Today’s Lead News Stories

On 15 June 1940, the Red Army began the annexation of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Protesters defy overnight curfew as California governor issues searing rebuke of administration. Plus, who is behind the hedonistic party palaces of New York’s Fire Island?

Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT defeat to Switzerland resulted in confidence being extremely low heading into an all-important Concacaf Gold Cup.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill secured the Democratic nomination for New Jersey governor Tuesday and will next face Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Authorities hiked 11 miles overnight to find the victims’ bodies

Journalists condemn slew of incidents and call on authorities to ensure ‘press freedom is respected’

Residents are on edge as the Trump administration escalates force against protests that have rocked the city.

This blog is closing now. You can read all our coverage of the anti-Ice protests in Los Angeles and across the US here.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has said that Hamas "must hand over its weapons" and called for the deployment of international forces to protect the Palestinian people, France has announced. The move comes ahead of a conference next week at which Paris could become the most prominent Western power to back…