⚡ Today in History

On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a demand that within days pulled Europe into World War One. In 1952, Egyptian military officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew King Farouk I, ending the monarchy. Today? Washington issued its own ultimatum, with President Trump warning Iran that any site tied to a nuclear weapons program will be struck, as the war entered its eleventh consecutive night of strikes.

Top News

Kuwait comes under fire as Iran war enters 11th night 11TH NIGHT

Overnight, Kuwait's air defenses intercepted a wave of hostile drones while Bahrain's Interior Ministry sounded air raid sirens across the kingdom. The attacks followed the eleventh consecutive night of U.S. strikes on Iranian military and coastal targets tied to the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia also issued an alert in the eastern city of Dammam, warning residents of a nearby danger.

Pentagon puts Iran war's price tag at $37.5 billion $37.5B

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the conflict with Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, up from a $25 billion estimate in April. Eighteen U.S. service members have been killed and roughly 100 injured since fighting resumed in early July. Senators from both parties pressed Hegseth for a plan to end the war, and he did not offer one.

Trump threatens strikes on Iran's underground nuclear sites

President Trump said Tuesday the U.S. would strike any location where Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear program, singling out Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground facility near the Natanz enrichment site bombed earlier this year. Iran's government has said any attack on its nuclear facilities would mark a further expansion of the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately warned that Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz would threaten the global economy.

Oil jumps toward $91 a barrel as war widens

Brent crude climbed above $91 a barrel and U.S. crude neared $85 on Wednesday, extending a rally that began after the Strait of Hormuz ceasefire collapsed. Yemen's Houthi rebels added to the pressure this week by declaring a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, opening a new front alongside the Red Sea shipping route. Rising fuel costs are now reviving inflation worries on Wall Street.

Andy Burnham becomes Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade

Keir Starmer resigned as Britain's prime minister on Monday and traveled to Buckingham Palace to formally hand power to King Charles III, who then invited Andy Burnham to form a new government. Burnham, previously the mayor of Greater Manchester, takes over an economy still struggling with high living costs and slow growth. He called his appointment a turning point for a country worn down by a decade of political turnover.

World

Houthis declare naval blockade of Saudi Arabia NEW FRONT

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement announced this week that it would blockade Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, opening a new front in the region's widening conflict. The move threatens a route Saudi Arabia has relied on to bypass the Strait of Hormuz since Iran began targeting tankers there. Riyadh has not yet said how it will respond.

American tourists stabbed near Athens' Acropolis

A 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, a Greek American couple, were attacked on a pedestrian street near the Acropolis Museum shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Greek police said. The man suffered a serious arm injury that required a tourniquet, while the woman's leg injury was less severe. Police detained a suspect, and officials described the attack as apparently random.

Tropical Storm Bertha churns toward the Gulf Coast

Bertha formed over the Gulf of Mexico this week and is tracking along the northern coastline, according to NOAA satellite imagery. Forecasters have not yet confirmed whether it will strengthen before making landfall. An active El Niño pattern this year could otherwise limit the total number of Atlantic storms.

Ebola deaths in Congo surge past 900

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 930 people, according to updated figures reported this week. Health officials have not announced a timeline for containing the virus's spread. The rising toll adds to a year already marked by conflict-driven instability in the country's east.

Spain battles its largest wildfire of 2026

Firefighters are working to contain Spain's biggest wildfire so far this year, according to footage from the scene aired by NBC News. The blaze comes during a broader European heat wave that has also lowered river levels on the Rhine, disrupting barge traffic in Germany. Authorities have not released an official cause.

Politics

Hegseth clashes with senators over Iran war's runaway cost $67B REQUEST

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine asked the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday for $67 billion in supplemental funding tied to the war with Iran. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters said the request amounted to a blank check for a war the administration has failed to explain, while Republican Sen. John Kennedy said Americans deserve straighter answers about how it ends. The Pentagon's internal estimate for the war's full cost runs as high as $100 billion, according to officials who spoke to NBC News.

Trump slaps 50% tariffs on Canadian goods

President Trump announced new 50% tariffs Monday on about $20 billion of Canadian goods, including wine, cement and hockey sticks, citing discriminatory trade practices under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The tariffs take effect in 30 days and exclude autos, energy and metals already covered by other duties. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would respond to protect its workers and businesses.

