US and Iran Exchange Strikes for Sixth Consecutive Day Near Strait of Hormuz
US forces launched new strikes near Iran's Gulf island of Qeshm and additional targets, while Iran fired missiles and drones at US allies in the region. Both sides indicated openness to resumed negotiations despite continued military action.The United States and Iran entered a sixth consecutive day of reciprocal military strikes, with US forces targeting areas near the Gulf island of Qeshm, close to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as locations near Tehran. The US military stated its attacks aimed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes directed at US allies in the region. Despite the ongoing hostilities, officials on both sides indicated some openness to negotiations to end the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and oil prices rose to $85 a barrel amid the escalating tensions. Separately, a drone boat manufacturer, Saronic Technologies, announced it will open a new shipyard in Texas, citing demand from the ongoing conflict — one of the company's naval drones was previously used in a rescue operation during the war. The extended exchange raises questions about the duration and scope of US military involvement, with analysts drawing comparisons to earlier open-ended American military campaigns in the region. Accounts of casualty figures and precise targets vary across sources, and the full strategic picture remains unclear.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Dismissed Amid Military Dispute; Protests Follow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov following reported conflicts between Fedorov and the military's top commander over drone-centered battlefield strategy. Thousands of Ukrainians protested the dismissal in cities across the country. Parliament subsequently confirmed energy executive Sergii Koretskyi as the new prime minister.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, citing a breakdown in relations between the Defense Ministry and the country's top military leadership, particularly Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov had championed the expanded use of drones and other innovative technologies on the battlefield, and was widely credited with modernizing Ukraine's wartime military approach. He publicly defended his record after his removal, characterizing his work as an effort to overcome resistance from a more traditional military establishment. Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in cities across the country to protest Fedorov's ouster, reflecting his broad popularity. Zelenskyy addressed the controversy at a press conference in Kyiv, defending his decision but acknowledging the internal tensions. In a separate development within the same government reshuffle, Ukraine's parliament approved Sergii Koretskyi, a senior energy sector executive, as the country's new prime minister — making him the third person to hold the role in three years. The concurrent political turmoil — a fired defense minister, street protests, and a new prime minister — represents a significant moment of domestic instability for Ukraine while the war with Russia continues.
White House Teleprompter Operator Placed on Leave After Alleged Bets on Trump Speeches
A White House teleprompter operator was placed on unpaid administrative leave after reports he used advance knowledge of President Trump's speeches to win approximately $100,000 on the prediction market platform Kalshi. The White House described the alleged conduct as a disgrace, and officials said the matter is under investigation.The White House placed its longtime teleprompter operator on unpaid administrative leave after reports emerged that he had used his access to President Trump's prepared remarks to place bets on the online prediction market Kalshi, winning approximately $100,000. Kalshi flagged the activity to federal authorities. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House counsel had no prior knowledge of the alleged bets and confirmed no other staffers are currently under investigation. President Trump was described as viewing the alleged conduct as a disgrace. The case is believed to be the first known instance of suspected insider trading on a prediction market tied to an active White House employee. The incident has drawn renewed attention to the rapid growth of prediction markets and the regulatory questions they raise, particularly when individuals with advance access to government information are able to trade on it. Kalshi separately announced this week it is expanding to allow bets on drug trial outcomes and FDA regulatory decisions, illustrating the breadth of the platform's ambitions.
Trump Delivers Primetime Address on Election Integrity
President Trump delivered a primetime televised address focused on election integrity and the 2020 election. Intelligence assessments have consistently found the 2020 election was secure and that foreign interference attempts did not affect vote totals.President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address to the nation focused on election integrity, with reports ahead of the speech indicating it would revisit claims about the 2020 election. Trump has for years alleged, without supporting evidence, that he lost the 2020 presidential election due to fraud. Intelligence and election security officials, including those serving in his first administration, have consistently concluded the 2020 election was secure and that foreign interference efforts did not alter any vote counts. The address was accompanied by live fact-checking efforts from independent organizations. The speech was scheduled to cover election security measures, though specific policy announcements it may have included were not confirmed in the source material available. The address came amid a broader week of White House activity including a separate speech on political violence and ongoing military operations abroad.
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Have Lower Court Reconsider Protected Status for Venezuelan and Haitian Nationals
The Trump administration has filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to direct a lower court to reconsider its ruling on Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan and Haitian nationals currently residing in the United States.The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to order a lower court to reconsider its decision protecting Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Venezuelan and Haitian nationals. TPS is a designation that allows nationals of certain countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work in the United States without facing deportation. The Biden administration had extended TPS to large numbers of Venezuelan and Haitian nationals, and lower courts had blocked the Trump administration's attempts to terminate those protections. The administration's petition represents its latest legal effort to remove those protections and is part of a broader pattern of immigration-related cases it has brought before the Supreme Court this term. The outcome could affect hundreds of thousands of individuals currently residing in the US under TPS designations.
