Last updated: August 27, 2026, 11:41 AM ET
Equities
US stocks finished flat Wednesday as investors positioned for Nvidia’s blockbuster results, which ultimately lifted market spirits after the chip giant delivered a bullish forecast signaling the AI boom has more room to run. Nasdaq futures jumped following the earnings, with software shares surging premarket as pessimism on the sector quieted. European indexes were mixed at the open, though AI-related stocks rallied on Nvidia’s results, while Asian stocks were mixed as the earnings helped set the tone for trading. The FTSE 100 looked set to miss out on the Nvidia-fueled rally, with the boost confined largely to tech shares.
Nvidia forecast 70% sales growth next year, saying financing deals with customers are "excellent" investments with "limited" risk. The company’s supply-chain gamble involves deploying its financial muscle to win the supply battle, though it comes with downsides. Investors remain worried about ROI even as the company posted another record quarter. The question of whether there would be an AI revolution without Nvidia hangs over the market as the company’s dominance shapes the entire sector.
Fixed Income & FX
Bond yields climbed after the PCE index showed inflation remained elevated in July amid high energy costs, keeping Fed hike bets alive. The dollar rose by the most in over two weeks, recouping about half of the losses triggered by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s surprise move to prop up the bond market. The DXY dollar index was unchanged as investors awaited the Kansas City Fed’s annual Jackson Hole meeting. Traders are hedging for a bigger dollar rebound ahead of Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s key speech at the symposium on Friday. Gold rebounded above $4,600 an ounce as investors turned their focus to the Fed’s rate path, while New York gold futures traded flat at $4,654.70 a troy ounce, stuck between expectations of higher US rates and worries over US debt. Bitcoin and gold ETFs drew $7 billion as the scarcity trade surged, with investors buying both as hedges against fiscal anxiety.
Eurozone bond yields opened slightly higher as focus switched to elevated gas prices rather than falling oil prices. France has replaced Italy as European bond investors’ biggest worry, with Paris’s borrowing costs above Rome’s for most of the summer amid concerns over the upcoming budget and next year’s elections. The price of political fragility is showing up in risk premiums on sovereign bonds, which depend on how power is organized. Global bond markets are under pressure as countries with large debt burdens—France, Italy, the UK, Japan—have come under the heaviest pressure in recent months. Treasurys are having a rough summer, but it’s even uglier abroad, with Kevin Warsh having to pick a side in the bond-market battle over deficits. The "burn the bonds" stage of the debt cycle has arrived, with high indebtedness prompting calls for France to cancel part of its public liabilities. Bessent’s Treasury twist makes November refunding a Wall Street wildcard, as his activist style of managing the nation’s debt has traders war-gaming a potentially bigger shift in borrowing strategy.
Energy & Commodities
Oil prices dipped on news of progress in Hormuz talks, with Iran and Oman saying they would create a temporary shipping lane and clear mines in the waterway. Crude futures extended losses to three sessions on cautious expectations that US economic isolation of Iran, rather than military action, could bring about a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil pulled back as analysts remained cautiously positive that talks between Oman and Iran could reopen the waterway. Kuwait and Qatar are sending more crude through the Strait of Hormuz, adding to increased shipments keeping global prices in check. Oil fell for a fourth day as traders weighed progress on increasing energy flows through Hormuz against rising Russia-Ukraine tensions curbing output.
Diesel prices are nearing record highs, helping oil companies and hurting consumers, as the fuel used in farm machinery, trucks and heavy equipment has surged because of the war in Iran and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. US diesel supplies have fallen to the lowest seasonal level ever, threatening to push prices even higher just as heating and agricultural seasons kick in. Europe’s diesel crunch has gotten so tight that the region is drawing on imports from Mexico for the first time in seven years. Italy’s government extended a tax cut on diesel fuel prices until Sept. 5 as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to shield consumers ahead of a general election.
Wheat hit a three-year high as concerns grow that the war between Russia and Ukraine could escalate and further disrupt supplies from one of the world’s most important breadbaskets. South Africa will likely reap the smallest wheat crop since 2019, with output expected to drop 7.5% from a year earlier. US natural gas futures settled at their highest level in a month as hot weather lingers into late August and early September, maintaining high power-sector demand. The Permian Basin is on track to become the largest US natural gas-producing region by the end of the decade. US crude inventories saw a modest weekly build, with commercial stockpiles rising by 95,000 barrels to 428.9 million barrels.
