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Vaccine changes, Colombia quake toll, hottest month ever: Catch up on the day’s stories

👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Feel like you’ve been melting under this summer’s heat? You’re not imagining things. July was the hottest month ever recorded in the US.

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Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day.

5 things

1️⃣ Childhood vaccines

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order that decreases the number of immunizations recommended for children by the federal government. Medical groups previously sued over a similar effort.

2️⃣ Colombia quake

More than 100 people were killed and dozens injured after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia. The government declared a national disaster and deployed soldiers to help with search and rescue.

➕ Watch: Video shows moment church steeple topples

3️⃣ Shocking twist

A trial in Washington, DC, seemed pretty straightforward: Shamell Naquan Joyner was accused of robbing gas stations and stealing cars. Then the jury made a discovery that stunned everyone in the courtroom.

4️⃣ ‘Chilling and exciting’

Buried alongside Pharaoh Tutankhamun, two small, ornate Egyptian trumpets remained silent for more than 3,000 years. A remarkable BBC radio broadcast let the world hear them again.

5️⃣ Changing tastes

7UP, which popularized lemon-lime flavoring when it rolled out nearly a century ago, is getting a makeover in response to younger drinkers’ thirst for citrus.

Watch this

🕺 Dancing for a discount: A gas station in upstate New York offered customers 20 percent off if they put on a show for the cashier. See their moves.

Top headlines

Check this out

🐛 It’s a trap: Back in 1875, Charles Darwin had a theory about the sticky “hairs” on this plant. More than 150 years later, scientists proved him right.

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Quiz time

🗳️ Which GOP lawmaker, pictured here, decided to remain in his race for reelection despite abuse allegations?

A. Rep. Chuck Edwards

B. Rep. Cory Mills

C. Sen. Bernie Moreno

D. Rep. Max Miller

⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.

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Most popular in Friday’s newsletter: A new romcom captures the very horny spirit of 2026

🧠 Quiz answer: D. Miller, a Republican from Ohio, has denied the accusations from his ex-wife.

👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.

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From Geneva to Houston: Adi Rivka Farjon Brings Global Diplomacy, Women’s Leadership and Bridge-Building to the Southwest

Click here for updates on this story    August 10, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) -- Houston knows global connections. Energy, medicine, technology, trade, culture and more than 90 foreign governments represented through the city’s consular community have made the Bayou City an international crossroads. Now another seasoned diplomat is preparing to add her voice to that conversation. Houston is home to what the city describes as the nation’s third-largest consular corps.Adi Rivka Farjon Israel has been selected to become Consul General of Israel in Houston and the Southwest, succeeding Consul General Livia Link-Raviv. Israel’s Cabinet approved Farjon’s appointment in November 2025, with Farjon expected to assume the Houston assignment in August 2026.As of August 10, 2026, the Houston consulate’s public leadership pages were still undergoing the transition and continued to reflect portions of the outgoing administration — making Farjon’s arrival quite literally a developing Houston story.And what a résumé she brings.Farjon most recently headed the Central Europe Department of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before that, she spent four years as Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, where the Israeli mission credited her with advancing the country’s positions at the Human Rights Council and working extensively on international women’s rights issues.photo Reflecting upon that demanding Geneva chapter, Farjon wrote, “When I started this role, I was optimistic and eager to embrace the opportunities of the multilateral arena.”Her colleagues were equally complimentary. Israel’s Geneva mission praised Farjon’s “professionalism, passion, energy and team spirit” as she concluded the assignment in 2024.Those qualities could serve her well in Houston.The Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest covers Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico, a sprawling territory encompassing energy capitals, agricultural centers, major universities, emerging technology corridors and some of America’s fastest-growing communities.The consulate describes Israel’s relationship with the Southwest as “robust,” with continuing efforts to deepen cooperation and shared prosperity. That relationship has included decades of exchanges involving agriculture, healthcare, energy, technology, research and trade.Houston, particularly, provides fertile ground for Farjon’s bridge-building instincts. The city has longstanding business and institutional connections with Israel, while the region’s energy and technology sectors offer natural opportunities for collaboration. The U.S. International Trade Administration has continued promoting Israeli participation in Houston’s Offshore Technology Conference, underscoring the economic possibilities surrounding energy innovation.Yet Farjon’s story reaches beyond government offices and diplomatic receptions.Before entering diplomacy, she worked in Israel’s nonprofit sector. She earned degrees from Tel Aviv University, including graduate work examining intercultural integration and the experiences of young immigrants in Germany. She also volunteered for years with the Tel Aviv Rape Crisis Center, educating teenagers about sexual-assault prevention and conducting empowerment programs for women and girls.Farjon later led the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Women in Diplomacy Network, organizing engagement among Israeli and international female diplomats. Her professional interests have included civil society, gender equality, conflict resolution and mediation.In other words, Houston is not simply receiving another diplomat with an impressive passport stamp collection.It is welcoming a communicator.A coalition builder.A woman who has moved between diplomacy’s grand stages and civil society’s very human work.And in a city where international relationships are built everywhere from boardrooms and universities to churches, synagogues, cultural institutions and neighborhood tables, that may prove to be exactly the right skill set.Welcome to Houston, Consul General Farjon. The world already meets here. Now the conversation continues.Official Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest: embassies.gov.il/houston/enAdi Rivka Farjon Israel – Global Diplomacy Lab Profile:global-diplomacy-lab.org/members/adi-rivka-farjon-israelPlease note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.Kierra LeeKIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM4096658446
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