July 15, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• In a joint statement, various U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.N. humanitarian office, warn that many of their humanitarian operations in Gaza may be forced to stop due to worsening fuel shortages in the Palestinian enclave. [full joint statement] [more]
• At least 31 people were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,237 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he would impose new "severe tariffs" on Russia and on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, and other products if a Ukraine peace deal is not reached within 50 days. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, characterized Trump's stance as a "theatrical ultimatum" and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. move could be perceived by Ukraine "not as a signal for peace but as a signal to continue the war."  [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Labor Department data released today shows that consumer inflation in the U.S. rose 2.7% in June, compared to the year-ago period – up from a 2.4% annual increase in May and the highest increase in consumer prices in four months. [full report] [more]

U.S. EDUCATION | In a 6-3 ruling yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court countermanded a lower court ruling and allowed the Trump administration to move forward with plans to lay off nearly 1,400 employees at the Department of Education. President Donald Trump called the decision a major victory for students and parents and predicted a return of the department's functions to states. [more]

MORE U.S. EDUCATION | A coalition of 20 U.S. states sued the Trump administration yesterday over billions of dollars in frozen education funding for after-school care, summer programs, teacher training, and other initiatives. [more]

U.S. CLIMATE DATA | Following an earlier announcement that findings from U.S. climate change research and related assessments would be hosted on the NASA website after being removed from a dedicated site, NASA officials said yesterday that the agency does not plan to publish the information on its website. The most recent complete report was published in 2023. [more]

U.S. AND MEXICO | U.S. trade officials yesterday announced a 17% tariff on fresh tomatoes from Mexico, effective immediately. Reports note that Mexico supplies about 70% of the U.S. tomato market and cite agribusiness analysts as saying the move will likely increase the price of tomatoes in the U.S. by about 6-10%. [more]

GLOBAL VACCINATIONS | According to a new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization, some 14.3 million infants worldwide did not receive a single vaccine against disease in 2024 – 4 million more than the 2024 target needed to stay on track with Immunization Agenda 2030 goals, and 1.4 million more than in 2019, the baseline year for measuring progress. [press release] [full report] [more]

SUDAN | The Emergency Lawyers human rights group said yesterday that nearly 300 people were killed in recent days in attacks on villages in Sudan's North Kordofan state by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. [more]

AUSTRALIA AND CHINA | Reports say talks between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing yesterday focused on deepening trade ties between their countries despite differences over regional security and human rights. [more]

ISRAEL | The United Torah Judaism party said today that it is leaving the coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over disagreements concerning military draft exemptions for many of the party's ultra-Orthodox seminary student constituents. Reports note that the departure does not immediately threaten Netanyahu’s government, but leaves him with a slimmer majority. [more]

AI | Tech giant and chipmaker Nvidia said yesterday that it has received U.S. government approval to sell its advanced H20 artificial intelligence development chips to China and that it hopes to start delivery of the chips soon. The approval follows an April government announcement that it would restrict sales of the H20 chips to Beijing. [more]

CRYPTOCURRENCY | The price of industry leader bitcoin rose above $123,000 yesterday – up from about $108,000 just a week ago. The increase comes as the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to take up several pieces of cryptocurrency-related legislation. [more]

BASEBALL | The Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh won the Major League Baseball All-Star Home Run Derby last night. Raleigh is the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1799, the Rosetta Stone, a key to deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts, was found at Fort Julien in the Nile Delta during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt. [more history]