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House Speaker Mike Johnson Urges Release of Epstein Files as Trump Faces Backlash

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling for the Justice Department to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, marking a rare public split with Donald Trump on an issue that has ignited anger among the president’s conservative supporters.

Johnson’s remarks come amid growing frustration from Trump’s allies over what they view as the opaque handling of Epstein’s case by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who last week announced the department would not release further information.

“It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,” Johnson said in an interview with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson released Tuesday. “I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.”

Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges. Despite long-running conspiracy theories, the Justice Department reiterated last week that there is no secret client list and no additional disclosures planned.

Those conclusions have infuriated parts of Trump’s MAGA base, who had expected the president to fulfill campaign promises to fully expose Epstein’s connections. The controversy escalated after Bondi told Fox News earlier this year that a client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”

“She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,” Speaker Johnson said, referencing Bondi’s remark. “We need the DOJ focusing on the major priorities. So let’s get this thing resolved.”

Earlier Tuesday, House Republicans defeated a Democratic attempt to add language to a bill requiring the Epstein files to be released. Even so, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee pledged to keep pressing the issue, calling on Committee Chair Jim Jordan—one of Trump’s top allies—to hold hearings with Bondi, her deputy, and FBI leaders.

Trump has moved to calm the uproar, posting on Truth Social over the weekend: “One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it’s the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World. Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House for Pittsburgh, Trump defended Bondi’s handling of the case but suggested more information could still emerge. “She’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her,” he said. “Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”

2025 Emmy Nominations Announced: See the Full List

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LOS ANGELES (BN24) — The nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards were unveiled Tuesday morning, spotlighting standout series including Severance, The White Lotus, The Studio, and Hacks.

Apple TV+’s Severance led all contenders with 27 nominations as it wrapped its acclaimed second season, followed closely by 24 nods for HBO Max’s The Penguin. HBO Max also earned 23 nominations for The White Lotus, while The Studio, also on Apple TV+, matched that total—tying The Bear for the most nominations for a comedy series in a single year.

Among the season’s milestones, 83-year-old Harrison Ford received his first-ever Emmy nomination for his supporting performance in Shrinking.

Actors Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) and Brenda Song (Running Point) announced the nominees live, with two categories—Outstanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Talk Series—revealed exclusively on CBS Mornings.

The 77th Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 14, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, who also earned a nomination for his Netflix special Your Friend, Nate Bargatze.

Below are nominees in the top categories:

Outstanding drama series

  • “Andor” (Disney+)
  • “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
  • “The Last of Us” (HBO Max)
  • “Paradise” (Hulu)
  • “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
  • “Severance” (Apple TV+)
  • “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+)
  • “The White Lotus” (HBO Max)

Outstanding comedy series

  • “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • “The Bear” (FX)
  • “Hacks” (HBO Max)
  • “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
  • “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
  • “Shrinking” (Apple TV+)
  • “The Studio” (Apple TV+)
  • “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Outstanding limited or anthology series

  • “Adolescence” (Netflix)
  • “Black Mirror” (Netflix)
  • “Dying for Sex” (FX)
  • “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” (Netflix)
  • “The Penguin” (HBO Max)

Outstanding television movie

  • “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (Peacock)
  • “The Gorge” (Apple TV+)
  • “Mountainhead” (HBO Max)
  • “Nonnas” (Netflix)
  • “Rebel Ridge” (Netflix)

Outstanding reality competition program

  • “The Amazing Race” (CBS)
  • “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
  • “Survivor” (CBS)
  • “Top Chef” (Bravo)
  • “The Traitors” (Peacock)

Outstanding talk series

  • “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
  • “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC)
  • “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Outstanding scripted variety series

  • “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO Max)
  • “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Outstanding variety special (live)

  • “The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar” (Fox)
  • “Beyoncé Bowl” (Netflix)
  • “The Oscars” (ABC)
  • “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” (NBC)
  • “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” (Peacock)

Outstanding variety special (pre-recorded)

  • “Adam Sandler: Love You” (Netflix)
  • “Ali Wong: Single Lady” (Netflix)
  • “Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years” (Hulu)
  • “Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor” (Netflix)
  • “Sarah Silverman: Postmortem” (Netflix)
  • “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze” (Netflix)

Outstanding game show

  • “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
  • “Jeopardy” (ABC)
  • “The Price is Right” (CBS)
  • “Wheel of Fortune” (ABC)
  • “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (ABC)

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

  • Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
  • Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”
  • Britt Lower, “Severance”
  • Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
  • Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

  • Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
  • Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
  • Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
  • Adam Scott, “Severance”
  • Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

  • Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”
  • Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
  • Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
  • Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
  • Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

  • Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
  • Seth Rogen, “The Studio”
  • Jason Segel, “Shrinking”
  • Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
  • Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
  • Meghann Fahy, “Sirens”
  • Rashida Jones, “Black Mirror”
  • Cristin Milloti, “The Penguin”
  • Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex”

Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
  • Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”
  • Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”
  • Brian Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”
  • Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

  • Patricia Arquette, “Severance”
  • Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”
  • Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt”
  • Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”
  • Parker Posey, “The White Lotus”
  • Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”
  • Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

  • Zach Cherry, “Severance”
  • Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”
  • Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”
  • James Marsden, “Paradise”
  • Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”
  • Tramell Tillman, “Severance”
  • John Turturro, “Severance”

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

  • Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
  • Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
  • Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”
  • Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
  • Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
  • Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

  • Ike Barinholtz. “The Studio”
  • Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”
  • Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
  • Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
  • Michael Urie, “Shrinking”
  • Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Erin Doherty, “Adolescence”
  • Ruth Negga, “Presumed Innocent”
  • Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin”
  • Chloë Sevigny, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
  • Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”
  • Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
  • Bill Camp, “Presumed Innocent”
  • Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”
  • Rob Delaney, “Dying for Sex”
  • Peter Sarsgaard, “Presumecd Innocent”
  • Ashley Walters, “Adolescence”

Outstanding guest actress in a drama series

  • Jane Alexander, “Severance”
  • Gwendoline Christie, “Severance”
  • Kaitlyn Dever, “The Last of Us”
  • Cherry Jones, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
  • Catherine O’Hara, “The Last of Us”
  • Merritt Wever, “Severance”

Outstanding guest actor in a drama series

  • Giancarlo Esposito, “The Boys”
  • Scott Glenn, “The White Lotus”
  • Shawn Hatosy, “The Pitt”
  • Joe Pantoliano, “The Last of Us”
  • Forest Whitaker, “Andor”
  • Jeffrey Wright, “The Last of Us”

Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series

  • Olivia Colman, “The Bear”
  • Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Bear”
  • Cynthia Erivo, “Poker Face”
  • Robby Hoffman, “Hacks”
  • Zoë Kravitz, “The Studio”
  • Julianne Nicholson, “Hacks”

Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series

  • Jon Bernthal, “The Bear”
  • Bryan Cranston, “The Studio”
  • Dave Franco, “The Studio”
  • Ron Howard, “The Studio”
  • Anthony Mackie, “The Studio”
  • Martin Scorsese, “The Studio”

Outstanding directing for a drama series

  • “Andor,” Janus Metz (“Who Are You?”)
  • “The Pitt,” Amanda Marsalis (“6 P.M.”)
  • “The Pitt,” John Wells (“7 A.M.”)
  • “Severance,” Jessica Lee Gagné (“Chikhai Bardo”)
  • “Severance,” Ben Stiller (“Gold Harbor)
  • “Slow Horses,” Adam Randall (“Hello Goodbye”)
  • “The White Lotus,” Mike White (“Amor Fati”)

Outstanding directing for a comedy series

  • “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri (“Napkins”)
  • “Hacks,” Lucia Aniello (“A Slippery Slope”)
  • “Mid-Century Modern,” James Burrows (“Here’s To You, Mrs. Schneiderman”)
  • “The Rehearsal,” Nathan Fielder (“Pilot’s Code”)
  • “The Studio,” Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (“The Oner”)

Outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie

  • “Adolescence,” Philip Barantini
  • “Dying for Sex,” Shannon Murphy (“It’s Not That Serious”)
  • “The Penguin,” Helen Shaver (“Cent’anni”)
  • “The Penguin,” Jennifer Getzinger (“A Great or Little Thing”)
  • “Sirens,” Nicole Kassell (“Exile”)
  • “Zero Day,” Leslie Linka Glatter

Outstanding writing for a drama series

  • “Andor,” Dan Gilroy (“Welcome to the Rebellion”)
  • “The Pitt,” Joe Sachs (“2 P.M.”)
  • “The Pitt,” R. Scott Gemmill (“7 A.M.”)
  • “Severance,” Dan Erickson (“Cold Harbor”)
  • “Slow Horses,” Will Smith (“Hello Goodbye”)
  • “The White Lotus,” Mike White (“Full-Moon Party”)

