World
The United States launched a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets on Monday, hours after President Donald Trump announced the US is 'reinstating' a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the strategic waterway. The US military said the strikes would continue 'imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces' after Iran attacked commercial tankers. CENTCOM reported hitting more than 80 targets including anti-ship missile sites, radar networks, and IRGC fast attack craft. The escalation marks the end of a fragile ceasefire and risks further destabilizing global energy markets.
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Politics
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the little sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, to fill the Senate seat left vacant after Graham's sudden death from an aortic dissection at age 71. Nordone, backed by President Trump, will serve until a special election in early 2027. Graham, a staunch Trump ally and Ukraine's most influential Republican champion, died Saturday night after returning from a trip to Kyiv. The Washington, D.C. medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as an aortic dissection. Nordone's appointment maintains Republican control of the seat during a period of intense foreign policy debates.
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Business
Oil prices jumped more than 9% on Monday after President Trump reimposed a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to reverse the recent easing of inflation. The Consumer Price Index had slowed to a 3.5% annual rate in June during a brief lull in fighting, bringing some relief to consumers. However, the renewed disruption to one of the world's most vital energy corridors — through which 20% of global oil supply passes — is expected to push energy costs higher, with analysts warning that gasoline prices could rise sharply in the coming weeks. The IMF projected world output growth would fall to 3% for the year, weighed down by high commodity prices.
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Technology
Elon Musk's xAI filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in California federal court on Wednesday, accusing the ChatGPT maker of stealing trade secrets by poaching employees who allegedly brought confidential information about xAI's Grok AI model. The lawsuit claims OpenAI 'induced' former xAI employees — including engineer Xuechen Li, Jimmy Fraiture, and a senior finance executive — to steal and share trade secrets related to Grok's development. This marks the latest legal escalation between Musk and the company he co-founded. Separately, the U.S. General Services Administration announced a partnership with xAI to offer federal agencies access to its Grok AI models, following similar deals with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
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Science
New research from Flinders University has revealed that the tau protein — best known for its role in Alzheimer's disease — is also essential for creating long-lasting memories. The study, published in ScienceDaily, found that tau helps organize the brain's memory-storing cells, determining which neurons are selected to encode an experience into a lasting memory trace. When tau is absent, memories fade quickly. The discovery upends the conventional view of tau as solely a pathological agent and suggests that abnormal tau in Alzheimer's may disrupt both the formation of new memories and the recall of existing ones by hijacking the protein's normal function.
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Sports
France faces Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, pitting Kylian Mbappe against teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for the 11th time in their careers. The winner advances to face Argentina in the final. Spain advanced after a dramatic penalty shootout victory, while France defeated Belgium in the round of 16. The match is the most anticipated of the tournament, featuring two of soccer's deepest squads. In other World Cup news, FIFA is considering expanding future tournaments to 64 teams, and FIFA reversed a red card suspension for US star Folarin Balogun, keeping him eligible to face Belgium.
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Health
Columbia University scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin, the chemical best known for regulating mood, may accelerate the progression of a common heart valve disease. The study found that serotonin signaling can speed the development of mitral valve regurgitation, affecting millions of Americans. Separately, researchers announced that a non-invasive ultrasound treatment could help injured joints heal by breaking the cycle of chronic inflammation. The ultrasound therapy, tested in animal models, stimulated tissue repair without surgery. Both studies were published this week, offering new insights into cardiovascular and orthopedic medicine.
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Environment
A fast-moving wildfire of 'exceptional scale' has scorched about 800 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, forcing evacuations and disrupting train and highway traffic. French officials deployed two firefighting aircraft — the first time bomber planes have been sent from the south of France to the Paris region — as crews battled to contain the blaze. The fire, which officials described as 'very virulent,' began late Monday afternoon in the sprawling forest about 60 kilometers southeast of the capital. France's interior minister said the fire may have been set deliberately and two people have been arrested. In Spain, 10 people remain missing from a separate wildfire that killed 13.
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