The United States ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, which were initially deployed to support immigration enforcement during protests. The removal is happening as the situation in Los Angeles calms, and legal actions and peaceful protests continue.
Key Facts
The U.S. Secretary of Defense ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to leave Los Angeles, which had about 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines sent there.
President Trump initially deployed troops to help with immigration raids amid protests.
The raids led to the arrest of 2,792 undocumented immigrants according to reports.
A federal judge barred immigration officers from detaining people based solely on race or language.
Mayor Karen Bass credited peaceful protests and legal actions for the troop withdrawal.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the ongoing federal troop presence, affecting state duties like firefighting.
A U.S. appeals court allowed Trump to keep control of California's National Guard.
Los Angeles is a sanctuary city, offering protection to undocumented residents.
The Pentagon announced it will end the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. These troops were part of a larger group sent to manage protests in the city related to federal immigration policies. The decision comes after two months of deployment during which protests and law enforcement clashes occurred.
Key Facts
The Pentagon is withdrawing 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles.
These troops are nearly half of the 4,000 National Guard members initially deployed in early June.
The deployment was in response to protests against immigration policies from the Trump administration.
The exact reason for the sudden end to the deployment is not clear.
California's top military commander requested the return of some troops to help fight wildfires.
There were clashes between law enforcement and protesters, involving tear gas and rubber bullets.
Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew aimed at protecting businesses and restoring order.
California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the deployment and filed a lawsuit against it, citing legal concerns.
Fewer school-age children in Australia are using vapes following a government ban on disposable vapes. A study showed that vaping among 14 to 17-year-olds dropped from 17.5% to 14.6% since the ban began. Australia now requires a prescription to purchase nicotine vapes legally.
Key Facts
Vaping rates for school-aged children in Australia decreased after the ban on disposable vapes.
The study, Generation Vape, tracked a drop in vaping from 17.5% to 14.6% among 14 to 17-year-olds between January and April 2023.
People over 15 also showed more than a one-third reduction in vaping rates.
The new laws, effective from July 2024, ban the production, import, advertisement, and supply of single-use vapes.
Nicotine vapes can be legally bought only with a prescription from pharmacies.
Officials have seized over 10 million illegal vapes in the past year.
85.4% of young people surveyed said they never vaped, and interest in trying vapes is declining.
Despite the laws, vape sales continue through tobacconists and vape shops.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to run as an independent in the New York City mayoral race after losing the Democratic primary. Former President Donald Trump expressed support for Cuomo's decision to stay in the race but stopped short of fully endorsing him. The race involves Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, who has faced criticism from Trump and others, and is also contested by other candidates like Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Key Facts
Andrew Cuomo announced he will run as an independent in the NYC mayoral race after losing the Democratic primary.
Donald Trump expressed support for Cuomo continuing in the race, but did not formally endorse him.
The race includes other candidates, such as Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Trump has criticized Mamdani, associating him with communism, an assertion not supported by Mamdani's political platform.
Mamdani's campaign has emphasized affordability as a key issue.
Trump previously suggested that he could use presidential powers if Mamdani wins, claiming he would "save" NYC.
Cuomo resigned as New York governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations.
Some Republicans have used Islamophobic language against Mamdani, who is of South Asian descent, and have questioned his support for Palestinian rights.
The U.S. has asked Israel to investigate the death of American citizen Sayfollah Musallet, who was killed in the West Bank. The U.S. ambassador to Israel called the incident a "terrorist act" and urged a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, some American lawmakers are asking for more accountability and for the U.S. to conduct its own investigation.
Key Facts
Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American, was killed in the West Bank.
The U.S. ambassador to Israel has called for a strong investigation by Israel.
Musallet was visiting family in the Palestinian town of Sinjil when he was attacked.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador, described the incident as a "terrorist act."
Musallet was the ninth U.S. citizen killed by Israel since 2022, with no charges in previous cases.
Some U.S. lawmakers are demanding accountability and an independent U.S. investigation.
Israeli settlers have been involved in increased attacks on Palestinians, supported at times by the military.
Israel claims it is investigating the incident, stating the violence started with rock throwing by Palestinians.
US President Donald Trump announced a tariff agreement with Indonesia. The deal involves reducing US tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% in exchange for Indonesia allowing more access for American businesses. Indonesia also agreed to buy US energy, agricultural products, and Boeing jets.
Key Facts
Trump has agreed to lower tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%.
Indonesia will allow increased access for American companies.