Outstanding writing for a comedy series

  • “Abbott Elementary,” Quinta Brunson (“Back To School”)
  • “Hacks,” Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (“A Slippery Slope”)
  • “The Rehearsal,” Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Lock-Norton and Eric Notarnicola (“Pilot’s Code”)
  • “Somebody Somewhere,” Hanna Bos, Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett (“AGG”)
  • “The Studio,” Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory and Frida Perez (“The Promotion”)
  • “What We Do in the Shadows,” Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis and Paul Simms (“The Finale”)

Outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series or movie

  • “Adolescence,” Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham
  • “Black Mirror,” Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali (“Common People”)
  • “Dying for Sex,” Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether (“Good Value Diet Soda”)
  • “The Penguin,” Lauren LeFranc (“A Great or Little Thing”)
  • “Say Nothing,” Joshua Zetumer (“The People in the Dirt”)

Outstanding writing for a variety series

  • “The Daily Show”
  • “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
  • “Saturday Night Live”

Source: cbsnews

Doctor Among 4 Dead in Southend Airport Plane Crash; One Body Still Unrecovered

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SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, England (BN24) — A doctor was among four people killed when a medical transport plane crashed and erupted in a fireball at London Southend Airport, authorities said Tuesday, as efforts continued to recover the final victim’s remains.

Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean-born nurse also died in the crash, which happened Sunday afternoon shortly after the aircraft had dropped off a patient in the United Kingdom and was departing for its return to the Netherlands.

Essex Police said three of the victims’ bodies have been recovered and that investigators expect to retrieve the fourth within the next 24 hours.

Although formal identifications are pending, the male doctor on board was named in media reports as Dr. Matthias Eyl, 46, a German national. The nurse was identified as Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, originally from Chile but also holding German nationality. All four people killed were foreign nationals, police confirmed.

The victims had been traveling in a medical flight operated by Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands. The flight had been chartered to transport a patient to London for medical treatment.

Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin of Essex Police said a joint effort between officers, the coroner and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is underway to recover evidence and determine what caused the aircraft to plunge into the ground.

John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, described watching in horror as the plane banked sharply after takeoff and flipped upside down before crashing.

“There was a big fireball,” Johnson said. “Everybody was in shock witnessing it.”

The blaze erupted moments after the aircraft hit the ground, sending a column of flames and smoke into the sky that could be seen for miles.

Lisa Fitzsimons of the AAIB cautioned that it was “too early to speculate” on the cause of the crash. Investigators are examining the wreckage and collecting physical and electronic evidence at the scene.

London Southend Airport remained closed Tuesday, with officials saying the airport would stay shut “until further notice.”

“The friends and families of those lost on Sunday are at the forefront of our minds,” the airport said in a statement.

Zeusch Aviation confirmed that its SUZ1 flight was involved in the accident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to support the family of Rojas Ortiz had raised more than £5,800 by Tuesday evening.

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash or has video of the incident to come forward.

“The scale of the work being undertaken by many agencies here should not be underestimated,” Cronin said. “That work at the scene will continue today and further into the week as we seek to find the answers to what happened.”

Opposition leader Keir Starmer paid tribute to those killed, writing on X: “Terrible news that four people tragically lost their lives in yesterday’s plane crash at Southend Airport. My thoughts are with their families and loved ones.”

17 Immigration Judges Fired as Trump Administration Escalates Deportations-AP

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — Seventeen immigration judges have been dismissed in recent days, the union representing them said, as the Trump administration intensifies its mass deportation campaign across the United States.

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which advocates for immigration judges and other professionals, said in a statement that 15 judges were terminated without cause last Friday and another two were fired Monday. According to the union, the judges had been working in courts spanning 10 states: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

“It’s outrageous and against the public interest that at the same time Congress has authorized 800 immigration judges, we are firing large numbers of immigration judges without cause,” union President Matt Biggs said. “This is nonsensical. The answer is to stop firing and start hiring.”

The firings come as immigration courts increasingly stand at the center of the administration’s enforcement strategy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been arresting immigrants as they arrive for court appearances, often taking them into custody immediately after judges terminate proceedings.

A spokesperson for the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Justice Department agency that oversees the courts, declined to comment on the dismissals.

Large-scale courthouse arrests, which began in May, have rattled asylum-seekers and others pursuing legal immigration relief. Judges often grant government requests to dismiss deportation cases only for immigrants to be detained outside the courtroom and put on expedited removal flights.

