Millions of people in western U.S. states face extreme heat due to a strong weather pattern called a heat dome. Temperatures are expected to be dangerously high through at least Thursday, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke.
Key Facts
Extreme Heat Warnings cover parts of Arizona and California.
Temperatures in some areas could reach up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Phoenix area and south-central Arizona expect highs between 109 and 116 degrees.
Overnight temperatures will remain warm, mostly in the 80s, reducing cooling at night.
The heat dome forms when high pressure traps and heats air near the ground.
Prolonged heat and warm nights create health risks, especially for the elderly, children, and people without AC.
Heat can strain power grids due to higher air-conditioning use.
Officials advise drinking water and staying in air-conditioned places to stay safe.
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In the fiscal year 2025, over 1.3 million people received U.S. green cards, with Mexico being the top country of origin. Most green cards were given through family-based immigration, followed by employment and refugee statuses, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security covering October 2024 to September 2025.
Key Facts
A total of 1,320,080 green cards were issued in fiscal year 2025.
Mexico had the largest number of recipients, with 195,760 green cards issued.
Family-based immigration accounted for the majority, with 684,530 green cards given to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Employment-based green cards were the third largest category, with 159,070 issued.
Refugees and asylum seekers received 116,470 and 60,390 green cards respectively.
The Diversity Visa lottery granted 52,470 green cards.
The data covers the end of the Biden administration and the start of President Trump’s second term.
Since January 2025, President Trump’s administration has introduced new immigration rules increasing scrutiny on green card applications and limiting some pathways to residency.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, received a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire that bankers reported to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) over concerns of possible money laundering. Farage resigned his MP seat in Clacton to trigger a byelection but plans to stand again; he denies wrongdoing and says he was unaware of the NCA report.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire based in Thailand.
Bankers reported this large gift to the National Crime Agency due to concerns it might be linked to money laundering.
The National Crime Agency’s report is not proof of a crime but prompts further investigation.
Farage resigned his MP seat for Clacton to force a byelection, which other major parties are boycotting.
Farage has given different reasons for the gift and claims he was not required to disclose it because he was not a sitting politician when he received it.
Reform UK’s deputy leader accused the NCA of leaking private financial information to the media.
Farage denies any wrongdoing and says he trusts the source of the money.
The gift was partly received after Farage said he would not stand for parliament and partly before he reversed that decision.
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A family in Iowa is using their garden hose to make art by creating water shapes called "water silhouettes." They use this fun activity to cool down during hot weather.
Key Facts
The family is located in Iowa.
They use a garden hose to spray water in creative ways.
The water shapes they make are called "water silhouettes."
This activity helps them stay cool in hot weather.
ABC News reporter Danny News conducted the interview.
The story was shared by ABC News on July 8, 2026.
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President Donald Trump is pushing for a law called the "Save America Act" that would change voting rules, including requiring proof of citizenship and limiting mail-in voting. While the law faces challenges in Congress, Trump may use his presidential powers to challenge election results and influence the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump withdrew his nominee for director of national intelligence and opposed a bipartisan housing bill to pressure Congress on the "Save America Act."
The "Save America Act" demands proof of citizenship and restricts mail-in voting unless voters can justify in-person voting.
The Senate likely does not have enough votes to pass this act.
Trump may use his executive authority to question election results without needing new laws from Congress.
He has ordered federal agencies to create citizenship lists by state to determine voter eligibility.
New Postal Service rules restrict absentee ballot delivery in states not sharing voter data with the federal government.
The FBI has reopened investigations into the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, despite no irregularities being found previously.
Analysts warn Trump might claim election fraud or foreign interference to delay or block certification of election results and push Congress to ignore certain outcomes.
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Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor for suggesting without proof that China caused a major Telstra outage in Australia. The outage disrupted mobile and emergency services, and officials confirmed it was due to a technical issue, not a cyberattack.
Key Facts
A major Telstra outage affected millions of Australians, disrupting mobile calls and data.
