UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland tried sneaking into the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest in Washington, but was quickly caught and escorted out by the police.

It comes just days after the contentious fighter claimed he’s been prohibited from attending the UFC White House show

The 35-year-old is no stranger when it comes to speaking his mind and he recently took to social media to reveal that he’s been banned from the event – claiming it stems from his criticism aimed at Trump and his relationship with and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

“UFC at the White House with [Benjamin Netanyahu] in the audience. Straight slop,” Strickland wrote on Instagram. “To be fair, they did ban me. But when you make fun of the leaders of America, they tend to be a little bit petty. By leaders, I mean Israel.”

He added: “The only male American champ banned at the White House because I said Trump is owned by [Benjaimin Netanyahu]. That’s not public opinion, it’s fact.”

When asked what he said to be banned, the UFC champion replied: “I made fun of Israel and [Jeffrey] Epstein.” The American later issued a video in response to his claims that he has been banned from attending the White House event and he doubled down on his criticisms aimed at Trump.

“I’m not surprised, but I got the call. I got the call. The UFC higher-ups called me, you know, the big names, and they said, ‘Sean, I’ve got to apologised but you’re not Israeli enough to go to UFC 250 Israel Edition,” he said.

“I’m not really surprised. Moving forward I would like to just apologize to Israel. I’d like to say I’m sorry. I’d like to apologise to Trump, and I just want to prove that I’m Israeli enough for you guys. For instance, whenever the (Epstein) list disappeared and Trump goes out there and says that he can’t really go into it because people by association would get prosecuted and like their names would be tarnished, I want to apologise because I don’t want them to be prosecuted.

“When Trump goes and bombs the f*** out of Iran that no American’s agree with that cost Americans $5,000 to $15,000 to go fight Israel’s war. I want to apologise. Sorry I’ve been a critic of that. Or when Trump goes out there and says, ‘Hey Trump, your approval ratings are the lowest they’ve ever been across all demographics’ and Trump says, ‘Well, you know what? I have a 99% approval rating in Israel. I want to apologise.”

Samantha Allen, chief executive for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). 

The care board boss, who lives in Northumberland, has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the NHS spanning almost three decades. 

Reacting to the news, she said: “I feel incredibly honoured to receive this recognition. For me it is a reflection on the brilliant people I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career, both here in the North East and North Cumbria and nationally.

READ MORE: All the North East recipients in King’s Birthday Honours List 2026

“I care deeply about the NHS and about creating opportunities for others. I’ve always loved this work and been proud to serve the NHS. 

“If I’ve made any difference, it is because I’ve been part of brilliant teams, all working to improve things for patients, staff and communities.

“I’d like say a heartfelt thank you to my colleagues, friends and family who have supported me.”

Originally from an Armed Forces family, Sam began her career in the NHS at the age of 22 in a temporary reception role with a community mental health team in South London.

It is here that her passion for the NHS first took hold, spending the majority of her career in mental health services before joining the North East and North Cumbria ICB in 2022.

Sam played a leading role in establishing the ICB, bringing together partners across the region to improve care and address health inequalities. 

Her leadership has been a “driving force behind improvements in care and tackling some of the region’s biggest health challenges head-on”.

From women’s health hubs and expanded mental health support, to securing major investment to help people with health conditions stay in or return to work, and better access to urgent dental care, to name a few.  

Alongside this, Sam has also held a number of influential national roles. 

She has championed improvements in women’s health and women leaders across the NHS, and has been a strong voice for raising the profile and standards of NHS leadership/

Sam has helped drive action on sexual safety across the NHS and the need for representation of women on NHS Boards. 

The region’s ICB was one of the first in the country to adopt a sexual safety charter.

Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, said: “Sam is an exceptional leader whose unwavering commitment to patients, staff and the NHS shines through in everything she does. 

“Not only does she live by the values of the NHS, but she also actively supports and inspires others to do the same. 

“She leads with integrity, compassion and determination and has made a profound impact not only across the North East and North Cumbria, but nationally too.

“I am delighted to see Sam recognised in this way. It is richly deserved and we are all very proud of her.”

Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, said: “I am delighted to see Sam recognised in His Majesty the King’s Birthday Honours.

