US and Iran Continue Exchanging Strikes Across Region as Trump Weighs Escalation
The US expanded airstrikes across Iran, reaching as far as the Caspian Sea, while Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks on US military positions in the Gulf. Oil prices rose to $100 per barrel after Houthi rebels attacked Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.The United States conducted airstrikes against targets across Iran, with attacks extending as far as the Caspian Sea, marking an expansion of an air campaign now in its second week. Iran responded with missile strikes targeting US military bases in the region, including positions in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Three US soldiers were killed in an earlier attack on a base in Jordan. The White House convened cabinet-level discussions about whether to intensify the campaign, with President Trump saying he was close to deciding on a larger strike. Iran-backed Houthi rebels also attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, opening a second front at a major shipping chokepoint. Oil prices rose to $100 per barrel following those attacks. A separate report indicated Trump changed aircraft while departing Turkey earlier this month after US officials identified a credible threat from Iranian proxy forces targeting him. In the Senate, members debated a War Powers Resolution that would require congressional authorization for continued military action. Iran's improving missile accuracy, aided in part by Chinese satellite imagery and techniques derived from Russian operations in Ukraine, has raised concerns among US military planners. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic and military tracks running simultaneously and significant uncertainty about whether the conflict will broaden further.
China Places Export Controls on 14 EU Entities in Response to Russia-Related Sanctions
China added 14 European entities to its export control list after the EU sanctioned 14 Chinese companies as part of measures targeting Russia. Chinese firms will be prohibited from exporting to the listed European organizations.China announced it is placing 14 European entities on an export control list, explicitly citing the European Union's decision to sanction 14 Chinese enterprises under its most recent package of Russia-related measures. The move mirrors the EU action in scale — 14 entities for 14 entities — and continues a pattern of reciprocal trade and regulatory actions between China and Western governments over the war in Ukraine. Chinese companies will be prohibited from exporting to the newly listed European organizations. The EU's original sanctions targeted Chinese firms it said were helping Russia circumvent Western export controls. China has consistently rejected that characterization and objected to what it describes as the extension of Western sanctions regimes to third-party countries. The action adds a new layer of tension to EU-China trade relations at a time when both sides are also navigating separate disputes over electric vehicle tariffs and market access.
ICC Member States Vote to Remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Over Misconduct Allegations
International Criminal Court member states voted to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan, following allegations that he engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member and obstructed her complaint. Khan denies the allegations and his lawyer says he will appeal.The governing body of the International Criminal Court voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, over sexual misconduct allegations — the first such dismissal in the court's history. The allegations, which emerged nearly two years ago, center on claims that Khan engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and sought to prevent her from pursuing a formal complaint. Khan has denied the allegations, and his legal representative indicated he will challenge the removal. Khan had been a prominent and sometimes controversial figure, having issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others. His removal comes at a sensitive moment for the court, which has faced pressure from the United States and Israel over those warrants. An interim or successor prosecutor will need to be designated, and ongoing cases including those warrants remain in effect independent of the prosecutor's removal.
Russia and Ukraine Exchange Missile and Drone Strikes, Including Attack on Kyiv
Ukraine conducted drone strikes that set fire to warehouses and other facilities inside Russia, while Russian missile attacks struck Kyiv and other Ukrainian locations. A separate Russian attack on a drone exhibition near Kyiv killed at least ten people.Russia and Ukraine continued intensive air campaigns against each other, with Ukrainian strikes igniting fires at warehouses and other sites inside Russian territory. Russian forces responded with missile attacks on Kyiv and other locations across Ukraine. Separately, a Russian ballistic missile attack on a drone exhibition held near Kyiv killed at least ten people, according to reporting. The exhibition was attended by figures from Ukraine's defense industry. The strikes represent an escalation of the air campaign between the two countries and come as both sides continue ground operations. The conflict's air dimensions have broadened significantly over the past year, with both countries deploying larger and more sophisticated drone and missile systems.
Federal Officials Acknowledge Canceling Clean Energy Grants to States That Voted Against Trump
The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it canceled more than $7.5 billion in federal clean energy grants to states based solely on whether they supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election.Federal officials acknowledged in court documents that they terminated more than $7.5 billion in clean energy project funding to states based solely on those states' 2024 presidential election results — directing funds away from states that did not vote for Donald Trump. The disclosure came as part of ongoing litigation over the grant cancellations. The acknowledgment is notable because it represents an explicit admission that partisan affiliation, rather than program merit or legal criteria, drove federal funding decisions. The grants had been appropriated for energy infrastructure and clean energy development projects. Legal challenges to the cancellations are proceeding, with courts now in possession of the administration's own characterization of its decision-making process. The development adds to a broader pattern of disputes over the administration's use of federal funding authority, which has also been contested in areas including education and public health.
