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August 10: Trump’s Iran Talks and Foreign Licensing Income
At the White House
President Trump says the United States is only “semi-negotiating” with Iran as the war approaches six months. In an Axios interview, he said Washington was watching Iran’s inflation and financial pressure, and predicted the situation would work out, without outlining a diplomatic timetable or terms.
Separately, Trump’s foreign real-estate licensing business brought in $59.5 million in 2025, according to CNBC. Revenue from overseas developers paying to use the Trump name rose 71 percent from the year before. The arrangement leaves a sitting president’s commercial brand doing notably well abroad while his administration handles foreign policy.
In Ukraine and Russia
At least 22 people were killed amid a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Tatarstan republic, roughly 600 miles east of Moscow, and Russian attacks on eastern Ukraine. The reports underscore the reach of Ukraine’s drone campaign as Russia continues strikes across Ukrainian territory.
Wildfires in North America
Wildfires across the western United States and Canada have forced evacuations, with other communities on alert for possible orders. Displaced residents are waiting to learn when they can return and what may remain of their homes.
In the British civil service
A coroner found that the Treasury materially contributed to the death of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old assistant who took her own life after flawed disciplinary proceedings. The coroner warned that comparable failures could lead to further deaths across the civil service and will issue a prevention-of-future-deaths report to the Treasury, Acas and the civil service chief.
Britain’s nuclear submarine backlog
Britain has not fully dismantled a retired nuclear submarine in 43 years, despite 23 former boats being kept in storage at Rosyth and Devonport. HMS Swiftsure is intended to be the first completed by the end of 2026, but the government rates the program Red because of supplier, planning and commercial problems. Twelve of the stored vessels still contain irradiated reactor fuel.
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