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Uganda has discharged its last confirmed Ebola patient and begun a 42-day period required by the World Health Organization before the country can be declared Ebola-free. The government is asking other countries to lift travel restrictions, which have hurt Uganda’s economy, while staying alert due to ongoing cases in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Key Facts
Uganda’s last Ebola patient, a Congolese national, was discharged from hospital in Kampala.
A 42-day waiting period starts after the last case to confirm Uganda is Ebola-free.
Uganda’s Ebola outbreak had 20 infections and 2 deaths, with no new cases yet.
Fifteen countries still have travel restrictions on Uganda due to Ebola concerns.
The outbreak strain is the Bundibugyo strain, with no approved vaccine yet.
Uganda prepared well by training medical teams and setting up treatment centers before the outbreak.
Uganda is participating in trials for experimental Ebola treatments and vaccines.
Uganda and DRC have agreed on closer cooperation to control the outbreak and have sent health workers and labs to DRC.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a rule change that would reduce certain regulations. While this might make some processes easier, experts warn it could create risks to national security.
Key Facts
The EPA wants to change a rule to reduce regulatory requirements.
This change aims to make some regulations less strict or easier to follow.
Critics say this could lead to national security issues.
National security refers to protecting the country from threats such as terrorism or attacks.
The specific risks linked to the rule change have not been detailed in the article.
The rule change reflects a decision by the current administration under President Donald Trump.
The EPA is responsible for protecting the environment and public health.
Changes in EPA rules can affect industries and government policies.
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Toronto’s air quality worsened because smoke from nearby wildfires covered the city. On July 16, 2026, Toronto had the worst air pollution of any major city worldwide, surpassing cities like New Delhi and Kinshasa.
Key Facts
Smoke from wildfires affected the air in Toronto, Canada’s largest city.
The smoky sky appeared hazy yellow over the city.
The pollution level in Toronto reached the highest rank globally on July 16, 2026.
Swiss company IQAir ranked Toronto’s air quality worse than New Delhi and Kinshasa on that day.
The wildfires causing the smoke are part of a broader pattern of heatwave-driven fires in various regions.
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Ghana now requires all businesses and institutions to use a biometric app to verify national ID cards instead of photocopying or visually checking them. This rule aims to reduce fraud by ensuring real biometric data like fingerprints and iris scans are checked using a digital scanner.
Key Facts
All Ghanaian citizens and foreign residents must carry a plastic biometric national ID called the "Ghana Card."
The Ghana Card includes biometric data such as 10 fingerprints, iris scans, a photo, and a signature.
New rules make it illegal to photocopy or visually inspect the Ghana Card for transactions.
Businesses and institutions must use a mobile phone app that scans and verifies the biometric data on the card.
Penalties for organizations ignoring the rule can be fines up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis (about $2,100), and individuals can be fined up to 6,000 cedis (about $525).
The National Identification Authority (NIA) will provide guidance soon on how to comply with the new regulations.
The Ghana Card is needed for important services like banking, getting a passport, registering SIM cards, and obtaining a driver’s license.
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Uganda has discharged its last patient treated for Ebola, leaving no active confirmed cases in the country. A 42-day period now begins before Uganda can be officially declared Ebola-free, provided no new cases appear.
Key Facts
The current Ebola outbreak in Uganda was declared in May and involved the Bundibugyo species of the virus.
Uganda recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases, mostly visitors from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), with two deaths.
DR Congo remains the epicenter, with over 2,000 confirmed Ebola infections and 796 deaths.
Uganda has strong health protocols, including early detection, isolation, and contact tracing, to manage Ebola outbreaks.
The Ugandan Health Ministry advises people to watch for symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and unexplained bleeding and seek medical care if they appear.
The US now requires citizens who have been in DR Congo to spend 21 days in a third country before entering the US.
Ebola is a virus that harms the immune system and organs, spreads through bodily fluids, and can start from infected animals like fruit bats.
The World Health Organization suggests the true number of Ebola infections in DR Congo may be much higher than reported.
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Smoke from more than 180 wildfires in Canada is drifting into the United States, causing poor and dangerous air quality in at least 17 states. Cities like Detroit and Minneapolis have some of the worst air in the world, with air conditions labeled as extremely hazardous.
