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Iran Deal, Knicks Win, & World's Best Burger
News without the noise
Good Morning! Today’s edition is 915 words, a 4-minute read.
What’s on tap:
Are turtles being used to spy?
Fighter jet crash
The psychology of forgetting names
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Big Stories
Iran Deal Reached
The US and Iran have agreed to a framework to end 107 days of fighting, with a formal signing ceremony expected Friday. President Donald Trump said the US would lift its naval blockade, while Iran is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran has yet to formally declare the deal in effect.
The agreement would extend the ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. During that window, the two sides will try to resolve the most contentious issues, including Iran's uranium enrichment, its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The breakthrough emerged after a volatile final stretch that nearly derailed diplomacy. Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon hours before the expected signing prompted Iranian threats to walk away, while international mediators worked to prevent a wider regional escalation.
Knicks Are NBA Champions Again
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday to win the NBA Finals in five games, securing the franchise's first championship since 1973. New York erased a 16-point deficit in the clincher, continuing a postseason defined by dramatic comebacks.
Finals MVP Jalen Brunson delivered a 45-point night, including 15 points in the fourth quarter, to seal the victory. Brunson averaged 32.6 points during the series and became just the second player in NBA history to score 45 points in a championship-clinching road win, joining Michael Jordan.
The title caps one of the most remarkable playoff runs in franchise history, including a record 29-point Finals comeback and sweeps of Philadelphia and Cleveland. For San Antonio, the loss ends a breakthrough season for a young core led by Victor Wembanyama, who at 22 appears poised to contend for championships for years to come.
Spy Turtles?
China's Ministry of State Security claimed Friday that foreign intelligence agencies are using marine animals, including so-called "spy turtles" and "spy fish," to collect sensitive information in Chinese waters. The ministry claimed some sea creatures have been fitted with sensors that transmit data to satellites, but offered no evidence or identified any responsible countries.
The allegations are part of a broader campaign highlighting what Beijing describes as an expanding covert struggle for maritime intelligence. Officials urged fishermen, researchers, and vessel owners to report suspicious animals and equipment, including underwater drones, buoys, and wave gliders used to map coastlines and monitor naval activity.
The idea of marine-animal espionage is not without precedent. A beluga whale wearing a camera harness sparked suspicions of Russian spying in 2019, and British intelligence has said Russia likely trained dolphins to protect naval facilities from enemy divers.
Quick Stories
US News
A Marine Corps F/A-18 jet crashed into a mountain near Rimrock Lake, Washington on Saturday, sparking a wildfire. The pilot ejected safely with minor injuries. (More)
The Trump administration removed Trump's name from the Kennedy Center building, website, and materials, meeting a court-ordered deadline after losing an appeals court bid to block it. (More)
Two ATV riders in northern Minnesota found Kathryn Woessner, 68, after she spent three days trapped and nearly submerged in mud. She's expected to recover fully. (More)
World
Riot police used tear gas and water cannons on protesters in Geneva Sunday, a day before G7 leaders meet in France. About 20,000 marched, with some setting a car on fire and smashing bank windows. (More)
This week's 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines killed at least 61 people and raised the seabed 6 feet, exposing and killing coral and marine life. (More)
Swiss voters rejected a plan to cap the country's population at 10 million, with nearly 55% voting no and turnout close to 59%. (More)
Business & Economy
US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.50%, Nasdaq +0.31%, Dow +0.70%) as SpaceX’s debut strengthened investor sentiment. (More)
May's inflation surge could push next year's Social Security cost-of-living raise to 4.7%, up from an earlier estimate of 4.2%, one analyst says. (More)
The Justice Department approved Paramount Skydance's $111 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing it without requiring any concessions. California regulators may still challenge it. (More)
Sports & Entertainment
The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup in 20 years, shutting out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 to clinch the series. (More)
Lewis Hamilton won the Barcelona Grand Prix, his first victory for Ferrari, after title leader Kimi Antonelli's engine failed late in the race. (More)
Tyra Banks is suing Netflix, claiming a docuseries about "America's Next Top Model" edited her interview to falsely suggest she ignored a contestant's sexual assault for ratings. (More)
Science, Health, & Tech
A new mouse study found that completely cutting sugar from a low-fat diet harmed gut health and metabolism, suggesting balanced diets matter more than total sugar elimination. (More)
A new study found that 92% of breast milk samples from Seattle mothers contained hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA and melamine, which can harm infant development. (More)
Scientists found that white grapes, not red, dominated Tuscany's Chianti region 2,000 years ago, based on DNA from ancient grape seeds preserved in wells. (More)
Extra Credit
Japan has the best burger in the world.
Why do your fingers prune in water?
Father and son cycle 18,000 miles around the world.
Watch: Psychology of people who easily forget names.
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