Deals & Corporate News
Enbridge formed a $1.95 billion joint venture with KKR and Apollo Global Management to expand its natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia. Moderna plans to raise $2 billion from convertible notes to invest in its cancer vaccine business and repay debt. SK Telecom will create an AI data-center company through a spinoff, with KKR and a consortium of South Korean firms investing $2.2 billion. Aker shares climbed after Nscale signed a $45 billion contract to provide AI compute capacity at its Monarch site in West Virginia. Anthropic agreed to a $45 billion AI data centre deal with UK start-up Nscale as the Claude maker rushes to secure computing capacity.
Sweden’s Boliden will buy a near 65% stake in zinc producer Nexa Resources for $1.3 billion from Votorantim. EQT AB barely raised its tender offer price for Kakaku.com Inc. and extended the offer period, prolonging a bidding war over the Japanese internet services firm. KKR will pay a record $250 million to settle a DoJ lawsuit over buyout filings, though the private equity firm says it strongly disagrees with the claims and acted in good faith. RedBird is nearing a deal for Puck at a $250 million valuation in the latest digital media bet. Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison expects to sell its remaining global ports portfolio for its original $22.8 billion value, even after losing two Panama terminals.
Vedanta plans to raise at least 10 billion rupees ($105 million) through local-currency bonds, its third rupee bond this year. Fortescue is considering raising about 3 billion yuan ($446 million) in its first-ever panda bond offering despite China tensions. Prudential plans to sell a 2% stake in India’s second-largest asset manager for as much as $327 million to comply with minimum public shareholding rules. Danantara has given a $1 billion private credit mandate to Swiss asset manager Partners Group, one of its largest investments. Brightline reached a deal with Assured Guaranty that would provide the debt-laden Florida railroad with at least $350 million in new loans if it heads into Chapter.
Banking & Financials
Toronto-Dominion Bank’s earnings were up sharply in the latest quarter, driven by strong growth in Canadian banking and capital markets businesses. Royal Bank of Canada notched record income, with third-quarter income rising to C$6.02 billion, or C$4.23 a share, from C$5.41 billion a year earlier. Jane Street suffered a $15 billion loss in the July sell-off, a stunning reversal for a trading firm whose returns had been the envy of Wall Street. The secretive firm may need to change its ways as its size and risk appetite increase. Two Sigma’s billionaire co-founder John Overdeck said the $723 million he is proposing to give his wife Laura to resolve their divorce is "fair" based on his compensation from and stake in the firm.
AI debt is testing investor tolerance, with issuance from AI leaders testing the bond market and price premiums a telltale sign, according to a top JPMorgan banker. Credit markets are shrugging off climate risk after a brutal summer, despite severe droughts across Europe leading to huge wildfires, disrupted transport and threatened power plants. A century of data on corporate bond spreads shows low spreads were normal—are they so again? Banks that fought against stablecoins are now considering launching their own as executives find themselves on the defensive. Vanguard and Victory Capital are betting on scale as fund industry consolidation continues, with asset management deal volumes reaching $53.8 billion this year, the highest since at least 1995.
Retail & Consumer
Dollar General lifted its outlook for the year as profit and sales climbed, boosted by consumers’ continued reliance on low-cost goods. Dollar Tree issued a soft outlook for the third quarter, expecting profit to come under pressure as the company reinvests tariff refunds back into its business. Burlington Stores recorded higher second-quarter sales and plans to use its tariff refunds to lower prices for shoppers. Best Buy raised its outlook, now forecasting full-year adjusted earnings per share of $6.70 to $6.90, up from prior guidance of $6.30 to $6.60. Abercrombie & Fitch lifted its outlook, benefiting from tariff refunds and consumers’ continued willingness to buy new clothes despite inflationary pressures. Kohl’s recorded lower sales and profit in the second quarter, with low- and middle-income consumers in particular pulling back on spending. Bath & Body Works logged higher profit after its digital business returned to growth for the first time in five years. Urban Outfitters sales rose 10% to $1.66 billion in the second quarter, with Free People continuing to show strength.
