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A rare Justice Department move against New York Times reporters is setting up a major press-freedom fight, a bipartisan housing law takes effect without President Trump's signature, and an expanding heat dome is putting millions under dangerous temperatures.

We also examine why Germany's auto giants are losing their edge in China—and what that could mean for the global car market.

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The Big Read

Justice Department Subpoenas Times Reporters Over Jet Story

Federal agents appeared at the homes of several New York Times journalists on Friday night, moving to compel their grand jury testimony as soon as next week. Subpoenas center on the paper's reporting about security concerns surrounding an Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar. Investigators want to know how the reporters obtained sensitive details about the aircraft.

The Times denounced the move as a "brazen act" and has filed a countersuit alleging political retaliation. Editors warned that forcing reporters to reveal sources would chill national-security journalism across the industry. Press-freedom groups called the summons a rare escalation that tests a line the government almost never approaches.

Landmark Housing Bill Becomes Law Without a Signature

The largest housing affordability package in decades became law at midnight after clearing both chambers of Congress in June. More than 40 provisions aim to spur homebuilding, cut permitting delays and lower ownership costs nationwide. A Trump-backed rule also bars corporate landlords that already own 350 or more homes from buying still more.

President Trump withheld his signature while pressing lawmakers to pass a separate voter-identification bill first. Aides said he let the measure take effect on its own rather than block a popular package. Backers are calling it a rare bipartisan win on cost-of-living pressures heading into the midterms.

A Dangerous Heat Dome Builds Across the US

A sprawling heat dome is building over the US, driving temperatures toward triple digits across the Southwest and Great Plains this weekend. Forecasters warn the worst of the heat could prove deadly for anyone without shade or air conditioning. Tens of millions of people already fall under heat advisories stretching from Texas to the Midwest.

Meteorologists cautioned that heat "is not to be played with," urging residents to limit time outdoors and check on neighbors. Cooling centers are opening in several major cities as the system settles in for days. Utilities are bracing for record power demand as air conditioners run around the clock.

World View

China Braces as a Second Typhoon Makes Landfall

Typhoon Bavi made landfall in eastern Zhejiang province, the second major storm to strike China in a single week. Nearly two million people were evacuated as the system pushed toward the coastal city of Wenzhou. Authorities suspended trains, flights and schools while emergency crews braced for flooding and landslides.

Speedboat Capsizes off Vietnam, Killing 15

A speedboat carrying tourists capsized in rough seas near an island in southern Vietnam, killing at least 15 people. Local media report that 21 others were pulled from the water alive. Several of the dead were Indian tourists, and an investigation into the conditions is under way.

Nigeria Frees More Than 40 Kidnapped Students

More than 40 children and teachers abducted by militants in May were freed in an army operation. A local teachers' union leader told the BBC he felt overwhelming joy and relief at the rescue. Officials said the captives were recovered without ransom after weeks of tracking their abductors.

Need To Know

Congressman Says He Was Detained in the West Bank

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna says he was held for about 90 minutes by Israeli soldiers and settlers during a visit to the occupied West Bank. Khanna, 49, said he was stopped while touring the area and questioned before being released. Aides described the episode as alarming for a sitting member of Congress traveling on an official trip.

Judge Tosses Remnants of Proud Boys Case

A federal judge dismissed the remaining charges in the Proud Boys seditious conspiracy case following President Trump's sweeping clemency. Prosecutors had tried to preserve pieces of the case even after the January 6 pardons wiped out most convictions. Defense lawyers hailed the ruling as the final chapter in one of the highest-profile Capitol riot prosecutions.

Minnesota Pulls National Guard From DC Early

Governor Tim Walz is withdrawing Minnesota's Guard troops from Washington well ahead of their scheduled July 23 departure. Troops had been assigned to presence patrols in neighborhoods far from the National Mall, fueling accusations of mission creep. Pressure is now mounting on Michigan, which still has 161 members deployed in the capital.

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Money & Markets

Hunter Biden Wins $1.7M Defamation Judgment

A federal judge awarded Hunter Biden $1.7 million in punitive damages against former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne over the claim that Biden sought a bribe to lobby his father to free $8 billion in Iranian assets. Ruling puts a price tag on one of the more baroque conspiracy theories of the past decade.

Berkshire Gains Ground but Still Trails the Market

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has narrowed its gap with the S&P 500 but still trails the index halfway through 2026. Berkshire's light exposure to the AI-driven technology rally continues to weigh on its returns. Analysts note the conglomerate is sitting on a record cash pile as it waits for cheaper opportunities.

