Journalists in Rafah, France Elections, and a Wombat Walker.

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Foreign Journalists Visit Rafah

Foreign newsgroups were allowed into Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, for the first time since Israel began its ground assault against Hamas in early May.

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the operation despite warnings from the U.S. and other allies about the risks to civilians who had sought refuge there. By the end of May, about a million Palestinians had fled Rafah, many of whom had been displaced multiple times due to the ongoing conflict

• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) escorted news teams into southern Gaza to showcase their findings in Rafah, including an underground network of tunnels created by Hamas militants. These tunnels, which connected Gaza to Egypt, were used for smuggling. The IDF reported that many houses were boobytrapped and claimed to have killed over 900 militants in Rafah, which was considered a major Hamas stronghold.

• Newsgroups observed extreme destruction in Rafah, with virtually no civilians remaining in the city. The infrastructure had been reduced to rubble, worse than the devastation seen in the Syrian cities of Mosul and Raqqa during the war against ISIS. They found the city to be mostly desired and heard continuous gunfire, indicating ongoing IDF operations in the area.

• Despite the massive destruction, many Hamas leaders, including top commander Yahya Sinwar, remain at large. Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas completely, but some Israeli military officials believe this goal might be unrealistic.

Heat Wave Continues in the U.S.

A long-lasting heat wave will continue in parts of the U.S., with temperatures soaring well into the 100s in the West.

• An excessive heat warning, the National Weather Service's highest alert, is in effect for about 36 million people. It is forecast to stay in place for the rest of the week. Record-breaking temperatures have been reached in Northern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. For example, Redding, California, reached 119 degrees, and Las Vegas hit 115 degrees, tying its previous record.

• The East Coast isn’t under heat advisories but will still experience temperatures over 100 degrees. A record high of 106 degrees was recorded in Raleigh, North Carolina.

• In Arizona's Maricopa County, there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, with more under investigation. The heat wave has also contributed to wildfires in California, such as the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County, which has burned over 19 square miles.

France Election

A coalition of leftist parties in France won the most seats in the legislative elections, but no party achieved a majority.

• The outcome has created a hung parliament, raising concerns about political stability in France, which is crucial for the European Union and global diplomacy. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party came second, and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally came third.

• Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation in response to the election results. He criticized Macron's decision to call the election, which led to this unprecedented political situation. Despite not winning an outright majority, the far-right National Rally secured more seats than ever.

• France's political landscape has shifted dramatically and Macron must form alliances in the divided parliament to implement his policies. However, the leftist coalition aims to reverse many of Macron's reforms and increase public spending, while the far-right continues to gain ground, setting the stage for future political battles.

Little Stories

• The highest camp on Mount Everest is covered in trash that will take years to clean up, says a Sherpa who led a cleanup team. This team, funded by the Nepal government, removed 11 tons of garbage, four dead bodies, and a skeleton from the mountain this year. There could still be 40-50 tons of trash at South Col, the last camp before climbers reach the summit. (More)

• A team of four NASA volunteers spent over a year inside a simulated Mars environment at Johnson Space Center in Houston. They emerged from the 3D-printed habitat on Saturday after spending 378 days inside. They lived and worked in a space of 17,000 square feet to mimic a mission to Mars. (More)

• President Joe Biden didn't ease Democrats' worries about his 2024 reelection bid against Donald Trump during an ABC News interview. On Saturday, House Rep. Angie Craig from Minnesota asked Biden to drop out of the race, saying there's too much at stake to risk another Trump presidency. Craig is the fifth House Democrat to call for Biden to step aside. (More)

• Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to hit the Texas coast as a hurricane early today, bringing dangerous storm surges and strong winds. Beryl was a Category 4 hurricane when it hit the Caribbean islands of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines but weakened to a Category 2 once it reached Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It became a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula. (More)

• Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, holding off Max Verstappen’s late challenge. It was Hamilton's first win since 2021 and his 104th overall. He also became the first F1 driver to win at the same track nine times. (More)

Extra Credit

How 7-Eleven is reinventing itself to be more Japanese. 

Tasmania is hiring a “wombat walker.”

Visualizing America’s least common jobs. 

Why do milk jugs have those indented circles on the sides?