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A new golf video game called Normal Golf Game offers a very realistic and challenging golf experience. Players control a ragdoll stickman’s arms with a mouse and adjust the club’s angle and stance, making it much harder than previous golf games.
Key Facts
Normal Golf Game is designed to be the toughest golf game ever made.
Players must control both golfer limbs and club face angles at the same time.
The game uses simple graphics featuring a ragdoll stickman.
The perfect shot is only achieved about 10% of the time in the game.
It is much harder than other golf video games, including Golden Tee and Wii golf games.
The game includes funny elements like destroying signs and hitting hidden objects.
Completing the demo’s single hole took the writer nearly two hours and 428 strokes.
The game emphasizes the realistic challenge of the sport itself rather than quick fun.
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Rocket Lab launched a military mission called Victus Haze just under 17 hours after receiving the launch order, setting a new speed record. Meanwhile, German space company OHB plans to raise funds for its satellite and rocket projects, including Rocket Factory Augsburg’s development of the RFA One rocket.
Key Facts
Rocket Lab launched the Victus Haze mission 16 hours and 42 minutes after getting the go-ahead from the U.S. Space Force.
Victus Haze aims to show how the military and private companies can quickly launch satellites to respond to space threats.
Rocket Lab did not announce this launch widely or provide a livestream.
OHB, a German space tech company, plans to raise about 510.7 million euros (around $580 million) through new shares.
Part of this funding will support Rocket Factory Augsburg, an OHB spinoff working on the RFA One rocket.
Rocket Factory Augsburg’s rocket debut date is uncertain due to problems in testing its first stage.
Sirius Space Services secured a spot to use the Guiana Space Center for launching rockets.
Sirius Space is developing three small rockets, with the smallest carrying up to 180 kilograms to orbit.
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The FDA will soon meet to discuss whether to loosen rules on certain research peptides, drugs that have growing popularity but limited proof they are safe or work well. These drugs are currently blocked from being made by U.S. compounding pharmacies, but easing restrictions would allow wider access despite ongoing safety concerns.
Key Facts
The FDA's advisory committee will meet on July 23-24 to discuss seven peptides, including BPC-157 and Semax.
If restrictions are eased, U.S. compounding pharmacies could legally produce these peptides for prescriptions.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, including known drugs like insulin and newer ones for weight loss.
Some research peptides are sold online as wellness aids but lack strong safety or effectiveness evidence.
Many peptides come from overseas compounding pharmacies and are popular on social media.
Experts warn that these peptides have little human testing and possible health risks.
The FDA typically follows advisory committee advice but does not have to.
Even if allowed, these peptides will not be officially approved by the FDA, which requires years of trials.
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Nine people connected to a protest at a Texas ICE detention center were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 30 to 100 years after being convicted of terrorism and other charges. Critics say the sentences are unusually long and worry they reflect harsh treatment of protest activity under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
Eight activists who protested the Prairieland ICE detention facility in Texas were sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison.
Daniel Sanchez-Estrada, who did not protest but moved political materials, was sentenced to 30 years.
The materials Sanchez-Estrada handled included leftwing zines, which some say are protected by the First Amendment.
Prosecutors claimed the protesters were linked to “antifa,” a loose collection of leftwing ideas, using a broad terrorism charge.
Five of the defendants received 50-year sentences despite not planning the protest or being present for its entire duration.
The longest sentence, 100 years, was given to Benjamin Song, who fired a gun and injured a police officer.
Sentencing experts said the judges combined multiple convictions to create unusually long total sentences, a practice called "stacking."
Supporters and legal experts see the sentences as harsh and worry they may discourage free speech and protest actions.
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Two scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were charged with smuggling monkeypox virus samples into the United States without proper authorization and lying to customs officials. The US House committee is reviewing the case to understand how the NIH handled the situation.
Key Facts
Dr. Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, NIH scientists, carried vials of monkeypox virus into the US from the Republic of Congo without declaring them to customs.
They told customs officials the container held testing equipment, but it actually contained 113 sealed lab vials.
The vials included samples of inactivated monkeypox virus, chickenpox virus, and human DNA.
Importing biological samples requires strict approvals and paperwork, which the scientists allegedly did not have.
Both scientists were charged with conspiracy to smuggle and making false statements, pleaded not guilty, and were released on bail.