Indonesia will purchase $15 billion in US energy, $4.5 billion in agricultural products, and 50 Boeing jets.
The deal follows a recent series of US tariff announcements.
Indonesia was previously warned of a potential 32% tariff on its goods.
The agreement with Indonesia is not officially confirmed by the Indonesian government yet.
Similar trade deals have been announced with the UK, China, and Vietnam.
Some terms in these trade deals are still unresolved.
Michael Petrilli, leader of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, discusses plans by the Trump administration to reduce the Education Department's role. This conversation took place on NPR's "All Things Considered."
Key Facts
Michael Petrilli is the head of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is a think tank focused on education policy.
NPR's Ailsa Chang interviewed Petrilli.
The interview covered the Trump administration's efforts.
The Trump administration is looking to lessen the Education Department's responsibilities.
This discussion was aired on NPR's program "All Things Considered."
A new report indicates that prices for many items have gone up, with inflation increasing partly due to tariffs introduced by President Trump. This situation might influence the Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates while the president's team is putting pressure on the Fed’s leader, Jerome Powell.
Key Facts
A report shows that inflation, or the general increase in prices, has risen.
Prices for many goods have increased partly because of tariffs. Tariffs are extra costs added to goods from other countries.
President Trump imposed these tariffs during his tenure.
The Federal Reserve, which influences money and borrowing in the economy, will consider this inflation when deciding about cutting interest rates.
Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money. Cutting them can make borrowing cheaper.
President Trump and his team have increased their efforts to influence Fed Chair Jerome Powell's decisions.
Discussion about these developments was held between William Brangham and David Wessel.
The White House decided not to pursue $400 billion in immediate budget cuts. These cuts would have affected global programs to fight HIV, AIDS, and possibly other major health initiatives.
Key Facts
The White House initially planned to make $400 billion in budget cuts.
These cuts targeted global efforts against HIV and AIDS.
Other important health programs were potentially included in these cuts.
The Senate is reviewing the package of budget cuts over two days.
The decision to back off these cuts came shortly before the Senate's discussion.
A U.S. judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot stop approved refugees from entering the country using a travel ban. The decision underscores that the recent executive order by Trump does not apply to those seeking refugee status.
Key Facts
A federal judge ruled against President Trump's administration using a travel ban to block refugees.
The judge's decision states that the executive order does not apply to refugees.
The ban affects 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar.
The ruling allows 80 refugees, already vetted, to enter the U.S.
The court temporarily paused ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans.
Trump stopped the U.S. refugee admissions program at the start of his second term.
Advocacy groups have challenged the administration's changes to immigration policies.
A prior court ruling was paused, allowing the president control over entry decisions.
The end of a U.S. government aid program may affect a project aimed at providing water to dry areas in central Kenya. Reporters from a journalism organization visited the region to examine the impact of this American assistance.
Key Facts
The U.S. government’s aid program, USAID, is ending its mission in Kenya.
This may jeopardize a water project designed to help regions suffering from drought in central Kenya.
Journalists from the Pulitzer Center traveled to Kenya to investigate the situation.
The focus of the investigation was on the effects of American foreign aid in the area.
The water project was intended to help communities by supplying much-needed water.
Comedian Sammy Obeid uses his comedy to talk about serious topics like the war in Gaza. He appeared in an arts and culture series to share his perspective.
Key Facts
Sammy Obeid is a Palestinian American comedian.
He uses comedy to address serious issues.
One of the topics he discusses is the war in Gaza.
Obeid was interviewed by Amna Nawaz.
This interview was part of a series called CANVAS, focusing on arts and culture.
President Trump has proposed a plan to cut $9.4 billion from various programs that Congress had already approved, mainly targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting. This proposal, known as the rescissions package, needs majority approval in Congress to take effect by a set deadline.
Key Facts
The rescissions package requests Congress to cancel $9.4 billion in approved funding.
The proposed cuts include $8.3 billion from foreign aid and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting (PBS and NPR).
Public broadcasting supports more than 1,500 local stations through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
For the cuts to be approved, both the House and Senate must pass them, with the Senate vote being crucial.
The House narrowly passed the proposal in June with a vote of 214-212.
Some Senate Republicans, such as Senators Susan Collins, Jerry Moran, and Lisa Murkowski, expressed concerns about specific program cuts.
The proposal also affects funding for global health programs like the U.S. President’s Emergency Relief Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Senator Mike Rounds switched to support the bill after receiving assurances about funding for rural, Native American radio stations.