Key Facts
Over 180 wildfires are burning in Canada, producing smoke that travels more than 1,000 miles into the U.S.
At least 17 U.S. states, from Minnesota to New Hampshire to Virginia, have air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke.
Detroit and Minneapolis have the worst air quality among major cities worldwide, with Detroit’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching about 600.
An AQI above 300 is considered hazardous for health.
Smoke is expected to continue moving east and south, affecting New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Ohio, and Virginia through Friday.
New York City may experience orange-colored skies because of dense smoke.
Nine large wildfires also burn in northern Minnesota.
Officials and news outlets are monitoring the situation and providing updates on air quality.
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New Yorkers are being told to stay inside and limit outdoor activities as extreme heat and smoke from Canadian wildfires cause unhealthy air quality across the state. The city has opened cooling centers, distributed free masks, and adjusted public activities to help people cope with the situation.
Key Facts
Smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires is causing air pollution problems in New York.
A heat wave is raising temperatures near 100°F, with heat index values above 100 in parts of New York City.
Air quality levels are unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups, and some upstate areas have more severe pollution.
The Air Quality Index in New York City could reach around 200, which can harm everyone's health.
Health officials warn that wildfire smoke can cause coughing, dizziness, and worsen asthma or heart disease.
New Yorkers are advised to stay indoors, use air conditioning or purifiers, and wear N95/KN95 masks if outside.
The city opened hundreds of cooling centers to provide relief from the heat.
Free KN95 masks are available at public libraries and transit stations in the city.
Schools and public programs have shifted activities indoors or rescheduled to protect residents.
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In the U.S., some cities have more home sellers than buyers, giving buyers an advantage to negotiate prices. Cities like Miami, Nashville, and Houston have the most sellers compared to buyers, making it easier for buyers to find deals despite high mortgage rates and rising home prices.
Key Facts
Miami had nearly 140% more home sellers than buyers in June, the highest in the U.S.
Nationally, there were about 48.5% more home sellers than buyers in June, marking a buyer’s market.
A buyer’s market means there are at least 10% more sellers than buyers.
Around 70% of U.S. housing markets (33 of 47 metro areas) are currently buyer’s markets.
Many top buyer’s markets, especially in Florida and Texas, saw a boom in home buying during the pandemic due to low mortgage rates and remote work.
The rise in housing supply in these areas outpaced demand as mortgage rates rose to about 6.5%, and some remote workers returned to offices.
This extra supply caused home prices to stop rising as fast, benefiting buyers in these cities.
Despite the buyer’s market, high borrowing costs keep many potential buyers from making purchases.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new program to screen soldiers aged 30 and older for testosterone levels and offer replacement therapy if needed. The policy's details are unclear, including whether it applies to women, but it comes amid tensions with Iran and ongoing military priorities.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary, introduced a testosterone screening program for military personnel over 30 years old.
The goal is to help keep soldiers physically effective by maintaining "the right testosterone levels."
It is uncertain if the program applies to women, as testosterone treatments for women are not FDA-approved.
Hegseth has a history of opposing women in combat roles but changed his position during his nomination process.
He recently blocked the promotion of several senior navy officers, mostly women or people of color, to two-star admirals.
The Department of Defense spends significantly more on erectile dysfunction drugs than on healthcare for transgender troops.
The announcement comes during heightened tensions with Iran, which threatened to halt energy exports amid U.S. actions.
Critics question the timing and importance of a testosterone policy given more urgent military challenges.
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The Trump administration delayed the opening of the Gordie Howe international bridge between Detroit and Windsor for several months amid disputes linked to a donor who owns a nearby bridge. The new $4.7 billion bridge is now set to open on July 27 after the U.S. and Canada reached an agreement.
Key Facts
The Gordie Howe bridge connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, and cost $4.7 billion.
The opening was delayed for months and a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for June was canceled.
Critics say the delay favored Matthew Moroun, owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who donated $1 million to a Trump political action committee in January.
The Ambassador Bridge is North America’s busiest international crossing but is old, congested, and has safety issues.
Canada funded the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge, and Michigan and Canada will jointly own and operate it.
The new agreement gives the U.S. government a say in toll prices if they drop below regional averages—previously Canada set tolls.
