EconoTicker

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuffed a Biden administration plea seeking to revive the latest plan to tackle federal student loan debt.

The court in a brief order denied an emergency request filed by the administration seeking to lift a nationwide injunction imposed by an appeals court. There were no noted dissents.

UKRAINE ATTACKS RUSSIA'S KIROV REGION FOR FIRST TIME since the start of the Special Operation. Civilians filmed loud blasts as at least four drones attacked the town of Kotelnich, hitting an oil depot and setting it on fire.

An oil depot in Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, was also set ablaze following an assault by Ukrainian UAVs. No casualties have been reported, as none of the drones managed to reach their intended targets of Russian military bases, with several being shot down by air defenses.

U.S. prosecutors have issued revised charges against presidential hopeful Donald Trump, alleging that he interfered with and attempted to overturn the 2020 election results after losing. His lawyers have vowed to continue battling the indictment.

The ex-president responded by making a point that the updated wording of the resubmitted charges is "an attempt to interfere in the upcoming election," effectively playing his own version of an Uno reverse card.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign and threw his support behind GOP nominee Donald Trump on Friday, saying in remarks in Phoenix that he was endorsing the former president because he saw no viable path to the White House.

"In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory," Kennedy said. "I cannot in good conscience ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House."

According to Bloomberg, several of Ukraine's allies have not yet delivered Kyiv's promised air defense systems. The article also notes that these allies are unlikely to provide additional systems until the autumn.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to end his moribund presidential campaign and support Republican candidate Donald Trump on Friday.

Campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear posted Wednesday that the independent candidate, who is polling around 5%, would address the nation Friday regarding “the present historical moment and his path forward.”

Sources told ABC News the 70-year-old political scion could still change his mind, but he’s expected to endorse Trump, who has indicated he might return the favor should he come to power after November’s election.

Kennedy verified on social media that he’ll be speaking Friday, but he would “not confirm or deny” reports of his alleged intentions to support the Republican ticket.

 WSJ - Because of the attack on the Kursk region, the Ukrainian command sent people and weapons to these territories. Forces withdrew from already weakened areas, which led to a complete dispersal of troops, The Wall Street Journal notes.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces have decided to attack the Kursk region at their own risk. This could lead to a deterioration in the army's position in the eastern direction," the article says.

The foray into Kursk Oblast did not force the Russian Armed Forces to ease pressure in the SMO zone, the authors admit. But for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the situation is only getting worse.

 Qatari Foreign Ministry - According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting of mediators, which included representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, took place in Doha on Thursday and will continue on Friday.

The talks are taking place without Hamas delegates, but mediators will meet with representatives of the movement later.

Turns out Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been grumbling to U.S. Congress members that he's worried about an assassination attempt over "intent on striking mega-deal with U.S. and Israel he sees as crucial to his country’s future".

Saudi royal mentioned to members of Congress he’s putting his life in danger pursuing a grand bargain with the U.S. and Israel that includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties. On at least one occasion, he invoked Anwar Sadat, an Egyptian leader slain after striking a peace deal with Israel, asking what the U.S. did to protect Sadat.

He discussed threats he faces in explaining why the deal must include a true path to the Palestinian state, especially now the war in Gaza has heightened Arab fury toward Israel.

“Meeting on the situation in the Kursk region. We discussed key issues: security, humanitarian aid, and, if necessary, the establishment of military commandant’s offices.

Ukraine is defending itself and the lives of its people in border communities while also taking active steps on Russian territory. Our forces strictly adhere to the requirements of international conventions and humanitarian law.”

Rob Lee: “Looks like the plan is to hold Russian territory for an extended period.”

Ukraine's unexpected intervention into Russia's western Kursk region marks a significant and surprising escalation in the ongoing conflict. The operation, which has been ongoing for more than a week, has allowed Ukrainian forces to maintain control over the areas they seized. This development is a major embarrassment for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, after more than two years of intense fighting aimed at toppling Ukraine's leadership, is now facing the first foreign invasion of Russian territory since World War II. This move underscores the unpredictable nature of the conflict, which many had perceived as being in a prolonged stalemate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy aimed to deliver a strategic blow to Moscow with the recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region. According to a Western official, the goal was to catch Russia off guard and put President Putin on the defensive. If Russia struggles to repel the Ukrainian forces, it could significantly boost morale in Kyiv and offer protection to areas of Ukraine frequently targeted by Russian shelling. Additionally, this operation might disrupt Russian advances in the Donetsk region by forcing a diversion of troops and resources to counter the incursion. Ukrainian forces also claim to have captured numerous Russian soldiers, potentially setting the stage for future prisoner exchanges.

I am a trained historian. I know what role Kursk played in the Great Patriotic War. And this is where Russia is being hurt right now! And it's simply grandiose! And what you say here about the West, about Western permissions and restrictions, I can only repeat clearly that the restrictions we put on Ukraine, on the use of Western weapons, I think they are absurd and they help Putin. They only work for Russia. This fear of escalation must stop.