NATO Summit, Kirk Hearing, & Neal the Seal

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Adam Rogers
July 07, 2026

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President Donald Trump will travel to Turkey this week for a NATO summit expected to focus on defense spending, the war in Ukraine and security in the Middle East. Trump is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other alliance leaders during the two-day gathering.
NATO members will review progress toward a new goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense, a target the Trump administration has repeatedly pressed allies to meet. US officials also said a review of America's military presence in Europe could lead to troop adjustments as Washington pushes European allies to assume a greater share of the continent's defense.
Leaders are also expected to discuss continued support for Ukraine and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran conflict. Trump is expected to meet separately with Zelenskyy as efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine continue.

Utah prosecutors began a five-day preliminary hearing yesterday to determine whether the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk will stand trial and face the death penalty. The hearing marks the first detailed public presentation of evidence since Tyler Robinson was charged in the Sept. 10 campus shooting.
Prosecutors said they plan to present DNA evidence linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon, surveillance and cellphone video of the shooting, autopsy findings, witness testimony and a note allegedly stating his intent to kill Kirk. They also contend the attack endangered thousands attending the event, an aggravating factor that could support a death sentence under Utah law.
Judge Tony Graf will decide whether prosecutors have shown sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Kirk's parents and widow attended the hearing, while Robinson's parents were also present in the courtroom.

An AI-generated actor is set to star in a feature film for the first time after UK-based studio Particle6 announced development of Misaligned, a movie featuring its digital performer Tilly Norwood in the lead role. The film is described as a coming-of-age story that explores identity and artificial intelligence.
Particle6 said it developed Norwood through roughly 2,000 iterations and will produce the film using traditional filmmakers alongside AI specialists. The studio says the project is intended to demonstrate how AI can support filmmaking while relying on human writers, directors, and editors.
The actors' union SAG-AFTRA has said it does not recognize Norwood as an actor. The use of AI to replace human performers became one of the central issues in the union's 2023 contract negotiations with major studios.

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The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed migrant holding facility near Louisiana's largest deportation airport to speed up removals. (More)

Canada selected Germany's TKMS to build 12 submarines in a multibillion-dollar defense deal to replace its aging fleet and strengthen Arctic capabilities. (More)

Cuba's national power grid collapsed for the third time this year, leaving the island without electricity as its energy crisis deepens. (More)

China launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the South Pacific, drawing protests from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.72%, Nasdaq +1.12%, Dow +0.29%) as tech stock gains continued last week’s market momentum. (More)

President Trump joined the NYSE and Nasdaq for the first stock market opening bell ceremony from the White House, marking the launch of Trump Accounts. (More)

Microsoft is eliminating 4,800 jobs, including roughly 20% of its Xbox workforce, as the company continues restructuring during the AI era. (More)

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Lauren Bennett, best known for singing on LMFAO's chart-topping "Party Rock Anthem," has died at 37, according to her former group G.R.L. (More)

Mikel Merino scored late as Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals and end Cristiano Ronaldo's international tournament career. (More)

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Researchers identified four previously unknown cacao genetic groups in Peru that could improve conservation efforts and help develop higher-quality chocolate. (More)

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