The outage also impacted emergency triple-zero calls, which triggered welfare checks.
Telstra said the problem was caused by a time-keeping server error and is now fully resolved.
Communications Minister Anika Wells rejected claims linking the outage to China.
Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor questioned if the outage was linked to a recent Chinese missile test without evidence.
Emergency services minister Kristy McBain criticized a senator for making unnecessary calls to the emergency number during the outage.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will review the incident.
Opposition senator Sarah Henderson called for a quick government report and stronger rules for telcos.
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A man in Melbourne is on trial for allegedly raping his former personal assistant at his home in March 2023. The woman reportedly punched the man and called him a rapist after the assault, while the defense questions her credibility and denies the accusations.
Key Facts
The accused man is a well-known figure in Melbourne but his name is not disclosed in court.
The alleged crimes include two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
The incident allegedly occurred after a night of drinking and drug use at a friend’s home.
The woman said she rejected his advances and was raped twice in his home.
She punched the man and called him a rapist after the assault.
She contacted her mother, who called the police despite her initial reluctance.
The police recorded a 35-minute conversation with the woman shortly after the incident.
The defense argues the woman’s past false claims against police affect her credibility and disputes key parts of her story.
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The Girly Gig Army is a women-only music group that started in Eastbourne, East Sussex, and now has more than 700 members across nearby towns. The group helps women enjoy music events together, make friends, and build confidence, especially if they might otherwise go alone.
Key Facts
The Girly Gig Army began as a WhatsApp group started by Lucy Havard.
It was created so women would not have to attend music events by themselves.
The group has grown from Eastbourne to include Brighton and Hastings.
Members meet at live music events and also during the day to get to know each other.
Wearing t-shirts and badges helps members recognize and approach one another.
Helen Foster, a member, said the group helped her after losing her husband.
More than 700 women have joined since it started.
The group aims to build a welcoming community and reduce feelings of awkwardness when going out alone.
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California has not yet released the contract it made with Baby2Baby, a nonprofit chosen to provide free diapers to new parents through a state program. Despite state laws that require public access to such contracts, the release has been delayed, while lawmakers consider a bill that could allow state agencies more time to respond to public records requests.
Key Facts
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a multimillion-dollar diaper contract with Baby2Baby more than two months ago.
Baby2Baby is a nonprofit that already has ties to the Newsom administration and the First Partner.
California has not released the contract or the competitive bidding records despite repeated requests and legal requirements.
The Newsom administration took 24 days to decide if the records would be released and said it may take an additional 42 days to provide them.
Assembly Bill 1821 is being considered in California to extend the time state agencies have to answer public records requests.
The original version of AB 1821 also included proposals to allow agencies to sue over "malicious" requests and charge fees for records, but these were removed due to public opposition.
Lawmakers argue that public agencies are facing an increase in broad records requests, which burdens their resources.
Critics and transparency advocates oppose delaying public access to government information.
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Local councils in England have started to share data with Airbnb to identify illegal subletting of social homes on short-term rental sites. Nearly 6,000 social homes are suspected to be rented out illegally, and authorities have found about 470 cases so far, with penalties including eviction and fines.
Key Facts
Councils and Airbnb are working together to find illegal short-term rentals of social housing.
The Cabinet Office’s fraud team coordinates the data-sharing scheme.
About 6,000 social homes in England might be illegally sublet on platforms like Airbnb.
So far, 470 cases of social housing fraud have been identified.
Penalties for illegal subletting include eviction, fines, and up to two years in prison.
Illegal rentals cause costs averaging £78,300 per case to taxpayers, including temporary housing and legal fees.
Campaign groups say fighting illegal subletting may not significantly help the housing crisis.
Residents report frequent strangers, damage to common areas, and suspicious lockboxes in buildings with illegal sublets.
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A government review led by Disability Minister Stephen Timms found that the current system for disability benefits in England and Wales is not working well. The points-based assessment does not fit many conditions, especially mental health issues that change over time, and the process is difficult for disabled people. The review recommends a major overhaul of the welfare system to better support disabled individuals.
