⚡ Today in History

On September 10, 1813, U.S. Navy Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, the first full defeat of a British naval squadron in history. In 1990, Steffi Graf won the U.S. Open to complete tennis's first Grand Slam since 1970. Today? The U.S. Open quarterfinals are underway in New York, and a new naval flashpoint has opened half a world away, as U.S. and Iranian forces trade strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.

Top News

Trump promises $5,000 to every American adult $5,000

Speaking at the Republican National Committee's first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, President Donald Trump pledged a $5,000 payment to every American adult, calling it the Trump dividend. He said the payment applies only if Republicans hold the House and Senate after the November 3 midterm elections. Trump did not explain how the payments would be funded or whether Congress would need to approve them.

Oil tops $100 a barrel as US-Iran war reaches month seven $101/BARREL

The United States and Iran have exchanged strikes since fighting began on February 28, 2026, with the Strait of Hormuz as the main flashpoint. Brent crude closed above $100 a barrel on Wednesday, September 9, for the first time since May, after U.S. Central Command said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers following Iranian missile attacks on a Navy warship. The rising price adds to inflation worries ahead of Friday's consumer price report.

Zelenskyy's flight delayed after drone breaches Moldovan airspace

Moldova closed its airspace on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after detecting a drone incursion while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy waited to leave the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, for Norway. The drone came down and exploded about 100 miles from the airport before drifting into NATO member Romania. Moldova's ambassador to the U.S. called the incident unlikely to be accidental. Zelenskyy's plane was cleared for takeoff once the drone had come down.

Pilot warned of excess speed before Miami cargo jet crash

An Amazon-branded cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport on Monday, September 7, 2026. Flight data released by the National Transportation Safety Board on September 10 shows one pilot repeatedly warned the other that the jet was going too fast during the final two minutes before it ran off the runway. No fatalities have been reported. Investigators are continuing to examine the flight recorder for a cause.

Wall Street falls for a third straight session

U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as rising oil prices and Treasury yields outweighed hopes for a calmer Middle East. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 405 points, or 0.77%, to 52,381. The S&P 500 dropped 0.48% to 7,636, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.64% to 26,253. Energy stocks were the only S&P 500 sector to finish higher.

World

Russian drone kills two at Sumy shopping center 2 KILLED

A Russian drone struck the Manufaktura shopping center in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Wednesday evening, September 9, 2026, killing a 21-year-old man and woman. More than 20 people were wounded, including three teenagers, with four in serious condition, Ukrainian officials said. Sumy sits near the Russian border and has faced repeated strikes since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

UN nuclear watchdog refers Iran to Security Council

Iran has repeatedly refused inspections of its nuclear facilities during the ongoing war with the U.S. and Israel. The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors passed a resolution this week referring Iran to the UN Security Council, the first such referral in 20 years. Iran's government criticized the move, which could open the door to reinstated UN sanctions on Tehran.

Kim Jong Un praises troops in "overseas military operations"

North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine since late 2024. During celebrations marking North Korea's founding anniversary this week, leader Kim Jong Un publicly praised soldiers serving in what state media called overseas military operations. The remarks mark a shift toward openly acknowledging a deployment North Korea had previously downplayed.

UK's settlement import ban wins support from eight nations

The United Kingdom banned imports and restricted services tied to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank this week, citing what it called settler violence. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the goal is to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates welcomed the decision on Thursday, September 10, while France and Canada said they plan similar measures. Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned the restrictions would mainly hurt Palestinian workers.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard targets US base in Jordan

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched an attack toward a U.S. military installation in Jordan this week, part of the broader exchange of strikes that has defined the war since February. The attack followed U.S. strikes on Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman days earlier. No U.S. casualties had been confirmed from the Jordan attack as of Thursday, September 10, 2026.

Politics

Rhode Island governor becomes first to lose primary in eight years 24-PT MARGIN

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee lost his Democratic primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Foulkes led by roughly 25 points as most ballots were counted, according to the Associated Press. McKee's handling of a multi-year bridge closure in Providence weighed heavily on the race, and he becomes the first sitting governor to lose a primary since 2018.

Providence mayor also ousted in primary upset

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost his Democratic primary to state Representative David Morales on the same night, September 9, 2026. The result adds Rhode Island's largest city to a growing list of races this cycle where sitting officeholders lost to primary challengers. Both upsets came as Sen. Jack Reed easily won renomination for a sixth term.

Texas Senate primary race tightens ahead of November

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, addressed the RNC midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, hours before Trump's keynote speech. Paxton faces Democratic state Representative James Talarico, who holds a slight lead in recent polling and has outraised Paxton in campaign funds. The race is one of several Republicans are watching closely ahead of the November 3 midterms.

Vance renews pressure on the Fed to cut rates

Vice President JD Vance has repeated calls for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates to ease housing costs, adding to pressure President Trump has placed on the central bank. The comments come days after Trump-appointed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaled the opposite may be needed, citing persistently high inflation. The Fed's next policy meeting is scheduled for next week.

TSA reinstates limited airport access without a boarding pass

The Transportation Security Administration this week reintroduced limited gate access for people without a ticket, reversing a post-9/11 restriction at select airports. The change lets some non-passengers pass through security to accompany travelers to their gate. TSA has not said how many airports will offer the option or when it will take effect nationwide.

Markets

VIX jumps as investors brace for Friday's inflation report VIX +5.47%

Wall Street's fear gauge, the VIX, rose 5.47% on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as the 10-year Treasury yield climbed toward 5%. Investors are waiting on Thursday's producer price report and Friday's consumer price index for signs of how the Federal Reserve will handle inflation pressure from rising oil prices. The Fed's next policy meeting is set for next week.

Gold hits a record high as investors seek safety

Gold rose to $4,405.88 an ounce on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, up more than 21% over the past year. A weaker dollar and rising Middle East tensions have pushed investors toward the metal as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risk.

Bitcoin holds near $78,000 despite market turmoil

Bitcoin traded around $78,000 on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, giving back an earlier overnight gain that had briefly pushed the cryptocurrency above $79,700. The move left bitcoin roughly flat over 24 hours, even as stocks and oil swung sharply on Middle East headlines.

Energy stocks buck the market's slide

Energy was the only S&P 500 sector to close higher on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, gaining about 1.1% as oil prices climbed. Chevron led gainers on the Dow, rising 2.47%, while Alphabet and Salesforce led the day's losses as tech stocks fell on rate worries.

Entertainment

Ben Shelton knocks out defending champion Alcaraz at US Open SEMIFINALS

American Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the U.S. Open quarterfinals in a match that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in New York. The win sends Shelton into the semifinals, one step from a place in Sunday's final.

Disney sets release dates for two long-awaited sequels

Disney this week announced theatrical release dates for Lilo & Stitch 2 and The Incredibles 3. Both franchises have been in development for several years following the box-office success of their predecessors. Disney did not release plot details for either film.

Netflix in talks for a KPop Demon Hunters world tour

Netflix is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a world tour built around KPop Demon Hunters, according to a Bloomberg report this week. The animated film won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars earlier this year. Promoters are aiming for arena shows in 2027, ahead of a planned sequel.

Venice Film Festival draws Hollywood's next generation

Casey Affleck's son Indiana made a rare public appearance alongside his father and uncle Ben Affleck at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The 83rd edition of the festival has also featured a red-carpet appearance from Ricky Martin, who is promoting his new film, Hombre al Agua.

Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson remembered at age 70

Two-time Grammy winner Cassandra Wilson died on September 1, 2026, at age 70. The jazz vocalist was known for blending blues, folk and pop influences across a recording career that spanned four decades, drawing early inspiration from artists including Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens.