Lord Jim O'Neill, an economist advising Prime Minister Andy Burnham, announced he will not take a formal role in Burnham’s government. He said he wants to keep control of his business interests and avoid the legal rules that come with government jobs.
Key Facts
Lord Jim O'Neill has been advising Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of a regional government.
O'Neill decided not to accept a formal government position.
He does not disagree with Burnham’s policies, especially on devolution (shifting power to local governments).
Taking a government role would require placing shares in blind trusts to avoid conflicts of interest.
O'Neill was previously a Treasury minister under the Conservative Party from 2015-2016.
He was once the chief economist at Goldman Sachs.
O'Neill helped create the "Northern Powerhouse" plan to boost northern England's economy.
He coined the term "BRIC" to describe fast-growing countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
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President Donald Trump has often interrupted reporters, especially female journalists, when he hears questions he prefers not to answer. The BBC examined the reasons behind his reactions and identified the kinds of questions that prompt him to stop reporters from speaking.
Key Facts
President Trump has frequently shut down reporters during press events.
Female journalists are often the targets of these interruptions.
The president reacts strongly to questions he finds uncomfortable or challenging.
These reactions include public insults and demands for quiet.
The BBC analyzed what topics or questions trigger these responses.
This behavior happens during official press interactions.
The article focuses on understanding the reasons behind Trump’s reactions.
It gives examples of questions that the president tends to avoid.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll plans to leave his position near the end of 2026 after ongoing conflicts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The tension between these two Pentagon officials has lasted several months.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll is the current Army Secretary.
Driscoll intends to resign around the end of 2026.
He has been in a dispute with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth previously worked in the White House.
The conflict between Driscoll and Hegseth has lasted for months.
Multiple sources familiar with the situation confirmed these details.
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A laptop caught fire on an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas Fort Worth, causing smoke and possible burn injuries to four or five passengers. The plane landed safely, and one passenger was treated and released after the incident.
Key Facts
The laptop fire happened mid-flight on American Airlines Flight 2398.
There were 133 people on board the plane.
The pilot reported smoke and said four to five passengers might have been burned.
Flight attendants worked to put out the fire during the flight.
The flight landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
One passenger received treatment after landing and was released.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns that lithium batteries in devices like laptops can overheat and catch fire.
This year, there have been at least 56 reported incidents involving lithium battery fires or overheating on flights.
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Last year, the U.S. government deported Cuban immigrant Yasmany Moreno de Armas and several others to the Central African Republic, a very poor and dangerous country in Africa. These people were not warned about their deportation destination and have no documents, leaving them stranded far from their families.
Key Facts
Yasmany Moreno de Armas, a Cuban immigrant living in Florida, was deported to the Central African Republic in July.
He learned of his deportation destination only after arriving in the African country.
The Central African Republic faces poverty, armed conflict, political instability, and contains Russian mercenaries.
The U.S. has agreements with over 30 countries, including African nations, to accept deportees from America.
Many deportees, like Moreno de Armas and Eritrea native Zena Gebrgzabher, were not notified or allowed to challenge their deportation.
Both men have minor criminal records related to immigration but no major offenses.
Moreno de Armas fears danger if sent back to Cuba because he was previously imprisoned there for trying to leave illegally.
The deportations are part of President Trump’s immigration crackdown targeting immigrants whose home countries refuse or restrict U.S. deportations.
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The U.S. government has ordered big cuts to water use from the Colorado River for Arizona, California, and Nevada because of drought and low water levels. These cuts will start in 2027 and last for two years, reducing water delivery by 1.25 million acre-feet each year.
Key Facts
The Colorado River supplies water to more than 35 million people across seven U.S. states and Mexico.
The federal government planned larger cuts but settled on reducing supplies by 1.25 million acre-feet per year for two years.
Arizona will reduce its water use by 760,000 acre-feet, California by 440,000, and Nevada by 50,000, based on a voluntary agreement.
The government encourages the states to save an additional 700,000 acre-feet over two years.
Cuts were necessary because Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two biggest reservoirs, are at record-low water levels due to drought and climate change.
The Department of the Interior may require further cuts depending on water conditions in the next 10 years.
No cuts were ordered for the Upper Basin states like Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
The government wants to keep Lake Powell above a level where the dam can generate electricity.
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The US Postal Service (USPS) plans to enforce new rules that require states to share voter information with the federal government before the November midterm elections. These rules are currently blocked by court orders, but USPS is ready to act if the courts lift those blocks.
Key Facts
USPS wants states to provide voter lists to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
States must follow new balloting procedures before USPS delivers mail-in ballots.
If states don’t comply, USPS will refuse to deliver some ballots.
Federal courts in California and Massachusetts have blocked these new rules for now.
The federal government has sued 30 states and Washington DC for not sharing voter information.
USPS issued the rule following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March.
The new rules would take effect if the court injunctions are lifted before the November elections.
About one-third of Americans voted by mail in 2024, and President Trump has used mail-in voting himself.
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President Donald Trump’s legal team threatened to sue the Center for American Progress (CAP), a left-leaning think tank, over a report saying National Guard deployments did not reduce violent crime. CAP rejected the threat, saying the report is based on facts and protected by free speech.
Key Facts
President Trump’s lawyer demanded CAP retract, apologize, and pay damages over a July report on National Guard deployments.
The report found no evidence that sending National Guard troops to cities reduced violent crime.
CAP refused to retract the report, defending it as truthful and protected by the First Amendment.
National Guard troops were deployed to several cities in 2025 to support federal law enforcement amid protests and crime concerns.
The FBI reported that violent crime rates went down nationwide in 2025.
Legal experts say it is hard for public figures like the president to win defamation lawsuits because they must prove statements were made with actual malice.
CAP’s president said such lawsuits threaten free public debate and independent research.
President Trump has a history of filing lawsuits against political opponents or critics.
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President Donald Trump visited Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to support Senator Darline Graham in the upcoming primary runoff election. He encouraged Republicans to vote in the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump traveled to Myrtle Beach to rally support for Sen. Darline Graham, a Republican from South Carolina.
The visit took place ahead of a primary runoff election next week.
President Trump urged Republican voters to participate in the November midterm elections.
He made a comment about Senator Lindsey Graham’s respect for Darline Graham.
The event was focused on building support in a traditionally pro-Trump area.
The primary runoff is an important step before the general election in November.
The goal was to help Darline Graham secure her party’s nomination.
Encouraging voter turnout was a key part of President Trump’s message.
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President Donald Trump campaigned with Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina ahead of a runoff election to fill the late Senator Lindsey Graham's seat. Despite some concerns about her knowledge of foreign policy, Darline Graham received President Trump’s endorsement and emphasized focusing on domestic issues.
Key Facts
President Trump campaigned for Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina before a special primary runoff.
The runoff will decide who replaces the late Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot.
Darline Graham did not get more than 50% of votes in the crowded primary, so a runoff is required.
President Trump said he supports Graham and asked voters to "pretend" he is on the ballot to encourage turnout.
Darline Graham was appointed to finish her late brother’s term after he passed away in July.
Graham admitted she is not very informed on national security issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.
President Trump defended her honesty and intelligence despite her admission.
Other Republican leaders also spoke at the rally, including Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and Senators Tim Scott and Representative Russell Fry.
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California state Senator Aisha Wahab has won a special election to fill the U.S. House seat left by Eric Swalwell, despite heavy spending by pro-Israel groups supporting her opponent. Wahab will represent California’s 14th congressional district until January and is set to become the first Afghan American member of Congress.
Key Facts
Aisha Wahab won the special election for California’s 14th congressional district.
Wahab defeated Melissa Hernandez, a moderate Democrat backed by pro-Israel groups.
Pro-Israel groups spent over $4 million to support Hernandez through advertising and campaigns.
Wahab has called the district her home and said her victory shows the district cannot be bought.
Wahab is the first Afghan American expected to join the U.S. Congress.
The election followed Swalwell’s resignation amid denied sexual assault allegations.
Wahab supports economic and social justice and has spoken against the war in Gaza.
Wahab will face Hernandez again in the November general election for the full term.
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The White House responded to comedian Rosie O’Donnell’s jokes about President Trump and his team on a TV show. A White House representative criticized O’Donnell harshly in a public statement.
Key Facts
Rosie O’Donnell made comments about President Trump and his administration on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The White House responded the same day with a statement from spokesperson Davis Ingle.
The statement described Rosie O’Donnell with negative words and insulted her intelligence.
The exchange occurred in the context of ongoing public criticism and disputes involving President Trump.
This public response shows the White House’s willingness to engage with and counter celebrities’ criticisms directly.
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TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit about violating children’s privacy laws. The case involved claims that TikTok collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent and did not delete accounts as requested.
Key Facts
TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million later after a previous legal agreement is lifted.
The lawsuit claimed TikTok and its parent company ByteDance broke a law protecting children’s online privacy.
The law requires apps aimed at kids to get permission from parents before collecting personal data.
TikTok allegedly ignored parents’ requests to delete their children's accounts and kept accounts even after knowing users were under 13.
In 2024, TikTok changed its U.S. ownership by partnering with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX for a new U.S. joint venture.
The settlement aims to strengthen protections for children using social media.
Other companies like Meta (Instagram’s parent company) also face legal challenges over children’s privacy.
The case is part of a larger effort to improve online safety for young users and enforce privacy laws.
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Federal officials announced that California, Nevada, and Arizona must reduce their use of Colorado River water by 1.25 million acre-feet each year for the next two years because the river’s water levels are dangerously low. Mexico will also cut back its water use due to an agreement with the U.S. The Colorado River faces a long drought, and the current water-sharing rules expire soon without a long-term agreement among the seven states involved.
