Former President Donald Trump lost his latest bid on Wednesday to have a new judge appointed for his New York criminal case, as Justice Juan Merchan declined to step aside. This came as Trump is set to rally in Asheville, North Carolina with a focus on his economic policy.

Tropical Storm Ernesto has continued to gain strength and is just shy of a Category One hurricane as it moves through the Caribbean. The storm has brought rain, flooding, and strong gusts to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ukraine said it has made more advances into Russia's Kursk region as part of its cross-border incursion. It plans to create a "security zone" in the region and organize humanitarian assistance and evacuation corridors for civilians looking to go to either Russia or Ukraine.