A former governor in Kenya, Okoth Obado, was found guilty of killing a pregnant university student, Sharon Otieno, with whom he had an affair. He and two others were convicted for planning and carrying out the murder, which sparked protests about violence against women in Kenya.
Key Facts
Sharon Otieno, a 26-year-old pregnant student, was found dead in 2018 in western Kenya.
Okoth Obado was governor of Migori county at the time of the murder.
The court ruled that Obado planned the killing, provided the motive and money.
Two other people helped with the murder and tried to hide the crime.
Sharon had contacted a journalist about her affair with the governor before she was kidnapped.
The journalist escaped, but Sharon was found stabbed and possibly raped two days later.
Police tracked the vehicle used in the crime and found its GPS was turned off and on to hide its movements.
The court used 42 witnesses and evidence to convict Obado and his co-accused.
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Google reported very high revenue of $119.8 billion in the second quarter of 2026 but spent even more money on AI technology, leading to its first negative free cash flow quarter. The company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure and expects to continue increasing that spending in the coming years.
Key Facts
Google earned $119.8 billion in total revenue in Q2 2026, exceeding expectations.
Search generated $63.3 billion, and Google Cloud revenue grew 23.8% to $24.8 billion.
YouTube ads brought in $11.1 billion, increasing by over 12% since the last quarter.
Operating cash flow was $39.1 billion after removing investment income.
Google spent $44.9 billion in Q2 2026 on AI infrastructure, more than its cash income.
Free cash flow was negative $5.8 billion for the first time since the company went public.
Google plans to spend up to $205 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, nearly six times its 2022 AI-related spending.
Despite heavy spending, Google remains highly profitable and has over $100 billion in cash reserves.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Stop Insider Trading Act to stop lawmakers from trading stocks based on secret information they get from their jobs. However, the bill does not apply to President Donald Trump or the vice president. It stops members of Congress and their families from buying new stocks but lets them keep stocks they already own.
Key Facts
The Stop Insider Trading Act passed the House 232-198 with some Democrats supporting it.
The law targets members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children, but excludes the president and vice president.
President Trump and the vice president are subject to different ethics and disclosure rules than lawmakers.
Lawmakers would be banned from buying new individual stocks but can keep or sell stocks they already own after a public notice period.
President Trump reported thousands of stock transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars in early 2026.
Critics say the bill does not fully ban insider trading and exempts too many officials, including the president.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, supports the bill but says it should also apply to the president and vice president.
The Trump administration supports the bill as a step beyond current rules by stopping lawmakers from buying stocks while in office.
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The New York Times is challenging subpoenas from the Trump administration in court. These subpoenas seek reporters’ testimony and phone records after the Times reported on security issues with the new Air Force One plane.
Key Facts
The New York Times received subpoenas related to a story about the new Air Force One lacking advanced defensive features.
The subpoenas ask reporters to testify before a grand jury and provide phone records of reporters and some family members.
The Times’ lawyers say the subpoenas aim to intimidate and punish the newspaper for reporting that upset President Trump.
The Department of Justice says the subpoenas are to find if classified information was leaked that could affect national security.
The plane was donated by Qatar and costs about $400 million, with additional retrofit expenses planned.
The Times argues the subpoenas violate the First Amendment right to gather news without government interference.
The legal battle focuses on balancing national security concerns with press freedom.
The case highlights tensions between the Trump administration and the press.
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Hunter Biden said in an interview that President Donald Trump would have targeted his family if President Joe Biden had not given him a pardon. Hunter Biden believes the pardon protected his family from political attacks while Trump was in power.
Key Facts
Hunter Biden discussed the impact of a pardon he received from President Joe Biden.
He stated that without this pardon, President Trump would have focused on his family.
Hunter Biden implied the pardon prevented political pressure or investigation from Trump.
The interview highlights ongoing tensions between the Biden family and President Trump.
Hunter Biden's pardon was granted by his father, President Joe Biden.
The context involves U.S. political rivalries and family issues connected to public scrutiny.
Hunter Biden's comments suggest concerns about how political power can affect families.
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During the World Cup matches in the New York City area, police rescued 43 people, including seven children, from human traffickers. The NYPD Special Victims Unit arrested 89 suspects and continues to investigate as part of a wider effort coordinated across multiple states and agencies.
