#1: UK Sizzles:
The UK broke its record for high temperatures on Tuesday, with a heat wave that is threatening many countries in Europe. It is predicted that it will get even hotter.
Britons are not used to the hot dry weather, which has triggered wildfires in Portugal, France and as far as the Balkans.
The UK Met Office registered a reading of 104.4 degrees Fahrenheit at Heathrow Airport in Tuesday afternoon. The previous temperature high was 101.7 F in 2019.
#2: Sniper Game Paused:
The ICON Park, an Orlando amusement park, has stopped a new laser shooting game after being criticized for the game being inappropriate following a wave of mass shootings in the country. The Bullseye Blast game is available to riders of a 400-foot Wheel who pay an extra fee to shoot laser blasters at targets on the rooftops of buildings at the amusement park. The park’s website says, “To get the highest score possible, players need to hit as many of these [targets] as possible with their laser blaster during the 18-minute ride.”
Park officials said that the game was popular among its customers, but they were getting bad press and decided to stop it, for now.
#3: No Abortion for Down Syndrome:
A law in Indiana that prohibits abortions when a fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality, such as Down syndrome, is being allowed to be enforced. The law allows doctors who perform abortions in these cases to be sued.
A previous appeal by Indiana, which sought to enforce the law, was rejected by the US Supreme Court in 2019.
A federal judge lifted the order to block the enforcement, allowing it to go forward.
The Indiana State Legislature is meeting this week to discuss further abortion restrictions.
#4: White House Aides Testifying:
Aides that worked in the Trump White House are expected to testify in the next live public hearing of the House January 6 Committee on Thursday. Sarah Matthews was a spokesperson for the former president, and Matthew Pottinger was one of his security advisers.
The two resigned from their White House positions on the day of the Capitol attack.
The hearing will focus on the Trump White House’s reaction to the Capitol mob attack as it occurred.
#5: White Supremacists:
Six members of a white supremacist group, the Patriot Front, pleaded not guilty on Monday to misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to riot, after they were arrested near an Idaho pride event last month. The six had riot gear, a smoke grenade, shin guards and shields in a U-Haul they used to arrive at a park where the North Idaho Pride Alliance was holding a “Pride in the Park” event. They showed up with logos on their hats and T-shirts that said, “Reclaim America.” Their presence was documented on social media.
