U.S. Strikes ~90 Iranian Military Targets in Second Consecutive Night as Ceasefire Collapses and Iran Retaliates Across Gulf
The U.S. launched a second consecutive night of strikes against Iran, hitting approximately 90 military targets across multiple coastal cities and infrastructure including air defense systems, missile storage, and a railway bridge linking Tehran to Central Asia and Russia. Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain with drones and missiles, while also striking commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to spike and threatening global energy supplies. The escalation marks the collapse of a June ceasefire agreement and comes as President Trump declared the deal "over" and threatened further action including a naval blockade and attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton Pleads Guilty to Espionage Act Violation
John Bolton, 77, pleaded guilty in federal court to willfully retaining national defense information, including classified intelligence about adversary military plans and covert U.S. operations that he stored in personal diary entries and shared via a hacked email account. He faces up to 5 years in prison, a $2.25 million fine, 100 hours of community service, and forfeiture of federal retirement pay, with sentencing scheduled for October 28.
World Weather Attribution links deadly July US heat dome to fossil fuel pollution as death toll reaches 44
World Weather Attribution determined that the intense July heat dome affecting 180 million Americans would have been "virtually impossible" without fossil fuel-driven climate change, which has warmed the underlying climate by 1.4°C. The heat wave killed at least 44 people, including 22 in New Jersey alone, and triggered power grid emergencies, with a second heat dome now moving westward toward Alaska and the western US.
DOJ sues Maryland and Virginia over sanctuary policies blocking federal immigration enforcement
The U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maryland and Virginia, alleging their sanctuary policies and state laws unconstitutionally obstruct federal immigration enforcement. Maryland's Community Trust Act and Virginia's laws restricting ICE operations violate the Supremacy Clause, according to the DOJ, which is pursuing a broader campaign of 21 similar lawsuits against states shielding undocumented immigrants.
FBI declares Chinese hack of wiretap surveillance system a 'major cyber incident'
The FBI has formally classified a suspected Chinese cyber intrusion into its Digital Collection System Network—which manages court-authorized wiretaps and surveillance data—as a "major incident" under federal law. The breach, attributed with high confidence to China's Ministry of State Security and linked to the Salt Typhoon hacking group, exposed phone numbers and details of active FBI investigation targets after attackers exploited a commercial internet service provider's vendor access.
LeBron James Leaves Lakers After 8 Years, Eyes Cavaliers, Heat, or 76ers in Free Agency
LeBron James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers he will not return for the 2025-26 season, ending his eight-year tenure with the franchise. The four-time NBA champion, seeking to play "meaningful, competitive basketball," is exploring options among 10 teams, with the Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers emerging as top contenders.
Eli Lilly's orforglipron pill outperforms oral semaglutide in major diabetes trial, shows superior weight loss and blood sugar control
Eli Lilly's experimental weight-loss pill orforglipron delivered significantly better weight loss and blood sugar improvements than oral semaglutide in a head-to-head Phase 3 trial of 1,698 people with type 2 diabetes. The once-daily oral medication, which doesn't require food restrictions, is advancing toward FDA approval and could become the next oral GLP-1 option available after Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill.
'The Pitt' leads 78th Emmy nominations with 25 nods; 'Hacks' follows with 24 in HBO Max sweep
HBO Max's medical drama 'The Pitt' and comedy series 'Hacks' dominated the 78th Primetime Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, earning 25 and 24 nominations respectively. 'The Pitt' nearly doubled its previous year's total of 13 nominations, while 'Hacks' set a new record for comedy series and positions Jean Smart to potentially tie for the most Emmy acting wins in history.