Markets have trended modestly lower and then recovered over recent sessions.
TSMC Adds $100 Billion to US Investment Plan, Bringing Arizona Commitment to $265 Billion
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has expanded its planned US investment by $100 billion, bringing its total commitment to operations in Arizona to $265 billion.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, known as TSMC, announced it is adding $100 billion to its planned investment in the United States, raising its total commitment to its Arizona operations to $265 billion. TSMC is the world's dominant producer of advanced semiconductors and manufactures chips used in smartphones, automobiles, defense systems, and artificial intelligence hardware. The expanded commitment reflects both the company's growing US footprint and the broader push — supported by US policy — to build domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on chip production concentrated in Asia. Arizona has been the center of TSMC's US expansion, with multiple fabrication plants already under construction or in planning. The scale of the investment makes it one of the largest foreign corporate commitments to US manufacturing on record.
Uber Agrees to Acquire Germany's Delivery Hero for $14.8 Billion
Uber has reached an agreement to acquire German food delivery company Delivery Hero for $14.8 billion, offering €41.50 per share. The deal would combine Uber's existing food delivery business with Delivery Hero's operations across multiple international markets.Uber has agreed to acquire Delivery Hero, a German food delivery company, for approximately $14.8 billion. Uber offered €41.50 per share to Delivery Hero's shareholders. The acquisition would significantly expand Uber's global food delivery footprint by combining it with Delivery Hero's operations, which span markets across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Delivery Hero is the parent company of brands including Talabat and Foodpanda, among others. The deal would create one of the largest food delivery operations in the world. It remains subject to regulatory review in multiple jurisdictions.
US Consumer Spending Rises, Including on Non-Essential Goods
American consumers increased spending in recent months, including on non-essential items, partly supported by lower gasoline prices. Gas prices have since begun rising again, adding uncertainty to household budgets.Recent retail sales data indicate that American consumers have been spending more, including on goods beyond basic necessities. Lower gasoline prices provided relief to household budgets and contributed to the uptick in discretionary spending. However, gas prices have begun rising again, which may put renewed pressure on consumers already managing elevated costs in other categories. The data suggests the consumer economy remains active, though the sustainability of that spending depends in part on whether energy costs continue to climb. Economists and retail analysts will be watching subsequent months' figures for signs of whether the spending trend holds.
FDA Approves New Oral Pill That Reduces Cholesterol Beyond Statin Levels
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pill designed to reduce cholesterol levels significantly further than statins can achieve, based on results from clinical trials.The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new oral medication capable of lowering cholesterol to levels beyond what statins — the current standard of care — can reach. Clinical trial data showed the drug achieved reductions in LDL, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, that substantially exceeded those produced by statins. High LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Statins, while effective and widely used, do not bring some patients' cholesterol to target levels and can cause muscle-related side effects in a subset of users. An oral pill in this class would represent a meaningful addition to cardiovascular treatment options, potentially reaching patients who cannot tolerate statins or who need greater cholesterol reduction. Details on the drug's name, manufacturer, and pricing were not available in the source material.
Brain Implant Enables Paralyzed Man to Feed Himself Using Thought-Controlled Arm Movement
A New York man paralyzed from the chest down has regained the ability to feed himself and drink from a cup using a brain implant that bypasses his spinal cord injury, researchers reported.Keith Thomas of Massapequa, New York, who was paralyzed from the chest down following a swimming accident six years ago, has regained functional use of his arms through a neural bypass brain implant. The device reads signals from the brain and routes them around the damaged portion of the spinal cord, allowing Thomas to control his arm movements using thought alone. He is now able to feed himself and drink from a cup independently — tasks that had been impossible since his injury. The technology represents an advance in neural interface research, demonstrating that a brain implant can restore meaningful physical function in a patient with a severe spinal cord injury. Researchers involved in the trial said the results point toward broader applications for people living with paralysis.
Earth-Like Exoplanet 49 Light Years Away Found to Have Atmosphere with Potential for Liquid Water
Scientists have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-sized exoplanet designated LHS 1140b, located 49 light years from Earth, and say conditions could allow liquid water to exist on its surface.Researchers have confirmed the presence of an atmosphere around LHS 1140b, an Earth-sized planet orbiting a star approximately 49 light years away. The discovery is notable because atmospheres have previously been detected around gas giant exoplanets and so-called super-Earths, but confirming one around a planet closer to Earth's size is considered a significant step in the search for potentially habitable worlds. Scientists say the atmospheric conditions of LHS 1140b could be consistent with the existence of liquid water on its surface, which is considered a key requirement for life as it is understood. The findings add to a growing body of evidence about planets beyond our solar system that may share characteristics with Earth, though direct detection of water or signs of life would require further observation.
