U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Friday that national security and privacy concerns over TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance are “highly overrated,” adding that he will keep extending the deadline for the platform until it is purchased by a U.S.-based company or consortium—despite last year’s congressional ban. His remarks came just a week after the White House launched its own official TikTok account.

Israel has downgraded diplomatic ties with Brazil after Brasília refused to approve a new Israeli ambassador. “After Brazil, in an exceptional move, abstained from responding to the request for agrément for Ambassador Dagan, Israel withdrew the request, and relations between the two countries are now being conducted at a lower diplomatic level,” said a statement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has completed a full inspection of roughly 8,000 SIG Sauer M18 Modular Handgun Systems, which were suspended from service on July 21 following the death of 21-year-old Airman Brayden Lovan, a Security Forces member at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Lovan’s death was initially attributed to a misfire involving the M18, but that claim was later disproven. Another Airman has since been arrested on charges including making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter in connection with Lovan’s death. The inspection found that just under 200 M18s showed some degree of wear on key firing components, but none were linked to misfires. As a result, the M18 has been cleared and returned to active service across AFGSC.

“Trump is a threat to sovereignty.” Alex Soros gave an interview to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo and stated that Trump’s actions in Brazil are making Lula more popular.

The U.S. House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the Epstein estate, demanding the release of all unredacted documents, communications, and video surveillance in its possession or control.

Kioumars Heydari, Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, declared: “Our forces stand at peak readiness — attentive to the Supreme Leader’s orders, fixed on the enemy, and with fingers on the trigger.” “The army has never been stronger. All preparations are in place — across air defense, land, sea, and air. We are fully prepared.”

Kevin Hassett, Senior Advisor to President Trump and Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, said in an interview with CNBC today that the government plans to acquire additional ownership stakes in companies, following the model of last week’s Intel deal. He described the move as a “down payment” toward establishing a U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that he has reached an agreement with China to permit 600,000 Chinese students to study in the United States.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump today signed an Executive Order that he claims imposes a one-year prison sentence for burning the American flag—an action directly protected under the First Amendment, as affirmed in Texas v. Johnson. Despite Trump’s assertion, the order itself makes no mention of prison time. Instead, it directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to review cases of flag burning to determine whether individuals can be charged with other offenses, such as disturbing the peace or violating environmental laws, effectively attempting to bypass First Amendment protections.

Israeli Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered an investigation into a strike earlier today on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, which killed up to 20 civilians, including several journalists from Al Jazeera and Reuters. After the initial blast— which Israel says was not conducted by its Air Force but has not clarified further— a second strike hit rescue and medical personnel responding to the scene.