American businessman, investor and government official; Ivanka Trump’s husband and close adviser
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has flown to Moscow for undisclosed talks with Russian intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin. Moscow says President Vladimir Putin was briefed but did not meet Ratcliffe. U.S. and Russian accounts conflict over whether Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO or discussed restarting U.S.-mediated peace talks for Ukraine. The visit is the first CIA director trip to Moscow since 2021.
The UK has granted Ukraine access to declassified blueprints for British-made components used in the Scalp missile, the European-produced version of the Storm Shadow. Russia has warned of consequences and highlighted potential threats to UK bases in Europe as Kyiv deepens its defense production.
Since July 18 Ukraine has struck multiple Wildberries warehouses across Russia, causing fires, deaths and major stock losses. The campaign has put at least 1.5 million sq m of warehouse space out of operation, forced evacuations and pushed merchants toward bankruptcy. Wildberries and Russia are discussing compensation and possible state support.
FIFA has scrapped its plan to sell a minority stake in World Cup assets after broad, global backlash. UEFA and other confederations had threatened boycotts and demand reforms. The leadership faces renewed scrutiny as talks to rebuild trust begin.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has seen European and several other confederations pull back support after the aborted Forward Enterprise plan to privatise parts of the World Cup, amid varied backing from South American and African bodies.
FIFA has withdrawn its $4.2bn private‑investor plan after widespread pushback from UEFA and other stakeholders. Infantino remains under pressure as he seeks a fourth term, while national federations demand greater transparency and governance reforms.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move delists EA from Nasdaq and adds $20 billion in debt. Analysts expect a focus on core franchises and potential cost-cutting. Regulators approved the deal, and governance implications are under scrutiny.
The FIFA president has faced widespread criticism after proposing private investment in World Cup rights. Following a backdown, UEFA and others say they no longer trust his leadership while Africa’s CAF and other allies show support as Infantino travels to Morocco to navigate a crisis ahead of March elections.
FIFA has apologised for the mishandling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and confirms the project is off the table. UEFA, CONCACAF and others are pressing for governance reforms as Infantino faces sustained criticism ahead of the 2027 election.
European football bodies keep pressure on Gianni Infantino after the aborted FFE plan. UEFA has lost confidence and a broad boycott threat remains in motion; multiple confederations express opposition or support as the 2027 election nears.
The Norwegian Football Federation has called for Gianni Infantino to resign amid fallout from his bid to privatize the World Cup via the FIFA Forward Enterprise. UEFA maintains its boycott threat and several European federations have withdrawn support as Infantino seeks re-election next March.
The Board of Peace has issued its first construction contract for a 150-person outpost in Gaza to house Moroccan troops. Arkel International is named as contractor, but the legal framework remains unsettled and key questions persist about timelines, deployment, and legality.
Robert Gilman has landed in the United States after Russia has released him on humanitarian grounds. U.S. officials have said he is walking and talking and will be flown to a military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological care after evaluations on the flight to Washington on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
The Gaza ceasefire framework is facing renewed pressure as Netanyahu rejects the 15-point plan, insisting Hamas must fully disarm before any withdrawal. U.S.-led mediators say the roadmap remains operative, while Hamas calls on Washington to pressure Israel. Violence persists, with casualties mounting in Gaza and settlements in the West Bank intensifying.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing a renewed crisis as multiple football confederations have pulled endorsement ahead of the 2027 re-election. While CAF and CONMEBOL continue to back him, UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC have joined calls for accountability after the aborted plan to privatize World Cup revenues. Trump has publicly backed Infantino, calling replacing him a terrible mistake.
OpenAI unveils a privacy-centric safety monitoring approach, while Anthropic maintains a 30-day data retention policy for its covered models, prompting enterprise concerns and competitive tension in the AI safety space.
