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Protests against President Donald Trump's policies, such as mass deportations and cuts to Medicaid, occurred in over 1,600 locations across the U.S. These demonstrations were part of a national day of action called "Good Trouble Lives On," honoring the late civil rights leader John Lewis.
Key Facts
Protests took place at over 1,600 locations in the U.S. against Trump's policies.
The events were called "Good Trouble Lives On," in memory of John Lewis.
John Lewis was a civil rights leader who led the 1965 Selma march.
Organizers wanted the protests to be peaceful.
Protests highlighted issues like mass deportations and Medicaid cuts.
Major protests were planned in cities like Atlanta, St. Louis, Oakland, and Annapolis.
Chicago hosted a significant rally, including a candlelight vigil for John Lewis.
The protests also criticized Trump's use of National Guard troops in immigration enforcement operations.
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The UK has launched its most powerful supercomputer, Isambard-AI, in Bristol. This supercomputer, along with another in Cambridge, aims to support artificial intelligence projects like reducing NHS waiting times and addressing climate change. The UK government also announced investment in AI growth areas in Scotland and Wales and plans to train millions in AI skills.
Key Facts
Isambard-AI is the UK's most powerful supercomputer and is now fully operational in Bristol.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle officially launched Isambard-AI as part of new government AI plans.
The supercomputer will work on public projects like healthcare improvements and climate change solutions.
AI Growth Zones in Scotland and Wales will receive significant investment from the government.
The Isambard-AI was initially used for a vaccine development project before becoming fully operational.
Isambard-AI and another supercomputer, Dawn, form part of the UK's AI Research Resource.
Over the next five years, the UK's computing capacity for AI research will expand significantly.
The UK government is training millions of people to prepare for changes AI might bring to jobs and industries.
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Uber plans to invest $300 million in Lucid, an electric vehicle company, to start a robotaxi service in a major U.S. city late next year. Over six years, Uber will use over 20,000 Lucid SUVs with self-driving technology from Nuro. This deal marks Uber's renewed effort in the autonomous vehicle market after stepping back in 2020.
Key Facts
Uber will invest $300 million in Lucid to develop a robotaxi service.
The service aims to launch in a major U.S. city by late next year.
Uber will acquire and use over 20,000 Lucid SUVs equipped with self-driving tech from Nuro.
Lucid's stock rose by about 39% following the announcement.
The robotaxi partnership reflects Uber's return to autonomous vehicles after exiting the market in 2020.
A Lucid-Nuro robotaxi prototype is currently undergoing tests in Las Vegas.
Other companies like Tesla and Waymo are also expanding their autonomous taxi services in various U.S. cities.
Commercializing self-driving technology has been challenging due to high costs and strict regulations.
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Mark Zuckerberg and other leaders at Meta Platforms have settled a lawsuit over claims that they let Facebook users' privacy be violated repeatedly. The details of the settlement are not public, and the case will no longer go to trial.
Key Facts
Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta executives were sued over alleged privacy violations at Facebook.
The lawsuit aimed to recover $8 billion for damages allegedly caused by these privacy issues.
The settlement was reached with shareholders who sued the leaders of the company.
Details of the settlement are not disclosed to the public.
A trial had started but adjourned after the settlement was announced.
In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook $5 billion for privacy violations.
The company was not a defendant in this particular lawsuit.
Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021.
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Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, have reached a settlement with shareholders over a lawsuit related to Facebook's handling of privacy issues. The lawsuit, seeking $8 billion in damages, concerned data breaches linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The exact amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.
Key Facts
Meta and Mark Zuckerberg settled a lawsuit with shareholders over privacy violations.
The lawsuit demanded $8 billion for mishandling user data.
The issue is linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where millions of Facebook users' data was leaked.
The settlement was revealed before the trial's second day in a Delaware court.
Meta has not disclosed the settlement amount.
Shareholders wanted several executives, including Jeffrey Zients and Peter Thiel, to reimburse Meta for fines and legal expenses.
The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved data used by Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
The case involved multiple well-known figures, including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings.
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Burkina Faso's military leaders have removed the country's electoral commission, stating it is too costly and unnecessary. The Interior Ministry will now manage elections, and the return to civilian government has been delayed until July 2029, allowing the current leader to remain in power.
Key Facts
The military commanders in Burkina Faso took power in September 2022 and have made several changes since then.
They shut down the electoral commission, which previously managed elections in the country.
The Interior Ministry will now be responsible for handling elections.
Elections planned for last year have been postponed, with civilian rule now delayed until July 2029.
The decision to end the electoral commission was partly due to its annual cost of about $870,000.
The military rulers claim this move will strengthen national control over elections and reduce outside influence.
Burkina Faso's leadership rejected help from France and chose to align more with Russia.
Human rights groups have accused the military of targeting civilians and limiting political freedoms.
There has been an increase in attacks by militant groups, with more than 280 attacks reported in the first half of 2025.