The NIH has biosafety level 4 labs that study dangerous viruses like monkeypox, Ebola, and Nipah.
The House committee on energy and commerce has asked the NIH for information about the scientists’ work, sample transport, and NIH’s knowledge and response to the case.
Monkeypox caused over 80,000 suspected cases and more than 1,300 deaths in Africa in 2024 alone.
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California has started a new law that requires companies making packaging to reduce single-use plastics and make all packaging recyclable or compostable by 2032. Seventeen states have joined a lawsuit against the law, arguing it unfairly affects businesses outside California and forces them to pay fees to a private group.
Key Facts
California’s law aims to cut single-use plastics and make packaging recyclable or compostable by 2032.
The law requires producers to reduce plastic use, increase recycling, and pay $5 billion to fix plastic pollution damage.
Only about 5-6% of plastic is currently recycled in the U.S. due to cheap new plastic and weak markets for recycled materials.
Seventeen states filed a lawsuit to block California’s law, saying it unfairly burdens companies outside California.
The law makes businesses register and pay fees to a private group called Circular Action Alliance.
Industry groups say this restricts trade between states and hands tax-collecting powers to a private group without public oversight.
Supporters argue the law fairly shares the cost of managing plastic waste between companies and communities.
The American Chemistry Council helped negotiate the law but now some industry groups are suing against it.
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Billionaire Leon Black will appear before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. The private interview will focus on Black’s past financial and personal ties to Epstein, including allegations of misconduct that Black denies.
Key Facts
Leon Black is set to testify privately before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Black was CEO of Apollo Global Management and stepped down in 2021 amid scrutiny over his ties to Epstein.
An investigation found Epstein provided financial services to Black from 2012 to 2017, with Black paying about $170 million.
Documents from the Department of Justice include allegations against Black related to Epstein, which Black denies.
Three women have sued Black for alleged sexual abuse; one lawsuit was dismissed, one withdrawn, and one still pending.
Black settled a civil case in the US Virgin Islands for $62.5 million without admitting wrongdoing.
Apollo Global Management hired a law firm that found no evidence Black was involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.
No criminal charges have been filed against Black related to Epstein.
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The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed the Trump administration to end legal protections for some immigrants from Haiti and Syria and to block some asylum seekers at the southern border. The court also gave officials more power to deport permanent residents with certain criminal records.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along conservative lines in favor of Trump's immigration policies.
The court allowed ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti and Syria.
Officials can now block asylum seekers from entering the U.S. at the Mexico border by physically preventing entry.
The court gave border officials broad power to deport green card holders accused of crimes without needing strong evidence.
These rulings support the administration's broader efforts to restrict immigration, especially from countries in the global south.
Trump’s administration has paused nearly all refugee admissions except for white South Africans and favors English-speaking and European refugees.
The administration aims to return to immigration policies like those in the 1920s, which limited immigration heavily.
Critics say these policies target immigrants of color and long-term legal residents, not just undocumented immigrants.
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Spain is granting legal status to at least 500,000 undocumented immigrants through a mass amnesty program. This move, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government, aims to support Spain’s growing economy and differs from immigration policies in other European countries.
Key Facts
Spain’s government is offering temporary residence permits to undocumented immigrants until June 30, 2026.
Around half a million migrants are expected to benefit from this amnesty.
The program is part of an effort to strengthen Spain’s economy by including immigrants in the formal workforce.
Foreign nationals currently make up more than 15% of Spain’s active working population.
The initiative has faced criticism, especially from far-right groups in Spain.
Spain’s approach contrasts with other European countries that have stricter immigration policies.
The amnesty may impact Spanish society by changing the legal status and rights of many immigrants.
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The article compares President Donald Trump to the King of Great Britain during the time of American independence. It encourages people to watch closely during the midterm elections to stop a president with less power, called a "lame-duck," from misusing authority.
Key Facts
The article was written on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
It draws a comparison between President Trump and the British king before the American Revolution.
The term "lame-duck" refers to a president who is nearing the end of their term and has less influence.
The author warns about the risk of power misuse by a lame-duck president.
The article calls for vigilance from voters in the midterm elections.
It emphasizes the importance of protecting democratic principles from abuse.
The phrase "We The People" refers to the American public and their role in democracy.
