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Demis Hassabis Steps Down at Google — Google’s AI leader Demis Hassabis is stepping down from his role, marking a shift in the company’s top leadership as AI strategy remains in focus. The move underscores intensifying scrutiny over how major tech firms govern and scale frontier models.

U.S. Senate Advances Landmark Crypto Bill Ahead of August Recess — The U.S. Senate advanced a landmark cryptocurrency bill, setting the stage for negotiations and potential next steps before the chamber heads into its August recess. The move underscores how quickly lawmakers are pushing to reshape crypto policy and oversight.

Senate Passes Stopgap Funding Bill To Last Through November Elections — The U.S. Senate approved a stopgap spending measure that would fund the federal government through Dec. 11, aimed at preventing a shutdown before the November elections. The bill heads to the House as lawmakers negotiate broader budget priorities.

Kyiv Faces Potential New Russian Ballistic Strike Overnight — Ukraine’s capital could be targeted again with another Russian ballistic missile attack overnight, according to local monitoring channels. The warning raises renewed concern over civilian and infrastructure risks as the conflict escalates.

Appeals Court Halts Trump White House Ballroom Project — A divided federal appeals court blocked construction of a $400 million White House ballroom, ruling the decision belongs to Congress. The ruling freezes the project while the dispute over authority moves through the courts.

Landmark Crypto Bill Stalls In U.S. Senate Despite $225 Million Spending Push — A major U.S. crypto policy package designed to reshape oversight and compliance remains stuck in the Senate even after a backers’ push linked to $225 million in spending. The delay raises uncertainty for market participants awaiting clearer rules on digital-asset activity.

Senate Passes Stopgap Bill To Avert Pre-Election Government Shutdown — The Senate approved a short-term spending measure to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11, reducing the risk of a shutdown ahead of the next election cycle. The move keeps Washington on track while negotiators work toward longer-term funding solutions.

Iran Ties Hormuz Reopening To U.S. Concessions — Iranian officials said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts their demands, escalating pressure in a key global chokepoint. The move raises risks for global energy flows and heightens U.S.-Iran tensions as markets track shipping and oil export disruptions.

Russia Confirms Drone Strike on Ukrainian Cargo Ship — Russia’s defense ministry confirmed a drone strike on a Ukrainian cargo ship carried out a day earlier. The development adds to ongoing security risks for maritime trade amid the war.

Bitcoin Lightning Nodes Hit In New Infrastructure Exploit — A new bitcoin infrastructure exploit has targeted merchant Lightning network nodes, draining funds from systems running LND. BTCPay says affected users should update immediately and take servers offline to reduce further losses.

U.S. Senate Advances Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill Targeting Putin — The U.S. Senate cleared a bipartisan Russia sanctions measure by a wide margin, backed by Sen. Lindsey Graham. The legislation would impose sweeping new restrictions on Russia and threatens to further escalate Western pressure on Putin.

Trump Says Appeals Court Halt Blocks $400 Million White House Ballroom — A federal appeals court halted President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, citing lack of congressional approval. Trump fired back after the ruling, escalating scrutiny of the administration’s construction plans.

Judge Blocks US From Designating WuXi AppTec As Chinese Military Company — A U.S. district judge blocked the Defense Department from designating Chinese firm WuXi AppTec as a “Chinese military company,” halting a major national-security step. The decision heightens legal uncertainty around Washington’s approach to military-linked Chinese entities and could affect future enforcement.

U.S. Revokes Frank Kendall’s Clearance Over Trump Leak — The Pentagon revoked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s access to classified information, citing alleged mishandling tied to a Trump-related leak. The move raises new questions about accountability and the handling of sensitive U.S. defense information.

Trump Administration Proceeds With Effort to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook — The Trump administration is moving ahead with attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, reviving a fight that was previously blocked by the Supreme Court. The dispute centers on allegations related to mortgage fraud and would reshuffle the Fed’s leadership if successful.

Deportation Crackdown Backfires on American Workers, Economist Warns — A leading economist says the Trump administration’s push to purge hundreds of thousands of workers is not simply vacating jobs—it is destabilizing labor markets and hurting Americans trying to find work. The warning highlights the broader economic ripple effects of large-scale immigration enforcement on hiring and wages.

U.S. Appeals Court Halts Trump White House Ballroom Project — A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop above-ground construction of a proposed $400 million White House ballroom, setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown. The ruling blocks work pending further review of the project’s compliance with administrative and procedural requirements.

Appeals Court Orders Congress Approval For Trump White House Ballroom, Halting Construction — A federal appeals court ruled construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom must pause until Congress approves the project. The decision blocks the administration’s plan to proceed without the required congressional authorization.

US Treasury Supports Japanese Yen As It Hits 40-Year Lows — Japan’s yen has slid to its weakest level against the dollar in four decades, prompting questions about the role of US Treasury actions. Analysts say the move underscores the pressure FX markets face when policy expectations and intervention risks collide.

FAA Orders Probe Into Hundreds of Boeing 737 Jets Over Fuselage Cracks — The FAA has ordered inspections covering the Boeing 737-8, 8-200 and 737-9 after reports of fuselage cracking. Boeing says it supports the directive as carriers prepare to check potentially affected aircraft.