Hormel Foods cut its outlook for annual sales to $12.1 billion to $12.2 billion, compared with a prior range of $12.2 billion to $12.5 billion. Pernod Ricard warned that Americans aren’t drinking enough, with sales growth dragged by sharp organic declines of 14% and 19% in its key US and Chinese markets. HP reported higher revenue in the third quarter, but logged lower sales volumes in its personal-computers business. Salesforce profit and revenue rose, prompting the enterprise software company to bump up its full-year forecasts and expand its partnership with Anthropic’s Claude. Okta lifted its full-year outlook, now expecting revenue of $3.22 billion to $3.23 billion, up from its prior view of $3.19 billion to $3.21 billion, as AI agents spur demand. Delivery Hero lifted guidance on accelerated growth in its groceries quick-delivery business.
Asia & Emerging Markets
China’s industrial profit growth slowed for a third straight month to the weakest pace this year as a cooling economy weighed on production and price gains. Vietnam’s factories are thriving amid trade upheaval. Chinese container liners are set for an earnings windfall as a rush to get ahead of shifting tariffs and persistent shipping disruptions has driven freight rates higher. China will supply the bulk of India’s fertilizer tender, shipping at least 1.2 million tons of a key fertilizer variety after Beijing loosened export controls. DeepSeek is poised to reach a $74 billion valuation as the Hangzhou-based AI startup seeks to raise funding for R&D and computing infrastructure expansion.
Wealthy Indians are stepping up bets on overseas markets, driven by a weak rupee and limited exposure at home to some of the hottest global themes. The RBI is intervening whenever the rupee weakens in a strategy shift, emboldened by a jump in foreign-exchange reserves. Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath warned that the surge in margin-loan business may pose a risk if markets fall sharply. HDFC Bank stock is weighed down by uncertainty around CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan’s term, with investors worried about succession issues at India’s largest private-sector lender, according to Macquarie.
Australia’s household spending rose more than anticipated in July, providing further evidence of solid demand even after three interest-rate rises earlier this year. Economists from Goldman Sachs to Commonwealth Bank are predicting another RBA rate increase as early as September after hot CPI data. Hedge funds are boosting bets that the Aussie dollar will outperform the kiwi heading into year-end. Qantas profit fell as fuel costs surged on the Iran conflict, with Australia’s largest airline warning the financial hit will extend into its current fiscal year.
Indonesia’s rupiah and government bonds slipped for a third day as investors watched whether a small protest in Jakarta may balloon into a larger demonstration. Thailand’s yield curve may flatten as easing inflation and a slowing economy draw investor demand for longer-dated bonds. Malaysia’s ex-PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged for failing to declare assets, becoming the latest former leader to face criminal proceedings. Malaysian authorities also detained a former Treasury secretary-general over a probe into mismanagement of Muslim pilgrimage fund Tabung Haji. The Philippines’ stock market operator sees a reduction in stock brokerage firms should the SEC go ahead with a plan to increase capitalization requirements.
Policy & Politics
Democrats will force a Senate vote on Israel’s human rights practices, with Senator Chris Van Hollen leading a group seeking answers about violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Saudi Arabia appears to be preparing for a new war with the Houthis, with analysts saying weeks of Houthi attacks have brought the kingdom and the Iranian-backed militia to the brink of full-blown conflict. The Russia-Ukraine war is getting more ruthless and destructive but no closer to ending, with the CIA chief making a surprise trip to Moscow to deliver a warning. Ukraine’s most potent weapon is the software orchestrating its drone army, with the Delta system pulling together battlefield data to create a miles-wide "kill zone."
The US Army is making a $2 billion push into the nuclear power race, awarding contracts to five companies to build nuclear microreactors at five bases. The US aims to revive a Civil War-era court to claim Iran oil as prize, with the Justice Department preparing to activate a long-dormant maritime war court. The US vowed to go after more than Iran’s oil, threatening sanctions for any country or entity that engages with Iran’s gold, digital assets, aviation, shipping and tech industries. Bank Melli, Iran’s largest lender, faces sanctions that severely limit its ability to operate abroad, with every foreign branch required to shut down. The Iran war is approaching a Ukraine-style stalemate, according to a shipping boss, with freight rates at record highs while oil prices fall back on talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
EU states revived a plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, with Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain backing the plan to solve Kyiv’s latest funding crisis. Von der Leyen reiterated the EU competitiveness focus as economic woes mount, pledging an industrial revival. Romania risks losing about €770 million ($816 million) in EU recovery funding after failing to approve a unified wage law. Ministers told the Bank of England to boost innovation in digital currencies, giving the central bank a new legal objective as part of an effort to promote the UK as a hub for stablecoins. Private equity carried interest payouts soared to £5.4 billion ahead of UK tax changes, suggesting a flurry of activity before the Labour government’s tax overhaul.
