The Pentagon is asking Congress for roughly $80 billion to cover Iran war expenses—a stark revision that exceeds what lawmakers were originally told by more than double [PBS, Fox News]. The cost explosion underscores the financial toll of the prolonged conflict as diplomatic efforts continue elsewhere. Meanwhile, talks to end the war are advancing, with U.S.-Iran teams working on a potential deal as Iran's president travels to Pakistan [Morning Brief sources].

On the nuclear front, North Korea's Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the country's nuclear arsenal at a party meeting, signaling no shift in Pyongyang's weapons trajectory despite ongoing diplomatic overtures [UPI].

In Cuba policy, the Trump administration intensified pressure with sanctions targeting five Cuban entities and a Castro family member, including a key bank and mining operation [Fox News, Bloomberg]. The Supreme Court sided with Exxon in a lawsuit over assets seized by Cuba decades ago [NYT Politics]. Panama, meanwhile, has offered to facilitate talks between Washington and Havana, potentially opening diplomatic channels [UPI].

On the domestic front, the Trump administration announced $17.5 billion in loans to support 10 nuclear plants, marking a major push into nuclear energy expansion [The Hill]. The Justice Department charged hundreds in a sweeping healthcare fraud crackdown [UPI].

In New York politics, an AI industry-safety group proxy battle is heating up ahead of a House primary, while the DOJ is investigating a NYC coffee shop that banned a pro-Israel congressman [The Hill].

In Colombia, the leftist presidential candidate is vowing to challenge the election result, threatening to further destabilize the region [Al Jazeera].