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More than 165 million people in the US are experiencing very high temperatures along the East Coast and Midwest. The US National Weather Service warned that the heat poses serious health risks and is affecting weekend events, including President Donald Trump’s celebration for America’s 250th birthday and World Cup games.
Key Facts
Over 165 million people in the US East Coast and Midwest are facing record hot temperatures.
The US National Weather Service issued warnings about major and extreme heat-related health dangers.
The heatwave is impacting a busy weekend with multiple events happening.
President Donald Trump is hosting a celebration for America’s 250th birthday during this hot weather.
Several World Cup matches are taking place at the same time.
The heat may cause health problems for people exposed to the high temperatures.
The warnings come from the official US government weather agency.
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President Donald Trump announced that he is granting pardons to six people who were prosecuted for pollution violations. He said they were only trying to fix their cars and should not have been punished.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned six individuals accused of violating pollution laws.
The violations were related to fixing or repairing cars.
President Trump stated these people were unfairly prosecuted.
The announcement was reported by CBS News.
The pardons allow these individuals to avoid punishment for their cases.
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President Donald Trump appeared on the children’s podcast “Storytime with the Second Lady,” hosted by Usha Vance. In the episode, he read a picture book called “Presidents Play” and shared his thoughts about past presidents and his time in the White House.
Key Facts
The podcast is called “Storytime with the Second Lady.”
Usha Vance, the second lady, hosts the podcast.
President Trump was a guest on the show.
He read a children’s book titled “Presidents Play.”
The episode was prerecorded and released on a Friday.
During the reading, Trump gave his own comments about former presidents.
Trump also talked about his experiences living in the White House.
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A U.S. appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration can reinstall educational panels about slavery at the site of George Washington’s home in Philadelphia. The panels had been removed after Trump’s 2025 executive order that limited negative historical information at federal historic sites.
Key Facts
The panels describe how nine slaves lived with George and Martha Washington in the 1790s.
The site is near where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776.
The original panels were installed in 2010 and removed after President Trump’s 2025 executive order.
The order requires federally controlled historic sites to focus on positive achievements of Americans.
A three-judge panel from the U.S. 3rd Circuit of Appeals supported reinstalling the new panels.
Philadelphia sued to stop the reinstall, saying the site is important for telling a significant, suppressed story.
About half of the new panels were put up earlier this year before a court halted the installation.
The National Park Service has not announced when the panels will be fully reinstalled.
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Iran is holding a multi-day funeral in Tehran for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died after a war involving Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. Millions are expected to attend the funeral, which also honors family members killed in the conflict, highlighting Iran’s political unity and ongoing tensions with other countries.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, died due to war-related events involving Israeli and U.S. strikes.
The funeral is expected to last several days and draw millions of people in Tehran.
Khamenei’s family members, including his eldest daughter and grandson, also died in the attacks.
Iran's government prepared banners urging public support for the Islamic Republic following the war.
A prominent general of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard appeared publicly for the first time in months during funeral preparations.
Iranian officials and foreign visitors paid respects at the ceremony held at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla.
The funeral includes traditional Shiite mourning rituals and symbols calling for justice and remembrance.
Iran continues to face regional tensions and is using the occasion to show strength amid ongoing conflicts.
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President Donald Trump has pardoned several people convicted of breaking federal vehicle emissions laws. He is also thinking about giving pardons to other well-known people, including rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, but he has not decided yet.
Key Facts
President Trump granted pardons to individuals convicted of federal vehicle emissions violations.
He is considering pardons for celebrities, including Sean “Diddy” Combs.
No final decision has been made about pardons for Diddy or other high-profile requests.
These discussions about possible pardons have happened in the past few days.
The pardons relate to cases involving pollution rules for cars.
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Madonna released a new album called "Confessions II" on July 3. The album includes a song co-written with her daughter, Lola Leon, and reflects on themes like love, healing, and loss.
Key Facts
The album "Confessions II" came out on July 3 through Warner Records.
Madonna worked again with producer Stuart Price, who produced her earlier album "Confessions on a Dance Floor."
The album focuses on themes such as love, trauma, loss, and healing.
It has a song called "The Test," co-written and performed with her daughter, Lola Leon, which is their first collaboration.
The album also features a song called "Bizarre," produced with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix.
