Ann Widdecombe was killed after being hit 21 times with a hammer in a planned attack at her home. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham held his first cabinet meeting, focusing on policies to cut living costs, including energy bills and bus fares.
Key Facts
Ann Widdecombe died after being struck 21 times with a hammer during a violent, targeted attack.
The suspect, Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared in court charged with her murder.
The attack happened quickly, lasting about two minutes while Widdecombe was eating lunch.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham held his first cabinet meeting to discuss cutting the cost of living.
Burnham announced a £340 million investment to end rough sleeping and an £850 million plan to reduce energy bills.
Plans include lowering the national bus fare cap from £3 to £2.
The government is considering various ways to support citizens with living expenses, but how to pay for these plans is unclear.
The U.S. is reportedly unhappy about Ed Miliband becoming the UK's new Foreign Secretary, due to past criticisms of President Trump.
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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the current outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, is under control. He also stated that reductions in food safety monitoring have not negatively affected the safety of the U.S. food supply.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite and leads to intestinal illness.
There is a recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the United States.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the outbreak publicly for the first time on Tuesday.
He said the outbreak is currently under control.
Kennedy Jr. denied that cutbacks in food safety monitoring have made food less safe.
Food safety monitoring refers to checking food for contamination that could make people sick.
This public statement was reported by CBS News.
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The United States and Canada canceled a joint ceremony to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge due to new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods announced by President Donald Trump. The tariffs have increased trade tensions between the two countries, and Canada plans to hold its own ceremony separately.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods, citing unfair treatment of U.S. products.
The joint U.S.-Canada bridge opening ceremony was canceled because of these trade tensions.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, and is about 1.5 miles long.
Canada financed the bridge construction and plans to recover costs through tolls.
The bridge project began in 2018 and cost around $4.4 billion.
The bridge was named after Gordie Howe, a famous Canadian hockey player who played in Detroit.
Canada intends to hold its own opening event on July 24, while the U.S. may or may not hold a separate event.
Canadian leaders urge free and fair trade and are ready to negotiate with the U.S., while some Canadian officials warn of retaliatory tariffs.
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Measles cases in the U.S. have risen this year to 2,295, surpassing last year's total and reaching the highest number in 35 years. Most cases are among unvaccinated people, raising concerns about the country’s ability to keep measles eliminated.
Key Facts
The current measles case count is 2,295, the highest since 1991.
Measles elimination status in the U.S. will be reviewed in November.
The majority of measles cases occur in unvaccinated individuals.
Vaccination rates need to stay above 95% to maintain herd immunity, which protects the community.
States with the most cases include South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
The CDC reported 2,260 confirmed cases as of July 16, with 34 new outbreaks this year.
Measles symptoms include cough, fever, eye irritation, and rash, with possible serious complications.
Some top U.S. health positions remain unfilled amid the outbreak, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now supports MMR vaccination as the best prevention.
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The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9-8 to advance Jay Clayton’s nomination as director of national intelligence. Some Democrats who initially supported him changed their minds after Clayton would not confirm that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. intelligence agencies.
The Senate Intelligence Committee approved his nomination along party lines, 9 Republicans to 8 Democrats.
Some Democrats had praised Clayton and considered supporting him before the hearing.
During the hearing, Clayton did not say that President Biden won the 2020 election.
This refusal caused Democrats, including Senator Mark Warner, to be disappointed.
Clayton has served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
He is a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The confirmation process is ongoing following the committee vote.
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Mexico has officially asked U.S. state attorneys general to investigate the deaths of Mexican migrants who died while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody or during enforcement actions. This request follows the recent shooting death of Mexican immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Houston, and Mexico is also asking the U.S. Department of Justice and the United Nations for further investigations and human rights reviews.
Key Facts
Mexico requested U.S. state attorneys general to start criminal investigations into migrant deaths in ICE custody.
The request came after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston.
Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, 17 Mexican migrants have died during immigration enforcement; 14 in ICE custody and 3 in agency operations.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry sent letters to U.S. detention centers demanding they stop actions that led to migrant deaths, such as delayed medical care.
The first detention center to receive a letter was Adelanto, California, where four Mexican migrants died.
Mexico plans to file civil lawsuits against private companies running detention centers for human rights violations.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco also asked the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate and give recommendations.
The Department of Homeland Security says the ICE agent acted in self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly rammed an ICE vehicle.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has quickly hired thousands of new officers to increase immigration arrests and deportations under President Trump’s administration. Concerns have emerged about whether these new hires are properly checked, especially after an ICE officer with a history of mental health problems was involved in a fatal shooting in Maine.
Key Facts
ICE has hired 12,000 new officers and agents recently as part of a rapid expansion.
This hiring surge is supported by billions of dollars granted by Congress.
Many new officers are veterans of police or military service, but some hires had questionable backgrounds.
Some applicants started working before their full background checks were completed.
