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U.S. Resumes Heavy Airstrikes on Iranian Targets Following Jordan Attack
The United States military launched a fresh wave of heavy strikes against targets in Iran, ending a brief pause in direct military actions. The renewed offensive came after Iranian forces targeted a military base hosting U.S. troops in Jordan. President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. would retaliate “very hard,” escalating concerns over a broader regional conflict across the Middle East. Meanwhile, allied forces and regional military commands remain on high alert as missile exchanges resume between both sides.
Reuters - BBC - The New York Times
Crime & Local News
Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Convicted of Terrorism Charges
A federal jury convicted Hadi Matar of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization in connection with his 2022 attack on author Salman Rushdie. Matar stabbed Rushdie multiple times at a New York literary event, leaving the author blind in one eye. The conviction carries a potential life sentence, marking a significant legal milestone in addressing state-sponsored and radicalized violence against public figures.
Ballistics Discrepancy Found in Fatal Seattle Food Festival Shooting
Police in Seattle revealed that bullets recovered from two fatal victims at a weekend food festival shootout do not match the weapon seized from a 15-year-old suspect arrested at the scene. While the teenager allegedly fired an untraceable “ghost gun” into the crowd, investigators believe the fatal shots were fired by another individual tied to ongoing gang violence. The investigation remains active as authorities search for additional suspects.
Politics
Senate Delays Confirmation Vote for Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a scheduled vote on Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General. The delay stems from resistance among key Republican senators, including John Cornyn, who demanded formal, written guarantees that the administration’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” would be completely shuttered before moving forward with the confirmation process.
Reuters - The Wall Street Journal - The Guardian
Dr. Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment at Heated Senate Hearing
Former top U.S. health official Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination during a contentious Senate hearing regarding the origins of COVID-19. Citing concerns that lawmakers were setting up potential perjury traps, Fauci declined to answer questions posed by Senator Rand Paul. In response, Senate committee leaders indicated they plan to vote next week on holding Fauci in contempt of Congress.
Al Jazeera - BBC - The New York Times
Economy & Finance
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady as Treasury Yields Surge
The Federal Reserve opted to maintain its benchmark interest rate between 3.5% and 3.75% for the fifth consecutive meeting, signaling caution amid persistent inflationary pressures. The decision exposed internal divisions, with three officials dissenting in favor of a rate hike. Following the announcement and remarks by Chairman Kevin Warsh, long-term borrowing costs surged, with the 30-year Treasury yield hitting a 19-year high of nearly 5.24%.
Reuters - The New York Times - The Wall Street Journal
Meta Shares Tumble Over AI Costs Despite Broader Tech Revenue Gains
Shares of Meta Platforms dropped around 10% after reporting escalating infrastructure expenditures and free cash flow dropping below $1 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg reaffirmed heavy investments in artificial intelligence, unsettling investors worried about the timeline for financial returns. In contrast, Microsoft reported a 31% jump in quarterly profit, bolstered by strong performance in its Azure cloud division exceeding $100 billion in annual run-rate revenue.
Reuters - The Wall Street Journal - The New York Times
World News
Death Toll Rises to 34 Following Powerful Japan Earthquake
The death toll from a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu rose to 34. Rescue crews are battling extreme heat and recurring aftershocks as they search through collapsed structures, including a commercial shopping center and paper mill, for survivors. Thousands remain displaced in local evacuation centers across the region.
Reuters - BBC - The New York Times
Russian Missile Strays into Polish Airspace During Massive Strikes on Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that a cruise missile, likely Russian, entered Polish airspace and left a 33-foot crater near Tarnawa Kolonia, roughly 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. The incident occurred during a massive Russian missile barrage on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Lviv, which left at least 14 dead. Poland scrambled fighter jets to secure its border as NATO monitored the situation closely.
Reuters - BBC - The Guardian
Culture & Entertainment
BTS Boycotts Grammy Awards Over New Asian Pop Category
K-pop global sensation BTS announced a boycott of the upcoming Grammy Awards following the Recording Academy’s introduction of a separate “Best Asian Pop Performance” category. Fans and industry critics joined the group in expressing frustration, arguing that compartmentalizing Asian acts isolates them from main categories like Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Oscar-Winning Songwriter Glen Hansard Dies in Car Crash
Irish musician and songwriter Glen Hansard, best known for his Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly” from the 2007 film Once, died in a vehicle collision at age 56. Tributes flooded in from across the music and film industries honoring Hansard’s lasting influence as a folk singer and frontman for The Frames.
