Trump Signs Executive Order Calling for Fewer Childhood Vaccines; WHO Defends Existing Schedules
President Trump signed an executive order calling for reductions in childhood vaccine requirements. The WHO responded by defending the scientific basis of its immunization schedules. Legal experts question whether the order carries enforceable authority.President Trump signed an executive order directing federal health agencies to reduce the number of vaccines on the recommended childhood immunization schedule. It is the third executive order Trump has issued on vaccine policy since returning to office. Legal experts have questioned whether the order carries binding authority over the schedule, which is set through a regulatory process independent of direct presidential directive. The WHO responded by defending the science-based process used to determine its immunization recommendations, emphasizing that schedules are developed through systematic review of evidence. For parents, health officials and pediatric advocates note that no changes to the existing vaccine schedule are imminent. Any revision would require regulatory steps that take time to implement. The order has generated concern among public health organizations that it could erode confidence in established immunization programs. Vaccination rates have been a longstanding public health priority, and changes — even signaled ones — can influence parental decision-making before formal policy shifts occur.
Trump Used Decoy Aircraft During Middle East Travel Amid Reported Iranian Threat
Reports from multiple U.S. outlets indicate President Trump secretly switched to a different military aircraft in Turkey during a recent trip, leaving journalists and White House staff aboard the original plane as a decoy. The move followed an assessed Iranian missile threat.President Trump traveled on a different military aircraft than the one journalists and White House staff were aboard during a recent Middle East trip, according to reporting from multiple U.S. outlets. The switch occurred in Turkey and was prompted by an assessed threat from Iran, according to those reports. Trump is said to have departed the primary aircraft covertly, reportedly via a catering truck. Journalists, White House staff, and other passengers remained on the original plane, which served as a decoy. Democratic lawmakers have called for a congressional briefing on the incident, raising questions about the decision to leave other passengers on an aircraft that could have been a target. The White House and Secret Service have not publicly detailed the specific threat or their response. Security experts note that decoy operations and protective deceptions are standard elements of presidential security protocols, though the particular details of this episode drew unusual attention. The episode has renewed public discussion about the security arrangements surrounding presidential travel.
State Department Reports More Than 175,000 Visa Cancellations Since Trump Took Office
The U.S. State Department has canceled more than 175,000 visas since January 2025, a pace roughly four times higher than during the final year of the Biden administration, according to a new departmental tally.The U.S. Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Trump returned to office, according to figures the department released this week. The rate of revocations is approximately four times the pace recorded during the final year of the Biden administration. The department indicated the revocations targeted foreign nationals across a range of visa categories. The figures do not distinguish between visa types or provide a breakdown of the stated grounds for cancellation. The scale of the revocations has implications for international students, workers, and travelers who may be affected, as well as for U.S. institutions, employers, and universities that depend on visa holders. The announcement adds to a broader pattern of immigration enforcement measures the administration has pursued since taking office.
Justice Department Sues New York, Connecticut, and Vermont Over In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants
The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, arguing that state laws providing in-state tuition and financial assistance to undocumented immigrants conflict with federal law.The Justice Department filed federal lawsuits against New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, challenging state laws that provide in-state tuition rates and financial assistance to undocumented immigrants at public colleges and universities. The administration argues these state policies conflict with federal immigration law. Several states have enacted such laws on the grounds that residents who have grown up in those states — regardless of immigration status — should have access to higher education at in-state rates. The lawsuits are part of a broader pattern of federal legal challenges to state policies that the administration contends undermine immigration enforcement. The cases are expected to be contested in federal courts, where the legal questions involve the scope of state authority over higher education policy and the reach of federal immigration statutes.
Trump Administration Moves to End Medicaid Funding for Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
The Trump administration directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to end Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming medical procedures for transgender minors.The Trump administration issued a new rule directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to stop Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program from covering gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Medicaid and CHIP serve low-income children and families. The rule would affect coverage available to minors enrolled in those programs who are seeking or receiving gender-affirming treatment. The administration framed the move as protecting children. Medical and advocacy groups representing transgender youth have argued that such care is medically necessary and supported by major medical associations. The rule is likely to face legal challenges. It is consistent with executive actions the administration has previously taken to restrict gender-affirming care access in federally funded programs.
