1. EU urges UK’s quick exit

    After Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a historic referendum*, foreign ministers from six founding countries of the EU met in Berlin on Saturday, pushing for a speedy exit of Britain.

    “This process should start as soon as possible,” said German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier after a meeting with his counterparts* from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The aim must be “not to fall into a prolonged stalemate*,” he added.

    French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said British Prime Minister David Cameron initiated this referendum, and “he must now live with the consequences.”

    2. Iraq: Fallujah ‘fully liberated’ from IS

    A senior Iraqi commander* declared that the city of Fallujah was “fully liberated” from Islamic State group militants on Sunday, after a more than monthlong military operation.

    Iraqi troops have entered the northwestern al-Julan neighborhood, the last area of Fallujah to remain under IS control, the head of the counterterrorism* forces in the operation, said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi.

    Al-Saadi said the operation, which began in late May, “is done and the city is fully liberated.” The Iraqi army was backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and paramilitary troops, mostly Shiite militias.

    3. Historic floods sweep W. Virginia

    The bodies of three more victims of West Virginia’s historic flooding were found overnight on Saturday, according to county authorities, raising the death toll to 26 from torrential* rains and high water that has destroyed more than 100 homes, washed out scores of roads and bridges and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people.

    On Saturday, President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for West Virginia and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the counties of Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas.

    4. 14 killed in Somalia hotel attack

    Gunmen stormed a hotel in Somalia’s seaside capital on Saturday, taking guests hostage* and “shooting at everyone they could see,” before security forces pursued the grenade*-throwing assailants* to the top floor and ended the hours-long assault, police and witnesses said. At least 14 people were killed.

    Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the latest in a series of hotel attacks in Mogadishu, one that began with a powerful explosion at the entry gate.

    “We have finally ended the siege*. The last remaining militants were killed on the top floor,” police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said after security forces cornered the gunmen.

    5. US Democrats stage sit-in for gun control

    U.S. Democrats carried a remarkable House floor sit-in into a second day on Thursday, disrupting the business of Congress with demands for gun-control votes in an unruly scene broadcast live to the world. Republicans branded the move as a publicity stunt* before summarily adjourning the chamber until after the Fourth of July.

    Even after the House adjourned on Thursday, and Republicans streamed to the exits, Democrats stayed on the House floor, shouting “No bill no break!” and waving papers with the names of gun victims.

    6. Lightning kills 67 in India

    At least 67 people have been killed by lightning in India within the past two days, disaster management officials said on June 29, as the annual monsoon* rains sweep the country.

    Lightning strikes are relatively common in India during the June-October monsoon, which hit the southern coast earlier this month, but the toll is particularly high. An overnight storm in the eastern state of Bihar killed at least 47 people and injured another 22, mostly in rural areas.(SD-Agencies)