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Happening Today: Trump-Putin Summit, Brexit, Kellogg's, Scarlett Johansson

What to Know

  • Trump blamed the U.S., and not Russian election meddling or the country's annexation of Crimea, for a low-point in U.S.-Russia relations
  • Despite Kellogg's Honey Smacks being linked to a salmonella, the FDA says some boxes are still sitting on store shelves after a recall
  • Scarlett Johansson's plans to portray a transgender man in an upcoming film project sparked a backlash that resulted in her withdrawal

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Amid Investigations and Tensions, Trump-Putin Going 1-on-1

President Trump blamed the United States, and not Russian election meddling or the country's annexation of Crimea, for a low-point in U.S.-Russia relations hours before a summit with Vladimir Putin that played out against a backdrop of fraying Western alliances, a new peak in the Russia investigation and fears that Moscow's aggression may go unchallenged. The meeting, which was being closely watched by rattled world capitals, was condemned in advance by members of Congress from both parties after the U.S. indictment last week of 12 Russian military intelligence officers accused of hacking Democrats in the 2016 election to help Trump's presidential campaign. Undeterred, the American president was set to go face-to-face with Putin, the authoritarian leader for whom he has expressed admiration. Trump, who has been trying to lower expectations about what the meeting will achieve, told reporters during a breakfast with Finland's president that he thought the summit would go "fine."

In TV Interview, Trump Says Queen Called Brexit 'Complex'

President Trump has told a British TV interviewer that Queen Elizabeth II told him Brexit is "complex." Trump's interview with Good Morning Britain was broadcast Monday. The president spoke to Piers Morgan on Air Force One. Asked the queen's view on Brexit, Trump said: "She said it's a very complex problem." Trump's comments were unusual because most heads of state do not discuss their private conversations with the queen. Trump met the queen Friday at Windsor Castle. The queen does not comment on political matters and has never indicated whether she favors having Britain leave the European Union. Trump declined to say what he believes her view is on that important question.

FDA Says Honey Smacks Still Being Sold Despite Salmonella Link

Despite popular Kellogg's cereal Honey Smacks being linked to a salmonella outbreak that has infected 100 people in 33 states, the Food and Drug Administration says some boxes are still sitting on store shelves after a wide-ranging recall. Kellogg's had issued a voluntary recall in June for the cereal that was distributed across the U.S. It initially recalled certain sizes of Honey Smacks packages with specific code dates. However, the FDA said some retailers are still selling the cereal despite the recall, which the agency said affects all Honey Smacks packages. The FDA reiterated that "retailers cannot legally offer the cereal for sale and consumers should not purchase Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal." The CDC found salmonella in Honey Smacks samples and told customers they should avoid all Honey Smacks. The CDC says at least 100 people have become sick between March 3 and July 2 in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, Texas, California and other states. At least 30 of those people have been hospitalized.

61 Sick in Parasite Outbreak Linked to McDonald's Salads

At least 61 people in seven states have been made sick in an outbreak of Cyclospora linked to McDonald’s salads, federal health officials said. The fast-food chain has stopped selling the salads, but more people may become sick, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Salads at McDonald’s restaurants in at least 14 states may have been contaminated, the CDC and FDA said. “We understand how important it is to quickly identify the cause of this foodborne outbreak to help reduce additional illness and we’re working closely with our colleagues at CDC and state partners to get more answers,” FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

Scarlett Johansson Backs out of Transgender Role Amid Backlash

Scarlett Johansson's plans to portray a transgender man in an upcoming film project sparked a backlash that resulted in her withdrawing from the project, according to a statement the actress gave to Out Magazine. Earlier this month, Johansson was announced to star in "Rub & Tug," a film about prostitution ring leader Dante "Tex" Gill, who was born Lois Jean Gill but identified as a man. Since the announcement, transgender actors and advocates have criticized the production for not casting a trans actor in the role. After criticism was first leveled, Johansson inflamed critics with a statement to the website Bustle, via her representative, that said criticism "can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's reps for comment." Tambor, Leto and Huffman are all cisgender actors who received acclaim for playing trans characters.

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