Immigration courts are grappling with a record backlog that has swelled to roughly 3.5 million cases. Proceedings frequently stretch over years, with hearings often delayed more than 12 months. Unlike in criminal courts, immigrants do not have the right to an attorney; those unable to afford one must navigate the complex legal process alone, typically relying on interpreters to plead their case.

Congress recently approved $170 billion in new spending to expand immigration enforcement. Of that, $3.3 billion is earmarked to increase the number of judges to 800 and hire additional staff.

But the union said the latest dismissals will undermine those efforts. Since President Trump took office, more than 100 immigration judges have been either fired or left voluntarily after accepting so-called “Fork in the Road” offers extended early in the administration.

According to union figures, the nation’s immigration courts currently employ about 600 judges. Filling vacancies can take up to a year because of lengthy recruiting, vetting, and training processes.

Union officials warn the firings will worsen delays and deepen backlogs, rather than delivering the faster resolutions the administration has promised.

California Man Accused of Killing Wife and In-Laws Dies by Suicide in Jail

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LOS ANGELES (BN24) — A California man charged with killing his wife and her parents and dumping dismembered remains in the trash has died by suicide while in custody, authorities and his attorney said Monday.

Samuel Bond Haskell, 37, was found dead Saturday morning inside a cell at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles. He left a note, according to the sources.

Haskell, the son of Hollywood television producer Sam Haskell, had pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of his wife, Mei Haskell; her mother, Yanxiang Wang; and her stepfather, Gaoshan Li. He was being held without bail and faced a possible sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed Haskell’s death in a statement Monday, calling it “one last cruel act.”

“Instead of standing before a judge and answering for the crimes he’s been charged with, the defendant managed to escape justice,” Hochman said. “This is one last cruel act by someone who did the most horrific things for reasons we will never entirely know. A family that has been dealing with unimaginable loss now has been robbed of their chance to face him, hold him accountable for his barbaric actions, and openly share their grief and their cherished memories of their loved ones.”

Haskell’s attorney, Joseph A. Weimortz Jr., also confirmed his client died by suicide and said Haskell feared the intense public scrutiny more than prison itself.

“He was not afraid of prison but was afraid of an even larger media spectacle,” Weimortz said in a statement. “In order to avoid more media exposure, he was willing to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. In order to avoid more media exposure, he was willing to waive his right to a jury trial. Ultimately, my client was even willing to take his own life, believing that it would end this terrible chaos.”

Authorities said the case began in early November 2023 when the three victims vanished from the family’s Tarzana home, where Haskell lived with his wife, her parents, and the couple’s three young children.

The District Attorney’s Office said that on November 7, Haskell allegedly hired day laborers to haul away heavy black plastic bags from the house. One of the workers opened a bag and saw what appeared to be human remains, prompting a 911 call.

Investigators later said Haskell was seen disposing of a large trash bag behind a strip mall in Encino. The next day, a person searching through a dumpster discovered a torso wrapped in plastic. DNA testing confirmed it belonged to Mei Haskell.

Police have not recovered the remains of her parents, though evidence of violence was found in the home.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.

Unreleased Beyoncé Music Stolen From Choreographer’s SUV in Atlanta, Police Say

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ATLANTA (BN24) — Hard drives containing unreleased music by Beyoncé were stolen from her choreographer’s rental SUV in Atlanta last week, according to city police.

The theft took place the night of July 8 in a parking lot east of downtown, an Atlanta Police Department incident report said Monday.

Christopher Grant, Beyoncé’s choreographer, told officers he returned to find the rear window of his rented Jeep Wagoneer shattered and two suitcases missing. Inside were the hard drives holding unreleased tracks, watermarked music files, detailed plans for show footage, and set lists for past and upcoming performances, the report stated.

Police said Grant was accompanied by one of Beyoncé’s dancers when the theft occurred.

Investigators tracked a laptop stolen from the vehicle and were able to follow a set of AirPods that were allegedly taken as well. Cameras at the entrance to the parking area captured footage of the incident.

In a statement, police said the department’s larceny unit has secured an arrest warrant for a suspect, though the individual has not yet been apprehended. Authorities did not release the suspect’s name.

Representatives for Beyoncé, who performed her fourth and final Atlanta show on Monday, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

nbcnews

Trump Administration Slaps 17% Tariff on Fresh Mexican Tomatoes, Ending Longstanding Trade Agreement-AP

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration on Monday imposed a 17% tariff on most fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico, abruptly ending a yearslong agreement that had governed trade in the key agricultural commodity.

