President Trump has waived a new round of congressionally mandated Russia sanctions, invoking a national-interest exemption. Ukraine's president and a leading conservative publication have both criticized the move, while a bipartisan House bill takes aim at a related Russian energy arrangement.

Russia and Ukraine struck each other's infrastructure this week, with Russian forces hitting steel plants and power facilities and Ukraine resuming attacks on Russian oil refineries. The exchange came as Zelenskyy alleged a deliberate disruption of Starlink service and as reports pointed to friction between Kyiv and Washington.

Washington and Tehran are each asserting dominance over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery, as naval pressure, financial strain, and reports of a possible US strike on Iran's nuclear sites push the standoff toward a more dangerous phase.

President Trump's recent campaign travel has concentrated on states and districts that already lean Republican, a departure from the swing-state focus typical of midterm campaigning and from what he had earlier signaled he would do.

Elon Musk showcased a new Tesla Roadster demonstration that included a brief moment the car appeared to lift off the ground, along with a claim of sub-one-second acceleration. Tesla has released no technical details to support either claim, and reaction has split between those treating it as a provocative preview and those questioning whether it amounts to anything more than a staged spectacle.