Tensions are increasing between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President Donald Trump because the Senate Republicans have not passed key bills, including a voter eligibility law and emergency Pentagon funding. President Trump expressed frustration about these delays during a rally in Georgia.
Key Facts
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President Trump disagree over stalled legislation.
The bills involved include the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act and emergency funding for the Pentagon.
These issues are occurring during President Trump’s second term.
President Trump voiced his frustration at a rally in Marietta, Georgia.
The Senate GOP has not managed to pass these important bills.
The delays are happening at a critical time for the administration.
The SAVE America Act relates to how voting rules are set.
Emergency Pentagon funding is meant to support military needs quickly.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Axel Rudakubana, who was given a life sentence for killing three children and injuring others in a 2024 attack, has been moved from prison to a high-security psychiatric hospital. The families' lawyer says this move might be an attempt by Rudakubana to manipulate the system, and the Ministry of Justice confirmed the sentence remains unchanged.
Key Facts
Axel Rudakubana, aged 19, killed three children and tried to kill others in a knife attack in Southport on 29 July 2024.
He was originally sentenced to life in prison with a 52-year minimum term announced in January 2025.
Rudakubana was moved on Thursday from HMP Belmarsh prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, a high-security mental health unit.
Prisoners can be moved to psychiatric hospitals if they present risks due to mental health problems, under the Mental Health Act.
Rudakubana attacked a prison officer with boiling water in May 2025.
The transfer happened close to the second anniversary of the attack.
The families’ lawyer calls the transfer a potential attempt by Rudakubana to manipulate the justice system.
The Ministry of Justice said the move does not change Rudakubana’s sentence and expressed sympathy for the victims' families.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the University of Utah to talk about Utah’s new law banning fluoride and about food additives. This event took place on April 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the current Health Secretary.
He visited the University of Utah on April 7, 2025.
The visit focused on Utah’s new fluoride ban.
Discussions also covered legislation related to food additives.
The event took place in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The article mentions a weekly news quiz by The Associated Press.
The quiz aims to review major news stories from the week.
The article includes a photo by Melissa Majchrzak from the AP.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Friday after the original event was cut short by a shooting in April. The dinner will recognize the bravery of a Secret Service officer and the hotel staff affected by the incident.
Key Facts
The original correspondents' dinner in April ended early due to a shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel.
Cole Allen fired shots, injuring Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales, who was protected by his vest and continued responding.
Allen faces charges including attempting to assassinate the president and assaulting a federal officer.
President Trump and other top officials were at the event when the shooting happened.
The rescheduled dinner will take place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C.
The White House Correspondents' Association will give a special award to Officer Gonzales and the Washington Hilton staff for their courage and professionalism.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman, the originally planned entertainer, will perform again at the rescheduled dinner.
The event will complete the program that was interrupted in April, including awards and President Trump’s remarks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration has taken a new position on artificial intelligence (AI) policy by supporting open AI development but accusing some Chinese companies of stealing U.S. technology through a method called distillation. This stance could lead to actions against Chinese AI firms while still allowing open AI models used by many businesses and researchers.
Key Facts
The administration supports open-weight AI models that are available for wide use.
It accuses China's company Moonshot of stealing U.S. AI technology by copying Anthropic's model using a process called distillation.
Distillation involves training a smaller AI model to copy the behavior of a larger model more efficiently.
U.S. officials say small-scale distillation is acceptable, but large-scale secretive use aimed at stealing technology is not.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials warn about intellectual property theft by Chinese companies.
AI experts say distillation is mainly a technical issue, but the government sees it as a possible policy problem when used dishonestly.
The administration may consider sanctions or adding Chinese AI firms to a restricted list to stop illegal technology use.
A recent evaluation found the Chinese model Kimi K3 performs worse than leading AI models but is causing concern in the U.S. for its low cost and competition.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A software error in New Jersey allowed about 6,600 noncitizens to register to vote between June 2023 and June 2024. President Trump and Republicans are using this case to push for the passage of the SAVE Act, which would require voter ID and proof of citizenship for voter registration, before Congress' summer recess.
Key Facts
Approximately 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote in New Jersey due to a software glitch.