Madonna’s song "I Feel So Free" from the album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart earlier this year.
She debuted the song "Bring Your Love," featuring Sabrina Carpenter, at the Coachella music festival.
Madonna premiered a film called "Confessions II – The Film" at the Tribeca Film Festival, which brings the first six songs of the album to life using music and performance art.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married, and their wedding day is happening now. Madison Square Garden is under heavy security to manage the event.
Key Facts
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are the couple getting married.
Their wedding day has arrived.
The event is taking place at Madison Square Garden.
Security at Madison Square Garden is very tight for the wedding.
CBS News is covering the event live.
Jack Irvin from People magazine is discussing the wedding.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there is no problem with how it looks that President Donald Trump earned over $1 billion from cryptocurrency while serving in the White House. He called cryptocurrency an innovation during an interview on CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump made more than $1 billion from cryptocurrency profits while in office.
Some people criticized these crypto profits.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the situation and dismissed concerns about appearances.
Bessent spoke about this in an exclusive interview on CBS News.
He described cryptocurrency as an innovation.
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Two fathers, Ryan DeWitt and Matthew Childress, lost their daughters in deadly floods at Camp Mystic in Texas last year. They are speaking out to share their pain and want to make summer camps safer to stop similar tragedies from happening.
Key Facts
The flood at Camp Mystic in Texas happened last year and was deadly.
Ryan DeWitt's daughter was a camper who died in the flood.
Matthew Childress's daughter was a counselor who died in the flood.
Both fathers spoke with CBS News about their loss and grief.
They want to push for safety changes at summer camps across the United States.
Their goal is to protect other families from losing loved ones in similar accidents.
The story was covered by CBS News reporter Jason Allen.
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China has started a new law promoting ethnic unity, which makes Mandarin the main language in schools, government work, and public places. The Chinese government says this law helps keep society united and prevents separatism, but critics worry it may reduce the rights of ethnic minorities like Uighurs and Tibetans.
Key Facts
China’s new ethnic unity law requires Mandarin as the main language in education and official settings.
The law aims to support social cohesion and stop separatist movements, according to Beijing.
Some activists believe the law could harm the cultural rights of ethnic minorities such as Uighurs and Tibetans.
The law includes a rule that allows China to take action against people who break it even if they are outside China.
Taiwan’s government warns the law might target critics of Beijing living there.
The law took effect recently and has raised international concerns about ethnic and political freedoms in China.
Experts from different organizations discussed the law’s implications in a public forum.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke on the United States’ 250th anniversary, encouraging Americans to reflect on the country’s founding principles. He also discussed how New York City has changed since 1776.
Key Facts
The United States celebrated its 250th birthday.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave a speech to mark this milestone.
He focused on the original ideals of the nation’s founding.
Mamdani urged people to reflect on the country’s identity.
He highlighted changes and growth in New York City since 1776.
The speech took place in New York City.
The event aimed to promote unity among Americans.
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President Trump announced pardons for six people who were prosecuted for tampering with their cars’ pollution control systems. He said these prosecutions were unfair and related to federal actions against devices that disable pollution controls on vehicles.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned six individuals involved in pollution control cases related to their cars.
The prosecutions involved violations of the Clean Air Act, which regulates vehicle emissions.
Trump criticized the federal prosecutors for what he called "weaponization and stupidity."
The pardons were announced on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
The White House did not release the names of those pardoned immediately.
Last fall, Trump gave clemency to a mechanic who served time for disabling pollution control devices on diesel engines.
The Justice Department earlier instructed prosecutors to stop pursuing cases related to aftermarket devices that disable emissions controls.
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A new poll reveals that Americans have more common agreement on various issues than people might expect. Dr. Steven Kull from the University of Maryland shared insights about this finding in a CBS News interview.
Key Facts
The poll measured public opinions across different topics in the U.S.
Results show many Americans share similar views despite public disagreements.
Dr. Steven Kull is the director of the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland.
The data challenges the idea that Americans are deeply divided on most subjects.
The details were discussed on CBS News and are available on their app.
The research aims to help understand public consensus better.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore criticized President Donald Trump for holding a July Fourth rally on the National Mall during a heat wave in Washington, D.C. Governor Moore said the event seemed focused on President Trump himself and expressed concern about asking people to attend in such hot weather.
