Recent floods in Texas caused the deaths of 135 people, including campers and staff from Camp Mystic. BBC Verify's Jake Horton investigated why Kerr County, Texas, was so severely impacted.
Key Facts
Floods in Texas resulted in 135 deaths.
Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and staff due to the floods.
Jake Horton from BBC Verify visited Kerr County to explore the situation.
Kerr County was notably affected during the Texas floods.
Other floods in the US, like those in New Mexico, also caused deaths and destruction.
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A panel of federal judges has decided not to extend Alina Habba’s term as a United States attorney for the district of New Jersey beyond her interim 120-day period. Instead, the judges appointed her deputy, Desiree Grace, as the top prosecutor, but the Trump administration quickly removed Grace before she could start. During her tenure, Habba faced criticism for prosecuting Democratic lawmakers, sparking controversy over politically motivated actions.
Key Facts
Alina Habba’s role as interim US attorney for New Jersey ended after 120 days.
Judges appointed Desiree Grace to replace Habba, but the Trump administration removed Grace before she began.
Alina Habba has been accused of politically motivated prosecutions during her term.
Habba prosecuted Democratic lawmakers such as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and US Representative LaMonica McIver.
Baraka was charged with trespassing during an inspection of an immigrant detention facility but charges were later dropped.
Representative McIver faced charges for allegedly pushing a federal agent; she denies the charges.
The Trump administration criticized the judges' decision as politically driven.
Before her role as a US attorney, Habba was President Trump’s personal lawyer.
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The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has changed its rules to stop transgender women from competing in women's sports. This change follows an executive order by former President Trump.
Key Facts
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee banned transgender women from women's sports.
This change aligns with an executive order signed by former President Trump.
A 27-page "Athlete Safety Policy" details the new rules but does not mention the word "transgender."
The policy emphasizes fairness and safety in women's sports competitions.
National sports governing bodies in the U.S. must follow this new policy.
Previously, a trans woman participated as an alternate in the Tokyo Olympics.
Axios requested a comment from the Committee, but there was no immediate response.
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The White House made public over 230,000 pages of previously classified documents about Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. These files mainly confirm earlier conclusions that James Earl Ray acted alone and detail the FBI's efforts to monitor and discredit King. The release does not provide new evidence about the assassination but gives more detail on the FBI's activities.
Key Facts
The files cover documents related to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and FBI surveillance of him.
Donald Trump signed an order as president to declassify these documents.
The files confirm that James Earl Ray was seen as the lone assassin, with no new evidence of a wider conspiracy.
The documents detail the FBI's efforts, led by J. Edgar Hoover, to discredit King due to his civil rights work.
These efforts included wiretapping and infiltration of King's circle and even attempts to defame him.
The FBI wrongfully labeled King as a communist to justify its surveillance.
The documents were under seal since 1977 before being released.
Historian Ryan Jones noted the files confirm known accounts and add more internal FBI records.
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Walmart is sharing information about how it keeps fake products off its online Marketplace. With over 500 million items listed, the company uses a system to stop counterfeit goods before customers see them, as keeping trust is important for its digital sales.
Key Facts
Walmart is revealing how it monitors its third-party Marketplace to block counterfeit goods.
The Marketplace has over 500 million items.
The Federal Trade Commission has asked Walmart to address false "Made in USA" claims by sellers.
Walmart uses an enforcement system to prevent fake items from reaching customers.
The company works with agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to handle this issue.
Walmart uses seller checks, category restrictions, AI, and human oversight to monitor listings.
Counterfeit items are a small part of sales, but they can still harm shoppers and honest sellers.
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An American waste management company is using underground storage for organic waste. This method might help make technology more environmentally friendly by reducing waste.
Key Facts
The company is American and focuses on waste management.
Organic waste refers to waste that comes from natural sources like food and plants.
The company is storing this waste deep underground.
The goal is to make technology cleaner by reducing environmental impact.
This approach could potentially help reduce pollution.
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The United States and the Philippines have agreed on a new trade deal. Under this deal, the US will charge a 19 percent tariff on goods from the Philippines while US goods will face no tariffs when exported to the Philippines. The announcement followed a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Key Facts
The new trade deal imposes a 19 percent tariff on Philippine goods exported to the US.