Federal Judge Orders FDA to Reconsider Restrictions on Abortion Medication Mifepristone
A federal judge upheld the safety record of mifepristone and ordered the Trump administration's FDA to review and consider reversing existing restrictions on the drug, ruling that those restrictions are arbitrary and not supported by the evidence.A US district judge in Virginia ruled that existing federal restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone are arbitrary and not supported by evidence, and ordered the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider them. Judge Robert S. Ballou upheld the drug's safety record and directed the FDA to examine whether current limitations on access — including dispensing and prescription requirements — should be lifted. The ruling does not itself remove the restrictions but compels the FDA to conduct a review and provide a reasoned justification for maintaining or changing them. Mifepristone is one of two medications used in medication abortions, which account for a significant share of abortions performed in the United States. The case arrives as access to abortion continues to be restricted in numerous states following the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, and as the Trump administration has taken a restrictive posture on reproductive health policy.
Democrats Set South Carolina as First State in 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar
The Democratic National Committee's rules panel voted to keep South Carolina as the first state in the 2028 presidential nominating calendar, followed by Nevada. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia will also hold early contests.The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to retain South Carolina as the opening contest of the 2028 presidential primary calendar, with Nevada following in second position. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia are also scheduled among the early states. The decision continues the calendar structure the party adopted ahead of the 2024 cycle, which prioritized states with substantial Black and Latino voter populations. South Carolina has historically served as the first Southern contest and is seen as a key early indicator of candidates' viability with Black Democratic primary voters. The selection of Nevada second reflects an effort to also feature a state with a large Latino electorate early in the process. The calendar is set well in advance of the 2028 election, when the Democratic nomination will be fully open.
Small Businesses File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's Latest Tariffs
Two small American businesses filed suit against the Trump administration's newest tariff package within hours of its announcement. The case is being argued by the Liberty Justice Center, which previously won a Supreme Court challenge to earlier Trump tariffs.Two small American businesses filed a legal challenge against the Trump administration's latest round of tariffs shortly after the measures were announced. The lawsuit was brought by the Liberty Justice Center, a legal organization that successfully challenged an earlier set of Trump tariffs before the US Supreme Court, which struck down those duties earlier this year. The new tariffs, announced late Thursday and framed as targeting countries that engage in forced labor practices, affect dozens of countries and replace the previous global duty that the court invalidated. The legal challenge argues the administration lacks the statutory authority to impose the tariffs in the manner it has. The Supreme Court's earlier ruling against Trump tariffs has become a central reference point in ongoing legal disputes over the administration's trade policy, with courts now closely scrutinizing the specific legal bases cited for each tariff action.
Markets have been mixed with no clear direction over the past week.
US Imposes New Round of Tariffs on Dozens of Countries, Citing Forced Labor
The Trump administration imposed a new wave of tariffs on dozens of countries, citing forced labor concerns. The levies replace a temporary global duty that the US Supreme Court struck down earlier this year, and drew objections from trading partners including Australia and the European Union.The United States announced a new set of tariffs targeting dozens of countries, framed by the administration as a response to forced labor practices in global supply chains. The new levies replace a broader temporary tariff that the Supreme Court struck down in February. Trading partners reacted swiftly. Australia and the European Union both objected to their inclusion, disputing the forced labor characterization. Experts in the United Kingdom noted that while the overall tariff rate on British goods did not increase, the new structure places UK businesses at a competitive disadvantage relative to EU counterparts whose rates were adjusted differently within the new framework. The tariffs are the latest in a series of trade actions taken by the administration this year, which have collectively affected a large share of US import trade. The announcement came as oil prices reached $100 per barrel, compounding cost pressures on businesses and consumers. Legal challenges to previous tariff rounds have already reached the Supreme Court, and at least two small American businesses filed suit against this latest round within hours of its announcement.
Tesla Stock Falls Roughly 13 Percent in One of Its Largest Single-Day Declines
Tesla shares fell approximately 13.5 percent in a single trading session, one of the largest daily drops in the company's history. The stock has lost about 27 percent of its value over the course of the year, amid high capital expenditures and weaker-than-expected earnings.Tesla's stock declined approximately 13.5 percent in a single trading session, representing one of the steepest one-day losses in the company's history. The drop reflects sustained pressure on the automaker throughout the year; Tesla has lost roughly 27 percent of its total market value in 2026. Investors have expressed concern over large capital expenditures and earnings results that came in below expectations. CEO Elon Musk, who spent much of the past year in a prominent political role advising the federal government, acknowledged this week that he became too consumed by politics during that period. The dual pressures of business underperformance and Musk's extended focus on political activities have weighed on investor sentiment.
