Katherine Scarlett, a leading environmental adviser in President Donald Trump’s administration, has left her position. She was the head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and led efforts to reduce federal environmental rules for building new infrastructure.
Key Facts
Katherine Scarlett was a top environmental policy adviser in President Trump’s White House.
She chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Scarlett led rollbacks on federal environmental standards affecting new infrastructure projects.
Her departure from the administration was confirmed by an official.
Scarlett plans to join a consulting firm after leaving the White House.
The news of her exit was first reported by Bloomberg Government.
The Council on Environmental Quality advises the White House on environmental matters.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has stopped plans to put Harriet Tubman’s image on the $20 bill. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the current administration is not moving forward with this change.
Key Facts
Harriet Tubman was planned to appear on the $20 bill.
The Treasury Department has canceled these plans.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke about this on Monday.
The decision was made under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The change to the $20 bill will not happen for now.
Harriet Tubman is a historical figure known for helping enslaved people escape on the Underground Railroad.
This plan had been previously discussed but now is delayed or canceled.
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A 37-story building under construction at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan showed signs of structural instability, causing evacuations and street closures. Emergency crews found buckling columns and sagging floors but no injuries were reported as workers and nearby residents were safely evacuated.
Key Facts
The building is undergoing an office-to-residential conversion.
Firefighters responded after reports of bricks falling shortly before 8 a.m. on July 7, 2026.
Structural damage was observed, including buckled columns on the 21st floor and sagging floors up to the 26th floor.
No injuries were reported, and all workers were accounted for.
Surrounding buildings and a nearby school with about 400 children were evacuated.
Streets from 40th to 45th between First and Third avenues were closed to pedestrians and vehicles.
Emergency crews used drones to inspect the building and started installing emergency supports called trusses.
Officials said the steel-frame design reduces the risk of total collapse but remain concerned about localized collapse.
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A California judge dropped all charges against Dharmesh Patel, who was accused of trying to kill his family by driving off a cliff in 2023, after he completed a two-year mental health treatment program. Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression and hallucinations at the time of the crash, qualifying him for a new California law that allows mental health diversion instead of a trial.
Key Facts
Dharmesh Patel drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff in San Mateo County on January 2, 2023.
Patel’s wife and two young children were injured but survived the crash.
He was charged with attempted murder but completed a two-year mental health program instead of going to trial.
The mental health program included treatment by a Stanford psychiatrist and a family therapist.
Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression with hallucinations and had delusions about his children being kidnapped.
California law, effective in 2023, allows people with certain mental health conditions to receive treatment instead of criminal prosecution.
The judge dismissed the charges after Patel completed the program, wiping the charges from his record.
Prosecutors opposed the mental health diversion but are working to change the law to exclude serious crimes like attempted murder.
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SpaceX has joined the Nasdaq-100 index shortly after its public stock sale, with Nasdaq waiving its usual three-month trading rule. The Nasdaq-100 tracks the largest tech and non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average includes 30 well-established companies from various industries.
Key Facts
SpaceX recently went public through an initial public offering (IPO).
Nasdaq added SpaceX to its Nasdaq-100 index soon after the IPO, waiving the normal three-month trading requirement.
Nasdaq-100 includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tracks 30 large, well-known companies across different sectors.
Nasdaq-100 companies tend to have more growth potential but also higher risk than Dow companies.
The Dow is often favored for conservative investment strategies due to stable and profitable companies.
Nine companies appear in both the Dow and Nasdaq-100, including Alphabet and Walmart.
Nasdaq listing rules require at least 1.25 million shares traded, a market value of $50 million or more, and a minimum share price of $4.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hosting the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Samoa in Brisbane for talks aimed at strengthening regional ties. This meeting follows a recent defense agreement with Fiji and comes amid growing concerns about China's influence in the Pacific.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Albanese is meeting with Pacific leaders James Marape (Papua New Guinea), Lord Fakafānua (Tonga), and La’auli Leuatea Schmidt (Samoa) in Brisbane.
The leaders will attend a Pacific rugby league event and the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Albanese recently signed a defense pact with Fiji, making it Australia’s fourth official ally.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance may be expanded to include other Pacific nations.
These diplomatic efforts aim to increase Australia’s military and aid presence in the Pacific region.
The meetings happen as geopolitical tensions rise due to China's recent missile test.
Experts note that Australia is now focused on building trust and cooperation with Pacific governments over the long term.
Separately, Telstra is experiencing a wide mobile network outage affecting calls and data since early morning.
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A federal judge blocked the Justice Department from getting personal information about election workers in Fulton County, Georgia. The request was part of the DOJ’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
Key Facts
The judge involved is U.S. District Judge William Ray.
