The Actual News

Key Facts:

• The Army helicopter had faulty altimeters, which are devices that show altitude.
• These altimeters showed errors between 80 feet and 130 feet too high.
• The crash happened on January 29 and caused 67 deaths, including passengers and crew.
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a three-day hearing to investigate.
• The first day of the hearing focused on the helicopter's altitude and navigation systems.
• A video animation was shown to demonstrate the helicopter and plane's path before the crash.
• Families of the victims attended the hearing, looking for answers about the crash.

Key Facts:

• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with new members who include vaccine skeptics.
• The former committee members wrote a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine, criticizing the new panel for lacking scientific rigor.
• During the new committee's first meeting, an anti-vaccine advocate presented concerns about a vaccine preservative called thimerosal.
• Thimerosal is a preservative used in some flu vaccines, and despite no proven harm, the new panel recommended its removal.
• The fired experts suggested alternative methods to ensure unbiased vaccine policy, such as having professional groups collaborate or setting up an external review system.
• There are challenges to these alternatives, including data access and health insurers' willingness to cover vaccines recommended by different groups.
• Democratic lawmakers questioned Robert F. Kennedy about his decisions, including halting COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for certain groups.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment on the changes.

Key Facts:

• A technical issue in the UK air traffic control system caused flights to be grounded temporarily.
• The glitch affected airports like Heathrow, Stanstead, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
• The air traffic control system is operated by NATS and was down for about 20 minutes.
• After the issue was resolved, NATS stated that departures resumed and they were working to clear the backlog safely.
• Airports and airlines advised passengers to check flight statuses due to possible delays.
• This is the second major outage NATS has experienced in two years; the previous outage affected over 700,000 customers.
• Ryanair's chief operating officer criticized the disruption and called for the resignation of NATS's chief executive.

Key Facts:

• Jimmy Hoffa's full name is James Riddle Hoffa.
• Hoffa was the president of the Teamsters union, which was a significant labor union in the U.S.
• He was involved in organizing labor strikes and negotiating contracts for workers.
• In 1967, Hoffa was imprisoned for bribery and fraud but was released in 1971 when President Nixon commuted his sentence.
• His release conditions prohibited him from union activities, but Hoffa tried to regain leadership of the Teamsters.
• Hoffa vanished on July 30, 1975, at the age of 62.
• Despite investigations and media coverage, his disappearance remains a mystery, and his body has never been found.

Key Facts:

• Ozzy Osbourne, a heavy metal icon, died at the age of 76 on July 22.
• Thousands of fans attended his funeral procession in Birmingham, England.
• The procession stopped at Black Sabbath Bridge, a site significant to Osbourne and the band he co-founded.
• Osbourne's family joined the procession, adding flowers to a memorial left by fans.
• Osbourne was famous not only for his music but also for starring in the reality TV show "The Osbournes."
• The family privately funded the funeral procession.
• During the procession, a local band played Black Sabbath songs as a tribute.
• Just weeks before his death, Osbourne performed in Birmingham at a reunion concert with Black Sabbath.

Key Facts:

• Sea glass is made from broken glass pieces that end up in the ocean.
• Waves and sand smooth the sharp edges of the glass over time.
• People collect sea glass because they find it beautiful and unique.
• Collecting sea glass is a popular hobby on beaches around the world.
• Sea glass comes in many colors, and some are rarer than others.
• The process of glass becoming sea glass can take many years.

Key Facts:

• Many UK flights were briefly disrupted due to a technical problem with air traffic control.
• The issue affected major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Edinburgh.
• The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) confirmed that flights have resumed.
• Flights at Heathrow, the largest airport in Britain, were especially impacted.
• London City Airport also experienced disruptions but is now resuming operations.
• NATS had a similar issue in August 2023, which affected flight operations.
• Britain's aviation regulator previously asked NATS to improve its outage response plans.

Key Facts:

• The incident involved Lee Vogler, a city councilmember from Danville, Virginia.
• A man entered a magazine’s office through a locked door and set Vogler on fire using gasoline.
• Officials say the attack was related to a personal matter.
• Authorities confirmed the incident was not related to Vogler's political work.
• Vogler is 38 years old.

Key Facts:

• Microplastic particles come from car tires wearing down on roads.
• These particles wash into waterways and can harm fish, crabs, and other aquatic animals.
• A chemical called 6PPD-Q found in tires is linked to fish deaths and is present in human urine, but its effects on humans are still being studied.
• The chemical 6PPD-Q is mainly from the material added to tires to keep them from breaking down.
• In Mississippi, a study found over 30,000 tire particles in stormwater.
• Biochar and wood chips can remove about 90% of tire particles from water in tests.
• Scientists are working on ways to stop these particles from entering larger water bodies.

Key Facts:

• SpaceX is a private space company founded by Elon Musk.
• NASA is the United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program.
• The Trump administration supported partnerships between NASA and private companies like SpaceX.
• SpaceX has worked with NASA on missions like launching astronauts to the International Space Station.
• Elon Musk aims to eventually send humans to Mars.
• Some people question if Musk's Mars focus could change NASA's mission.
• SpaceX's involvement with NASA has increased in recent years.

