Senate panel votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions during a hearing last week on his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during the session. Republicans on the panel argued that the constitutional protection against self-incrimination did not apply because he had received a presidential pardon.
Committee chair Rand Paul said he would refer the matter to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution rather than follow the usual Senate procedure of sending the contempt resolution to the full chamber for a vote.
Trump signs new orders targeting birthright citizenship and birth tourism
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday that the White House said are designed to restrict eligibility for birthright citizenship and ban 'birth tourism'.
The move comes just over a month after the Supreme Court ruled on 30 June that his earlier, broader effort to end birthright citizenship was unconstitutional. Trump said he believed the latest actions would be constitutional, though additional details were not immediately released.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign mutual defence pact
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement in Mecca on Friday that treats an attack on any of the three countries as an attack on all.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact in Mecca and met in Jeddah to formalise it amid regional turmoil, including Houthi strikes against Saudi targets and broader Middle East tensions.
Cassidy support clears path for Todd Blanche confirmation
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced on Friday that he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, removing the biggest remaining obstacle to the nomination.
The decision followed Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska becoming the second Republican to announce opposition, saying she lacked confidence that Blanche would restrain the administration's worst impulses. Blanche's confirmation now hinges on maintaining Republican backing.
Appeals court blocks Trump’s White House ballroom construction
A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to halt above-ground construction of a $400m, 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, ruling that the work cannot proceed without congressional approval.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued after the administration demolished the historic East Wing to make way for the project. Trump said the administration will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
Trump renews effort to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
The White House has sent Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook a letter stating that President Trump is considering removing her from the board, reviving an effort the Supreme Court rejected in his first attempt.
The move rests on allegations of mortgage fraud and comes despite a recent Supreme Court decision upholding the Federal Reserve's independence.
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham
The Senate passed legislation by an 86-11 vote on Friday to impose tough new penalties on Russia and on countries that buy its petroleum exports over the invasion of Ukraine.
The bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives, was championed by the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham before his death in July.
Trump administration agrees to pay RWE $1.2bn to cancel wind leases
The Trump administration has agreed to pay the German energy company RWE $1.22bn to relinquish its offshore wind leases in US waters and redirect the funds toward fossil-fuel investments.
The agreement is the fifth such payout the administration has struck with energy companies as part of Trump's long-running criticism of wind power.
British music producer William Orbit dies aged 69
The British music producer William Orbit has died aged 69, his family and friends said in a statement posted on his social media accounts. He died at home on 23 July.
Orbit's credits included Madonna's Ray of Light, Blur's 13, All Saints' Pure Shores and Black Coffee, and work with U2.
Kasia Niewiadoma wins on Mont Ventoux to take Tour lead
Kasia Niewiadoma claimed a solo victory on the iconic Mont Ventoux climb to seize the overall lead in the Tour de France Femmes.
She leads former yellow-jersey holder Marlen Reusser by 39 seconds and Demi Vollering by 15 seconds. The previous day, Kimberley Le Court won stage six in a sprint finish.
England striker Ivan Toney charged with nightclub assault
England striker Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm over an alleged incident at a Soho nightclub on 6 December last year, the Metropolitan Police said.
Toney, 30, was charged on 31 July. He was part of England's World Cup squad this summer.