Baltimore City, Maryland’s most populous metropolis
Settlers have returned to Kadim, north of Jenin, with around 30 pioneer families arriving under military escort. The reopening follows the 2005 disengagement and signals a broader push to revive four northern West Bank settlements, amid a wider surge in settlement activity under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Palestinian residents fear displacement as tensions rise alongside new outposts and tenders in nearby areas.
Dame Penelope Keith has died after a battle with cancer. Her career spans stage, The Good Life and To the Manor Born, with a lasting impact on British comedy. Tributes praise her comic genius and decades of work in theatre, television and charity.
Northwestern University researchers find that TikTok’s recommendation engine responds to negative feedback but gradually reverts if users repeatedly flag content; a finding based on cloned accounts and controlled signals shows the “not interested” button reduces unwanted content by about 84%, but the effect fades with brief re-engagement.
In a first for the northwest Atlantic, invasive Manila clams have established populations from Cape Cod to Salem Sound between 2023 and 2025. Researchers track spread with potential impacts on native shellfish and ecosystems; humans can continue to eat clams but ongoing monitoring is planned.
Bank of America data show US host cities are seeing on-the-ground economic impact from the World Cup, with restaurants and bars leading spending gains and hotel revenues rising in several markets, though results vary by city and broader inflation weighs on sentiment.
A sweeping heat dome has kept tens of millions under heat alerts from the Midwest to the East Coast. Overnight temperatures are failing to cool, heightening health risks and straining power grids. El Niño is intensifying the heat, and cooling centers, water, and hydration remain critical.
The upcoming film Digger has released a full trailer featuring Tom Cruise as oil tycoon Digger Rockwell. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s satirical drama portrays a billionaire racing to avert an ecological disaster he helped unleash, with a high-profile cast and heavy prosthetics signaling a bold, potentially award-worthy performance. The film is set for release in October.
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday features a multi-universe lineup with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. The film, slated for December 18, 2026, follows Doomsday’s clash with the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, as Comic-Con previews reveal. Gosling is cast as Ghost Rider, while Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and others reprise or join roles across a sprawling ensemble.
UK regulators are expanding Buy Now, Pay Later oversight. From July 15, BNPL providers must be authorised by the FCA, undergo affordability checks, and offer clearer information and complaint routes. The changes aim to protect consumers while preserving access to flexible payments.
Canadian wildfire smoke is spreading toward the Great Lakes and Northeast, pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges. Officials warn residents to stay indoors, wear masks where needed, and prepare cooling options as heat intensifies.
The White House reveals updated perimeter security plans, including fencing Lafayette Park and a new underground screening facility, as part of a broader modernization drive. Projects are advancing amid ongoing security concerns and dramatic architectural changes across Washington.
Global wildfire smoke from Ontario and other Canadian fires is driving dangerous air quality across the US Midwest and Northeast. President Trump is pressing Canada over forest management, while Ontario faces evacuations and aid efforts. Canadian fires have intensified amid a hotter, drier climate.
A team documents two incidents in the Gulf of California where orcas rammed dead sunfish, breaking them into thousands of pieces. Researchers say the behavior could help calves digest large prey, or it may be a form of play. The events were observed in 2024 and 2025 and are described in Frontiers in Ethology.
National Geographic’s Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston is a docuseries blending scripted drama with archival reporting. Critics praise its human focus and production values but critique Hiddleston’s hosting style and the format’s balance of entertainment with history.
Wildfires across Canada and the US have intensified, triggering evacuations and health warnings. President Trump has threatened tariffs over smoke pollution, while Canada and US officials mobilize firefighting resources amid a climate-driven crisis.
A batch of updates from San Diego Comic-Con covers Neuromancer on Apple TV+ with Callum Turner, along with Blade Runner 2099 and Rings of Power S3 on Prime Video and a Carrie miniseries on various streamers. Trailers and casting have been revealed; release dates are set for early-2027 and late-2026.
Developing stories drawn from multiple sources show ongoing updates across political and climate-related topics. Reports highlight shifting dynamics and new developments that will shape policy and public discourse.
Judge has ruled that a 2008 interview with Duane “Keffe D” Davis is admissible in the murder trial over Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing, set to begin Aug. 10. Davis is charged with murder and could face life in prison if convicted. The trial has drawn renewed attention to Davis’s memoir and related media.
A new study explores defending Earth from large near-Earth asteroids. It analyzes a crater-based nuclear detonation approach, noting timing is critical and early warning is essential. Researchers say this method could be the most effective for very large rocks with short warning times, though it requires complex missions.
The Triple Crown is reshaped as the Preakness moves to late May, Belmont to June, and a new 3-year-old championship series is introduced. The changes aim to bolster participation and viewership but may end the streak of a 2027 Triple Crown winner.
A collage of short science-in-briefs from multiple sources highlights insect life—from cicadas in Australia to cockroaches in the Philippines and fungi on dung in Scotland. The pieces survey behavior, biodiversity, and taxonomy, with emphasis on human-interest angles and public engagement.
Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute have used generative genome models to design and synthesise bacteriophage genomes; 16 of the lab-made viruses proved viable and a cocktail of them rapidly killed E. coli strains resistant to natural phages. Experts have warned the work has raised urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions about AI-designed genomes.
Ozzie Guillén has had his number retired by the Chicago White Sox, joining a select group of players who have left a lasting mark on the franchise. The ceremony at Rate Field honors his playing career and his tenure as manager, capped by a World Series title in 2005.
Hunter Biden has told the BBC that his fathers prostate cancer has metastasized further, reaching his bones and beyond. He has described the disease as painful and debilitating while saying the 83-year-old former president remains active publicly. Biden revealed the diagnosis in May 2025 and has been undergoing radiation and hormone therapy.
The case against Duane “Keffe D” Davis has moved toward a Las Vegas trial over the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Prosecutors say Davis ordered the drive-by shooting; Davis pleads not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted. The trial, beginning this week, revisits the East Coast–West Coast feud and the Bloods–Crips dynamics that defined 1990s hip-hop.
The 28-year-old Mangione has pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges linked to the December 2024 killing of Thompson in Manhattan. He faces a maximum life sentence in federal court. He remains charged in New York state with eight felonies including second-degree murder, with a September trial date, as lawyers contend about double jeopardy across courts.
Maryland judges have halted a proposed ballot measure that would have allowed Democrats to redraw congressional maps, with the judge deeming the mechanism procedurally flawed. The ruling follows parallel moves in Missouri and California on mid-decade redistricting battles that could reshape a handful of seats ahead of the midterms.
Phase one of a $266.6 million revamp of Marin City’s Golden Gate Village is under way, with 14 buildings and 88 units being renovated across a three-phase project. The work will relocate residents for several months, and funding comes from municipal bonds and federal tax credits. The project preserves historic elements while expanding housing options and accessibility.
A review of mobility and balance assessments shows they indicate functional health and fall risk, not life expectancy. Tests like sit-to-stand and Timed Up and Go help identify weaknesses and guide care, while researchers note variability across populations.