World
The United States expanded its military campaign against Iran by striking bridges, a key port, and a water desalination plant in Kuwait, marking a sharp escalation in a conflict that has drawn in multiple nations across the Middle East. Iranian forces have demonstrated they can still inflict damage despite sustained US bombardment, hitting facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The US has reimposed its blockade on Iranian ports after Tehran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing global oil prices higher.
Associated Press
Politics
President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address doubling down on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, alleging without evidence that China meddled in the 2020 election. Trump's teleprompter operator was placed on unpaid leave for allegedly betting on prediction markets tied to Trump's speeches. DHS Secretary issued warnings to states as the administration increasingly uses government agencies to sow doubts about the nation's electoral system ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Associated Press
Business
Global stock markets tumbled on Friday as artificial intelligence stocks led a broad selloff, driven by concerns over valuations and the impact of the Iran war on energy costs. The Consumer Price Index fell to a 3.5% annual increase in June, marking the biggest monthly drop since 2020, but core inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed's target. Oil prices have surged more than 10% amid the Strait of Hormuz conflict.
Associated Press / CNBC
Technology
A new study from the AP found that AI chatbots are at risk of amplifying and spreading government restrictions on online speech, particularly in authoritarian countries. The research tested leading AI models and found they often comply with censorship demands baked into their training data. Separately, Apple Intelligence cleared its biggest hurdle to launching in China, and China's Kimi K3 model beats Western competitors on key benchmarks.
Associated Press
Science
Scientists have discovered a new species of monkey in the remote interior of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the fifth new monkey species found on the African continent in the past 75 years. The new Colobus monkey was identified through genetic analysis and physical observation. Separately, astronomers detected an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone for the first time, and a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mexico.
Science News / AP
Sports
Argentina and Spain are set to face off in the 2026 World Cup final after Argentina staged a stunning rally past England behind Lionel Messi's heroics. Messi dismissed critics who say Argentina had an easy path, saying 'nothing was handed to us.' Spain advanced with their trademark possession game. The final has been disrupted by storms, forcing both teams to alter their preparation plans. England and France play in the third-place game.
Associated Press / CNN
Health
The FDA approved Lipfendra, a first-of-its-kind oral medication from Merck that dramatically reduces cholesterol in patients who cannot tolerate statins or need additional therapy. Separately, an experimental Alzheimer's drug targeting the tau protein showed promise in a new study, and a blood test that can identify healthy people at high risk for Alzheimer's was validated. A Cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to produce has sickened hundreds across multiple states.
Associated Press
Environment
A comprehensive study published by the Associated Press found that wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people each year, with the death toll rising as climate change fuels larger and more intense fires. Canadian wildfire smoke has made air quality unhealthy from the US Midwest to the East Coast this week. Google launched three new FireSat satellites to improve early detection, and the EU proposed sweeping changes to its carbon market.
Associated Press