Treasury Department data show the U.S. national debt has topped $40 trillion, more than double its 2017 level. Rising interest costs, spending growth and lower revenue are driving warnings from fiscal policy experts, though analysts differ on the economic risk.
News Mash
Hassan El-Khawas, Zeina Alayn and their 14-year-old daughter Sara died after getting into difficulty in the sea near Shoreham Fort. A younger girl from the same family remains in hospital in critical condition.
A safari helicopter crashed in northern Kenya’s Samburu County, killing all seven people on board. Officials said the dead include five Americans, Ecuador’s intelligence chief and his wife, and Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez.
The U.S. and Canada say they are close to finalizing a trade deal after Trump paused threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. Officials praised progress, but key details on autos, dairy and other sectors remain unclear.
Sen. Darline Graham drew scrutiny in a South Carolina GOP Senate runoff debate after saying she was “not that informed on national security” when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea. She and Rep. Ralph Norman will face off in the Aug. 25 runoff for the Republican nomination.
Trump said he expects to meet Kim Jong Un this year, though neither the White House nor Pyongyang has confirmed plans. His comments followed a reduction in U.S. participation in joint military drills with South Korea.
President Trump said he will nominate White House health policy aide Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the FDA. If confirmed, she would take over amid disputes over vaccines, abortion medication, vaping policy and food safety.
Israel has issued tenders for 1,234 homes in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, reviving a settlement plan long condemned internationally. Palestinians and Israeli rights groups say the project would sever the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem.