Kushner Meets Netanyahu After Hamas Talks; Gaza Ceasefire Remains Stalled
US envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following separate talks with Hamas leadership, but no breakthrough was reached. Netanyahu said Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms.US envoy Jared Kushner held separate meetings with Hamas leadership and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to revive stalled Gaza ceasefire negotiations. No breakthrough resulted from either meeting. Netanyahu's position, confirmed by an Israeli official, is that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza and no ceasefire progress is possible until Hamas first fully disarms — a condition Hamas has not accepted. The talks follow Netanyahu's rejection of a US-backed road map for Gaza that had been circulating in recent days. The Trump administration is under notable pressure to show diplomatic movement on the conflict. Separately, a US Navy vessel, the USS Washington, is en route to the Middle East to relieve the USS Lincoln, which has been operating in the region amid reported crew welfare concerns. The diplomatic effort is taking place against a broader backdrop of US-Iran tensions, with the 60-day window the administration set for a nuclear agreement having expired without a deal.
Trump Orders Pentagon to Scale Back Military Exercises With South Korea
President Trump ordered a reduction in joint US-South Korea military exercises, citing his relationship with North Korea's leader. Lawmakers from both parties described the decision as damaging to a decades-long alliance.President Trump has directed the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, the US's treaty ally of 73 years. Trump stated the exercises are hostile to North Korea and referenced his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a factor in the decision. The move came days after South Korea declined to participate in US-led military operations against Iran. Lawmakers from both parties responded critically, with several describing the decision as shortsighted and warning it could weaken deterrence in the region and strengthen adversaries elsewhere. Analysts note that under Kim Jong-un, North Korea has increased rather than reduced its provocations toward South Korea in recent years. The decision also drew concern over the signal it sends to other US allies about the reliability of American security commitments.
US-Iran Nuclear Deal Deadline Passes Without Agreement; Trump Threatens Oman
A 60-day window set by the Trump administration for a nuclear agreement with Iran expired without a deal. Trump issued a public threat to bomb Oman if it interferes with US-Iran negotiations, even as Oman was conducting its own separate talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.The deadline the Trump administration set for a nuclear agreement with Iran passed without a final deal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the US would pursue intensified economic pressure on Iran following the expiration. Separately, Trump publicly threatened to bomb Oman — a US partner — if it interferes with American-led negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz. Oman had been conducting its own independent talks with Iran regarding the strait, which is a critical passage for global oil shipments. Trump also confirmed that a direct communications channel exists between the US and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The combination of expired deadline, public threats toward a regional partner, and ongoing parallel diplomatic tracks reflects the unsettled state of US policy toward Iran. The Strait of Hormuz situation carries direct implications for global energy markets, as disruption there would affect oil supply and prices worldwide.
Iran Appoints Hard-Line Loyalists to Senior Posts as US-Iran Tensions Continue
Iran's leadership has appointed hard-line loyalists to top military and government positions, according to reporting, suggesting the country is positioning for sustained conflict and internal control ahead of potential further escalation.New reporting indicates that Iran's leadership under Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has placed hard-line loyalists in senior military and government roles. Analysts interpret the appointments as a signal that Iran's leadership intends to maintain a war footing and suppress domestic dissent, which has grown amid economic pressure and the ongoing conflict. The moves come as the US-Iran nuclear deal deadline has passed without resolution and as military tensions in the broader region remain elevated. In the US, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff delivered a notable Senate floor speech criticizing the Trump administration's conduct of military and diplomatic policy toward Iran; Ossoff is running for re-election in Georgia this November. The internal consolidation of power in Tehran complicates diplomatic efforts and suggests Iran's leadership does not anticipate a near-term resolution.
Russia and Ukraine Exchange Strikes; Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure Seriously Damaged
Russia and Ukraine conducted mutual strikes over a 24-hour period, with Russia reporting nine fatalities and Ukraine reporting four. Ukraine's state energy company said its facilities sustained serious damage after 13 Russian strikes in one week.Fighting between Russia and Ukraine continued with mutual strikes reported over a recent 24-hour period. Russian authorities reported nine people killed on Russian territory, while Ukrainian officials reported four deaths. Ukraine's state energy company disclosed that its infrastructure had been seriously damaged by 13 Russian strikes in the span of a single week, raising concerns about the country's energy capacity heading into autumn. Ukraine has been developing its own ballistic missile program and working with European partners on anti-ballistic missile defenses. The sustained targeting of energy infrastructure is consistent with a pattern of Russian strikes aimed at degrading civilian power and heating systems, which has been a recurring feature of the conflict.
