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Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to move forward with a Senate vote on a bill that would give $1.3 billion to help Ukraine with security and increase sanctions on Russia. The House of Representatives already approved this bill last month, though some Republican leaders opposed it.
Key Facts
The bill would provide $1.3 billion in security aid to Ukraine.
It includes measures to expand sanctions against Russia.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 226-195.
Some Republican leaders in the House opposed the bill.
Eighteen House Republicans voted in favor despite their leaders’ opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to bring the bill to the Senate calendar for consideration.
The bill aims to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict involving Russia.
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President Donald Trump announced that 20 additional polluting factories will be exempt from clean air rules introduced during President Biden’s administration. These rules aimed to reduce harmful chemicals that cause cancer near many facilities.
Key Facts
President Trump exempted 20 more polluting factories from clean air regulations.
The regulations were created during President Biden’s time in office.
The rules are designed to limit toxic chemicals released by industrial plants.
These chemicals can increase cancer risks for people living within about 31 miles of the plants.
Environmental groups criticized the move to remove these factories from the rules.
About 200 facilities were originally covered by the Biden-era regulation.
The exemptions reduce the number of factories subject to these cancer-preventing rules.
The announcement was made through an official proclamation signed by President Trump.
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Syrian officials said they stopped a shipment carrying missiles and drones at the border with Iraq. They claim the weapons were meant for Hezbollah in Lebanon, but Hezbollah says it does not operate in Syria.
Key Facts
Syrian authorities intercepted weapons at the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The shipment included missiles and drones.
The weapons were reportedly meant for Hezbollah, a group in Lebanon.
Hezbollah denies having operations in Syria.
The incident involved stopping a smuggling attempt.
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China's economy grew very slowly in the latest quarter, showing one of its weakest performances. This slowdown raises concerns about how it might affect the global economy. At the same time, durian fruit prices are falling across Asia, and New York is taking steps to regulate centers that store data for artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
China’s recent economic growth rate is among the slowest it has recorded.
The weak growth raises questions about China’s future economy.
Slow growth in China could impact the global economy.
Durian fruit prices are dropping across Asian markets.
Durian is nicknamed the "king of fruits."
New York is working on new rules for AI data centers.
The information was shared by reporters in London, Singapore, and New York.
The report was part of a BBC World Service program dated July 17, 2026.
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xAI has filed a lawsuit against a user, Terry Wayne Harwood, who allegedly used xAI’s chatbot Grok to create illegal sexual images involving minors. xAI claims it helped law enforcement arrest Harwood after discovering he used multiple accounts to generate such content, while earlier accusations said xAI failed to properly report or prevent this misuse.
Key Facts
xAI sued Terry Wayne Harwood after accusing him of using Grok to produce illegal sexual images of minors.
Harwood was arrested in South Carolina for possession and spreading child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Harwood reportedly used at least two accounts with complex usernames to create these images between December and February.
Grok sometimes blocked harmful requests but did not fully prevent the creation of illegal images.
A separate class action lawsuit claims xAI ignored many harmful prompts and failed to help police identify users.
A 2026 report said 90% of xAI’s CSAM reports lacked user information helpful for law enforcement.
Elon Musk had previously claimed he had not seen Grok produce CSAM but warned users against illegal use.
Harwood’s case is still ongoing, with charges related to distributing and possessing CSAM.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that all military members aged 30 and older will be tested for low testosterone during their annual health checkups. This screening aims to monitor natural declines in testosterone levels as people age.
Key Facts
The new testosterone tests will apply to military personnel aged 30 and above.
Testing will be part of the yearly health screening for these troops.
Testosterone levels typically drop naturally with age.
The announcement was made publicly by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The goal is to better understand and manage the health of service members.
The announcement was shared in a video post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The term "testosterone deficiency" refers to lower than normal levels of this hormone.
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A report has shown that nearly 3,000 Africans, including many Kenyans, have been recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine. About one in six of these fighters has died on the Russian side of the frontline.
Key Facts
Around 3,000 Africans have been recruited to fight in Ukraine.
Many of these fighters are from Kenya.
Approximately one out of every six recruited fighters has died.
These fighters are mainly on the side supporting Russia in the conflict.
The report was part of broader coverage including other African and global issues like Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and wildfires in Algeria.
The report was published on July 16, 2026.
