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1. January 6
The Jan. 6 panel presented new evidence Thursday that underscored then-President Donald Trump’s refusal over a three-hour period to publicly condemn the riot at the U.S. Capitol or call off the violent mob. During the hearing, witnesses with firsthand knowledge of what was happening inside the White House on Jan. 6 told the committee that Trump did not make a single call to law enforcement or national security officials as the riot unfolded. Nor did he issue a statement at the time urging rioters to leave the Capitol and go home. The committee used that testimony to argue that Trump’s refusal to intervene amounted to a dereliction of duty. The hearing also included disturbing new video and audio that showed the danger Vice President Mike Pence’s security detail faced as they tried to safely evacuate him from the Capitol. Thursday’s meeting was the committee’s last public hearing until September.
2. Covid-19
President Joe Biden said Thursday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 but will continue to work while in isolation at the White House despite mild symptoms. In a video posted on Twitter, Biden told Americans he’s “fine” and that he’s “going to be fine,” adding that he’s been double-vaccinated and double-boosted. This is the first time Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, according to White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre. Biden, 79, has started taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid, which is available through the FDA’s emergency use license for eligible people at high risk of serious illness. The President’s infection comes as coronavirus cases are rising again in the US, due to the most contagious strain of the virus yet: BA.5.
3. Extreme heat
Deadly heat waves around the world have done strange things to infrastructure as millions of people brave the sweltering temperatures expected to last into the weekend. On the outskirts of London, a section of an airport runway melted as the UK capital saw its hottest day on record on Tuesday with temperatures topping 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Officials in London are also wrapping the famous Hammersmith Bridge in aluminum foil to reflect sunlight and prevent the bridge from overheating. A heat wave is also affecting more than 900 million people in China — or 64% of the population. In the city of Chongqing, which is also on red alert, the heat caused a museum roof to melt. And in many parts of the U.S., triple-digit temperatures are causing power grids to buckle, causing energy emergencies.
4. Immigration
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to freeze a lower court ruling that prevented the Department of Homeland Security from implementing new immigration enforcement priorities. The court’s 5-4 vote is a loss for the Biden administration, which is trying to return to Obama-era policies that limit immigration arrests in order to focus on security risks instead of the Trump administration’s more aggressive approach. The vote was also the first for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson since she was sworn in on June 30. Jackson joined the court’s three other female justices in dissenting from the decision. This comes a little more than a week after thousands of migrants from several countries descended on the US-Mexico border seeking asylum, intensifying challenges to the Biden administration.
5. Ukraine
Russia’s war effort in Ukraine is “winding down” and Russia has lost “half” of its ability to spy on Europe, according to the head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service. “I think our assessment is that the Russians will find it increasingly difficult to source manpower in the coming weeks,” MI6 chief Richard Moore told CNN. “They will have to be stopped somehow and that will give the Ukrainians opportunities to fight back.” In addition, the European Council today hit Russia with new restrictive measures, preventing another major Russian bank from doing business outside the country. Separately, the Russian government today expanded its list of “unfriendly foreign states,” adding Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia.
BREAKFAST DESCRIPTION
Cats are crazy about this video game People are posting their cats’ reactions to a new cat-friendly video game. See the funny moments here. “No” opens in US theaters today The reviews are in and critics are giving a big yes to Jordan Peele’s latest film, the alien invasion thriller No. Prince George is 9! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share a photo of him on the eve of his birthday So adorable! The little prince is really growing up before our eyes. Australia’s biggest music festival is mired in mud, forcing the first day to be cancelled Festival goers at Splendor in the Grass 2022 were in for a host of A-list acts including Gorillaz and The Strokes. Instead they got a mud pit. One of the most beautiful parts of Central Park is closing This popular New York boathouse restaurant will close for good in October. Take your photos while you can.
QUIZ TIME
Which product remains hard to find in many US stores due to a nationwide shortage? A. Napkins B. Toilet paper C. Infant formula D. Toothpaste Take CNN’s weekly news quiz to see if you’re right!
TODAY’S NUMBER
13 That’s how many people are accused of making more than 8 billion robocalls about “car warranties” since 2018. The fraudulent calls typically begin with recorded lines like, “We’re trying to contact you about your extended car warranty,” the Federal U. The Communications Commission said in an order Thursday, asking voice carriers to stop making the calls. The people behind the alleged scheme are mostly based in Texas and California but also in places as far away as Hungary. The calls have been the largest source of consumer complaints to the FCC over the past two years.
TODAY QUOTE
Many of you may be too young to remember polio, but when I was growing up, this disease struck fear into families, including my own. The fact that it’s still around decades after the creation of your vaccine shows how relentless it is. — Ed Day, a county executive in Rockland, N.Y., is urging people to get vaccinated against polio after a person from the county was diagnosed with the first case of polio in the U.S. in nearly a decade. The unvaccinated young adult began experiencing weakness and paralysis about a month ago, health officials said. About 1 in 4 infected people have flu-like symptoms, but up to 1 in 200 develop more serious symptoms that include numbness in the legs, brain or spinal cord infection and paralysis, the CDC said. There is no cure for polio and the paralysis caused by the disease is permanent.
THE WEATHER TODAY
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AND FINALLY
The most beautiful fruits and vegetables you’ve probably never seen before Today is National Mango Day in the US, and fans of the delicious tropical fruit seem to be taking it very seriously. In honor, check out this video of the most beautiful and unusual fruits you may have never seen. (Click here to view.)