The Justice Department wanted names and personal details of election staff in Fulton County.
This request was linked to investigating claims of election fraud made by President Trump after the 2020 election.
The judge ruled the DOJ could not use a grand jury subpoena to get this information.
The decision protects the privacy of election workers during the fraud investigation.
Fulton County, Georgia, was a key location in the 2020 presidential election.
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine is facing calls to quit the race following a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. If Platner withdraws, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27, 2026, to choose a replacement candidate through a process that is currently unclear. Several Democrats, including former state official David Costello and state senator Troy Jackson, are potential replacement candidates.
Key Facts
Graham Platner faces a sexual assault allegation and may leave the Maine Senate race.
Maine Democrats want Platner to withdraw by July 13, 2026.
If Platner withdraws, the party has until July 27, 2026, to pick a new candidate.
Maine will not hold a new primary election for the replacement.
The state party committee or delegates might vote to choose the new candidate.
It is unclear if the replacement vote will be in person or virtual, or the exact voting method.
David Costello, who ran in the primary, said he would try again if Platner leaves.
Troy Jackson, a former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, is interested in replacing Platner.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14 for an unknown condition but remains engaged in Senate work through phone calls with fellow Republican leaders. His office has given few updates about his health, but confirmed he is recovering in the hospital and staying informed on political matters.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 for an unspecified illness.
McConnell has spoken on the phone with Senate Republican leaders John Thune and John Barrasso while in the hospital.
These calls discussed topics such as national security, Senate races, and upcoming Senate work including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
McConnell’s office says he is improving and staying involved in Senate and Kentucky issues despite being hospitalized.
Emergency medical staff responded to a call at McConnell’s home on the day he was admitted, related to an unconscious person.
McConnell’s team has not disclosed his medical condition or when he will return to work.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings spoke with McConnell and said the senator remains eager to return to the Senate.
The Senate is currently out of session but McConnell continues communications with his staff.
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A new lawsuit claims that U.S. immigration agencies under President Trump shared private information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government. The lawsuit says this sharing violated rules that protect asylum seekers and puts many Iranians at risk. The Department of Homeland Security denies these claims.
Key Facts
The lawsuit alleges that U.S. agencies shared confidential data about Iranian asylum seekers with Iran.
This sharing is said to be against federal rules that protect asylum seekers' privacy.
The information was reportedly shared during monthly meetings starting in March 2025, with the Pakistani embassy helping as a go-between.
About 600 Iranians were detained in U.S. immigration centers last year.
The U.S. deported some Iranians to other countries, breaking a long tradition of accepting Iranian exiles since 1979.
The Department of Homeland Security denies sharing asylum records with Iran.
Federal laws forbid sharing asylum application details to protect the lives of asylum seekers.
The lawsuit accuses the U.S. and Iranian governments of working together to pressure detained Iranians to return to Iran.
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Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, went missing after a boat trip to Horn Island on July 4. His body was found two days later, and an investigation into his death is ongoing.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells went on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, about 10 miles off the Mississippi coast.
Wells did not return with his friends, leading his mother to report him missing.
A two-day search was conducted and ended with the discovery of a body on the island.
Wells’s mother identified the body as her son’s and shared a message of grief on social media.
Wells was a college freshman and would have turned 19 next month.
No cause of death has been reported yet; the investigation is still active.
Some social media users suggested racial issues might be related, as Wells was Black and his friends were white.
Civil rights groups, like the NAACP, expressed condolences and highlighted concerns about the safety of Black men.
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The Trump administration criticized China for a test launch of a long-range missile from a submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. said the test is worrying because it happens while America tries to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Key Facts
China launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a submarine.
The test took place in the Pacific Ocean on a Monday.
The missile can travel very long distances and is designed to carry nuclear weapons.
The U.S. government called the test a matter of "great concern."
The U.S. was working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons when the test occurred.
The Trump administration made an official statement condemning China’s action.
China’s test is seen as going against global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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A new study found that up to 30% of people in some U.S. states have an antibody linked to a red meat allergy caused by tick bites. This is much higher than previous estimates, showing more Americans may carry the marker for this allergy, though not all have symptoms.
Key Facts
The allergy is called alpha-gal syndrome and is triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal found in red meat and tick saliva.
The lone star tick is the main tick type that causes people to develop the antibody.
Symptoms can appear 2 to 6 hours after eating and include rashes, stomach problems, or severe reactions like difficulty breathing.
The CDC previously estimated only 0.14% of Americans have this allergy, but the new study found many more carry the antibody.
Researchers tested 3,000 blood samples from 10 states to find how common the antibody is.
States in the tick’s territory showed the highest antibody rates, with some over 20%.
Not everyone with the antibody shows allergy symptoms, making the condition hard to diagnose.
