⚡ Today in History

On August 7, 1990, President George H.W. Bush ordered Operation Desert Shield after Iraq invaded Kuwait, sending U.S. forces into the Persian Gulf. In 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, handing the president broad war powers on a near-unanimous vote. Today, the U.S. is five months into a war with Iran, and lawmakers in Washington are still fighting over how much oversight Congress has left.

Top News

Teen kills 8, including grandparents, in Thailand school shooting 8 DEAD

Police say a Grade 8 student used his grandfather's handgun to kill his grandparents at their home before opening fire Friday morning at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, a campus of about 3,000 students in the Bang Kruai district outside Bangkok. Eight people are dead, including five teachers and the suspect, and 22 others are injured. It is Thailand's deadliest school attack since a 2022 assault killed 37 people at a daycare center.

Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress 8-5 VOTE

Anthony Fauci, the government's former top infectious disease official, invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times during a July 29 hearing on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 along party lines Thursday to hold him in contempt of Congress. Chairman Rand Paul said the panel will refer the case directly to the Justice Department.

Trump signs new orders narrowing birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court ruled in June that the Constitution grants automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil, striking down Trump's first attempt to limit it. President Trump signed two new executive orders Thursday in the Oval Office: one narrows citizenship for children linked to foreign governments or groups, and the other targets "birth tourism" by tightening visa rules for pregnant travelers. Civil rights groups say they expect the new orders to face the same legal challenges as the first.

Iran, Oman near deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping after the U.S. and Israel struck Iranian targets in February, cutting off a waterway that normally carries about a fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade. Iranian officials say Iran and Oman have agreed on temporary shipping corridors — inbound vessels near Iran's coast, outbound vessels near Oman's — that would later merge into one central lane. Iran says the deal alone will not fully reopen the strait unless the United States meets additional conditions.

July jobs report due out today, hiring expected to pick up

June's hiring slowed sharply to just 57,000 jobs, well below forecasts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its July jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Friday, with economists expecting a pickup to about 97,500 jobs and unemployment holding at 4.2%. The numbers could sway the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates at its September meeting, with markets currently pricing better-than-even odds of a hike.

World

Washington's worst fire season on record forces mass evacuations 65K DISPLACED

Severe drought, high heat and strong winds have fueled Washington's most destructive wildfire season on record. More than 15 large fires are burning across over 425,000 acres in eastern Washington, with the worst damage near Spokane and Lake Chelan. The fires have destroyed more than 700 structures and displaced over 65,000 people. Gov. Bob Ferguson and President Trump have both declared emergencies for the state.

UEFA keeps World Cup boycott alive, pressure builds on FIFA chief

FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed selling a stake in the World Cup to private investors last month, and the backlash has not let up. UEFA, which represents 55 European soccer nations, voted Thursday to maintain its boycott of FIFA competitions until Infantino resigns. Spain, the reigning World Cup champion, could now skip next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil if the standoff continues.

Houthis kill dozens of Yemeni troops in missile, drone strikes

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement said it attacked government positions Thursday with ballistic missiles and drones, in retaliation for what it called a Saudi-backed military buildup. The strikes killed at least 38 government troops and injured 29 others, medical sources told AFP. Yemen's civil war has become the latest front in the broader war between the U.S. and Iran, which began in February.

Uganda, Morocco commit troops to Gaza peacekeeping force

Following October's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, President Trump's Board of Peace asked allied nations to join a stabilization force for Gaza. Uganda's parliament approved sending troops Thursday, and Morocco has also pledged soldiers to the mission, which American Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers says will grow to 20,000 troops. Some Ugandan lawmakers questioned the deployment's funding and risks before the vote passed.

WHO: Congo's Ebola outbreak spreading faster than trackers can follow

The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading faster than health workers can track it, with cases doubling in some areas. First detected in April, the outbreak has expanded across five provinces and is now the largest ever recorded in the country. The U.S. State Department pledged an additional $242 million this week for response efforts in Congo and neighboring Uganda.

Politics

25 states sue to stop Trump's new tariff wave 25 STATES SUE

The Trump administration laid out a wave of new tariffs on 60 economies two weeks ago, aiming to press trading partners on manufacturing and trade deficits. Twenty-five states filed suit Tuesday to block the tariffs, arguing the administration overstepped its authority. The case adds to a growing list of legal fights over the president's trade and immigration powers this year.

