Morning Digest
25 stories from 6 sources, 134 more held back.
Brad Pitt has started drinking again and this really is cause for celebration among millions of ordinary people around the world, because after all, what brings us closer to the great and famous, but our vices?
Kenyans demand halt to UK defense deal. Victims of alleged abuses involving British soldiers in Kenya have called on the African nation’s parliament to block the renewal of a defense agreement with the UK until outstanding cases are resolved. Survivors, bereaved families, workers, and residents marched in Nairobi on Wednesday before submitting a petition to the National Assembly.
Ukraine-linked ammo plant blows up in Italy (VIDEOS). A powerful explosion has ripped through a weapons factory in Italy owned by Franco-German defense group KNDS, a major arms supplier to the Ukrainian military. No casualties were reported in the blast, which occurred near the town of Colleferro, about 45 km southeast of Rome, on Thursday.
Israeli defense officials have been shocked by the rapid recovery of Iran’s military capabilities since the heavy bombardment by the US and Israel in the opening stages of the conflict, the Jerusalem Post has reported.
A new US report that includes India among the countries allegedly helping China to evade steep American tariffs has added another wrinkle to India-US relations. The White House report, titled ‘The Great Transshipment Scam’, flagged over 40 US trading partners, including India, for aiding Chinese tariff evasion by operating a “shadow trans-shipment network.”
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen could be on his way to Premier League champions Arsenal, while Liverpool have been contacted by Tottenham Hotspur regarding forward Cody Gakpo. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe. Transfers home page | Men's summer grades | Women's grades.
LOS ANGELES -- A Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,105 serenaded closer Edwin Diaz with a loud chorus of boos as he walked off the mound late Thursday night. Diaz had inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and watched it evaporate.
In the Raiders' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza had moments when he looked like a young player still adjusting to the NFL's speed. And moments when he showed why Las Vegas trusts the Heisman Trophy winner to be the future face of the organization. Coach Klint Kubiak's verdict: Mendoza looked like someone who has made significant strides in his development.
LAS VEGAS -- Jackie Young had a season-high 32 points and five 3-pointers, A'ja Wilson added 15 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night. The Aces (24-11) became the second team to clinch a postseason berth, joining the league-best Minnesota Lynx, and moved within a game of second-place Golden State (24-9).
The NBA's opening night Oct. 20 is headlined by the New York Knicks raising their championship banner against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in the NBC tripleheader that day in a rare matinee (3 p.m. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs close out the night in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
The company just previewed the long-awaited fruits of its Cerebras partnership, with a new ‘Ultrafast’ tier that pushes GPT-5.6 Sol to as much as 14x its normal speed — with results so fast that one OAI staffer said it feels like “genuinely cheating at my job.”
Calling Grok a frontier model might have sounded ridiculous a year ago, but SpaceXAI’s latest model is paving a trajectory that likely doesn’t have rivals laughing anymore.
WASHINGTON -- As Michael Busch slowed down at first base in the seventh inning on Thursday, cheers began to fill Nationals Park. They were both out of respect for Nationals righty Cade Cavalli’s bid at history, but also mixed with the Cubs fans on hand who were happy to see it end.
The prospect landscape has changed a lot since we launched our first 2026 Top 100 back in January. After the Draft, a Trade Deadline and the bulk of the 2026 season, we figured it was time to update our rankings. And it’s not just a new Top 100 we’re unveiling.
Expected return: August/September. Status: Shaw has increased volume/intensity with his swinging and is nearing hitting off a high-velocity machine. If things go well over Aug. 14-16 weekend at Wrigley, a Minor League rehab assignment could be next.
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON – Alex Bregman was deep down a rabbit hole of video archives during the Cubs’ off-day on Monday night, comparing clips from different points in this season to other moments throughout his career. That included pulling up footage from a decade ago before he even reached the Majors. “I mean, we were watching Corpus Christi, Double-A video,” Bregman said.
Donald Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board is openly defying a federal court order by voting to close down the complex and put Trump’s name back on the building. The Trump administration could blow up a mountain in a national park in order to build a road that nobody actually needs.
An exclusive report by Raw America White House reporter Brian Karem. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., August 7, 2026. President Donald Trump’s secret ploy to escape an Iranian missile attack is drawing fire from both a former White House press secretary and even senior members of his own White House staff, Raw America can reveal.
Senate Republicans are loudly warning Trump that voters are exhausted with his endless war in Iran as gas prices become a real problem for the GOP heading into the midterms. CNN employees are pushing back on MAGA billionaire David Ellison’s plan for an “independent” editorial board, calling it a toothless PR move.
WASHINGTON — It couldn’t have been too happy of a flight home for the Cubs after a shutout loss Thursday in the nation’s capital. But a look at the standings ought to have them feeling all right. They woke up Thursday just three games back of the division lead in the NL Central, having taken advantage of the rival Brewers getting swept this week in San Diego.
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a month since the big 250th-anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital. But the Cubs and Nationals still provided plenty of fireworks in this week’s battle between the two highest-scoring teams in baseball.
The Cubs’ series this weekend against the Cardinals is one of those that the national networks take over. Apple TV will carry the game Friday, and ABC has the game Sunday. But if it were up to Cubs analyst Jim Deshaies, that Friday game would be on Marquee Sports Network.
You know what the White Sox-Cubs series next week needs? As recently as the late aughts, Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen appeared in a Chevy commercial around the time of the crosstown series, rapping to their heart’s content. Guillen: “I’m a South Side guy.”
WASHINGTON – The way Alex Bregman’s season has gone, each productive day at the plate is cautiously described as “a step in the right direction.” Those steps are adding up, none more “right” than the three-homer, seven-RBI game he had in Wednesday’s 12-6 Cubs win over the Nationals.
