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What was planned as a routine rotational deployment has erupted into a political firestorm, as a top Democratic senator is demanding the Pentagon explain shocking allegations of dire living conditions for 5,000 sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. aircraft carrier that has remained stationed in the Middle East for more than 250 days.

The carrier first departed San Diego in November last year, originally bound for the South China Sea, before its mission was redirected to the Middle East in advance of U.S. strikes on Iran in February. What was supposed to conclude in May has been repeatedly extended with no public return date set, leaving crew and their families in limbo. Now, published reports from multiple U.S. military and mainstream outlets have outlined a litany of dangerous and unsanitary conditions onboard, from food shortages and contaminated water to broken plumbing systems and months-long delays or losses of personal mail and care packages. Most alarmingly, family members have told reporters that multiple sailors have experienced severe mental health deterioration, with several considering or attempting suicide. CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, also confirmed via two anonymous government officials that a sailor went overboard from the vessel last month, who was later recovered unharmed, with the incident still under active investigation.

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal laid out these allegations in an official letter sent Thursday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling for immediate investigation and clarity on the service’s ability to maintain the high operational pace being demanded of its carrier fleet. “These reports warrant immediate attention,” Blumenthal wrote, adding that the situation raises broader questions about sustained force readiness amid prolonged, unplanned deployments. The mounting scrutiny is also adding increased political pressure on the Trump administration amid ongoing tensions over U.S. military policy toward Iran.

Hegseth, speaking to reporters during a trip to Panama on the same day, rejected the claims entirely, arguing they had been “completely misrepresented.” He asserted that the Pentagon ensures all deployed vessels and crews receive every necessary resource, and expressed deep gratitude for the work of sailors operating in high-tension regions with limited port access. “What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls – it’s incredible,” Hegseth told reporters.

Late Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is moving forward with a previously planned rotation that will see the USS Abraham Lincoln replaced by the USS George Washington in the region. The BBC has reached out to the Pentagon for official comment on the rotation report, with no formal response released as of yet.

In a key development in the high-profile assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, legal representatives for accused shooter Luigi Mangione are set to hold a closed-door meeting with federal prosecutors this Friday, according to multiple U.S. media reports citing speculation over a potential plea agreement.

Mangione is currently facing two federal charges of stalking tied to the 2024 killing in New York City. Conviction on both counts could result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, though officials have not yet confirmed which specific charges are on the negotiating table. This week, Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), confirmed the scheduling of the meeting, telling reporters only that “There’s a conference scheduled for 11 am on Friday, and that’s all we can say at this time.”

Beyond the federal prosecution, Mangione also faces identical murder-related charges in a separate New York state court proceeding. To date, the accused has entered not guilty pleas to every charge brought in both cases. Legal experts emphasize that ongoing discussions about a plea deal do not guarantee a final agreement will be reached: such negotiations can collapse at any stage, and any finalized deal requires formal approval from a sitting judge before it can take effect.

Federal prosecutors brought the stalking charges after alleging Mangione traveled across the country and conducted pre-attack surveillance of Thompson before carrying out the killing. In a key ruling earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed two additional charges against Mangione in January, one of which would have allowed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty if the accused was convicted.

All three relevant legal bodies – Mangione’s defense team, the SDNY, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office – declined to respond to multiple requests for comment from the BBC when reached earlier this week. Mangione’s legal team has long challenged the dual prosecutions, arguing that trying their client in both state and federal court for the same killing violates fundamental legal principles. Presiding judges for both cases have so far rejected that challenge and allowed both proceedings to move forward.

However, a guilty plea in the federal case could upend the scheduled state trial. If a plea deal is finalized, defense attorneys will likely argue that the state prosecution violates the Fifth Amendment’s double jeopardy clause, a core constitutional protection that bars individuals from being prosecuted twice for the same offense. New York’s state constitution also includes its own explicit ban on double jeopardy, which would add further weight to this legal argument if it is raised, potentially derailing the state case entirely.

Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor and currently a white-collar defense attorney not affiliated with the case, explained the broader legal context: “If a federal prosecution has been completed on a matter, the state cannot prosecute the matter on those same facts.”

Currently, Mangione’s state trial is scheduled to open on September 8, while the federal trial is currently slated to begin in January 2027. If a plea deal is reached in the federal case, the timeline and future of the state trial will be thrown into uncertainty, reshaping the trajectory of one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the United States this year.

