The Trump administration has officially signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a move that paves the way for American companies to operate commercial nuclear power plants within the kingdom. According to an administration memo regarding the deal, U.S. companies will receive priority access to supply both nuclear reactors and fuel for the Saudi nuclear energy program. While the agreement explicitly prohibits Saudi Arabia from reprocessing American nuclear material for the development of weapons, it has faced criticism for omitting the so-called “gold standard” provisions. These missing safeguards would have prevented the country from using American-built plants to enrich uranium or process nuclear fuel supplied by other nations. Furthermore, the agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt terms that would facilitate greater oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In separate legislative developments, House Republicans successfully passed several major bills yesterday before heading into a recess lasting more than a month. Lawmakers approved $1.1 trillion for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an effort that saw six Democrats join Republicans in support. Additionally, the House advanced a $95 billion budget blueprint designed to set the stage for a future reconciliation bill. This framework includes over $70 billion for the war in Iran, $12 billion for farmers, and funding to implement the SAVE America Act, which is President Trump’s election overhaul legislation. The House also voted to extend government funding through Dec. 4 and advanced a bill that could prohibit lawmakers from acquiring new individual stocks while serving in office. These measures are now moving to the Senate, which remains in session for one additional week.
In other news, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump announced that an independent autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has failed to provide a clear cause of death. During a press conference yesterday, Crump stated that the findings remain inconclusive and are pending further investigation. He noted that the body was not in a condition suitable for a complete forensic examination. Wells was discovered dead on an island off the Mississippi coast two days after the Fourth of July, following a party with friends. The press conference was held to urge law enforcement to accelerate their investigation, as public concern persists regarding the potential for foul play and the role of race in the case.
Meanwhile, international students in the U.S. are facing new challenges as the Department of Homeland Security implements stricter visa restrictions. These changes include new time limits on student visas and limitations on how students can transfer schools or alter their study plans. Elsewhere, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a community of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees is using soccer as a way to maintain their cultural history and build a sense of belonging amidst a wave of deportations. Finally, researchers have published a paper in the journal Nature detailing the first known instance of transmissible cancer in fish, a discovery made by University of Cambridge professor Elizabeth Murchison and Peter Emerson of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright at an Oval Office meeting earlier this month. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption
