⚡ Today in History

On August 17, 1999, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near İzmit, Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people. In 2008, Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, a single-Games record. Today? Another deadline arrives, as the ceasefire between the United States and Iran expires with no deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Top News

US-Iran ceasefire expires, Hormuz still blocked 5 MONTHS

The temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, signed in April 2026, expired Monday with no new agreement in place. Tehran and Washington remain at odds over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that normally carries a fifth of the world's oil. The standoff has entered its sixth month, keeping global shipping disrupted and fuel costs elevated.

Kushner meets Hamas chief in rare Cairo sit-down

Seeking to save President Trump's stalled Gaza peace plan, senior adviser Jared Kushner met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo on Sunday. The talks, brokered by Egypt, marked the first direct US-Hamas contact since last October. Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and travels to Israel Monday to see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel strikes Lebanon, killing 11 11 KILLED

Israel launched fresh strikes on Lebanon over the weekend, killing 11 people, including a senior Hezbollah commander. The attack adds another flashpoint to a region already gripped by the Iran war and stalled Gaza ceasefire talks. No Israeli casualties were reported.

Tropical Storm Lala floods Hawaii's Big Island

Tropical Storm Lala weakened from a hurricane late Saturday after skirting Hawaii's Big Island without making landfall. The storm dumped nearly three feet of rain, damaging or destroying more than 100 homes, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said. One death, from a car accident, has been linked to the storm.

Gas hits $4.07 a gallon nationally $4.07

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas reached $4.07 on Monday, according to AAA. That's up from $2.81 in January 2026, driven largely by the Iran war and the closed Strait of Hormuz. Drivers in California and Hawaii are paying the most, with both states averaging above $5 a gallon.

US oil reserve falls below 300 million barrels

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has dropped below 300 million barrels for the first time since it was filled in the early 1980s, the Department of Energy said. The drawdown reflects months of US efforts to offset supply disruptions from the closed Strait of Hormuz. Experts warn continued depletion could damage the underground caverns that store the oil.

Gold just crossed $5,000 an ounce

One year ago, gold was around $2,900. Today? It just crossed $5,000. Over 75% in a single year.

And it wasn't everyday Americans driving the price up. It was central banks.

China. India. Poland. Turkey. They know the U.S. debt hit $38.56 trillion. 

They know interest payments just surpassed $1 trillion a year for the first time ever. So they're getting out of paper and into gold.

President Trump has been fighting to fix this economy since day one. 

But the $38.56 trillion bomb Biden left behind doesn't disappear overnight. 

While Trump works to fix it from Washington, your retirement can't afford to sit and wait.

  • What the $5,000 gold price is really telling us about what's coming.

  • Why gold can't be printed or devalued the way the Fed destroyed every dollar in your savings.

  • How to move part of your IRA or 401(k) into physical gold without penalties or taxes.

Gold didn't go from $2,900 to $5,000 by accident. The only question is whether you'll listen in time.

World

Arab nations condemn Israel's Gaza plan rejection 8 NATIONS

Foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Pakistan issued a joint statement Sunday. The statement condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of key elements in President Trump's Gaza peace framework. Netanyahu's Likud party responded by accusing the Arab states of trying to unseat him ahead of Israel's October election.

North Korea criticizes new US-South Korea drills

The United States and South Korea began the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise Monday, set to run for 10 days. North Korea's Central Military Commission has previously called similar joint drills the most offensive war exercise ever staged on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has not yet issued a formal response to this year's exercise.

Migrants again try crossing into Spain's Ceuta

Hundreds of migrants attempted Friday to cross from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa. Moroccan officials blocked the crossing, the second such attempt since one on July 30 that raised questions about border enforcement. No injuries were reported in the latest attempt.

Iran, Oman edge toward Hormuz shipping deal

Iran said Sunday it has reached a preliminary agreement with Oman to help restore shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran linked full reopening to an end of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, now in its fifth month. Washington has not commented on the reported Iran-Oman agreement.

Erdogan calls for Hormuz reopening amid standoff

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz must resume. His comments came as the US-Iran ceasefire expired with the strait still closed to most commercial traffic. Erdogan also welcomed a new joint defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.

Shocking Number

20%

The share of the world's liquefied natural gas that normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, closed for more than five months.

Politics

Moore rebukes Trump over USS Lincoln morale crisis 266 DAYS

Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have spent 266 days at sea, including 200 in a combat zone supporting the war against Iran. Reports of moldy showers, food shortages and multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard have surfaced in recent weeks. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, an Army veteran, said Sunday that President Trump's dismissal of the concerns "pisses me off."