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have stalled as Israeli air strikes resume, killing civilians and police officials. Mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are pressing for a second phase of the ceasefire, including Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal. Health authorities report multiple casualties from coastal Gaza strikes, underscoring fragile hopes for a durable halt to hostilities.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Ukraine has handed proposals to US negotiators for a plan to end the war with Russia. Zelenskyy states the US can strengthen Ukraine’s defences, especially air defences, to press Moscow toward peace. Kremlin leaders indicate willingness to negotiate only if Russia’s four claimed regions are fully ceded and root causes addressed. Separately, Washington reports a freed American detainee after a Russian decision to release on humanitarian grounds.
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter in a transaction valuing the franchise at about $12.5 billion. The sale has been announced this week, requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and is subject to due diligence and Kushners divestment of a Miami Heat stake.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing intensified scrutiny as UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC demand accountability over a private-investment plan for World Cup assets. CAF backs Infantino, while Ireland withdraws support amid governance concerns. Motsepe says decisions should come from elections, not behind closed doors.
The global football federation is confronting a fracturing alliance as three major confederations call for a review of Gianni Infantino’s leadership amid a shelved plan to sell World Cup commercial rights; New Zealand withdraws support, while Caf and Conmebol back Infantino for a fourth term. The next months will determine Infantino’s fate at the Rabat congress.
President Donald Trump has said he will "pretty soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory after defeating Iran, and has touted a US naval blockade. Iran has rejected the claim, saying the strait "will only be closed and opened under Iran's command" and has refused to resume talks while the waterway remains blocked. Mediators continue quiet contact.
The BBC has asked a Florida federal court to allow subpoenas to be served on Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in President Trump’s $10bn defamation suit over a 2024 Panorama edit. The BBC says the trio have "personal knowledge" about the January 6, 2021 speech; Trump’s lawyers argue service is blocked by Secret Service protection and call the effort politically motivated.
Kushner and Board of Peace envoys are engaging Hamas in Egypt to press for the 15-point Gaza plan. Netanyahu maintains disarmament conditions, while international mediators call for progress on the roadmap amid unfolding battlefield events.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and called for a cessation of hostilities during talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on Monday. Putin has responded that talks are "moving forward" while officials highlighted growing Russia–India trade and energy ties.
Kushner and a U.S. envoy delegation have met Hamas leaders to advance the Gaza roadmap. Netanyahu maintains disarmament is a precondition for any Israeli withdrawal. Regional powers back mediators as talks accelerate toward a schedule for implementation.
AP and partners report a thriving illicit trade at Gaza's border, with cigarettes, dual-use goods, tech, and daily essentials flowing in despite restrictions. The trade is profiting both sides, fueling prices for residents while supporting militant and military actors. Authorities say flows have increased since a fragile ceasefire, though remain well below prewar levels.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
The Cavaliers have secured a multi-year deal with James Harden, including a player option for 2028-29 and a trade kicker, after Harden declined a $42.3 million option earlier this summer. The move follows Cleveland’s recent trades, including acquiring Peyton Watson from Denver. Harden has averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists in 26 games for Cleveland this season, and his career marks span 1,221 games across multiple teams.
Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, have warned that renewed Israeli strikes threaten the Gaza ceasefire process at a critical stage. Palestinian casualties have risen amid ongoing Israeli operations as international efforts push for a phased disarmament and Israeli withdrawal, with Trump’s peace framework pressing for disarmament in stages while Israel demands full Hamas disarmament before withdrawal.
Infantino is facing a leadership crisis as CONCACAF, UEFA and AFC push for his resignation amid a failed World Cup privatization plan. He is meeting Dominican officials while allies seek to rally support and counter moves to unseat him ahead of the March 2021 presidential election. FIFA has not commented on ongoing requests for change.
A joint letter published in Le Monde by 102 signatories urges France and the United Kingdom to uphold international law in Palestine, arguing for equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. It accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories and calls for penalties on settlements and arms transfers while urging humanitarian access.
Israel has warned it will intensify strikes and treat kites, balloons and drones the same after several unarmed kites crossed into southern Israeli communities from Gaza. Hamas has denied responsibility; Gaza authorities have urged parents to stop children flying kites. The UN rights office has called threats of expulsions "outrageous."
