In our news wrap Friday, former National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally retaining classified information, Texas education officials voted to require that a selection of stories from the Bible be taught in public schools and Russia says it intercepted more than 600 Ukrainian drones as Kyiv launched one of its largest attacks since the start of the war.
Amna Nawaz:
In the day’s other headlines: Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty today to a single count of illegally retaining classified information.
The former Trump administration official turned Trump critic appeared at a federal court in Maryland and said he was sorry for his actions. Bolton faced 18 counts related to his handling of classified information, including accusations that he shared notes with family members while writing a memoir.
Outside the courthouse, prosecutors said, Bolton — quote — “put our national security at grave risk.”
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney For the District of Maryland: No one is above the law. And I hope that this prosecution sends a clear message that we will vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who violate our national security laws.
Amna Nawaz:
As part of the deal, Bolton will pay more than two million dollars in fines and could face up to five years in prison. His sentencing is set for October 28.
The House Oversight Committee has served subpoenas to billionaire investor Leon Black after he refused to answer some questions during voluntary testimony today about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The former head of Apollo Global Management denied any criminal wrongdoing, saying he was deceived by the late sex offender.
Black maintained a years-long relationship with Epstein and paid him a reported $158 million in fees between 2012 and 2017. But in his opening statement, Black said he was unaware of Epstein’s nefarious activity until later, saying — quote — “I knew Jekyll. I didn’t know Hyde.”
Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement today aimed at ending the fighting between the Israelis and Hezbollah. No details were made public, but an Israeli official told the Associated Press that talks have addressed a redeployment of Israeli forces inside Lebanon after the territory is cleared of Hezbollah infrastructure and the militant group is disarmed.
Flanked by the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the new document a first step toward peace. Israel’s representative agreed.
Yechiel Leiter, Israeli Ambassador to the United States: In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in.
Amna Nawaz:
Earlier in the day, plumes of smoke could be seen near the Lebanese city of Nabatieh after the latest Israeli airstrikes there. That is in spite of a cease-fire with Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group has not been a party to the U.S.-mediated talks and has said it will not agree to any plan that would include its disarmament or removal.
Russia’s military says it intercepted more than 600 Ukrainian drones overnight, as Kyiv launched one of its largest attacks since the start of the war. Drones targeted more than a dozen regions and Russian-occupied Crimea seen in this footage released by the Ukrainian military. Russian officials in Crimea declared a state of emergency amid a rise in Ukrainian attacks.
In the meantime, in Eastern Ukraine, local officials say a Russian attack injured at least seven people and damaged several buildings in Zaporizhzhia. Also today, there were scenes of joy and relief, as the latest prisoner swap saw 160 service members head home from each side. President Volodymyr Zelensky says almost all of the Ukrainian prisoners had been in captivity since 2022.
The heat wave sweeping Europe this week is the most severe and widespread ever recorded. That’s according to a study published today by the World Weather Attribution Group made up of scientists and climate experts. The U.N.’S weather agency says the deadly heat wave will move east this weekend, carrying more record-breaking temperatures.
Clare Nullis, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization:
Just to remind you, we’re in June. We are in June. We’re seeing heat levels which would be more typical of late July, of August.
Amna Nawaz:
And the records keep falling, with the U.K. breaking its June temperature record for the third strait day. Spain also saw new all-time June highs this week. Health authorities there estimate more than 300 deaths could be attributed to heat. The Netherlands closed many schools and some government operations to avoid unnecessary heat exposure.
And at Rome’s famous Colosseum, local authorities are using mist to try to bring some relief to visitors.
In World Cup action, all three host nations, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., are advancing to the knockout round, even though Team USA lost to Turkiye late last night. France and Norway are also moving forward. They played each other this afternoon, with France winning 4-1.
Also today, Senegal easily defeated Iraq 5 goals to none to stay in the running for a place in the Round of 32. The knockout stage of the tournament starts on Sunday.
On Wall Street today, stocks ended slightly lower, as A.I. shares continue to weigh on the markets. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped just over 40 points. The Nasdaq fell 60 points, or about a quarter of 1 percent. The S&P 500 also closed out the week just to touch lower.
Still to come on the “News Hour”: more public school districts across the country limit screen time for students; David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on the week’s political headlines; and the WNBA suspends a player for a foul against league star Caitlin Clark.