Key Facts
The review was led by Stephen Timms and involved disabled people and charities.
It found that the points-based system is outdated and cannot handle fluctuating conditions like mental health problems.
The current system scores disabilities based on how they affect daily activities and mobility.
Many people gave negative feedback about the assessment process, which they found dehumanizing.
The review will be released in two parts: an interim report soon and full recommendations this fall.
About 4 million adults receive the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which helps cover disability costs.
PIP is not means-tested, and roughly one in six recipients are working.
The government aims to replace the work capability assessment with a single system for disability and universal credit claims.
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A former NHS surgeon, Salil Korambayil, was convicted of rape and is serving a 14-year prison sentence. His ex-partner, Angharad, shares her experience of being misled and emotionally abused during their relationship while she was pregnant and a new mother.
Key Facts
Salil Korambayil was a trainee surgeon who worked at Royal Cornwall Hospital and was convicted of rape.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his crimes.
Angharad, his ex-partner and mother of his child, met him in 2016 and described him as charming at first.
Korambayil lived a double life, acting caring at home while abusing others.
In August 2020, a rape accusation against Korambayil was made but not initially investigated due to lack of support.
Angharad was pregnant when these events unfolded and gave birth in November 2020.
Korambayil was suspended and arrested in April 2021, leading Angharad to leave their home for safety.
Angharad now recognizes she was emotionally abused and manipulated during the relationship.
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Former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan will be sentenced for felony obstruction after being convicted of helping a Mexican immigrant avoid federal agents. The case is linked to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and drew national attention as it involved conflicts over immigration law enforcement.
Key Facts
Hannah Dugan, 67, was a Milwaukee County circuit judge for nine years before resigning after her conviction.
She was convicted on December 19, 2024, of felony obstruction for aiding an immigrant to evade federal officers.
The Trump administration prosecuted her as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
Republican lawmakers pushed for her impeachment and called for a harsh sentence after the conviction.
Dugan did not testify at her trial but plans to make remarks during her sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors say she violated her judge’s oath and endangered law enforcement and public safety.
Federal sentencing guidelines suggest 15 to 21 months in prison, but the judge can decide the actual sentence.
Dugan’s lawyers argue she has been punished enough through resignation and threats and plan to appeal any sentence.
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The preliminary hearing continues for Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Robinson’s lawyers are questioning the DNA evidence that connects him to the murder weapon, while prosecutors say the DNA testing is reliable enough to move forward to trial.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September.
A rifle wrapped in a towel was found at the scene and linked to Robinson through DNA evidence.
Robinson’s defense team questioned the FBI DNA analyst’s methods and conclusions during the hearing.
The defense lawyer argued that the analyst could not definitively match Robinson’s DNA to the rifle.
Prosecutors say the reliability of DNA evidence is for the trial to decide, not the preliminary hearing.
Robinson has not entered a plea and has not commented on guilt or innocence.
Defense lawyers have tried but failed to remove the death penalty option in this case.
The hearing includes testimonies from FBI analysts and Utah County prosecutors.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, faces a sexual assault allegation he denies. Despite past controversies, he gained support as an outsider challenging party veterans but is now urged to drop out before the July 13 deadline to allow a replacement in the key Senate race.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a 41-year-old Maine oysterman running for U.S. Senate as a Democrat.
He gained early support with a grassroots campaign against establishment-backed candidates.
Platner faced past controversies, including a tattoo some identified as a Nazi symbol and questionable social media posts.
A former girlfriend accused Platner of sexual assault in 2021, which he denies.
His supporters are now urging him to withdraw by July 13 so the party can pick a new candidate.
Platner’s outsider campaign style bypassed traditional party vetting systems.
The Democratic Party had initially backed Maine Governor Janet Mills before she dropped out.
Similar scandals have affected election outcomes before, like Democrat Cal Cunningham in 2020.
