The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused a petition to set legal limits on toxic PFAS chemicals in food. Despite evidence that food is a major source of PFAS exposure, the FDA says there is not enough proof to require limits and instead plans to set non-binding guidelines.
Key Facts
PFAS are toxic chemicals used to make products resistant to water, stains, and grease.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says food is the biggest source of PFAS exposure.
A 2023 petition asked the FDA to limit 30 PFAS compounds in foods like seafood, milk, and produce.
The FDA did not respond on time and later rejected a smaller petition focused on two common PFAS chemicals.
Independent tests found PFAS in 70% of seafood and 12% of milk samples, including popular brands.
PFAS enter food through pesticides, packaging, sewage fertilizer, non-stick cookware, and polluted water.
The FDA plans to set “action levels” that do not legally require removal of contaminated food.
Some state agencies have already removed contaminated food and milk from the market due to PFAS.
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Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Maine, has faced serious controversies including a denied rape allegation and past social media posts. Many Democratic leaders were aware of concerns about him but still supported his candidacy, highlighting challenges within the party ahead of important elections.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
He denied an on-the-record rape allegation made against him.
Platner has a past that includes a Nazi tattoo and controversial social media posts.
Democratic leaders privately worried about Platner but still backed him for political reasons.
His campaign spent over $14 million, with significant payments to little-known companies.
His media consulting firm, Fight Agency, created many ads and managed rumors about him.
Platner portrayed himself as a working-class oyster farmer who used veterans’ benefits to buy a home, but some details about his background were disputed.
The situation shows Democrats sometimes overlook issues to compete in key races, reflecting the political effect of President Trump’s influence.
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Ministers in England and Wales are being urged to pause the early release of offenders convicted of crimes against women and girls due to missing safety measures for victims. The new law aims to reduce prison overcrowding but lacks promised safeguards and support for abuse victims, causing distress and concern among charities and officials.
Key Facts
A new law will allow some prisoners convicted of crimes against women and girls to be released early starting in September.
Victims’ and domestic abuse commissioners have asked ministers to stop these releases until safety plans are in place.
The law was created to help with a long-standing problem of too many people in prisons.
Promised measures like a victim helpline and thorough risk checks before release are not ready yet.
Charities report victims feel anxious and some have installed CCTV for protection after receiving early release notices.
More than 38,000 prisoners were released early under emergency rules due to prison overcrowding before this law.
Some government officials, including a former safeguarding minister, warned about risks before the law passed but say concerns were ignored.
Officials say poor communication with victims has harmed trust in the justice system.
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Senator Bernie Sanders called for Graham Platner to drop out of the Maine Senate race due to serious sexual assault allegations. Meanwhile, Republican leaders are addressing concerns about Senator Mitch McConnell's health after he was hospitalized and information about his condition was not fully shared.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders urged Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine because of sexual assault claims.
Platner denies the allegations, which include a claim of forced sex by a woman who previously dated him.
The Maine Democratic Party plans a new process to select a Senate nominee once Platner withdraws.
Mitch McConnell, 84, was hospitalized on June 14, and his office has not disclosed details about his illness.
Republican Senate leaders John Thune and John Barrasso talked with McConnell recently to show he is involved and well.
Supporters of President Donald Trump have expressed concern about the secrecy around McConnell’s health.
President Donald Trump has renewed his interest in the U.S. acquiring Greenland and hinted at withdrawing troops from Europe.
A federal appeals court blocked part of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s “Stop Woke Act,” affecting free speech rules in universities.
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Republican leaders are addressing concerns about Senator Mitch McConnell’s recent hospital stay amid growing questions about his health. McConnell’s office has been private about his condition, leading to speculation and criticism from some Republican supporters, but party leaders say he remains involved in Senate matters.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84, was hospitalized on June 14, but his office did not disclose his medical condition.
There is concern among some Republicans that McConnell’s health problems might be worse than reported.
Senate Republican leader John Thune said he spoke with McConnell, who discussed national security and other topics.
Republican Senator John Barrasso also spoke with McConnell about Senate races and legislation.
