The vulnerability of the civilian energy infrastructure was exposed earlier this month when a drone strike on the United Arab Emirates cut off power to a nuclear reactor. It’s the first time a fully operating nuclear power plant has had to rely on backup generators because of a military attack. But reactors in Ukraine and Iran have also been threatened by recent conflicts.

Why attack nuclear sites?
Targeting nuclear plants could cripple an enemy’s power grid or force surrender through the psychological terror of threatening a radiological disaster. It could also be used to delay a nation’s ability to enrich nuclear material. And armies could occupy a nuclear plant to seize control of a strategic geographic corridor or prevent defending forces from using the area.

What does international law say?
Under the Geneva Conventions, civilian structures, including nuclear power plants, are “protected against attack,” said The Guardian. Still, the treaties also state they can be hit “for such time as they are military objectives.” This is a “loophole” that “aggressor states” have “interpreted widely.” Attacking a nuclear power plant also breaks legal resolutions passed by the U.N. Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors.

What would happen if such a site were hit?
It wouldn’t necessarily lead to a mushroom cloud or an immediate release of radiation, because modern plants are built with multiple safety systems that can shut down reactors and contain damage. But if the reactor begins to degrade, radioactive material could be released and remain in the environment for years or even decades. It could spread across borders, enter water systems or settle in soil.

Attacks on nuclear installations “risk undermining the emerging nuclear renaissance” in Western economies as an alternative to fossil fuels, said Bloomberg. Politicians and the public are “highly sensitive to radiation emergencies,” so an incident in one country “tends to dampen enthusiasm” for nuclear power elsewhere.

Targeting nuclear plants could also be a hugely symbolic moment. Although conventional power plants have been “repeatedly bombed” by Russia during the Ukraine war, said The Guardian, Kyiv’s three functioning nuclear plants have “remained relatively unscathed” because Moscow regards a direct attack on them to be “taboo.”

Target is back on target. The big-box retailer known for affordable style has returned to its roots, sparking a turnaround after a multiyear slump.

The company’s first quarter sales were its “best results in four years,” said CNN. That’s the product of CEO Michael Fiddelke’s move to “win back shoppers with new, buzzy brands” like Pokémon and Parke. Fiddelke took over earlier this year after a “series of strategy mistakes,” including cutting DEI programs and Pride displays, which sparked boycotts by the company’s largely liberal customer base. But now, Target’s “comeback strategy is working.”

‘Style and design’
The company is attempting to get back to what “historically made the chain distinctive,” said Axios. It does best when it’s “truly leading with style and design at an incredible value,” said Fiddelke to reporters. Target is also “executing its largest grocery transition” in more than 10 years, said Retail Touch Points. 

The company’s quarterly report comes as analysts are watching to see if “surging gasoline prices due to the Iran war” are leading to consumer cutbacks, said The Associated Press. But boycotts and politics have “never been the main issue” behind Target’s slump, said Neil Saunders, of GlobalData Retail, to the wire service. Instead, customers felt Target was “failing on execution,” said the AP.

‘We want to be careful’
The turnaround may “not be as smooth as the latest results imply,” said MarketWatch. Target must pivot from halting the slump to sustaining “full-scale growth,” said Brian Mulberry, of Zacks Investment Management, to the outlet. Though the company has upgraded its sales expectations for 2026, Fiddelke acknowledges the headwinds as consumers pull back from spending. “We want to be careful not to get out over our skis,” he said to reporters.

Next up are store revamps. Target and other big retailers are “pouring billions of dollars back into their stores” to lure customers even as online sales continue to occupy a bigger share of consumer spending, said The New York Times. Remodeling brick-and-mortar stores, said Fiddelke to the outlet, is part of the strategy for “elevating the Target experience.”

Muslim devotees pray on Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat, believed to be the site of the prophet Muhammad’s last sermon, during the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Thousands of pilgrims joined the event, even as punishing desert temperatures soared to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Zain Jaafar / AFP / Getty Images

Don’t let dehydration derail your summer adventures. Keep plenty of cold beverages and lots of snacks close at hand in one of these decked-out coolers ready for the beach, park, campground or stadium.

BruMate BruTank 55-quart rolling cooler
Take the party on the road with the BruTank. It offers a “huge capacity” and “clever compartmental design,” including a removable drink tank with a “handy spigot” for batches of cocktails, said The Strategist. The puncture-resistant wheels are big enough to “handle sand” and rubberized for “extra traction,” and the metal handle makes the cooler “maneuverable in any direction.” There’s room for up to 48 standard or slim cans and 12 upright wine or liquor bottles, with up to seven days of ice retention. (starting at $399, BruMate)

Igloo KoolTunes
Yes, that’s music coming from your cooler. Igloo’s KoolTunes comes equipped with built-in speakers and Bluetooth wireless pairing technology, with sound quality that’s “well-rounded,” said Mashable. Coolers and boom boxes are “two summer essentials,” and KoolTunes brings them together for one “fun, functional novelty product.” ($84, Igloo)

Yeti Hopper M20 backpack soft cooler
With its waterproof nylon fabric, leakproof liner and closed-cell foam insulation, the Hopper M20 is “tough as nails,” said Wirecutter. This soft cooler is engineered for “strength and durability” and holds up on even the longest days. When “fully loaded” with 36 cans or 22 pounds of ice, the Hopper is “still remarkably easy to carry.” ($325, Yeti)