World
The US military has expanded airstrikes against Iran beyond military targets to include civilian infrastructure such as bridges and airports, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict now entering its second week. Two US service members were killed by an Iranian attack in Jordan, and Iran has proven it can still inflict damage despite overwhelming US air power. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested as US forces board ships amid a ports blockade, with oil prices surging more than 10% in response to the deepening crisis.
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Politics
President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address from the White House on Thursday, alleging China meddled in the 2020 election and questioning US voting security ahead of November's midterm elections. China denied the claims, calling them fabricated, while Democrats accused Trump of laying groundwork to undermine election results. The speech drew mixed reactions from Republicans, with some praising his focus on election integrity while others expressed concern about unsubstantiated claims.
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Business
The Consumer Price Index fell to a 3.5% annual increase in June, marking the biggest monthly drop in prices since 2020 and coming in below economist expectations. The easing inflation comes as the US-Iran conflict threatens to push energy prices higher, creating a complex picture for the Federal Reserve. Gas prices had moderated prior to the escalation in the Middle East, but oil has surged over 10% in recent days. The mixed signals leave Fed Chairman Warsh facing difficult decisions on monetary policy.
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Technology
Chinese AI company Moonshot AI unveiled its massive new Kimi K3 model at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Thursday, claiming it can compete with top American AI systems. The model represents China's latest push to close the gap with US AI leaders like OpenAI and Google. Separately, China is reportedly allowing AI firms to buy Nvidia H200 chips, while AI chip startup Etched is in talks for a $20 billion valuation and SpaceX is in discussions to provide computing power for the Pentagon's AI initiatives.
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Science
Astronomers have conducted an unusually powerful radio survey of exoplanet K2-18b, one of the most promising worlds in the search for extraterrestrial life, using both the VLA and MeerKAT telescopes. The scan represents one of the most comprehensive searches for technosignatures ever attempted. Separately, researchers found that eating chili peppers may raise the risk of esophageal cancer, and a new species of monkey was identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking only the fifth new monkey species found in Africa in 75 years.
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Sports
Spain and Argentina will face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Lionel Messi aiming to add another title against Spain's teenage phenom Lamine Yamal. England defeated France 6-4 in an instant-classic third-place match that featured 10 goals. President Trump is expected to present the trophy to the winner. The final comes amid hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke, though officials say air quality will have minimal impact on the match.
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Health
A drug originally developed for spinal cord injury, KCL-286, has shown promise in treating Alzheimer's disease in mouse studies by repairing dangerous DNA damage, reducing brain inflammation, and targeting multiple disease pathways simultaneously. Separately, researchers found that many commonly used sweeteners can directly change the growth of gut bacteria, with over 100 cases where sweeteners behaved differently when combined with medications. A sugar-coated nanoparticle therapy also boosted survival against glioblastoma by 50% in mice.
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Environment
Massive Canadian wildfires have sent thick smoke across the US border, triggering hazardous air quality alerts from the Midwest to the Northeast. Cities including New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit have recorded some of the worst air quality levels in years, with Baltimore under a Code Purple alert. President Trump blamed Canada's wildfire management, drawing a sharp rebuke from Ontario Premier Doug Ford who called the criticism 'absolutely unacceptable.' The smoke comes as Europe also faces wildfires, drought, and storms amid a devastating heatwave.
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