Tech & AI
OpenAI is dedicating $400 million to investing in early-stage AI companies as the sole investor in its latest venture fund. Google moved its AI-responsibility team out of Deep Mind lab in the latest shake-up, with researchers raising concerns about the change’s effect on their independence. Instinct, a buzzy startup fundraising at a $2.5 billion valuation, promises to handle emails and more, though some early users raised privacy concerns. AI revenue reporting is being critiqued as "slop." Economists are making themselves too useful in the AI boom, with the rush to collaborate with tech companies coming with risks. Price wars are coming for sneakers today and AI giants tomorrow, with a race to the bottom potentially benefiting consumers but collapsing profitability. The trillion-dollar TAM wars are heating up, with Anthropic’s $30 trillion total addressable market estimate unbelievable because it’s meant to be. Junior consultants are being called back to the office as AI increases the need for human skills, with executives saying interpersonal skills have become more valuable.
Metals & Mining
South African miners are rallying again, set for their best month ever as gold and platinum prices recover from a steep slump. Harmony Gold’s headline earnings per share rose 87% on higher gold prices. Zinc slipped from the highest level in more than four years, tracking losses in other metals while traders monitor signs of supply tightness on the London Metal Exchange. The year the rich went wild for gold has seen their faith in the metal remain untarnished. Bitcoin treasury companies shed $80 billion in value as the business model unwinds, with crypto hoarders selling tokens and reverting to former activities. The first US phosphate plant in decades is planned in Louisiana, with CHS Inc. and OCP North America proposing a $450 million facility to bolster domestic supplies amid global conflicts.
Other News
ICE arrests soared across the US, while Meta agreed to make major changes to Instagram and Facebook. Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion over claims it harmed youths, settling with 47 states, the District of Columbia and US territories. The settlement represents a landmark agreement over claims its platforms endangered children. Psychologists said the changes were a symbolic victory but warned their effectiveness might be limited. Teens are divided on the new Instagram and Facebook restrictions, with young people saying the platforms could be a space for gathering but also a waste of time. Mark Zuckerberg wants to make sure YouTube and TikTok share his pain, as the changes could be trouble if competitors don’t abide by the same rules. What Meta’s $18 billion settlement means for social media is significant, with the company agreeing to pay up to $18 billion to settle its block. What’s changing for teens on Instagram and Facebook includes more time limits and enhanced protections, though specifics were lacking. A global movement to restrict social media for children has taken hold, with governments around the world passing or proposing bans and restrictions.
Survivors of the deadly Nepal flood recalled its terrifying speed and power, with "boulders, sand and thick sludge" killing hundreds and wiping out villages. Photos show the deadly flood that tore through Nepal and Tibet, with an ice avalanche starting high in the Himalayas tumbling thousands of feet. Scientists say the flood may have been caused by an "ice avalanche" from a high-altitude glacier. Over 100 Indian pilgrims are among the missing, many traveling to or from a Himalayan peak revered by Hindus.
The F.D.A. approved a new drug for pancreatic cancer that could be the first of many, with companies testing dozens of similar drugs in cancers of the pancreas, lung, colon and more. Daraxonrasib is poised to transform pancreatic cancer treatment, with patients who got the pill living twice as long as those who got chemotherapy in a key clinical trial. Novo’s Wegovy pill fueled higher Danish economic growth forecasts, with Denmark raising its 2026 forecast for the fourth time. Screwworm flies are steering clear of Agriculture Dept. traps, which could mean the outbreak is contained or that current trapping methods are outdated. El Niño’s looming threat to the global food system requires better preparation for big recurring shocks to agriculture.
