The Pentagon released a new set of files about UFOs that includes 19 videos. Jordan Flowers, the leader of the Disclosure Foundation, spoke with CBS News about what these files reveal.
Key Facts
The Pentagon shared new UFO files with the public on a recent Friday.
The files include 19 videos showing UFO-related information.
Jordan Flowers is the executive director of the Disclosure Foundation.
Flowers discussed the new release during a CBS News interview.
The Disclosure Foundation focuses on making UFO information public.
The released files are part of ongoing government transparency about UFO sightings.
CBS News covered the story and provided access to the interview.
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Parts of the UK will feel cooler this weekend due to stronger north-easterly winds, but the heatwave will continue with high temperatures in many areas. Heat health alerts remain active in much of England, and several water companies have introduced hosepipe bans because of low rainfall and high water use.
Key Facts
Temperatures reached over 35°C on Friday, setting a new record for the number of very hot days this year in the UK.
Heat health alerts (amber and yellow) are in place across large parts of England until Sunday evening.
Hosepipe bans started in some areas, affecting over five million people due to water shortages.
On Saturday, the warmest areas will be the west Midlands, southeast Wales, and parts of southern England, with highs up to 33°C.
Northern and eastern parts of England will feel cooler due to winds and cloud cover along the North Sea coast.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see more clouds and lower temperatures around 24°C or cooler.
The heatwave is expected to continue next week with temperatures around 30-33°C in southern England.
Rain is unlikely for most areas this week, except for some showers in southwest England on Monday; more rain might come near the end of next week.
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US rapper 50 Cent wrote to a UK judge asking for bail for Abdirahiim Hassan, a man arrested for cocaine trafficking, so he could work on the rapper’s European tour. Hassan was later sentenced to over 18 years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering.
Key Facts
Abdirahiim Hassan was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A cocaine and money laundering in March 2026.
Hassan was sentenced to 18 and a half years in Derby Crown Court.
He was involved in large-scale national cocaine trafficking and deposited £150,000 in cash into his bank account.
Hassan worked in 50 Cent’s European Legacy Tour as the person in charge of food, drinks, and representing 50 Cent’s Sire Spirit brand.
50 Cent wrote letters to the judge asking for Hassan’s bail to be changed to allow him to join the tour.
Police said they were initially shocked by 50 Cent’s intervention and were skeptical at first.
Another man involved, Harminder Purewal, was sentenced to 20 years for supplying cocaine to organized crime groups in Derby.
50 Cent stated he had known Hassan professionally and personally for many years and vouched for his character without minimizing the crime’s seriousness.
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Snow Patrol’s hit song “Chasing Cars” was written in 2005 during a relaxed songwriting session in a friend’s garden shed. The song became a global success after being released in 2006 and featured on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, and the band plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year.
Key Facts
Snow Patrol was formed in 1994 at the University of Dundee, originally under different band names.
“Chasing Cars” was created during a casual session with producer Jacknife Lee, initially meant for other artists.
The song took months to finish after the first chord and lyric were found during the session.
It has been streamed over two billion times and was the UK’s most-played radio song of the 21st century by 2019.
The song was released as the second single from the album Eyes Open in June 2006 and peaked at number six on the singles chart.
“Chasing Cars” sold about 1.2 million copies in the UK and became the eighth best-selling song of the 2000s.
Snow Patrol will celebrate the song’s 20th anniversary with two shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
In 2023, drummer Jonny Quinn and bassist Paul Wilson left the band, leading to challenges during attempts to create a new album.
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The United States is asking Iran to confirm that the Strait of Hormuz is open for all ships and that Iranian forces are not attacking any vessels. This demand comes amid ongoing military exchanges between the two countries near this important waterway used for oil shipments.
Key Facts
The U.S. is demanding Iran confirm the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key location for global oil transportation.
Iranian forces have been involved in firing on ships in the area.
There have been recent exchanges of military strikes between the U.S. and Iran near the strait.
A senior U.S. official spoke about the situation on NewsNation, a news channel.
The U.S. wants to ensure safe passage for commercial and oil shipping vessels.
The tensions highlight ongoing conflicts around this strategic shipping route.
