Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran’s military said it intentionally struck two aluminum plants in allied countries over the weekend as payback for earlier attacks on its steel facilities, fueling worries that the conflict could push metal prices higher.

While aluminum is the most abundant metal on Earth, producing it requires a huge amount of energy, leaving it vulnerable to disruptions in natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

It’s a global issue: India’s Hindalco Industries, a supplier of aluminum to carmakers, has warned its customers it may invoke force majeure on orders, with sources saying the decision stems from gas supply disruptions from the Iran war. Analysts say the same issues could affect the global aluminum supply chain as the conflict continues.

See other shocking impacts the Iran war has had here.

On Wednesday, President Trump renewed his threat to begin “completely obliterating” Iranian power plants and oil production facilities if the country’s new leaders did not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately.”

The Pentagon said it was preparing for weeks of ground invasions in Iran over the weekend, which culminated in more US troops arriving in the Middle East:

What would a US offensive look like? Plans to deploy troops inside Iran would reportedly stop short of a full-scale invasion, instead involving a mix of special operations raids and conventional infantry forces.

While it might not be a full-scale invasion… Late last week, Axios reported that several options were presented to Trump, including seizing one or more islands central to Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments. Potential targets include Kharg Island, Larak, and Abu Musa, among others (see a map here).

We’re tracking this issue live on NextGen+. Click the button below to see its status, momentum, and other key developments.

Population growth in the US slowed to one of its lowest rates in history, with the country adding just 1.8 million people between July 2024 and July 2025, according to new Census Bureau data.

Over 80% of counties that grew from 2023 to 2024 are now seeing slower growth or shrinking, while already declining areas got even worse. Altogether, 1,270 counties saw population declines leading up to July 2025, including big cities like LA, San Diego, Dallas, Miami, and New York:

Why the exodus? The primary factor behind the slowdown is a sharp drop in international migration, which has become a key driver of population growth in the US, especially as birth rates decline and the population ages.

Where is everyone going? More than 80% of counties in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kentucky saw gains in net domestic migration, meaning more people moved in from other parts of the US. Meanwhile, Georgia had three of the top 10 counties with the highest net inflows of people.

Texas, however, is a bit of an anomaly: While people are moving out of Dallas and other major Texas cities that surged during the pandemic, the state’s suburbs are seeing rapid growth, with four of the 10 fastest-growing counties between 2024 and 2025 all in Texas.

The Federal Communications Commission said it will stop approving new foreign-made internet routers this week, citing concerns over their use in cyberattacks linked to China-affiliated hackers.

More than 60% of Wi-Fi routers used in the US are made in China, with major brands like TP-Link, Asus, and Netgear, all being manufactured internationally.

However, there’s no need to ditch Wi-Fi just yet:

Plus, not even all new models are banned: Foreign router models might still be approved if they work with the Defense Department to prove their devices don’t pose security risks and can provide a plan to manufacture in the US.

Officials say the move is driven by growing concerns that foreign-made routers have been used as a “backdoor” for cyberattacks. According to the FCC, some devices have allowed hackers to:

Routers aren’t the only tech that have gotten the boot, either. The US government has increasingly tried to limit reliance on foreign technology, particularly from geopolitical rivals, amid rising cyber threats. Beyond routers, the US has restricted or banned foreign-made drones, telecom equipment, video surveillance tech, cybersecurity software, and even apps (like TikTok), due to national security and data privacy concerns.

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On Sunday, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly inked a $2.75 billion deal with Hong Kong-based Insilico Medicine, a startup that uses AI to speed up drug development.

The agreement tightens ties between the two companies, which began with earlier AI-focused collaborations in recent years. Under the terms:

Why turn to AI? Eli Lilly and Company, the drugmaking giant behind popular GLP-1 treatments like Mounjaro and Zepbound, became the first pharmaceutical company to reach a $1 trillion valuation last year. However, to sustain that momentum, it will need to move beyond its reliance on GLP-1 treatments.

Eli Lilly isn’t alone in its AI ambitions: In the past year, pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Novartis have all backed AI-driven firms to streamline drug development.

After riding the AI wave, America’s largest tech companies have seen massive gains in the past few years, but as costs continue to climb with seemingly no returns to show, investors are less than optimistic.

As investors reassess how quickly the AI boom will translate into real profits, Big Tech is increasingly becoming the annoying little brother of Wall Street:

What’s with the selloff? As major tech companies burn piles of cash on AI infrastructure, including data centers and computing power, the high upfront costs are starting to weigh on profit expectations, creating uncertainty about whether the spending will pay off in the near term.

> Travelers at Philadelphia International Airport expected long security lines but instead witnessed a Guinness World Record line of 1,291 cheesesteaks stretching through the terminal.

> Fast, long-distance space travel is moving closer to reality after scientists achieved the first-ever plasma ignition in a nuclear fusion rocket engine, which can produce up to 1,000 times more thrust than conventional engines.

> A study found that AI chatbots are about 50% more sycophantic than humans (meaning they offer more praise and agreement) when advising on interpersonal issues, and that users tend to prefer those responses.

> A kangaroo in Wisconsin sparked a three-day community search after leaping an eight-foot fence and escaping a petting zoo, before finally being safely recovered.

> Colleges are bringing back oral exams as AI makes written assignments unreliable, with professors saying students can submit perfect work but often can’t explain it in person.