The United States has imposed a 17% tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico. This move follows the withdrawal from an agreement meant to protect U.S. tomato growers, which the U.S. government argues was ineffective against unfair pricing. Mexico disputes the claim of unfair pricing and is looking to negotiate a new deal while also seeking alternative markets.
Key Facts
The U.S. has enforced a 17% tariff on tomatoes coming from Mexico.
The tariff was imposed because the U.S. withdrew from an agreement aimed at preventing unfair competition with U.S. tomato growers.
About 70% of tomatoes eaten in the U.S. are imported from Mexico.
U.S. officials believe the tariff will help American growers by encouraging the purchase of U.S. tomatoes.
Mexico denies selling tomatoes at unfairly low prices, claiming their quality is the reason for high demand.
The tariff is likely to increase prices for tomato-based products like pizza sauce and salsa.
Mexico plans to negotiate a new deal with the U.S. and look for new markets for its tomatoes.
The U.S. President has threatened broader tariffs on Mexican goods, citing insufficient action by Mexico on other issues.
Flash flooding caused significant disruption in New York City, stranding subway passengers as water poured into stations and onto train platforms. New Jersey also faced severe flooding, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency due to submerged cars and road closures.
Key Facts
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in New York City subways.
Passengers were stuck inside trains as water entered the stations.
Video showed people on train seats to avoid water.
New Jersey's governor declared a state of emergency.
Flooding in New Jersey submerged cars and closed roads.
President Donald Trump suggested revoking U.S. citizenship from some individuals, like comedian Rosie O’Donnell, though this is not legally possible for those born in the U.S. His administration aims to increase cases of denaturalization, which affects naturalized citizens under specific conditions. A memo from the Justice Department highlights categories for such cases, but political differences are not valid reasons.
Key Facts
President Trump talked about revoking comedian Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship.
U.S.-born citizens cannot lose their citizenship except by giving it up voluntarily.
Denaturalization can affect naturalized citizens under rare, specific circumstances.
The administration wants to pursue more denaturalization cases.
A Justice Department memo outlines priority cases, focusing on national security and gang connections.
The Supreme Court ruled it's unconstitutional to strip native-born citizens of their citizenship.
Trump's statements cannot legally change O'Donnell's or other U.S.-born citizens’ citizenship status.
Political disagreements are not grounds for denaturalization.
Thousands of Afghans, including those who worked with British forces, have been secretly resettled in the U.K. The program was hidden due to security concerns after personal data of Afghans was mistakenly made public in 2022. About 4,500 Afghans have already been relocated, and the plan is expected to help a total of 6,900 people before it ends.
Key Facts
The U.K. secretly resettled Afghans after their identities were leaked in 2022.
The leak affected around 19,000 Afghans who applied to come to the U.K. after the Taliban's takeover.
A superinjunction was used to keep the program secret; it prevented anyone from discussing the program.
The British government spent about 850 million pounds ($1.1 billion) on this resettlement.
Around 4,500 Afghans have been resettled under this program so far.
The plan aims to relocate a total of about 6,900 people by the time it concludes.
An independent review found little evidence that the data leak increased the risk of Taliban retribution.
The program's details were made public by the current Labour Party government.
The Mississippi River is facing serious environmental challenges like pollution and flooding, which threaten both the river and the people who rely on it. PBS News is hosting a live discussion with experts to talk about these issues and possible solutions.
Key Facts
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America.
Pollution, flooding, and land loss are key threats to the river and nearby communities.
The river is a vital source of drinking water for over 18 million people.
More than 500 million tons of cargo, worth almost $100 billion, are transported on the river each year.
PBS News will hold a live discussion on the river's challenges on July 16 at 7 p.m. EDT.
The event will feature experts from the University of Minnesota’s Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory.
Inflation in the United States reached its highest point since February last month due to tariffs, which are extra taxes on imports placed by President Trump. Consumer prices went up 2.7% in June compared to the previous year, affecting various goods like furniture and appliances. The Federal Reserve is cautious about changing interest rates because of the rising inflation.
Key Facts
Inflation in the U.S. rose to 2.7% in June compared to the previous year.
Prices increased by 0.3% from May to June.
Core inflation, which doesn’t include food and energy, rose 2.9% over the past year.
Tariffs placed by President Trump have contributed to the higher costs of goods.
Trump's tariffs include 10% on all imports and higher rates on steel, aluminum, and cars.
The Federal Reserve is hesitant to cut interest rates despite Trump's pressure.
Some companies, like Walmart and Mitsubishi, are raising prices due to the tariffs.
President Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not reducing interest rates.
President Trump has changed his tone on Russia and Ukraine, proposing tough actions like economic penalties if Russia doesn't agree to a ceasefire soon. Senator Richard Blumenthal emphasized that Trump's new approach should involve tangible actions, such as imposing high tariffs on Russian goods and increasing military support to Ukraine.
