US Signs Nuclear Cooperation Agreement With Saudi Arabia, Allowing Possible Future Uranium Enrichment
The United States has signed a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that would give US firms access to the kingdom's civilian nuclear program and could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. The deal faces congressional review and has drawn concern from Israel and nonproliferation critics.The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a formal nuclear cooperation agreement that would provide US companies with access to Saudi Arabia's developing civilian nuclear program, potentially including the right to enrich uranium on Saudi soil. The US Department of Energy described the deal as a peaceful cooperation framework. It has been submitted to Congress for review, where it faces scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about the absence of strong monitoring safeguards.
The agreement arrives at a geopolitically sensitive moment. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest crude oil exporter but has stated long-standing interest in diversifying its energy mix through nuclear power, partly to free up more oil for export. The kingdom had previously sought the right to enrich its own uranium — a condition that has historically complicated negotiations, since enrichment technology can be repurposed for weapons development.
Israel, a close US ally, responded to the announcement with alarm, with officials expressing concern that the deal represents a further divergence between Washington and Jerusalem on regional security policy. Critics more broadly have warned the agreement could encourage nuclear proliferation in an already volatile Middle East, particularly given ongoing US military operations against Iran.
The deal is also commercially significant for the US nuclear industry. Westinghouse, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017, is among the American firms positioned to benefit from expanded access to Saudi nuclear infrastructure. The agreement must clear Congress before it takes effect, and its final terms — including the specifics around enrichment rights — remain under negotiation.
US Strikes Continue Against Iran as Houthis Attack Oil Tankers Near Saudi Ports
US military forces conducted additional strikes on targets in Iran as Houthi forces in Yemen attacked oil tankers traveling to and from Saudi ports, marking the first such maritime attacks since the group announced a shipping embargo against Saudi Arabia. Oil prices approached $100 per barrel in response.US military strikes on Iran continued, with Iranian state media reporting aerial attacks across southern Iran. President Trump publicly threatened to expand targets to include Iranian bridges and power plants, while Iran's foreign minister said future attacks would be met with equivalent retaliation.
Simultaneously, Houthi forces in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacking oil tankers operating near Saudi ports — the first maritime strikes since the group announced what it called a shipping embargo against Saudi Arabia. Ship-tracking data showed tankers making sharp course changes to avoid the area. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of flying Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel into Yemen, alleging the flights contributed to the renewed Houthi-Saudi confrontation. Trump also stated he would hold Iran responsible for Houthi actions targeting shipping.
Within the Trump administration, debate has reportedly emerged over whether US policy should extend to supporting a change of government in Iran, even as Trump separately stated that Tehran is seeking direct talks with the United States.
The combined effect of US-Iran hostilities and Houthi attacks on Red Sea and Gulf shipping has driven oil prices toward $100 per barrel. Fuel costs for drivers in the United Kingdom, for example, rose noticeably in recent weeks as a direct result. The disruption to shipping lanes critical to global energy and grain exports has broad economic implications, including upward pressure on wheat prices as some shipping companies have suspended calls at Ukrainian Black Sea ports as well.
European Union Fines Google Approximately $1 Billion for Violating Digital Competition Rules
The European Commission fined Google a total of roughly €890 million — approximately $1 billion — for breaching the EU's Digital Markets Act by favoring its own services in search results and its app store.The European Commission issued fines totaling approximately €890 million, equivalent to roughly $1 billion, against Google for violations of the Digital Markets Act, the European Union's landmark digital competition law. Regulators found that Google had given preferential placement to its own products — including shopping and hotel search services — over competing offerings, and that its app store practices similarly disadvantaged rivals.
The Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2024, designates certain large technology platforms as 'gatekeepers' and imposes specific obligations to ensure fair competition. This enforcement action represents one of the more significant penalties issued under the new framework.
The fines arrive at a sensitive moment in transatlantic trade relations. European enforcement actions against major US technology companies have been a source of friction between Washington and Brussels, and the timing adds complexity to ongoing trade discussions. Google has the ability to challenge the decision through EU courts, a process that can take years to resolve. The company has not publicly indicated how it intends to respond to this specific action.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Inside Russia in Escalating Air Campaign
Ukrainian drones struck multiple commercial warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in a series of attacks over several days, as Ukraine escalates an air campaign targeting commercial infrastructure inside Russian territory.Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes against several warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest e-commerce retailer, hitting the facilities multiple times over a short period. The strikes represent an expansion of Ukraine's long-range air campaign to include commercial infrastructure, a deliberate effort to extend the economic and psychological impact of the conflict to ordinary Russian consumers.