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Former officials say that President Donald Trump’s changes to the US intelligence agencies could make national security more political. The acting Director of National Intelligence, Bill Pulte, has removed 19 officers accused of belonging to a secret group called the ‘deep state.’
Key Facts
President Trump is making major changes to the US intelligence agencies.
Bill Pulte is the acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
Pulte has fired 19 intelligence officers linked to the ‘deep state.’
The ‘deep state’ is a term used for officials believed to work secretly to oppose government decisions.
Former intelligence officials warn this overhaul could interfere with the impartial work of national security.
They are concerned that political views might influence intelligence operations.
The changes have raised worries about separating politics from national security efforts.
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The Maine Democratic Party Executive Director said that the campaign of Senate candidate Graham Platner has tried to affect the decision of who might take his place on the Democratic ticket after he was accused of sexual assault. The party emphasized the importance of keeping the process fair and transparent.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate for Maine Senate.
Platner has been accused of sexual assault.
His campaign has reportedly tried to influence the choice of his replacement on the ticket.
The Maine Democratic Party Executive Director spoke about these efforts on Tuesday.
The party stressed that the fairness of the replacement process is very important.
The party is focused on maintaining transparency in deciding a replacement candidate.
This issue concerns the upcoming election in Maine.
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US authorities charged Lawrence Bishnoi, leader of an Indian criminal gang, for planning the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. This case is part of a larger investigation involving 37 people linked to international crime groups active in multiple countries.
Key Facts
Lawrence Bishnoi and Satinderjeet Singh are accused of organizing the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Nijjar, a Sikh independence activist, was shot outside a temple where he was president.
Bishnoi directed the murder from an Indian jail using smuggled cellphones.
The investigation involved US, Canadian, and European law enforcement agencies.
A total of 37 defendants are charged with crimes including kidnapping, racketeering, extortion, drug trafficking, and murder.
Officials are still searching for several fugitives in the US, India, and Europe.
The murder increased tensions between Canada and India, with Canada accusing India of involvement.
The criminal groups operate internationally in countries like the US, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, and the UK.
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A recent AP-NORC poll shows New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is viewed more positively by American Jews than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The poll also reveals shifting opinions among Jewish Democrats, with more supporting Palestinians and feeling the U.S. is too supportive of Israel.
Key Facts
Mamdani has a 44% favorability rating and 39% unfavorable among Jewish adults; Netanyahu has 32% favorability and 59% unfavorable.
Mamdani’s net favorability is +5%, Netanyahu’s is -27%.
38% of Jewish respondents think the U.S. supports Israel too much; 24% say it supports Palestinians too much.
30% of Jewish adults believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians; 49% say it has not; 21% don’t know enough.
59% of Jewish adults identify as Democrats, 27% as Republicans, and 14% as independents or don’t lean.
Among Jewish Democrats, 51% feel the U.S. supports Israel too much, and 62% say the U.S. is not supportive enough of Palestinians.
40% of Jewish adults approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of Israel; 58% disapprove.
Mamdani has faced scrutiny for his views on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but has condemned antisemitism and promises to protect Jewish communities in NYC.
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An 18-month-old toddler in Arizona was declared dead after being pulled from a pool but was later found alive in the hospital morgue. The child was then sent to another hospital for treatment and showed signs of improvement, though he may need physical therapy.
Key Facts
The toddler was found face-down in a pool during a Super Bowl gathering in Gilbert, Arizona.
He was pronounced dead at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center around 6:20 p.m. on February 8.
Hours later, when hospital staff went to move the child to the morgue, he was found to be breathing.
The child’s parents and hospital officers had noticed signs like gasping for air before he was declared dead.
Hospital staff initially said the gasping was agonal breathing, which means air leaving the lungs after death.
One nurse reportedly said she felt a pulse, but the doctor insisted on declaring death and stopped life-saving efforts.
After being found alive, the toddler was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for care.
The child made notable progress but will likely need physical therapy.
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