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MIDDLE EAST WAR | Day 200.

• According to a newly released Department of Defense inspector general's report, the U.S. war against Iran has resulted in "strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply," as well as the destruction of hundreds of buildings and other structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan, and the loss of dozens of U.S. aircraft and drones. [full report] [more]
• Following damage to the country's East-West Pipeline last week in an attack blamed on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Saudi Arabia suggested yesterday that the pipeline could be mostly out of service for weeks as the damage is repaired. Analysts note that the pipeline disruption is contributing further to global oil supply and price concerns. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,662 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• A day after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte suggested that strikes close to the alliance’s territory would increase its support for Ukraine, NATO jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight. The drone, according to Lithuanian military officials, was "likely" carrying explosives. [more]

U.S. ENVIRONMENT |The Environmental Protection Agency announced the repeal yesterday of federal rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas and announced it is taking a separate but related step to prevent future administrations from regulating pollution from power plants. The agency and Administrator Lee Zeldin say the move would save industry $310 billion in costs and help unleash U.S. energy production, while opponents warn of related risks to Americans' health and increased environmental damage. Reports note that the EPA plan is likely to face immediate court challenges. [EPA press release] [more]

U.S. ELECTIONS | The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected the Trump administration's appeal of a lower court ruling that blocked implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to place new restrictions on mail-in balloting. A Court majority statement, which did not contain detailed reasoning, said the administration’s push to implement the restrictions this year is likely to lose in court. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. [more]

U.S. AI INDUSTRY | Following multiple high-profile warnings from artificial intelligence industry leaders about the potential risks associated with the rapid development of AI and amidst calls for the industry to be regulated, President Donald Trump yesterday suggested that efforts to limit AI development are part of a "sick conspiracy" and called warnings by industry leaders a "hoax." [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Amidst continued high inflation, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to increase its benchmark interest rate at its policy-setting meeting tomorrow. [more]

U.S. TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS | A lawyer for former CIA Director John Brennan said yesterday that Brennan has been subpoenaed to testify before a Florida grand jury in a Justice Department investigation into whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against President Donald Trump. [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | In separate actions yesterday, coalitions of Democratic-led states and cities filed lawsuits challenging a revived "public charge" federal rule that they say gives immigration authorities overly broad discretion to deny green cards to immigrants who use any type of public assistance, including for food, healthcare, housing, and other basic needs. Reports note that federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to demonstrate they will not rely on public benefits. [more]

GLOBAL AI | Warning of the risk of artificial intelligence deepening disparities and social inequities around the world, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced a $1 billion pledge from the Gates Foundation yesterday for efforts to broaden AI access and train AI models to use local languages, improve health outcomes, upgrade educational tools, and inform small farmers’ practices around the world. Gates had previously suggested that AI will be either “the greatest equalizer” or the “worst source of injustice." [more]

NETHERLANDS | Dutch authorities say sabotage is suspected in the disruption of train service at 24 locations across the Netherlands early today and that investigations into the deliberate placement of materials on rail tracks are ongoing. [more]

U.K. | John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, and Michelle O’Neill, the first ministers of the U.K.'s semiautonomous regions of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively, signed an agreement yesterday that jointly calls for the U.K. to recognize the regions' rights to declare independence from the United Kingdom. Reports note that Scotland’s John Swinney and Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill called for independence referendums in their countries, while Rhun ap Iorwerth did not provide a timetable for one in Wales. [more]

ISRAEL AND GAZA | U.N. human ‌rights chief Volker Turk said today that the recovery of hundreds of bodies, including those of many women and children, from buildings destroyed by Israel in Gaza during the early days of the Israel-Hamas war that began nearly three years ago has revived concerns that Israeli targeting of residential buildings and other civilian sites may have violated international humanitarian law and could be considered war crimes. [more]

CHILE | The World Health Organization yesterday declared Chile the first country in South America to have eliminated dog-to-human rabies transmission, with the last reported case of such transmission having occurred in 1972. [more]

THAILAND AND CAMBODIA | Opening statements were made yesterday in Thailand and Cambodia's conciliation talks before the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea commission aimed at resolving the two countries' disputed maritime territorial claims. [more]

BASEBALL | With a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a record-tying 14th consecutive playoff berth. [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS | Among the top winners at last night's 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards were: "Widow's Bay" with 14 wins, a single-season record for a comedy, and "The Pitt" winning best drama series for the second straight year. Rhea Seehorn won the award for best actress in a drama for “Pluribus," and Noah Wyle repeated as best actor in a drama for "The Pitt." [full list of winners] [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1935, the Nürnberg Laws, among the first pieces of racist Nazi legislation that would culminate in the Holocaust, were passed in Germany. Designed by Adolf Hitler, the laws deprived Jews of German citizenship and forbade marriage or sexual relations between Jews and “citizens of German or kindred blood.” [more history]