10 things you need to know today: July 1, 2013

1. 19 FIREFIGHTERS DIE BATTLING ARIZONA WILDFIRE

Nineteen elite firefighters died Sunday trying to contain a fast-moving wildfire in Arizona. President Obama, who is traveling in Africa, issued a statement on Monday hailing them as heroes. The tragedy marked the country's worst wildfire disaster in more than 35 years. The fire, fueled by gusting winds and dry grass, remained zero-percent contained early Monday. [USA Today]

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2. LATEST SNOWDEN LEAK INCLUDES ALLEGATIONS THAT U.S. SPIED ON ALLIES

The latest documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden suggest that the U.S. used bugs, cable taps, and other methods to spy on 38 embassies and missions, including those of allies such as the European Union, France, and Japan, according to a report in Britain's Guardian newspaper. The report came a day after Germany's Der Spiegel said the U.S. had targeted the EU. Facing a backlash, the U.S. said it gathered the same kinds of intelligence other nations do to prevent terrorism. [Guardian, Associated Press]

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3. DEMONSTRATORS TRASH OFFICES OF EGYPT'S MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

Young protesters overran the headquarters of Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood early Monday, after overnight violence killed at least seven people. Massive crowds turned out Sunday to protest against the Brotherhood and President Mohammed Morsi on the anniversary of the day he took office. Demonstrators threatened "complete civil disobedience" if Morsi doesn't step down by Tuesday. Morsi said his critics have no right to call on a duly elected leader to quit. [BBC News]

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4. OBAMA TRAVELS TO TANZANIA, THE LAST STOP ON HIS AFRICA VISIT

President Obama arrives Monday in Tanzania, the third and final stop on his tour of Africa. Obama will meet with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, as well as business leaders. The booming nation is one of seven that will benefit from a new $7 billion initiative Obama announced Sunday to boost power production in sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania has one of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world, and the U.S. is competing with other nations for business there. [VOA, BBC News]

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5. TEXAS LAWMAKERS MEET FOR 2ND SHOT AT ABORTION RESTRICTIONS

The Texas Legislature convenes a second straight special session on Monday so that the Republican majority can make a second attempt to pass some of the nation's toughest abortion restrictions, including a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and new rules that would force most of the state's abortion clinics to close. The first effort failed after state Sen. Wendy Davis ran out the clock with a day-long filibuster. [Reuters]

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6. CROATIA FORMALLY JOINS THE EU

After a 10-year push, Croatia officially became the European Union's newest member on Monday. The Baltic nation of 4.4 million, part of the former Yugoslavia, celebrated with fireworks in the capital, Zagreb. Thousands of people cheered and toasted with champagne. Herman Van Rompuy, president of the now-28-member EU, told the crowd: "Welcome to our union." [CNN]

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7. PARK WINS HER THIRD STRAIGHT WOMEN'S GOLF MAJOR

Inbee Park made golf history on Sunday when she won the U.S. Women's Open and became the first player since 1950 to win the first three major tournaments of the year. Park, the world's top-ranked player, said she "never dreamed" of pulling off such a feat. Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim came in four strokes behind Park for her second runner-up finish at a major. [Associated Press]

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8. ASSANGE REPORTEDLY PLANS TO RUN FOR SENATE IN AUSTRALIA

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to make a bid for an Australian Senate seat, according to The Wall Street Journal. His new WikiLeaks Party has nearly 2,000 members. Assange faces an uphill fight to convince voters this is more than a publicity stunt, though. He is currently holed up in Ecuador's embassy in the U.K. avoiding questioning on sexual assault charges in Sweden, and members of Australia's Parliament have to take their seats within two months of being elected. [Wall Street Journal]

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9. RIHANNA AND JAMIE FOXX AMONG TOP WINNERS AT BET AWARDS

Rihanna and Jamie Foxx cleaned up at Sunday's annual BET awards. Rihanna won Best Female R&B Pop Artist, and Miguel took the Best Male R&B Pop Artist award. Foxx, who starred in Django Unchained, took the award for Best Actor, and thanked the "acting gods" Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, as well as Django Unchained director Quentin Tarantino. [Telegraph]

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10. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ACROBAT DIES AFTER FALL IN LAS VEGAS

A performer in Cirque du Soleil's "Ka" died over the weekend after falling nearly 50 feet from the show's stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Sarah Guyard-Guillot — a Paris-born acrobat and aerial specialist — was being hoisted up the side of the stage when she appeared to have slipped free of her safety wire and plummeted into a pit below the stage. Guyard-Guillot, 31, had two children, ages 8 and 5. [Las Vegas Sun]