Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for US airstrikes on Iranian positions, escalating the Gulf conflict. Tehran also threatened to suspend all nuclear negotiations. The attacks mark a dangerous widening of the war, which has already disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and sent global energy prices soaring.
AP News
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents can fire Federal Trade Commission members at will, overturning the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent that protected independent agencies from political removal. The decision hands President Trump broad new power over two dozen federal agencies including the FTC, SEC, and FCC, reshaping the balance of power in the executive branch.
SCOTUSblog / AP
The IMF warns the UK will be the hardest-hit G20 advanced economy from the Iran conflict, slashing its 2026 growth forecast to 0.8% from 1.5%. Soaring energy prices and trade disruption through the Strait of Hormuz are driving the downgrade, with the IMF saying the global economy risks recession if the war continues.
BBC / IMF
South Korea's president announced a 750 trillion won ($576 billion) investment drive through 2030 targeting AI chips, data centers, and semiconductor manufacturing. The plan, the largest single national AI commitment globally, partners Samsung and SK Hynix with government funds to build cutting-edge fabrication facilities and AI research hubs.
Reuters
Researchers developed a nondestructive method to extract DNA from ancient parchment manuscripts up to 1,300 years old. The technique, published in Manuscript Studies, analyzed 351 samples from England, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, revealing new insights into medieval livestock farming, trade routes, and animal husbandry practices.
SciTechDaily / NC State University
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage begins Tuesday with three round-of-32 matches: France vs. Sweden at MetLife Stadium, Ivory Coast vs. Norway in Dallas, and Mexico vs. Ecuador in Mexico City. The 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, has already produced several upsets including the USMNT's group-stage exit.
ESPN / FIFA
A study of over 463,000 adolescents found that teens who use cannabis face up to double the risk of developing serious mental health conditions including psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder. The research, published in the journal Addiction, is one of the largest ever conducted on adolescent cannabis use and mental health outcomes.
ScienceDaily / Addiction
A coalition of health and environmental groups sued the EPA on Wednesday over its repeal of the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding, the scientific basis for all US climate regulations. The lawsuit, filed in the DC Circuit, argues the repeal violates the Clean Air Act and ignores overwhelming scientific evidence that CO2 emissions threaten public health.
AP News / The Guardian