The error happened when noncitizens applied for driver’s licenses or ID cards and were asked about voter registration.
Fewer than 400 of these erroneously registered people actually voted, and their votes did not affect any election results.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill confirmed there is no evidence that elections were influenced by this mistake.
President Trump supports the SAVE Act, which aims to require voter ID and proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Trump and White House officials claim more noncitizens may be on voter rolls nationwide, though experts warn the system to identify such cases can have errors.
Trump has previously claimed, without evidence, that elections have been rigged and has promoted stricter voting laws.
The Trump administration wants Congress to pass the SAVE Act before the Senate breaks for its summer recess.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries. These tariffs are meant to target goods made with forced labour and replace previous temporary tariffs that ended after a Supreme Court ruling.
Key Facts
The tariffs apply to imports from 60 countries that make up 99% of U.S. imports.
The import taxes range from 10% to 12.5%, depending on whether a country has laws against forced labour imports.
Countries with anti-forced labour laws (like India, Pakistan, Argentina) face 10% tariffs; others (including China and the UK) face 12.5%.
The tariffs took effect immediately after earlier temporary 10% tariffs expired on Friday at 12:01 am Washington DC time.
The legal authority for these tariffs is Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing action against unfair trade practices.
Previously, President Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs, but the Supreme Court ruled it did not authorize tariffs.
Earlier temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act were set to expire after 150 days.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the goal is to stop human rights abuses and unfair trade by making partners enforce forced labour bans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Darline Graham, who was appointed to temporarily fill her late brother Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat, has President Donald Trump’s endorsement as she runs for a full Senate term. However, many Republican leaders and voters in South Carolina doubt her chances because she is new to politics, has not built a strong personal reputation, and the state often rejects political handoffs like hers.
Key Facts
Darline Graham was appointed to temporarily fill the Senate seat after her brother Lindsey Graham’s death.
President Donald Trump quickly endorsed her for the full Senate term in the upcoming November election.
Some GOP leaders have not endorsed her and question her political experience.
Lindsey Graham had mixed support in South Carolina because of his bipartisan work and past criticism of Trump.
Darline Graham is not well known to voters and is behind other candidates in early polls.
She has not clearly defined her political views or participated in campaign debates.
South Carolina voters have a history of rejecting appointed senators seeking full terms.
Despite doubts, Trump’s endorsement and her brother’s political team are major advantages for her campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump supports the SAVE Act, a new law that would consolidate personal voter information from states into federal control to verify voter eligibility. The law requires proof of citizenship and voter ID to register and vote and is facing legal challenges and criticism for centralizing election power.
Key Facts
The SAVE Act is supported by President Trump and aims to gather private voter information at the federal level.
It requires states to collect data from sources like the Social Security Administration and state ID cards to confirm citizenship.
The bill passed the House of Representatives but has not yet passed the Senate.
President Trump has refused to sign a bipartisan housing bill to pressure the Senate to pass the SAVE Act.
Voting rights groups and some former government officials argue that election administration should remain a state responsibility, as intended by the Constitution.
The administration has tried to build a national voter database using data from Homeland Security, IRS, and Social Security Administration, which has led to lawsuits from states over privacy concerns.
Courts have blocked or limited many of the administration’s efforts to collect voter information.
Federal laws exist to ensure accurate state voter rolls, and the Department of Justice claims authority to enforce them.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the spiritual leader of the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, is retiring nearly eight years after surviving the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, when a gunman killed 11 worshippers in 2018. Myers plans to move back to New Jersey to be near family and focus on personal healing after leading his congregation through grief, trial, and rebuilding.
Key Facts
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers became Tree of Life’s spiritual leader about a year before the 2018 attack.
On October 27, 2018, a gunman killed 11 people at the synagogue during Sabbath services.
Myers survived the attack and helped his congregation grieve and heal over the following years.
The synagogue shares its building with two other congregations in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Myers often turned to the Book of Psalms for comfort and inspiration after the attack.
The gunman was sentenced to death in a trial that took several years.
Myers plans to retire in July 2026 and return to New Jersey to be close to his daughter and granddaughter.
Congregants and survivors praise Myers for steady leadership during a very difficult time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is not planning to introduce rent controls in England. She believes recent changes from the Renters' Rights Act are already helping renters, and rent controls have not reliably lowered rents in other UK areas.