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Authorities in Bangladesh are taking strong security actions to prevent more political violence after clashes resulted in four deaths and over 50 injuries. A large number of police and military personnel were deployed, especially in Gopalganj, amid ongoing political tensions following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Key Facts
Four people died, and more than 50 were injured in clashes between security forces and supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hundreds of police and military were deployed to manage possible unrest in Faridpur at a rally by the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The National Citizen Party is a new political group formed by students who helped remove Hasina from power last year.
In Gopalganj, pro-Hasina activists armed with sticks clashed with police.
Authorities imposed a curfew in Gopalganj following the violence, with shops closed and few vehicles on the streets.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus plans to investigate the violence, establishing a committee to report within two weeks.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League, has been banned since May but blamed the interim government for the violence.
Sheikh Hasina resigned and left for exile via helicopter last year, leaving behind ongoing tensions.
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Caitlin Clark, a guard for the Indiana Fever basketball team, will miss the All-Star weekend due to a right groin injury. Despite her injury, she will attend the events to support her team. Clark has experienced several muscle injuries this year but has been an important player for the league's increased popularity.
Key Facts
Caitlin Clark is a guard for the Indiana Fever.
She injured her right groin against the Connecticut Sun and will miss the All-Star weekend.
Clark was scheduled to join the 3-Point Contest and be captain of an All-Star team.
She has helped increase the league's attendance and TV ratings.
Clark has had a series of muscle injuries this year, missing multiple games.
Despite the injury, Clark plans to attend the All-Star events as a supporter.
Clark had imaging done on her injury, and her coach mentioned it was considered good news.
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A new book by Michael Grynbaum explores how Condé Nast, once a leader in cultural trends through its magazines like Vogue, has seen a decline in influence. This shift is partly due to changing reader habits and the rise of social media and influencers.
Key Facts
Condé Nast was once a key influencer in U.S. culture through its various publications.
The company was known for setting trends and offering authoritative lifestyle and fashion guidance.
Anna Wintour recently stepped down from her long-time role as editor-in-chief of Vogue.
Social media and influencers now provide many people with fashion and lifestyle inspiration.
The book "Empire of the Elite" examines Condé Nast's past dominance and current struggles.
Changing media habits have led to fewer people reading print magazines.
Condé Nast's history includes a focus on luxury and appealing to wealthy audiences.
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The United States is constructing a new secondary wall at the border with Mexico in New Mexico. This wall aims to fill important gaps and improve security, as part of a larger plan announced by US Customs and Border Protection.
Key Facts
The US is building a new wall at the Mexico border.
The new wall is around 7 miles (11 kilometers) long.
It is located in the state of New Mexico.
US Customs and Border Protection says the wall will fill necessary gaps.
In June, waivers were issued for constructing 36 miles (58 kilometers) of wall in Arizona and New Mexico.
The construction aims to improve security operations at the border.
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Ehud Olmert, who used to be Israel's prime minister, discussed a suggested plan for a "humanitarian" camp in Gaza. He stated that while it is not like a concentration camp, it would still not work well.
Key Facts
Ehud Olmert is a former prime minister of Israel.
There is a proposal to create a "humanitarian" camp in Gaza.
Olmert compared this proposal to a concentration camp but said it is not the same.
He believes the proposed camp would not be practical or effective.
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An Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad last month, killing 260 people. Investigations reveal that engines lost power shortly after takeoff, and the fuel switches may have been turned off manually. There is no official blame yet, and pilot groups dispute claims of human error.
Key Facts
The crash happened with Air India Flight 171 on June 12 shortly after it took off from Ahmedabad.
The plane was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 230 passengers and crew.
Both engines lost power 40 seconds into the flight, leading to a crash in a nearby suburb.
260 people died, including 19 people on the ground.
A preliminary report found that the aircraft was fit to fly and had no hazardous cargo.
The report noted a past advisory about potential issues with Boeing's fuel-control switch system.
The black box showed pilots discussing the fuel switches, but the cause is not confirmed.
Indian and international authorities are investigating, with involvement from Boeing experts.
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Taipei held large civil defense exercises to prepare for a potential invasion by China. Air raid sirens sounded, and residents participated in evacuation drills as part of Taiwan's largest annual military exercise. The event highlighted efforts to strengthen Taiwan's defenses and raise awareness among the population.
Key Facts
Taipei conducted one of its biggest civil defense drills against a potential Chinese invasion.
Snaring sirens and evacuation exercises temporarily halted city activities, including traffic and businesses.
The drills were part of the Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's major annual military event.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force for reunification.
The event included air-raid drills, mass casualty simulations, and the presence of local and foreign officials.
Taiwan's President William Lai emphasized unity, resilience, and the aim to prevent war through preparedness.
China criticized the drills as an attempt by Taiwan's government to promote independence.
A poll indicated over 60% of Taiwanese do not believe an invasion will happen within the next five years.
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Eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a new IVF technique that combines DNA from three people. This procedure aims to help prevent inherited mitochondrial diseases, which currently have no cure.