US goods exported to the Philippines will not have any tariffs.
President Trump announced the agreement after meeting Philippine President Marcos in Washington.
The US had a $5 billion trade deficit with the Philippines last year.
Trump mentioned the importance of the military relationship between the US and the Philippines.
President Marcos is the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump during his second term.
Protesters near the White House expressed concerns about issues affecting Filipino Americans and migrant workers.
The Philippines has shifted its stance and is not as aligned with China since Trump’s election.
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John Thune, the Majority Leader, told senators they might have to vote on nominations next weekend, which could extend into August. This decision is not yet final, but it shows the effort to quickly confirm President Trump's nominees while balancing senators' need to go home and talk to voters.
Key Facts
Senator John Thune warned colleagues about potential votes next weekend.
These votes might stretch into August, affecting senators' recess plans.
Thune is trying to balance President Trump's push to cancel the recess with senators' desire to campaign.
GOP leaders hope to make a deal with Chuck Schumer to speed up confirmations.
The warning indicates a push to confirm more of Trump's nominees.
Senators might stay in Washington from Friday, Aug. 1, onwards.
Some senators are worried about attendance if votes continue into the weekend.
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A heat dome and increased humidity due to a phenomenon called "corn sweat" have caused high temperatures and humidity across many areas east of the Rocky Mountains. This has prompted heat warnings for a large part of the United States, affecting around 85 million people.
Key Facts
A heat dome is causing high temperatures and humidity.
"Corn sweat" adds moisture to the air when corn plants release water through their leaves.
Heat warnings cover areas from Louisiana to Chicago, affecting nearly 85 million people.
Chicago could experience heat indices over 105°F.
High humidity makes it harder for our bodies to stay cool.
Extreme heat can have serious impacts on health, with hot nights providing little relief.
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather event in the U.S.
Climate change is making heat waves more intense and frequent.
The National Weather Service advises staying hydrated, staying indoors, and checking on vulnerable individuals.
The risk of extreme heat is expected to continue into next week in the Central and Southeastern U.S.
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Divisions within the Republican Party about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have become more apparent. Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House would not address this issue before they take a break at the end of the week.
Key Facts
There are disagreements within the Republican Party regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
These divisions were noticeable on Capitol Hill, the main place where U.S. lawmakers meet.
Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the House of Representatives will not deal with this issue before their August recess.
The House recess is a scheduled break where members leave Washington, D.C.
The news report included input from Lisa Desjardins and a discussion with Geoff Bennett.
Former federal prosecutor Arlo Devlin-Brown spoke about the legal aspects of the situation.
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The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has stopped transgender women from competing in women's sports. This decision follows an executive order from former President Trump and similar actions by the NCAA, aiming to ensure fair competition.
Key Facts
The USOPC made a change to their policy about transgender athletes on their website.
The change aligns with an executive order signed by former President Trump.
This executive order, called "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," aims to prevent transgender women from competing in women's sports.
The USOPC told national sports groups they must follow this new policy to avoid losing federal funding.
Over 20 U.S. states have laws that restrict transgender women and girls from participating in some sports competitions.
The NCAA also changed its policy to limit women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth after the executive order.
The International Olympic Committee allows sports federations to create their own rules, and some have already placed restrictions on transgender athletes.
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Recovering from major flooding in Texas continues, with three people still missing. The flood resulted in at least 135 deaths, and volunteers are playing a vital role in helping the community recover.
Key Facts
Three people are still missing after the flooding in Texas.
The flood caused at least 135 deaths.
Many people who were initially reported missing have been found safe.
Local officials are managing the recovery operations.
Volunteers are important in helping with recovery efforts.
Questions about responsibility for the tragedy remain.
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The Trump administration wants to speed up the deportation of people without legal status in the U.S. However, delays in immigration courts and a reduction in the number of judges are slowing down this process.
Key Facts
The Trump administration aims to deport people without legal status more quickly.
There is a large backlog of cases in immigration courts.
The Justice Department has fired or not renewed contracts for many judges.
The reduction in judges adds to the delay in handling immigration cases.
Amna Nawaz and Ximena Bustillo from NPR have discussed these issues.