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The United States is asking Iran to confirm that the Strait of Hormuz is open for all ships and that Iranian forces are not attacking any vessels. This comes amid ongoing clashes between the two countries near this important shipping area for oil.
Key Facts
The U.S. wants Iran to officially state the Strait of Hormuz is open for shipping.
Iran and the U.S. have been involved in exchanges of strikes near the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for global oil transport.
A senior U.S. official shared this demand during an interview with NewsNation.
The situation involves military actions affecting international shipping safety.
Both countries continue to monitor and respond to each other's actions in the area.
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The Bayeux Tapestry is a nearly 1,000-year-old embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It features key scenes including Harold’s oath to William, Harold claiming the English throne, and his death in battle. The tapestry has returned to England for the first time in over 900 years and is on display at the British Museum.
Key Facts
The Bayeux Tapestry is about 70 meters long and shows events from the Norman conquest of England.
It starts with Harold, an English earl, being honored by William, Duke of Normandy.
Harold makes an oath on holy relics, promising to support William as king.
After King Edward dies, Harold claims the throne, breaking his oath.
Halley’s Comet appears in the tapestry, seen as a bad sign for Harold.
The battle between William and Harold is shown, with Harold’s death by an arrow to the eye.
There is debate about whether the arrow scene was part of the original tapestry or added later.
The tapestry has been brought from France to the British Museum for display after nearly 1,000 years.
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Alberta is preparing for a referendum in October to decide whether the province should stay part of Canada or move toward separation. The Calgary Stampede, a major annual event, has become a place where both sides of the debate share their views ahead of the vote.
Key Facts
The Calgary Stampede draws over a million visitors each year and is an important cultural event in Alberta.
Albertans will vote in October on whether to remain in Canada or hold a later binding referendum on separation.
Political leaders use the Stampede to connect with people and share messages about unity or separation.
Liberal MP Corey Hogan brought colleagues from across Canada to promote staying united during the event.
Polls currently show the pro-unity side is expected to win comfortably in October.
Some people fear a surprise result like the UK’s Brexit vote, where the pro-stay side lost unexpectedly.
Groups like Forever Canadian campaign against separation, highlighting risks to Alberta’s economy and social ties.
Some Albertans feel less connected to Canada and express frustration about not being respected by the rest of the country.
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A White House official said the U.S. wants Iran to openly admit that it made mistakes related to recent actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration said nuclear talks with Iran could continue only if Iran confirms that the strait is open and stops attacking ships there.
Key Facts
The U.S. wants Iran to publicly admit it "screwed up" regarding incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global shipping.
Iran has previously shot at ships in the Strait.
The Trump administration wants Iran to confirm the strait is open for navigation.
Nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are currently stalled.
The U.S. says talks may resume if Iran meets these conditions.
Nancy Cordes reported on this for CBS News.
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A small plane crashed on North Andros Island in the Bahamas, killing all people on board. The Bahamian government has temporarily stopped flights by Flamingo Air while they investigate the crash and another safety incident involving the airline.
Key Facts
The plane crashed on Friday near North Andros, west of Nassau, the Bahamas' capital.
Ten people were supposed to be on the flight from Nassau to San Andros.
Members of a musical group called "Da Pond Band" were among those expected on the plane.
Initially, one person was reported to have survived but later died from their injuries.
The crashed plane was a Cessna 402 registered in the Bahamas.
Flamingo Air’s flights are grounded as a safety precaution during the investigation.
Another incident occurred the same day when a Flamingo Air plane caught fire after landing in Nassau following a pilot’s safety concern.
Bahamian officials expressed condolences to the families of those who died during the country's 53rd independence anniversary.
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Prince Harry visited the UK to promote the Invictus Games, but the trip was overshadowed by a court loss against the Daily Mail and confusion about Meghan Markle’s public appearances. Meghan did not attend any public events, and the visit included a private family meeting with the King and Queen.
Key Facts
Prince Harry’s UK visit aimed to highlight the Invictus Games, a sports event for injured military veterans.
Meghan Markle did not appear at any public events during the visit due to security and planning issues.