Justice Alito Confirms He Will Remain on the Supreme Court
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirmed he will serve another term and will not retire. The announcement ends speculation about a potential vacancy ahead of November midterms.Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito announced he will remain on the bench and serve another term, declining to retire. The announcement ends a period of speculation about whether Alito might step down while a Republican president is in office, which would allow President Trump to nominate a replacement. Trump publicly welcomed the news in a social media post. Alito's continuation on the court is notable in the context of upcoming high-profile cases the court is expected to hear, including cases involving fossil fuel companies and climate accountability, in which Alito's participation has been questioned by some critics who cite his financial disclosures. The court has separately announced it will hear a religious discrimination case in November.
Federal Judge Expands Block on Postal Service Involvement in Trump Mail-In Voting Order
A federal judge expanded an injunction blocking the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out directives related to President Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting, extending the block to all states ahead of November midterms.A federal judge expanded an existing court order blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing directives tied to President Trump's executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting. The expanded injunction applies in every state, not just the jurisdictions covered by the earlier ruling. The order comes ahead of November midterm elections in which mail-in voting access has been a contested policy issue. The Trump administration has sought to limit mail-in balloting through executive action, while courts have repeatedly placed limits on implementation of those directives. The legal battle over mail-in voting policy is expected to continue as the midterms approach.
Legal Challenge Filed Against Trump's Revised Birthright Citizenship Order
A new legal challenge has been filed against President Trump's revised executive order on birthright citizenship, continuing court battles over the administration's effort to narrow who qualifies for automatic citizenship at birth.A legal challenge has been filed against President Trump's revised executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. The order attempts to limit automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are in the country without legal status or on temporary visas. Previous versions of Trump's birthright citizenship order were blocked by courts. The new challenge continues a legal dispute that courts, including the Supreme Court, have been asked to resolve. Birthright citizenship — the principle that anyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen — has been enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment and affirmed by long-standing legal precedent, though the administration has argued the amendment has been interpreted too broadly.
Russia Releases Former U.S. Marine on Humanitarian Grounds After Four Years in Custody
Russia freed former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, 32, who had been detained since 2022. Vladimir Putin granted a pardon on humanitarian grounds following reports that Gilman had been in poor health.Russia released Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine who had been working as an English teacher in Russia, after more than four years in detention. Gilman was arrested in 2022 in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don while traveling by train. Vladimir Putin granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds. Reports ahead of the release described Gilman as being in a catatonic-like state and in poor health. President Trump confirmed the release, characterizing it as a humanitarian action. Gilman's family had disputed the circumstances of his original sentence. His release comes as U.S.-Russia relations remain strained over the ongoing war in Ukraine, though prisoner releases have occurred on a case-by-case basis throughout that period.
At Least 180 Dead and More Than 3,000 Missing After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Colombia
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 180 people and leaving more than 3,000 missing. The U.S. provided $15.5 million in relief assistance as rescue operations continued Tuesday.A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, with death tolls reported between 111 and 240 across multiple sources as rescue operations remained ongoing Tuesday — figures are expected to rise. More than 3,000 people remained missing. The quake caused widespread building collapses in multiple cities, with Cali among the hardest hit. Videos circulated showing buildings collapsing in Pereira. Aftershocks continued to complicate rescue efforts throughout the day. The Trump administration announced $15.5 million in emergency relief assistance. The disaster represents a significant early challenge for Colombia's new president. Rescue crews and civilian volunteers were working to reach survivors trapped in rubble across dozens of affected communities. The earthquake is among the deadliest to strike Colombia this century.
Russia Strikes Ukrainian Cities with North Korean Ballistic Missiles, Killing at Least 10
Russian forces struck Ukrainian cities with missiles, drones, and glide bombs Tuesday, killing at least 10 civilians. Ukrainian President Zelensky said strikes in Zaporizhzhia involved North Korean ballistic missiles, and that Russia is receiving additional military supplies from North Korea.Russian forces conducted attacks on Ukrainian cities on Tuesday using missiles, drones, and glide bombs, killing at least 10 civilians according to Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region involved ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea, and stated that Russia is continuing to receive new military assistance from Pyongyang. Seven people were killed in the Zaporizhzhia strikes. Russia's use of North Korean-supplied weapons represents a deepening military relationship between the two countries that Western governments have repeatedly flagged as a concern. Separately, the United Nations estimated that more than 16,000 civilians detained by Russia during the war remain held — many incommunicado and under conditions the UN said do not comply with international law. The war entered its fifth year in 2026.