Alpha-gal syndrome was first identified in the early 2000s and is still not fully understood by scientists.
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Yale researchers tested 49 websites to get prescriptions for a type of medicine called GLP-1. They used fake patient profiles and often got prescriptions in under five minutes with little talk from doctors.
Key Facts
Researchers are from Yale University.
They looked at 49 different websites offering GLP-1 prescriptions.
GLP-1 is a medicine often used to help with weight loss and diabetes.
Fake patient profiles were used to test the websites.
Many sites gave prescriptions quickly, sometimes in less than five minutes.
Interaction with a doctor or clinician was often minimal or very short.
The study was published on July 6 in the JAMA medical journal.
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Venezuela has started mass burials for people who died in recent earthquakes. The official death count is now 3,535, and over 30,000 people are still missing.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes hit Venezuela nearly two weeks ago.
Bodies of victims are being buried at La Esperanza Cemetery in La Guaira.
Many victims are unidentified.
The official death toll has reached 3,535 people.
More than 30,000 people remain missing after the disaster.
The burials involve large groups of victims at once due to the high number of deaths.
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French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan went to court in Paris for a case accusing her of praising terrorism. The charge comes from a social media post she made about a 1972 attack on Israel’s main airport. Hassan and her supporters say the trial aims to silence pro-Palestinian opinions.
Key Facts
Rima Hassan is a French MEP.
She faces a trial in Paris for "glorifying terrorism."
The case involves a social media post referencing the 1972 attack on Israel’s main airport.
Hassan told supporters, "No one is safe anymore," upon arriving at court.
Supporters believe the trial tries to stop pro-Palestinian voices from speaking out.
The incident referenced dates back more than 50 years.
The trial draws attention to ongoing tensions around speech and political views on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital since mid-June and has not voted since then, raising concerns among Republicans about his ability to return to work. His office says he is improving and staying involved with Senate work, but details about his health have not been shared publicly.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized since June 14.
He has not cast a Senate vote since June 11.
McConnell’s staff reports he is receiving good care and remains involved in work.
Several Republican senators and advisors recently spoke with him.
No specific information about his illness or treatment has been provided.
Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, so his absence impacts voting.
His absence helped Democrats pass a resolution opposing President Trump’s war in Iran.
McConnell plans to retire in January 2027, but an early departure would trigger a special election in Kentucky.
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Christian missionaries from the organization Cru have been using the virtual reality platform VRChat for three years to meet and talk with people around the world. They adapt their usual way of sharing their faith by interacting with users through avatars in different virtual worlds.
Key Facts
Cru missionaries gather every Friday in VRChat to connect with people.
VRChat is a social platform where users interact using avatars like animals, robots, or humans.
Missionaries start conversations casually before discussing religion and faith.
The missionaries use virtual maps to find and join small groups inside VRChat worlds.
A digital strategist named Frank Kuligowski helped start this VR outreach by buying VR headsets.
Some users, like a social worker from the Netherlands, appreciate having a space to talk about spiritual topics online.
One missionary’s story involved inviting a woman from China to a virtual church within VRChat.
The virtual prayer sessions and discussions aim to reach people who might not attend physical churches.
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A cargo plane with five crew members went missing off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan, after quickly descending and losing contact with air traffic controllers. The plane was flying from the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it reported a navigation problem, and search efforts are ongoing in the Arabian Sea.
Key Facts
The missing aircraft was a Boeing 737 cargo plane.
It had five crew members on board.
The plane was operated by K2 Airways, based in Karachi.
The flight started in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and was headed to Karachi, Pakistan.
The plane reported a navigation system problem at 9:18 p.m. local time.
Radar showed the plane descending rapidly and changing direction sharply at about 9:21 p.m.
Contact with the plane was lost about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi.
Pakistani authorities have launched search-and-rescue operations in the Arabian Sea.
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The private prison company CoreCivic sold two large immigrant detention centers in California to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $1.5 billion. The government now owns the facilities but CoreCivic will likely keep managing them under current contracts, which may be renegotiated.
Key Facts
CoreCivic sold Otay Mesa Detention Center and California City Detention Facility to the federal government.
The total sale price was $1.5 billion, with about $1.1 billion expected as net proceeds to CoreCivic.
Otay Mesa has 1,994 beds; California City has 2,560 beds.
The sales closed on July 2, and DHS paid $739.2 million for Otay Mesa and $732.6 million for California City.
CoreCivic will likely continue running both centers under contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Contracts run through 2027 (California City) and 2029 (Otay Mesa), with options to extend.
The federal government has increased its budget to expand immigration detention capacity, aiming to own more facilities directly.
Some local officials were surprised by the sales and acquisitions, which have faced legal challenges in other states.
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