Jared Kushner held rare direct talks with Hamas leadership in Egypt as part of a renewed push to advance a Gaza ceasefire and peace roadmap. He is now in Israel to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu, signaling an intensified U.S. diplomatic effort to break the stalemate in Gaza.

President Trump announced the U.S. will scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing Seoul's refusal to assist in Iran's denuclearization and his own rapport with North Korea's leader. The move marks a significant shift in U.S.-South Korea security cooperation with potential implications for regional deterrence against North Korea.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country's history, driven by a rare strain known as Bundibugyo. The outbreak was already the fastest-spreading on record, raising serious concerns for regional and global health response efforts.

Severe flooding in Indiana has left multiple people dead after parts of the state received more than 11 inches of rain over three days. Suburbs of Indianapolis are underwater, marking a record flood event for the region. Emergency crews are responding as the flooding continues.

A teenage suspect in a shooting at a Virginia college campus was found hiding in a closet after the attack injured five people outside a dormitory. Police say the suspect was not a student at the school. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about campus safety and gun violence.

President Trump announced the U.S. will scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his rapport with North Korea's leader and South Korea's neutrality during the recent Iran conflict. The move signals a shift in U.S. military posture in the region. It follows Trump's broader pattern of reassessing American commitments abroad.

South Carolina's state budget could include provisions benefiting retired law enforcement officers and firefighters. This suggests state lawmakers are considering financial support or benefit enhancements for these retirees. Details on the scope and funding mechanism remain to be seen as the budget process unfolds.

The Democratic Party has finalized its 2028 presidential primary calendar, with South Carolina again set to hold an early, influential contest. This continues the state's recent elevated role in the party's nominating process. The decision will shape how candidates campaign and allocate resources in the run-up to the primaries.

President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to curtail joint military exercises with South Korea, a longtime U.S. ally, marking a significant shift in the alliance's security posture. The move could affect deterrence against North Korea and reshape U.S. military commitments in the region. Trump reportedly characterized the drills as 'hostile,' raising questions about the future of U.S.-South Korea defense cooperation.

A New York Times report examines the U.S. military's push for AI dominance, highlighting internal feuds and competition with China that could undermine progress. The piece suggests bureaucratic infighting may hamper efforts to maintain a technological edge in military AI applications, a critical area for future defense capability.

The Pentagon has reversed an earlier order to remove Anthropic's AI software from weapons systems, according to reports. This reversal signals ongoing uncertainty and internal debate within the Defense Department over the integration and vetting of commercial AI technologies in military applications.