This week, three major, widely covered events dominated public attention across the European continent. Millions of spectators traveled to prime viewing locations across the region to gather and witness the rare solar eclipse, an event that drew cross-generational interest from amateur astronomers and casual observers alike. Separately, archaeological teams working off the northern coast of Sicily made a significant historical discovery: an ancient Roman shipwreck that experts say could unlock new insights into Mediterranean maritime trade and travel from the era. In celebrity news, global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tied the knot with his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez, a story that dominated entertainment headlines across social and traditional media platforms. With all these high-profile events grabbing global headlines, many news consumers have likely missed other important developments unfolding around the world over the past seven days. To help audiences test their knowledge of underreported and other key current affairs stories from the last week, journalists Grace Dean and George Sandeman have compiled a new interactive current affairs quiz for readers. For those who enjoy testing their knowledge of recent events and want additional quizzes, the creators note that readers can access the previous week’s quiz, or browse through a full archive of past current affairs quizzes compiled by the team. This week’s quiz includes questions covering major developments related to former U.S. President Donald Trump and ongoing U.S. political events.

The impending departure of Karoline Leavitt from her post as White House Press Secretary has triggered a wave of widespread speculation inside and outside Washington over who will step into one of the most high-profile and high-stakes roles in U.S. politics. As of this reporting, no official nomination has been made public by the White House, and anonymous administration sources confirm that no final decision has been locked in, leaving the door open to a wide pool of potential candidates.

Leavitt, a close and trusted advisor who has worked alongside former President and current President Donald Trump for years, leaves behind big shoes to fill. In his public announcement of her upcoming departure at the end of the month, Trump highlighted Leavitt as one of his most trusted aides, underscoring just how difficult the search for a replacement could prove.

Earlier this year, when Leavitt stepped away for a temporary leave, the White House adopted an unusual arrangement where top senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stepped in to deliver press briefings instead of tapping an in-house temporary replacement. Many political observers expect the administration could revert to this ad-hoc system for at least a short transition period after Leavitt exits.

However, the role of White House Press Secretary extends far beyond standing at the briefing room podium to deliver daily statements. A successful press secretary must navigate tense, often contentious relationships with the national press corps, coordinate communication strategy across all branches of the White House, provide trusted media guidance directly to the president, and oversee a small team that manages hundreds of daily press inquiries and information requests. Most critically, whoever takes the role must meet Trump’s exacting personal standards, a challenge that insiders say is far from simple.

“It’s not easy,” an anonymous source close to the administration told the BBC. “That person will be very aware that he’s watching every day.”

Political analysts have already identified a shortlist of prominent potential candidates with deep ties to Trump and the Republican Party, each bringing unique experience to the table.

Leading the list of contenders is Alina Habba, a long-time Trump ally who previously served as his personal lawyer. Last year, Trump tapped Habba to serve as the top federal prosecutor for New Jersey, but her nomination was ultimately blocked by a federal court ruling on her eligibility. She temporarily served in the role in an acting capacity, and in the first months of Trump’s second term, she has held a post as presidential counselor. Trump has repeatedly praised Habba as unwaveringly loyal and a tireless advocate for his policy and political agenda. Habba first joined Trump’s personal legal team in 2021 after meeting Trump at his New Jersey golf club, and she led his legal team during his high-profile 2024 hush-money trial in New York, where Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records; an appeal of that conviction is currently ongoing.

Another top contender is Katie Miller, a 34-year-old conservative media personality and former Trump White House staffer. Miller is married to Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and the architect of Trump’s hard-line immigration policy. She previously served as press secretary and later communications director for former Vice President Mike Pence during the first Trump administration, and later held the role of communications director for the Department of Government Efficiency—colloquially known as DOGE, the cost-cutting government reform initiative led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. Last year, Miller launched her own podcast targeted at conservative women and working mothers, which has built a sizable audience among Republican voters.

Current White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly is also considered an internal candidate for the promotion. At 29, the former beauty queen has already served as a primary on-the-record representative for the administration to the press, and previously held roles as national press secretary for the Republican National Committee and communications staff for Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden.

Former ESPN sportscaster Sage Steele has also been named as a potential candidate. Steele, 53, who rose to prominence hosting iconic shows like SportsCenter and First Take, became a vocal campaign surrogate for Trump during the 2024 presidential election and has since emerged as a prominent conservative media figure and consistent supporter of the president’s agenda.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, a long-time Trump advisor, is also viewed as a possible candidate. Cheung built a reputation for his combative approach to press interactions and unflinching defense of the president, first joining Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign before serving as director of rapid response during the first Trump term. He left the White House in 2018 to launch a private consulting firm that supported Trump’s 2020 campaign, and previously led communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship before joining the Trump team. Shortly after Leavitt’s departure was announced, Cheung posted a public tribute praising his departing colleague, calling her the best teammate, fiercely loyal, unflappable, and an honorable public servant.

Former Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Kenzie McLaughlin is another contender with deep first-term Trump administration experience. McLaughlin became known for her aggressive defense of the first Trump administration’s immigration policies on cable news, and held multiple roles across the Treasury Department and State Department during Trump’s first term. She stepped down from her current role in February and has kept a relatively low profile since, but previously served as communications director for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and for Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 Republican presidential primary campaign, and has worked as a political contributor for ABC News.