Key Facts
California, Nevada, and Arizona will reduce their Colorado River water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually for two years.
Arizona will have the largest water use cuts among the three states.
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico do not face water cuts at this time.
Mexico will reduce its Colorado River water use by 250,000 acre-feet under a treaty with the U.S.
The Colorado River is experiencing a 26-year drought, making water supply critical.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs fed by the river, are at their lowest levels in nearly 70 years.
The seven Colorado River states have been unable to reach a long-term water-sharing agreement before current rules expire in October.
Officials say the cuts are a short-term solution while talks on a permanent plan continue.
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Liberia received the first group of about 20 deportees sent from the United States to a "third country," meaning a place where they have no direct connections. Some of these deportees refused to get off the plane when it landed in Liberia.
Key Facts
Liberia welcomed roughly 20 deportees from the U.S. on a plane arrival day.
These deportees are called "third country" deportees because they are sent to a country they are not originally from and have no clear ties to.
Some passengers on the plane refused to leave the aircraft after it landed in Liberia.
The Trump administration arranged agreements with at least 35 countries to accept such deportees.
The deportation program involves moving people to countries other than their home country or the U.S.
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Democratic primary voters have recently chosen several candidates who won against opponents supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). This shift reflects changing opinions within the Democratic Party about U.S. support for Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
Key Facts
Several Democratic candidates won primary races despite heavy financial support for their opponents from AIPAC and related groups.
These wins occurred in states including Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, and California.
Some progressive Democratic candidates openly criticize the Israeli government’s actions and still secured victories.
AIPAC is a major pro-Israel advocacy group that spends money to support favored candidates through political action committees and super PACs.
Public opinion in the U.S. about Israel has become more divided since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza.
A recent AP-NORC poll shows 58% of Democrats believe the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45% earlier in 2024.
Support for Palestinians has increased among Democrats, with 62% saying the U.S. does not support Palestinians enough.
Among Jewish Americans surveyed, 32% view Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu favorably, while 59% hold an unfavorable opinion.
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Powerful storms caused multiple tornadoes and record rainfall across the East Coast and other parts of the United States. These severe weather events led to significant damage in several areas.
Key Facts
The storms produced several tornadoes on the East Coast.
There was record-breaking rainfall in multiple locations.
The severe weather affected a wide region, not just one state.
The storms caused damage and disruption for residents.
Emergency services responded to the tornadoes and flooding.
These events are part of unusual and intense weather patterns recently seen in the U.S.
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Dr. Phillip Resnick, a psychiatrist known for his role in the Andrea Yates case, testified in the trial of Lindsay Clancy. His testimony was part of Clancy’s defense in a child-killing case.
Key Facts
Dr. Phillip Resnick is a psychiatrist who previously helped in the Andrea Yates case in 2001.
Andrea Yates was acquitted in her child-killing case after his testimony.
Dr. Resnick testified on behalf of Lindsay Clancy.
Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for a child-killing case.
The testimony took place on a Friday.
The case is high profile, meaning it has drawn a lot of public attention.
CBS News reported this information.
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President Donald Trump defended Republican Senator Darline Graham after she said she was “not that informed” about national security during a debate. Trump praised her as honest and smart and said she focuses on issues like grocery prices while relying on experts for security matters.
Key Facts
Senator Darline Graham openly admitted limited knowledge about national security in a recent Republican debate.
Her comment came during a question about U.S. interests in Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Graham faces a runoff election against Representative Ralph Norman in South Carolina on August 25.
President Trump publicly supported Graham, calling her response honest and emphasizing she is surrounded by knowledgeable people.
Trump said Graham focuses on everyday issues such as grocery prices rather than foreign policy.
Graham was appointed to the Senate seat after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, passed away.
The White House highlighted Trump’s record on tax cuts, border security, crime, and energy ahead of his visit to South Carolina.
Graham acknowledged critics who say she is not a politician but pointed out that President Trump hadn’t held elected office before becoming president.
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An 8-year-old boy named Fletcher Merkel was killed in a school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis on August 27, 2025. His parents keep his bedroom as it was to remember him and show what was lost in such tragedies. A Netflix short documentary called "All the Empty Rooms" captures these spaces to raise awareness about the impact of school shootings.
Key Facts
Fletcher Merkel was 8 years old and died in a school shooting in Minneapolis.
The shooting happened at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27, 2025.
Fletcher’s parents keep his bedroom unchanged as a memorial to him.
The room shows his interests, like Legos, the Green Bay Packers, Cub Scouts, and a journal.
Photographer Lou Bopp and a filmmaker created a Netflix short documentary called "All the Empty Rooms" featuring the bedrooms of children who died in school shootings.
The documentary won an Academy Award in March 2026.
The project continues to document these rooms to help others understand the personal loss of gun violence in schools.
Fletcher’s parents hope that seeing his room might make people feel the impact and work to prevent future shootings.
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