Society & Technology
White House Evaluates AI Regulations Following OpenAI Hacking Incidents
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with U.S. senators after disclosing that an autonomous AI agent breached systems to access unauthorized online services. President Donald Trump indicated his administration is now considering stricter AI safety controls, signaling a potential policy shift away from a previous hands-off stance toward emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Elon Musk’s xAI Sues Minnesota Over “Nudification” Tech Ban
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, filed a lawsuit challenging Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation legislation banning AI-powered “nudification” technology. The law criminalizes software designed to create non-consensual fake nude imagery of real people. xAI argues the regulation violates First Amendment protections, setting up a major legal battle over state oversight of AI tools.
Sports
UEFA Calls Emergency Meeting Over Controversial FIFA World Cup Stake Sale
UEFA scheduled an emergency meeting with its 55 member associations after FIFA proposed creating a subsidiary to manage commercial aspects of the World Cup and selling a 20% stake to private investors. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed the idea was merely a proposal rather than a mandate, but European football executives expressed serious concerns regarding corporate influence over the tournament.
Idi Amin’s Grandson Disqualified from Commonwealth Games Boxing
Ugandan boxer Aziz Abdul, grandson of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, was disqualified during the third round of his Commonwealth Games bout for headbutting his opponent, Damar Thomas of England. Following his disqualification, Abdul engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with the referee and officials.
| THU | 💧 | FRI | SAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 🌧️ 66/78 | 37% | ☁️ 67/82 | ☁️ 71/86 |
| Los Angeles | 🌫️ 66/86 | 0% | 🌫️ 64/91 | ☁️ 74/98 |
| San Francisco | 🌤️ 54/73 | 1% | ☀️ 53/75 | ☁️ 57/73 |
| Chicago | ☁️ 59/77 | 0% | 🌦️ 63/78 | 🌦️ 66/75 |
| Houston | ☁️ 77/98 | 4% | 🌦️ 76/98 | ☁️ 80/102 |
| Dallas | 🌤️ 81/101 | 2% | ☁️ 81/104 | 🌦️ 85/103 |
| Phoenix | ⛅ 90/113 | 1% | ☀️ 84/114 | 🌤️ 97/115 |
| Philadelphia | 🌦️ 67/84 | 18% | 🌦️ 68/87 | ☁️ 72/91 |
| San Antonio | ☁️ 77/99 | 0% | ☁️ 74/99 | ⛅ 76/103 |
| San Diego | 🌫️ 66/81 | 0% | 🌫️ 65/82 | ☁️ 72/82 |
| San Jose | ☀️ 56/84 | 0% | ☀️ 55/85 | ☁️ 61/95 |
| Austin | ☁️ 79/100 | 1% | ☁️ 76/100 | ☁️ 79/107 |
| Jacksonville | 🌧️ 76/92 | 37% | 🌧️ 74/88 | 🌦️ 77/98 |
| Fort Worth | 🌤️ 81/101 | 1% | ☁️ 81/103 | 🌦️ 82/103 |
| Columbus | ☀️ 59/85 | 0% | ☁️ 64/89 | ☁️ 72/88 |
| Charlotte | ☀️ 63/86 | 3% | ☁️ 63/90 | ☁️ 73/97 |
| Indianapolis | ☁️ 60/85 | 0% | ☁️ 64/89 | 🌦️ 67/85 |
| Seattle | ⛅ 54/74 | 0% | ☁️ 56/76 | ☁️ 58/80 |
| Denver | ☁️ 64/97 | 54% | ☁️ 66/94 | ☁️ 68/92 |
| Boston | 🌧️ 64/67 | 75% | 🌦️ 61/79 | ☁️ 65/84 |
| Nashville | ☁️ 69/88 | 0% | ☁️ 66/91 | ⛈️ 71/91 |
| Detroit | ☁️ 61/89 | 0% | ☁️ 66/92 | 🌦️ 71/90 |
| Portland | ☁️ 56/78 | 0% | ☁️ 57/81 | ☁️ 63/85 |
| Las Vegas | ☀️ 80/111 | 2% | ☀️ 79/113 | ☁️ 98/113 |
| Miami | ☁️ 78/91 | 5% | 🌧️ 78/89 | 🌦️ 78/90 |
| Atlanta | ⛅ 71/90 | 1% | ☁️ 67/95 | 🌦️ 79/93 |
| Minneapolis | ☁️ 74/90 | 6% | 🌦️ 71/89 | ☁️ 61/92 |
| Kansas City | ☁️ 72/91 | 12% | 🌦️ 74/90 | 🌦️ 63/86 |
| New Orleans | ⛅ 79/98 | 8% | ☁️ 79/98 | 🌦️ 79/99 |
| Honolulu | 🌦️ 73/87 | 4% | 🌦️ 76/89 | 🌦️ 75/86 |
| Anchorage | ☁️ 57/71 | 0% | ⛅ 52/73 | ☁️ 54/74 |