⚡ Today in History

On August 12, 1999, the last total solar eclipse crossed mainland Europe, passing over England, France, and Germany. In 2000, the Russian submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crew aboard. Today? A new total eclipse crosses the Northern Hemisphere, with totality visible in Europe for the first time in 27 years.

Top News

Colombia's earthquake death toll passes 200 224 DEAD

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, centered in the mountainous Choco region near the Pacific coast. The quake has killed at least 224 people and left more than 3,700 missing, according to Colombia's Geological Service. Landslides have cut off the rural town of San Jose del Palmar, leaving thousands without water or power.

Trump's secret Air Force One swap in Turkey revealed JULY 8

Citing security fears tied to the Iran war, the Secret Service pulled President Trump off Air Force One during a NATO stop in Ankara, Turkey, last month. Trump boarded a catering truck and switched to an older backup jet, a US official told the Washington Post. Trump then re-boarded the newer plane in Britain, and reporters aboard were told to keep their window shades down.

Total solar eclipse crosses Europe for first time in 27 years

The moon's shadow sweeps across the Northern Hemisphere today, tracing a path from Siberia over Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. Totality lasts up to two minutes and eighteen seconds along the centerline, according to NASA. Most of Europe, including Madrid, London, and Paris, will see only a partial eclipse.

Trump won't rule out an election emergency

With his SAVE America Act stalled in the Senate, President Trump was asked on Real America's Voice whether he would declare a national security emergency to control the 2026 midterms. Trump declined to rule it out, according to CNN. Legal experts say the Constitution gives states, not the president, authority over elections.

Deadly Red Sea and Gulf of Oman attacks widen the shipping war

Houthi rebels struck a cargo ship in the Red Sea's Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, killing six crew members and rescuers, according to Yemen's coastguard. Hours later, US forces disabled a Panama-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly breaching Washington's blockade on Iran. Both waterways sit near the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes.

World

Houthi strike kills six in worst Red Sea attack in a year 6 KILLED

The Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, 2026. On Tuesday, a missile struck the cargo ship Tihamah near Yemen's Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing four crew members and two rescuers, Yemen's coastguard said. It marked the first deadly attack on Red Sea shipping in more than a year.

US Navy disables cargo ship in Gulf of Oman blockade

As part of its blockade on Iranian ports, US forces fired missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged Vela Nova on Tuesday. The strike happened about 71 nautical miles off Pakistan's coast, according to maritime security group Vanguard. It was the third vessel disabled since Washington reimposed the blockade on July 14.

Zimbabwe ferry capsizes with 95 people aboard

Strong winds hit the RIDA Mbuyanehanda ferry as it crossed Lake Kariba from Kariba town toward Chalala on Tuesday, a Zimbabwean lawmaker said. The boat, carrying 90 passengers and five crew, overturned near Long Island, police said. Rescue teams, including the army and a police dive unit, are searching for survivors.

Brent crude nears $89 as Hormuz standoff drags on

Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed for weeks, pushing shippers toward the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman instead. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has climbed toward $89 a barrel after five straight days of gains. Pakistan's defense minister says the US and Iran are close to an arrangement on reopening the strait.

Belarusian opposition leader Milinkevich dies at 79

Aliaksandr Milinkevich ran as the united opposition candidate against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the 2006 election. Milinkevich died Tuesday at age 79, according to Euronews. Milinkevich spent two decades campaigning for democratic reform in Belarus.

Politics

Trump won't rule out a national emergency over the midterms 2026 VOTE

Trump's elections bill, the SAVE America Act, has stalled in the Senate for months. On Real America's Voice Tuesday, host Wayne Allyn Root suggested Trump declare a national security emergency to bypass Congress on election security. Trump did not rule out the idea, according to CNN, reviving concerns he could try to control the vote before ballots are cast.

Constitution limits Trump's power over state elections, experts say

States, not the federal government, run US elections under the Constitution, and courts have consistently upheld that principle. Even so, presidents gain broader authority to act alone when national security is invoked. Some legal experts remain skeptical that Trump's emergency claim would hold up in court.

Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor too close to call

Francesca Hong and David Crowley are locked in a tight race for the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor. The primary remained undecided early Wednesday, according to UPI. The winner will face the Republican nominee in November 2026.

Lebanon becomes first Middle East country to abolish the death penalty

Lebanese lawmakers voted Tuesday to end capital punishment nationwide, according to UPI. The law makes Lebanon the first country in the Middle East to abolish the practice. Human rights groups have pushed for the change for more than a decade.

North Korea fires second ballistic missile in a week

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese militaries said. The launch was Pyongyang's second in under a week. Seoul and Tokyo are monitoring for further activity.

Markets

US inflation report today could reshape the Fed's rate path 3.4% EXP.

Economists expect the Consumer Price Index to show prices rose 3.4% over the past year in July, down slightly from June's 3.5%. A cooler reading could give the Federal Reserve room to hold rates steady at its September meeting. A hotter number could instead build the case for a rate hike.

S&P 500 tests record high after its best week since April

The S&P 500 closed at a record 7,757.64 on Friday, its strongest weekly gain since April. Futures were little changed Wednesday morning as traders waited on the inflation data. The index is up more than 20% over the past year.

Brent crude approaches $89 on Hormuz tension

Oil prices have climbed for five straight sessions as Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is trading near $89 a barrel, up about 16% since the US and Israeli war on Iran began. Analysts at Goldman Sachs warn a full Hormuz closure could push Brent toward $100.

Intel shares slide as chipmaker boosts stock sale to $20 billion

Intel raised the size of its planned stock offering by $5 billion this week, citing strong demand tied to the AI boom. Shares fell more than 4% following the announcement. The company says the funds will support factory construction and working capital.

Nvidia stock jumps after $500 billion AI funding round

Nvidia arranged $500 billion in private bank financing to help build out AI computing infrastructure, according to Bloomberg. Shares of the chipmaker rose 1.5% on the news. The financing adds to growing leverage across the AI sector, analysts say.

Entertainment

Cristiano Ronaldo marries Georgina Rodriguez in Portugal

Ronaldo and Rodriguez met in 2016 and have been together for a decade. The couple married Tuesday in the coastal resort town of Cascais, Portugal, according to representatives for the soccer star. Rodriguez previously starred in her own Netflix series about her life with Ronaldo.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day nears $1.7 billion worldwide $1.7B

The Marvel sequel topped the US box office for a second straight weekend, adding $144.2 million despite a 60% drop from its opening. Worldwide earnings have reached $1.67 billion, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film ever. The film has made $654 million domestically since its release.

Perseid meteor shower peaks this week

Debris from comet Swift-Tuttle burns up in Earth's atmosphere every August, producing the Perseid meteor shower. NASA calls this year's Perseids the best viewing of 2026, with the peak falling this week. Clear, dark skies away from city lights offer the best chance to see it.

The Pitt leads nominations for Saturday's Astra TV Awards

The Hollywood Creative Alliance will hand out its sixth annual Astra TV Awards in Los Angeles on August 15. The Pitt earned the most nominations of any series this year, with 12. A voting body of entertainment journalists and critics chooses the winners.

Anne Hathaway dinosaur film opens Friday

Bad Robot's "The End of Oak Street," starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, opens in theaters Friday. Analysts project a domestic opening near $30 million. The film arrives as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey continue to lead the summer box office.