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The family of Maurice Pierce, one of four men wrongly accused in a 1991 Texas murder case, accepted a $35 million settlement from Austin after the real killer was found. Maurice Pierce died in 2010 after a police shooting, and his widow and daughter say the settlement is about seeking justice and changes in the system, not just money.
Key Facts
Maurice Pierce and three other men were wrongly accused of killing four teenage girls in an Austin yogurt shop in 1991.
The real killer, Robert Eugene Brashers, was identified by investigators, leading to the men's exoneration in February 2026.
Austin agreed to pay a $35 million settlement; Maurice Pierce’s family will receive about $10 million since he is deceased.
Maurice Pierce was arrested shortly after the murders but was never convicted and spent three years in jail before being released in 2003.
In 2010, Maurice Pierce was fatally shot by Austin police during a traffic stop; his family disputes some details surrounding his death.
The Pierce family describes the money as "blood money" and wants systemic reforms and justice rather than just financial compensation.
The family has proposed seven reforms for the city of Austin to prevent similar wrongful accusations and improve the justice system.
The Austin Police Department declined further comment on the family's concerns about harassment and Maurice Pierce’s death.
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Nearly 300 people who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are missing, raising concerns about controlling the outbreak. The Ebola outbreak is severe, spreading amid conflict and displacement, with health workers struggling to reach affected people.
Key Facts
About 300 people with confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC are currently unaccounted for.
More than 1 million people are living in camps where health workers cannot easily reach them.
As of now, there have been 1,118 confirmed Ebola cases and 291 deaths in the DRC, and 20 cases with 2 deaths in Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts between 6,636 and 10,287 cases by mid-September under a central scenario.
There is a 70% chance the outbreak could spread to neighboring South Sudan soon.
Health officials want to recruit 20,000 local community health workers to improve tracking and prevention.
Only 13% of the nearly $1 billion pledged in international support has been received so far.
New drug trials for treating and preventing this strain of Ebola are scheduled to begin soon in the DRC.
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South Korea plans to give every soldier a personal drone as part of a large increase in aerial weapons. To prepare for threats from North Korea, South Korea will train 500,000 soldiers to use drones and produce over 100,000 drones in the next three years.
Key Facts
South Korea wants to equip each soldier with a personal drone.
The goal is to strengthen defense against North Korea.
Half a million South Korean soldiers will be trained to operate drones.
More than 100,000 drones will be made within three years.
Drones are seen as a way to improve defense despite fewer soldiers and fewer young people to recruit.
The drones will be self-guided, meaning they can operate on their own once launched.
This plan is part of South Korea’s effort to modernize its military.
The program aims to address challenges from North Korea’s military threats.
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President Donald Trump has been making many changes to Washington, D.C., since returning to office 17 months ago. These changes include putting his name and image on buildings, starting new construction projects, removing some historic structures, and keeping National Guard troops in the city for an extended period.
Key Facts
President Trump returned to office 17 months ago and has focused on changing the nation’s capital.
His name and image have been added to several buildings in Washington, D.C.
Some historic landmarks and traditions have been altered or removed.
Large construction projects are underway in the city under his direction.
Armed National Guard troops have been stationed in D.C. since August 2025 to help fight crime.
The National Guard presence is expected to continue throughout 2026 and may include up to 5,000 troops.
The deployment of military personnel in D.C. is more extended and visible than in recent decades.
These changes are part of the president's broader efforts to leave his mark on the capital as the country celebrates its 250th year.
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A court in Germany sentenced Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen to life in prison for killing six people by driving a car into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg in 2024. The attack lasted just over a minute and injured about 300 others. The attacker had personal motives and a history of mental health issues.
Key Facts
Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen is 51 years old and from Saudi Arabia.
He drove a rented BMW at up to 48 km/h (30 mph) through the Magdeburg Christmas market on 20 December 2024.
Six people died, including a nine-year-old boy and five women aged 45 to 75.
About 300 people were injured in the attack.
Al-Abdulmohsen was arrested immediately after the incident.
Prosecutors said he acted alone and was motivated by personal reasons, not ideology.
He has narcissistic personality disorder and had conflicts with German authorities.
He came to Germany as an asylum seeker in 2016, claiming persecution, and expressed critical views of Islam and support for a far-right German party.
He worked in a secure psychiatric facility before the attack and was recently considered unfit for work.
The trial was held in a special courthouse built to handle many victims.
