World
The United States launched a fresh wave of airstrikes against Iranian missile sites and defense systems on Wednesday, as President Trump warned the conflict could escalate further with power plants targeted next. Hours earlier, Trump abruptly reversed a 24-hour-old plan to charge a 20% toll on cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, instead reinstating a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Analysts warned the four-month-old conflict risks becoming a 'forever war' as Iran threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports.
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Politics
President Donald Trump addressed a defense summit at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, delivering remarks on military strategy as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its fourth month. The speech came hours after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran and reinstated a naval blockade. Trump also hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House this week, touting 'tremendous chemistry' between the two leaders amid delicate negotiations over the future of U.S. forces in Iraq.
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Business
Oil prices rose 3% on Wednesday after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran and reinstated a naval blockade of Iranian ports, renewing supply concerns through the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, China reported its slowest GDP growth since 2022 at 4.3%, fanning calls for stimulus. Meanwhile, ASML raised its 2026 sales forecast for the second time this year on surging AI chip demand, and SK Hynix shares jumped 8% as Asia tech stocks rallied.
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Technology
Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML raised its 2026 sales forecast for the second time this year on Wednesday, citing surging demand from AI chip manufacturers. The company reported a sharp increase in orders for its extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, which are needed to produce the most advanced AI processors. Separately, current and former Meta employees filed a lawsuit alleging the company used AI to discriminate in layoff decisions, while a U.S. trade official disclosed that few Nvidia H200 chips have reached China despite easing export controls.
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Science
A new study published in Nature Neuroscience has upended decades of assumptions about how the brain makes decisions. Researchers at Columbia University found that the brain does not use a single 'decision center' but instead processes choices through a distributed network that operates differently depending on context. The discovery could reshape treatment approaches for conditions ranging from addiction to Parkinson's disease. Separately, scientists at CERN announced the Large Hadron Collider will undergo its most extensive upgrade since opening.
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Sports
Spain delivered a dominant performance to defeat France 3-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, setting up a potential final against either England or Argentina. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring before Pedri and Nico Williams added second-half goals to seal a comprehensive victory. The match drew massive viewership worldwide. In the other semifinal, England and Argentina are set to renew their storied rivalry with a place in Sunday's final on the line.
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Health
The Ebola outbreak in northeastern Congo has surpassed 2,000 confirmed cases including 754 deaths, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday, as the crisis deepens with health workers at treatment centers going on strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses. Workers at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province walked off the job Monday, demanding months of back pay. The strike threatens to cripple containment efforts just as the virus spreads to new communities. A U.S. aid worker infected with Ebola has been flown to Germany for treatment after the Trump administration barred Americans from traveling on commercial flights.
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Environment
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Tuesday implementing a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data center permits, making New York the first state in the nation to pause the industry over environmental and energy concerns. The order gives the state time to develop regulations focused on energy consumption, water use, and community impact. Separately, President Trump signed orders sharply reducing the size of two national monuments in Utah, drawing immediate legal challenges from environmental groups.
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