Prince Harry lost a court case against Associated Newspapers while speaking at an Invictus Games event.
Plans for Prince Harry to give an on-camera statement were cancelled after the court loss.
The media coverage focused more on the legal defeat and Meghan’s absence than on the Invictus Games.
There was a dispute between Prince Harry’s team and Buckingham Palace about where he would stay.
A private family reunion took place between Prince Harry, Meghan, their children, and the King and Queen.
The Prince of Wales had a separate, smooth visit to Hastings during this time.
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Nicaragua’s government has canceled the licenses of many lawyers without explanation, preventing them from practicing law. This move is seen as part of a wider effort by the government to control dissent and weaken independent legal and civic institutions in the country.
Key Facts
The Nicaraguan government removed hundreds or possibly thousands of lawyers from the official registry.
No official notice was given to the affected lawyers before their licenses were revoked.
This action follows years of government crackdowns on protesters, journalists, NGOs, religious groups, and others since 2018.
Some lawyers affected include those living abroad, those working in non-political legal fields, and even government supporters.
Human rights experts say this is a “purge” of the legal profession to weaken democratic checks on the government.
The government, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, has previously taken similar steps by revoking citizenship and erasing official documents of dissenters.
The move suggests a strategy to control who can participate in the country’s future legal and institutional systems.
The Nicaraguan government did not respond to requests for comment on this issue.
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Colombia’s outgoing environment minister, Irene Vélez Torres, warned that the new government could undo recent progress on climate and conservation. She raised concerns about the incoming president’s support for fracking and fossil fuel development, and the risks this poses to environmental protection efforts in the Amazon and other sensitive areas.
Key Facts
Colombia’s outgoing environment minister is Irene Vélez Torres.
Incoming President Abelardo de la Espriella supports reviving the oil sector and fracking.
Vélez fears this could harm climate action and conservation progress.
The previous government focused on protecting the Amazon rainforest and moving away from fossil fuels.
About 42% of Colombia is covered by the Amazon rainforest.
Indigenous environmental governance in the Amazon may be weakened under the new government.
Vélez is concerned about the possible return of aerial spraying of glyphosate, a herbicide harmful to health and the environment.
The new administration opposes some of these concerns but has not detailed its environmental policies fully.
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Cuba experienced its second nationwide power blackout in less than a week, with outages becoming more frequent this year. These blackouts have worsened since President Donald Trump’s administration restricted Cuba’s access to foreign oil, which powers much of the island’s electricity.
Key Facts
Cuba had a power outage starting at 4:30 pm local time, marking the second island-wide blackout in a week.
There have been four total blackouts in Cuba since the beginning of the year, including two in March.
Cuba’s electrical system is old and partly from the Cold War era (1960-1980), causing frequent outages.
Since January, President Trump’s administration has cut off Cuba’s foreign oil supply, intensifying energy problems.
Cuba produces only 40% of its needed oil; the rest comes from other countries like Venezuela and Russia.
The US has imposed tariffs on countries that supply Cuba with fuel, shrinking Cuba’s oil imports.
Human rights officials warn that fuel shortages harm Cuban civilians, causing issues like increased infant mortality.
Cuba is working to increase renewable energy use but still gets only about 18% of its power from sources like solar.
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Liberland is a small self-declared micronation located on disputed land near the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia. It is backed by wealthy cryptocurrency investors and uses a unique voting system where people buy crypto tokens called Liberland Merits to gain more voting power. The micronation promotes no taxes and favors wealthy settlers over the poor.
Key Facts
Liberland is on disputed territory by the Danube River between Serbia and Croatia.
The founder and president is Vít Jedlička, who envisions a libertarian digital country.
Voting power in Liberland is tied to buying a crypto token called Liberland Merits.
The country has no taxes, appealing to supporters of financial freedom and decentralization.
Some officials openly say wealthy people have more rights and influence.
The interior minister, Ivan Pernar, has been banned from Croatian parliament for conspiracy theories.
Wealthy crypto billionaire Justin Sun supports Liberland and helps fund its development plans.
Critics say the system favors the rich and discourages help for the poor.