Wildfires Force More Than 180,000 to Evacuate in France and Spain
Wildfires in Spain and France prompted the evacuation or lockdown of more than 180,000 people. Spain declared a national emergency near Madrid, and French authorities ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula by land and sea.Simultaneous wildfires burning in Spain and France have displaced more than 180,000 people, with figures varying slightly across sources — the BBC reported over 140,000 evacuated while the Guardian cited more than 180,000 fleeing or sheltering in place. Spanish authorities declared a national emergency after fires near Madrid merged into a single large blaze described by regional officials as the worst in the area's recorded history. In France, authorities ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a well-known coastal resort area near Bordeaux, using hundreds of boats and a single connecting road to move residents and visitors. Additional fires were also burning in southeastern France. Both countries' firefighting services were operating at capacity, with conditions described as highly unpredictable due to wind and heat. The fires are occurring during an extreme heat event across parts of southern Europe. Scientists and environmental groups have noted that conditions conducive to large wildfires are expected to intensify as average temperatures rise, placing more populated areas at risk in future summers.
More Than 900 Wildfires Burning Across Canada, Scorching Roughly 3 Million Hectares
More than 900 active wildfires were burning across Canada as of mid-week, having scorched approximately 3 million hectares. The most serious concentrations are in the Northwest Territories and Ontario.Hot and dry conditions have driven a major wildfire outbreak across Canada, with more than 900 fires recorded as of Wednesday, burning roughly 3 million hectares of land. The fires have broken out across multiple provinces, but officials have expressed the greatest concern about blazes in the Northwest Territories and Ontario, where several fires have grown large and proven difficult to contain. The outbreak has generated significant smoke that has drifted south into the United States. President Trump separately accused Canada of allowing smoke to contaminate US air and suggested sanctions could follow, a claim scientists characterized as misrepresenting the causes of wildfire smoke. Canadian wildfires have caused widespread evacuations and air quality alerts in multiple regions in recent years.
FDA Advisory Panel Backs Lifting Restrictions on Several Peptides Over Scientists' Objections
An FDA advisory panel recommended lifting restrictions on four peptides — including BPC-157 and TB-500 — that the agency banned three years ago. The recommendation came despite objections from FDA scientists, who argued the drugs lack sufficient evidence of safety and efficacy.An FDA advisory panel voted to support allowing broader access to four peptides that the agency had banned three years ago, including BPC-157 and TB-500. The panel's recommendation would allow compounding pharmacies to produce and dispense these compounds if finalized. FDA scientists argued against the move throughout an all-day hearing, citing insufficient evidence of safety and efficacy for the previously banned substances. The panel's recommendation is not binding but carries significant weight in the agency's regulatory process. The peptides in question have been used informally in fitness and anti-aging communities and represent a potentially large commercial market. The hearing was convened under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and its unconventional format drew attention from observers who noted it departed from standard FDA advisory panel procedures. A final agency decision has not yet been made.
Merck Moves to Expand Access to New HIV Prevention Pill Through Generic Licensing
Merck announced agreements allowing manufacturers in Africa and India to produce generic versions of a new HIV prevention pill at a cost as low as $5 per person per year. Access in much of Latin America remains uncertain.Merck has reached licensing agreements with manufacturers in Africa and India to produce generic versions of a new HIV prevention pill, with the goal of making the drug available at approximately $5 per person per year. The pill represents a potential advancement in HIV prevention, with public health officials expressing optimism about its ability to reach populations with limited healthcare access if distributed at low cost. However, access arrangements for much of Latin America remain unresolved, leaving uncertainty about the drug's availability in a region with significant HIV transmission rates. The move to license generics early in the product's commercial life is seen as an effort to prioritize broad global access alongside commercial interests. The drug has not yet received full regulatory approval in all markets.
Study Links Early Exposure to PFAS Chemicals to Gut Inflammation in Children
New research found that prenatal and early childhood exposure to mixtures of PFAS chemicals is likely associated with higher levels of intestinal inflammation in children, which can contribute to conditions including Crohn's disease and colorectal cancer.A new study — described as the first of its kind — found that prenatal and early life exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or forever chemicals, is likely associated with elevated levels of intestinal inflammation in children. Intestinal inflammation is a known contributor to conditions including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer. PFAS are a broad class of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, from nonstick cookware to food packaging. They are called forever chemicals because they break down extremely slowly and accumulate in the environment and human tissue. Previous research had established links between PFAS exposure and a range of health outcomes in adults; this study specifically examines the pediatric gut as a pathway of concern. The findings add to a growing body of evidence supporting tighter regulation of PFAS in consumer products and water supplies.
EU Fines Google €890 Million for Violations of Digital Markets Act
The European Commission fined Google €890 million for breaching EU competition rules by giving preference to its own services — including shopping and hotel comparisons — over rivals in search results and its app store.The European Commission fined Google a total of €890 million, or approximately £760 million, for violations of the Digital Markets Act. Regulators found that Google gave preferential placement to its own services — including shopping results, hotel comparisons, and its app store — over competing offerings, in violation of rules requiring large platforms to provide fair access to rivals. The fine is among the larger penalties issued under the relatively new Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2023 and gives EU regulators broad authority over so-called gatekeeping platforms. The ruling follows a pattern of EU enforcement actions against major US technology companies. President Trump separately said he believed fines against Google and other US tech firms including Apple, Meta, and Amazon should be reversed, and indicated the US government would investigate EU enforcement actions against American companies.