“Sam is a highly respected leader who has made a significant contribution both in the North East and North Cumbria and across the wider NHS, particularly through her work to strengthen leadership, champion women’s health and support the development of future NHS leaders. 

“This honour is a fitting recognition of her dedication, values and outstanding service, and I offer her my warmest congratulations.”

All parts of the UK should feel warmer this week when compared with last week.

Temperatures may fluctuate from day to day though, depending on changes in wind direction and cloud cover, but will generally be close to or above average for the time of the year. Nights and the early commute will become warmer too.

For western Scotland and Northern Ireland temperatures are likely to be at their highest at the start of the week, under gentle south-easterly winds, with highs of around 19-21C (66-70F).

Elsewhere, with winds switching between south and south-westerlies, temperatures more widely in the low to mid-20s Celsius can be expected on some days.

The Bishopthorpe Road Street Party will be held on Sunday (June 21).

The busy street is scheduled to close to vehicles and cyclists from 8am till 9pm to enable organisers to set up and pack away the event – which is set to welcome visitors from 11am till 4pm.

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Lining the road will be street food vendors, a mini market, a children’s area and space for several live music acts.

An alternative route for motorists via Scarcroft Road, Blossom Street and Nunnery Lane will be signed on the day, a City of York Council spokesperson said.

For cyclists, the route will be through Swann Street, Cygnet Street, St Benedict Road and Price Street.

Residents accessing Vine Street will be diverted via Clementhorpe and Cherry Street.

A council spokesperson said: “Access for pedestrians and emergency

vehicles will be maintained throughout the events period. 

“Traffic signs and barriers will indicate the extent of the closure.”

For more information please contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk.

Pomegranate Persian Tea Room in Great Ayton currently holds a perfect five-star rating on TripAdvisor, making it one of the highest-rated places to eat in the area.

Located in Park Square, the independently run café has developed a loyal following thanks to its menu, hospitality and dishes that many visitors say offer “something completely different from the usual café experience”.

The venue describes itself as serving modern Persian dishes with a unique twist, with breakfast, brunch and lunch menus inspired by Middle Eastern flavours alongside homemade cakes, speciality teas and coffee.

Pomegranate Persian Tea Room (Image: TRIPADVISOR)

Visitors frequently highlight the food as the main reason for returning.

One customer described the tea room as an “amazing hidden little gem”, adding: “Food is exceptional and we have never tasted flavours like it anywhere else. Staff are great and cannot do enough for you.”

Another reviewer said the food was “to die for”, praising the freshness and authenticity of the dishes.

They added: “The atmosphere was very peaceful. We sat outside and felt as though we could’ve been anywhere.”

Breakfast options appear particularly popular among diners.

One visitor described the café’s dates and eggs dish as “a taste revelation”, while another called the Persian breakfast “superb”, praising the friendly service and evident pride in the food.

Others have highlighted dishes including chicken shawarma, lamb shank, Persian rice, kebabs and flatbreads.

A regular customer wrote: “The shawarma, kebabs and flatbreads are amazing, and I’m obsessed with the baklava.”

The tea room’s atmosphere is another feature frequently mentioned in reviews.

One visitor described it as a “beautiful celebration of vibrant cultural fusion”, praising both the décor and the authentic dining experience.

A tourism and hospitality lecturer who visited recently said they particularly appreciated the attention to detail, adding that the combination of authentic cuisine, genuine hospitality and atmosphere made it stand out from other venues.

Others simply describe it as “cosy,” “welcoming”, and “unlike anywhere else in North Yorkshire”.

One reviewer wrote: “It’s such a lovely place. Staff are all friendly and helpful, and the food is fantastic.”

Another said: “If you’re looking for somewhere different which offers a warm and friendly welcome, then I’d recommend the Pomegranate Persian Tea Room.”

The café has also become popular with dog owners, with several visitors mentioning that dogs are welcomed and even receive treats from staff.

Many customers advise booking ahead, particularly at weekends, as the tea room’s growing reputation means tables can fill up quickly.

Situated close to attractions including Captain Cook’s Monument, Roseberry Topping and the surrounding North York Moors countryside, it has become a popular stop for walkers and day-trippers exploring the area.

The six storey high Steel House which can be seen from the A1085 Redcar Trunk Road was once the buzzing administrative hub for British Steel on Teesside and successors Corus and SSI UK, where top executives would meet.

It was later mothballed after the closure of the Redcar steelworks in 2015 with one of its last acts hosting local taskforce representatives attempting to find work and training opportunities for those who were employed there.

The South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) said Steel House had “not been forgotten” and its future remained under review, taking account of market conditions, demand for office space, and overall viability. 

Meanwhile, at a recent meeting, members of the growth scrutiny committee at Redcar and Cleveland Council were similarly told that no development had commenced due to “viability challenges and changes in office demand”.

In February 2021 Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it was a “no brainer that Steel House should be saved” and welcomed plans to transform the building.

An announcement promised a new look keeping the original structure intact, but adding “dramatic cladding, artificial external lighting and additional windows and light wells…to bring it into the 21st century, signalling the cutting-edge industries the site will attract”.

The intention was to provide new office space along with services for people based at Teesworks, including a creche, coffee shop and gym, while the surrounding landscape would be “carefully redeveloped to provide impressive scenic grounds that will incorporate areas for outdoor eating, relaxation and exercise”.

In June of that year Mr Houchen was pictured with workers tasked with stripping out the building and removing more than 3,500 pieces of redundant furniture and equipment in order that the condition of the building could be investigated ahead of further remediation.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen pictured in 2021 with staff working on the Steel House revamp. Picture/credit: Ian Cooper/Teesside Live. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

The first tenants were predicted to move into the newly refurbished building within 18 to 24 months.

The mayor said it would “wow investors” looking to base themselves at Teesworks.

The 240,000 square feet Steel House, which was first opened in 1978, is situated only a short distance away from the main entrance to Teesworks and also a new park and ride facility that has been built to serve the reclaimed steelworks site.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the STDC, which is responsible for the economic regeneration of the South Tees area, whether there were continued costs associated with maintaining and securing the imposing building, and whether a case could be made out for its demolition.

A spokesman said: “The building itself has already been taken back to a bare structural shell as part of earlier works. 

The former boardroom at Steel House. Picture/credit: Ian Cooper/Teesside Live. Free for use for all LDRS partners.

“As a result, there are no direct ongoing costs associated with maintaining its internal fabric, and there are no standalone security costs specific to Steel House. 

“It sits within the wider Teesworks estate and is covered by existing estate‑wide security arrangements.”

The spokesman added: “Steel House remains part of the wider Teesworks estate, and while redevelopment options have been considered previously, it is not currently within our immediate delivery programme.

 “Our focus is firmly on progressing a number of significant inward investment opportunities across Teesworks that will deliver substantial economic impact in terms of jobs, industrial activity, and long‑term regeneration. 

“These opportunities necessarily take priority at this stage.

 “That said, Steel House has not been forgotten. 

“We continue to keep its future under review as part of the ongoing evolution of the Teesworks masterplan, taking account of market conditions, demand for office space, and overall viability. 

“All options remain open and will be considered at the appropriate time.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyra Banks has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and the directors of its docuseries “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” alleging that the producers stripped down hours of interview footage to construct a false narrative.

In the lawsuit filed Saturday in Los Angeles federal court, the model who created and hosted “America’s Next Top Model” said she was interviewed for 3 ½ hours, during which she took responsibility for some of the show’s controversial decisions. Those interviews were edited down to 16 minutes and manipulated “to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed,” the lawsuit said.

“The accountability Ms. Banks took ended up on the cutting room floor. It was there, but viewers were never given the opportunity to see it,” her lawyers wrote.

Banks is seeking damages in her lawsuit against Netflix, the directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy and EverWonder Studio. She’s also seeking an injunction barring the use of her image in connection with the docuseries’ soundtrack, released as an album.

Emails seeking comments were sent Sunday to the defendants’ representatives.

“America’s Next Top Model” launched in 2003 and ran for 24 seasons. In recent years, the reality competition series has undergone a critical reevaluation over accusations of body shaming, manipulation of contestants and problematic photoshoots. Banks has previously addressed those criticisms, acknowledging “the insensitivity of past ANTM moments” and “some really off choices.”