Key Facts
Forty-three victims, including seven minors, were rescued in New York City during the World Cup.
The NYPD Special Victims Unit made 89 arrests linked to human trafficking rings.
Rescue operations took place from June 11 to July 19, covering eight matches at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
Victims received support such as food, housing, and counseling from the NYPD’s Gender-Based Violence Police and Planning Unit.
The NYPD prepared months in advance by monitoring known human traffickers on parole or probation.
Local, state, and federal agencies worked together nationwide, with more than 673 arrests and 74 rescues during the World Cup across the U.S.
Other states, including Georgia, New England, and Missouri, also made arrests and rescues linked to World Cup events.
The World Cup was held in multiple cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, requiring broad law enforcement coordination.
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The article explains a new leadership approach called "mission command" used at Singapore's National University Hospital. This method gives health care workers more authority to make decisions quickly and encourages leadership at every level to improve patient care and reduce staff burnout.
Key Facts
Traditional hospital management often relies on strict, top-down control, which can slow decision-making.
Mission command is a military leadership style that focuses on clear goals but trusts people to decide how to achieve them.
At National University Hospital, nurses, pharmacists, and support staff are empowered to lead in critical moments.
Leaders provide training and support rather than micromanage, allowing frontline workers to act confidently.
The hospital continuously removes outdated rules and processes to reduce barriers for staff.
This leadership style aims to reduce burnout by giving health care workers control over their work conditions.
Research shows health care workers quit mainly because they feel powerless, not just because their jobs are hard.
Mission command transforms patient care by promoting responsibility and autonomy across the organization.
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Last week, only 187,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits, the lowest number since 1969. This shows that job losses remain very low, despite concerns that new technologies like AI might cause many layoffs.
Key Facts
Only 187,000 new unemployment claims were filed last week in the U.S.
This is the lowest number of jobless claims since September 1969.
The labor force is much larger now than in 1969, making this an unprecedented low rate of layoffs.
Many experts worry AI will cause job cuts, but current data does not show this happening.
Entry-level job postings have dropped 7.5% since last year.
Senior-level job postings have increased by nearly 15% over the same period.
The low number of layoffs mainly reflects firings, not hiring trends.
Economists may need to update their views on how AI impacts jobs if this trend continues.
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A former BBC journalist, Vincent Kearney, was awarded £20,000 after MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) illegally accessed data from his mobile phone. A special UK court ruled the surveillance was unlawful and disproportionate, violating journalistic protections designed to safeguard public interest.
Key Facts
Vincent Kearney worked as the BBC’s Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent and is now RTÉ’s northern editor.
MI5 and PSNI unlawfully obtained Kearney’s phone data between 2006 and 2018 during seven separate operations.
The data included call and text numbers, times, subscriber names, and addresses, but not the content of communications.
PSNI ran four operations and created a profile on Kearney, including car registrations and family members’ names.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal said journalists have legal protections to help them protect their sources for the public good.
The PSNI Chief Constable accepted the ruling, apologized, and said the police have since changed their policies and practices.
The case followed a previous ruling that found PSNI and Metropolitan Police unlawfully spied on journalists who exposed police collusion with paramilitaries.
The BBC said the case raised serious concerns about journalistic freedoms and trust in public-interest journalism.
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Nicaragua’s National Assembly, controlled by President Daniel Ortega’s government, is discussing a law to keep opposition parties from competing in upcoming elections. President Ortega has accused opposition groups of trying to take power with foreign help, and critics worry this move blocks fair voting and democracy in the country.
Key Facts
Nicaragua’s National Assembly will vote in early August on whether to bar opposition parties from elections.
President Daniel Ortega said opposition groups will no longer be allowed to try to win power.
Ortega claims the opposition is funded by the United States.
UN and US officials have criticized Ortega, saying all political groups must be allowed to vote and run for office.
Ortega has been in power since 2007, with a record of jailing or exiling opponents.
In 2025, Nicaragua’s constitution was changed to extend the presidential term to six years and named Ortega’s wife, Rosario Murillo, as "co-president."
Ortega’s government cracked down on protests in 2018, killing over 300 people and arresting many opposition members.
