Happened

• Asian stock markets rallied on Thursday, June 25, 2026, driven by a surge in technology shares across the region. • The rally was triggered by "blockbuster" earnings reports from US chipmakers Micron and Qualcomm, which renewed investor confidence in artificial intelligence. • This movement highlights the continued global influence of US tech performance on regional indices such as the Nikkei 225 and markets in Seoul and Taipei.

• A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with the UK recording a new June temperature record of 35.8C in West Sussex, surpassing the previous high set in 1976. • In France, temperatures have reached 40C, prompting authorities to extend a red weather alert to 72 of the country's 96 mainland departments. • The extreme heat is creating hazardous conditions across the continent, impacting livestock and public safety in regions including western Switzerland.

• Progressive candidates Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier secured Democratic nominations in the New York primaries. • In a key New York House district, Micah Lasher, a former aide to Representative Jerry Nadler, defeated Jack Schlossberg and Alex Bores. • The results signal a strong night for the progressive wing of the party, highlighted by the defeat of high-profile heir Jack Schlossberg.

• South Africa secured a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea on Day 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, impacting the standings for several other nations. • Brazil, Morocco, and Bosnia have officially advanced to the knockout stages, joining a list of qualified teams that includes the USA, Germany, France, Argentina, and Colombia. • In other match action, Switzerland managed to hold on for a result against Canada, while a Qatar player received a five-game ban.

• Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier stated that the UK could potentially rejoin the European Union on a "short" timeline if the political will exists. • Barnier suggested that the UK could also integrate into a newly proposed European security and defence council to strengthen regional stability. • Separately, leaders from the Visegrad Four (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) are meeting in Hungary to revive their regional grouping.

Building had been vulnerable before it collapsed in the middle of the night, killing 98 people in 2021The deadly destruction of a Florida beachfront condominium actually started weeks before it collapsed into a pile of rubble in the middle of the night, killing 98 people in 2021 – but the building had been vulnerable from the start, federal investigators found in a final report issued on Monday.The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said in the report that two connections between garage columns and the pool deck started to fail around early June. The combination of a structure design that did not meet building codes and alterations made to it over its 40 years meant that the other parts of the pool deck weren’t strong enough to withstand the extra load, leading to the type of slow-motion collapse. Continue reading...

Trump’s pre-Fourth of July renovation project has endured problems with algae, peeling paint and an inflating price tagDonald Trump’s rush to repaint the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, an iconic symbol of Washington DC, has hit roadblock after roadblock as the country’s 250th anniversary nears.The public has been gripped by the ill-fated $14m bid to renovate the reflecting pool, which the US president vowed to make “beautiful” in time for this summer’s birthday celebrations at the capital. Continue reading...

• The second week of the 2026 World Cup saw the group stage progress across North America, with the knockout bracket beginning to take shape. • A critical Group G match featured Egypt and New Zealand, both of whom entered the game without a single victory in the current tournament or their respective World Cup histories. • The match carries significant implications for the Group G standings, as both teams fight for a chance to advance to the next round.

• The USA national team is gaining momentum as co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup, while Turkey suffered a shock exit after failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. • Sweden enters a high-stakes match against the Netherlands following a dominant 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their opening round. • The upcoming fixtures feature a clash between Germany and Côte d’Ivoire, with all four teams remaining undefeated after their first games.

• Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0, with Ayase Ueda scoring twice to secure a dominant victory. • The loss officially eliminates Tunisia from contention for the 2026 World Cup. • The result highlights Japan's strength in the qualifying stages while marking a disappointing exit for coach Hervé Renard's squad.