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UKRAINE | Today is day 1,629 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Citing intelligence reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that Russia's military is planning "an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year." Russian media reports cite government officials as saying "rumors about mobilization" are being spread by Ukraine to "destabilize the situation inside Russia." [more]
• Russian airstrikes are reported to have targeted Ukraine's largest grain export port, in Izmail on the Danube River, today. Local officials say the strikes damaged port infrastructure and knocked out power in portions of the city. [more]

U.S. PRESIDENCY AND SOCIAL MEDIA | The Freedom of the Press Foundation and news outlet The Intercept filed a federal lawsuit yesterday seeking to block President Donald Trump's recently released subscription plan for early and exclusive access to his social media posts on his Truth Social platform. Trump Media & Technology, of which President Trump owns about 40%, is selling the priority access for as much as $100,000 per month to Wall Street traders who can trade off the market-moving posts before others. The lawsuit alleges that offering paying customers early access to Trump's posts on matters of U.S. policy violates the U.S. Constitution and that official announcements should be made available to everyone at the same time. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | According to Labor Department data released yesterday, consumer prices in the U.S. rose 3.4% in July from the year-ago period – down from the 3.5% annualized consumer inflation rate seen in June and a 0.1% increase from June on a monthly basis. [full report] [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT | The Associated Press cites a notice published earlier this week as indicating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend between $10 million and $20 million to equip its officers and agents with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks for use as "distraction and de-escalation" measures during operations. [more]

WHITE HOUSE | Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced yesterday that she will leave her White House role at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. President Donald Trump has not yet indicated who may take over the role. [more]

U.S. DRUG WAR | Speaking at a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth suggested that the International Criminal Court may investigate U.S. military strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats over the past year and urged Latin American countries to not recognize the Court. Hegseth argued that the boat strikes, in which more than 200 people have been killed, are "entirely legal under international humanitarian law" and said the U.S. is pushing for the ICC to be dismantled. [more]

U.S. AND YEMEN | According to a Pentagon review recently submitted to Congress, at least 153 civilians were killed, and 243 others were injured, last year in U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. [more]

U.S. AND COLOMBIA | U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said yesterday that the newly installed government of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested U.S. collaboration in joint military operations to combat “narco-terrorism” in Colombia. [more]

U.S. AND IRAQ | The Associated Press cites unnamed source as saying the U.S. military is on track to end its 23-year presence in Iraq by the end of September 2026. [more]

ISRAEL AND WEST BANK | Reports say Israeli troops took up positions inside Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra today amidst ongoing efforts by Jewish settlers to besiege local houses in an effort to force Palestinians to leave the area. [more]

OMAN | Oil leaking from a tanker grounded off the coast of Oman has reached the country's mainland, according to environmental officials. Reports note that the tanker is believed to have been operating as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" when it reported an explosion in June. [more]

RUSSIA AND JAPAN | Russian President Vladimir Putin today visited the Kuril Islands, a Russian-controlled Pacific island chain also claimed by Japan, sparking protests by Japanese officials, who said the portion of the island chain claimed by Tokyo is "Japan’s inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law." [more]

AFGHANISTAN | United Nations officials say intelligence operatives of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban arrested two Afghan members of the U.N.'s political mission in the country earlier this week and called for Taliban authorities to "ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials." Reports note that the U.N. has not yet been informed of the charges against the two men arrested. [more]

PAKISTAN | At least 10 insurgents were killed yesterday in clashes between security forces and militant separatists in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to regional officials. [more]

AUSTRALIA | Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta said today that it deactivated more than 750,000 accounts suspected to have been held by Australians under the age of 16 in the first six months after Australia's ban on youth social media accounts took effect in December. [more]

BASKETBALL | Venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger have reportedly agreed to purchase the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers franchise for $12.5 billion – a record high price for a U.S. professional sports franchise. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés captured Tenochtitlán, today’s Mexico City, after a 93-day siege, thereby ending the Aztec empire and claiming Mexico for the crown of Spain. [more history]