Key Facts
Angela Rayner said rent controls are not being considered in England right now.
The Renters' Rights Act started in May 2026 and provides more rights and protections for renters.
The Act bans fixed-term leases and makes it harder for landlords to evict tenants.
Rents can only increase once a year, and only up to the market rent for the property.
Temporary rent controls were introduced in Scotland in 2022 but ended last year.
Andy Burnham, as Greater Manchester mayor in 2023, previously supported rent freezes during the cost of living crisis.
Some politicians like Green Party leader Zack Polanski and London Mayor Sadiq Khan support rent controls in England.
Rayner acknowledged the government's goal to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 is difficult but she remains committed to it.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. government is considering making daylight saving time permanent, meaning clocks would not change twice a year anymore. Southern states like Florida and Texas could benefit from longer evenings, while northern states might face challenges with darker mornings in winter.
Key Facts
The Trump administration supports making daylight saving time permanent and has urged Congress to approve the change.
The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to keep daylight saving time all year, but the Senate has not yet decided.
Southern states such as Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina are expected to benefit from longer daylight in the evenings.
Northern states in the Upper Midwest and Northern New England could face very dark winter mornings if daylight saving time is made permanent.
Public health experts, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recommend permanent standard time instead, as it fits better with natural sleep patterns.
They warn that permanent daylight saving time could harm children's ability to wake up, learn, and travel safely during dark winter mornings.
Past experience in 1974 showed public concern over darker winter mornings, leading to the end of a previous permanent daylight saving time experiment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Julian Leeser, Australia’s shadow education minister, asked universities to review courses about Israel, Palestine, and Jewish topics to ensure fairness and remove antisemitic content. He also recommended using an official definition of antisemitism and improving security cooperation to protect the Jewish community after recent attacks.
Key Facts
Leeser called for audits of university courses teaching about Israel, Palestine, and Jewish subjects to ensure balanced and credible content.
He expressed concern about antisemitism on university campuses after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.
Leeser wants the government to require universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
Some university leaders worry the IHRA definition could limit academic freedom.
Antisemitism today comes mainly from neo-Nazis, radical Islamist groups, and some academic and cultural left groups.
The Dor Foundation, created to fight antisemitism, supports better cooperation between Jewish groups and law enforcement for safety.
Security risks for the Jewish community have increased since the Bondi terror attack on 14 December 2025.
University protest policies have changed recently, raising concerns about restrictions on academic freedom.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Starting July 24, 2026, the United States will apply new tariffs on imports from 60 countries. These tariffs replace a temporary 10 percent global tariff and aim to stop the import of products made with forced labor.
Key Facts
The new tariffs begin Friday, July 24, 2026.
They cover goods from 60 trading partners.
These countries account for 99% of all goods imported into the U.S.
The new tariffs replace a temporary 10% global tariff that was in place for 150 days.
The previous tariff plan by President Donald Trump was overturned by the Supreme Court.
The current administration says the tariffs target products made with forced labor.
The goal is to address concerns about human rights abuses in supply chains.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A single bite from the lone star tick can cause a lifelong allergy to red meat known as alpha-gal syndrome. New federal research shows this allergy is more common than before thought, especially in five U.S. states where many people have antibodies linked to the condition.
Key Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal found in beef, pork, and lamb.
The lone star tick bite can cause the immune system to react to alpha-gal, leading to delayed allergic reactions several hours after eating meat.
Symptoms can include stomach problems like pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and in severe cases, life-threatening allergic reactions.
The allergy may worsen with repeated tick bites, so avoiding ticks is important for people with the condition.
A study tested blood samples from 10 states and found high rates of alpha-gal antibodies, especially in Arkansas (31%) and Missouri (26%).
About 24% of people in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia tested positive for alpha-gal antibodies.
Having antibodies does not always mean someone will show allergy symptoms, so diagnosis requires careful medical evaluation.
People with alpha-gal syndrome should avoid mammalian meat but can eat poultry, fish, and shellfish; some may tolerate small amounts of dairy.
Hidden animal products like beef broth, lard, and pork casings can trigger reactions, so reading food labels is necessary.
