Summary‍

China’s Chang 6 lunar probe has successfully returned to Earth with the first ever rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has reached a deal with. The U.S. Justice Department and is likely to enter a guilty plea for his criminal conspiracy charge. Kenyan protesters stormed parliament over the country’s newest tax increases, leading to a fatal shootout with police. Israel has declared that all Orthodox Jews are now required to be drafted into the Israeli military during the continued conflict in Gaza. The U.S. surgeon general has declared gun violence a public health crisis. The Florida Panthers win their first ever Stanley Cup against the Canadian Oilers. A judge altered Trump’s gag order in his hush money trial, allowing him to publicly comment on the case. 

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Sources & More

Today is Wednesday, June 26th, and you’re listening to Current2, brought to you by Just Bagels!

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In Must Know News…

• China’s Chang’e lunar probe has returned from its voyage to the moon with the first-ever rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon. Scientists from China are hoping that these returned samples will clear up uncertainty about the geographic differences between the moon’s two sides, and are eagerly anticipating the results. I’m sure the members of Pink Floyd are equally as interested. 
• WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has reached a deal with the US Justice Department and is expected to enter a guilty plea this Wednesday to one criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose US national defense documents. In return, Assange will avoid spending any further time in prison and is free to return to his homeland Australia, marking the end of a five-year extradition battle with the United States. 
• Protests in Kenya over the government’s recent proposed tax hikes culminated in a bloody scene Tuesday, as Kenyan police opened fire on demonstrators in the nation’s capital of Nairobi, leaving five dead and thirty plus injured. Amidst the chaos, both Kenya’s Parliament Building and City Hall were engulfed in flames as protestors stormed and raided each building, with even the ceremonial mace, aka the symbol of the parliament, being stolen.

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In Other Notable News…

• Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be drafted into the military, despite prior legislation sparing them from mandatory service.  This could be a huge blow to Netanyahu, as his coalition relies heavily on the ultra-Orthodox vote.
• The US Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. The announcement hopes to depoliticize gun violence after yet another weekend marked by deadly mass shootings, and promote more awareness about its impacts on public health.
• In a nail-biting comeback, the Florida Panthers won their 1st Stanley Cup despite losing the last 3 games of the season. The subtropic hockey team beat the Canadian Oilers 2-1, claiming the championship the hardest way possible.
• A Manhattan judge modified Trump’s gag order, allowing him to publicly comment on the witnesses and jurors in his hush money trial. He claimed the gag order was meant to protect the integrity of the trial, and is no longer needed after the fact. Try telling that to the jurors!

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Sources:

China’s Chang 6 lunar probe successfully obtains new rock samples from the moon (CBS, CNN)

WikiLeaks founder takes guilty plea for conspiracy charges (Reuters, AP)

Kenyan protesters storm parliament and chaos ensues (CNN, Reuters)

Israel declares that Orthodox Jews must be drafted into the military (CNN)

U.S. surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis (CBS)

Panthers win their first ever Stanley Cup against the Oilers (AP)

Trump’s gag order altered following hush money trial (AP)