The Trump administration has waived the costly visa bond requirement, up to $15,000, for World Cup fans from five qualifying African nations. This decision aims to ease travel for qualified ticket holders, addressing concerns about soaring costs for international visitors.
President Trump arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first such visit in nine years. Discussions are expected to cover contentious topics including trade, technology, export controls, Taiwan, and the ongoing Iran war, with both leaders emphasizing cooperation despite deepening rivalry.
William Paul, son of Senator Rand Paul, apologized for an antisemitic and anti-gay diatribe directed at Republican lawmaker Mike Lawler at a Capitol Hill bar. Paul attributed his behavior to excessive drinking, stating his comments do not reflect his true character.
The US military confirmed the recovery of the remains of Spc. Mariyah Collington, the second US Army soldier missing after falling off a cliff during an off-duty hike in Morocco. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was also identified among the deceased.
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh's double murder convictions, citing clerk misconduct. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced plans to retry Murdaugh, who was found guilty three years prior of killing his wife and son, setting the stage for a new courtroom battle.
An outbreak of hantavirus on the M/V Hondius cruise ship has led to at least 11 confirmed or suspected cases, with 12 Dutch hospital staffers quarantined due to protocol breaches. Australian passengers were repatriated with full PPE, while the CDC emphasizes low public health risk.
Tasmanian crossbencher Tammy Tyrrell, formerly an independent, has defected to the Labor Party, providing a significant boost for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This move adds a seat for Labor in the Senate, though they still lack a majority.
Gunshots were fired inside the Philippine Senate building during an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, an ally of former President Duterte wanted by the International Criminal Court. The military chief confirmed Senate security was responsible for the shots.
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three, received a life sentence without parole for fatally poisoning her husband, Eric, with a fentanyl-laced cocktail in March 2022. She had previously published a children's book on grief to help her sons cope with their father's death.
Kevin Warsh was confirmed as the new Federal Reserve chair, replacing Jerome Powell, in a divisive Senate vote. Warsh will lead the central bank for a four-year term amidst rising inflation and pressure from the Trump administration to lower interest rates.
Vice President JD Vance, leading the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, announced the federal government is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursement from California. He threatened to cut anti-fraud funding to states, specifically naming California, New York, and Hawaii, if they fail to prosecute Medicaid fraud.