Daily Update: 5 Top Stories and More for Your Inbox
1. Important Updates for June 25: Climate disruptions, Supreme Court decisions, Julian Assange's legal status, waste-filled balloons, and space competition.
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1. Severe weather
As millions of citizens endure record-breaking temperatures, significant flooding from heavy downpours in the Midwest is pushing a Minnesota dam close to collapse. The Rapidan Dam, approximately 70 miles southwest of Minneapolis, is currently in “imminent failure condition,” according to the Blue Earth County government. Despite no current plans for a “mass evacuation” while emergency crews actively monitor the situation, the county provided an evening update on Monday. Catastrophic flooding already wrought havoc across the Midwest over the weekend, resulting in at least one fatality in South Dakota and triggering rescue operations in several states.
2. Supreme Court decisions
The Supreme Court is poised to unveil marquee decisions this week on abortion, firearms, and former President Donald Trump’s claims of absolute immunity. Trump argues that without immunity, presidents would constantly fear being second-guessed by overzealous prosecutors after leaving office. The immunity case seems likely to hinge on whether Trump’s actions after the 2020 election were “official”—i.e., steps he took as president—or whether they were “private,” which would likely not receive immunity. The high court also agreed to hear the Biden administration’s challenge to a transgender care ban, plunging into the intricate issue of whether states can prohibit hormone therapy and puberty blockers for minors.
3. Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged role in one of the largest breaches of classified U.S. material, as part of a deal with the Justice Department that will enable him to avoid prison time in the United States. Federal authorities pursued Assange after his whistleblowing website published nearly half a million secret military documents regarding the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 52-year-old Australian has spent the past five years in a maximum-security UK prison and nearly seven years prior to that holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The new plea deal allows Assange to return to Australia as a free man, but not before he appears in court in a remote US territory in the Pacific.
4. Trash balloons
For a second time, North Korea sent an additional barrage of balloons allegedly filled with waste and trash into South Korea overnight, reigniting a back-and-forth exchange as tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to escalate. More than 1,000 such balloons from the North have reached South Korean territory since May, according to CNN’s tally. North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has stated the balloons were a “response” to the South’s long-standing practice of flying leaflets containing materials critical of his regime. The latest balloon salvo comes as inter-Korean diplomacy remains at an impasse. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a defense pact with North Korea last week as discussions on its denuclearization efforts have stalled, and Kim has vowed to increase his country’s nuclear arsenal.
5. Space exploration
China’s Chang’e-6 lunar module returned to Earth today, completing its groundbreaking mission to gather the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. The mission marks a significant advancement for China’s ambitious space program. Chinese leader Xi Jinping hailed the mission as “another landmark achievement in building a strong nation in space, and science and technology.” China is among several countries, including the U.S., aggressively stepping up their lunar exploration efforts. Beijing’s objective to send astronauts to the moon by 2030 comes as the U.S. prepares to launch a crewed “Artemis” mission as early as 2026. That would be America’s first such attempt at landing on the moon in over 50 years.
MORNING MUST-READS
Florida Panthers captures the first NHL championship in franchise history
The Florida Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup on Monday following their victory in Game 7!
JJ Redick appointed as new Lakers coach
The Los Angeles Lakers hired former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick to head the team despite his “zero coaching experience.” Redick claims his time as a player, analyst, and podcaster has prepared him for the role.
Price-conscious Americans flock to affordable luxury at these steakhouses
Strapped for cash Americans are seeking premium experiences on their nights out. Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse are experiencing a sales boost while most restaurant chains struggle.
“Inside Out 2” sends Disney soaring, despite culture-war critics’ anger
Disney has often been a target of culture wars, but “Inside Out 2” has emerged as a major box-office success for the studio.
“Freaky Friday 2” set for a 2025 theatrical release
Feeling nostalgic? Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are reportedly filming “Freaky Friday 2” after teasing a sequel to their 2003 portrayal of a mother-daughter duo who swap bodies.
TODAY’S NUMBER
31
That’s how many times the S&P 500 has surpassed its own record since January, indicating that the stock market could have its best election year ever. It has been 333 days since the index recorded a decline of 2% or greater, which is the longest stretch since February 2018, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.
TODAY’S QUOTE
The safety and wellbeing of our children and future generations are at risk.
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, as the U.S. Surgeon General, is urging for collective action to curtail gun violence in America in a novel advisory issued today. This is the first time a publication from the Surgeon General's Office has centered on firearm violence and its significant effects on the well-being of survivors, communities, and mental health.
AND FINALLY ...
Discover Venice, Italy, right here in the States!
A trip to Italy? Not really! We're in Providence instead! Check out this video to witness the rich Italian-American heritage in Rhode Island's capital city, navigated by gondola. For further exploration, peruse CNN's carefully selected 2024 list of Top U.S. Towns to Visit.
Read also:
- Despite the ongoing situation with the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota, authorities have not announced any plans for a mass evacuation yet, hoping to prevent further catastrophic flooding impacting us in the Midwest.
- The Biden administration's challenge to a transgender care ban placing restrictions on hormone therapy and puberty blockers for minors will soon reach the Supreme Court, with potential implications on our children's health and wellbeing.