Doctors recommend patients carry an epinephrine auto-injector to treat severe allergic reactions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pentagon reported a lower number of U.S. troop deaths in the Iran conflict, reducing the count from 18 to 14, and said this was due to temporary data problems. However, some officials told The New York Times that the reduction happened because deaths occurring after President Trump’s April ceasefire declaration were removed from the official count.
Key Facts
The U.S. military death toll in the Iran war was changed from 18 to 14.
The Pentagon said the change happened because of temporary problems with their data system.
Three military officials told The New York Times that four deaths between July 17 and 19 were removed because they occurred after the ceasefire declared by President Donald Trump in April.
Three of those four service members removed have been publicly identified.
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran ended after President Trump said Iran violated its terms in June.
The Pentagon spokesperson called The New York Times report “fake news” and said the data disruption was the real cause.
President Trump was recently criticized for calling the Iran war a “skirmish” and for comparing its death toll to larger wars.
The Pentagon is working to fix the data problems in cooperation with the military services.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration wants to rename New York’s Penn Station as part of a planned $8 billion redesign of the busy transit hub in Manhattan. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has supported the idea of naming it after President Donald Trump, but no final decision has been announced.
Key Facts
Penn Station is a major train station in Manhattan and the busiest in the western hemisphere.
The station is undergoing a planned $8 billion renovation to improve its design and facilities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed support for renaming the station, possibly as "Trump Station."
President Trump has acknowledged talks about renaming but denies suggesting it was a condition for funding approval.
The original Penn Station opened in 1910 and was demolished in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden.
The station is currently named after the Pennsylvania Railroad, which no longer exists.
New design plans aim to restore the station’s classical style with stone facades and grand ceilings.
Some politicians oppose the renaming idea, seeing it as an attempt by the Trump administration to take over the station’s identity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on more than 80 countries, replacing a previous 10% global tariff that was ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court. The administration said the tariffs target countries that do not enforce bans on goods made with forced labor, but many trading partners expressed confusion and opposition to this reasoning.
Key Facts
The new tariffs apply to countries including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China, and all EU nations.
These tariffs replace a previous 10% tariff imposed in February that the Supreme Court declared illegal.
The tariffs are imposed under section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974.
The White House says the tariffs are meant to punish countries that fail to block imports made with forced labor.
Officials in the EU, Australia, Brazil, Norway, and New Zealand criticized the tariffs as unfair and unsupported by evidence.
Some countries with forced labor bans or commitments face a lower 10% tariff, while others like China, Japan, and South Korea face a higher 12.5% tariff.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the US has enforced its own forced labor ban for nearly 100 years.
Critics argue the tariffs are a way for President Trump to reestablish broad tariffs after the courts struck down earlier ones.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Democratic Party plans to change its 2028 presidential primary schedule by putting racially diverse states like South Carolina or Nevada first, instead of Iowa and New Hampshire. This change aims to better reflect the party's diverse voters and could influence which candidates gain early support.
Key Facts
Democrats will finalize the 2028 presidential nominating calendar soon.
Iowa and New Hampshire may no longer be the first states to vote.
South Carolina or Nevada is expected to hold the first nominating contests.
This change reflects the party’s desire to include more racially diverse states, focusing on Black and Latino voters.
The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will approve the calendar before the full party votes on it in August.
South Carolina is known for testing candidates’ support among Black voters.
Nevada highlights a mix of racial diversity, union membership, and battleground status.
Republicans are expected to keep their usual early-state order starting with Iowa and New Hampshire.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Staff who work for Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK are asking for better security after cases of physical attacks and many threats. A survey found that most of these staff have faced threatening messages, and many worry about their safety. The prime minister plans to review security following the recent murder of a former minister.
Key Facts
Over 500 MPs’ staff were surveyed about their safety and security.
78% of staff said they received threatening calls or messages.
Nearly 30% often fear for their own or their colleagues’ safety.
Some staff have been physically attacked or faced racist and sexist abuse.
One in two staff report serious psychological distress linked to their work.
Security is often only provided when the MP is present, leaving staff vulnerable.
Staff want security protections extended to them when representing MPs in public.
The prime minister plans to review MPs’ security after a recent murder of a public figure.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