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Volkswagen plans to cut up to 100,000 jobs and close some plants as part of a major cost-saving strategy. The company faces strong competition from Chinese electric car makers and needs to change how it develops and makes cars to stay competitive.
Key Facts
Volkswagen may cut up to 100,000 jobs, doubling earlier planned reductions.
The company is considering closing four German factories, including sites for Audi and Volkswagen brands.
Volkswagen employs over 650,000 people across its brands like Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Seat, and Cupra.
Competition from Chinese electric vehicle makers is growing, affecting Volkswagen’s market share.
Volkswagen’s CEO Oliver Blume plans to cut €11 billion from costs.
The company is shifting focus from traditional car production in Europe to adapt to global changes.
Volkswagen still leads car sales in China, the largest auto market, ahead of some rivals like Toyota and BYD.
The auto industry is undergoing a big transformation as electric and hybrid cars become more common.
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Montenegro police arrested a 39-year-old man with Iranian and Turkish citizenship wanted by the U.S. for hacking attacks that caused $3.4 billion in damage. The man is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking, and identity theft, and is accused of attacking U.S. universities to benefit Iranian groups.
Key Facts
The man is wanted by a federal court in New York for hacking and computer crimes.
He was arrested in the coastal town of Kotor, Montenegro, at the request of the U.S. and FBI.
The hacking attacks began in 2013 and targeted U.S. infrastructure, including 150 universities.
The damage from these attacks is estimated at over $3.4 billion.
Stolen data was used to benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian universities.
Montenegro will handle extradition proceedings to send the man to the U.S.
Montenegro is a NATO member, a U.S. ally, and a candidate to join the European Union.
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The article discusses the frequent changes in British prime ministers over recent years and reflects on the personal nature of political resignations. It also describes the author’s renewed interest in the World Cup, highlighting England’s strong performance against Croatia and the challenges faced in the game against Ghana.
Key Facts
The UK has had seven prime ministers in the author’s 12.5 years of covering politics.
In the past four years alone, there have been four different UK prime ministers.
Keir Starmer resigned after Labour won a byelection, not due to election loss or opposition pressure.
Keir Starmer’s resignation speech was quick and subdued, contrasting with Boris Johnson’s more confrontational resignation.
Andy Burnham’s future as a political leader is uncertain due to voter impatience with unmet promises.
The author initially lost interest in the World Cup but regained passion after England’s game against Croatia.
England’s play against Croatia was described as urgent, creative, and very exciting.
The Ghana game showed a slower, less confident England team, struggling to adapt to Ghana’s defensive tactics.
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A marine research team exploring ocean waters off Brazil discovered 31 new animal species in two weeks. They used advanced technology to study tiny sea creatures live on their ship, speeding up how fast they could identify new species.
Key Facts
The expedition took place in international waters near Brazil on the research vessel Falkor (too).
Researchers found 31 new species, including jellyfish, comb jellies, worms, and single-celled organisms.
The team used a special microscope called the Squid that lets them see living cells in 3D on the ship.
This microscope uses lasers to scan microscopic details quickly without needing to prepare samples for weeks.
The study focused on the ocean midwater zone, which covers 90% of Earth's living space but is very unexplored.
Experts from the US, Australia, Brazil, and Japan took part in the expedition.
The discoveries help scientists understand how ocean life is spread across different depths and locations.
Other tools included genetic analysis and advanced imaging systems to identify species fast.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calls for a strong system to verify Iran’s nuclear program to ensure it is not developing weapons. The United States and Iran continue talks about inspections amid conflicting statements, with Iran denying any intention to build nuclear arms.
Key Facts
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says strong verification is needed to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities.
The US and Western allies worry Iran’s nuclear program could lead to weapons, but Iran insists its program is only for peaceful, civilian use.
Iran stopped cooperating with the IAEA after US and Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites last year but has allowed some inspectors back recently.
Iran has not permitted access to nuclear sites that were bombed, and the status of some enriched uranium is unclear.
The US and Iran disagree publicly over inspection terms, with the US saying inspections were agreed on and Iran saying they are still being negotiated.
President Donald Trump claims Iran has agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspections, while Iran denies the accusations.
The 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran includes a nuclear supervision part managed by the IAEA.
Iran urges Gulf states to help create a nuclear-weapons-free zone in West Asia.
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