Thursday morning news: August 7, 2025

Editor's note: The following text is a transcript of a podcast story. To listen to the story, click on the arrow beneath the headline above.

Trump likely to meet with Putin soon » President Trump says there’s a very good prospect he’ll have a meeting soon with Russian leader Vladimir Putin that could lead to the end of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The White House says that meeting could happen as soon as the next week or two.

TRUMP: We had some very good talks with President Putin today. And, uh, there’s a very good chance that we could be ending the… ending the round, ending the, end of that road. That road was long, and continues to be long. But, uh, there’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.

Those comments from the president came after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin Wednesday in Moscow. White House officials say that though there was no breakthrough, Putin suggested the idea of meeting with Trump as he spoke with Witkoff.

Afterward, Trump told European leaders he’d like to meet with Putin soon, potentially as early as next week, then follow it up with trilateral talks that would expand to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump’s aides have begun planning for a meeting with Putin, and are considering several locations.

Israel weighs reoccupying Gaza » Israel could be stepping up its war on Hamas in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet meets today to vote on fully reoccupying the Gaza Strip, something it hasn’t done since 2005.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon tells Fox News Hamas has rejected several ceasefire agreements, and Israel has to do all it can to end the war.

DANON: Today we will have to recalculate what we are going to do. How can we apply more pressure against Hamas?

There’s fierce international opposition to reoccupying Gaza. The Israeli military’s chief of staff is also questioning Netanyahu’s reoccupation push, claiming it could further endanger the lives of the estimated 20 living hostages still in Hamas custody.

$100 billion U.S. investment for Apple » Apple is investing $100 billion more dollars into the U.S. by building more parts for its iPhones and Apple Watches in America.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company’s launching what he calls “Apple’s American manufacturing program.”

COOK: I'm pleased to announce that very soon, this is for the first time ever, every single new iPhone and every single new Apple Watch sold anywhere in the world will contain cover glass made in Kentucky.

Cook says this brings Apple’s U.S. investment to $600 billion dollars over the next four years.

He made the announcement at the White House, where President Trump said he plans to put a 100 percent tariff on computer chips made overseas, part of his push to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.

Fort Stewart shooting » Officials say five soldiers are recovering today after they were shot by an army sergeant at Fort Stewart in Georgia yesterday.

Brigadier General John Lubas says the attack happened just before 11:00 Wednesday morning.

LUBAS: The alleged shooter is in custody. We have reestablished security. I have lifted all lockdown measures on Fort Stewart and there is currently no threat to the local community.

The suspect is Sergeant Quornelius Radford, an automated logistics sergeant.

Three of the five injured soldiers required surgery, but officials say all are expected to be okay.

Officials say Radford used his personal firearm. But there's no word on a motive or how he was able to get his personal firearm onto base property.

D.C. Jewish museum homicide suspect indicted » The man accused of gunning down a young couple outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. has been indicted. WORLD's Travis Kircher has more.

TRAVIS KIRCHER: The indictment charges Elias Rodriguez with nine federal counts, including murder and a hate crime resulting in death.

That according to court documents unsealed on Wednesday.

Rodriguez is accused of fatally shooting Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they were leaving an event at the museum in May. The two were staff members of the Israeli Embassy and were about to become engaged.

Rodriguez reportedly shouted "Free Palestine" as he was led away for his arrest. He also allegedly told police, quote, I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza, end quote. Prosecutors say he was motivated by anti-Semitism.

The indictment also includes a notice of special findings...meaning prosecutors could pursue the death penalty.

For WORLD, I'm Travis Kircher.

White House threatens to federalize D.C. » President Trump is threatening to strip Washington, D.C. of its local governance if leaders there don’t take steps to address the city's crime problem.

This comes after a group of teenagers badly beat up a former DOGE staffer earlier this week as he tried to stop an attempted carjacking. Two 15-year-olds are under arrest in connection with the crime.

The president says he’s had enough.

TRUMP: The crime is… is ridiculous. I could show you a chart comparing D.C. to other locations and you’re not going to want to see what it looks like.

Trump has called for minors and gang members aged 14 or older who commit crimes in D.C to be prosecuted as adults.

To take direct federal control of the city, Congress would have to suspend or repeal a decades-old law giving the nation’s capital home rule through a mayor and local council.

I'm Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: U.S. tariffs and sanctions attempt to realign Brazilian politics. Plus, a Christian trucker’s faith drives him to ministry.

This is The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.