Trump Sends Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv With Formal Ukraine War-Ending Proposal
President Trump announced Friday that he is dispatching envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to both Moscow and Kyiv this weekend carrying a formal proposal to end the war in Ukraine. It marks the first time Kushner has traveled to the region as part of the administration's diplomatic efforts. The mission coincides with Ukraine separately announcing a limited ceasefire, as both sides attempt to break a prolonged diplomatic deadlock.
Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trump Mail-In Ballot Restrictions Ahead of November Midterms
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston issued a preliminary injunction Friday blocking a Trump administration rule that would have restricted mail-in ballot distribution ahead of the November midterm elections. The ruling, the third time Talwani has ruled against the administration on this issue, replaces a prior temporary restraining order and prevents enforcement of a directive requiring the Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on federal citizenship lists. The case is expected to continue through the courts, with a potential Supreme Court review possible.
U.S. Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August, More Than Doubling Forecasts
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 162,000 jobs added in August, far surpassing economist forecasts of 55,000–65,000 and marking a sharp acceleration from July's pace. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% and average hourly earnings rose 0.3%. Despite the strong headline number, economists warn a 'low-hire, low-fire' dynamic continues to make job-seeking difficult for unemployed workers.
U.S. and European Allies Draft IAEA Resolution to Refer Iran to UN Security Council for First Time in 20 Years
The United States, Britain, France, and Germany have drafted a resolution for the IAEA Board of Governors that would refer Iran to the UN Security Council over nuclear nonproliferation non-compliance, with a vote expected as early as next week. If adopted, it would be the first such referral in approximately 20 years and represents a significant diplomatic escalation. Any resulting Security Council action would face potential vetoes from Russia and China, both of which have historically opposed punitive measures against Iran.
Anthropic Taps Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan to Lead IPO, Filing Expected Next Week
Anthropic has selected Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan as lead underwriters for its initial public offering, with IPO paperwork expected to be filed as soon as next week. The Claude-maker is targeting a valuation of $2 trillion or more, which would make it one of the most significant public market debuts in the AI sector to date. No pricing or listing date has been disclosed.
Al-Qaeda Affiliate JNIM Launches Coordinated Multi-City Assault on Mali, Including Strike on Capital Bamako
On April 25, 2026, JNIM — the al-Qaeda affiliate dominant across Mali's Sahel — launched simultaneous attacks on multiple Malian cities and struck Bamako directly, claiming to have seized two major cities in what observers call an unprecedented escalation. The offensive follows a months-long fuel and supply blockade that has crippled daily life in the capital since September 2025. Mali's military junta, which relies on Russian-linked fighters after expelling French and UN forces, has failed to reverse JNIM's territorial and operational expansion.
Trump-appointed judge declines to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes journalists
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, refused to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon's termination of three Stars and Stripes journalists, ruling they are unlikely to succeed on their First Amendment claims and showed no irreparable harm. The decision allows the Pentagon to proceed with the firings at the federally funded military news outlet. The ruling contrasts with McFadden's earlier decision in favor of the Associated Press in a separate press access case involving the White House.
BepiColombo Transfer Module Separates After 8-Year Journey, Releasing Two Science Orbiters Toward Mercury Orbit
The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission reached a critical milestone when its Mercury Transfer Module separated from the two science orbiters — ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter — after nearly eight years in space. The two orbiters are now falling toward Mercury as a stacked unit, with final separation into individual orbits expected in December and full science operations set to begin in April 2027. The mission marks the first time two fully independent spacecraft will be simultaneously placed in orbit around another planet.