Key Facts
President Trump has shifted his stance on Russia, moving from friendly terms to frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump set a 50-day deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, threatening economic penalties if they do not comply.
The proposed penalties include increasing tariffs on Russian goods entering the U.S. and targeting countries trading with Russia.
Trump announced plans to resume U.S. weapon deliveries to Ukraine and proposed selling weapons to NATO allies for Ukrainian use.
Senator Richard Blumenthal co-sponsors a bill allowing 500% tariffs on goods from countries trading with Russia to pressure Russia economically.
The shift in Trump's approach is partly attributed to the ongoing violence against civilians in Ukraine.
Blumenthal highlighted the need for real action following Trump's change in attitude, including significant military aid to Ukraine.
A research program by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has gathered DNA from over a million veterans, creating a large genetic database for medical research. However, the future of the project is uncertain because agreements needed for using supercomputers have not been renewed, threatening ongoing and future research.
Key Facts
Over a million veterans have donated their DNA to the Million Veteran Program for medical research.
The program is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Research from the program has led to breakthroughs in understanding genetic links to diseases like anxiety and peripheral artery disease.
The program helps answer health questions relevant to both veterans and the general population.
The VA relies on the Energy Department's supercomputers to analyze the complex genetic data.
Key agreements to use these supercomputers are currently unsigned and some are expiring soon.
The delay in renewing these agreements may harm ongoing research and cause funding problems.
The research focuses on veteran-specific health issues, such as mental health risks and exposure to harmful substances.
An appeals court extended temporary protected status (TPS) for nearly 12,000 Afghans in the United States just before it was set to expire. This extension allows Afghans to stay legally while the court decides on a lawsuit challenging the decision to end TPS.
Key Facts
An appeals court temporarily extended TPS for almost 12,000 Afghans in the US.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Virginia issued the stay.
CASA, an immigration advocacy group, requested the emergency stay.
The US Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration planned to end TPS for Afghans.
The court is quickly reviewing the case and has requested more written arguments from both sides.
TPS lets Afghans live and work legally in the US and blocks their deportation.
About 180,000 Afghans have come to the US since the Taliban regained control in 2021.
Advocacy groups argue that returning Afghans face danger from the Taliban, especially women and those who assisted the US.
Four astronauts on Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule, landing in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. Over their 20-day mission, they conducted scientific work on the International Space Station.
Key Facts
The Ax-4 mission was a private mission led by Axiom Space.
Four astronauts participated: Peggy Whitson (U.S.), Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
The crew spent 18 days on the International Space Station.
They completed around 60 scientific experiments and research studies.
The mission marked the first time in decades that India, Poland, and Hungary sent national astronauts to space.
The crew flew in a new SpaceX capsule called Grace.
Peggy Whitson increased her total time in space to 695 days, setting a record for a U.S. astronaut.
This was the 18th human spaceflight launched by SpaceX.
Thousands of volunteers are helping to search for people missing after deadly floods in central Texas that killed over 130 people earlier this month. Bad weather has made it harder to find the missing people.
Key Facts
More than 130 people died due to floods in central Texas earlier in July.
Around 14,000 volunteers are involved in efforts to find at least 100 people still missing.
The floods happened on July 4.
Recent storms have made it difficult to continue recovery efforts.
The search operations are ongoing, with community support playing a key role.
A wildfire in Grand Canyon National Park has destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Arizona's governor is questioning how the National Park Service managed the fire.
Key Facts
A wildfire occurred in Grand Canyon National Park.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed by the fire.
Arizona's governor is seeking information on how the fire was handled by the National Park Service.
The incident was reported in the morning on July 15, 2025.
The lodge was an important historical building in the park.
A man who previously ran for county sheriff in Colorado has been arrested. He is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail, which is a homemade bomb, into a county clerk's office and aiming for the voting machines.
Key Facts
A man was arrested in Colorado.
He allegedly used a Molotov cocktail, which is a type of homemade firebomb.
The incident took place in a county clerk's office.
The target appeared to be the county's voting machines.
The man had previously run for the position of county sheriff.
President Trump signed a law on July 4 that removes tax benefits for wind and solar energy projects. This is expected to increase electricity bills across the U.S., especially in states without their own renewable energy policies.
Key Facts
The new law ends tax incentives for wind and solar energy projects.
Energy Innovation, a think tank, predicts higher electricity bills in the U.S.
States without renewable energy policies, like Oklahoma, may see significant rate hikes.
Oklahoma's electricity rates could increase by 60% to 350% over the next decade.
Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas may also face electricity rate increases of 48%, 39%, and 30%, respectively.
The law will likely cause a shift to more natural gas electricity production, which is costlier.
President Trump has described wind and solar energy negatively and aims to boost U.S. energy production.
Federal tax incentives have supported wind and solar industries in the U.S. for decades.
Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, often linked to traditional currencies like the US dollar. They are gaining attention because big companies and banks are looking into using them, and new laws are being considered to regulate them. Although stablecoins offer easier and quicker money transfers, they also face risks since they are new and regulations are still being developed.
Key Facts
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that aim to keep a stable value by being backed by real money or assets, like the US dollar or gold.
Companies such as Amazon and Walmart, along with banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, are interested in using stablecoins.
New U.S. legislation might soon regulate stablecoins, integrating them into formal financial systems.
Stablecoins enable fast and low-cost money transfers across borders, bypassing traditional banks and money transfer companies.
Risks include regulatory uncertainty and potential misuse by criminals, like hackers and drug dealers.
In the stablecoin market, USDC from Circle and USDT from Tether are major players.
The stablecoin market's total value is around $250 billion, and it is expanding rapidly.
Megan and Stephen Alger, a couple with eight children and expecting a ninth, prefer home births over hospital deliveries. They live in Augusta, Georgia, and have chosen to homeschool their children while raising them with minimal medical intervention. Their views align with a movement advocating for larger families and skepticism towards medical institutions.
Key Facts
Megan and Stephen Alger live in Augusta, Georgia, with their eight children and are expecting a ninth.
Megan has chosen to deliver most of her babies at home instead of in a hospital.
The family practices homeschooling, which means teaching their children at home rather than sending them to a traditional school.
The Algers' views align with a movement called pronatalism, which encourages having more children.
They express skepticism towards medical institutions, choosing to raise their children with minimal medical intervention such as vaccinations.
Megan and Stephen felt validated by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance against vaccines and certain American food systems.
A study mentioned shows a decline in trust in doctors and hospitals by 30 percentage points.
Republicans in Congress are trying to change how the U.S. counts people for voting maps by excluding noncitizens from some census numbers. Currently, these counts include everyone living in each state, as required by the 14th Amendment. The proposed bills would subtract noncitizens from the 2030 census count used to allocate House seats and Electoral College votes.
Key Facts
Republicans want to exclude noncitizens from census numbers that decide House and Electoral College representation.
The proposal would change the standard practice set by the 14th Amendment to count everyone.
Three bills have been introduced this year to adjust how noncitizens are counted.
A new bill prevents the Census Bureau from including noncitizens without legal status in 2030 numbers used for voting purposes.
A House Appropriations subcommittee will soon decide on this bill.
Two other bills suggest excluding all noncitizens, including green-card and visa holders.
To support this, census forms may include a question about citizenship, which could affect accuracy.
These changes aim to reshape voting maps for Congress and the presidency.
This week, the Senate is set to vote on a proposal from the Trump administration to cut $9.4 billion in federal funding. The proposal includes reductions for public media, like NPR and PBS, and foreign aid programs. Some Republican senators are concerned about the proposed cuts and are advocating for changes.
Key Facts
The Senate plans to vote on cutting federal funds for public media and foreign aid programs.
The House has already approved the cuts, which total $9.4 billion.
GOP senators are considering changes to the proposed cuts, especially regarding public media and foreign aid.
The proposal includes eliminating $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Some senators argue cutting funds could harm local public media stations, especially in rural areas.
There is concern about reducing funds for PEPFAR, a program fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
President Trump urged Republicans to support the cuts, particularly the defunding of public broadcasting.
The Senate can pass the measure if it loses no more than three Republican votes.
Wealthy landowners and charities have started a legal challenge in the High Court against the UK government's reforms to the leasehold and freehold property system. They argue that the laws violate their rights and could result in significant financial losses. Meanwhile, leaseholders are worried that this legal case will delay reforms aimed at simplifying and reducing the costs of lease arrangements.
Key Facts
A judicial review is happening in the High Court about property reforms.
Landowners argue the reforms violate their rights to enjoy private property.
The reforms aim to simplify and make extending and buying leases cheaper.
Some landowners say their financial losses could be in hundreds of millions.
There are about 4.5 million leasehold property owners in England and Wales.
Leaseholders worry that the legal case may delay necessary reforms.
The UK government plans to introduce more related laws later this year.
Labour promises to abolish leasehold and switch to a commonhold model.
An appeals court decided to keep protections for about 12,000 Afghans in the U.S., preventing their temporary protected status (TPS) from ending as planned. This decision followed a lawsuit by CASA, an immigrant advocacy group, against the U.S. government's move to end these protections, which allow Afghans to work and avoid deportation.
Key Facts
An appeals court temporarily extended TPS for about 12,000 Afghans.
TPS allows these individuals to work and protects them from deportation.
The lawsuit was filed by CASA, a nonprofit advocacy group.
The Department of Homeland Security initially planned to end TPS for Afghans.
The appeals court's decision is temporary, with further deliberations expected.
About 180,000 Afghans have come to the U.S. since 2021.
TPS is a temporary protection given by the U.S. government but does not lead to citizenship.
