The Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes—human and animal figures, plaques, and regalia—looted in 1897 by British forces. This significant repatriation, the largest single return to date, fulfills a Nigerian request and follows similar actions by museums in London and Rhode Island. The artifacts, primarily from Leiden’s museum, were returned in Edo State with the Oba Ewuare II calling it a “divine intervention.” The Dutch government’s commitment to returning colonial-era artifacts continues, with Nigeria actively pursuing the recovery of further looted items.
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Senator Mike Lee’s proposed bill, part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” would mandate the sale of 2.2 to 3.3 million acres of public land in the American West to supposedly fund affordable housing. The proposal has faced significant bipartisan opposition, with critics questioning its effectiveness in addressing the housing crisis and expressing concerns about the loss of public access to these lands. A map released by The Wilderness Society highlighted the potential scope of land sales, prompting Lee to label it misleading, while the Society defended its accuracy. This plan has drawn widespread condemnation from lawmakers, environmental groups, and the public.
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Transatlantic trade partners are negotiating to prevent a July 8th deadline from triggering a substantial increase in U.S. tariffs on EU goods, potentially reaching 50 percent on various sectors. High-level talks between President Trump and EU Commission President von der Leyen have urged negotiators to expedite a “good and fair deal.” The EU has firmly denied reports of accepting a 10 percent baseline tariff, emphasizing its opposition to the existing tariffs imposed by the U.S. Failure to reach an agreement would severely impact the €1.7 trillion transatlantic trade relationship.
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Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host and Trump ally, has unexpectedly become a leading voice against US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict. Leveraging his past experience as a neoconservative, Carlson effectively critiques the arguments for war, even drawing praise from unlikely sources like Jon Stewart. His recent interview with Ted Cruz exposed the senator’s lack of knowledge on Iran, highlighting Carlson’s ability to dismantle pro-war narratives. Despite President Trump dismissing Carlson’s concerns, their phone conversation suggests the former host’s anti-war stance is influencing the president’s decision-making process.
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Satellite imagery reveals the evacuation of U.S. aircraft from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a significant move given its role as a key U.S. and British air operations hub. This coincides with heightened regional tensions following Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and the deployment of additional U.S. military assets to the Middle East. The evacuation suggests a heightened risk of Iranian attacks on U.S. bases, potentially foreshadowing imminent military action. The U.S. has also issued security warnings and begun evacuating non-essential personnel from embassies in the region.
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Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump’s two-week deadline for deciding on potential action against Iran, despite his history of setting similar deadlines and failing to meet them. Leavitt attributed past missed deadlines to Trump’s pursuit of diplomatic solutions, citing past negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as an example. However, a reporter highlighted Trump’s repeated use of this tactic, referencing instances related to the Ukraine conflict and the resulting skepticism surrounding this latest deadline. Leavitt countered criticism by blaming the Biden administration for the current global conflicts.
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A federal appeals court temporarily blocked a lower court’s order requiring President Trump to relinquish control of approximately 4,000 California National Guard members he federalized. The appeals court found it likely that the President lawfully exercised his authority under 10 U.S.C. § 12406, rejecting Governor Newsom’s claims of legal violations. While the court acknowledged some procedural irregularities, it deemed them inconsequential given the deferential standard of review afforded to the President’s actions regarding national security. The ruling, however, did not fully accept the Justice Department’s arguments regarding judicial oversight.
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Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran stated that one engine on the crashed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was new, installed in March 2025, while the other’s last service was in 2023, with the next scheduled for December 2025. Both engines reportedly had clean operational histories prior to the crash. Investigators are analyzing the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine the cause of the crash, which killed at least 270 people. While engine age isn’t necessarily indicative of engine health, especially with the Genx-1B engines used, the investigation will focus on all factors contributing to the incident.
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Russia’s warning about a potential Chernobyl-style catastrophe if Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant is struck carries a heavy dose of irony, given Russia’s own actions at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and even the Chernobyl exclusion zone itself. The sheer hypocrisy is difficult to ignore; the same nation that has repeatedly shelled and threatened Ukrainian nuclear facilities now expresses concern about a similar situation elsewhere. Their pronouncements ring hollow, given their demonstrable disregard for the safety and stability of nuclear infrastructure in regions they’ve targeted.
This isn’t merely about a nation expressing concern for international safety standards; it smacks of self-preservation. The Bushehr plant, built with Russian assistance, represents a significant investment and collaboration.… Continue reading
Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia militia, issued a stark warning to the United States, threatening attacks on US bases across West Asia should the US intervene in the Iran-Israel conflict. The group’s security leader, Abu Ali al-Askari, specifically mentioned targeting key maritime routes and oil ports, in addition to US aircraft. This threat follows a January 2024 drone strike attributed to the group, killing US soldiers. President Trump stated he will decide within two weeks whether to authorize military action against Iran, prioritizing diplomatic solutions while maintaining that military options remain available.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood