Greetings! Happy National Curious Events Day to those celebrating.

Let’s get into today’s top stories.

🇵🇰 Deadly clash near Afghan border leaves 30 people dead. Pakistan’s military said 11 soldiers were killed in coordinated militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while security forces reported 19 militants dead after hours of fighting. The operation unfolded in rugged terrain close to the Afghan frontier where insurgent groups transit through mountain passes. Authorities said weapons caches and communications gear were seized, and a search is underway for facilitators tied to cross-border networks. Casualty counts make this one of the year’s deadliest single engagements in the northwest. Local hospitals treated wounded troops as curfews and checkpoints tightened around nearby towns. Officials promised additional “intelligence-based operations”, signaling a sustained campaign rather than a single sweep.

🇨🇳 China tightens export controls on rare earths and strategic tech. Beijing rolled out additional licensing hurdles and blacklists for select rare-earth compounds and advanced manufacturing know-how, expanding a toolset it has used to shape global supply chains. The National Development and Reform Commission framed the measures as national-security policy, but commodity desks read them as leverage over downstream magnets, batteries, and chipmaking equipment. China refines well over 80% of the world’s rare earths, so even incremental paperwork can tighten spot markets and lengthen lead times. Manufacturers in Japan, Europe, and the United States face higher buffer-stock needs, with automakers and defense primes most exposed to magnet-grade neodymium and dysprosium. Traders expect near-term price volatility followed by a scramble for non-Chinese separation capacity, which remains limited and costlier. The policy arrives alongside broader tech-export rules that target fab tools and AI-adjacent components.

🗽 New York Attorney General Letitia James indicted on a fraud charge. Prosecutors unsealed an indictment alleging fraudulent representations connected to political and charitable fundraising, thrusting the state’s top law-enforcement official into a courtroom she usually commands. Defense counsel called the case “politically engineered,” and James pledged to fight the count while continuing official duties. The indictment complicates several high-profile civil and criminal matters her office oversees, raising conflict-management questions for ongoing litigation calendars. Albany insiders expect motions on venue, discovery scope, and potential recusal from certain cases. Political fallout will hinge on whether a judge limits public statements or imposes pretrial conditions. If convicted, sentencing ranges and licensing implications could be severe; if acquitted, allies will argue the case should never have been brought.

🚓 Arizona sheriff’s office misused millions meant to remedy racial profiling. A state review found funds earmarked to reform practices after profiling findings were diverted to unrelated expenses, including gear and projects outside consent-decree priorities. The report traces the spending to lax internal controls and weak oversight of vendor invoices. Community groups said the misspending delayed training, outreach, and data systems central to rebuilding trust. County officials promised corrective action plans, repayment schedules, and independent compliance monitoring. Legal experts warned that misuse can trigger federal court sanctions and extend costly oversight by years. The county board is now weighing procurement freezes pending a line audit.

🍁 Judge throws out Drake’s lawsuit tied to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” A Los Angeles judge dismissed the Canadian rapper’s defamation claim against his label and distributors, ruling the challenged lyrics and promotional framing were protected commentary in the context of artistic rivalry. The decision leans on long-standing speech protections for satire, opinion, and hyperbole in musical feuds. Counsel for Drake said they are evaluating appeal options, while industry lawyers hailed the ruling as a guardrail for hip-hop’s combative tradition. The case turned on whether statements could be read as verifiable facts rather than artistic opinion; the court said no. Streaming platforms and publishers dodged potential liability that could have chilled release strategies. For now, diss tracks remain culturally loud and legally insulated.

🇧🇷 Brazilian Supreme Court justice announces retirement. Justice-Minister André Mendonça’s colleague informed the court he will step down at year’s end, opening a coveted seat for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to fill. The timing intersects with cases involving the 2023 coup-plot investigations and campaign-finance issues. Senators signaled a standard confirmation calendar, though opposition blocs want extended hearings on judicial philosophy. Court watchers expect Lula to prioritize candidates with experience in administrative and constitutional law to navigate institutional clashes. Business leaders will parse the pick for signals on tax, labor, and environmental cases that shape the investment climate. The vacancy adds another chapter to Brazil’s long-running tug-of-war over the court’s role in politics.

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That’s all for today!

Much obliged and many thanks for reading and sharing today’s newsletter.

See you tomorrow!