The lawsuit contends that the producers of the Netflix docuseries used “selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage” to formulate a narrative that Banks allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on the show, used the contestant’s trauma to drum up ratings and then couldn’t remember it when asked during the interviews.

“Defendants edited the Netflix Series to make it appear that Ms. Banks knew she was being asked about a sexual assault and was intentionally trying to evade the topic,” the lawsuit stated, contending that Banks hadn’t been told — or asked — about the assault during the interview.

Banks’ lawyers wrote that she wasn’t permitted to review the docuseries until a day before its Feb. 16 release. According to the lawsuit, she had not been contacted for fact-checking after her interviews, and was not given an opportunity to respond to accusations from other participants. Other judges from the show, including one her lawyers contend holds a grudge against Banks, consulted on the docuseries.

“Had Ms. Banks known these individuals were so deeply involved in the formulation of the Netflix Series, also serving as consultants shaping the editorial direction, and that she had been excluded from such a role, it would have raised a red flag,” the lawsuit read. “She would have known she was being set up. She would not have participated.”

Banks’ lawyers reached out to Netflix in March to request access to the full footage of her interviews. Netflix and EverWonder denied that request, according to the lawsuit. Since the docuseries’ release, public reaction has been “swift, harsh, and directed squarely at Ms. Banks” — even SMiZE & DREAM, her ice cream shop in Sydney, Australia, has been subject to review bombing on Google, the lawsuit read.

The Associated Press sent an email seeking further detail from Banks’ lawyers and representatives on Sunday.

“Every other conversation about ANTM’s legacy — including the candid reflection Ms. Banks came prepared to have — is now drowned out by an accusation she was never given the chance to answer,” her lawyers wrote. “This lawsuit is that answer — particularly after her efforts to resolve the matter directly with Netflix and the producers were refused.”

The rare, annual Gemini New Moon is in alignment with Uranus, which also connects with Venus. Everything feels charming and romantic today.

Taurus, Virgo and Pisces, your ideas and creative energy are flowing. Lean into artistic and thought-provoking pursuits.

This specific and unique lunation creates a previously unseen energy that could lead to unexpected events. Stay on your toes.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Monday June 15, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Communications are highlighted, with a vibrant Gemini lunation. If you have ideas you cherish, now is the time to enthusiastically share them. This could be through local interests and connections, or online. Your mind is alert, but nimble ideas need a context, so stay in touch with the feelings behind these, not just the bright spark and reactions they create.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

You can come up with inventive ideas today and earn additional income. This could be selling off items you no longer use, and decluttering in the process, or turning a home interest into a fledgling enterprise. Doing something creative like this can also be good for your sense of self. Your talent for home cooking can also see you rustling up some delicious new dishes.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Today’s annual Gemini New Moon features a special guest appearance from the innovator Uranus, who, in turn, links in a sparkling alliance with the charming Venus. This gives you an absolutely amazing platform to embrace and believe in your uniqueness. New projects can crackle with vibrant brilliance, and ongoing strands can be supercharged with fresh verve.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Your nurturing and healing instincts are given a charge of energy by today’s Sun/Moon conjunction in Gemini. This combination can trigger a fascination with deeper discovery over the next month about the benefits of meditation, positive thought, peaceful retreat, and gentle holistic approaches. Even if these have fascinated in the past, a fresh look can offer new insights.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

The charming Venus, newly arrived in your sign, links up with the unique, truth-seeking Uranus today. Along with a vibrant New Moon, this can trigger a desire to connect with one special person or a group inspired by a cause. This may be in the pursuit of full-on fun, around a shared interest, or a higher purpose, but a very special connection can follow.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

The New Moon may capture people’s imagination today, and for you, it can get you thinking about your goals and ambitions. Yet a deeper look at your Solar Chart shows that your ruler, Mercury, is set to link positively with the drive of Mars. So as much as a job change may be on your mind, what you may really yearn for is new, wider, and more adventurous vistas.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