Developing El Niño Could Make 2027 the Hottest Year on Record, Scientists Say
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology says the El Niño climate pattern now developing in the Pacific Ocean could become the strongest on record, potentially making 2027 the hottest year in recorded history.Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the El Niño climate phenomenon currently developing in the Pacific Ocean could intensify into the strongest on record. If that occurs, scientists say 2027 could surpass all previous years as the hottest on record globally. El Niño events are associated with elevated sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific and are linked to widespread effects including droughts, intensified storms, reduced rainfall in some regions, and significantly higher global average temperatures. The current El Niño is being watched by climatologists with increasing concern, given that global baseline temperatures are already elevated compared to historical norms. The Bureau of Meteorology says most Australian capital cities face at least an 80 percent chance of experiencing an unusually warm and dry spring season. The potential for a record-breaking El Niño carries implications for agriculture, water supply, and extreme weather events across multiple continents, including in regions that supply food to global markets.
Smoke from Hundreds of Canadian Wildfires Spreads to US Northeast and Midwest
Smoke from more than 800 active wildfires in Canada, concentrated in northern Ontario, has spread across the US Northeast and Midwest, prompting air quality alerts. Toronto's air quality was ranked among the worst in the world, and health warnings were issued in both countries.Smoke from more than 800 active wildfires burning across Canada — with a concentration of more than 100 fires in northern Ontario — has spread south and east, reaching cities including Toronto, New York, and areas of the US Midwest. Environment Canada issued health warnings after Toronto's sky turned yellow with smoke, with air quality monitoring service IQAir ranking the city among the worst in the world for air quality at its peak. US air quality alerts were issued across affected regions as the smoke descended. Authorities in both countries advised residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions, children, and older adults, to limit outdoor exposure. The extent of the smoke spread underscores the cross-border health implications of large wildfire seasons, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years.
Texas Rivers Rise Rapidly After Heavy Rainfall; Flood Warnings Issued in Southcentral Region
Flood sirens sounded in Comfort, Texas early Thursday as the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in three hours. Officials warned the storm could bring heavier rainfall than last year's deadly Fourth of July floods in the same region.Flood sirens were activated before dawn Thursday in Comfort, Texas, after the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in approximately three hours, according to US Geological Survey data. The rapid rise prompted emergency warnings across southcentral Texas. Forecasters warned the storm system could deliver more rainfall than the floods that struck the same region on the Fourth of July the previous year, which resulted in deaths. The Guadalupe River corridor has a history of rapid, dangerous flooding due to the region's terrain. Residents in low-lying areas along the river were urged to evacuate or move to higher ground. The full extent of any damage or casualties from this event was not confirmed in the source material.
EU Regulators Order Google to Give AI Competitors Greater Access on Android Devices
European Union regulators have ordered Google to provide competing artificial intelligence services with greater access on Android smartphones, citing concerns that Google could use its dominant mobile platform to entrench its own AI products.European Union regulators have issued a decision requiring Google to expand access for competing artificial intelligence services on Android smartphones. Regulators determined that Google's control of the Android operating system — which runs on the large majority of the world's smartphones — gives it a structural advantage that could allow it to favor its own AI tools over competitors. The ruling is part of a broader pattern of EU digital market regulation aimed at ensuring that dominant technology platforms do not use their market position to foreclose competition in adjacent markets, including the fast-growing AI sector. Google has not yet publicly detailed how it will comply. The decision could affect how AI assistants and related services are distributed and displayed to the roughly three billion Android users worldwide.
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Thirty-Two Convicted in Italy Over 2018 Genoa Bridge Collapse That Killed 43
An Italian court convicted 32 people, including the former chief executive of Italy's motorway operator, over the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, which killed 43 people. The former CEO received a 12-year sentence.An Italian court issued convictions against 32 individuals in connection with the August 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, which killed 43 people. Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia, the company that operated the motorway, received a 12-year prison sentence. The bridge's sudden failure during a storm prompted widespread scrutiny of Italy's infrastructure maintenance practices and the regulatory oversight of privately operated public infrastructure. The case took several years to reach verdict, and the convictions were handed down in a Genoa courtroom. The ruling represents one of the most significant infrastructure accountability cases in Italian legal history.