Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
Harris shines on the final night of the DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied Democrats around patriotism, denouncing Donald Trump as threatening American principles.
In her speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Harris emphasized the struggle between democracy and tyranny, detailing Trump's legal issues and criticizing his administration's impact on women's rights and general chaos.
She presented herself as a practical and realistic leader, countering Trump's portrayal of her as too liberal. She set the stage for the upcoming debates and the November 5 election.
Her speech focused on themes of freedom from gun violence, pollution, and government interference, resonating with voters tired of political instability.
Harris used personal stories to connect with voters, contrasting her upbringing and career path with Trump's and showcasing her dedication as a public prosecutor to protecting the vulnerable.
Running Stories
Canada
Move to end rail shutdown quickly; CN workers to return to work.Stranded astronauts
NASA to decide Saturday whether astronauts will ride Boeing’s Starliner home — or use SpaceX’s Dragon instead.Houthis
French destroyer rescues 29 mariners from oil tanker stricken in Red Sea attacks by Yemen rebels.HEALTH
HEALTH
High fluoride linked to lower IQ in kids
A government report has linked high fluoride exposure in drinking water to lower IQs in children.
The Department of Health and Human Services’s National Toxicology Program examined published research and found drinking water containing over 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is associated with lower IQs.
The report reviewed studies in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico, where high fluoride exposure affected pregnant women, infants, and children.
Low fluoride levels are considered a significant public health achievement for reducing cavities, but higher levels pose risks.
Although no specific IQ reduction was cited, studies suggest exposure to high fluoride levels could lower IQ by two to five points.
The US Public Health Service recommends 0.7 mg/L fluoride in water. About 0.6 % of the US population is on water systems that have 1.5 mg/L. The report found no impact on adult cognition from high fluoride exposure.
Bubbling Under
Mediterranean diet
Study says diet might provide protection against Covid infection.Secret service
Agents placed on leave after Trump assassination attempt.BMW outpaces Tesla
More BEV registrations in Europe in July than Elon Musk's EV giant for the first time.Subscribe to our newsletter
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WORLD
WORLD
Free tickets to Brussels for Hungary migrants
In protest of EU fines, Hungary will offer free one-way tickets to Brussels for migrants attempting to enter the EU.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, criticized the 200 million euro ($216 million) fine imposed by the European Court of Justice and a 1 million euro ($1,112,555) fine per day until its policies are in line with EU law.
Gulyás said that if the EU continues to force regulations on Hungary that “does not make it possible to detain migrants at the border,” his country will offer every migrant transport to Brussels free of charge.
Since 2015, Hungary has taken a hardline stance on immigration, building border fences and setting up transit zones for asylum seekers, which have since closed.
Budapest has required people seeking international protection in Hungary to travel to its embassies in Serbia or Ukraine to apply for a travel permit. This violates EU rules that oblige all member countries to have common procedures for granting asylum.
LAW
LAW
Woman who ‘vanished’ in hospital in morgue
When Jessie Peterson never checked out of a Sacramento-area hospital, her family began a desperate search. A year later, they learned she was dead in a morgue the entire time.
Jessie Marie Peterson, 31, died at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, California, on April 8, 2023, and was placed in a storage facility. Her family was not notified until April 12, 2024, by the Sacramento County Detective’s Office.
The complaint filed in Sacramento Superior Court alleges that Mercy San Juan Medical Center indicated Peterson discharged herself against medical advice but, in fact, had died in its care.
Peterson was admitted to the hospital after suffering a diabetic episode, the court document says. She died two days later from cardiopulmonary arrest. Peterson’s death certificate was not completed until nearly a year after her death.
Since Peterson's family did not know she died, they “tirelessly” tried to locate her, including filing a missing person’s report with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the court document says.
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
Most effective climate policies identified
A global study has identified 63 effective climate policies to reduce carbon emissions, revealing key patterns for successful implementation.
Successful examples include the big drop in the UK's electricity emissions by combining carbon pricing, subsidies for renewable energy and a coal phase-out plan.
The US cut transportation emissions by combining tax incentives and subsidies for EVs with tighter carbon emissions standards.
Key findings show that mixed policy approaches combining incentives to reduce carbon emissions and deterrents to generating emissions tended to be more effective than single policies, such as incentives, carbon pricing or regulations.
Carbon pricing proved more effective in industry and electricity, while mixed approaches performed better in consumer-driven sectors like transportation and buildings.
Researchers suggest that implementing successful policies before 2030 could significantly help countries meet their emission reduction targets.
OTHER NEWS
OTHER NEWS
Taliban curtails female voices and bare faces
Taliban curtails female voices and bare faces
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have imposed laws curtailing women's voices and bare faces in public to promote virtue and combat vice.
The laws, approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, were issued Wednesday. They cover aspects of everyday life, such as public transportation, music, shaving and celebrations.
A woman’s voice is deemed intimate and should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public. Article 19 bans music, solo female travel, and the mixing of unrelated men and women while ensuring prayer times are observed.
A ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” has been set up to enforce its rules through warnings and arrests.
A UN report last month said the ministry was contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation through edicts and their methods for enforcing them. The Taliban rejected the report.
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
Squirrels lounge in backyard spa
New Braunfels, TX, resident Breyana Elwell turned her backyard into a resort for squirrels to escape the extreme heat.
Elwell first noticed a squirrel enjoying a fan she left on after playing with her toddler. Seeing the animal's relief, she placed fans outside daily, attracting more squirrels seeking respite from high temperatures.
After she posted a video of the squirrels on her TikTok account, companies began sending her free fans to help cool them down, which led to companies sending her additional fans.
Elwell took her new-found hobby to the next level: she built tiny tables, specialized feeders, and even a water fountain to enhance the squirrel's experience.
Squirrels can now stay outside Elwell’s house and bask in the breeze of the fans while munching on nuts, corn, and fruit frozen in ice cubes—a must in the over 100°F heat.
Elwell said there is some payback for her family. Her sons, aged 3 and 10, love watching the squirrels. “It’s very therapeutic for them,” she said.
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David WilliamsEditor in Chief
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