Opposition leaders in exile say Ortega wants to create a one-party state like China, North Korea, and Cuba.
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Protesters in Mumbai, India, led by the Cockroach Janty Party, copied a famous Norway Viking Row video but changed the word "ro" to "resign." They did this to demand the resignation of India’s federal education minister due to cheating scandals involving exam papers.
Key Facts
The protest took place in Mumbai, India.
The group leading the protest is called the Cockroach Janty Party.
They recreated a viral video from Norway known as the Viking Row.
In their version, they changed the word "ro" to "resign."
The protest called for the federal education minister to step down.
This demand was triggered by scandals involving leaked exam papers.
The protest aimed to highlight corruption in the education system.
The federal education minister is responsible for overseeing education policies in India.
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The FDA is investigating a new cyclospora outbreak in the US that has sickened at least 72 people, but the exact source is unknown. Meanwhile, the CDC is managing the largest recorded cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms Mexico. Experts suggest choosing whole lettuce heads over pre-cut products and note that indoor-grown lettuce may carry lower risks.
Key Facts
The FDA is studying a new cyclospora outbreak with no confirmed food source yet.
At least 72 people have become ill in this new outbreak.
The CDC reports over 4,000 confirmed cyclospora cases in 41 states in a separate, larger outbreak.
That larger outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico.
Cyclospora is a parasite that contaminates food or water through human fecal matter.
Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, fever, and stomach cramps, appearing 2 to 14 days after eating contaminated food.
Experts recommend buying whole heads of lettuce and removing outer leaves for safety.
Indoor-grown lettuce from controlled environments may reduce contamination risk compared to traditional farming.
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President Donald Trump is expanding a voluntary pledge involving governors and electric companies to protect U.S. consumers from rising utility bills caused by data centers used for artificial intelligence (AI). The pledge aims to cover 80% of power delivered to American homes and businesses, addressing concerns about increasing electricity demand and its impact on costs.
Key Facts
President Trump first announced the pledge with AI and tech companies in March 2026.
The pledge is voluntary and now includes nearly 200 additional stakeholders like utilities, data center developers, and governors.
The pledge aims to prevent consumers from paying higher electricity bills due to the increased power use of AI data centers.
Electricity demand is growing, and studies suggest utility bills could rise 15% to 40% by 2030 because of data centers.
AI is rapidly advancing, raising government and public concerns about electricity, water, and land use.
Opposition to data centers comes from both political parties, focusing on environmental impacts and local cost increases.
Data centers claim to help by generating tax revenues and reducing other property tax burdens for communities.
President Trump plans to discuss the pledge expansion at the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Two Palestinian men were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank after trying to put out fires on Palestinian farmland. The incident occurred amid ongoing clashes between Palestinians, Israeli soldiers, and settlers in the area.
Key Facts
Two Palestinians died from gunshot wounds after attempting to extinguish farmland fires.
Four other Palestinians were injured in the nearby town of Beit Furik.
It is unclear whether Israeli soldiers or settlers fired the shots.
Israeli forces blocked entrances to Beit Furik and increased security presence.
Fires damaged electricity poles, and settlers reportedly burned two Palestinian vehicles.
Israel said Palestinians set fires and attacked settlers, injuring one Israeli man.
A third Palestinian man was shot dead after allegedly stabbing an Israeli soldier.
The violence happens amid increased military raids and settler actions in the West Bank.
Thousands of Israeli settlers and far-right figures raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, performing Jewish rituals at the Muslim holy site.
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A 1-year certificate of deposit (CD) with $100,000 can earn savers about 4% interest, roughly $4,100 to $4,170, with a guaranteed fixed rate. While stocks may offer higher returns, CDs provide safety and predictable earnings by locking in funds for the term.
Key Facts
Current top 1-year CD interest rates are around 4.10% to 4.17%.
A $100,000 deposit in a 1-year CD could earn between $4,100 and $4,170 in interest.
CD funds must stay locked in until the maturity date, usually 12 months, to avoid early withdrawal fees.
Stocks generally offer higher returns but come with more risk and less predictability.
Online banks often offer better CD rates than banks with physical branches.
Money market accounts offer easier access to funds and check-writing but usually have variable, lower rates.
CDs are best for savers wanting guaranteed and predictable earnings with no risk to principal.
