Child Online Safety Bill

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Big Stories

Israel Claims It Killed Top Hezbollah Commander

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a targeted airstrike in Beirut, killing Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah's top military commander.

• The strike was in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed 12 children and teenagers in northern Israel. It is the first airstrike against a Hezbollah target in Beirut since the war in Gaza started on Oct. 7.

• Shukr, also known as al-Hajj Mohsin, was a senior advisor to Hezbollah's leader and oversaw all of Hezbollah's military operations. Shukr was also wanted by the FBI for the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. The Lebanese health ministry reported one death and 70 injuries from the strike. Hezbollah has not confirmed Shukr's death.

• The airstrike followed a deadly attack in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, for which Israel and the U.S. blamed Hezbollah. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said that Hezbollah crossed a red line, and the IDF said it doesn’t want war but is fully prepared for it.

Senate Passes Significant Child Online Safety Bill

The Senate passed two major online safety bills for kids: KOSA and COPPA 2.0.

• The bills aim to protect kids and teens from harmful content and give parents more control over their children's online activities. The Senate vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with only three senators voting against it. However, the House won't review the bills until after their summer break in September.

• KOSA requires social media companies to offer better protections for users under 17, including more parental control and a way to report harmful content. COPPA 2.0 focuses on privacy, barring targeted ads to kids and teens, and allowing users to delete their information. Some tech companies support the bills, but others and groups like the ACLU worry they might lead to censorship and affect privacy tools.

• Senate leaders and bill sponsors worked hard to address concerns and gain support. Now, they urge the House to act quickly when they return. House Speaker Mike Johnson supports the purpose of the bills but wants to review the details.

U.S. Women Make History at Paris Olympics

The U.S. women's gymnastics team won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, led by Simone Biles.

• The victory is the U.S.’ fourth team gold. Italy took the silver, earning its first Olympic team medal since 1928, and Brazil won the bronze, its first medal ever in the event. Biles' performance secured her eighth Olympic medal, making her the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history.

• The U.S. team started strong on the vault and built momentum through the uneven bars. Jordan Chiles had a fall on the balance beam but redeemed herself with an impressive floor routine. Suni Lee, the reigning all-around Olympic champion, delivered a solid performance on the uneven bars, scoring 14.566. Jade Carey contributed with a strong vault. Biles had the final floor routine and performed confidently, securing 14.666 points and sealing the U.S. victory.

• The U.S. women's rugby team won the country's first medal in rugby sevens by defeating Australia 14-12 to take the bronze. Alex Sedrick scored the final try with seconds left and made the winning kick, even though she wasn't the usual kicker.

Little Stories

• The Secret Service’s acting director, Ronald Rowe Jr testified to the Senate about the Trump assassination attempt. Rowe visited the scene and lay down on the roof to see what the shooter could see. He said he was embarrassed and could not defend why the roof was not better protected. He also said it was a mistake that local police didn’t warn the SS about the gunman on the roof before the shooting happened. (More)

• A federal agency ruled that Amazon is responsible for recalling hundreds of thousands of dangerous products sold by third parties on its site. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Amazon was a "distributor" of defective products, including faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection, and kids' sleepwear that violates flammability standards. (More)

• The FDA approved Guardant Health's blood test, called Shield, to screen for colon cancer. It's not a replacement for colonoscopies, but doctors are excited because it might help increase the low rate of screenings for the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. (More)

• Anjem Choudary, the leader of the banned group al-Muhajiroun, has been jailed for life in the U.K. and might never get out. He was found guilty of leading the group and encouraging support for it online even after it was outlawed. He can't apply for parole until he's over 85 years old. (More)

• An Illinois police union decided not to fight for the job of a sheriff’s deputy who shot Sonya Massey in her kitchen. The union had originally planned to try to get the officer reinstated but changed its mind because of the widespread outrage over the 36-year-old woman's death. They said they had only filed a complaint about the firing because it was part of their usual process. (More)

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