If you have yet to finalise plans for a vacation, today’s Lunar phase is a fine time to get the celestial ball rolling. Variety is the spice of life, so it’s said, but this old maxim could really resonate with you. Even if a break is not the pressing priority, changing things up across your whole life can spark renewed enthusiasm and purpose. Look to release all that’s stale or stuck.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Scorpio people are often astute at managing resources and can be very successful in business, finance, banking, and insurance. Today’s New Moon gives the chance to assess your personal situation and see if there are any new opportunities for you to embrace. You can often see new trends, and a friendship with a shrewd friend can tease out an idea that intrigues you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

We can pick up and draw to us both positive and more challenging planetary influences. Today’s lunar phase is in your sector of connections. So, if you set your intentions to attract someone new, how would you feel if it happened? Triumphant if you met someone delightful, or downcast if not? Either way, you will have helped to create the opportunity, whatever the outcome.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Being virtuous is not an easy choice. Embracing life’s more enjoyable strands is definitely a lot more fun. And yet the constant pursuit of pleasure can lose its allure, rather like eating too many sweets when we were kids. Today’s New Moon gives you a chance to refocus on life’s essentials, and, as an earth sign and often an achiever, you can soon embrace the program!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Each New Moon has a unique identity. However, this year’s in your fellow air sign of Gemini, often promising for you personally, absolutely sparkles with potential. This is because your co-ruler, Uranus, also aligns with the captivating energies of Venus in your zone of relating. If you have a date or meet someone new socially or personally, your timing is perfect.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

If you are a home lover, your appreciation of your abode can reach new heights over the next month. This may be because you add features, tend to your garden, or hold a gathering of loved ones. If your space is more functional for you, it could now become a powerhouse of inspired activity, particularly if you are a maker or creator, with fresh approaches calling out.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of June here.

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MORE: What does the week have in store? Your tarot horoscope reading for June 15 to June 21

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MORE: Venus in Leo starts off the 2026 summer of love — your star sign’s tarot horoscope

Neighbours on Dunmail Close and Semington View say they’ve been ‘passed from pillar to post, as no one wants to take accountability’ for the approximately one-foot-deep road hazard. The hole first appeared in March last year, after a sewage system under the road collapsed.

While the council has put up warning signs around the cavity, it says the internal repairs are not the council’s responsibility. However, United Utilities, which tends to manage the sewage system in the area, claims that, due to uncompleted paperwork, the sewage system was never adopted by the water company and is technically the responsibility of Bloor Homes. The housing firm first constructed the estate just under 10 years ago.

Dunmail Close / Semington View sinkhole in Walkden (Image: LDRS)

Bloor Homes did not respond to a request for comment.

In the meantime, residents say they’ve been left with a ‘very worrying’ problem.

“It seems to be getting deeper,” one neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said. “I’m quite concerned because there are a lot of kids in this area, and you have a lot of cars driving past the sinkhole to get to the cul-de-sac at the end of Semington View. We’ve also been told the sewers are about five metres below ground… It feels like it’s only a matter of time before something bad happens.”

Another resident, who also did not wish to be named but lives very close to the hole on the cul-de-sac, added: “No one wants to take responsibility. It’s been there so long, we literally celebrated a birthday for it a couple of months ago. The council at one stage even suggested the residents on the cul-de-sac foot the bill for the repairs – but it’s not like we had any role in building it 10 years ago. It seems very unfair.”

Dunmail Close / Semington View sinkhole in Walkden (Image: LDRS)

Local MP Yasmin Qureshi has also become involved in the issue, stating: “Residents on Dunmail Close, Semington View and the surrounding streets are right to be angry. This sinkhole has blighted their lives for over a year, with no resolution in sight and no organisation willing to take responsibility for fixing it.”

The MP has demanded a meeting between Bloor Homes, Salford City Council and United Utilities to come up with a ‘clear timescale’ for fixing this issue at no cost to residents.

“So far, only United Utilities have responded, and they insist it is not their responsibility, as the sewers remain unadopted.

“This is not just about who is liable. It is a matter of public safety. The sinkhole sits on a bend in a public road, with reported near misses involving vehicles and ongoing risk to pedestrians, and residents have told me their fences have been struck multiple times.

“I am urging all four parties to come together and resolve this now, before further damage is caused or someone is seriously hurt.”

