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Today’s Top News
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that former President Donald Trump has broad immunity from federal prosecution. In an ideologically-aligned 6-3 decision, the justices said that former presidents are entitled to a presumption of immunity for acts performed in official capacity, but not for acts performed privately. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the judges in Trump’s election lawsuit to determine whether his actions were part of his official duties. President Biden, speaking from the White House, said the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent” and “undermines the rule of law.”
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President Biden spoke about the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity at the White House on July 1. 🎧 Given the timing of the Supreme Court’s decision, it is “impossible” that voters will know the ruling on President Trump’s case on January 6 before the November election, NPR’s Domenico Montanaro told Up First. According to an NPR poll, trust in the Supreme Court has plummeted due to controversial decisions and ethics issues. The next president could nominate three new justices, as Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor are all over 70 years old. If Trump wins the presidential election and appoints younger, more conservative justices, “the Democrats could be set back another 20 years,” Domenico said.
Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 5 storm after making landfall yesterday on the Caribbean island of Carriacou, making it the fastest Atlantic hurricane on record to reach that status, thanks in part to record-high ocean temperatures.
🎧 Beryl’s growth rate is what climate scientists expected, says NPR’s Michael Copley. Climate change remains an active area of research, but Copley says it’s clear that rising temperatures are making hurricanes stronger. Coastal areas will face the greatest risk from storm surges, walls of water that surge ashore. Hurricanes can also contain large amounts of water vapor, which can cause torrential rains and flooding, threatening areas inland even if they’re not in the storm’s path. ➡️ Experts expect a very active Atlantic hurricane season. The best time to prepare is before a storm hits. Learn how to pack an evacuation bag, an essential tool in the event of a natural disaster.
Longevity researchers are turning their attention to generic drugs that may help people live longer. The FDA first approved rapamycin in the 1990s to suppress the immune system in transplant patients and prevent transplant rejection. When given in low doses, it helps reduce inflammation. Now, the FDA has approved a trial of rapamycin in patients with periodontal disease, a common condition that tends to progress with age. Jonathan Ahn, the doctor leading the study, said periodontal disease is the “canary in the coal mine” of age-related diseases that are linked to increased risk of heart disease and dementia.
Life Advice
Painting Show
Abdul Jabbar’s Boli Khela is a century-old traditional wrestling tournament in Chittagong that draws thousands of enthusiastic spectators every year. This photo taken in Chittagong, Bangladesh on April 24, 2023 shows two people wrestling on a sand stage in front of a street crowd.
Flocks of pelicans, a snow-capped village, a wrestling match. These are some of the finalists for the 2024 Siena Drone Photography Prize. Drone photography has evolved over the years thanks to technological advances. Drones fly faster, ensure higher quality images and can navigate with greater precision, allowing photographers to capture stunning aerial shots. Emanuela Ascoli, one of the judges, said she will take into account the “emotional and aesthetic impact” of each photo and how well it captures a “perfect moment”.
Three things to know before you go
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AP
A photo of 15-year-old Carlo Acutis is shown at his beatification ceremony at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, in October 2020. Carlos Acutis, a teenage IT genius who died of leukemia at age 15, will be canonized as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Acutis is fondly referred to as a “Divine Influencer” and the “Patron Saint of the Internet” for his work documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world. Naomi Osaka won her first Wimbledon match in six years yesterday. In 2021, she took a short break from tennis for mental health reasons. She has been vocal about her struggles on the court. Earlier this year, Charlotte, the famous stingray whose pregnancy was announced without a male mate, has died. The North Carolina aquarium where Charlotte lived previously announced that Charlotte had a “rare reproductive disorder.”
This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.
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