White House officials asked the Justice Department to review whether new charges can be brought against former Olympian David Hearn after prosecutors moved to dismiss a Reflecting Pool vandalism case. Prosecutors cited evidence that the damage came from a faulty contractor installation, not vandalism.
News Mash
Hungary’s parliament has elected Andras Baka, a former Supreme Court chief removed under Viktor Orban, as president. His election comes as Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government moves to dismantle Orban-era institutions and draft a new constitution.
The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will cross northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and part of Portugal on Wednesday. Millions will see totality for about two minutes, while hundreds of millions more may see a partial eclipse.
A New York judge ruled that jurors will remain anonymous in Luigi Mangione’s murder trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The court also added an overflow room after criticism over media and public access.
One year after President Trump sent the National Guard into Washington, D.C., thousands of armed troops remain on patrol under an extended mission now set to run through early 2029. The deployment has divided residents, drawn lawsuits and raised questions about crime, cost and civilian policing.
Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, a step that would make it the first Middle Eastern country to formally end capital punishment. The measure replaces death sentences with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour, though enforcement details remain unclear.
Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old California climber known for speed records on Yosemite’s El Capitan, died after a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness. Friends remembered him as much more than a climber and called his death an “unimaginable loss.”
Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been detained since 2022 and was reported to be in severe medical distress. Advocates said he is headed for medical and psychological care in the United States.