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A civil rights group in the U.S. has declared a "state of emergency" due to recent policy changes by the government. These changes affect diversity, equity, and inclusion, which the group believes negatively impact Black Americans.
Key Facts
The National Urban League is the civil rights organization that declared the "state of emergency."
The group's president is Marc Morial.
President Trump signed orders to change diversity, equity, and inclusion policies on his first day in office during his second term.
These policy changes have been continuing for the past six months.
The organization believes these changes significantly impact Black Americans.
NPR's Juana Summers interviewed Marc Morial about the issue.
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The House of Representatives is ending its sessions sooner than planned to start an August recess. The decision comes amid tensions surrounding efforts to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. This has caused the House to postpone votes on some major legislation.
Key Facts
The House will start its five-week August recess earlier than planned, with final votes on Wednesday.
Disagreement over releasing Jeffrey Epstein documents has disrupted House activities.
The House Rules Committee is not scheduling votes for major legislation this week.
Democrats are pushing for votes to force the Justice Department to release Epstein documents.
GOP leadership avoided debates, focusing instead on non-controversial bills.
Speaker Mike Johnson initially planned to work through the week but changed the schedule.
Some Republicans want a resolution for full DOJ disclosure on Epstein documents.
A petition by Rep. Thomas Massie aims to force a vote on releasing the documents.
The House Oversight Committee is seeking to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein.
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The U.S. is withdrawing from UNESCO, a United Nations agency focused on education, science, and culture. The decision, announced by the Trump administration, cites disagreements with UNESCO's focus on certain social and cultural issues and its admission of Palestine as reasons for leaving.
Key Facts
UNESCO is a UN agency that promotes cooperation in education, science, and culture.
The U.S. rejoined UNESCO under President Biden in 2023, after leaving during the Trump administration in 2018.
The Trump administration announced the withdrawal, criticizing UNESCO's focus on sustainable development goals.
The decision to leave UNESCO will take effect at the end of 2026.
UNESCO has 194 member states and manages the list of World Heritage sites, which includes 26 sites in the U.S. like the Grand Canyon and Statue of Liberty.
UNESCO's admission of Palestine as a member in 2011 has been a point of contention for U.S. administrations.
The Obama administration previously cut funding to UNESCO over the admission of Palestine.
Returning to UNESCO in 2023, the U.S. agreed to pay over $600 million in back dues.
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The Trump administration announced the U.S. would leave UNESCO due to disagreement over Palestine's membership and claims of bias against Israel. The departure will happen in December 2026, marking the second time the U.S. has left under Trump's leadership. Trump has also reduced U.S. involvement in other international organizations, continuing his "America First" approach.
Key Facts
The U.S. plans to leave UNESCO by December 2026.
The exit is mainly due to UNESCO accepting Palestine as a member, which the U.S. does not officially recognize as a state.
The Trump administration views UNESCO as having an "anti-Israel" bias.
In 2018, during Trump's first term, the U.S. also left UNESCO for similar reasons.
In 2023, the Biden administration rejoined UNESCO, but Trump plans to reverse that decision.
Trump has removed U.S. support from other international entities like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar supported the U.S. departure, citing unfair treatment of Israel.
UNESCO has denied treating any of its members unfairly.
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The National Urban League has stated that the policies of the Trump administration have created a serious crisis for Black Americans. They believe these policies threaten anti-discrimination efforts, personal freedoms, and economic progress for Black people.
Key Facts
The National Urban League is a long-standing civil rights organization.
They have expressed concern over the Trump administration's policies.
The League says these policies create a "state of emergency" for Black Americans.
Key issues include impacts on anti-discrimination measures.
There are also concerns about the threat to personal freedoms.
Economic opportunities for Black Americans are seen as at risk due to these policies.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested to question Ghislane Maxwell, who is linked to Jeffrey Epstein and currently in jail. This comes as public interest in the Epstein case, particularly from Trump supporters, remains high.
Key Facts
The DOJ wants to question Ghislane Maxwell.
Maxwell is associated with Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell is currently in jail.
Public interest in the Epstein case is high.
Trump supporters are particularly vocal in demanding answers about the Epstein case.
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