Larry Page’s family office is discreetly growing in Coconut Grove, with one of the world’s richest people wielding his personal fortune in a very quiet way. Kalshi and the Weather Co. joined forces on climate trades, with the trading platform getting input from experts to verify increasingly popular climate-prediction markets. Prediction markets and states clashed, setting off a furious political battle over the future of Kalshi, Polymarket and others, drawing in the Trump administration and nearly every state attorney general. Norway is doubling down on oil and gas despite EU green rhetoric. Burnham’s energy challenge involves getting more UK households off gas, with the prime minister potentially making electricity more attractive. Thames Water saga undermines the case for more market solutions, with privatisation becoming associated with failures. Thames Water creditors and the government are in a stand-off over the future, with investors wanting clarity over potential nationalisation. TotalEnergies may be reimbursed about $1.3 billion for loans to the Arctic LNG 2 project as it completed its exit from the US-sanctioned venture in Russia. PwC’s China setback risks the Big Four network model, with a Hong Kong court allowing liquidators of Evergrande to pursue the body at the centre of PwC’s global network. Alstom is trying to get back on track, choosing a smaller number of new projects after its most recent profits warning. Oxford Nanopore’s beaten-down shares are staging a comeback after years of underperformance. Cinema software group Unique X is exploring a London listing that could command a valuation of £300 million. KNDS is set to restart investor meetings about a possible IPO this year after a downturn in defense stocks thwarted its plans. Mahle is revisiting plans for an IPO of its Indian business. Nordic companies are exploring a region-wide stock exchange, with some of the biggest companies and wealthiest investors working on a proposal for a single, unified exchange. Boston Scientific stock dropped after a cyberattack triggered a global outage, disrupting order processing and shipping. The US is gambling with its role as the world’s investment hub, and if being overweight America is not the default option, it will upset the country’s economic equilibrium. The Trump administration wants billion-dollar businesses to qualify as "small," with higher revenue and employee limits for federal contracts potentially disadvantaging the smallest companies. Lisa Cook hit back at Trump’s latest attempt to oust her as Fed governor, defending her position against allegations of mortgage fraud. Secret Service officials were put on leave amid an internal inquiry, with the agency’s top spokesman among those facing a misconduct investigation. A judge sided with Texas over Minnesota on the extradition of an ICE agent facing charges over a shooting in Minneapolis. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to continue with plans to curtail mail-in voting, but the fast-moving legal fight continues. A judge allowed the Postal Service effort to restrict mail voting, for now, amid legal challenges. A Maryland judge blocked a Democratic redistricting measure, finding lawmakers had not followed proper procedures. Canada is questioning its F-35 deal with the US, with one premier saying buying American warplanes makes no sense in the face of Trump’s latest tariffs. The real winner of the trade war with Canada is China, with Washington needing all the allies it can find. Trump’s strength in primaries is clear, but the midterms pose a different test, with his low approval ratings making him a liability with swing voters. Darline Graham was slingshotted to victory in South Carolina even as Trump’s standing slips. Senator Darline Graham has spoken far more about her desire to support Trump’s agenda than her brother’s political goals. Will Scharf, the new White House counsel, isn’t a yes man, but he won’t say no either, having proved his loyalty to Trump. Mayor Zohran Mamdani persuaded CEOs to join his business advisory council to help invigorate New York City’s economy. A worker died after an accident with a plane at Montreal airport, involving an Airbus A350 operated by French Bee. The top container line MSC halted Russian Black Sea service due to drones, suspending new bookings to and from Novorossiysk after one of its vessels was attacked. Colombia’s central bank chief warned of damage from the soaring peso, saying it puts exporters at a "tremendous disadvantage." The Colombian peso stumbled as a dollar shortage tested its carry appeal. Mexico touted improving CDS levels as bonds trade as speculative grade. India’s food regulator flagged safety lapses at the Delhi JW Marriott, continuing a crackdown across the country. London homebuyers need an extra £35,500 in deposit to make up for mortgage rate rises, though housing site Zoopla detected early signs of an "autumn bounce." Nearly half of young Britons wrongly think AI financial advice is regulated, with the FCA warning over the widespread misapprehension. Australia’s Future Fund tapped Spencer Stuart for its new CEO search. Nike is on pace for its worst year since Jordan’s 1993 retirement. The race to sell Americans stronger nicotine is heating up, with the small but fast-growing pouch segment seen as a growth area. Jes Staley’s testimony about Epstein revealed he had consensual sex with one of Epstein’s "assistants" and warned him about his cash withdrawals. The $2 billion brawl over a ruinous wood-pellet trade has creditors saying Enviva’s former C-suite blew up the green-energy company by chasing bonus targets. Durable-goods orders rose 1.1% to $339.3 billion in July, beating forecasts. The PCE index showed inflation remained elevated in July amid high energy costs. US stocks ticked down after the surprisingly heated inflation data as traders kept their powder dry ahead of Nvidia earnings. US stocks were mixed as investors braced for the chip giant’s results. Bessent faces a credibility test in his quest to tame markets, confronting the limits of his ability to reshape the economy ahead of midterm elections. Japan’s regulator warned that single-stock leveraged ETFs can amplify volatility and aren’t fit to be sold in the country. An activist investor offered a 45% premium for Samsung affiliates’ stakes in S-1 Corp., testing how board directors handle expanded fiduciary duties under South Korea’s new corporate governance law. Flashlight Capital is targeting Samsung in South Korea’s first test of shareholder rights rules, saying the new law emboldened it to make a takeover bid. China’s Fujia is considering selling its Hexie Health Insurance division. Arini, Silver Point and King Street are among Altice International creditors seeking better terms than other lenders in any restructuring. The US is preparing to activate a long-dormant maritime war court to streamline military capture of Iranian oil tankers. Mark Walter’s group insists there is no "fire sale" and "no fraud," hitting out at "multipronged attacks" on its investment empire. Activist fund Flashlight is targeting Samsung in South Korea’s first test of shareholder rights rules.