Wildberries is a prominent part of daily commercial life in Russia, functioning similarly to Amazon in Western markets. Striking its distribution network disrupts retail logistics at scale and is intended to make the effects of the war more tangible to Russians far from the front lines.
The targeting of commercial rather than purely military or industrial infrastructure marks a notable shift in the stated strategy behind Ukraine's long-range strikes. Ukrainian officials have indicated the intent to bring the reality of the conflict closer to the Russian domestic experience. Russia has similarly conducted extensive strikes on Ukrainian commercial and civilian infrastructure throughout the conflict.
Nicaragua's Parliament Moves to Abolish Elections After President Ortega's Declaration
Nicaragua's congress is advancing legislation to eliminate national elections, codifying President Daniel Ortega's declaration that no further elections will be held. The move has drawn international condemnation.Nicaragua's parliament is advancing a measure that would formally abolish elections, following President Daniel Ortega's public declaration that the country would no longer hold them. If enacted, the legislation would codify an end to electoral competition in a country where Ortega has progressively consolidated power over recent years.
The move has drawn condemnation from international observers and foreign governments. Nicaragua's political opposition has been largely dismantled over the past several years, with prominent critics imprisoned, stripped of citizenship, or forced into exile. The country was suspended from the Organization of American States in 2023.
For the United States, the development has immigration and diplomatic implications. Nicaragua has been a significant source of migration to the US, and further political repression or economic deterioration could accelerate that trend. The State Department and US lawmakers have previously imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan officials in response to human rights concerns.
Trump Attends Dignified Transfer Ceremony for Four US Service Members Killed in Jordan and Iraq
President Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for four US service members killed in action in Jordan and Iraq. Trump also flew the family of one fallen soldier, Army Lieutenant Tyler Feehan, aboard Air Force One.President Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base honoring four US service members killed during military operations in Jordan and Iraq. The president described the fallen service members as great heroes at the ceremony.
Trump separately revealed that he had invited the family of Army Lieutenant Tyler Feehan aboard Air Force One following the transfer, flying with them after the ceremony. The president paid tribute to Lieutenant Feehan during a subsequent speech in Georgia.
The deaths of US service members in Jordan and Iraq come amid an expanded US military posture in the Middle East connected to ongoing operations against Iran and Iran-backed forces in the region. The dignified transfer ceremony is a formal military protocol conducted when fallen service members are returned to American soil.
BBC Visits Iranian School Where Strike Killed 120 Children
Reporting from Minab, Iran, the BBC documented the aftermath of a strike on a school that killed 120 children, nearly five months after the attack. A teacher and a mother described the events of the day.BBC journalists visited the site of a strike in Minab, in southern Iran, where 120 children were killed at a school. The visit came nearly five months after the attack. A teacher and a mother who survived spoke with the BBC about what occurred, describing lasting grief and unanswered questions about accountability.
The Minab school strike is among the most significant civilian casualty events reported in connection with the broader conflict involving US military operations in Iran. The BBC's on-the-ground reporting provides direct testimony from those present at the time of the attack and documents conditions in the community in the months since.
The incident has been a point of significant international attention regarding civilian protection during the ongoing military campaign. The attribution and circumstances of the strike remained a matter of ongoing reporting at the time of publication.
House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill That Would Rename Pentagon the Department of War
The House passed a defense policy bill authorizing $1.15 trillion in national security spending and incorporating President Trump's request to redesignate the Department of Defense as the Department of War.The House of Representatives passed the annual defense authorization bill, which includes $1.15 trillion in national security funding and would formally rename the Department of Defense the Department of War — a change requested by President Trump. The bill now moves to the Senate.
The legislation drew significant opposition from some members. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other critics raised objections to specific provisions in the bill, with disputes over its contents generating considerable debate during floor proceedings. Republicans pushed back against characterizations made by some Democrats regarding the bill's provisions.
