Morning Digest
25 stories from 4 sources, 62 more held back.
Lightning strike sends 16 Ohio inmates to hospital (VIDEO). A lightning strike at an Ohio prison injured 16 inmates, leaving one seriously hurt, as deadly storms swept across the US Midwest, state authorities said.
RT visits Belgorod hospital treating children wounded in Ukrainian strikes (VIDEO). Children are among the mounting casualties of Ukraine’s intensifying drone campaign against Russia’s Belgorod Region, where RT has visited a hospital treating some of the youngest victims. Kiev has escalated long- and mid-range strikes on Russia in recent months.
American journalist Tucker Carlson has told RT that he is not afraid of being killed for using his platform to say what he believes is true.
Germany approves ‘revolution’ for spy agencies – Bild. The German government is expected to grant the country’s intelligence agencies greater powers, including offensive cyber capabilities against foreign adversaries, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
Two pilots have been killed after a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field in central Texas and burst into flames, sparking a large wildfire and prompting evacuations in the surrounding area. The helicopter, based at the Fort Hood military installation, went down near Salado at around 1:35pm local time on Wednesday, according to the US Army and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
US President Donald Trump has ordered an end to federal funding for so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors through two major government healthcare programs. The move comes amid a broader rollback of transgender-related policies introduced under previous administrations.
Israel deliberately setting southern Lebanon ablaze – firefighters to Guardian. Lebanese firefighters have accused Israel of intentionally igniting wildfires across southern Lebanon using drones and various munitions. They reported to the Guardian that both drones and incendiary weapons have been repeatedly employed to set fire to forests and agricultural land.
US political system is a ‘fraud’ – Tucker Carlson (VIDEO). Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has accused the US political establishment of turning Americans against each other, telling RT that key decisions are made by unelected officials and the system no longer represents ordinary voters.
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to decide whether to charge two close aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged lobbying on Qatar’s behalf, local media has reported citing sources.
New York City Council is investigating Polymarket, Kalshi, and other predictive market platforms for “deceptive and predatory” marketing practices, accusing the industry of encouraging gambling and insider trading. Council Speaker Julie Menin notified Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan of the investigation on Tuesday.
Israelis approached me with Hunter Biden’s laptop – Tucker Carlson to Rick Sanchez (VIDEO). US journalist Tucker Carlson has said that people linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached him with material from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 US presidential election.
An attorney representing Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has informed LSU that it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, according to an Aug. 5 letter sent to Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.
The NFL announced the headliners for the halftime show Wednesday. The game will air on Netflix in the U.S. on Sept. 10. The Jonas Brothers will be part of the entertainment lineup for the league's international schedule this season, which includes games in seven countries and on four continents.
The 33-year-old playmaker spent last season with the Miami Dolphins working with new Panthers associate head coach/offensive specialist Darrell Bevell, who was Miami's passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Waller came out of retirement in 2025 to join the Dolphins following a trade with the New York Giants.
Roberts, 32, started in 16 of 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, serving as one of the veteran voices on the defense. Known for his aggressive, downhill playing style, Roberts totaled 90 tackles and 16 run stuffs. With the Steelers, he totaled 101 tackles in 2023, but his numbers declined in the following season due to a reduced role.
Russell Westbrook is stepping away from the NBA. The 2017 Most Valuable Player, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday that he is retiring after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 seasons and seven teams and boasts the most triple-doubles (209) in league history. Where does Westbrook rank among the all-time greats?
BEREA, Ohio -- Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders will start the team's second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Browns coach Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks of his decision after practice Wednesday.
EAGAN, Minn. -- The decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback competition this week was "out of my control," former starter J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. "Obviously, every competitor wants to play," McCarthy said. "But moving forward, it's just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number's called."
In recent weeks, demonstrators have staged rallies for and against transgender inclusion at Indiana Fever games, after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that she supports barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports. The league's statement Wednesday, in full, reads:.
Lionel Messi rejoined Inter Miami CF on Wednesday following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, for their Leagues Cup game against Club Leon on the bench at Nu Stadium. Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario.
JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he believes he can perform at a higher level in what could be his final NFL season, adding that he also wants to be more accountable as a leader in the locker room. "I've still got a lot of love for this game," Kelce said Wednesday. "I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he's confident he'll reach a compromise with the PGA Tour to fulfill his minimum qualification of playing in 15 events this season to maintain his dual membership. After skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year, McIlroy is playing in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Trump’s company is selling paying customers early access to his official posts. Now, a new lawsuit claims that’s unconstitutional. Sailors on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln have reportedly tried to jump overboard as Trump’s Iran war drags on with no end in sight.
New details are emerging about Donald Trump’s secret flight out of Turkey last month in a decoy jet, with a new report finding that he made sure his favorite young blonde staffer came with him while top Cabinet officials got left behind. Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton got publicly humiliated on a phone town hall when a voter asked him why he cheated on his wife.
That memo you just worked with Claude to write? It might soon carry an invisible signature that says so. Anthropic just quietly detailed the rollout of invisible watermarks that label everything its Claude models touch, and, like most features forced onto the world, a lot of users aren’t happy about it.