Democrats have accused the Trump administration of blocking the bridge’s opening as a favor to Moroun and called for an investigation.
U.S. officials say they are ready to staff the U.S. entry plaza needed for the bridge to operate.
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The Trump administration replaced an exhibit at George Washington’s former Philadelphia home that focused on enslaved people’s lives with new panels it says give a fuller picture of history. This change followed legal battles with the city of Philadelphia and criticism that the new exhibit downplays the harsh realities of slavery.
Key Facts
The National Park Service removed the original slavery exhibit panels on January 22, 2026, to follow President Trump’s 2025 executive order on American history.
The original panels told the story of nine enslaved people who lived at Washington’s Philadelphia home in the 1790s.
Philadelphia sued to keep the original panels, and a federal judge initially ordered their reinstatement.
A higher court ruled in mid-June that the Trump administration could replace the exhibit.
The new panels emphasize Washington’s discomfort with slavery and suggest slaves had some freedoms not common in the South.
Critics say the change whitewashes history and sanitizes the realities of slavery.
The Department of Interior says the new panels acknowledge the evils of slavery and encourage people to learn about US history.
Philadelphia’s mayor and others say the overnight removal under the “cover of darkness” was a disrespectful move that breaks community trust.
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Six Los Angeles city council candidates played a Dungeons & Dragons game to raise money for their election campaigns. The event, led by comedian and dungeon master Brennan Lee Mulligan, raised $30,000 to support progressive candidates and is part of a larger movement where tabletop role-playing games help political activism and community building.
Key Facts
Six LA city council candidates played Dungeons & Dragons at a fundraising event before election day.
Comedian Brennan Lee Mulligan led the game, guiding players to defeat corporate villains and a dragon.
The event raised $30,000 for the city’s primary election campaigns.
Five of the candidates involved either won re-election or moved to the general election in November.
Many Dungeons & Dragons and tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) players use the games to express political views and raise money for causes.
These games create a community and safe space for marginalized groups, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and neurodivergent people.
The parent company of D&D, Wizards of the Coast, banned the use of artificial intelligence to create game art in 2023.
The games encourage creativity and storytelling, which some players see as a way to resist political challenges and promote social change.
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New navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) by the company Xona Space Systems aim to provide location signals up to 100 times stronger than current GPS. These satellites will improve accuracy, especially in cities and indoors, and offer better protection against GPS interference, with the first set launching in October 2026.
Key Facts
Xona Space Systems plans to launch six production satellites in October 2026 with services starting in 2027.
The full Pulsar satellite constellation will have 258 satellites to provide global location accuracy within a few centimeters.
Pulsar satellites send stronger signals than GPS, helping location devices work inside buildings and dense urban areas.
These satellites can resist GPS jamming, reducing the affected area by 95 percent during tests.
Pulsar-0, the first satellite, was launched on July 1, 2025, and helped improve positioning accuracy from 4.2 cm to 1.5 cm through software updates.
Unlike GPS satellites that use expensive atomic clocks, Pulsar satellites use software for precise timing expected to reach 10 nanoseconds accuracy.
Early users will include industries needing very reliable and precise location and timing, such as government agencies, defense, finance, and telecommunications.
The system aims to provide continuous timing signals with about 16 satellites in orbit, and centimeter-level positioning with four satellites visible in a region.
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Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by an ICE agent in Houston on July 7 after living in the United States for 35 years. His sons, Ronaldo Salgado and Lorenzo Salgado Jr., spoke about their father and disagreed with ICE's claim that he used his van as a weapon during a traffic stop.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston.
The incident happened on July 7.
Salgado had lived in the U.S. for 35 years.
ICE said Salgado "weaponized" his van during a traffic stop.
Salgado’s family disputes the ICE's claim.
His sons, Ronaldo and Lorenzo Jr., shared their memories of their father in an interview.
The case has drawn public attention and news coverage.
The interview was aired by CBS News.
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Half of American adults under 30 are currently living with their parents. Experts discuss whether this is a long-term trend or a short-term effect of the current housing market and offer financial advice for young adults in this situation.
Key Facts
50% of young adults under age 30 live at home with their parents.
This situation may be influenced by today's housing market conditions.