At $1.15 trillion, the authorization level represents a historically large defense spending request. Defense authorization bills set policy and spending ceilings but require separate appropriations legislation to actually release funds. The renaming of the Pentagon, if enacted into law, would be the first such change since the National Security Act of 1947 established the Department of Defense.
House Passes Bill Adding New Limits on Congressional Stock Trading, Short of Full Ban
The House passed legislation imposing new restrictions on stock trading by members of Congress, stopping short of a complete ban. The bill also includes a provision requiring photo identification to vote.The House of Representatives passed a bill that establishes new limits on stock trading by members of Congress, though the legislation does not impose an outright ban on lawmakers holding or trading individual stocks. The bill represents a partial response to long-standing public concern about potential conflicts of interest when elected officials trade securities while making policy decisions that affect markets.
House Republicans attached a separate provision to the bill requiring voters to present photo identification in order to cast ballots. The inclusion of the voter ID requirement links two significant and contested policy questions in a single piece of legislation, which may complicate its path through the Senate, where the provision could face opposition. The combined bill's prospects in the Senate were not immediately clear.
Markets have been relatively flat with no clear direction over the past week.
Alphabet Reports Strong Revenue Growth and Quadrupled Profit, Raises AI Spending Projections
Alphabet, Google's parent company, reported its 12th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth and a profit of $112 billion, driven by cloud computing and AI investments, while raising its capital expenditure projections toward $200 billion.Alphabet reported second-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations, posting $112 billion in profit and extending its streak of strong revenue growth to 12 consecutive quarters. Growth was broad-based, with cloud computing showing particular strength as businesses increased spending on AI-related infrastructure.
The company also raised its projections for capital expenditure on artificial intelligence, with total AI infrastructure spending approaching $200 billion. While the results were strong on revenue and profit metrics, Wall Street attention is increasingly focused on the long-term return on this level of investment. Free cash flow has come under pressure as spending scales up, and some investors remain cautious about whether AI infrastructure outlays will ultimately generate proportionate returns.
Alphabet's results are closely watched as a bellwether for the broader technology sector's AI spending cycle, and the report reinforced that major platforms are continuing to accelerate rather than moderate their AI commitments.
Tesla Quarterly Profit Falls Despite Rising Car Sales, as Price Cuts and Higher Costs Weigh
Tesla reported lower-than-expected profits for the second quarter despite an increase in vehicle sales, as price reductions and higher operating expenses compressed margins. The company's stock declined further following the report.Tesla reported second-quarter earnings showing that profit fell well below analyst expectations even as vehicle sales volumes increased. The gap between growing sales and declining profit reflects the combined effect of aggressive price cuts implemented to sustain demand and rising operating expenses as the company expands investments in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Tesla's stock, which had already declined approximately 14 percent year to date before the report, fell further after the results were published. The company has been shifting its strategic narrative away from its core electric vehicle business and toward longer-term bets on autonomous driving, robotaxis, and robotics — businesses that currently generate little revenue but are being positioned as the company's future growth drivers.
The earnings report comes amid broader questions about Tesla's competitive position in the electric vehicle market, where it faces increased competition from other manufacturers. The company did not provide a forward earnings estimate in the report.
US Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Surpasses 4,000 Cases, Setting Record as FDA Investigates Source
The US cyclosporiasis outbreak has surpassed 4,000 confirmed cases, making it the worst on record. The FDA is investigating the source of the Cyclospora parasite, which has proven difficult to trace because of its environmental persistence and complex transmission pathways.A cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States has surpassed 4,000 confirmed cases, officially making it the largest such outbreak on record. The FDA is conducting an active investigation to identify the food source or sources responsible for the spread, which has been concentrated in the Midwest.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. It is notoriously difficult to trace through standard food safety investigations because the parasite can be present in produce at very low levels, doesn't grow in food, and requires a laboratory-specific test for identification — tools that are not part of routine food safety testing.
A recall from Taylor Farms was previously issued in connection with the outbreak, and consumer behavior has shifted noticeably, with foot traffic declining at restaurant chains associated with fresh salads and produce. Public health officials and food safety experts have said the outbreak underscores persistent gaps in the US food supply's ability to detect and respond to Cyclospora contamination. People who develop prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite, that do not resolve on their own are advised to consult a healthcare provider, as cyclosporiasis is treatable with antibiotics.