McConnell has a history of health issues, including polio as a child, recent falls, a concussion, and flu-related hospitalization.
Paramedics reportedly performed CPR at McConnell’s home on the day he was hospitalized, but this has not been officially confirmed.
McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, recently returned from a trip to China.
Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority, making McConnell’s participation important for upcoming votes.
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Many voters who strongly support President Donald Trump are becoming unhappy with his policies. A recent survey shows that many of these supporters are struggling with money and blame the government for rising costs.
Key Facts
Many people who support President Trump say they have trouble paying debts, housing, healthcare, utilities, groceries, and gas.
Trump’s policies, like ending government subsidies, have made health insurance more expensive.
Rising energy costs and inflation are linked to international issues affecting trade routes.
Tariffs imposed by Trump have led to job losses in manufacturing and higher costs for farmers.
Nearly half of rural Americans, many of whom voted for Trump, say their financial situation is getting worse.
More than half of Trump supporters believe the government is mostly responsible for rising prices.
Despite worries, support for the Maga movement among Republicans has grown since 2022.
A growing number of Republicans think the economy is getting worse and have doubts about Trump’s policies.
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President Donald Trump is pushing for a new law to limit birthright citizenship, which gives U.S. citizenship to anyone born in the country. This effort is causing difficulties for Republican leaders in the Senate and House because there is disagreement among Republicans about this issue.
Key Facts
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the U.S. automatically becomes a citizen.
President Trump wants to change this with a new law.
The Supreme Court blocked his earlier attempts to limit birthright citizenship through executive actions.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are working to manage Republican opinions on this topic.
Some Republicans support changing birthright citizenship, while others are opposed or uncertain.
The disagreement makes it harder for the GOP to take unified action on the issue.
The topic is a significant political issue within the Republican Party.
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A woman named Michele Desrosiers took a DNA test at age 42 and discovered she was donor-conceived, meaning her biological father was a sperm donor. This revelation led her to find several donor siblings and meet her donor father, who participated in a fertility program during medical school.
Key Facts
Michele Desrosiers took a DNA test in 2015 and found a close DNA match with a woman she didn’t know.
The match revealed both were donor-conceived children.
More than 1 million donor-conceived people live in the U.S. today.
Desrosiers’ parents used a sperm donor because they had trouble conceiving naturally.
She thought her legal father was her biological father until she was 42.
Desrosiers found four donor-sibling sisters and learned that her donor father also has a son.
Her donor father donated sperm as part of a fertility program while he was in medical school.
She meets with her donor siblings and donor father regularly, and he stays involved in their lives.
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A new poll from AP-NORC shows that U.S. Jews have strong differences in how they view Israel and the conflict in Gaza. Religious Jews tend to support Israel’s actions more, while secular or culturally Jewish people are more critical and feel less connected to Israel.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed U.S. Jewish adults about their views on Israel, antisemitism, and personal relations.
About 70% of Jewish adults identify as religious Jews, while 30% identify as atheists, agnostics, or have no religion but still identify culturally or ethnically as Jewish.
Religious Jews mostly support Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with about half saying they are justified.
Around 25% of religious Jews believe Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a claim denied by Israel and the U.S. government.
Among secular or non-religious Jews, about 40% say Israel committed genocide, and fewer than 20% support Israel’s current operations.
Most secular Jews (74%) say they are not emotionally attached to Israel.
The conflict began after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people.
Since then, Gaza has suffered heavy casualties, with over 73,000 Palestinians dead according to Hamas-run health authorities.
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Republicans are increasing their campaign spending in key Senate races in states like Ohio and Iowa to keep control of the Senate. Conservative groups aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune plan to spend millions on TV ads and other efforts to support Republican candidates in these states before the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Republicans are boosting spending in red states where they want to protect Senate seats.
One Nation, a conservative group linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, is reserving $28 million for TV ads in Ohio and $11 million in Iowa.
These ads will start running in early summer ahead of the November midterm elections.
Ohio and Iowa were thought safe for Republicans but now have competitive races, with Democrats raising much more money.
