On this US independence day, these are the stories making headlines.
Thai cave search: Rescuers unsure how to free trapped boys
The initial relief that greeted the dramatic discovery of the trapped Thai soccer team has given way to concern, as rescuers begin the difficult task of attempting to free the 12 boys and their coach from deep inside the flooded cave network.
Why will it take so long to rescue the trapped Thai soccer team?
Hopes remain high as rescue efforts continue after 12 boys and their soccer coach were found alive after nine days. But they can’t come out just yet.
The hidden ‘outbreak’ in Puerto Rico
Leptospirosis cases spiked after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, according to data obtained by CNN and the Center for Investigative Journalism.
Kremlin: One-on-one meeting with Trump ‘absolutely suits’ Putin
President Donald Trump’s desire to begin his summit with Vladimir Putin with a one-on-one meeting “absolutely suits” the Russian leader, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Second Philippine mayor shot dead in two days
A second mayor in the Philippines has been shot and killed by unknown assailants, a day after another mayor was assassinated by a sniper in a daylight attack.
Justin Trudeau about groping claim from 18 years ago: ‘I don’t remember any negative interactions’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to allegations that he groped a female reporter 18 years ago, saying he doesn’t recall “any negative interactions that day at all.”
UK government to ban ‘gay conversion therapy’
The British government is planning to outlaw so-called gay conversion therapy as part of an effort to counter intolerance and discrimination.
Airbus unveils new Beluga XL flying ‘whale’
(CNN) – Airbus is making a splash with the design for the latest version of its Beluga transport airplane. The brand new BelugaXL (Airbus A330-700L) was unveiled in Toulouse, France, earlier this week with a very special paint job. Its livery includes a whale-style nose cone, sparkling blue eyes and a smiling mouth.
HTC to lay off 1,500 employees
The struggling Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer confirmed Monday that it is downsizing as part of a broader “realignment of resources across the organization.” It expects to complete the layoffs by September.
Italy Wikipedia shuts down in EU protest
Italian Wikipedia blocked readers from its own pages on Monday in protest over the future of EU online copyright law. Critics say the rules, due to be voted on this week, could put an end to memes and remixes, and require platforms to pay for linking to news.
Merkel survives bruising battle with rival
On the face of it Angela Merkel has pulled off the compromise of her career. She has quelled the mutiny that threatened to destroy her coalition government. And, it seems, pacified her rebellious interior minister, who was still raging as he went into last-ditch emergency talks last night.
Zimbabwe’s rugby team sleep rough
Players from Zimbabwe’s national rugby union team have slept on the streets in Tunisia after complaining about the poor standard of hotel accommodation. The team are in the North African country for a World Cup qualifier and the protest came after they had been held at immigration for six hours.
Japan’s World Cup octopus killed and ‘sent to market’
An octopus, who correctly predicted all of Japan’s World Cup results, has been killed and turned into sashimi. The mollusc, named Rabio, was hailed as psychic after an experiment in a paddling pool. But Kimio Abe, the fisherman who caught Rabio, felt he’d make more money selling it for food than from its clairvoyance.
Westminster ‘paedophile ring’ accuser charged
A man who alleged there was a paedophile ring at the heart of Westminster has been charged with perverting the course of justice. The man, known as Nick, whose real name is being withheld for legal reasons, is also accused of fraud.
Samsung is investigating claims of photos randomly sending to contacts
The contents of your phone’s camera roll are a window into your life – where you’ve been, who your friends are, and whether or not you have a proclivity for dick pics. And, if a scattering of claims on Reddit are to be believed, that window may have just been blown wide open.
The best memes of 2018 so far
If you feel like you see bad news every time you log onto social media, you’re not alone. Going on Twitter can be an overwhelming experience, with constant arguments, drama, and snitch tagging. Memes are the only thing holding the internet together at this point.
Here’s your first pic of the main ‘IT’ cast back together for ‘Chapter 2’
That inevitable return trip to Derry is getting closer and closer by the day. Last week we had confirmation that Teach Grant would be playing an adult version of Henry Bowers, and this week we have our first picture of the whole gang back together.
Japan leaves touching thank you note and a spotless locker room after World Cup loss
If the World Cup was determined strictly on the basis of sportsmanship, Japan’s team would win this thing no question. Sadly, though, that’s not how it goes – as Japan knows all too well. Their mens team lost Monday’s knock-out round contest to Belgium at almost the last possible moment, after holding a two-goal lead.
Seth Rogen just discovered a woman is traveling Russia with a Seth Rogen cardboard cutout
Please, for just a moment, divert your attention from the 2018 World Cup or whatever the president is saying. Instead, take delight in this unexpected love story between a Russian woman and her Seth Rogen cardboard cutout companion. The actor tweeted a series of screenshots on Monday afternoon of Instagram user @alazankina traveling through Russia with his likeness.
Scientists finally witness the birth of a planet-and here’s the photo
For the first time, astronomers captured a clear image of a young planet forming around a star. It was captured by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. You can see the young planet, named PDS 70b, as a bright ball to the right of the center of the photograph above.
