Today’s reporting examines executive power, an escalating Ebola outbreak, a major insurance acquisition, election administration, semiconductor investment, newborn care, biofuel mandates, missile-defense production, air-travel demand and competing federal approaches to American film production and military remembrance.
US
Supreme Court Lets White House Ballroom Construction Continue
Supreme Court justices split 5–4 to let construction continue on the $400 million White House ballroom, leaving unresolved whether the president can erect a major new structure on federal grounds without express congressional approval.
World
Congo Ebola Outbreak Passes 6,000 Confirmed Cases
Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has exceeded 6,000 confirmed cases and 2,900 deaths, exposing how a rare virus strain, armed conflict and weak surveillance are overwhelming containment across six provinces.
Business
Aon Agrees to Buy USI for $17 Billion
Aon’s $17 billion cash purchase of USI would create a much larger U.S. middle-market insurance platform, but debt financing, integration demands and antitrust review will determine whether the promised scale delivers value.
Politics
Whistleblower Warns Postal Ballot Portal Was Built Too Quickly
A whistleblower says the Postal Service built a nationwide ballot-mail portal on a compressed schedule as the Trump administration asks an appeals court to restore new verification rules before November's midterms.
Tech
Nvidia Invests $3.5 Billion in MediaTek AI Push
Nvidia’s $3.5 billion MediaTek investment ties custom AI chips, personal computers and vehicle platforms more closely to Nvidia’s architecture, while raising questions about concentration and ecosystem financing.
Healthcare
More U.S. Newborns Leave Hospitals Without Vitamin K Shot
New data show 8.1% of U.S. newborns lacked documented vitamin K administration in June, up from 5.2% in January, raising concern about preventable brain and intestinal bleeding during infants’ first six months.
Policy
EPA Waives 1.76 Billion Biofuel Credits for Refiners
EPA exempted 29 small refineries from 1.76 billion renewable-fuel credits, then promised a proposal to shift the unexpected portion into 2026 and 2027, moving compliance costs without settling who ultimately bears them.
Military
Pentagon Locks In Seven-Year Expansion of Missile Defense Production
Seven-year Pentagon agreements aim to lift annual PAC-3 MSE capacity from about 600 interceptors to 2,000 and THAAD output from 96 to 400, but funding, supplier expansion and delivery timing remain decisive.
From the Shores of Tripoli: U.S. Sailors Died for America 222 Years Ago. Five Graves Remain in Libya — Should We Bring Them Home?
Thirteen U.S. sailors died when the Intrepid exploded off Tripoli in 1804. More than two centuries later, five graves linked to the crew remain behind restricted access in Libya, renewing the question of whether America should preserve them there or bring them home.
Travel
Global Air Travel Growth Nearly Stalls in Peak Summer
Global air-travel demand rose just 0.2% in July as Middle Eastern and North American declines offset growth elsewhere, leaving travelers with sharply different capacity, connection and fare conditions by route.
Entertainment
Trump Backs Federal Tax Credit for U.S. Film Production
A proposed 20% federal credit for domestic film and television labor has presidential backing, but Congress has no bill, price tag or eligibility rules—leaving its effect on production jobs and taxpayers unresolved.
