In our news wrap Tuesday, the Trump administration is taking additional steps to dismantle the Department of Education by moving two high-profile functions out of the agency, crews are making progress to contain a wildfire that broke out in the Los Angeles area and British officials are investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots at a UK-registered civilian yacht.
Amna Nawaz:
In the day’s other headlines: The Trump administration is taking additional steps to dismantle the Department of Education by moving two high-profile functions out of the agency.
The Justice Department will take over the enforcement of civil rights and education, while the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education. The secretary of education, Linda McMahon, says the changes better align the needs of certain students with the relevant federal agencies.
Critics warn that the changes will undermine efforts to protect students, especially minorities, those with disabilities, and others.
Washington, D.C.’s newly renovated Reflecting Pool is suffering from an old problem, algae. National Park Service workers were seen this morning dumping hydrogen peroxide to combat the issue. Observers have noted that the famous pool looks rather green, as opposed to the American flag blue that President Trump had promised.
The $14 million project is part of a cleanup effort of the nation’s capital, as the country marks 250 years of independents. Some visitors have questioned whether keeping the pool blue is realistic.
Patrick Hicks, Florida Resident:
I think it’s an impossible task to actually expect that to be blue and stay blue. I don’t think you can fight Mother Nature. And the nature of this pool, any time you have an environment that big, that’s like cleaning a lake.
Amna Nawaz:
The Interior Department has claimed in recent days that a new water treatment system would help address the algae problem. A spokesperson has been quoted as saying — quote — “The algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak.”
In California, crews are making progress to contain a wildfire that broke out yesterday in the greater Los Angeles area. Closures were lifted this morning on a nearby freeway seen here behind a haze of smoke. It was shut down when the Shore Fire quickly expanded to more than 2,000 acres overnight, leading to evacuation orders that are largely still in place.
As of this afternoon, the blaze was 25 percent contained and no injuries have been reported. The cause is under investigation.
British officials are investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots at a U.K.-registered civilian yacht in the English Channel today. The incident occurred around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight outside of U.K. territorial waters.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says the commanding officer of the ship called the Admiral Grigorovich ordered the shots because the yacht was heading on what officials called a dangerous collision course toward the warship. No damage or injuries have been reported, but the incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries.
Health officials in Africa are warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become the worst that Africa has ever seen. The head of Africa CDC says that tens of thousands of people who may have had contact with sick patients are not being monitored, raising concerns about a further spread of the disease.
An official at the Red Cross adds that while response efforts have improved, the lack of testing has complicated the situation.
Bruno Michon, International Red Cross:
The response has been more and more efficient, but, yes, the peak is I think not behind us, but in front of us.
Amna Nawaz:
Meantime, DRC health authorities said today that there are now more than 830 confirmed cases, including at least 196 deaths. The outbreak is already one of the deadliest ever recorded in the country, and experts say it could be months before a vaccine is available.
Turning now to the World Cup and the cross-section of sports and politics, at the G7 summit in France today, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gifted President Donald Trump a German soccer jersey. It features the number 47 in honor of Trump being the 47th U.S. president. Merz posted images of the exchange on social media, wishing President Trump a happy belated 80th birthday and adding: “After all, we’re on the same team.”
Separately, Iran’s coach has called his squad — quote — “perhaps the most oppressed team at the tournament” after they were forced to leave the U.S. soon after last night’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand. As for today’s action, France shook off an uneasy start to beat Senegal by three goals to one.
Venus and Serena Williams will reunite on the court at Wimbledon later this month as a wild card entry in the women’s doubles competition; 44-year-old Serena, and Venus, who turns 46 tomorrow, last played together at Wimbledon in 2016, when they won their sixth doubles title at the event.
The announcement of their return comes just a week after Serena’s first official match in nearly four years. Neither Williams sister is slated to play singles at Wimbledon, but it’s not entirely impossible, with one wild card spot yet to be announced.
In the business world, Pizza Hut’s parent company is selling off the struggling chain for $2.7 billion. Yum! Brands said today its main business will be bought by private equity firm LongRange Capital, while Yum China will buy up its mainland China operation.
Pizza Hut has struggled against rising competition from the likes of DoorDash and Uber Eats. Shares of Yum! Brands closed the day nearly 2 percent higher.
Meantime on Wall Street, stocks ended mixed after Monday’s rally. The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than 300 points, but the Nasdaq loss ground, falling 300 points, or more than 1 percent. The S&P 500 also closed in negative territory.
Still to come, on the “News Hour”: we travel. to one of the only states in the U.S. where cancer rates are rising; Anthropic works to quiet the White House’s security concerns over its powerful A.I. models; and a new center looks at the impact of slavery and ways to expand the idea of freedom today.
