Quick Hits

• The U.S. labor market softened unexpectedly in July as employers cut 23,000 jobs, marking a shift driven by losses in the retail and restaurant sectors, according to MPR News.
• The U.S. Senate passed its strongest sanctions against Russia under the Trump administration, a move that Al Jazeera notes could also have economic repercussions for India and China.
• U.S. courts have cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status, allowing deportations of nationals from South Sudan and Myanmar to proceed.
• In an effort to secure critical supply chains, the U.S. announced a $400 million investment in an Australian rare earth mine as China restricts exports for defense products, Al Jazeera reports.

Top Stories

• MPR News reports that U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs in July, signaling a wilting labor market; while retailers and restaurants shed positions, construction companies and factories continued to add workers.
• A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the project requires explicit congressional approval, according to MPR News.
• President Donald Trump is publicly shifting blame to congressional Republicans for his administration's waning public support, accusing GOP senators of using the summer recess to avoid taking politically difficult votes, Al Jazeera reports.
• Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General, a pivotal decision that Tangle reports will very likely secure Blanche's official confirmation.

Left Perspective

• MPR News highlights transparency concerns regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), noting the agency's new policy dictates body camera footage will only be released when it aligns with the agency’s "best interests."
• Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and Georgia Fort have filed motions in federal court seeking the dismissal of charges related to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church, MPR News reports.
• MPR News covers a multistate salmonella outbreak that has sickened 345 people across 27 states, tracing the contaminated jalapeños served at Chipotle back to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and a distributor.
• In a reflection on national loyalty, Tangle published an opinion piece titled "I don’t pledge allegiance to the flag," questioning traditional displays of patriotism.

Right Perspective

• Al Jazeera reports that U.S. courts have ruled in favor of the Trump administration, clearing the legal path to end Temporary Protected Status and proceed with deportations of nationals from South Sudan and Myanmar.
• Tangle highlights Senator Bill Cassidy's support for Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General, ensuring a key nominee for the Trump administration will likely be confirmed.

International View

• Al Jazeera reports that Russian strikes near the Ukrainian capital killed three civilians, including a child, prompting Kyiv to appeal for air defense interceptors just as the U.S. Senate passed new sanctions against Moscow.
• Analysts tell Al Jazeera that regional partners in the Middle East are exploring alternative security arrangements, such as a potential Mecca defense pact, to supplement their reliance on U.S. military support.
• Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to renew an invitation to Riyadh, following al-Zaidi's cancellation of a previous trip after U.S.-Saudi strikes on Iraq in July, Al Jazeera reports.
• Al Jazeera reports that hundreds of individuals are camping on a sweltering street in Rome following the clearance of a squatted building, a move local activists describe as politically motivated.
• Violence and displacement are increasingly driving Palestinian Christians out of historically Christian areas across Gaza, Jerusalem, and the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera reports.
• Typhoon Dolphin has struck Japan—causing non-life-threatening injuries to five elderly residents—and is currently tracking toward China, according to Al Jazeera.

Underreported

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo is conducting its first national census in 42 years, a crucial step for state recognition and identity for many Congolese citizens who say they have never been counted, Al Jazeera reports.
• Al Jazeera highlights that Norway's football federation is calling for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, even as he received political and athletic backing while attending a presidential inauguration in Colombia.
• An accidental overdose resulting from the effects of heroin and cocaine has been officially ruled as the cause of death for NBA star Brandon Clarke, who passed away on May 11, Al Jazeera reports.
• Al Jazeera notes that the South Korean Football Association issued an apology regarding allegations of "sexual services" tied to qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 Olympic Games.
• A submerged village has re-emerged from Indonesia's Karian Reservoir as severe drought lowers water levels, exposing ruins captured by drone footage, according to Al Jazeera.
• Armenia has put the head of its Apostolic Church on trial, with senior clergy facing potential jail time over allegations of spying for Russia, Al Jazeera reports.
• Bangladesh has ruled out a cricket return for Shakib Al Hasan following an event involving former leader Sheikh Hasina, though the player states he will return home to face trial if his safety is assured, Al Jazeera reports.
• In domestic sports, the Los Angeles Sparks ended the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx's 10-game winning streak with an 89-82 victory, MPR News reports. Meanwhile, Brooks Lee hit a crucial two-run single in the eighth inning to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Sources

• MPR News
• Tangle
• Al Jazeera