Prince William is still silent about his brother Harry, with years of long-distance division to be tested now that Harry has returned to Britain. The New York Times is covering Harry, Meghan and the royal family’s surprising return to Britain. Tim Curry, star of "Rocky Horror Picture Show," died at, with his gift for garish eccentricity indelibly appropriate for the cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter. Tim Curry’s performance as Frank-N-Furter was ahead of its time, pioneering fashion. As a storyteller, Tim Curry had the gift, whether playing a mad scientist, a butler in "Clue" or a singing King Arthur in "Spamalot." Dolly Parton wrote the greatest story ever told about herself, identifying as a writer rather than a saint. Dolly Parton’s cautious politics resulted in widespread affection, with bipartisan tributes demonstrating the success of her long-running effort to stay out of party politics. Dolly Parton left a legacy of giving, supporting early childhood literacy, disaster relief and the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. Dolly Parton outsmarted every dumb-blonde joke, stepping on critics’ punchlines and taking away their power. The South loved Dolly Parton, seeing the best of itself in her. Dolly Parton was a trailblazer in business too, launching ventures to bring fans closer while protecting her intellectual property. Dollywood captured the essence of Dolly Parton, with her "fantasy city" celebrating her home region and turning into a billion-dollar attraction. Yayoi Kusama was the avant-garde radical who became a pop icon, spreading her image into every corner of our culture. Yayoi Kusama has died at. A Republican attack ad used a family’s tragedy without consulting them, connecting a crash to illegal immigration. The Iran war weighs on Virginia Beach voters in a key House race, with the conflict uniquely salient to the district. Dean Roy, a 15-year-old, is running for Vermont governor, saying his generation’s concerns have been ignored for too long. Michael Connelly knows he is putting his reputation on the line with the podcast "Killer in the Code," arguing the Zodiac killed the Black Dahlia. A surrogate refused an abortion and fled to Texas, now seeking custody of the baby. A Florida man is facing three felony charges over the vandalism of a decoy flock camera. The formerly woke are being asked to explain how and why they’re moving on. Machiavelli wouldn’t like Trump’s America, where we are hated but not feared. Lèse-majesté, American-style, was inevitable that Trump would come to this. Intrinsic capacity is quickly becoming a preferred way to measure and assess human aging. Child actors understand Hayden Panettiere, bearing the same recognizable wounds. Summer weather in LA was perfect until humidity and mosquitoes arrived, with warmer water off the coast making things slightly swampy. Reno has long known of wildfire risk, and the Hawk Fire proved it’s real, providing impetus for hardening communities. A C.T.E. study added to family tension over football, with many families engaged in tense debates after finding a high percentage of NFL players developed degenerative brain disease. The Elf is a solar-powered pedal vehicle worth a spin, plus other sun-energy tech. Microcars are underpowered, noisy and sometimes smoky, but "the struggle is what makes it fun," one enthusiast said. Five new hotels are available for your late summer getaway, from Cape Cod to Croatia. Roy Cohn and Robert Mapplethorpe present a Trump-era dilemma over free speech, with a biographer’s book cover denied over fears of the president’s wrath. Cuban dissident Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara landed in a Miami maelstrom after whiskey with his captors, unpacking 4,000 paintings and dodging criticism from exiles.