July 24, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• Amidst ongoing Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations, U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Italy today to meet with Israeli negotiators regarding a Hamas proposal response that Israel has characterized as "workable." The agreement under discussion is expected to include an increase of aid into Gaza and a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,246 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• The U.S. State Department announced the approval yesterday of $322 million in proposed new weapons sales to Ukraine to strengthen its air defense and armored combat vehicle capabilities amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. [more]

U.S. BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP | A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday upheld a lower court ruling that blocked the enforcement of President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily. The ruling sets up a probably appeal of the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. [more]

U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION | Amidst ongoing pressure from the Trump administration to combat antisemitism following on-campus pro-Palestinian protests last year and to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, Columbia University announced yesterday that it has agreed to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research funding and grants that were canceled earlier this year. [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | According to a Defense Department contract announced this week, Virginia-based Acquisition Logistics has been awarded $232 million in U.S. Army funds as part of a $1.26 billion contract to build and operate a 5,000-person immigration detention camp in west Texas on or near the El Paso region's Ft. Bliss Army base. [more]

IDAHO | Bryan Kohberger, the man who pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in their home in November 2022 was sentenced yesterday to four life terms in prison without parole. [more]

U.S. EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION | The Wall Street Journal reports that President Donald Trump was told by the Justice Department in May that his name appeared in the files regarding the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation, while noting that being named in the files does not necessarily imply any wrongdoing. The White House dismissed the WSJ report as "fake news." [more]

CAMBODIA AND THAILAND | Reports say ongoing border clashes today between Thai and Cambodian forces include ground confrontations in at least six areas and airstrikes by both sides on multiple targets. The conflict escalated yesterday with multiple incidents of gunfire being exchanged in three border regions in which at least nine people were killed. Border crossings between the two countries have been closed and each country has expelled the other's ambassador. [more]

GLOBAL CLIMATE | Calling the global climate crisis "an existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life," the U.N.'s International Court of Justice issued a non-binding opinion yesterday that says nations could be in violation of international law if they fail to take measures to protect against climate change and that countries harmed by climate change could be entitled to reparations. The ruling is considered a milestone in international climate law that could pave the way for related legal actions both between countries and in domestic lawsuits. [ICJ press release] [full ICJ opinion] [more]

RUSSIA | According to Russia's Interfax news agency, the wreckage of an Angara Airlines passenger plane has been located in Russia’s Far East near the town of Tynda and emergency officials say it appears that there were no survivors among the 49 people aboard the flight. The crash remains under investigation. [more]

CYPRUS | Authorities in the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus say at least two people have been killed in an ongoing wildfire that has burned more than 38 square miles of land, destroyed numerous homes, and forced the evacuation of dozens of villages. [more]

U.K. AND INDIA | British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to sign a major trade agreement between their countries today. The deal, first announced in May, will reportedly reduce India’s average tariff on British goods from 15% to 3% and see 99% of Indian imports into the U.K. face no import duty at all. [more]

AFGHANISTAN | A new report from the U.N. mission in Afghanistan says that the ruling Taliban have tortured and threatened Afghans forcibly returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan and that some of those repatriated have gone into hiding or relocated for fear of Taliban reprisal. [more]

E.U. ENERGY | According to industry association SolarPower Europe, the European Union's expansion of solar energy is on track to show its first annual slowdown in more than a decade this year, with expected E.U.-wide installation of 64.2 gigawatts of new solar energy capacity in 2025, compared to 65.1GW installed last year. [more]

AUTO INDUSTRY | Electric vehicle maker Tesla reported second quarter drops of 12% and 16% in revenue and profit, respectively, yesterday, reflecting, according to analysts, continued fallout from negative public perception of company head Elon Musk's political stances and roles in both the U.S. and Europe. [more]

SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta announced new safety features for teen accounts on the company's platforms yesterday and said it had deactivated more 600,000 accounts on its platforms that were linked to inappropriate and sexualized interactions with teen accounts. [more]

SOCCER | Spain beat Germany, 1-0, yesterday to advance to the finals of the 2025 Women's Euro tournament. The tournament final, featuring the reigning Women's Euro champion England against World Cup champion Spain, will be played on Sunday in Basel, Switzerland. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne, the final treaty concluding World War I, was signed at Lausanne, Switzerland. [more history]