The source of the report is a program called "Eye on Africa."
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President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, is on unpaid leave after reports said he used his inside knowledge to place bets on what the president would say in speeches on the online market Kalshi. Kalshi alerted federal regulators about the bets, which may violate ethical rules about using job information for betting.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump's teleprompter since 2016.
Perez allegedly used knowledge from his job to win over $100,000 betting on Trump's speeches.
The betting took place on Kalshi, an online prediction market that allows betting on speech phrases.
Kalshi’s enforcement team flagged and reported the suspicious activity to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The White House said Perez is on unpaid leave and emphasized strict ethical rules.
Kalshi requires users to disclose their jobs and forbids bets based on inside information.
President Trump is aware of the situation and his spokesperson called it "unfortunate" and "a disgrace."
Trump has reported making significant profits from his crypto and business ventures according to ethical disclosures.
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After the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria ended relations with some of its previous allies. However, Syria changed and strengthened its relationship with Russia.
Key Facts
Bashar al-Assad's government fell in December 2024.
Following this, Syria stopped working with some countries it had been close to.
Syria created a new kind of partnership with Russia.
Russia remains an important ally for Syria.
These changes show Syria is shifting its international connections.
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President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a speech from the White House on Thursday night. He mentioned that the speech might cover various topics, including elections, and said he would make a "big announcement." PolitiFact will provide live fact-checking during the speech.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump will speak from the White House on Thursday night.
He indicated the speech could cover several issues, such as elections.
He said he plans to make a "big announcement."
PolitiFact will offer live fact-checking during the speech.
The event is being streamed live for public viewing.
The article highlights the importance of a free press in democracy.
Viewers are encouraged to support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.
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The article reports on the second day of Todd Blanche's Senate confirmation hearings to become attorney general. CBS News senior justice department reporter Sarah Lynch summarized the important points from the hearings.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is being considered for the role of attorney general.
The Senate is holding confirmation hearings to decide on his appointment.
This article covers the events of the second day of those hearings.
Sarah Lynch, a CBS News reporter, shared a summary of key moments.
The hearings involve questions and discussions about Blanche's qualifications and plans.
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Thousands of Hyundai auto workers in South Korea began striking after talks failed over plans to use humanoid robots in their factories. Hyundai plans to introduce more than 25,000 Atlas robots made by Boston Dynamics across its plants, starting with U.S. factories in 2028, raising concerns about job security.
Key Facts
Hyundai workers at its Ulsan plant started a partial strike from July 13 to July 15 and plan four-hour strikes from July 20 to 22.
The strike is in response to Hyundai's plan to deploy Atlas humanoid robots that can perform various factory tasks.
Atlas robots are over 6 feet tall, can lift more than 100 pounds, and cost about $130,000 each.
Hyundai aims to install more than 25,000 Atlas robots in its and Kia’s manufacturing plants worldwide.
The union wants a fixed salary for workers and a retirement age increase from 60 to 65 to protect workers from automation impacts.
Boston Dynamics, the maker of Atlas, will become a fully owned subsidiary of Hyundai.
Other carmakers like Tesla, BMW, and some Chinese EV companies are also testing humanoid robots.
The global automotive industry has used industrial robots for decades, with over 1 million robots in use worldwide by 2021.
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The U.S. is considering a law to keep daylight saving time all year instead of changing clocks twice a year. The country tried permanent daylight saving time before, in the 1970s, but it did not continue. Changes in work habits and new sleep research are making the idea more relevant today.
Key Facts
Congress is reviewing a bill to end the twice-yearly clock changes and keep daylight saving time permanent.
The U.S. previously tried permanent daylight saving time in the 1970s, but it was not maintained.
Many people find changing clocks twice a year inconvenient or annoying.
More people are now working from home than before, affecting daily schedules.
New scientific studies about sleep suggest more complex effects of time changes.
The current discussion is part of a fresh look at daylight saving time's benefits and downsides.
If passed, this would change how Americans manage time throughout the year.
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Ukraine’s President Zelensky has removed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, causing protests and a political crisis. The dismissal revealed a conflict between the defence minister and the country’s top general amid changes in Zelensky’s wartime government.
Key Facts
President Zelensky dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The removal of Fedorov led to protests in Ukraine.
