⚡ Today in History

On September 11, 2001, hijacked planes killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Twenty-five years later, Republicans closed their Dallas midterm convention Thursday night with a tribute marking the anniversary. United Airlines canceled a planned flyover in Denver after concerns about public reaction.

Top News

Houthi rebels seize Yemen's Mocha, threaten global shipping lane 10% OF WORLD TRADE

Government-aligned forces withdrew from Yemen's Red Sea coast Thursday. Iran-backed Houthi rebels then captured the port city of Mocha. The city sits near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a corridor that carries about a tenth of world trade. The advance opens a second front in the Iran war, adding risk to shipping already disrupted near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran launches its biggest wave of tanker attacks yet 10 SHIPS HIT

Iran escalated its campaign against merchant ships this week, striking 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. It's the largest single wave of tanker attacks since the war began in February. Ships were hit in the northern Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and waters off the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. The strait carries about a quarter of the world's seaborne oil, and the strikes have pushed crude prices toward their highest level in months.

August inflation report lands today, testing the Fed

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its August Consumer Price Index at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday, the last inflation snapshot before the Federal Reserve's meeting next week. Economists expect prices rose about 3.3% over the past year, driven partly by gas prices tied to the Iran war. Traders now see roughly 73% odds the Fed raises interest rates Wednesday for the first time since 2023.

Trump pledges $5,000 to every US adult if Republicans hold Congress $5,000

At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas this week, President Trump promised a $5,000 payment to every adult American, tied to Republicans keeping control of Congress in November. Vice President Vance later suggested the payments would exclude wealthy Americans and be funded by tariff revenue, though that revenue currently falls short of the pledge's cost. Democrats called the promise implausible.

Supreme Court blocks Missouri's new House map for second time this week

Missouri Republicans redrew the state's congressional map last year to target a Kansas City-area seat held by Democrats. The state's own Supreme Court ruled the map illegal until voters approve it in a referendum, and the US Supreme Court on Thursday declined, for a second time this week, to let Republicans use it instead. The 2022 map stays in place for November's midterm elections.

World

Dutch tour bus overturns in the Swiss Alps, killing several 48 ABOARD

A coach carrying 48 Dutch tourists hit a guardrail and overturned Thursday afternoon on a mountain road between the villages of Susch and Zernez in eastern Switzerland. Several passengers died and others were injured, according to Graubünden cantonal police. Rescue helicopters and ambulances responded to the Alpine valley, and Swiss authorities are investigating what caused the coach to leave the road.

Saudi oil output plunges as Houthi attacks spread

Houthi forces intensified attacks on Saudi energy facilities this week as their offensive expanded along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia's crude production dropped sharply in August, adding to a global oil market already strained by fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh has not yet said how it plans to respond to the attacks.

Yemeni government forces retreat as Saudi jets strike back

Tareq Saleh, commander of the government-aligned National Resistance Forces, called the withdrawal from Mocha a tactical move to regroup his troops after heavy Houthi pressure. Saudi warplanes answered hours later with about 40 airstrikes across Yemen's Taiz, Hodeidah, al-Jawf, and Marib provinces, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency. More than 20,000 people have been displaced by the fighting over the past two weeks.

White House aides warn Trump the Iran war could outlast his term

Top US officials told President Trump the conflict with Iran could continue through the end of his term in January 2029, according to reports this week. Iranian leaders are reportedly determined to keep fighting despite the economic toll, viewing the war as an existential threat. Tehran claims it has rebuilt missile capabilities that Israel and the US destroyed earlier this year.

Truck collision kills 8, including 3 children, in central India 8 DEAD

A truck collided with a pickup van Friday on the Nagpur-Raipur highway near Bhandara, in India's Maharashtra state. Eight people died in the crash, including three children, according to local authorities. Officials have not yet said what caused the collision.

Politics

RNC convention closes with 9/11 tribute and slain activist's memory 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Republicans closed their two-day midterm convention in Dallas Thursday night with a tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The program also honored conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated a year ago. Vice President Vance and President Trump shared the convention's final hour, capping an event Republicans billed as a show of force ahead of November's midterms.

Vance appears to walk back parts of Trump's $5,000 pledge

President Trump told the Republican convention crowd in Dallas he would send every American adult a $5,000 check if Republicans keep Congress in November. Vice President Vance suggested afterward that wealthy Americans would be excluded and that tariff revenue would cover the cost. Current tariff collections fall short of what the full pledge would require.

