Edition, 17 stories.

MORNING EDITION, Aug 24

World, 07:27, 6 sources.

US threatens sweeping Iran sanctions as Tehran warns of retaliation

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to detail new economic measures against Iran, including pressure on countries and institutions that continue doing business with Tehran. NPR reports that Iranian officials have threatened retaliation against the United States and Gulf states, while BBC says Iran has warned it could halt regional oil exports and restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The measures could deepen hardship for Iranians and disrupt energy markets if the standoff escalates.

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NPRU.S. to detail new economic pressures on Iran. And, Canada to impose tariffs on U.S.BBCIran faces 'greatest financial offensive ever', says US treasury secretary

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U.S., 3 stories

06:08 Sean Grayson, convicted in Sonya Massey killing, dies in prison Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson died Sunday while serving a 20-year sentence for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, his attorney said. The cause of death was not disclosed; Grayson had colon cancer, and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board recently denied his request for medical release. The Washington Post emphasized the law-enforcement hiring reforms that followed Massey’s death, while NPR also reported a federal civil rights agreement requiring policing and emergency-response changes.

2 sources

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WaPoIllinois officer convicted in Sonya Massey killing has died, lawyer says NPRSean Grayson, former deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, dies in prison, lawyer says

07:25 Nearly 90,000 urged to evacuate as wildfire approaches Reno The BBC reports that about 42,000 people have been ordered to evacuate and another 45,000 urged to prepare as the human-caused Hawk Fire reaches the outskirts of Reno. The blaze has burned roughly 15,000 acres, injured six people, and remains entirely uncontained amid strong, shifting winds and dry conditions. Nevada has declared an emergency in Washoe County, while the National Guard, firefighters, aircraft, and shelters support the response.

2 sources

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BBCNearly 90,000 told to evacuate as wildfire approaches Reno, Nevada

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06:00 Election deniers seek statewide office, raising concerns over 2028 certifications The Guardian reports that Republicans who questioned or denied Joe Biden’s 2020 victory are running for governor or secretary of state in states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Governors and secretaries of state play central roles in certifying election results, prompting concern that deniers elected this year could face pressure to obstruct or cast doubt on the 2028 vote. Some candidates have since acknowledged Biden’s win, while others continue to question the election’s legitimacy.

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GuardianFrom Arizona to Wisconsin, election deniers are vying for office nationwide

World, 4 stories

Iran’s threats against tankers add a fresh risk to already diminished Strait of Hormuz traffic, while Britain’s backing for Ukrainian missile production and strikes on Russian logistics show the war’s widening economic and military pressure.

06:49 Iran threatens fines and confiscation for tankers crossing Strait of Hormuz Iran has threatened fines, detention or confiscation against vessels it says violated its transit rules, with the FT reporting 46 ships on the list and Reuters reporting 45. Reuters said ships conducting ship-to-ship transfers with blacklisted tankers could also be targeted, while the FT highlighted threats involving ADNOC and Sinokor vessels. The warning follows US threats of tougher sanctions and comes as Strait of Hormuz traffic has fallen sharply, increasing concerns over disruption to oil and gas shipments.

2 sources

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FTIran threatens 46 ships in Strait of Hormuz transit crackdown ReutersIran threatens 45 tankers with fines, confiscation in Hormuz escalation

06:42 Burnham visits Ukraine as Britain backs missile production and faces Russian warnings UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first foreign trip since taking office, visiting Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day and meeting European leaders supporting the country. Britain said it would provide Ukraine with technical plans for the Storm Shadow missile, enabling production of its French SCALP variant inside Ukraine. The visit came as Russia intensified warnings over Britain’s military assistance and attacks on civilians continued.

2 sources

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NYTUK Prime Minister Burnham Arrives in Ukraine as Russia Amps Up Warnings

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06:40 Ukrainian strikes hit Ozon warehouses, widening economic pressure on Russia Overnight Ukrainian drone strikes hit logistics facilities operated by Ozon, Russia’s second-largest online retailer, in several southern regions, with fires and reported injuries. Russia’s defence ministry said three children were killed and six hospitalized in Krasnodar, while Ozon workers were evacuated elsewhere; the BBC said it verified videos of some strikes. Ukraine described the facilities as dual-use logistics hubs, while Moscow warned it would retaliate against sensitive Ukrainian economic sectors.

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BBCRussia's second-biggest online retailer targeted in Ukrainian strikes

07:17 Zelenskiy backs peace but rejects surrender as allies gather in Kyiv Ukraine wants peace but will not accept territorial concessions that fail to end Russian aggression, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said during Independence Day events, Reuters reported. As foreign leaders gathered in Kyiv, Zelenskiy urged allies to provide more air defense and missile support while calling for sanctions and negotiations. Britain also signaled support for expanding Ukraine’s production of long-range missiles.

