While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 23, 2025
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US House Speaker Mike Johnson was one of the lawmakers allegedly notified of the US military action ahead of time.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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US lawmakers call for Congress to review Trump’s Iran actions
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers on June 22 called on Congress to rein in President Donald Trump's use of military force in Iran and prevent US involvement in a deepening Middle East conflict.
With Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives strongly backing the US attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites, it seemed unlikely any resolution that asserts the power of Congress to declare war and restricts Mr Trump’s actions could pass both chambers.
US Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said he expects to force the Senate to vote this week on his measure requiring Mr Trump to terminate hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorised by a declaration of war from Congress. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California said they want a vote on similar legislation they introduced in the House.
“This is the US jumping into a war of choice at Donald Trump’s urging, without any compelling national security interest for the United States to act in this way, particularly without a debate and vote in Congress,” Mr Kaine told CBS’ Face the Nation programme.
Satellite images undermine Trump’s claim that Iran’s atomic sites were destroyed
PHOTOS: REUTERS
President Donald Trump’s decision to order US forces to attack three key Iranian nuclear installations may have sabotaged the Islamic Republic’s known atomic capabilities, but it’s also created a monumental new challenge to work out what’s left and where.
Mr Trump said heavily fortified sites were “totally obliterated” late on June 21, but independent analysis has yet to verify that claim. Rather than yielding a quick win, the strikes have complicated the task of tracking uranium and ensuring Iran doesn’t build a weapon, according to three people who follow the country’s nuclear programme.
International Atomic Energy Agency monitors remain in Iran and were inspecting more than one site a day before Israel started the bombing campaign on June 13.
At least 20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria’s capital Damascus on June 22, health authorities and security sources said.
The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Mr Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.
Syria’s interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of the terror group Islamic State.
12 arrested as wave of syringe attacks mar France street music festival
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
French police have detained twelve suspects after 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country’s annual street music festival, officials said June 22.
Millions of people took to the streets across France on the evening of June 21 for the Fete de la Musique, with authorities reporting “unprecedented crowds” in Paris.
Before the party, posts on social media had called for women to be targeted during the festivities.
Carlos Alcaraz beats Jiri Lehecka in Queen’s final to send Wimbledon statement
EPA-EFE
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz edged out Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 to claim his second Queen’s Club title on June 22 and send out a powerful statement ahead of his Wimbledon defence.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who triumphed at Queen’s a few weeks before claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches but was pushed hard by Lehecka, who underlined his own credentials as a rising force.
Alcaraz pounced at 5-5 to break the Lehecka serve and duly bagged the opening set in 45 minutes.
