Nato chief is determined to give Trump a win with 5% defence spending plan

Inside an Atlanta art studio, artist Basil Watson is crafting a statue of Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero and former slave, to be placed at the South Carolina State House. This landmark statue, a first for honoring an individual African American on the Capitol grounds, symbolizes Smalls' journey from slavery to statesmanship and reflects a bipartisan effort to acknowledge African American history. Want More Context? 🔎

US envoy Steve Witkoff to visit aid distribution sites in Gaza to assess ‘dire situation on the ground’: White HouseUS envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza to evaluate aid distribution amidst growing international concern over Israel's starvation policies, which have reportedly led to over 1,000 deaths since May. This visit follows a recent spike in violence and aims to secure a plan for increased food aid while addressing the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the ongoing...

An air traffic controller at Ronald Reagan National Airport failed to warn an American Airlines jet of an approaching Army helicopter before their collision in January, resulting in 67 fatalities, as revealed during NTSB hearings. The controller, overwhelmed by traffic, did not communicate effectively, highlighting concerns over safety practices at the busy airport. Want More Context? 🔎

Burhanettin Bulut, a senior leader of Turkey's main opposition party CHP, accused President Erdogan's government of fabricating enemies and conducting politically motivated crackdowns following the opposition's electoral defeat, exemplified by the recent detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. He criticized the government's strategy of polarization and arrests as a means to distract from societal issues like poverty and injustice, asserting that such actions threaten Turkey's democratic foundations. Want More Context? 🔎

Eight years after the Panama Papers, the Panama Playlists have emerged, revealing the Spotify preferences of politicians like Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. While the playlists may not be damaging, they could be embarrassing, showcasing tastes ranging from boy bands to pop hits, with the website claiming to have identified the accounts through public information. Want More Context? 🔎

BBC reports from the scene of floods in Kerr CountyIn Kerr County, Texas, where catastrophic flooding over the 4 July weekend resulted in at least 135 deaths, top officials were criticized for being unprepared, with the emergency management coordinator and sheriff asleep during the disaster. No flood alerts were issued prior, and while Governor Greg Abbott acknowledged storm warnings, the true magnitude of the flooding was unknown. Want More Context? 🔎