Trump says deployment hasn't lasted long enough

President Trump was asked Friday whether the USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment had gone on too long. "No, no, not nearly long enough," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has similarly dismissed reports of poor conditions on the carrier as "completely misrepresented."

Democrats demand Pentagon investigation into carrier

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said Sunday that conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln keep worsening. Gallego blamed the carrier's nine-month deployment on the unresolved Iran war and the administration's handling of it. Democratic lawmakers are now pressing the Pentagon for accountability over the ship's living conditions.

Navy sends new carrier to relieve USS Lincoln

The Navy is dispatching a new aircraft carrier to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, defense officials said. The move follows mounting pressure from lawmakers and military families over the carrier's extended deployment. A timeline for the Lincoln's return home has not been announced.

Pakistan nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Pakistan's government said Saturday it is formally recommending President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination cites Trump's intervention in the India-Pakistan crisis last month, which included a surprise ceasefire announcement. India has repeatedly said the US played no role in that mediation, including in a call between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Quote of the Day

“The response of the president of the United States pisses me off.”

— Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, on CNN's "State of the Union," August 16, 2026

Markets

S&P 500 slips from record high 7,786

The S&P 500 fell about 0.2% on Friday after touching a record high earlier in the week. The index still closed out its third straight weekly gain. The Nasdaq Composite also dipped 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 108 points.

Oil holds near $89 a barrel as Hormuz stays shut

Brent crude traded near $88 a barrel Monday, up more than 5% over the past week. Prices have climbed as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and the US-Iran ceasefire expires with no resolution. The International Energy Agency has warned of the widest global oil supply shortfall in five years.

Consumer sentiment sinks as inflation worries grow

The University of Michigan's preliminary August sentiment index fell to 51, below economists' forecast of 55. Americans grew more pessimistic about the economy as inflation concerns persisted through the summer. The reading adds to signs of a cooling US consumer heading into fall.

Retail sales post biggest drop in over a year

US retail sales fell in July by the most in more than a year, Commerce Department data released last week showed. The decline adds pressure on the Federal Reserve as it weighs a possible rate cut in September. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to address the outlook at the Jackson Hole symposium later this month.

Gold holds near 10-week high

Gold prices hovered around $4,400 an ounce, close to a 10-week high reached last week. Investors are betting the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its September meeting. China added roughly 20 tonnes of gold to its reserves in July, its 21st straight month of purchases.

Winning

SpaceX (+12% last week)
Twilio (+17% premarket)
Walt Disney (+2.1% Friday)

Losing

Salesforce (-2.3% Friday)
Wendy's (-2% on weak sales)
Cisco Systems (-1.7% Friday)

Shocking Number

87%

Share of S&P 500 companies that beat earnings estimates this quarter, even as consumer confidence slides.

Entertainment

Netflix in talks for KPop Demon Hunters world tour 2026 OSCARS

Netflix is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a world tour based on "KPop Demon Hunters," Bloomberg reported. The animated film won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars. Organizers are aiming to launch the tour in 2027, ahead of a planned sequel.

Disney sets release dates for two sequels

Disney announced theatrical release dates for "Lilo & Stitch 2" and "The Incredibles 3" over the weekend. Both films are follow-ups to some of the studio's most successful animated franchises. Exact dates were not disclosed in the studio's announcement.

Perez Hilton remains hospitalized for mental health care

Blogger Perez Hilton is still hospitalized nearly two weeks after a distressing livestream on August 4, his family said. He is receiving inpatient mental health care from physicians and specialists, according to an update on his website. His team said the site will resume its regular celebrity coverage.

McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine trailer debuts

Director Martin McDonagh released the trailer for his new film, "Wild Horse Nine," starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. The movie follows two CIA agents dispatched shortly before Chile's 1973 coup. A release date has not yet been announced.

Rhimes reacts to Oscars' In Memoriam omission

Producer Shonda Rhimes publicly questioned the Academy's decision to exclude actor Eric Dane from the 2026 Oscars' In Memoriam segment. Dane, known for roles in "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria," died earlier this year. The Academy has not publicly explained the omission.

The Bottom Line

The US-Iran ceasefire expired Monday with the Strait of Hormuz still closed. That standoff has pushed gas to $4.07 a gallon and pulled the Strategic Petroleum Reserve below 300 million barrels for the first time since the 1980s. Markets are now watching the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium for signs of whether relief is coming.