Contempt vote sets up first test of Fauci's 2025 pardon

Former President Biden pardoned Fauci in January 2025, days before leaving office, to shield him from what Biden called politically motivated prosecution. That pardon does not cover conduct after it was issued, including Fauci's refusal to answer questions at Thursday's hearing. Rand Paul said his committee will hand-deliver the contempt referral to the Justice Department, though a full Senate vote could still be requested instead.

Trump disputes reports of a U.S. munitions shortage

Reports this week described significant U.S. munitions shortages tied to five months of war with Iran. President Trump pushed back on the reports Thursday, telling reporters that stockpiles remain sufficient. The dispute comes as the administration weighs further military commitments in the Gulf region.

Suspected Iran-linked hackers target water systems in a dozen states

Cyberattacks on U.S. water systems have been reported in at least a dozen states in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials suspect the intrusions may be linked to Iran-backed hackers, though attribution is still under review. The reports add to concerns that the war with Iran is spilling into U.S. critical infrastructure.

Blackburn wins Tennessee GOP nod for governor, Ogles ousted

Tennessee voters went to the polls Thursday in midterm primary races. Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Democrat Jerri Green in the general election. Rep. Andy Ogles lost his House primary to former state agriculture commissioner Charlie Hatcher.

Markets

Stocks drift before jobs report, S&P snaps two-day skid -0.18% THURSDAY

Wall Street closed lower Thursday for a second straight session, with the Dow down 0.85% and the S&P 500 off 0.18%, as a rebound in oil prices renewed worries about a Federal Reserve rate hike. The S&P 500 closed at 7,709.96. Futures ticked higher before Friday's open as traders awaited the July jobs report, with one prediction market pricing a 67% chance the index opens up.

Crude oil holds near $78 a barrel on Hormuz uncertainty

Crude for September delivery traded near $77.56 a barrel Friday, up slightly, as traders weighed the proposed Iran-Oman shipping deal against continued uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been effectively closed since February, when the U.S. and Israel struck Iranian targets. The average U.S. gas price has climbed to $4.06 a gallon, up 36% since Feb. 28.

Gold climbs to $4,368 an ounce as investors seek safety

Gold rose 1.6% to $4,368.50 an ounce Friday, extending its climb as investors sought safety from the Iran war and interest rate uncertainty. Bitcoin also edged up, trading near $64,791. The moves came as the VIX, Wall Street's fear gauge, ticked up slightly to 15.25.

Cloudflare jumps 16% on strong forecast, Airbnb up 8%

Cloudflare shares surged 16% in extended trading Thursday after the company raised its full-year outlook. Airbnb rose more than 8% after beating revenue and earnings estimates. DraftKings fell 3% after missing revenue targets, and Sezzle dropped nearly 24% following weak second-quarter results.

Traders now see better-than-even odds of a September rate hike

Bond yields climbed this week as investors reassessed the odds of a Federal Reserve rate increase. The CME Group's FedWatch tool shows markets pricing a 54.7% chance of a hike at the Fed's September meeting. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.67%, and the two-year at 4.24%.

Entertainment

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' becomes fastest movie to $1 billion since 'Endgame' $1.1B WORLDWIDE

Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" opened two weekends ago with a $355 million domestic debut, the second-biggest ever behind "Avengers: Endgame." The film has since set records for the biggest Monday and Tuesday in box office history and crossed $1 billion worldwide faster than any movie except "Endgame." Analysts expect it to finish as 2026's highest-grossing release, ahead of Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."

Netflix in talks for a 'KPop Demon Hunters' world tour

"KPop Demon Hunters" won best animated feature and best original song at the 2026 Oscars. Netflix is now in talks with concert promoters to stage a live tour built around the film's songs, with shows planned at arenas around the world. Promoters are aiming for a 2027 run timed ahead of a planned sequel.

Disney sets release dates for 'Lilo & Stitch 2' and 'Incredibles 3'

Disney confirmed theatrical release dates this week for two long-awaited sequels: "Lilo & Stitch 2" and "The Incredibles 3." Both follow strong box office years for Disney, which has leaned on sequels and live-action remakes to fill its release calendar. The studio did not release further details beyond the announcement.

Measles exposure reported at Universal Studios Hollywood

A visitor with a confirmed measles case toured Universal Studios Hollywood on July 26, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said. Anyone inside the park between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. that day is advised to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms through Aug. 16. Universal Studios said the safety of guests and staff remains its top priority.

Zac Brown Band notches 15th straight sellout at Fenway Park

Zac Brown Band closed out its 15th consecutive sold-out concert at Boston's Fenway Park this week. The band marked the milestone by giving every ticket holder a free cruise vacation. The streak places the group among a small handful of acts to sustain that level of demand at the historic ballpark.