The move comes as President Donald Trump escalates his broader strategy of raising tariffs against dozens of U.S. trading partners. Over the weekend, Mexico was separately warned to expect 30% tariffs on other products starting in August.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the new tomato tariffs were consistent with Trump’s approach to trade and with promises to defend American agriculture. “Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes. That ends today,” Lutnick said in a statement.

The United States sources about 70% of its tomatoes from Mexico, according to the Florida Tomato Exchange. Federal data show that Mexican tomato exports to the U.S. now total roughly \$3 billion annually, nearly three times what they were 15 years ago.

Supporters of the tariffs say they will help revive the struggling domestic tomato sector, which Florida growers contend has been devastated by an influx of cheaper Mexican produce. Robert Guenther, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, called the tariffs “an enormous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture.”

But business groups and Democratic lawmakers warn the decision could push up prices for U.S. consumers and hurt industries reliant on tomato imports. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged the administration to reconsider, saying in a letter to Lutnick that Mexican tomato imports deliver \$8.3 billion in annual economic benefits across agriculture, warehousing, grocery and restaurant industries. “Terminating the Agreement would likely have widespread repercussions on the U.S. economy,” the group wrote.

The new duties end a nearly three-decade trade dispute over allegations that Mexican producers dumped tomatoes into the U.S. market at artificially low prices, harming American growers. In 2019, during Trump’s first term, Washington and Mexican exporters struck a deal to avert anti-dumping duties by agreeing to minimum prices for tomatoes.

But in April, the Commerce Department announced the U.S. would withdraw from the deal in 90 days, arguing the agreement had failed to protect American growers. The administration initially signaled tariffs would be set at 20.91% but ultimately imposed 17.09% duties on Monday.

A bipartisan bloc of lawmakers from Florida, one of the country’s largest tomato-producing states, cheered the tariffs. Republican Sen. Rick Scott called the move “a major victory for American growers and producers.”

Others blasted the decision. Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, warned residents to brace for rising costs. “ARIZONA, BUY YOUR TOMATOES NOW!! Groceries are already too expensive. \[Mr. Trump] needs to reverse this decision now,” he posted on social media. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Texas Democrat, said the tariffs would make salsa pricier and threaten tens of thousands of jobs.

Mexico’s agriculture and economy ministries condemned the action as “unfair and against the interests not only of Mexican producers but also of the U.S. industry.” Mexican officials insisted that rising tomato exports were a result of product quality, not unfair pricing, and expressed hope for a resolution.

Trump, meanwhile, has sent letters to numerous U.S. trading partners threatening additional tariff hikes starting August 1. He has argued higher duties are essential to safeguard domestic jobs and counter unfair trade practices.

Economists have warned tariffs often lead to slower economic growth and higher consumer costs. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers last month that tariffs would likely have some impact on prices but cautioned it was too soon to measure the full effect.

Federal data show that while food prices overall rose 2.9% over the past year, tomato prices actually fell by 6.8% between May 2024 and May 2025.

Iranian President Slightly Hurt While Fleeing Israeli Missile Strike

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TEHRAN, Iran (BN24) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sustained minor injuries while escaping an Israeli missile attack that struck a high-level government meeting in Tehran last month, a senior Iranian official said, offering the most detailed account yet of what authorities describe as an assassination attempt.

The official, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said the June 15 strike targeted the heads of Iran’s three branches of government as part of an effort to overthrow the country’s leadership. “This attempt will not pass without Israel paying a price,” the official said.

According to Iranian and semi-official media reports, the missiles hit as senior officials, including the president, were convened in the lower level of a secure government facility in western Tehran. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported that six missiles struck entrances and exits of the building, cutting off escape routes and severing electricity to the compound.

Officials managed to evacuate through a pre-designated emergency hatch in the dark, with Pezeshkian sustaining what were described as minor leg injuries as he fled.

“It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel,” Pezeshkian said in remarks released Monday. “I was in a meeting… They tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting.”

The attack came as part of a 12-day Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched on June 13, which killed senior military commanders and nuclear scientists and stalled planned nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

The intensity of the strikes — described by Iranian officials as unprecedented — prompted Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to open an investigation into whether Israeli operatives had provided targeting intelligence for the attack.

The Iranian Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said at least 1,060 people were killed in Iran during the conflict. Israel said retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks killed 28 people inside its territory before the United States brokered a ceasefire.