Key Facts:

• Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire at a meeting in Malaysia after a week of conflict.
• The fighting resulted in at least 38 deaths, mostly civilians, and displaced nearly 300,000 people.
• The ceasefire followed economic pressure from a potential 36% U.S. tariff on goods from both countries.
• Thailand accused Cambodia of attacks after the ceasefire, but Cambodia denied these claims.
• Sporadic gunfire occurred, though both countries' armies agreed to stop troop movements and avoid escalating the conflict.
• A joint border committee meeting is scheduled in Cambodia on August 4 to discuss the situation further.
• Many displaced people began returning home, but some remain in temporary shelters, waiting for safety assurances.
• The conflict started after a landmine injured Thai soldiers, and tensions had been rising since a Cambodian soldier was killed during a confrontation.

Key Facts:

• Elon Musk has not officially started a political party called the "America Party."
• Analysts say Musk has not filed any documents or selected candidates for the party.
• Musk's recent political activity included spending around $250 million through the America PAC during the 2024 campaign.
• Tesla investor James Fishback mentioned Musk had a brief interest in electoral politics.
• Tesla and SpaceX remain Musk's primary focus, with recent projects like integrating AI into Tesla cars.
• Tensions with former President Trump appear to have lessened, as Trump posted a supportive message about Musk's success.
• SpaceX warned that Musk might still invest time in political activities.
• Musk's involvement with politics does not seem to affect his main business operations significantly.

Key Facts:

• A study analyzed 247 U.S. cities and found that about 80% are having more frequent heat streaks each year than in 1970.
• An "extreme heat streak" means three or more days in a row with temperatures above normal highs for that area.
• The study showed nearly 200 cities have about two more heat streaks annually on average now.
• The data shows temperature thresholds vary widely, from 66°F in Alaska to 100°F in Arizona.
• Some cities like Nashville and Raleigh have five more heat streaks each year compared to the past.
• A few cities, such as Myrtle Beach and Sarasota, now experience fewer heat streaks than in 1970.
• Climate change is linked to the increased intensity and frequency of extreme heat.
• Urban areas often trap more heat due to the "urban heat island" effect, making them warmer than surrounding areas.

Key Facts:

• A big earthquake near Russia's coast caused a tsunami warning for Hawaii and parts of the Pacific.
• The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recorded waves several feet high on Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii, including Honolulu.
• The Governor of Hawaii advised people in low-lying areas to stay calm and move to higher ground.
• Roads in Hawaii are busy as people evacuate to safer places.
• The US west coast, including California and Alaska, has a lower-level tsunami advisory.
• Tsunami warnings mean flooding is expected, while advisories suggest strong currents may occur.
• Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones warned that waves could damage harbors and waterfronts but do not expect large-scale loss of life.
• Residents on Maui are being cautious, moving to higher ground and preparing for potential damage.

Key Facts:

• Adidas will face an additional cost of €200 million due to US tariffs.
• These tariffs affect nearly half of Adidas's products, which are made in Asian countries.
• Vietnam and Indonesia, where 46% of Adidas's products are made, are subject to these tariffs.
• Tariffs include a 20% tax on goods from Vietnam and a 19% tax on goods from Indonesia.
• Adidas cannot produce most of its products in the US.
• The price increase aims to cover the added costs from the tariffs.
• Other companies, like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, are also affected by US tariffs.

Key Facts:

Key Facts:

• Beverly Priestman was banned from all football activities for one year by FIFA.
• The ban resulted from a spying scandal where a drone was used to watch New Zealand's training session.
• Canada's soccer organization fired Priestman before the ban due to previous similar incidents.
• Priestman expressed not feeling safe in Canada after the ban and media attention.
• During the Olympics, Canada advanced past the group stage despite a points penalty but lost in the quarter-finals to Germany.
• Priestman previously helped the Canadian women's team win an Olympic gold medal in 2021.

Key Facts:

• A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan typically investing in public companies.
• Private equity involves investing in private companies, not listed on stock exchanges.
• Private equity is considered high-risk, with potentially large gains or losses.
• President Trump is expected to sign an executive order about private equity in 401(k) plans.
• The order aims to offer legal protection to fund managers who add private equity to retirement portfolios.
• The potential benefits and risks of including private equity need careful consideration.
• The podcast episode discusses these issues and related topics like investment rules and financial strategies.

Key Facts:

• Heat waves can be riskier for people taking certain medications like those for heart disease or high blood pressure.
• Some medications change how the body cools itself, such as affecting thirst or sweating.
• Beta blockers, diuretics, and ACE inhibitors are among drugs that might make it harder to manage heat.
• People should not stop taking these medications, but they should find ways to stay cool during heat waves.
• Overheating can lead to serious health problems like heart strain or kidney issues.
• Finding a cool place and staying hydrated are important steps to prevent heat-related problems.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information about medications that can affect heat management.

Key Facts:

• 26 tourists were killed in an attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22.
• Three gunmen responsible for the attack have been killed by Indian security forces.
• India claims Pakistan supported the attackers, a claim Pakistan denies.
• The attack led to a four-day military skirmish between India and Pakistan in May.
• Indian Home Minister Amit Shah presented evidence, including voter ID cards, linking the gunmen to Pakistan.
• Pakistan has previously stated it dismantled the group India blames for the attack.
• The military confrontation between India and Pakistan resulted in multiple deaths and civilian displacement.
• U.S. President Trump stated he helped stop the conflict through trade leverage.