Lightning strike sends 16 Ohio inmates to hospital (VIDEO). A lightning strike at an Ohio prison injured 16 inmates, leaving one seriously hurt, as deadly storms swept across the US Midwest, state authorities said.
RT visits Belgorod hospital treating children wounded in Ukrainian strikes (VIDEO). Children are among the mounting casualties of Ukraine’s intensifying drone campaign against Russia’s Belgorod Region, where RT has visited a hospital treating some of the youngest victims. Kiev has escalated long- and mid-range strikes on Russia in recent months.
American journalist Tucker Carlson has told RT that he is not afraid of being killed for using his platform to say what he believes is true.
Germany approves ‘revolution’ for spy agencies – Bild. The German government is expected to grant the country’s intelligence agencies greater powers, including offensive cyber capabilities against foreign adversaries, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
Two pilots have been killed after a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field in central Texas and burst into flames, sparking a large wildfire and prompting evacuations in the surrounding area. The helicopter, based at the Fort Hood military installation, went down near Salado at around 1:35pm local time on Wednesday, according to the US Army and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
US President Donald Trump has ordered an end to federal funding for so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors through two major government healthcare programs. The move comes amid a broader rollback of transgender-related policies introduced under previous administrations.
Israel deliberately setting southern Lebanon ablaze – firefighters to Guardian. Lebanese firefighters have accused Israel of intentionally igniting wildfires across southern Lebanon using drones and various munitions. They reported to the Guardian that both drones and incendiary weapons have been repeatedly employed to set fire to forests and agricultural land.
US political system is a ‘fraud’ – Tucker Carlson (VIDEO). Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has accused the US political establishment of turning Americans against each other, telling RT that key decisions are made by unelected officials and the system no longer represents ordinary voters.
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to decide whether to charge two close aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged lobbying on Qatar’s behalf, local media has reported citing sources.
New York City Council is investigating Polymarket, Kalshi, and other predictive market platforms for “deceptive and predatory” marketing practices, accusing the industry of encouraging gambling and insider trading. Council Speaker Julie Menin notified Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan of the investigation on Tuesday.
Israelis approached me with Hunter Biden’s laptop – Tucker Carlson to Rick Sanchez (VIDEO). US journalist Tucker Carlson has said that people linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached him with material from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 US presidential election.
An attorney representing Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has informed LSU that it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, according to an Aug. 5 letter sent to Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.
The NFL announced the headliners for the halftime show Wednesday. The game will air on Netflix in the U.S. on Sept. 10. The Jonas Brothers will be part of the entertainment lineup for the league's international schedule this season, which includes games in seven countries and on four continents.
The 33-year-old playmaker spent last season with the Miami Dolphins working with new Panthers associate head coach/offensive specialist Darrell Bevell, who was Miami's passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Waller came out of retirement in 2025 to join the Dolphins following a trade with the New York Giants.
Roberts, 32, started in 16 of 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, serving as one of the veteran voices on the defense. Known for his aggressive, downhill playing style, Roberts totaled 90 tackles and 16 run stuffs. With the Steelers, he totaled 101 tackles in 2023, but his numbers declined in the following season due to a reduced role.
Russell Westbrook is stepping away from the NBA. The 2017 Most Valuable Player, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday that he is retiring after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 seasons and seven teams and boasts the most triple-doubles (209) in league history. Where does Westbrook rank among the all-time greats?
BEREA, Ohio -- Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders will start the team's second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Browns coach Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks of his decision after practice Wednesday.
EAGAN, Minn. -- The decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback competition this week was "out of my control," former starter J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. "Obviously, every competitor wants to play," McCarthy said. "But moving forward, it's just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number's called."
In recent weeks, demonstrators have staged rallies for and against transgender inclusion at Indiana Fever games, after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that she supports barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports. The league's statement Wednesday, in full, reads:.
Lionel Messi rejoined Inter Miami CF on Wednesday following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, for their Leagues Cup game against Club Leon on the bench at Nu Stadium. Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario.
JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he believes he can perform at a higher level in what could be his final NFL season, adding that he also wants to be more accountable as a leader in the locker room. "I've still got a lot of love for this game," Kelce said Wednesday. "I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he's confident he'll reach a compromise with the PGA Tour to fulfill his minimum qualification of playing in 15 events this season to maintain his dual membership. After skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year, McIlroy is playing in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Trump’s company is selling paying customers early access to his official posts. Now, a new lawsuit claims that’s unconstitutional. Sailors on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln have reportedly tried to jump overboard as Trump’s Iran war drags on with no end in sight.
New details are emerging about Donald Trump’s secret flight out of Turkey last month in a decoy jet, with a new report finding that he made sure his favorite young blonde staffer came with him while top Cabinet officials got left behind. Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton got publicly humiliated on a phone town hall when a voter asked him why he cheated on his wife.
That memo you just worked with Claude to write? It might soon carry an invisible signature that says so. Anthropic just quietly detailed the rollout of invisible watermarks that label everything its Claude models touch, and, like most features forced onto the world, a lot of users aren’t happy about it.