Key Facts
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke out against President Trump’s July Fourth rally in Washington, D.C.
The rally took place during a heat wave in the Washington metropolitan area.
Governor Moore said people should not be asked to endure tough conditions just to listen to a speech.
He suggested the event was more about President Trump than about the holiday.
The comments were made during an interview with The Hill.
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Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro disagreed publicly over a proposal by the U.S. government to place 25% tariffs on Brazilian products. Both see the issue as important for Brazil’s upcoming election, with Lula defending Brazil’s trade policies and sovereignty, while Bolsonaro says the tariffs could politically help Lula.
Key Facts
The U.S. proposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports despite having a trade surplus with Brazil.
President Trump’s administration initially imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods last year, citing unfair trade practices and corruption concerns.
Lula and Bolsonaro are the leading candidates for Brazil’s October 2026 presidential election.
Lula warned President Trump not to interfere in Brazil’s elections amid tariff tensions.
Flávio Bolsonaro submitted documents to the U.S. Trade Representative suggesting delaying tariff implementation.
Bolsonaro claims U.S. tariff pressure has improved Lula’s standing in public opinion polls.
Lula described Bolsonaro’s support for the tariffs as a “treason” against Brazil.
The disagreement reflects broader friction between Brazil and the U.S. over trade and political influence.
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Police are investigating a shooting at Fairlane Town Center mall in Dearborn, Michigan. The mall was evacuated, and authorities asked people to avoid the area while they continue their work.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred on Friday at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit.
Dearborn Police said the scene was still active in the afternoon as officers investigated.
A video on social media showed people running from the mall after gunshots were heard.
Police asked the public to stay away from the area.
Michigan State Police are helping with the investigation.
Fairlane Town Center has more than 125 stores and restaurants.
The mall’s security office did not provide information about the incident.
Dearborn is about 9 miles west of Detroit and has over 100,000 residents.
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A heatwave across the US is putting pressure on power and water supplies, raising concerns about building more AI data centres that use a lot of electricity and water. Lawmakers and power companies are calling for more control over data centre construction and operations to protect resources and manage energy during extreme heat.
Key Facts
A US heatwave is stressing the country’s power grid and water supplies.
AI data centres use large amounts of electricity and water to operate and cool their equipment.
The US plans to build thousands of new AI data centres to support AI growth.
Lawmakers from both political parties want to slow or regulate data centre construction.
A survey found 70% of Americans oppose building data centres near their homes due to resource use concerns.
Data centres currently use 4% of US power demand, expected to rise to 9% by 2030.
During heatwaves, data centre cooling needs increase, putting more strain on power grids.
Power grid operators asked data centres to switch to backup generators during emergencies to save energy for homes and businesses.
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A volunteer at Britain's National Archives found a rare early copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in documents related to a captured American privateer ship from 1776. This copy was taken from the privateer Dalton, captured by the British Navy, and it is the only known Exeter printing outside the United States.
Key Facts
The document was found by Michael Scurr while cataloging Royal Navy captain’s papers.
It is an early printed copy of the Declaration of Independence, made between July 16-19, 1776.
This edition is called the Exeter printing; only 11 original copies are known to exist.
The document was found attached to a report on the capture of the American privateer Dalton on Christmas Eve 1776.
Dalton was a private ship authorized by the Continental Congress to fight British vessels.
The British warship HMS Raisonnable captured the Dalton near Portugal after a seven-hour chase.
The Dalton’s crew was imprisoned in harsh conditions in England, with some surviving over two years of captivity.
The document likely was read aloud on the ship to motivate and inform the crew about the reason for their fight.
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A concert called A Capitol Fourth will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 3 at the U.S. Capitol West Lawn. The event will feature music from different styles and end with fireworks at Mount Vernon. Due to high temperatures, the public gates will open at 7 p.m.
Key Facts
The concert honors America’s 250th birthday.
It will happen on Friday, July 3, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The location is the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Fireworks will take place at Mount Vernon after the concert.
The National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jack Everly will perform.
Music genres include pop, country, R&B, classical, and Broadway.
The U.S. Capitol Police delayed public entry until 7 p.m. because of extreme heat.
The National Weather Service predicted temperatures in the low 100s Fahrenheit on that day.
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