Republicans plan to spend over $400 million mainly through the Senate Leadership Fund super PAC.
Democrats need to gain four seats to take Senate control and face tough races in states like Maine and New Hampshire.
Republican candidates in Iowa face criticism due to President Trump’s tariff policies and struggling farming economies.
Democrats called the spending increase by Republicans a sign that the GOP Senate majority is vulnerable.
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A historic fountain in Washington, D.C., fixed under President Donald Trump’s direction, has turned brown shortly after reopening. The fountain had been dry for several years while repairs were made, but its water quality has deteriorated soon after restoration.
Key Facts
The Cascading Fountain at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., had its water off since 2019 for repairs.
In May, the U.S. Department of the Interior released video showing the fountain running again for the first time in seven years.
Within two months, photos and videos on social media showed the fountain’s water had turned brown.
This restoration was part of several high-profile beautification projects made under President Trump’s administration in the capital.
Another project involved a $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which also had problems such as algae and peeling.
The National Park Service is responsible for the fountain and pool maintenance.
Newsweek reached out to the Interior Department for comments but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
Social media users have shared critical posts about the fountain’s condition, with thousands of views.
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Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau reportedly gave mixed messages to foreign officials about U.S. support for Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader in Venezuela who wanted to return to help after an earthquake. This caused confusion within the Trump administration and strained relations with Machado's supporters.
Key Facts
The official U.S. policy under President Trump was to not help Machado return to Venezuela.
Chris Landau allegedly communicated conflicting messages to at least two countries about supporting Machado's travel.
Machado planned to travel via Curacao, a Dutch island, despite lacking a valid Venezuelan passport.
The Dutch government initially approved Machado’s travel but reversed permission mid-flight after U.S. officials expressed opposition.
Machado’s supporters were unhappy with the U.S. policy and relations with Maduro’s vice president, whom the U.S. had elevated.
Landau is a former ambassador and is suspected of opposing official U.S. policy toward Venezuela and being too close to Machado.
Landau denied misrepresenting U.S. policy, though internal officials believed he acted independently.
The confusion caused arguments within the State Department and disrupted coordination after the deadly June 24 earthquake in Venezuela.
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The cost of Obamacare health insurance plans is expected to rise by about 14% next year. This increase is due to higher health care costs and the end of special government subsidies, leading to more expensive premiums for many people and causing some healthier individuals to drop their coverage.
Key Facts
Obamacare premiums will go up by a median of 14% in 2027.
Two years in a row have seen double-digit premium increases.
Higher health care costs and expired subsidies are the main reasons for the increase.
People making more than about $64,000 a year will not get extra help with costs.
Rising premiums make healthier people more likely to drop coverage, which raises costs for everyone remaining.
Enrollment in Obamacare plans dropped by about 3 million people from last year, now at 19.2 million.
Democrats say Republicans are responsible for subsidy expiration and higher costs, while the Trump administration blames fraud and improper enrollments.
Medical care and prescription drug costs are rising faster than before, contributing to higher premiums.
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Millions of people in western U.S. states face extreme heat due to a strong weather pattern called a heat dome. Temperatures are expected to be dangerously high through at least Thursday, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke.
Key Facts
Extreme Heat Warnings cover parts of Arizona and California.
Temperatures in some areas could reach up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Phoenix area and south-central Arizona expect highs between 109 and 116 degrees.
Overnight temperatures will remain warm, mostly in the 80s, reducing cooling at night.
The heat dome forms when high pressure traps and heats air near the ground.
Prolonged heat and warm nights create health risks, especially for the elderly, children, and people without AC.
Heat can strain power grids due to higher air-conditioning use.
Officials advise drinking water and staying in air-conditioned places to stay safe.
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In the fiscal year 2025, over 1.3 million people received U.S. green cards, with Mexico being the top country of origin. Most green cards were given through family-based immigration, followed by employment and refugee statuses, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security covering October 2024 to September 2025.
Key Facts
A total of 1,320,080 green cards were issued in fiscal year 2025.
Mexico had the largest number of recipients, with 195,760 green cards issued.