Brad Pitt has started drinking again and this really is cause for celebration among millions of ordinary people around the world, because after all, what brings us closer to the great and famous, but our vices?
Kenyans demand halt to UK defense deal. Victims of alleged abuses involving British soldiers in Kenya have called on the African nation’s parliament to block the renewal of a defense agreement with the UK until outstanding cases are resolved. Survivors, bereaved families, workers, and residents marched in Nairobi on Wednesday before submitting a petition to the National Assembly.
Ukraine-linked ammo plant blows up in Italy (VIDEOS). A powerful explosion has ripped through a weapons factory in Italy owned by Franco-German defense group KNDS, a major arms supplier to the Ukrainian military. No casualties were reported in the blast, which occurred near the town of Colleferro, about 45 km southeast of Rome, on Thursday.
Israeli defense officials have been shocked by the rapid recovery of Iran’s military capabilities since the heavy bombardment by the US and Israel in the opening stages of the conflict, the Jerusalem Post has reported.
A new US report that includes India among the countries allegedly helping China to evade steep American tariffs has added another wrinkle to India-US relations. The White House report, titled ‘The Great Transshipment Scam’, flagged over 40 US trading partners, including India, for aiding Chinese tariff evasion by operating a “shadow trans-shipment network.”
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen could be on his way to Premier League champions Arsenal, while Liverpool have been contacted by Tottenham Hotspur regarding forward Cody Gakpo. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe. Transfers home page | Men's summer grades | Women's grades.
LOS ANGELES -- A Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,105 serenaded closer Edwin Diaz with a loud chorus of boos as he walked off the mound late Thursday night. Diaz had inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and watched it evaporate.
In the Raiders' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza had moments when he looked like a young player still adjusting to the NFL's speed. And moments when he showed why Las Vegas trusts the Heisman Trophy winner to be the future face of the organization. Coach Klint Kubiak's verdict: Mendoza looked like someone who has made significant strides in his development.
LAS VEGAS -- Jackie Young had a season-high 32 points and five 3-pointers, A'ja Wilson added 15 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night. The Aces (24-11) became the second team to clinch a postseason berth, joining the league-best Minnesota Lynx, and moved within a game of second-place Golden State (24-9).
The NBA's opening night Oct. 20 is headlined by the New York Knicks raising their championship banner against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in the NBC tripleheader that day in a rare matinee (3 p.m. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs close out the night in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
Donald Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board is openly defying a federal court order by voting to close down the complex and put Trump’s name back on the building. The Trump administration could blow up a mountain in a national park in order to build a road that nobody actually needs.
An exclusive report by Raw America White House reporter Brian Karem. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., August 7, 2026. President Donald Trump’s secret ploy to escape an Iranian missile attack is drawing fire from both a former White House press secretary and even senior members of his own White House staff, Raw America can reveal.
Senate Republicans are loudly warning Trump that voters are exhausted with his endless war in Iran as gas prices become a real problem for the GOP heading into the midterms. CNN employees are pushing back on MAGA billionaire David Ellison’s plan for an “independent” editorial board, calling it a toothless PR move.
WASHINGTON -- As Michael Busch slowed down at first base in the seventh inning on Thursday, cheers began to fill Nationals Park. They were both out of respect for Nationals righty Cade Cavalli’s bid at history, but also mixed with the Cubs fans on hand who were happy to see it end.
The prospect landscape has changed a lot since we launched our first 2026 Top 100 back in January. After the Draft, a Trade Deadline and the bulk of the 2026 season, we figured it was time to update our rankings. And it’s not just a new Top 100 we’re unveiling.
Expected return: August/September. Status: Shaw has increased volume/intensity with his swinging and is nearing hitting off a high-velocity machine. If things go well over Aug. 14-16 weekend at Wrigley, a Minor League rehab assignment could be next.
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON – Alex Bregman was deep down a rabbit hole of video archives during the Cubs’ off-day on Monday night, comparing clips from different points in this season to other moments throughout his career. That included pulling up footage from a decade ago before he even reached the Majors. “I mean, we were watching Corpus Christi, Double-A video,” Bregman said.
WASHINGTON — It couldn’t have been too happy of a flight home for the Cubs after a shutout loss Thursday in the nation’s capital. But a look at the standings ought to have them feeling all right. They woke up Thursday just three games back of the division lead in the NL Central, having taken advantage of the rival Brewers getting swept this week in San Diego.
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a month since the big 250th-anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital. But the Cubs and Nationals still provided plenty of fireworks in this week’s battle between the two highest-scoring teams in baseball.
The Cubs’ series this weekend against the Cardinals is one of those that the national networks take over. Apple TV will carry the game Friday, and ABC has the game Sunday. But if it were up to Cubs analyst Jim Deshaies, that Friday game would be on Marquee Sports Network.
You know what the White Sox-Cubs series next week needs? As recently as the late aughts, Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen appeared in a Chevy commercial around the time of the crosstown series, rapping to their heart’s content. Guillen: “I’m a South Side guy.”
WASHINGTON – The way Alex Bregman’s season has gone, each productive day at the plate is cautiously described as “a step in the right direction.” Those steps are adding up, none more “right” than the three-homer, seven-RBI game he had in Wednesday’s 12-6 Cubs win over the Nationals.
The company just previewed the long-awaited fruits of its Cerebras partnership, with a new ‘Ultrafast’ tier that pushes GPT-5.6 Sol to as much as 14x its normal speed — with results so fast that one OAI staffer said it feels like “genuinely cheating at my job.”
Calling Grok a frontier model might have sounded ridiculous a year ago, but SpaceXAI’s latest model is paving a trajectory that likely doesn’t have rivals laughing anymore.