President Pezeshkian’s survival, despite the apparent precision of the missile barrage, has emboldened Iranian officials vowing a response. “This crime will not remain unanswered,” the senior official said.

aljazeera

Trump Declares Club World Cup Trophy Will Remain in Oval Office After Tournament Ends

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump said the Club World Cup trophy displayed in the Oval Office will stay there permanently, claiming FIFA created a duplicate award for Chelsea after their triumph in Sunday’s final.

Trump attended the championship match alongside members of his cabinet and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who joined him in presenting the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. The president remained prominently in front during the ceremony, even as Chelsea’s players looked on with apparent confusion and Infantino motioned for him to step aside.

The moment underscored Trump’s increasingly visible role in global soccer affairs. His relationship with FIFA has intensified since the start of his second term in office, with Infantino first unveiling the trophy inside the White House in March. It has remained on display in the Oval Office for every event there since.

In an interview with official Club World Cup broadcaster DAZN, Trump said FIFA leaders told him the original trophy could stay in Washington indefinitely.

“I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? [They said] ‘We’re never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We’re making a new one,’” Trump recounted. “And they actually made a new one. So that was quite exciting, but it is in the Oval right now.”

It remains unclear whether there are any distinctions between the two trophies, and FIFA has not confirmed details of any replicas.

During the same interview, Trump mused about issuing an executive order mandating that soccer be called football in the United States. He also asserted that foreign leaders have described the U.S. as “the hottest country in the world,” referencing what he called booming economic and diplomatic influence.

“It’s about unity,” Trump said of FIFA’s tournaments coming to American soil. “It’s about everybody getting together and a lot of love between countries. I guess this is probably the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together.”

Marten and Gordon Convicted of Gross Negligence Manslaughter in Death of Infant Daughter

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LONDON (BN24) — A couple who evaded authorities for weeks after fleeing with their newborn daughter have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter, ending a high-profile case that exposed extraordinary neglect and deliberate attempts to avoid detection.

Constance Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, were convicted Monday at London’s Old Bailey after a lengthy and often tumultuous retrial that the judge said they repeatedly tried to sabotage. Their daughter, Victoria, was found dead in a shopping bag in Brighton more than two years ago, after the couple camped out in freezing temperatures.

Jurors determined that Marten and Gordon’s conduct fell far below the standard expected of any reasonable parent, concluding that their behavior contributed directly to the baby’s death. The prosecution alleged that the couple consciously chose not to protect their child, who was just weeks old, and exposed her to fatal risk.

Prosecutors argued that Victoria died in January 2023 from hypothermia or by suffocation as she shared a cramped tent with her parents in wet, windy conditions on the South Downs. Although experts were unable to pinpoint the exact cause of death, authorities said the circumstances made her survival almost impossible.

Marten and Gordon went on the run after their car was found burned near Bolton. The pair, whose four other children had been taken into care, spent weeks moving between campsites and sleeping outdoors to avoid police detection. Investigators believe they wanted to keep Victoria with them and were determined to avoid intervention by social services.

Their disappearance sparked a 53-day nationwide manhunt that ended when they were spotted and arrested in Brighton on February 27, 2023. Victoria’s remains were recovered two days later in an allotment shed, where police said the baby had been left for weeks after dying in the tent.

The case drew further scrutiny because of the couple’s backgrounds. Jurors heard that Marten had grown up in a privileged family, while Gordon had been convicted of rape as a teenager in Florida and deported to Britain after serving 20 years of a 40-year sentence. His conviction was disclosed during the retrial, though it had not been shared with jurors in the earlier proceedings.

Both Marten and Gordon refused to stand as the unanimous verdicts were delivered. Marten shook her head and sighed, while Gordon leaned back, eyes closed, and later declared he would “win on appeal,” calling the proceedings unfair.

Their trials were marked by repeated delays and combative behavior. The couple frequently interrupted proceedings, dismissed legal teams, and disregarded courtroom protocol. Judge Mark Lucraft KC described Marten’s conduct as the most confrontational he had witnessed in over a decade as a full-time judge.

Chief prosecutor Jaswant Narwal said the pair showed “little remorse” and deliberately tried to derail the process. “I hope these convictions provide a sense of justice and comfort to all those affected by this tragic case,” Narwal said in a statement.

Samantha Yellend, London’s senior crown prosecutor, called their actions “shocking,” saying their reckless decisions were motivated by a selfish determination to keep their baby at all costs, regardless of the dangers.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the investigation, described Victoria’s death as “completely avoidable,” noting the couple had many opportunities to seek help but instead chose to hide. “As a father, it is hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, they chose to live outside during freezing conditions,” Basford said.

Sentencing is scheduled for September.

bbc.com

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