Family-based immigration accounted for the majority, with 684,530 green cards given to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Employment-based green cards were the third largest category, with 159,070 issued.
Refugees and asylum seekers received 116,470 and 60,390 green cards respectively.
The Diversity Visa lottery granted 52,470 green cards.
The data covers the end of the Biden administration and the start of President Trump’s second term.
Since January 2025, President Trump’s administration has introduced new immigration rules increasing scrutiny on green card applications and limiting some pathways to residency.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, received a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire that bankers reported to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) over concerns of possible money laundering. Farage resigned his MP seat in Clacton to trigger a byelection but plans to stand again; he denies wrongdoing and says he was unaware of the NCA report.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire based in Thailand.
Bankers reported this large gift to the National Crime Agency due to concerns it might be linked to money laundering.
The National Crime Agency’s report is not proof of a crime but prompts further investigation.
Farage resigned his MP seat for Clacton to force a byelection, which other major parties are boycotting.
Farage has given different reasons for the gift and claims he was not required to disclose it because he was not a sitting politician when he received it.
Reform UK’s deputy leader accused the NCA of leaking private financial information to the media.
Farage denies any wrongdoing and says he trusts the source of the money.
The gift was partly received after Farage said he would not stand for parliament and partly before he reversed that decision.
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A family in Iowa is using their garden hose to make art by creating water shapes called "water silhouettes." They use this fun activity to cool down during hot weather.
Key Facts
The family is located in Iowa.
They use a garden hose to spray water in creative ways.
The water shapes they make are called "water silhouettes."
This activity helps them stay cool in hot weather.
ABC News reporter Danny News conducted the interview.
The story was shared by ABC News on July 8, 2026.
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President Donald Trump is pushing for a law called the "Save America Act" that would change voting rules, including requiring proof of citizenship and limiting mail-in voting. While the law faces challenges in Congress, Trump may use his presidential powers to challenge election results and influence the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump withdrew his nominee for director of national intelligence and opposed a bipartisan housing bill to pressure Congress on the "Save America Act."
The "Save America Act" demands proof of citizenship and restricts mail-in voting unless voters can justify in-person voting.
The Senate likely does not have enough votes to pass this act.
Trump may use his executive authority to question election results without needing new laws from Congress.
He has ordered federal agencies to create citizenship lists by state to determine voter eligibility.
New Postal Service rules restrict absentee ballot delivery in states not sharing voter data with the federal government.
The FBI has reopened investigations into the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, despite no irregularities being found previously.
Analysts warn Trump might claim election fraud or foreign interference to delay or block certification of election results and push Congress to ignore certain outcomes.
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Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor for suggesting without proof that China caused a major Telstra outage in Australia. The outage disrupted mobile and emergency services, and officials confirmed it was due to a technical issue, not a cyberattack.
Key Facts
A major Telstra outage affected millions of Australians, disrupting mobile calls and data.
The outage also impacted emergency triple-zero calls, which triggered welfare checks.
Telstra said the problem was caused by a time-keeping server error and is now fully resolved.
Communications Minister Anika Wells rejected claims linking the outage to China.
Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor questioned if the outage was linked to a recent Chinese missile test without evidence.
Emergency services minister Kristy McBain criticized a senator for making unnecessary calls to the emergency number during the outage.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will review the incident.
Opposition senator Sarah Henderson called for a quick government report and stronger rules for telcos.
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A man in Melbourne is on trial for allegedly raping his former personal assistant at his home in March 2023. The woman reportedly punched the man and called him a rapist after the assault, while the defense questions her credibility and denies the accusations.
Key Facts
The accused man is a well-known figure in Melbourne but his name is not disclosed in court.
The alleged crimes include two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
The incident allegedly occurred after a night of drinking and drug use at a friend’s home.
The woman said she rejected his advances and was raped twice in his home.
She punched the man and called him a rapist after the assault.
She contacted her mother, who called the police despite her initial reluctance.
The police recorded a 35-minute conversation with the woman shortly after the incident.
The defense argues the woman’s past false claims against police affect her credibility and disputes key parts of her story.
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