News Wrap: Gunman fires shots at U.S. embassy in Beirut

Geoff Bennett:

There was a dramatic shoot-out at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut today. The Lebanese military says a gunman fired shots at the facility. He was then wounded during an exchange of gunfire with troops, and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Amna Nawaz:

The army described him as a Syrian national. Lebanese officials believe he was acting alone. A guard was also wounded in the shooting.

Troops were deployed to secure the area and set up checkpoints. And witnesses said that gunfire lasted for nearly half-an-hour.

Joe Abdo, Lebanon Resident (through interpreter):

We were at work. We heard gunfire. It didn't take a lot of time, but we heard around 15 to 20 rounds of gunfire. We ran here to see what's happening, and, suddenly, the army blocked us from going up.

Amna Nawaz:

Officials say that the gunman's motives are not clear. But Lebanese media have published photos that appear to show a suspect wearing a black vest with the words "Islamic State" written in Arabic and the English initials I and S. The State Department says the embassy will reopen for business tomorrow.

Thousands of ultranationalist Israelis took part in an annual parade in Jerusalem today to mark Israel's capture of the city in 1967. Massive crowds marched through a Palestinian area of Jerusalem, some chanting anti-Arab slogans. Some clashes between demonstrators and police broke out. Authorities say 18 marchers were arrested.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israel's northern border with Lebanon. That comes a day after Hezbollah rocket attacks sparked large brushfires in the area.

During a tour of a military base, Netanyahu addressed calls to ramp up Israel's response.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

Yesterday, the land was burning here, but the ground was also on fire in Lebanon. Whoever thinks that he will hurt us and we will sit idly by is making a big mistake. We are prepared for a very strong action in the north. One way or another, we will restore security here.

Amna Nawaz:

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire for months. The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.

Hunter Biden's ex-wife and his former girlfriend took the stand at his criminal trial in Delaware today. They testified to their experiences, witnessing drug use by the president's son, including the moment his then-wife found a crack pipe in an ashtray at their family's home. Hunter Biden faces three felony charges related to his buying a gun in 2018 while using drugs. First lady Jill Biden has attended every day of the trial so far, but she will travel to meet the president in France later today.

Separately, House Republicans sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department today accusing Hunter Biden and the president's brother James Biden of making false statements to Congress. This is part of a broader impeachment inquiry trying to tie the president to his son's business dealings. So far, Republicans have presented no evidence of wrongdoing.

On Capitol Hill, the Senate rejected a bill this afternoon aimed at protecting women's access to contraception. The Right to Contraception Act fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass, with just 51 for and 39 against. Regardless of the outcome, Senate Democrats were keen to put their Republican colleagues on the record when it comes to reproductive rights ahead of the November election.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote achieved that goal.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY):

Today was not a show vote. This was a show us who you are vote. And Senate Republicans showed the American people exactly who they are.

Amna Nawaz:

A similar vote over protecting access to in vitro fertilization is expected as soon as next week.

The planet is on a 12-month streak of setting new heat records. Every month for the last year has been the hottest month ever recorded. That's according to the European Union's climate monitoring service. That comes as the U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, says that a target of — quote — "limiting long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is hanging by a thread."

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:

We are playing Russian roulette with our planet, and we need an exit ramp off the highway to climate health.

Amna Nawaz:

Guterres took particular aim at fossil fuel companies, calling for a so-called windfall tax on the industry's profits. He referred to them as the — quote — "godfathers of climate chaos."

And on Wall Street today, stocks rose across the board on growing hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this year. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 96 points to close at 38807. The Nasdaq jumped 330 points to close above 17000. The S&P 500 added 62 points, closing at a new record.

And the first bank notes featuring King Charles III entered circulation in the U.K. today. People queued up outside the Bank of England's headquarters in London today — yes, I said queued — to be among the first to get their hands on the notes. The portrait of the king will appear on all five, 10, 20 and 50-pound notes. He's only the second British monarch to appear on Britain's currency. The first, of course, was his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September of 2022.