Karoline Leavitt to Leave White House Press Secretary Role
President Donald Trump announced on social media Wednesday that Karoline Leavitt will leave her post as White House press secretary at the end of August, capping a tenure that began when Trump returned to office in January 2025. Trump said Leavitt, who recently gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Viviana, was departing so she could spend more time with her young family. Leavitt has been one of the most visible defenders of the president's agenda and a prominent advocate of his "Make America Great Again" movement, having also served as a press aide during Trump's first term. Trump said she would continue to serve as an outside adviser after her departure.
ICE Plans Electric Shock Gloves for Immigration Enforcement Officers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to spend up to $20 million to outfit officers and agents with gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks, with the Department of Homeland Security publishing a notice that targets delivery by March. The devices, made by Compliant Technologies and called Glove (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are described by the manufacturer as a nonlethal compliance tool that is usually effective in less than three seconds and safe when properly used. The department has characterized the gloves as a de‑escalation device, but immigrant advocates and critics have raised concerns that the technology could encourage agents to use greater force during arrests.
Overcrowded Ferry Capsizes on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba, Killing Dozens
More than 40 people have died after an overcrowded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, with the death toll rising as rescue operations continue for an unknown number of missing passengers. Zimbabwean police and the civil protection unit said the vessel, which had a capacity of 90 people, was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an unknown number of children when it was hit by strong waves and overturned. Dozens of people have been rescued, but authorities said search efforts were ongoing.
David Crowley Wins Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Election
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, narrowly defeating democratic socialist Francesca Hong in an upset after Hong had led polling for much of the race. Crowley, who could become the state's first Black governor, re-entered the contest and secured an endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers, helping him pull off a last-minute victory that sets up a more traditional center-left campaign for the November general election. The result marks a win for moderate Democrats over the party's progressive wing in a closely watched governor's race.
Trump Says Secret Service Ordered Secret Air Force One Swap
President Donald Trump has said the Secret Service and military ordered him to leave Turkey last month on a different aircraft rather than Air Force One following a NATO summit, citing an unspecified security threat. Speaking to reporters after returning from an event in Ohio, Trump said, "They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane," adding that he did not ask many questions because he receives frequent threats. Former Secret Service agents have said such a secret plane swap is unusual but not unprecedented and likely was improvised in a hurry.
Trump Sued Over Truth Social Early-Access Subscription Plan
President Donald Trump has been sued in federal court over a subscription service offering early access to his Truth Social posts for fees of up to $100,000 a month. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that the arrangement from Trump's media company would allow him to profit by giving market-moving government information to paying customers and violates the Constitution. Trump Media executives have said they have signed up more than 10 customers for the service, which provides faster access to posts from Trump and other top users of the platform.
Israeli Settler Siege Traps Palestinian Families in West Bank Village
Two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra have been trapped inside their homes since Sunday by Israeli settlers who have cut off water and electricity and blocked medical care in what residents describe as a campaign of intimidation aimed at seizing their properties. Israeli security forces have reportedly withdrawn from the immediate area, leaving about a dozen settlers at the site, while authorities said more troops would be sent to the village. The siege has drawn renewed attention to the Israeli military's struggle to curb settler violence and protect Palestinians in the occupied territory.
British Driver Andy Green Sets Hydrogen-Powered Speed Record
British driver Andy Green, the 64‑year‑old retired Royal Air Force pilot who remains the only person to break the sound barrier in a car, has set a new speed record for a hydrogen‑powered vehicle. Green reached 406.32 miles per hour (approximately 654 kilometres per hour) in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines producing a combined 1,600 horsepower. The run is presented as a demonstration of hydrogen power’s potential in high‑performance vehicles.
PSG Defeat Aston Villa to Win UEFA Super Cup
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria, extending the reign of the back-to-back Champions League winners. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put PSG ahead in the 20th minute, Aston Villa equalized shortly before halftime, and Désiré Doué scored the winner in the 62nd minute to secure the trophy for the French club.
In Brief: Reiner Indictment, Kelce Wedding, Kennedy Center Ruling
A grand jury has indicted Nick Reiner on first-degree murder charges in the killings of his parents, director and actor Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, with a new allegation that he was lying in wait before attacking them. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of the 32-year-old, who prosecutors accuse of stabbing the couple. The lying-in-wait allegation could carry additional penalties if he is convicted.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has spoken publicly for the first time about his early July wedding to pop star Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden, calling it "the best night of my life." Kelce referred to Swift as his "wife" and said it had been a childhood dream to marry at the New York venue, while thanking those who attended the closely guarded ceremony.
A Washington, D.C., Superior Court judge, Tanya Jones Bosier, has ordered the Kennedy Center to pay roughly $250,000 to musician Chuck Redd, who canceled a Christmas‑Eve performance after the White House announced that Donald Trump’s name would be added to the venue. The Kennedy Center had sued Redd over the cancellation, but the judge dismissed the case and awarded the payment.