Amazon Layoffs Ripple Through a Crowded Job Market

Eight months after Amazon's largest-ever round of job cuts, laid-off staff are struggling to find work in an increasingly saturated market. Many describe burnout, frustration and heartbreak, with one worker learning of his firing through a phone text. Recruiters say the flood of experienced tech talent has made even senior roles fiercely competitive.

Future Frontiers

Meta Reins In an AI Tool That Grabbed Instagram Photos

Meta has scaled back an AI feature that automatically pulled users' public Instagram images, after days of mounting privacy criticism. Critics including CAA and SAG-AFTRA argued the tool used people's likenesses without documented consent. Meta said it would rework the feature's opt-out settings before any wider relaunch.

A Tiny Implant Aims to Keep Weight Off

Vivani Medical is developing a small GLP-1 implant built to dose patients steadily for months at a time. Adherence has long been a stubborn problem, with many users abandoning weekly injections within a year. Backers hope a set-and-forget device could help people hold on to hard-won weight loss.

First Satellite-Connected Dog Collar Hits the Market

Your runaway dog can now call home via satellite, thanks to the world's first collar built to work outside cellular range. Device points to a wider consumer push into direct-to-satellite gadgets that once belonged only to hikers and sailors.

The Score

Noskova Survives a Meltdown to Win Wimbledon

Czech 21-year-old Linda Noskova wasted five championship points before finally closing out compatriot Karolina Muchova for her first Grand Slam title. Noskova won 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the first all-Czech women's final at the All England Club. Victory lifts her to a career-high No. 7, the third Czech woman to win Wimbledon in four years.

Klopp Nears Deal to Coach Germany

Jürgen Klopp has agreed on key terms to become Germany's national team head coach after talks in New York. Klopp would replace Julian Nagelsmann, who was ousted following Germany's shock World Cup loss to Paraguay in the round of 32. Any move still depends on his release from a current role with Red Bull.

Morant Says Portland Feels Like Starting Over

Ja Morant, speaking for the first time since his trade from Memphis, said joining Portland feels like starting all over again. Morant said he wants to shed his "bad guy" image and will start or come off the bench as needed. Portland acquired the two-time All-Star for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray this summer.

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Life & Culture

Barbara Ling, 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Designer, Dies at 73

Oscar-winning production designer Barbara Ling has died at 73 after decades shaping some of Hollywood's most vivid worlds. Ling's credits span "The Doors," "Michael" and Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Colleagues remembered her as a meticulous designer who could conjure entire eras on screen.

Karlovy Vary Crowns Its Festival Winners

A Myanmar-set drama, "Fruit Gathering," took the top prize at this year's Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Runner-up honors went to "The Guest," rounding out a strong slate at one of Europe's oldest festivals. Juliette Binoche and Jeffrey Wright each received honorary awards at the closing ceremony.

'Apples' Director Makes the Case for 'Tender Cinema'

Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou, known for the deadpan oddity "Apples," is mentoring young directors at Karlovy Vary's Future Frames program. Nikou guided ten emerging European filmmakers through the showcase this year. He used the platform to argue for a warmer, more human strain of arthouse storytelling he calls "tender cinema."

Deep Dive

Germany's Auto Giants Lose Their Grip on China

For a generation, China was the golden goose of the German auto industry, the market that made Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz fabulously profitable. A sharp reversal is now under way. The sales numbers landing this week make the shift impossible to ignore.

What it is: German automakers are reporting steep sales declines in China, their single most important market for decades. Domestic Chinese brands are winning over buyers with cheaper, feature-packed electric vehicles. Even Mercedes and BMW, long insulated by luxury demand, are feeling the squeeze at the top end. Sales that once seemed bulletproof are now sliding quarter after quarter.

The detail: For years, VW, BMW and Mercedes treated China as a near-guaranteed profit engine, pouring investment into local factories and joint ventures. Chinese rivals such as BYD then leapfrogged them on software, battery range and price. Government subsidies and a homegrown supply chain have handed those manufacturers a structural cost advantage. German brands, slower to embrace all-electric lineups, have been left defending shrinking market share.

Why it matters: China long generated a huge slice of German automakers' global profits, cash that funded jobs and research back home. Weaker Chinese sales ripple straight into factories, suppliers and towns across Germany. Suppliers that employ hundreds of thousands of workers are especially exposed to any downturn. Europe's largest economy leans heavily on an auto sector now under sustained pressure.

What to watch: Watch whether German brands can ship competitive electric models fast enough to slow the bleeding. Watch, too, for deeper cost cuts and plant consolidation as executives adjust to a smaller China. Watch quarterly results from Volkswagen for the clearest read on how fast the decline is accelerating. Any European tariffs on Chinese EVs could reshape the fight on both continents.

Extra Bits

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