⚡ Today in History

On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia. The move pulled Europe into what became World War I within days. In 1936, Adolf Hitler opened the Berlin Olympics under a regime already preparing for a larger war. Today? A different war keeps expanding — Iran struck U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain overnight, five months after the fighting began.

Top News

Iran strikes U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain 5-MONTH WAR

Iran launched drone attacks on U.S. military assets at Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base early Friday. Iran’s army said the strike answered a U.S. attack on Iran’s Qeshm Island days earlier, hitting aircraft shelters, satellite systems, and equipment storage. The attack came a day after the U.S. completed a heavy wave of strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard sites nationwide. The war, now in its sixth month, has spread to at least five countries.

Japan earthquake death toll climbs to 34 34 DEAD

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu Tuesday. The quake triggered a mall explosion in Kashima and a fatal collapse at a paper mill in Yatsushiro. The death toll reached 34 by Friday, as rescuers raced against the critical 72-hour survival window. More than 79,000 homes remained without water, and over 9,000 people were staying in shelters.

Russia’s Lviv barrage kills at least 8 across Ukraine

Russia fired more than 70 missiles and 280 drones across Ukraine overnight Wednesday into Thursday, exploiting Kyiv’s shortage of Western air defenses. The barrage killed at least eight people, including three children, and wounded dozens in Kyiv, Lviv, and the Dnipropetrovsk region. A Russian cruise missile also crossed into Poland’s airspace during the attack, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets.

Microsoft posts biggest one-day gain in market history

Microsoft reported a 43% jump in Azure cloud revenue Thursday, crossing $100 billion in annual sales for the first time. The stock surged 15%, adding roughly $450 billion in value, the largest single-day gain for any company on record. Meta Platforms fell 9% the same day after missing earnings estimates and forecasting weaker third-quarter revenue.

Fed holds rates steady as oil tops $87 a barrel

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged this week, resisting pressure to cut despite mixed economic signals. Treasury yields climbed to multi-year highs as investors weighed the Middle East war’s effect on inflation. Oil prices have risen more than 20% over the past month on fears the conflict could disrupt Gulf supply. Markets now price in a 63% chance of a rate hike, not a cut, by September.

World

Egypt hit for first time in U.S.-Iran war 1ST STRIKE

A drone struck two ships at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta on Thursday. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the first to hit Egyptian soil since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran in February. The strike adds Egypt to a growing list of countries pulled into the five-month conflict, joining Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.

Russian missile crosses into Poland, NATO scrambles jets

A Russian cruise missile entered Polish airspace during Thursday’s overnight barrage on Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. NATO said it was investigating the incursion after Poland scrambled fighter jets to secure its skies. European leaders have warned for months that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill across its borders.

Iraq denies role in drone strikes on Saudi Arabia

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency security meeting Wednesday after Saudi Arabia accused drones launched from Iraqi territory of striking Riyadh earlier in the week. A spokesperson for al-Zaidi’s office said no evidence supports the claim. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said the strikes hit its capital and critical infrastructure on Monday and Tuesday.

Zelensky renews plea for air defenses after deadly strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more Western air defense systems Thursday, two days after meeting with U.S. officials in Washington. Zelensky had warned publicly the day before that a massive Russian attack was imminent, and said Ukraine’s safety now depends on allies’ willingness to supply anti-missile systems.

Houthi threats widen Red Sea risk as war spreads

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels renewed threats against Saudi Arabia this week, opening a second maritime flashpoint in the region. Saudi forces have joined U.S. operations against Tehran-linked militants in Iraq in response. The escalation raises the risk of further disruption to Red Sea shipping routes, an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Politics

Trump vows U.S. will hit Iran “very hard” DAY 2

Iran struck U.S.-linked bases across the Middle East for a second straight day this week. President Trump promised retaliation Wednesday, telling reporters from the Oval Office the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard.” U.S. Central Command confirmed a heavy wave of strikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard sites in response.

War powers vote to end Iran conflict fails again

The Senate voted 50-49 on Thursday to block a resolution that would have forced President Trump to end the war with Iran. It was the second such war powers vote to fail in the Senate in two weeks. The measure followed a nonbinding House resolution passed earlier this month calling for U.S. troops to come home.