A federal judge has decided that medical debt can appear on Americans' credit reports, overturning a rule from the Biden administration. This rule was meant to prevent lenders from using medical debt when deciding on a person's creditworthiness. The decision affects about 100 million Americans who have healthcare debt.
Key Facts
A federal judge in Texas ruled that medical debt can stay on credit reports.
This ruling overturns a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule aimed at removing medical debts from credit reports.
The CFPB created this rule to stop medical debt from impacting lending decisions.
The judge stated that the CFPB exceeded its authority with this rule.
About 100 million Americans have healthcare-related debt.
Credit scores help decide if a person can buy a home, get a car loan, or make other financial choices.
Some advocacy groups oppose the decision, saying it hurts people with medical debt.
The Consumer Data Industry Association supports the ruling, saying it helps protect lenders.
Many state agencies that oversee nursing homes do not have enough staff. This shortage of workers means residents in nursing homes may face higher risks of abuse and neglect.
Key Facts
Nursing home oversight refers to monitoring and checking that nursing homes follow rules.
Many state agencies responsible for this oversight lack enough staff members.
This understaffing can lead to less frequent or thorough inspections.
Advocates are people who support and speak up for others, like nursing home residents.
These advocates are concerned that the lack of oversight increases the chance of harm to residents.
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes include things like not providing enough care or leaving residents without help.
A storm in the U.S. Northeast caused severe flooding. Two people died in New Jersey when their car was carried away by floodwaters. The heavy rain also flooded parts of New York City's subway, causing disruptions.
Key Facts
A storm in the Northeast U.S. led to two deaths in Plainfield, New Jersey, when a car was swept into a brook.
Another person died in North Plainfield in a prior storm on July 3.
Central Park, NYC, recorded its second-highest one-hour rainfall, exceeding 2 inches.
Floods disrupted the New York City subway, overwhelming the sewer system and causing backups.
Subway service was restored after workers repaired flood damage overnight.
Videos showed water pouring into a Manhattan subway station during the storm.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, experienced heavy rain with about 7 inches, prompting water rescues.
Roads remained closed in parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey due to flood damage.
The Senate is discussing whether to stop giving money to public media. The Cato Institute, a libertarian organization, argues that the government should not fund public media.
Key Facts
The Senate is considering halting financial support for public media.
Public media refers to organizations like radio and TV stations that serve the public.
The Cato Institute is a think tank known for promoting smaller government.
Cato believes government funding of public media should be stopped.
Some public media stations might face challenges if funding ends.
The discussion is part of a broader debate about government roles and responsibilities.
In 2015, Wimberley, Texas, experienced a severe flash flood over Memorial Day weekend. Ten years later, the town has rebuilt while taking precautions against future floods, though residents still feel the emotional impact.
Key Facts
Wimberley, Texas, faced a major flash flood during Memorial Day weekend in 2015.
The flood had a significant impact on the town, causing widespread damage.
By 2025, the town focused on rebuilding and planning for potential future floods.
Emotional effects from the flood remain with the community.
Reconstruction efforts include measures to handle similar disasters better.
Authorities in Kerr County, Texas, plan to drain at least one lake swollen by recent flooding to help search for around 100 missing people and remove dangerous debris. The lakes along the Guadalupe River may contain items washed away during the flood, making this process challenging. Officials are concerned about the cost and complexity, especially due to protected species in the area.
Key Facts
Kerr County, Texas, experienced severe flash flooding on July 4, leaving about 100 people missing.
Authorities plan to drain at least one lake to search for missing people and clear debris.
The floodwaters carried many items into the lakes, including propane tanks and kitchen appliances.
Objects such as trailers might be buried under the water and gravel in the lakes.
Local officials are using dive teams and sonar to help in the search efforts.
Draining the lakes could be complex and expensive, partly due to endangered species in the area.
A temporary memorial has been set up near Nimitz Lake, a main water source for Kerrville.
Residents express a strong commitment to finding all missing individuals.
The Trump administration plans to take back billions in foreign aid after a thorough review. However, USAID officials say they did not conduct a review of the programs that were ended.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants to recover billions of dollars allocated for foreign aid.
They claim to have done a detailed review to decide on this action.
USAID is a government agency that administers foreign aid.
Officials from USAID said they did not review the foreign aid programs they stopped.
The process or criteria for the review were not detailed in the article.