Early withdrawal from CDs may result in penalties that reduce earnings.
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Four Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve a war powers resolution aimed at urging the Trump administration to reduce military actions against Iran. The vote was symbolic and does not create a new law, showing some disagreement within the Republican Party about President Trump's approach to Iran.
Key Facts
Four Republicans in the U.S. House voted for the war powers resolution on Thursday.
The resolution seeks to pressure the Trump administration to decrease military operations against Iran.
This vote was symbolic, meaning it does not have legal force.
The vote reflects some growing disagreement within the Republican Party.
The resolution addresses concerns about the handling of U.S. actions toward Iran.
The military operations referenced involve U.S. activities in the Middle East.
The Trump administration is currently in office with President Donald Trump serving his second term.
The resolution is part of a broader debate over presidential war powers and congressional oversight.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused a plan to release some prisoners early until a quick review is done. This decision follows concerns raised after reports that two killers of a police officer might be freed early.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham announced that no prisoners will be released early until he completes an urgent review.
The pause was prompted by reactions to news that two killers of PC Andrew Harper could be freed early.
The widow of PC Andrew Harper called the idea of early release "deplorable."
Andy Burnham also announced a separate policy to cut business rates by 20% for pubs, clubs, and live music venues in England starting April.
The funding and impact of the tax cuts on businesses are being discussed by experts and government representatives.
The announcement was part of a broader news podcast episode presented by Adam Fleming on the BBC.
The early release scheme relates to the prison system and government policies on criminal justice.
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Parts of Wales are now officially in drought due to very low rainfall, low river levels, heatwaves, and wildfires. July is set to be the driest month in Wales in nearly 200 years, causing serious problems for wildlife, farming, and water supplies.
Key Facts
North Wales and the Upper Severn are declared drought areas by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Rivers including Clwyd, Alwen, Alyn, and Wye have recorded record low water flows.
Prolonged dry weather and heatwaves have caused several wildfires in Wales, some still burning.
The Welsh government activated crisis plans due to firefighting resource shortages.
July’s rainfall is less than 2% of the expected amount in the drought areas.
Welsh Water has issued hosepipe bans in parts of west Wales despite reservoir levels being generally healthy.
The drought follows a summer of similar conditions across parts of England, Wales, and Scotland.
Scientists link the drought and heat to climate change, which is expected to make UK summers hotter and drier by 2070.
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Recent polls from Emerson College and Fox News show Democrats leading Republicans by 8 to 11 points on the generic ballot ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump's approval rating is low, with many voters concerned about the cost of living, which may be influencing the polling results.
Key Facts
Democrats lead Republicans by 11 points in the Emerson College poll and 8 points in the Fox News poll.
The Emerson poll surveyed 1,100 likely voters with a margin of error of ±2.9%; the Fox News poll surveyed 1,003 registered voters with a margin of error of ±3%.
Democrats currently want to gain control of both the House and Senate, which Republicans now hold.
President Trump's approval rating is at 39%, with 57% disapproving, according to the Emerson poll.
The declining approval rating is partly linked to voter concerns about the cost of living and economic issues.
Republicans emphasize President Trump's achievements and describe the upcoming midterms as a clear choice between their policies and those of the left.
Despite Democratic leads, the midterm elections are expected to remain competitive and close.
Poll aggregators show Democrats’ overall lead increasing slightly in recent days compared to earlier in the year.
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Countries in the Middle East are building new pipelines to avoid shipping oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage near Iran. This move comes as a response to risks of disruption and rising oil prices, with several major pipeline projects under construction or planning to send oil to ports on the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman instead.
Key Facts
About 15 million barrels of oil used to pass daily through the Strait of Hormuz before the Iran war.
Oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel for Brent Crude amid tensions around the strait.
Gulf countries are investing billions of dollars in pipeline projects to bypass the strait.
At least seven major pipeline projects are underway or being planned.
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, built in the 1980s, carries oil from its east coast to the Red Sea as an alternative route.
The UAE is expanding oil exports through Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman with a new $3 billion pipeline project.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have recently attacked Saudi oil tankers and pipelines on alternative routes.
Iraq is planning pipelines to export oil from its southern fields to ports in Turkey and Syria to reduce reliance on Hormuz.
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