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Marine Le Pen announced she will run for the French presidency in 2027, ending speculation that her deputy, Jordan Bardella, might be the candidate. Bardella, who had been preparing for a possible campaign, will now wait in the background as Le Pen leads the party’s race.
Key Facts
Marine Le Pen revealed on TV that she will be the National Rally (RN) candidate for the 2027 French presidential election.
Jordan Bardella had hoped to run if Le Pen was legally barred due to a court case but is now sidelined.
A Paris court lifted Le Pen’s ban on holding public office but ordered her to wear an electronic tag for one year.
Le Pen and Bardella plan to run as a team, with Le Pen as president and Bardella potentially as prime minister.
The French parliamentary election is only scheduled for 2029, so Bardella becoming prime minister soon is uncertain.
Bardella, born in 1995, rapidly rose in the RN party but lacks experience compared to Le Pen, who has run three presidential campaigns.
Bardella grew up in the Paris suburbs with an Italian-born mother and father and had an unpolitical youth before joining the far-right party at 17.
Bardella had a strong approval rating and was seen as a potential youngest French president before Le Pen decided to run.
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Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia have increased sharply, targeting schools, buses, offices, and homes. Despite Ukrainian forces pushing Russian troops back from the city, Russian forces are using advanced drones to continue their attacks from a distance.
Key Facts
Zaporizhzhia is a city in eastern Ukraine with about 750,000 people, located 24 km from the front line.
Recent Russian attacks have included glide bombs and drones hitting civilian areas like schools, buses, and petrol stations.
The city council held meetings in underground shelters due to the rising threat from attacks.
The city plans to build more shelters and put anti-drone nets in vulnerable places; schools and hospitals are having protective film applied to windows.
Russian forces use "mothership" drones that release smaller drones for strikes farther from the front line.
New mesh networking technology helps Russian drones travel long distances and avoid electronic interference.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 884 Russian drones in one week in late June.
Russian troops have retreated near Zaporizhzhia but continue slow advances elsewhere, facing Ukrainian strikes on their fuel supplies.
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A man named Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was charged with murdering his wife and two daughters after being caught in South Africa. The family was found dead in their home near Bedford, UK, and Tshuma is now awaiting return to the UK for trial.
Key Facts
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, has been charged with three counts of murder.
His wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, were found dead in Bedfordshire.
Tshuma was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, after an international manhunt.
Police believe Tshuma flew from Heathrow Airport to Zimbabwe two days before the bodies were found.
Various agencies helped in the search, including Bedfordshire police, the National Crime Agency, Interpol, and South African police.
Tshuma is in custody in South Africa and is expected to appear in court there before being sent back to the UK.
The victims’ family and community have expressed deep sadness and shared tributes.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to bring Tshuma to the UK for trial.
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The U.S. Supreme Court recently finished a term that included important rulings on LGBTQ rights. One key decision allowed states to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. Advocates for transgender rights are preparing for more legal battles following this ruling.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made a major decision about transgender athletes.
The Court upheld laws that ban transgender girls and women from certain sports.
This ruling affects athletes in girls' and women's sports teams.
The decision is seen as significant for LGBTQ rights.
Transgender rights advocates are planning further legal actions.
The Supreme Court term included several notable LGBTQ-related cases.
The topic of transgender athletes in sports remains a legal and social focus.
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Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest dropped to its lowest level in ten years during the first half of 2026, with a 38% decrease compared to last year. This decline is linked to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s efforts, including an anti-deforestation plan and stronger penalties for environmental crimes.
Key Facts
From January to June 2026, about 1,295 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Amazon forest were cleared, the lowest since 2016.
The rate of deforestation decreased by 38% compared to the same period in 2025.
Deforestation peaked around 2022 under former President Jair Bolsonaro, who supported mining and development in the Amazon.
Lula defeated Bolsonaro in 2022 partly by promising to protect the environment and end illegal deforestation by 2030.
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) provided the deforestation data.
Lula’s government has faced criticism for allowing more oil exploration near the Amazon River.
The U.S. government under President Trump proposed tariffs on Brazil partly due to concerns about deforestation and trade practices.
Lula’s administration argues its policies have successfully reduced deforestation, challenging the U.S. claims.
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