U.S. and world news for July 15

Cannon  dismisses Trump case: Today is the opening day for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and it coincides with Federal Judge Aileen Cannon releasing a decision this morning dismissing the classified documents case against Donald Trump. Cannon ruled that the appointment of SpecialCounsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, officials say there has been no increase in security following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump is expected to accept the party’s nomination to run for president in a speech scheduled for Thursday night. His vice presidential pick is expected to make a speech to the convention on Wednesday night.

After the assassination attempt: First Lady Jill Biden’s office confirms that Mrs. Biden spoke with Melania Trump yesterday in the wake of the assassination attempt on Melania’s husband Donald. The phone call took place yesterday afternoon. Details of their conversation were not released. President Biden and Trump spoke by phone late Saturday night. In a speech to the nation last night, Biden said that political passions must never be allowed to lead to violence. Biden called for the rhetoric in the current campaign to be toned down.

Secret Service: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said this morning that the agency intends to participate fully in the planned independent investigation into the agency’s actions regarding security at the Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, during which an attempt was made to kill Trump. A Secret Service sniper killed the would-be assassin, 20-year old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks fired several shots from a rooftop outside of the security perimeter at the rally site.

Navy maneuvers: A Chinese news agency reports that Russian and Chinese navy forces have begin joint military exercises in waters off southern China. The Chinese said that the Russian and Chinese forces are practicing methods for preserving peace and stability. The exercises are described as being part of China and Russia’s comprehensive strategic partnership.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel staged new attacks today on targets in southern and central Gaza. Today’s military actions came after attacks over the weekend that targeted leaders of Hamas who were hiding among Palestinian civilians living in an areas that had been set up to be a safe zone. Palestinian officials said that about 90 people were killed in the weekend aerial and artillery attacks by the Israeli military.

Weather: About 100 million people in the eastern part of the U.S have been under heat advisories. The Tri-State Area is expected to feel the effects of high heat and humidity through Wednesday with temperatures reaching the upper 90s and the heat index making it feel as if it is as hot as 110 degrees in parts of the Hudson Valley. Conditions could lead to the development of thunderstorms accompanied by high winds in the late afternoons and evenings.