9/11 Mastermind to Plead Guilty

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9/11 Mastermind to Plead Guilty

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and two other men have agreed to plead guilty.

• These men have been in custody since 2003. The terms of their plea deals were not disclosed, but they are expected to plead guilty to some charges, possibly avoiding death sentences.

• The defendants will enter their pleas next week at Guantanamo Bay. The chief prosecutor, Rear Admiral Aaron Rugh said that in exchange for not facing the death penalty, the men will plead guilty to all charges, including the murders of 2,976 people. Legal disputes over evidence obtained through torture have caused significant delays in the prosecution, which has lasted over 16 years.

• On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed when terrorists hijacked four planes. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, a third hit the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to regain control. These coordinated attacks were carried out by the terrorist group al-Qaeda.

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady but Hints at Cut

The Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates at a two-decade high, in the range of 5.25% to 5.5%.

• However, they hinted that rate cuts might happen as soon as their next meeting in September. Inflation has been decreasing, and high borrowing costs are affecting the job market, which raises hopes that the Fed will lower rates soon.

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the economy is nearing a point where reducing the policy rate could happen. The Fed is watching to see if trending data supports the idea that it can keep inflation in check while also ensuring that the job market remains strong. If these conditions are met, a rate cut could come in the fall.

• Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has slightly increased, though it remains low. Inflation is closer to the Fed's target, with their preferred gauge showing 2.5% in June, down from a peak of 7% in 2022. The job market is softening, with hiring slowing and unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points this year.

Hamas Political Leader Killed in Iran

An Israeli airstrike killed Hamas’ political head, Ismail Haniyeh, at his home in Tehran.

• The assassination raises fears of a wider war between Israel and Iran, along with their allies. It also complicates efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet to discuss potential responses from Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.

• Qatar, which is mediating peace talks, expressed doubts about successful mediation following the assassination. Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq condemned the act and promised it would not go unanswered. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed revenge, saying that Israel had set itself up for severe punishment.

• Haniyeh, who managed Hamas' international relations, had a significant role in negotiating a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. He was visiting Iran and participated in the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed the airstrike on Haniyeh's house and the death of one of his bodyguards.

Little Stories

• Katie Ledecky won her first gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the 1,500-meter freestyle on Wednesday. The win gave her a record-tying 12th Olympic medal in women's swimming. She finished over 10 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor. Ledecky has two more chances to beat the record - the 4x200 meter free relay & the 800 meter free. (More)

• About 25 million borrowers will receive emails from the U.S. Department of Education this week about the next steps for student debt relief. The emails will provide updates about possible debt relief and explain how to opt out if the recipient doesn’t want relief. Borrowers have until August 30 to contact their loan servicer to opt out, but they can't opt back in later. (More)

• Missouri released Christopher Dunn after he served 34 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. His release came after a judge overturned his conviction on July 22 and ordered his immediate release, but he stayed in jail because Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey appealed to keep him there. (More)

• The United Auto Workers (UAW) endorsed Vice President Harris for the upcoming presidential election. UAW President Shawn Fain said the union’s goal is to defeat Trump and elect Harris because of “her track record of helping the working class.” (More)

• Ukraine has received its first F-16 fighter jets to help defend against Russian missile attacks. A Ukrainian lawmaker confirmed a small number of these jets arrived. Ukraine had been asking for F-16s from its Western allies for months, saying they are crucial for fighting back against Russia. (More)

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