Obama’s Chicago

center opens

(AP) — As people gathered to celebrate Juneteenth at events across the U.S., former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to his presidential center.

A million visitors a year are expected to come together at the sprawling campus honoring the nation’s first Black president. The center’s grand opening arrives as a symbolic convergence of legacy and liberation in this fifth year since June 19 became a federal holiday.

This year’s Juneteenth events, held to celebrate the end of slavery, come amid deep political divisions as the nation grapples with renewed questions about the arc of racial progress.

Trains collide

near London

LONDON (AP) — Emergency services rushed to the scene of a collision between two trains north of London on Friday afternoon that killed one person.

A passenger reported that he was thrown into the by the impact and saw fellow travelers with broken bones and bloody injuries. Both trains were traveling south to London St. Pancras station when they collided outside the town of Bedford around 5:15 p.m.,(12:15 PM EDT) according to information on rail tracking websites.

Emergency services deployed a number of resources to the scene including an air ambulance and hazardous incident team from the East of England Ambulance Service.

Hegseth scolds

NATO allies

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. The review’s outcome will depend on how quickly European allies take responsibility for their own security.

Hegseth criticized NATO allies on Thursday for not providing access to bases for U.S. forces to launch attacks on Iran. He also accused Europe of prioritizing gender equity and climate change over defense.

The review could impact NATO’s collective security guarantee, but U.S. nuclear weapons will remain in Europe. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted a significant increase in European defense spending.

Starmer vows

to fight

ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, England (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will fight attempts by rival Andy Burnham to oust him from office.

Starmer said on Friday that he was elected on a “mandate for change” and will not “walk away.” He will run in a leadership contest if one is triggered. Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor, won a seat in Parliament in a special election. He’s looking to replace Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and the country.

Burnham has led Manchester since 2017, overseeing rapid regeneration for the city where the Industrial Revolution was forged. He is pledging to repeat his successes on a national scale.