A spokesperson for Salford City Council says they have taken steps to secure the area, adding: “Investigations established that the underlying problem relates to a collapsed sewer serving a small number of properties. The council does not own or maintain private sewer infrastructure and officers have continued to support affected residents, actively engaging with United Utilities, the developer and other relevant parties to secure a permanent solution.

“Public safety remains our priority, and we continue to monitor the location to ensure any immediate risks are managed.”

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The impacted sewer line on this estate remains under private ownership and is not part of our network.

“We have offered our support to residents on the next steps available to them.”

President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House has been delayed as the Washington, D.C., area braces for intense weather this evening.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for parts of Washington and the surrounding states until 11 p.m. local time, with forecasters warning of possible hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning. The fights will now kick off at 9 p.m. local time, an hour later than expected, due to weather concerns, according to NBC News.

In response to reports of poor weather, the White House Rapid Response team declared the celebrations would continue “rain or shine.”

More than 4,000 people will gather in a massive arena on the White House’s South Lawn for tonight’s UFC event, which also falls on the president’s 80th birthday. Another 120,000 spectators are expected to attend a watch party at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park just south of the White House.

All 14 fighters successfully made weight Saturday during ceremonial weigh-ins at the Ellipse. Following their official morning weigh-ins, the athletes took the stage in front of thousands of fans.

Earlier this week, the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the UFC event, which it called “deeply corrupt.” A federal judge declined to block the event in a ruling issued Friday.

In pictures: Top administration officials arrive at White House

Several Trump administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, have arrived at the White House for tonight’s UFC event.

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Check out their entrances:

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:50

Schedule update: UFC fights to kick off hour later than expected

Tonight’s fights at the White House will now kick off at 9 p.m. local time, an hour later than expected, due to weather concerns, according to NBC News.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 11 p.m. local time, with forecasters warning of possible hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning.

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Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:34

In pictures: Protest forms near White House ahead of UFC event

Protesters have gathered near the White House to protest the Trump administration ahead of tonight’s UFC event.

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:18

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Watch live: Trump attends UFC event staged at the White House

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:14

Eric Trump jokes ‘UFC started early’ as he posts photo from White House

Eric Trump, the president’s second son, shared another post on X ahead of tonight’s UFC event at the White House

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Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 22:53

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for DC area

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the District of Columbia, parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, in effect until 11 p.m. EDT tonight.

Jasmine Fernández14 June 2026 22:25

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Eric Trump shares view of White House UFC arena from the roof

With just hours to go before the event, Eric Trump took to X to share an exclusive, bird’s-eye view of the massive setup from the top of the White House.

Panning his camera across the South Lawn, his video captures the full scale of the towering UFC arena built for tonight’s matches.

“Alright guys, UFC starts in a couple hours, here’s what it looks like from the top of the White House,” he says in the clip. He also points out the construction site on the grounds, calling attention to the “cranes over there for construction of the brand new ballroom.”

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Jasmine Fernández14 June 2026 21:53

Guests arrive at White House in full patriotic and UFC gear for fight night

The crowd has begun arriving at the White House for tonight’s UFC Freedom 250 card. Guests waiting in line to get onto the grounds are sporting everything from American flag overalls and MAGA gear to custom combat shirts blending UFC logos with America 250 themes.

As the anticipation builds outside the massive “Claw” arena, enthusiastic chants of “USA! USA!” are breaking out among attendees.

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Jasmine Fernández14 June 2026 21:37

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. targets ‘Red 40’ in UFC post

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photo of himself on X physically punching a UFC-style fighter digitally labeled “Red 40.”

Jasmine Fernández14 June 2026 21:19

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Satellite images reveal massive UFC cage structure on the White House lawn

A newly released satellite image from Vantor Technologies captures the sheer scale of the “UFC Freedom 250” arena, code-named “The Claw,” sprawling across the South Lawn of the White House. The 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel superstructure completely dominates the grounds, ready to host tonight’s historic card as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations — and the president’s 80th birthday.

The high-resolution overhead view also vividly captures the wider, ongoing transformation of the executive mansion. The imagery clearly shows the intense demolition site where the East Wing once stood, now completely cleared to make way for the construction of Trump’s massive new $400 million White House ballroom.

Jasmine Fernández14 June 2026 20:30