Axios

The Trump administration debuted a new pilot program Monday to bring free cybersecurity and AI tools to under-resourced water systems, starting in Texas.

Why it matters: Water systems have long been considered among the country's most vulnerable critical infrastructure, and the program arrives as at least 12 states respond to suspected Iranian cyberattacks.

The globe's top economic policymakers gather in the mountains at a shaky period for the global economy, with the Iran conflict driving up energy prices, trade tensions running high and governments facing huge debt loads.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's message to the world: The way through is stronger growth.

Fuel price increases in the first six months of the Iran conflict are costing U.S. drivers far more than the same stretch after Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed up costs.

Why it matters: Trump administration officials have emphasized — correctly — that gasoline hit an all-time high under Biden of over $5 per gallon, well above May's $4.56 high during the Iran war.

Thousands of people are missing and hundreds are dead after a flash flood in Nepal that struck with little warning earlier this week.

Why it matters: The flood is exposing the gaps in warning systems that are designed to watch out for extreme rain and rivers — not for sudden collapses high in the mountains during good weather.

Friday marks six months since the U.S. launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.

Why it matters: The war is changing global energy markets and domestic politics in all kinds of big and sometimes surprising ways.

This year's tick season has been a doozy — and another peak is coming in the fall.

Why it matters: Tick bites can pose serious health risks, transmitting pathogens that cause illnesses including Lyme disease and triggering alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat.

The Trump administration is in talks with Venezuela's interim government about taking an ownership stake in the South American country's enormous oil resources, two U.S. officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: The historic deal would more than double U.S. oil reserves by drawing from a country that has the world's largest proven reserves.

Wildfires demand action on radically different timelines: during the crisis, before the next fire season and over the coming decades.

Why it matters: Climate change is worsening the underlying risk, making everything from evacuation plans to forest management and cutting emissions part of the response.

The U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit have selected Antares to build and operate nuclear microreactors at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, chief executive Jordan Bramble told Axios.

Why it matters: The military's sky-high energy demand — for reusable batteries, computer farms, radars, housing, weapons and more — is an ideal pressure test for nuclear, which has mounted a comeback in recent years.

It's prime time to plant grass seed for patching bare spots or overseeding lawns in most U.S. regions.

Why it matters: Plant too late and grass might not establish before winter; too early and young grass could still be exposed to stressful summer heat.