Financial expert Jill Schlesinger suggests young adults should contribute money while living with their parents.
A financial advisor named Mark warns that focusing too much on reducing taxes can cause costly mistakes in investing.
Jill also gives advice on how friends with different incomes can fairly split expenses like dinners, vacations, and group activities.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is changing rules to allow immigration officers to consider if green card applicants used government benefits like Medicaid, food stamps, or housing help. This rule, under President Trump’s administration, expands how officials decide if applicants can support themselves and may affect hundreds of thousands of people applying for permanent residency.
Key Facts
DHS will remove a 2022 rule that limited use of the "public charge" test for immigrants.
The "public charge" test checks if immigrants might rely on government support in the future.
Officers can now review factors like age, health, family, money, education, skills, and use of benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, and housing help.
About 588,000 people applying to adjust their status to green cards inside the U.S. will be affected every year.
Some immigrant groups, like refugees and victims of crime, are exempt from this test.
There is concern the rule might cause immigrant families to avoid public benefits even if they qualify.
The rule is expected to be published soon and go into effect early next week.
Benefits used by family members won’t count as the applicant’s own but may be considered when looking at the household’s financial situation.
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Russian leaders in Moscow and St. Petersburg are facing serious difficulties due to challenges in their military efforts. Meanwhile, Ukraine is increasing its military actions against Russia.
Key Facts
Russian elites in Moscow and St. Petersburg are experiencing tough times.
These hardships are stronger than what this generation has seen before.
The difficulties relate to problems with Russia’s military.
Ukraine is intensifying its efforts in the conflict against Russia.
The situation is causing a loss of confidence among Russian leaders in their military.
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Five people were found unresponsive inside a parked Ford Explorer SUV in Toledo, Ohio, with three of them dying and two children hospitalized in critical condition. Officials confirmed a high level of carbon monoxide gas was inside the vehicle, and an investigation is ongoing to understand how the gas entered the SUV.
Key Facts
The SUV had pulled over due to a flat tire in a parking lot.
Victims included a grandmother and her grandchildren.
Carbon monoxide, a deadly gas with no smell or color, was detected at high levels inside the vehicle.
Three people died and two children were seriously ill in the hospital.
Authorities do not suspect foul play.
A similar carbon monoxide case involving a vehicle occurred several years ago linked to floorboard holes.
Ford Explorers were investigated by federal safety officials from 2011 to 2017 for exhaust odor complaints but were not recalled.
The exact model year of the SUV in the recent incident is not yet known.
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Shannon Lewis, who is blind in her father, wanted to share a special wedding moment with him despite his loss of vision. She and her dad shared a “first look” where he touched her wedding dress and hair before she walked down the aisle.
Key Facts
Shannon Lewis’s dad, Gary McAfee, lost his vision when she was in high school.
Lewis is a wedding planner and wanted a special moment with her dad on her wedding day.
Instead of seeing her dress, her dad touched the fabric and buttons guided by Lewis and her mom.
The dad loved feeling that Lewis wore her hair mostly down like when she was growing up.
The photographer captured this moment and called it a pure act of love.
The video of this “first touch” has over 394,000 views and 47,300 likes on Instagram.
Lewis’s dad also walked her down the aisle, lifted her veil, and they shared a dance.
Lewis said her dad faces challenges with faith and kindness despite being blind.
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Two teenage hackers broke into Transport for London’s computer systems in 2024, stealing data of millions of commuters and causing disruptions for disabled passenger services. They gained high-level access, which could have allowed them to shut down the transport network, and were later caught, pleaded guilty, and sentenced to over five years in prison each.
Key Facts
The hack happened over four days from August 31 to September 3, 2024.
Millions of commuters’ data was stolen, and 27,000 TfL staff had to reset passwords.
The dial-a-ride service for disabled passengers was temporarily unable to process bookings.
The hackers had “domain admin” access, described as the “keys to the kingdom” of TfL’s system.
TfL stopped the attack by shutting down parts of its systems.
The hackers, Thalha Jubair (20) and Owen Flowers (19), were part of a hacker group called Scattered Spider.
They amassed millions of dollars in cryptocurrency from their hacking activities.
Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to five and a half years in prison; Flowers was also sentenced for hacking US healthcare providers.
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