Rubio warns Iran against controlling the Strait of Hormuz

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Manila on Wednesday that Iran has no legal right to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He said threatening freedom of navigation there would put the global economy at risk, calling it central to 150 years of international trade. Rubio's comments came as the U.S. continues nightly strikes aimed at securing the waterway.

Trump's election overhaul push stalls in the Senate

President Trump pitched sweeping changes to U.S. election rules this week, but Senate Republicans told reporters the speech did not improve the bill's chances of passing. The proposal has faced resistance even within Trump's own party over specific provisions. No new vote has been scheduled.

Justice Department activates rarely used terrorist removal court

The Justice Department activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court this week for the first time since the court was created in 1996. The court allows the government to deport noncitizens accused of terrorism using classified evidence. Civil liberties groups have not yet filed a legal challenge.

Markets

Wall Street rallies on chip stocks, then wobbles +0.89%

The S&P 500 gained 0.89% Tuesday to close at 7,509.20, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.29% as semiconductor stocks extended a rebound following strong export data from Taiwan and South Korea. The rally faded Wednesday morning, with all three major indexes slipping as investors awaited earnings from Alphabet and Tesla. Traders are watching for evidence that heavy AI spending is paying off before pushing stocks higher again.

Oil hits five-week high as Iran war spreads

Brent crude settled at its highest level in five weeks before climbing further past $91 a barrel Wednesday, while U.S. crude traded near $85. The gains followed the eleventh consecutive night of U.S. strikes on Iran and a new Houthi blockade threat against Saudi Arabia. Rising fuel costs are adding to inflation concerns just as the Federal Reserve weighs its next move.

Gold climbs above $4,050 an ounce

Gold rose 1.86% Tuesday to $4,082.73 an ounce, rebounding as investors weighed the odds of renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations. The metal remains about 19% higher than a year ago despite pulling back from January's record high near $5,602. Analysts said any drop in energy-driven inflation could ease pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep raising rates.

Bitcoin slips below $66,000

Bitcoin traded at $65,858.69 Wednesday morning, down $452.11 from the previous day and about $54,150 lower than one year earlier. Ethereum and most other major cryptocurrencies moved in a narrow range overnight. Traders have largely tied crypto's recent swings to shifting expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate policy.

Nearly 9 in 10 S&P 500 firms beat earnings estimates 88%

About 88% of S&P 500 companies that have reported second-quarter results have beaten analysts' profit estimates, according to FactSet data. Strategists warned that strong results may no longer be enough to satisfy investors after the market's extended rally. Alphabet, Tesla, IBM and AT&T are among the major companies reporting this week.

Entertainment

"Godzilla vs. Kong" actor Kaylee Hottle dies at 18 AGE 18

Kaylee Hottle, who played a deaf character alongside Millie Bobby Brown in "Godzilla vs. Kong," died in a car crash Tuesday, her father confirmed. Brown shared a tribute to her former co-star following the news. Hottle was 18 years old.

"Mad Max" actor Mike Preston dies

Mike Preston, known for playing Pappagallo in 1981's "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," has died, according to TMZ. No cause of death was disclosed. Preston appeared in film and television for several decades after the role.

Netflix in talks for "KPop Demon Hunters" world tour

Netflix is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a live world tour built around "KPop Demon Hunters," the animated film that won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at this year's Oscars. Talks point to arena shows across multiple countries starting in 2027. The tour would arrive ahead of a planned sequel to the film.

Disney sets release dates for two sequels

Disney confirmed theatrical release dates this week for two long-awaited sequels, "Lilo & Stitch 2" and "The Incredibles 3." Both films continue franchises that Disney has revived in recent years through live-action and animated projects. Exact dates have not been made public beyond the confirmation.

Autopsy results due in mysterious death of Nolan Wells

Attorney Ben Crump was set to announce independent autopsy results Wednesday for Nolan Wells, who was found dead off Mississippi's Horn Island two days after vanishing over the Fourth of July weekend. Authorities have said Wells drowned, but Crump has questioned that conclusion. The family requested a second autopsy after raising concerns about the initial investigation.