U.S. and world news for July 6

Yellen’s visit to China: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is not expected to meet with Chinese President Xi during her visit to Beijing according to a source at the Treasury Department this morning. She is expected to tell Xi’s chief deputy that the U.S. wants healthy trade cooperation and competition with China. The Chinese are expected to tell Yellen that China wants trade restrictions imposed during the Trump Administration to be lifted.

Chemicals in drinking water: A report from the U.S. Geological Survey says that at least 45% of the nation”™s tap water has one or more types of the chemicals known as PFAS. There are more than 12,000 types of PFAS chemicals, not all of which can be detected with current tests. The USGS study tested for the presence of 32 types of PFAS chemicals. The chemicals are used in manufacturing products that include non-stick cookware and fire fighting foam. They’re often called “forever chemicals” because they break down very, very slowly.

Trump’s posting: Federal prosecutors say in a court filing that Donald Trump posted online the home address of former President Obama the same day they arrested a man with guns and ammunition in his vehicle near Obama’s house. The man, Taylor Taranto, had reposted Trump’s message and added his own comment, “We’ve got these losers surrounded. See you in hell.” The federal prosecutors filed a court motion asking to keep Taranto in custody.

Prigozhin’s whereabouts: The head of the mercenary army Wagner Group who led a failed coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin is back in Russia according to the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Wagner leader Yevegny Prigozhin had been given sanctuary in Belarus after the failed march on Moscow and it was reported no charges would be filed against him. Lukashenko said he had no information about Prigozhin other than him now being in Russia.

Missile attack: A Russian missile hit an apartment building in the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine today killing at least five people and injuring another three dozen. The Ukrainians said the Russians fired 10 missiles in today’s attack and seven of them were shot down.

Record temperature: Following Monday’s report from scientists at the University of Maine that the Earth had reached its highest average global temperature in recorded history, a new record was set on Tuesday and Tuesday’s record was broken yesterday. In China yesterday, all outdoor work in the capital city Beijing was ordered stopped when the temperature hit 106 degrees Fahrenheit.