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ReutersUkraine wants peace but won't give in, Zelenskiy says on Independence Day

Business, 4 stories

07:05 Klaus-Michael Kuehne dies, leaving shipping fortune to charitable foundation Bloomberg reports that Klaus-Michael Kuehne, Germany’s richest person and the longtime majority owner of Kuehne + Nagel, has died at 89. His 55% stake and other holdings are slated to pass to his charitable foundation, as he and his wife Christine had no children. The succession highlights how major European fortunes can remain concentrated through foundations rather than pass directly to heirs.

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BloombergShipping Tycoon Kuehne, Germany’s Richest Person, Dies at 89

07:34 Bessent weighs Treasury account to fund expanded bond buybacks CNBC reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could use the nearly $1 trillion Treasury General Account to help finance expanded purchases of long-term government bonds. Officials said the account could provide flexibility for the operations, while Treasury may also sell short-term bills and has not specified how much of the account would be used.

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CNBCBessent could tap near $1 trillion Treasury General Account to fund bond buybacks, sources said

04:43 China’s investment slump deepens as Beijing defends slower, technology-led growth Update Bloomberg reports that China’s economy grew 4.7% in the first half of 2026, within the government’s annual target, but July data showed weakening momentum. The report highlights severe domestic-demand weakness, a record contraction in a measure of new loans and intense downward pressure on investment. Beijing has defended the slowdown as part of a shift toward technological innovation, higher-quality investment and reduced financial risks, while leaving room for further support measures.

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Follow-up to China’s recovery loses momentum as investment slump deepens, August 23

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BloombergChina Puts Brave Face on Weak Growth in Rare Defense of Economy

04:49 Six EU countries seek talks on taxing oil windfall profits Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Austria are urging EU finance ministers to discuss an EU-wide framework for taxing oil companies’ windfall profits at a September meeting. Their letter links the proposal to energy price increases triggered by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and calls for a targeted approach that could include multinational companies’ foreign profits. The ministers also want the results of an investigation into refiners’ margins to assess whether companies are exploiting the price spike.

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ReutersSix countries want EU talks in September on taxing windfall profits of oil companies

Tech, 5 stories

The real technology story today is control: AI is moving from lab demos to selecting targets, while social-engineering attacks and commercial skin models expose who gets to decide how sensitive data and biology are used.

07:21 AI-guided Russian drone killed three Ukrainian civilians in Ukraine The New York Times reported that a Russian drone using an experimental AI system killed three civilians in Zaporizhzhia after selecting its precise target near a gas station. Ukrainian officials, drone experts and forensic investigators said human operators directed the drone to the area, while its onboard system identified and attacked likely propane tanks. The Verge emphasized the broader significance, saying the incident may mark the first reported case of AI both guiding a drone and selecting its target.

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NYTA Drone Killed Three Ukrainians. It Was Guided Entirely by A.I.VergeA line has been crossed in AI warfare.

05:10 Humanoid robots outpace human sprint records at Beijing games At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Tiangong Ultra reportedly ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, ahead of Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second record, while Honor’s Lightning finished in 9.47 seconds. Tiangong Ultra also completed the 400 meters in 38.16 seconds, surpassing the listed human record. The event, launched in 2025, features 2,056 robots from 16 countries competing in sprinting, jumping, football, boxing and other categories, showcasing advances in bipedal robotics.

2 sources

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VergeHumanoid robots smash Usain Bolt’s 100-meter record

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07:37 GrapheneOS plans Motorola flagship and foldable support in 2027 GrapheneOS plans to support Motorola’s flagship phones in 2027, followed by Razr Fold and Razr Ultra foldables. The privacy-focused Android alternative said current Motorola devices are close to meeting its security requirements, while newer Qualcomm chips are expected to enable support. GrapheneOS also plans support for Google’s Pixel 11 series, though it said recent Android changes have made Pixel devices harder to support.

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VergeDe-Googled GrapheneOS is coming to Motorola’s foldables next year

07:29 Apollo says social engineering attack exposed personal information in cloud systems Apollo Global Management disclosed that attackers accessed certain cloud platforms from July 6 to July 10 after a social engineering incident, potentially exposing names, birth dates, contact details, addresses and Social Security numbers. The Register reported that Apollo has not identified the affected platforms or number of people, and found no evidence the information was publicly posted or used for fraud. The disclosure follows warnings and Reuters reporting that private equity firms were targeted by an extortion-focused group, though Apollo has not attributed the incident to it.

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Register$1T investment giant Apollo breached after social engineering attack

07:55 Outer Biosciences trains AI on living human skin samples Update TechCrunch reports that Outer Biosciences uses de-identified human skin obtained after surgery to keep tissue viable for weeks and train an AI model to identify potential cosmetic ingredients. The company says samples come through biobanks and brokers under institutional review board oversight and documented donor consent, with direct identifiers removed before delivery. Its approach raises questions about consent, privacy, and the use of human tissue and resulting biological data in commercial research.

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Follow-up to Michael Polansky’s Outer Biosciences develops AI model using living human skin, August 23

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TCMichael Polansky is training an AI model on skin that’s still alive