The dispute between Fedorov and Ukraine’s top military general became public.
Zelensky is conducting his second reshuffle of the wartime government this year.
The events highlight tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership during the ongoing conflict.
Fedorov was considered one of Kyiv’s most popular defence officials.
The political crisis unfolds while Ukraine continues to face threats from Russia.
This situation is part of broader political and military challenges in Ukraine.
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President Donald Trump will give a live speech from the White House at 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday. He plans to talk about protecting the integrity of U.S. elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s speech will happen at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time from the White House.
The topic is about ensuring the honesty and fairness of elections.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the speech and encouraged Americans to watch.
PolitiFact will provide live fact-checking during the speech in a chat feature.
The speech is considered important enough to call a "major address" by the White House.
The news outlet hosting the speech promotes supporting trusted journalism and civil conversation.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to reporters about President Donald Trump’s upcoming primetime speech and recent military strikes on Iran. She also answered questions on other related topics during the briefing.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
She addressed the media on Thursday.
President Trump plans to deliver a primetime speech soon.
There have been new military strikes against Iran.
Leavitt answered questions about these strikes and other matters.
The briefing was reported by CBS News.
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A Cyclospora parasite outbreak has caused thousands of infections across 34 U.S. states, with Michigan the most affected. Two companies, Gotham Greens and Little Leaf Farms, say their greenhouse-grown salad greens are safe and not linked to the outbreak.
Key Facts
There are 1,645 confirmed Cyclospora cases and 141 hospitalizations reported as of July 16.
The CDC is investigating over 5,100 possible additional cases related to the outbreak.
Cyclospora causes a stomach illness with symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and fatigue.
Michigan has the highest number of reported infections.
Gotham Greens and Little Leaf Farms say their salad greens are safe because they grow in controlled greenhouses.
These companies monitor and treat water and maintain strict food safety practices.
Their products are sold nationwide in stores like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger.
The White House is monitoring the situation and advises people to follow CDC and FDA food safety tips.
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Most countries in the world do not use daylight saving time (DST), which is the practice of changing clocks twice a year to extend evening daylight. While the United States, Canada, and many European countries still observe DST, many nations in Asia, Africa, and South America have stopped using it or never adopted it.
Key Facts
Daylight saving time involves moving clocks forward in spring and back in fall to make better use of daylight.
The U.S. and much of Canada, plus most European countries, continue to observe DST.
Countries like China, India, Japan, Brazil, Russia, and most of Africa do not use DST.
Some countries, including Russia, Brazil, Iran, and Mexico, have ended daylight saving time in recent years.
One reason some countries avoid DST is that near the equator, daylight hours vary little throughout the year.
The U.S. House has passed a bill that could make daylight saving time permanent, but it still needs Senate approval.
Supporters say DST can help businesses and recreation by offering longer evenings, while critics highlight potential health problems.
During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. tested year-round DST but stopped after public pushback.
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Syria stopped a truck carrying advanced weapons near its border with Iraq, saying the arms were meant for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied any involvement. Iraq is helping Syria investigate the incident and wants to improve border security.
Key Facts
Syria found missiles, rockets, and drones hidden in an oil tanker truck near the Iraq border.
The weapons were discovered at the al-Tanf crossing during a routine search.
Syrian officials said the weapons were likely going to Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran.
Hezbollah denied the accusations, calling them false and harmful.
Syria’s current government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been cracking down on weapon smuggling.
Iraq plans to form a special committee to investigate and work with Syria on border security.
The trucks use a route through Baniyas for fuel and goods between Iraq and Syria.
The United States’ President Donald Trump has spoken with Syria’s leader about disarming Hezbollah, but Syria says it will not interfere in Lebanon’s internal issues.
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Senator Adam Schiff questioned former Attorney General John Ashcroft about President Donald Trump's calls to prosecute his political opponents. Ashcroft was testifying before the Senate to support Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general.
Key Facts
Senator Adam Schiff asked John Ashcroft about President Trump's desire to prosecute his political enemies.
John Ashcroft is a former U.S. Attorney General.
Ashcroft appeared before the Senate to support Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general.
President Trump has publicly called for legal actions against some political opponents.
The questioning took place during a Senate hearing.
The hearing is part of the process to approve Todd Blanche as attorney general.
CBS News reported on the event and made video coverage available.
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