Rounding out the list of potential candidates is conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, a senior political contributor at CNN who has become one of the most visible defenders of the Trump administration on mainstream cable news. Once a public critic of Trump, the 48-year-old Jennings has decades of political campaign experience, having worked on four presidential campaigns and three successful re-election campaigns for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of whom he is considered a close ally. Trump has publicly praised Jennings multiple times for his consistent defense on CNN, noting in a Michigan rally last year that “He’s defending me all the time on CNN, and he defends me really well, but he can’t go too far because if he goes too far, he’ll get fired.” Jennings last year published a pro-Trump book titled *A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization*.

After months of growing public outcry over documented misuse of its surveillance technology by law enforcement officers across the United States, American surveillance company Flock has introduced sweeping new privacy and security safeguards — a change its founder and chief executive Garrett Langley acknowledges should have been implemented far earlier.

Flock’s network of tens of thousands of license plate reading cameras, fixed surveillance devices and drones have been widely deployed by police departments nationwide. While the tool has proven useful for legitimate law enforcement tasks including recovering stolen vehicles and locating missing people, multiple high-profile cases have exposed dangerous abuse: officers have used Flock’s technology to stalk current and former romantic partners, track innocent civilians unrelated to any criminal investigation, and even monitor a woman who received an abortion. Multiple officers across the country have resigned or been terminated after being caught misusing the platform, and an Indiana man recently confirmed via a public records request that local police had placed an alert on his vehicle despite him never being suspected of any crime.

The scandal has sparked significant public and political pushback: at least 50 US cities have cut ties with Flock so far this year. Still, Langley told the BBC that business remains largely stable, noting that 16 cities that previously ended their contracts have reversed course and resumed their partnership with the firm in the last three months. He added that the company currently maintains a 7:1 ratio of new customers to customers that terminate services.

Looking back, Langley admitted that he was slow to recognize the growing public concern and the need for stronger oversight. Six months ago, during a board meeting, he questioned why Flock was drawing increasing public scrutiny — a moment that came shortly after smart doorbell manufacturer Amazon Ring scrapped a planned partnership with Flock following public outrage over a Super Bowl advertisement that amplified fears of mass unregulated surveillance.

“Historically, my point of view as a chief executive of a private company was, I don’t know if I should be making these decisions. I don’t know if it’s my job to say how long data should be retained,” Langley explained in his interview with the BBC. He has since reversed that position, now aligning with civil liberties groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation on the core demand that police must be required to link any search of Flock data to an active open case number. “They’re right. I think it should be required,” he said.

Langley acknowledged that employees and community members have repeatedly called on Flock to take a firmer stance as the technology’s creator and industry expert, a responsibility he previously resisted. Now he has embraced that accountability, pairing the rollout of new safeguards with his continued argument that Flock’s tools are critical to reducing crime and improving public safety in American communities. He even claimed that cities that choose not to use Flock’s technology are intentionally making their communities less safe.

Despite this defense of his product, Langley does not deny the widespread abuse that has occurred. He noted that Flock’s prominently placed cameras in neighborhoods across the country have made the company a convenient target for growing public anxiety about mass surveillance and unregulated data collection, a concern that is amplified by the complete lack of comprehensive federal privacy legislation in the US governing how personal data can be collected, used or sold. “Because you can see our cameras, it’s easier to get mad,” he said.

The push for new safeguards grew directly out of community and law enforcement conversations, Langley explained. He recalled meeting a woman in Cleveland who fiercely opposed Flock’s deployment in her neighborhood, telling him she saw the technology as a tool for police to abuse their power. What surprised him, he said, was that many rank-and-file officers shared that concern: during conversations with police, officers often told him they knew some colleagues were misusing access to surveillance tools, but had no formal mechanism to flag or document that behavior.

That feedback led Flock to roll out a voluntary audit feature earlier this year, which automatically logs every search of the company’s database and automatically flags unusual activity that may indicate misuse. The vast majority of police departments enabled the tool as soon as it was available, and the data it captured confirmed just how rampant misuse had become — prompting Langley to make the feature a mandatory standard for all customers.

Langley emphasized that officers who abuse their access to surveillance tools are unfit for service and should face consequences harsher than termination alone. “If anyone is going to be the one that spearheads getting rid of abusive cops? Sign me up,” he said. “We trust these individuals with deadly weapons. I think a camera is very far from a deadly weapon, but I would say it’s a very powerful tool. We should hold it incredibly accountable.”

The key new policy changes also include cutting the default retention period for most user data collected by Flock from 30 days to just seven days, a change designed to reduce the risk of inappropriate access to historical personal location data.