Study Finds 1,700 HIV Treatment Sites Closed Following US Foreign Aid Cuts
A new study found that approximately 1,700 HIV treatment sites closed following cuts to US foreign aid, with children and high-risk adult populations identified as particularly affected groups.Research published this week found that roughly 1,700 HIV treatment sites around the world have closed following reductions in US foreign assistance funding. The study found that the closures have had a disproportionate impact on children and adults in high-risk categories who depended on those facilities for antiretroviral treatment and prevention services.
The US government's PEPFAR program — the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — has historically been the world's largest single source of funding for global HIV treatment and prevention. Reductions to that program under the current administration have resulted in service disruptions in multiple countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where alternative funding sources are limited.
Public health researchers have warned that interruptions in HIV treatment can lead to increased viral loads among patients, higher transmission rates, and the development of drug-resistant strains of the virus. The long-term public health consequences of sustained funding gaps at this scale are expected to be significant.
Ebola Spreads in Congolese Displacement Camps Housing One Million People
Ebola is spreading through overcrowded displacement camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo housing approximately one million people displaced by ongoing violence, with extremely limited access to clean water hampering containment efforts.The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached displacement camps in the conflict's epicenter, where roughly one million people are living in conditions that make infection control extremely difficult. Residents of the camps have little access to clean water, which is essential both for hygiene measures that slow transmission and for the basic care of those who fall ill.
Health officials working to contain the outbreak face a particular challenge with contact tracing — the practice of identifying and monitoring all people who may have been exposed to an infected person. In active conflict zones with highly mobile, densely packed populations, this is exceptionally difficult to execute effectively. Without effective contact tracing, the virus can spread multiple generations before new cases are identified.
The DRC has experienced more Ebola outbreaks than any other country, and the combination of ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement, and resource limitations has made this outbreak especially difficult to control. International health organizations are operating under severe logistical constraints. The situation has drawn comparisons to some of the most challenging outbreak environments in recent public health history.
Wildfire in Southwest France Forces Evacuation of More Than 20,000 People Near Bordeaux
A wildfire burning in dense pine forest near Saumos in France's Gironde region forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 people, including large numbers of tourists from campsites around Arcachon Bay, approximately 45 kilometers west of Bordeaux.A wildfire that began in dense pine forest near the village of Saumos in southwest France's Gironde region has prompted authorities to evacuate more than 20,000 people. The fire, described by officials as particularly intense, advanced toward the Atlantic coast near Arcachon Bay, an area heavily populated in summer by tourists staying at campsites and holiday accommodations.
Authorities opened reception centers for evacuees, the majority of whom were tourists rather than permanent residents. The Gironde region, which includes the forests surrounding Bordeaux's famous wine country, has experienced significant wildfire events in recent years. Large tracts of maritime pine forest in the region are particularly susceptible to fire during hot, dry conditions.
No casualty figures were immediately confirmed across the multiple sources covering this story. Firefighting operations were ongoing at the time of reporting. The evacuation scale — exceeding 20,000 people — reflects both the fire's rapid progression and the area's high seasonal population.
Tropical Storm Bertha Makes Landfall in Louisiana; Flooding Affects Kentucky and West Virginia
Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, southeast of New Orleans, with winds of approximately 45 miles per hour. Separately, catastrophic flooding in Kentucky and West Virginia prompted rescuers to free trapped residents.Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall along the Gulf Coast in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, roughly 40 miles east of New Orleans, according to the US National Hurricane Center. The storm came ashore with sustained winds of approximately 45 miles per hour. The Miami-based hurricane center was monitoring the storm's track and potential impacts on surrounding areas.
Concurrently, Kentucky and West Virginia were experiencing what officials described as catastrophic flooding unrelated to Bertha. Rescue teams worked to free residents who had become trapped by rising water and structural damage. The full extent of damage and displacement across the affected states was not yet assessed at the time of reporting.
The storm and flooding events arrive at a time when the US is also managing a record cyclosporiasis food safety outbreak and other public health pressures, placing additional strain on emergency response resources in affected communities.