Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist known worldwide for polka dots, mirrored “Infinity Rooms” and vivid sculptures, has died at 97 in Tokyo. Her studio said she continued painting until her final days.
News Mash
A military judge ruled that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants will stand trial on June 5, 2028, in the Sept. 11 attacks case. The date comes after a federal appeals court rejected a plea deal that would have spared Mohammed the risk of execution.
Three pro-Israel Democrats have been appointed to influential House Foreign Affairs Committee roles, prompting backlash from progressives and Muslim advocates. The move comes as polling shows declining U.S. support for Israel, especially among Democratic and younger voters.
The NFL is ending the Pro Bowl as an event after 75 years, while continuing to select and honor 88 players each season. The league also will stop naming alternates, limiting the Pro Bowl designation to the original roster.
A federal judge declined to stop Texas from releasing ICE officer Christian Castro, who is wanted in Minnesota on assault and false-reporting charges tied to a January shooting. Minnesota officials accused Gov. Greg Abbott of delaying extradition, while Texas said the governor has not yet made a formal decision.
ICE recorded 49,571 arrests in July, a 15% jump from June and the highest monthly total of Trump’s second term. The increase reflects a shift toward quieter enforcement tactics, including arrests at ICE check-ins, courthouses, airports and traffic stops.
The US Treasury has sanctioned UK-based Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, accusing it of supporting violent acts and damage to defense sites. The group’s co-founder Huda Ammori rejected the designation and said its actions were aimed at saving lives.
A federal judge lifted the last nationwide injunction blocking Postal Service work on President Trump’s mail-in voting order, following a Supreme Court procedural ruling. The order still faces fast-moving legal challenges, and the Supreme Court has not ruled on whether it is lawful.