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has met Jared Kushner to discuss housing, immigration and affordability as Democrats eye potential gains in November. Officials say the conversations are part of broader groundwork as Jeffries signals willingness to work with the White House on policy changes while maintaining a tough stance on accountability.
Uganda has approved troop deployment to the Gaza stabilization force; Burundi is eyeing participation, with talks ongoing. The push involves a planned 20,000-strong multinational operation led by the United States, while the African Union weighs its stance as contributing nations discuss numbers, funding, and guarantees for troops.
TWG Global faces federal investigations into affiliated-party loans across its insurers, prompting questions about liquidity and potential impacts on its sports assets, including the Dodgers and Lakers. The company denies fraud and reiterates that its major franchises are not for sale, as regulators review financing and related transactions.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has visited Moscow after a U.S. C-17 transport landed at Vnukovo, flight-tracking data shows. Russian and U.S. officials have not detailed the meetings. U.S. sources told Axios that Washington asked Kyiv to pause strikes while the delegation travelled; Moscow later confirmed Ratcliffe met Russian security officials.
Trump has said the CIA director’s trip to Moscow is “semi-routine,” while expressing a desire to end the Ukraine war. Kremlin says Ratcliffe met with security services, not Putin, during the visit. Ukraine and Russia remain locked in conflict as US sanctions and diplomatic channels continue to shift.
Josh Kushner has issued his first public statement about the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, saying he stands behind its goals but would not have joined had he known how the process would unfold. UEFA has asked a New York court to compel Thrive and Kushner to produce documents and testimony as it prepares potential criminal mismanagement claims against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Switzerland.
UEFA has escalated pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino after revealing a criminal mismanagement complaint in Switzerland related to a failed bid to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The move follows a broader backlash from FIFA member bodies amid concerns over a $4.2 billion investment plan that would have paid out to federations. Infantino has not indicated he will step down, and election remains scheduled for March 2027.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has discussed housing, immigration and affordability with Jared Kushner in a private meeting, prompting questions about strategy and the left’s expectations as Democrats prepare for a potential return to the House. The talk highlights tensions over healthcare policy and party unity ahead of a possible midterm shift.
A continuing resolution has passed the House 370-48, keeping government funded through December 11 and avoiding a near-term shutdown. The measure now goes to President Trump for signature after the Senate approved it earlier, buying time for full-year appropriations as elections loom.
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned airlines and insurers that growing Ukrainian long‑range drone sorties are making Russian airspace unsafe and that Russia's skies are effectively closing. He has said Ukraine will not target civilian aircraft. Vladimir Putin has called the warning "state terrorism" and Russia is signalling a tougher military response.
The Financial Times has reported that Russian missile experts are aiding Iran in developing a ramjet‑propelled cruise missile system codenamed C430L, capable of threatening US carriers in the Middle East. The program began in 2023 and has continued into 2026, with ties between Moscow and Tehran deepening as they face Western pressure.
Low expectations frame the Kremlin talks as previous visits by Witkoff and Kushner have failed to yield progress. Putin is said to be pushing terms that reflect Moscow’s military advantage, while participants caution that new proposals are unlikely to emerge.
Zelensky has said US negotiators are preparing for meetings in Moscow and Kyiv in the coming days, signaling renewed engagement in high-level talks. Reports circulate that US envoys may travel to Moscow and Kyiv as part of a broader push toward a settlement, while Russia hints at potential compromise ahead of talks.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have traveled to Moscow and Kyiv to press for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine. The trips come after recent talks and amid ongoing Russian strikes, with Zelensky urging resilience while cautioning about the path ahead.
The Qatari jet donated to the United States has been used for Trump’s Ireland trip amid ongoing questions about its defensive capabilities. Officials say upgrades are planned and that the administration maintains a secure, reliable presidential capability, while critics warn of ethics and security concerns surrounding the gift.