Here are the big stories to kick off your week.
Headlines
Russian Drone Threatens NATO Airspace
A suspected Russian drone was shot down over Romanian territory as Kyiv and Moscow traded fresh long-range strikes, the latest sign of the war spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders and rattling NATO’s eastern flank. Romania has scrambled jets and issued airspace warnings several times this year as drone debris from strikes on Ukraine’s Danube River ports has drifted into its territory. Source
Hurricane Lala strengthened into a Category 1 storm with 75 mph winds as it churned near Hawaii’s Big Island, unleashing torrential rain, flooding, and mudslide risk while sparing the islands a direct hit. Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported roughly 2 inches of rain per hour and thousands of power outages, urging residents to shelter in place as the state mobilized emergency resources. It marked the first serious hurricane threat to Hawaii since 1992’s Hurricane Iniki. Source
Orlando police charged 44-year-old Jose Proano, who was out on probation for armed burglary, with first-degree murder after investigators say he killed and dismembered his 71-year-old stepfather, Jorge Vazquez-Escutia. Security footage allegedly showed Proano packing the victim’s remains into suitcases that were later found near the victim’s home, and cell phone data and physical evidence tied him to the scene. Source
Politics
President Trump called on the Senate to pass legislation making daylight saving time permanent nationwide, reviving a push he has floated repeatedly since taking office. The proposal would end the twice-yearly clock changes that have long drawn bipartisan grumbling, though prior versions of the bill have stalled over disagreements on whether to lock clocks on standard or daylight time. Source
Andy Baker, the White House deputy national security adviser who also served as Vice President JD Vance’s top security aide, is departing the administration in the coming weeks after more than 18 months on the job, including a central role in Iran negotiations. Baker said he plans to join the private sector alongside former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, while Cliff Sims steps in as Vance’s national security adviser. Source
A wave of massive data center proposals in rural, Republican-leaning districts is putting GOP lawmakers in a bind, as the administration champions the AI buildout while many of their own constituents fight the projects over pollution and land-use concerns. A new West Virginia law prioritizing data center development over local control illustrates the tension, with both parties still searching for a legislative fix to balance AI competitiveness against community pushback. Source
U.S. News
At least six people have died in central Indiana’s worst flooding in more than 30 years, with water levels in some communities exceeding the historic 1913 flood along the White River corridor. Indianapolis firefighters conducted 95 water rescues by Saturday afternoon, and major flood warnings remain active through at least Wednesday across multiple river systems in the state. See Details
New FBI data show violent crime and murder fell in 2025 by the largest year-over-year margin since the bureau began tracking such figures in 1936, with the murder rate dropping to its lowest level since the mid-1950s. FBI Director Kash Patel and President Trump both pointed to the numbers as evidence of the administration’s law enforcement and immigration policies, though some of those specific claims remain contested. Source
The FDA issued its highest-risk recall warning for more than 1.5 million dozen eggs from a Texas producer after Salmonella contamination was linked to 98 illnesses and 26 hospitalizations across 17 states. The recalled eggs were sold through retail and food-service channels in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, including at Kroger and Brookshire Grocery stores. See Details
Business
Wall Street heads into the week with a heavy retail earnings slate, including Home Depot on Tuesday, Target and Lowe’s on Wednesday and Walmart on Thursday, offering a fresh read on how consumers are handling inflation that remains solidly above 3%. Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting are also due Wednesday, when policymakers held rates steady despite three dissenting officials who favored an increase, with markets still bracing for a possible hike before year’s end. See Details
Mortgage rates edged mostly lower heading into the new week, offering a bit of relief for prospective homebuyers and refinancers after a choppy summer for borrowing costs. Rate movement continues to track closely with broader economic data and Federal Reserve signals about the path of future policy. See Details
U.S. retail sales slumped in July, a sign that consumer spending is cooling as households contend with persistent price pressures and a softer job market. The pullback adds to a mixed picture of the economy heading into the fall, with retailers’ upcoming earnings expected to shed more light on the trend. Source
World News
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin exchanged messages reaffirming their countries’ ties on Korean Liberation Day, the anniversary marking Korea’s 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule. The gesture is the latest sign of deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which have drawn closer amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. Source
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores region killed at least 53 people and injured 135 more, with rescue crews battling landslides and communication outages to reach the hardest-hit areas. Nearly 1,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake, and more than 900 homes were destroyed as roughly 5,000 residents were displaced into temporary shelters. Find out More
Colombia’s president appealed directly to President Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods as the country reels from a magnitude-7.4 earthquake that killed nearly 300 people and destroyed roughly 13,000 homes in the western cities of Cali and Pereira. Trump reportedly offered condolences during what officials described as a cordial call, though no decision on the tariff request has been announced. Source
Entertainment
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is on pace for a third straight weekend atop the box office, with its domestic haul expected to cross $800 million by Sunday. The film, which already ranks among the biggest openings in history, is closing in on “No Way Home” for third place on the all-time domestic chart. Find out More
The next “X-Men” film has cast Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister, and Maya Boyd as Storm, filling out the core roster for the franchise’s next chapter. The casting adds to a busy year of comic-book movie announcements as studios continue rebuilding their superhero slates. Source
Pixar unveiled an original film called “Ghost Market,” set for a spring 2028 release and inspired by Asian mythology about supernatural marketplaces where the living and the dead coexist. The story follows a teenage content creator who accidentally turns half-ghost after eating food meant for spirits, with “Weekends” director Trevor Jimenez at the helm. Source
Sports
Rams rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson answered early skepticism about his draft slot with a sharp preseason debut against Kansas City, completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-12 win. Both scoring passes went to rookie running back Dean Connors, with Simpson drawing praise after spending camp behind starter Stetson Bennett and learning under 17-year veteran Matthew Stafford. Source
Islam Makhachev retained his welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, extending his win streak to 17 in a row and breaking Anderson Silva’s long-standing UFC record. In the co-main event, women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern dominated Gillian Robertson to notch her first successful title defense. Read More
San Diego County’s Sweetwater Valley All-Stars punched their ticket to the Little League World Series with an 11-3 win over Hawaii in the West Regional final. It’s the region’s first trip back to South Williamsport since Chula Vista’s Park View Little League won it all in 2009, with this year’s tournament running August 19-30 on ESPN. See Details
Off the Wall
A Kentucky man set a new world record by assembling a Mr. Potato Head while blindfolded in just 7.92 seconds, smashing the previous mark of 12.11 seconds. He took on the obscure challenge to raise awareness for Usher Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes progressive hearing and vision loss. Source
