Luigi Mangione’s attorneys discussed with prosecutors the possibility of a plea deal in his federal case connected to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive, according to a source familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing. The discussions, which are not unusual in any serious federal case, did not result in an agreement, the source said. Mangione is due to appear in federal court on Monday. Parties were expected to discuss juror questionnaires and jury selection. It is unlikely any discussions of a plea will come up.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/25/us/luigi-mangione-federal-plea-discussion
As Europe sweats through record-breaking temperatures, Asian makers of air conditioners, like South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, China’s Midea and Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric, are enjoying a boom in sales. Air conditioning is common throughout buildings, transport and homes in major cities across Asia, but it is rare in Europe and people are struggling to stay cool as searing heat claims lives, disrupts power supplies and shuts schools. Seeking respite from the sizzling weather, people and companies across Europe are snapping up portable and fixed air conditioners as some countries warn the heat wave could intensify.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/25/asia/europe-heat-wave-air-conditioning-intl-hnk
An event permit has been requested. Streets are set to be blocked off. Invitations have even been issued, per one source. But even the legions of staff who work at and around Madison Square Garden — the massive sports arena in the heart of Manhattan where Taylor Swift is rumored to be celebrating her wedding next weekend — aren’t so sure. “She’s a glamorous girl,” said one NYPD officer positioned outside the Garden. “She wouldn’t get married here.” Indeed, the Garden is a far cry from the venues that have seen celebrity nuptials in the past — think Jeff Bezos taking over Venice to wed Lauren Sánchez or even Dua Lipa in Sicily. The arena is a behemoth hunk of metal in the most tourist-packed part of the city, whose floors have absorbed the sweat and tears of hundreds of athletes and music fans.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/25/entertainment/taylor-swift-msg-travis-kelce-wedding
Iran struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, forcing a pause on evacuations of stranded seafarers and demonstrating its continued ability to restrict the critical waterway, despite the agreement reached last week with the United States. A US official told CNN the vessel was attacked by an Iranian drone, but did not provide further details. While Iran has not claimed responsibility, Thursday’s attack came hours after its powerful revolutionary guards warned that vessels would only be given safe passage via Iranian routes, challenging the Trump administration’s claim that the strait is free and open once more.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen more traffic in the last week than it has in the past three months. But that could slow down as a critical evacuation plan is put on hold. Seventy vessels transited the critical waterway on Wednesday, the highest number since the war with Iran began in late February, according to Marine Traffic. That’s a 105% increase – about double – from Tuesday. The spike in traffic comes after the United States lifted sanctions on Iranian oil earlier this week, part of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries. The United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, also launched a humanitarian effort to get 11,000 stranded seafarers and 500 vessels out of the strait.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/26/business/strait-hormuz-ship-traffic