U.S. Military Fires on Ship Attempting to Break Iran Blockade; Houthi Attack Kills Six on Separate Vessel
A U.S. military helicopter fired on a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman to prevent it from breaking a blockade of Iranian ports, striking the ship's engine room. Separately, Houthi forces killed six people in an attack on a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.U.S. Central Command reported that a military helicopter fired missiles at a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, targeting its engine room to disable the ship, which the U.S. said was attempting to break a naval blockade of Iran's ports. No casualties aboard the vessel were reported in the initial account. In a separate incident, Iranian-backed Houthi forces attacked a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, killing six people according to Yemeni authorities. Both events occurred as U.S. pressure on Iran has intensified through economic sanctions and a naval blockade. Oil prices rose toward $90 per barrel amid the escalating tensions in the region.
Taylor Farms Voluntarily Recalls Fresh Jalapeños Over Salmonella Risk
Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled fresh jalapeños distributed across 26 states due to potential salmonella contamination. The company reported no known illnesses linked to the affected products.Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of fresh jalapeño products distributed to major retailers across 26 states following concerns about potential salmonella contamination. The company stated it was not aware of any reported illnesses connected to the recalled jalapeños at the time of the announcement. Salmonella can cause foodborne illness, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Consumers who purchased fresh jalapeños from Taylor Farms should check retailer notices and the FDA recall database for specific product details and date codes. People who may have consumed affected products and are experiencing symptoms are advised to contact a healthcare provider.
July 2026 Was the Hottest Month Ever Recorded in the United States
July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States, surpassing all previous monthly temperature records. Scientists attributed the elevated heat in part to human-caused climate change.July 2026 broke all previous U.S. monthly temperature records, making it the hottest month ever measured in the country. Repeated and prolonged heatwaves across much of the United States contributed to the record. Scientists stated that human-caused climate change amplified the heat beyond what would otherwise have been expected from natural weather variation alone. The record comes amid a broader pattern of temperature extremes in 2026, with the United Kingdom also on course for its hottest summer on record. Federal climate monitoring programs that track such trends have faced budget cuts and administrative changes during the current administration.
Nvidia and Six Wall Street Firms Announce $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Financing Plan
Nvidia has partnered with six major Wall Street investment firms to raise more than $500 billion to fund AI data centers, chip factories, and supporting infrastructure. The arrangement would channel financing to Nvidia's customers to pay for computing capacity.Nvidia announced a financing arrangement with six large Wall Street investment firms aimed at raising more than $500 billion for artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers, chip fabrication facilities, and power generation. The capital would be made available to Nvidia's customers to help them afford the computing capacity needed for AI development. Firms including BlackRock are among those participating. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described the agreement as a major milestone. The announcement reflects the scale of capital now being directed into AI infrastructure globally, as demand for computing power continues to grow. Not all observers view the scale of lending as unambiguous progress: some financial analysts have noted risks associated with the concentration of debt in a sector still proving its long-term returns. The deal comes as AI investment has accelerated broadly, with companies across sectors racing to secure access to computing resources.
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Colombia Earthquake Kills at Least 240 and Leaves More Than 3,000 Missing
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 240 people and leaving more than 3,000 missing as of Tuesday. Rescue workers in Cali and other affected cities continued searching through collapsed buildings.A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 240 people in what authorities are describing as the country's deadliest earthquake this century. More than 3,000 people were reported missing as of Tuesday, with rescue operations ongoing across dozens of affected cities and towns. The city of Cali was among the hardest hit, where emergency workers and volunteers searched building rubble for survivors. Rescuers pulled at least one survivor from the wreckage in Cali on Tuesday. The earthquake was followed by aftershocks that complicated rescue efforts. The U.S. provided $15.5 million in relief assistance. Colombia's new president faces a significant early test in managing the disaster response. The scale of the missing persons count reflects both the difficulty of reaching affected areas and the collapse of numerous structures across the region.