Rubio ends South America trip pressing allies on cartels

Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a three-country tour of South America in Peru on Thursday. He pressed regional governments to step up their fight against drug cartels throughout the visit. The trip capped a week focused on hemispheric security as the Trump administration works to secure new cooperation agreements.

Missouri's attorney general vows further fight over House map

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she would keep pressing the case after the Supreme Court twice declined this week to revive the state's Republican-drawn congressional map. A separate federal court ruling had ordered the new map into use, leaving the boundaries in legal limbo. The dispute stems from a 2025 redistricting push Republicans made under pressure from President Trump.

House Democrats call Trump's dividend promise unrealistic

House Democrats pushed back hard after President Trump's $5,000 dividend pledge at the Republican convention in Dallas, calling the plan financially implausible. Analysts note the payout would cost more than $1 trillion if extended to every adult citizen, far above what tariff revenue currently generates. The pledge is contingent on Republicans keeping control of Congress after November's midterms.

Markets

Wall Street falls for a fourth straight day as oil surges S&P -0.59%

US stocks extended their losing streak Thursday as rising oil and fuel prices pushed Treasury yields higher. The S&P 500 fell 0.59%, the Dow dropped 0.35%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.97%, with the small-cap Russell 2000 down 1.32%. Chipmakers Marvell, Intel, and Lam Research each fell about 3% on rising borrowing-cost concerns.

Brent crude tops $108, its highest price since May

Brent crude climbed past $108 a barrel Thursday, the highest level since mid-May, as fighting between Iran and the United States intensified. Iran struck 10 tankers near the Strait of Hormuz this week in the largest wave of shipping attacks since the war began. Top US officials have told President Trump the conflict could drag on for years.

Diesel hits an all-time high near $6 a gallon $6/GALLON

US diesel prices climbed to an all-time high of nearly $6 a gallon Thursday, driven by the same Middle East fighting pushing crude prices higher. Wholesale inflation, measured by the producer price index, rose 5.4% over the past year in August, its fastest pace this year. The August consumer inflation report lands Friday morning.

Gold holds near $4,400 an ounce as traders brace for CPI

Gold traded near $4,406 an ounce Thursday, up slightly for the session, as investors sought safety ahead of Friday's inflation report. The metal has climbed about 21% over the past year, driven by Middle East tensions and expectations for lower long-term rates. Traders are also watching Bitcoin, which held support near $63,500 this week.

Macy's beats earnings and raises its outlook 63¢/SHARE

Macy's reported adjusted earnings of 63 cents a share for the quarter, up from 35 cents a year earlier and well above analyst estimates. Bloomingdale's led the results with an 11.3% jump in comparable sales, while the flagship Macy's brand grew 1.1%. The retailer raised its full-year profit forecast despite a stock dip in premarket trading.

Entertainment

Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo

Apple introduced a series of new products this week, including a foldable phone called the iPhone Duo. Apple shares rose slightly Thursday, recovering part of the previous session's losses even as the broader market fell for a fourth straight day. The company has not yet detailed pricing or a release date.

The Pitt leads Emmy nominations ahead of Sunday's ceremony 25 NODS

The medical drama The Pitt enters Sunday's 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with 25 total nominations, the most of any show this year. Mariska Hargitay hosts the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airing on NBC and Peacock. Creative Arts honors were handed out earlier this month ahead of the main event.

Nirvana to receive Video Vanguard honor at 2026 MTV VMAs

MTV announced Nirvana as this year's Video Vanguard honoree, recognizing the band's three studio albums: Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. The award marks one of music's highest honors for influence on the medium. Full VMA performance and presenter details have not yet been released.

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard remembered at private Texas funeral

Frank Beard, longtime drummer for the rock band ZZ Top, was remembered Tuesday at a private funeral service in Texas. Family, bandmates, and crew gathered at Forest Park Southwest for what organizers described as an intimate celebration of his life. Beard's death was announced earlier this month.

Tommy Hilfiger opens New York Fashion Week at the Plaza

Tommy Hilfiger held its Spring 2027 runway show at the Plaza Hotel Thursday, kicking off a run of major New York Fashion Week presentations. Celebrities filled the front row for the show, part of a week of collections previewing next year's styles. New York Fashion Week continues through the coming days.