Trump’s clout faces test in South Carolina primary

Sen. Lindsey Graham died during his 2026 reelection campaign, and his sister Darline Graham was appointed to finish his term. President Trump has endorsed Darline Graham ahead of an August 11 special Republican primary. A crowded field of conservative challengers is now testing whether Trump’s support still moves South Carolina voters.

Judge to review unreleased Epstein files this week

A federal judge ordered the Justice Department to turn over redacted and withheld Epstein documents for private review this week, following a dispute over what should become public. The Justice Department has said more than 6 million pages are potentially responsive to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law Trump signed in November 2025. The review could determine whether additional records are released.

U.S. boat strikes near Venezuela have killed 221 since 2025

The U.S. military has carried out 66 strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September 2025, killing at least 221 people, according to Trump administration announcements. The campaign continued even after a January raid that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who now awaits trial in Brooklyn. Coast Guard data show seaborne cocaine seizures have declined since the strikes began, though officials caution cartels may simply be shifting routes.

Markets

Microsoft’s Azure surge triggers record one-day gain +15%

Microsoft reported a 43% jump in Azure cloud revenue Thursday, pushing quarterly revenue to $90 billion and topping Wall Street estimates. The stock surged 15%, adding roughly $450 billion in value, the largest single-day gain for any company on record. Investors cheered signs that the company’s heavy AI spending is starting to pay off.

Meta sinks 9% after missing earnings estimates

Meta Platforms fell more than 9% Thursday after reporting earnings per share of $6.18, missing analyst estimates by more than a dollar. The company forecast third-quarter revenue as low as $61 billion, below Wall Street’s expectations. The drop marked a sharp contrast with rival Microsoft, whose stock jumped the same day on strong cloud growth.

S&P 500 rallies 1.7% as Wall Street rebounds

The S&P 500 rose 1.7% Thursday, its best day in weeks, as strong earnings from Microsoft and Amazon revived investor confidence in AI spending. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.2%. The rebound followed a sharp selloff earlier in the week driven by concerns over unsustainable AI capital spending.

Oil climbs above $87 a barrel on Middle East fears

Brent crude traded near $87 a barrel Friday, up more than 20% over the past month on fears the U.S.-Iran war could disrupt Gulf oil supply. West Texas Intermediate crude traded around $82 a barrel. Prices have swung sharply since the conflict widened to Kuwait, Bahrain, and now Egypt this week.

Amazon cloud revenue accelerates for fifth quarter

Amazon’s cloud-computing division posted its fifth straight quarter of accelerating growth in results reported after Thursday’s close. Shares climbed in after-hours trading following the report. Amazon and Microsoft together are forecasting more than $700 billion in combined 2026 capital spending on AI infrastructure.

Entertainment

Glen Hansard, Oscar-winning ‘Once’ songwriter, dies at 56 AGE 56

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard died Wednesday at age 56. Hansard won an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly” from the 2007 film “Once,” which later became a Tony-winning Broadway musical. Hansard rose to fame busking on the streets of Dublin before fronting the rock band the Frames.

BTS won’t submit new album for Grammy consideration

K-pop group BTS announced this week that its latest album will not be submitted for Grammy consideration. The decision follows the group’s yearslong hiatus, during which its members fulfilled South Korea’s mandatory military service. The move may be linked to the Recording Academy’s addition of a new award category, according to industry reporting.

Jared Leto denies new sexual misconduct allegations

Actor Jared Leto is facing new allegations of criminal sexual conduct from four women in a BBC documentary. Leto has denied the allegations. The claims add to a series of misconduct accusations against Leto dating back several years.

Antonio Sabato Jr. and longtime partner end engagement

Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. and his partner, Katia Fernandez, have ended their engagement after more than nine years together, sources close to the couple told TMZ Thursday. The pair had not publicly announced a wedding date. Sabato Jr. rose to fame in the 1990s as a soap opera and calendar model star.

Forbes names top-paid podcasters of 2026

Forbes released its list of the highest-paid podcasters of 2026 this week, with “New Heights” hosts Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce among the top earners. “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper also made the list. The rankings highlight podcasting’s continued growth as a lucrative media format.