Trump Announces U.S. Has Secured Majority Control of 65 Billion Barrels of Venezuelan Oil Reserves
President Trump announced Friday that the United States has entered a deal giving American interests majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves, claiming it was secured at no cost to taxpayers. The agreement was negotiated by Secretary of State Rubio and Defense Secretary Hegseth alongside Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez and private business partners, with the Pentagon reportedly pursuing its stake through Venezuelan energy investor Alejandro Betancourt. The deal's legal structure, sanctions implications, and financial terms have not been fully disclosed, and Venezuelan opposition figures have sharply criticized the arrangement as a transfer of sovereign assets.
Fed Chair Warsh signals September rate hike possible in hawkish Jackson Hole speech
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh warned at the Jackson Hole symposium that stubborn inflation could force a rate hike as soon as the Fed's September meeting, triggering an immediate market reprice. Before the speech, traders put September hike odds at roughly one in three; after it, markets treated a 25-basis-point increase as more likely than not. The speech was seen as a deliberate clarification after Warsh's July press conference was criticized as contradictory.
Nepal Flood Death Toll Reaches 616 With 2,478 Missing as Government Reverses Ban on Foreign Rescue Teams
Flash floods along the China-Nepal border have killed at least 616 people, left 2,478 missing, and injured 2,301 others since striking on Wednesday. Nepal's government reversed its initial refusal to accept foreign assistance under diplomatic pressure, now allowing rescue teams from India, China, Australia, and South Korea to help with tunnel rescues and body identification. Nepal has requested $4 billion for rebuilding as access to devastated areas remains hampered by destroyed infrastructure and ongoing rainfall.
House Passes Continuing Resolution 220-205, Extending Government Funding Through December 4
The House voted 220-205 to pass a stopgap spending bill that keeps the federal government funded at existing levels through December 4, averting a potential shutdown before the September 30 fiscal year deadline. Six Democrats joined Republicans to provide the narrow margin of passage. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.
University of Oslo Study Detects Alzheimer's Brain Changes at Least Seven Years Before Amyloid Plaques Are Visible
Researchers at the University of Oslo have identified brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease at least seven years before amyloid plaques — the current gold-standard diagnostic marker — become detectable. The study tracked healthy older adults with repeated brain imaging over nearly two decades, revealing that amyloid-PET scans miss the earliest stages of the disease. The findings, supported by parallel research using specialized MRI and electrophysiological scanning, suggest patients may be losing years of potential treatment time under existing diagnostic frameworks.
Federal Judge Rules Pentagon's Blacklisting of Anthropic Unlawful, Citing First Amendment Retaliation
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled Thursday that the Pentagon illegally retaliated against AI company Anthropic by designating it a supply chain security risk after Anthropic refused to allow its Claude chatbot to be used for military surveillance or autonomous weapons. The court found the Pentagon's designation was driven by Anthropic's protected viewpoint on responsible AI development rather than genuine security concerns. The ruling is a significant legal setback for the Trump administration's efforts to pressure AI companies into removing safety restrictions from military contracts.
Norway's King Harald V Dies at 89; Son Haakon VIII Ascends Throne
King Harald V of Norway died Friday, August 28, at age 89 after a 35-year reign, making him Europe's oldest monarch at the time of his death. His son automatically ascended the throne as King Haakon VIII, who convened an extraordinary council of state and adopted the royal motto 'All for Norway.' Norway has entered a period of national mourning.
Light-activated eye drops restore vision in blind mice without surgery, gene therapy, or implants
Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia have developed photosensitive 'molecular prostheses' that restored light perception and visually guided behavior in blind mice when administered as eye drops or intraocular injections. The compounds mimic the role of lost photoreceptors by acting as light-activated molecular switches within intact retinal circuitry, offering a potential alternative to gene therapy and electronic implants for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. No human trials have been announced, but the team cited promising safety profiles as grounds for optimism about clinical translation.