Key Facts
The IVF technique uses DNA from the mother's egg, the father's sperm, and healthy donor mitochondrial DNA.
Mitochondrial diseases affect about 1 in 5,000 births and cause serious health issues.
The procedure was approved in the UK in 2015, but remains controversial.
In the study, 22 women underwent the treatment, resulting in eight births.
These eight babies are between less than six months and over two years old.
For six of the babies, mutated mitochondrial DNA was reduced by 95-100%.
Two of the babies had their mutated mitochondrial DNA reduced by 77-88%.
This technique is not yet approved in many countries, including the US and France.
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Researchers studied the squirting cucumber, a plant that spreads its seeds by exploding. The plant's fruit builds up pressure and, when disturbed, bursts open, sending seeds flying far from the parent plant to reduce competition.
Key Facts
The squirting cucumber releases its seeds by bursting when ripe.
The fruit is filled with fluid that creates pressure and causes the explosion.
The plant's seeds can travel nearly 40 feet away due to this mechanism.
Researchers measured a consistent fruit angle of about 50 degrees, which helps the seeds shoot far.
The seeds can reach speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour.
High-speed videos and micro-CT scans helped researchers understand how the seeds are lined up and ejected.
A similar study found the seeds can travel at 37 miles per hour and also confirmed the long distance of seed travel.
The seed expulsion is unique because the plant uses fluid to propel its seeds.
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North Northamptonshire Council has temporarily stopped accepting new applications for food vouchers due to a high number of requests. These vouchers support low-income families and other vulnerable groups, with the program set to resume on August 4.
Key Facts
The council paused new voucher applications because many people applied since June 23.
Only certain groups, like low-income families and people with disabilities, could apply for the vouchers.
Vouchers vary in amount: £150 for a single person, £260 for two people, and £320 for three or more.
The funding for these vouchers comes from the Department of Work and Pensions through the Household Support Fund.
Inflation in the UK rose to 3.6%, influenced by increased prices in food, clothing, travel, and smaller decreases in fuel costs.
People who applied after June 23 don't need to reapply, and processing of applications may take up to two months.
New applications are expected to open again on August 4.
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A fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium. No one was hurt in the incident, which happened two days before the festival was supposed to start and be attended by around 100,000 people. Organizers say the festival will still begin as planned, and authorities are investigating the fire, which seems to have been accidental.
Key Facts
A large fire damaged the main stage of the Tomorrowland electronic dance music festival in Belgium.
The event was set to start two days later, with an expected attendance of 100,000 people.
No injuries were reported from the fire incident.
Firefighters tried to save the stage, and investigators believe the fire was accidental.
Tomorrowland is an annual festival in Boom, near Brussels, and will proceed as planned.
The festival's campground is opening on Thursday, and campers will start arriving then.
Several famous DJs are set to perform, with events split between different stages.
Tomorrowland also has winter editions in France and Brazil, and was founded 20 years ago.
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In Virginia, there are many data centers, which are large buildings that store internet data. Some residents are unhappy because these centers use a lot of electricity and water and can be noisy. The demand for data centers is growing because more people are using the internet and artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
Virginia has nearly 600 data centers, including 150 very large ones.
Data centers store internet data and are essential for online activities like banking and emergency services.
The rise in artificial intelligence has increased the need for more data centers.
Some residents are concerned about the high power and water usage of these centers.
A major utility company in Virginia plans to expand its power capacity to support new data centers.
Critics say these centers are impacting residential areas with noise and environmental issues.
The data center industry invested $24 billion in Virginia last year.
Balancing community concerns with the economic benefits of data centers is an ongoing issue.
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Edward Said was a professor at Columbia University who worked to bring the issues of Palestine to the attention of people in the United States. Even after he passed away, his work continues to influence students and scholars around the world, with his writings and interviews being widely shared and studied.
Key Facts
Edward Said was a professor at Columbia University for almost 40 years.
He focused on raising awareness about the Palestinian perspective.
His work is still influential, two decades after his death.
Students and activists continue to mention him during pro-Palestine protests.
Said's interviews and writings are shared on social media.
His books are part of university curricula worldwide.
Guests on the NPR episode include people who have studied and written about his work.
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Dressing up as characters from movies or comics, known as cosplay, can sometimes create legal issues related to intellectual property, which are the rights given to companies for their creations. The episode features cosplayers, a lawyer, and a company discussing how to balance these rights while allowing people to express themselves creatively.
Key Facts
Cosplay involves dressing up as characters from popular culture.
It can lead to legal questions about intellectual property, which are the exclusive rights held by creators or companies over their work.
Lucasfilm, a film production company, is mentioned in discussions around these legal concerns.
A lawyer provides insights into the legal complexities of cosplay.
The episode explores how cosplayers and companies can coexist economically while respecting legal boundaries.
The show is part of "The Indicator from Planet Money" series on NPR.
Fact-checking was done by Sierra Juarez.
The podcast is available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and others.
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