drone campaign. Furthermore, Zelenskyy emphasized that Vladimir Putin disregards international laws, including the prohibition of killing, violence, and the destruction of cities, and that accountability is crucial for such violations.
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A 68-year-old Mexican-born man died while being transported by a private company from a local jail to a federal detention center, marking the first such death in at least a decade. The cause of death is under investigation, but the events surrounding the incident are confusing, with the family seeking answers. The case raises concerns about the increasing reliance on private companies to transport detainees amid the current administration’s focus on mass deportations and a lack of oversight, which experts predict could lead to more deaths.
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John Q. Hosedrinker