Russian Court Sentences Opposition Politician to 11 Years for Opposing Ukraine War
A Russian court convicted prominent opposition politician Lev Schlosberg of 'discrediting' the Russian military and sentenced him to over 11 years in prison. The conviction comes weeks before Russia's parliamentary elections.Russian opposition politician Lev Schlosberg was convicted by a Russian court on charges of discrediting the country's armed forces and sentenced to 11 years and one month in prison. Schlosberg, a longtime critic of the Kremlin, characterized the verdict as punishment for his political views rather than a legitimate legal finding. The conviction is among the most prominent of a series of legal actions against critics of the war in Ukraine. It comes approximately a month before Russia's scheduled parliamentary elections, a timing that observers have noted is consistent with a broader effort to suppress organized opposition ahead of the vote.
Landmark Trial Begins Against Meta Over Social Media's Effects on Children
Four US states have taken Meta to trial, alleging that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to be addictive for minors and that Meta concealed evidence of resulting mental health harms.A trial began against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, brought by four states alleging the platforms were designed to foster compulsive use among children and teenagers. The states further allege that Meta was aware of mental health risks to young users and did not disclose that information publicly. This is among the most significant legal actions to date against a major social media company over child safety, and the outcome could have broad implications for how platforms are regulated and designed. The trial follows a separate $900 million settlement Meta reached with New Mexico earlier this year. Meta has disputed the allegations. Plaintiffs are expected to present internal company documents as evidence of what the company knew about youth usage patterns and mental health impacts.
New Mexico Attorney General Pursues New Social Media Safety Laws After Meta Settlement
Following a $900 million court victory against Meta, New Mexico's attorney general is working with state lawmakers to draft two new bills strengthening consumer and child protections related to social media platforms.New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is working with state legislators to draft two new bills focused on social media safety, capitalizing on a $900 million settlement reached with Meta earlier this year. Torrez has described the legislation as aimed at strengthening consumer protections and holding technology companies more accountable for the design of their platforms. The move is part of a broader pattern of state-level action on social media regulation that has accelerated in recent years, as federal legislation on the issue has moved slowly. New Mexico's approach, building directly on litigation outcomes, is being watched by other state attorneys general who have brought or are considering similar cases.
Justice Department Creates Process to Restore Gun Rights for Some Prohibited Individuals
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a new administrative process allowing Americans who are currently prohibited from possessing firearms to apply for restoration of their federal gun rights.The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Todd Blanche, has established a new pathway for individuals who are federally barred from possessing firearms to seek restoration of those rights. Federal law currently prohibits certain categories of people — including those with felony convictions and some misdemeanor domestic violence convictions — from owning or possessing guns. The new process would allow eligible individuals to apply for reinstatement of their rights, though the specific eligibility criteria and review standards were not detailed in available reporting. The announcement is a significant policy shift that is expected to draw both legal scrutiny and political debate, given ongoing national conversations about gun access and public safety.
Supreme Court Declines Again to Hear Trump's Challenge to E. Jean Carroll Verdict
The US Supreme Court rejected for a second time President Trump's request to overturn a 2023 jury verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. The court issued the denial without explanation.The US Supreme Court declined for a second time to take up Donald Trump's legal challenge to a 2023 civil jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll and subsequently defaming her. The court issued an unsigned order denying the request without providing any explanation, which is standard practice for most certiorari denials. The denial means the original verdict and associated damages award remain in effect. Trump had sought the court's review after lower courts upheld the verdict. The Supreme Court's repeated refusal to hear the case closes off a major avenue of appeal at the federal judicial level.
Markets have remained relatively flat over the past week and a half.
Government Borrowing Costs in Multiple Advanced Economies Reach Highest Levels Since 2008
Bond yields — the effective interest rate governments pay to borrow — rose to their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis in several advanced economies including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan, driven by investor concerns about persistent inflation and rising government spending.Government borrowing costs across several major economies, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, reached their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis or earlier on Monday. The rise in bond yields reflects investor concern that inflation may remain elevated for longer than expected, partly due to ongoing Middle East instability affecting energy prices. Higher borrowing costs for governments make it more expensive to finance public debt and can filter through to higher interest rates for consumers and businesses on mortgages, loans, and credit. Oil and gas prices also moved higher. In the UK, separate data showed the housing market recorded its weakest August since 2018, with the average asking price for newly listed homes falling by 2% to approximately £365,000 — a larger-than-typical seasonal decline. The combination of elevated borrowing costs, rising energy prices, and softening housing markets signals continued financial pressure on households in multiple countries.
China's Industrial Output and Retail Sales Decline, Extending Economic Slowdown
China's industrial output and retail sales fell in July, extending a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and increasing pressure on Beijing to introduce additional economic support measures.New data shows that China's industrial output and retail sales declined in July, adding to signs that the country's economic slowdown is continuing. The figures follow one of the lowest quarterly growth readings on record for China, placing pressure on the government in Beijing to introduce further stimulus or support measures. China's economic trajectory carries significant global implications: it is a major buyer of commodities, a key manufacturing hub, and a large market for exports from the US and other countries. A prolonged slowdown could reduce demand for American goods and affect global supply chains. Analysts are watching for whether Beijing will deploy additional fiscal or monetary tools to stabilize activity.
Nvidia to Back Ohio Data Center Worth Up to $500 Billion, to Be Leased by OpenAI
Nvidia announced it will back a data center project in Ohio with up to $105 billion in support. The facility, which could cost up to $500 billion in total, would be one of the world's largest and is set to be leased by OpenAI.Nvidia announced plans to back a data center project in Ohio with up to $105 billion in investment. The full cost of the facility, described as potentially one of the largest data centers in the world, could reach $500 billion. OpenAI is expected to lease the facility. The announcement reflects the scale of capital being committed to artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States. Large data centers require substantial electricity and water resources, and their siting has become an economic development priority for states competing to attract the facilities. The project would represent a major economic commitment to Ohio specifically and to domestic AI infrastructure more broadly.
Hurricane Lala Weakens to Tropical Storm After Striking Hawaii; One Person Killed
Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm after skirting Hawaii's Big Island without making direct landfall, but caused significant damage. One person died, nearly 11 inches of rain fell in some areas, and approximately 183,000 people lost power.Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii's Big Island over the weekend without making direct landfall and was subsequently downgraded to a tropical storm. Despite not making landfall, the storm caused substantial damage: one fatality was reported, some areas received close to 11 inches of rainfall, and approximately 183,000 residents lost power. Hurricane-force wind gusts affected coastal areas even as the storm weakened. Cleanup operations were underway. The storm is a reminder that Hawaii, while not frequently struck by direct hurricane landfalls, is periodically affected by storms tracking through the Pacific, and that near-miss events can still produce significant humanitarian and infrastructure impacts.
European Farmers Report Severe Crop Losses After Repeated Heatwaves and Widespread Drought
Farmers across Europe are reporting deeply reduced harvests after successive intense heatwaves and a broad drought. French vegetable production has fallen by a significant margin, and grain growers across multiple countries are warning of outcomes they describe as catastrophic.Vegetable and grain farmers across Europe are reporting some of their worst harvests in recent memory following successive heatwaves and a drought that has spread across much of the continent. French vegetable production has declined substantially compared to prior years, according to growers and agricultural associations. Grain producers in multiple countries have also reported severe losses. Agricultural groups are calling on governments for urgent support, warning that the economic damage to farming communities is severe and that food supply implications may follow. The European Union has been coordinating emergency assistance for wildfire-affected regions, and the agricultural crisis is unfolding against the same backdrop of extreme heat that has driven wildfires in France, Belgium, Spain, and Greece this summer. The situation has direct relevance for American consumers and markets: Europe is a major global food producer, and widespread crop failures can affect commodity prices internationally.
At Least Five People Killed in Indiana's Worst Flooding in Over 30 Years
At least five people died after major flooding struck Indiana, with some areas receiving more than 11 inches of rain over two days — the most severe flooding the state has experienced in over three decades. Emergency responders used boats to reach affected residents.At least five people died in Indiana following severe flooding that officials described as the worst the state has experienced in more than 30 years. The National Weather Service reported that some areas received more than 11 inches of rain over a two-day period. First responders deployed boats to reach people stranded by floodwaters as storms continued to affect the region. The flooding caused displacement across multiple communities. Events of this scale highlight ongoing national questions about infrastructure resilience and flood preparedness as intense rainfall events have increased in frequency across the Midwest.