ICE offers signing bonuses up to $50,000 and lowered the minimum hire age to 18.
The vetting process includes checking criminal records, credit scores, and interviewing past employers and contacts.
An internal ICE memo instructs supervisors to report negative information about new employees to internal affairs for investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security plans to audit ICE’s hiring and training but has not yet released results.
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A new report reveals that many people held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Texas, called Camp East Montana, said they were beaten by guards or saw others being abused. The report also describes poor living conditions and lack of medical care, while ICE denies these claims.
Key Facts
The report was made by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union.
64 of 71 detainees interviewed said they experienced or witnessed physical abuse by staff.
Detainees complained of dirty living spaces, bad food, and denied contact with lawyers or family.
Camp East Montana is located on the Fort Bliss U.S. Army base near El Paso, Texas.
At least three detainees have died at the facility since it opened in August.
A federal report found unsafe conditions and poor management that contributed to detainee suffering and deaths.
ICE changed contractors after finding 49 violations related to use of force, security, and medical care.
ICE said the reports are false and that it takes the health and safety of detainees seriously.
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Representative Cleo Fields of Louisiana announced he will not run for reelection after the state redrew his congressional district in a way that the U.S. Supreme Court called unconstitutional due to racial reasons. Instead, Fields plans to run for a seat in the Louisiana state Senate.
Key Facts
Cleo Fields is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Louisiana.
The state legislature redrew his majority Black district to favor Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the original district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
Fields decided not to seek reelection to Congress but will run for the state Senate.
The Supreme Court’s decision is part of a wider national debate over redistricting and election maps.
President Donald Trump’s efforts have influenced Republican strategies in midterm elections.
The new district map changes Fields’ area to include mostly white neighborhoods in Baton Rouge and southern Louisiana.
Fields served two terms in Congress before, from 1993 to 1997, and was Louisiana’s second Black member of Congress.
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A federal judge in Texas has temporarily stopped immigration officials from deporting a key witness in the fatal shooting of Mexican immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE in Houston. The judge also barred moving the witness without permission as investigations continue into the shooting.
Key Facts
The judge’s order blocks ICE from deporting Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a witness to the shooting, without court approval.
Rojas Pliego was one of three construction workers inside the van when Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE officer on July 7.
ICE claims the officer acted in self-defense because Salgado Araujo used the van as a weapon during a traffic stop.
Salgado Araujo’s family disputes ICE’s account and wants an independent investigation.
ICE agents had been looking for another person when they stopped the van.
The FBI found photos suggesting methamphetamine might have been in the van, but this is disputed by local prosecutors.
Harris County officials are helping the detained witnesses apply for U visas, which protect crime victims who assist law enforcement from deportation.
Local prosecutors are investigating the shooting and are ready to file charges against ICE agents if evidence shows wrongdoing.
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has voted to stop requiring many private companies to report data about their workers’ gender, race, and ethnicity. This change would end a 60-year-old rule that helps track workplace discrimination.
Key Facts
The EEOC requires companies to report workforce demographic data such as gender and race.
This rule has been in place for 60 years, across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
The EEOC’s Republican majority voted 2-1 to end this data collection requirement.
The proposal is open for 30 days of public comments before it can be finalized.
The move is part of changes under President Donald Trump’s administration related to civil rights enforcement.
This data helps show who holds executive jobs and who works in lower-paid roles by gender and race.
Ending the requirement could make it harder to monitor workplace discrimination.
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Conservative senators in the U.S. Senate are gaining control of important committees. These roles give them more power to lead hearings, influence laws, and investigate issues.
Key Facts
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) will chair the Senate Budget Committee.
This committee plays a big part in managing government spending and budget laws.
Johnson also leads a Homeland Security subcommittee that can investigate various topics, including President Biden’s health and Meta’s ties to China.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is expected to become chair of the Judiciary Committee next Congress.
Lee would need to give up his current role as chair of the Energy Committee.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) chairs the Homeland Security Committee and often questions large agency budgets.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) heads the Aging Committee and the GOP steering committee, which influences Republican strategy.
Committee leadership often goes to the most experienced senators, even if they sometimes challenge their party's leaders.
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Progressive groups criticized Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her connections to the crypto industry as she tries to help pass the CLARITY Act, a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies. The bill aims to set rules for crypto ethics, but disagreements remain, especially about ethics provisions, as negotiations continue among Democrats, Republicans, and the White House.
Key Facts
Progressive groups like Indivisible and Demand Progress sent a critical letter to Democratic senators about Gillibrand’s role in crypto legislation.
They argue Gillibrand’s son's involvement in crypto creates a conflict that weakens efforts to criticize President Trump’s crypto-related profits.
President Trump’s crypto ventures earned about $600 million, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
Gillibrand supports banning elected officials and their spouses from creating or promoting digital currencies.
The CLARITY Act requires 60 Senate votes to pass and is important to Republicans, the White House, and the crypto industry.
