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MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Israeli officials said today that the country's defense minister has approved plans to begin a new, expanded phase of military operations in some of Gaza's most densely populated areas, and that up to  60,000 reservists would be called up and the service periods of an additional 20,000 reservists currently serving would be extended to support the operations. [more]
• Syrian state-run media outlet SANA reports that Syrian and Israeli officials met for direct talks in Paris yesterday as part of a U.S.-backed diplomatic effort for the two Middle Eastern countries to normalize relations despite recent tensions between them. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,273 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Defense chiefs of the 32 NATO member nations are scheduled to hold a video conference today to discuss recent and ongoing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and how Western nations could work to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. [more]

U.S. DRUG TRAFFICKING | The Associated Press cites U.S. military officials as saying that three U.S. Navy Aegis guided-missile destroyers are being deployed to the waters off Venezuela as part of efforts to combat narcotics trafficking by Latin American drug cartels. [more]

U.S. INTELLIGENCE | Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced yesterday that the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials - many from the Biden administration - have been revoked. Gabbard said in a memo that the move was taken because the officials engaged in the "politicization or weaponization of intelligence," failed to safeguard classified information, failed to "adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards," or engaged in other "detrimental" conduct, but did not provide evidence supporting the accusations. [more]

SMITHSONIAN | President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington, DC, yesterday, suggesting that the museums focus too much on ""how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been" and not enough on the "Success" and "Brightness" of the United States. [more]

HURRICANE ERIN | Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency in North Carolina yesterday to free up resources as his state deals with dangerous coastal conditions caused by Hurricane Erin. Reports note that while the storm is not expected to make landfall, projected dangers have prompted warnings and the closing of beaches in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. [NOAA Erin info] [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION | Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said yesterday that his state has agreed to allow the Department of Homeland Security to use an existing minimum security prison work camp in the city of McCook as an immigration detention center dubbed the "Cornhusker Clink." [more]

NEW MEXICO | A panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that New Mexico's seven-day waiting period on gun purchases likely infringes on citizens’ Second Amendment rights and put the law on hold pending a legal challenge. [more]

MISSISSIPPI | U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate yesterday blocked portions of Mississippi’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in public schools from being enforced while related court challenges play out. Wingate's preliminary injunction blocks provisions that sought to prohibit public schools from discussing a list of “divisive concepts” related to race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and national origin, but leaves in place portions of the law that prevent schools from giving preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, or national origin. [more]

U.S. AND MEXICO | Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied yesterday that her government has an agreement with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to collaborate on cross-border drug, gun, and money smuggling as part of "Project Portero" – an initiative announced by the DEA this week that U.S. officials suggested included Mexican cooperation. [more]

U.S. TARIFFS | Norwegian and Swedish-Danish postal groups Posten Bring and PostNord announced today that they are temporarily suspending the shipment of packages to the U.S. ahead of President Donald Trump's August 29 deadline for revoking the U.S. customs de minimis tariff exemption that allows duty-free entry for low-value parcels. [more]

AFGHANISTAN | Reports cite Afghan Ministry of Interior spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani as saying today that at least 79 people were killed yesterday when a bus carrying Afghans returning from Iran crashed with a truck in the country's Herat province. [more]

NIGERIA | Officials in Nigeria's Katsina state say at least 13 people were killed yesterday when gunmen attacked a mosque in the town of Unguwan Mantau during morning prayers. [more]

MALI | Former Prime Minister Choguel Maïga was ordered to be taken into custody by Mali's Supreme Court today on charges of corruption related to the management of public funds while he was in office. Reports note that Maïga was removed from office in November 2024 after he criticized Mali's military junta for postponing elections. [more]

BASEBALL | In a 13-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays last night, the New York Yankees became the first team in Major League Baseball history to hit nine home runs in a game twice in one season. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1968, the Soviet Union, along with several of its Warsaw Pact allies, invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” liberalization movement. [more history]