Senators Bernie Moreno and Cynthia Lummis are working with the White House on compromise language for the bill’s ethics rules.
The crypto industry has a super PAC called Fairshake, which has about $125 million to influence politics and support lawmakers.
The bill passed the Senate Banking Committee in May with bipartisan support but still faces tough negotiations.
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The family of Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old who died after a July 4 boat trip near Mississippi, will release the results of an independent autopsy on Wednesday. The autopsy, paid for by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick and conducted by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, aims to examine whether Wells had any injuries beyond drowning. Wells’ body was found two days after he disappeared from the boat trip, and local authorities have not yet released their autopsy results.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells went missing during a July 4 boat trip with friends and was found dead two days later off a Mississippi island.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy but has not released the findings.
The family arranged a second, independent autopsy funded by Colin Kaepernick.
Attorney Ben Crump represents the family and will share the autopsy results at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago.
The independent autopsy will check for injuries beyond drowning to clarify circumstances around Wells’ death.
Wells was Black, and his friends on the trip were all white, raising questions and calls for transparency.
A $125,000 reward has been offered by public figures including Rev. Al Sharpton and Tyler Perry for information leading to an arrest.
Local civil rights leaders have criticized the official investigation and called for a deeper inquiry into the case.
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Democrats may vote this week to decide the order of states for their 2028 presidential primary elections. The final decision will need approval from the full Democratic National Committee.
Key Facts
The Democratic party is planning the order of states for the 2028 presidential primary calendar.
A key committee called the Rules and Bylaws Committee may vote on this as early as Friday.
The committee holds monthly meetings to review which states want to vote first in the primaries.
States like Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina are competing to have early primary or caucus dates.
The final primary calendar must be approved by the full Democratic National Committee.
The events determining the voting order are happening ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
The information about the vote was provided by people familiar with the process but not authorized to speak publicly.
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A 16-year-old boy in Perth, Australia, has been charged with murdering his mother and stabbing his 12-year-old sister. The sister escaped and was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Bentley, a suburb in south-east Perth.
Police arrived at the home on Tuesday morning and found the mother dead.
The 12-year-old sister was stabbed but managed to run to a nearby highway for help.
Bystanders provided first aid to the sister before paramedics took her to Perth Children’s Hospital.
The sister is in critical but stable condition at the hospital.
The 16-year-old boy was charged with one count of murder and one count of attempting to unlawfully kill.
He was scheduled to appear in Perth children’s court on Wednesday.
Police said the event has deeply affected the community and the family.
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A Florida judge ordered President Donald Trump to provide financial records to the BBC during a defamation lawsuit. The BBC is defending itself against a $10 billion claim by Trump over a TV show segment about the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Key Facts
The judge ruled Trump must hand over financial records from his business trust.
The case involves Trump’s accusation that a BBC Panorama episode edited his speech unfairly.
The lawsuit demands $10 billion in damages from the BBC.
The ruling on the financial records can still be appealed.
The judge partly denied the BBC’s request for Capitol riot-related documents from Trump.
The discovery process is ongoing, where both sides exchange evidence and documents.
BBC claims Trump’s side has provided very few documents compared to the BBC’s large submission.
Trump’s lawyers called the BBC’s document requests “oppressive” and said the BBC is trying to harass officials.
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An oxygen tank that was not disposed of properly exploded inside a Milwaukee garbage truck while it was crushing trash. A sanitation worker was hurt, suffering a concussion and an injury to his eye.
Key Facts
The explosion happened in the back of a garbage truck in Milwaukee.
The blast was caused by oxygen tanks that were thrown away improperly.
The explosion occurred while the truck was compacting trash.
A sanitation worker was knocked off his feet by the blast.
The worker suffered a concussion and an eye injury.
The incident highlights the dangers of improper disposal of hazardous materials.
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Senator John Kennedy asked top military leaders in a Senate hearing about the possible consequences if the United States stopped its military actions in Iran and brought troops home. Military officials avoided giving a direct answer, saying the question was hypothetical and involved political decisions.
Key Facts
Senator John Kennedy spoke at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
Some senators want to end U.S. military actions against Iran.
Kennedy asked military leaders what would happen if the U.S. left Iran now.
General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not give a direct answer.
Military officials called the question hypothetical and related to politics.
The hearing included discussions about the future of U.S. involvement in Iran.
The video clip of the hearing is available for public viewing.
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Senator Gary Peters criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a congressional hearing. Peters said Hegseth failed to win the war in Iran but is now asking Congress for nearly $70 billion more in funding.
Key Facts
Senator Gary Peters is a Democrat from Michigan.
Peters spoke during an appropriations hearing on Tuesday.
He called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a "failure."
Peters said Hegseth lacked the leadership needed to win the Iran war.
Hegseth is requesting almost $70 billion in additional funding from Congress.
The hearing involves budget decisions for defense spending related to the Iran conflict.
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