⚡ Today in History

On August 13, 1961, East Germany sealed the border between East and West Berlin, starting construction of the Berlin Wall. In 1521, Spanish forces under Hernan Cortes captured Tenochtitlan, ending the Aztec empire. Today? President Trump is calling the US Navy's blockade around Iran's Strait of Hormuz a "wall of steel," as global shipping through the waterway remains near a standstill.

Top News

Pentagon: US strikes killed 153 civilians in Yemen 153 CIVILIANS

A Pentagon review sent to Congress found that US airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 150 civilians since the campaign began in March 2025. The unclassified assessment was obtained by the Associated Press and reported first by NBC News. It lands as lawmakers raise concerns over civilian deaths in US military operations under the Trump administration.

Trump claims 'total control' of Hormuz, Iran disagrees 8 VS. 120

President Trump wrote on Truth Social this week that the United States has total control of the Strait of Hormuz and plans to keep it. Iran's newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority rejected the claim, and shipping data backs Tehran up. Only eight vessels crossed the strait Monday, compared with an average of 120 before the war began in February.

Karoline Leavitt to step down as press secretary

Trump announced on Truth Social Wednesday that Karoline Leavitt, 28, will leave the White House at the end of August to spend more time with her two children. Leavitt became the youngest press secretary in US history when she took the job in January 2025. She will stay on as an outside adviser to the president heading into the November midterms.

Congo's Ebola outbreak on pace to become deadliest ever 2,000+ DEATHS

The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest one on record. The outbreak, declared May 15, 2026, has killed more than 2,000 people out of over 4,300 cases in Ituri province. The 2014-2016 West African outbreak it may eclipse killed more than 11,000 people.

Wall Street rises as inflation cools to 3.4%

The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% over the year through July, matching forecasts and easing fears of a Federal Reserve rate hike. The S&P 500 gained 0.26% to close at 7,749 Wednesday, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.54% to 26,588. Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks led the gains after strong earnings from Super Micro Computer and CoreWeave.

World

Oil tanker spill reaches Oman's coastline

A tanker ran aground off Oman's coast this week, and authorities said Wednesday the resulting oil spill has now reached shore. Cleanup crews are working to contain the spill along the Gulf of Oman, a route already strained by the naval standoff between the United States and Iran. Oman has not yet released an estimate of the spill's size or environmental cost.

Europe's wildfires burn record 1.23 million acres 1.23M ACRES

Western Europe recorded its hottest June and July on record this summer, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The resulting wildfires have burned more than 1.23 million acres across Spain, France and Italy since June. Firefighters in Spain say it is the country's deadliest wildfire season in roughly two decades.

Missile strike in Red Sea kills three crew members

A Saudi-owned commercial vessel was struck by a missile Monday while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait near Yemen, according to shipping sources and Yemeni officials. The attack killed three crew members, including two Pakistani nationals, marine intelligence group Marisk reported. The strike adds to a string of attacks on shipping tied to the broader US-Iran conflict.

Total solar eclipse crosses Greenland, Iceland and Spain

The only total solar eclipse of 2026 swept across the Northern Hemisphere Wednesday, its path of totality crossing Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. Thousands of tourists gathered in Soria, Spain, to watch the sky darken at the Gormaz fortress. The next total solar eclipse visible from Europe will not occur until 2027.

Eurovision bars countries at war from hosting

The European Broadcasting Union announced this week that nations actively involved in armed conflict will be excluded from hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. The rule change follows years of debate over whether warring countries should stage the annual competition. Organizers did not name which upcoming host nations, if any, would be affected by the policy.

Politics

Leavitt is the fifth woman to leave Trump's team this year 5TH WOMAN

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will depart at the end of August, following Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Tulsi Gabbard out of high-ranking posts this year. All four of her predecessors in those roles have been replaced by men. Leavitt's departure comes less than three months before the November midterm elections.

Russia-Iran sanctions bill named for late Sen. Graham heads to House 86-11 VOTE

The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by an 86-11 vote last week, naming the bill for the South Carolina senator who died in July 2026. Reps. Michael McCaul and Steny Hoyer introduced companion legislation in the House on Monday with 16 co-sponsors. The bill would sanction Russian oil buyers and restrict funding tied to Iran's energy and weapons programs.

Trump demands Iran pay for "50 years" of conflict

President Trump said Monday that Iran should compensate victims of what he called 50 years of wars, attacks and protests before any ceasefire deal moves forward. Iran's top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, responded Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until Washington lifts sanctions and unfreezes Iranian assets. A senior Iranian source told Reuters the two sides did not discuss extending the ceasefire this week.

Iran's Hormuz authority loses its security certificate

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, Iran's new agency overseeing Hormuz shipping traffic, is directing ships to its website over unencrypted connections, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks. The agency lost its ability to renew its security certificate after the US Treasury added it to a sanctions list on May 27, 2026. The lapse leaves ship operators submitting transit paperwork without standard encryption protection.

Panel finds ex-judge guilty in India cash-at-home case

A committee appointed by India's Lok Sabha found former Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma guilty of misconduct this week. The case stems from a fire that exposed bundles of cash inside Varma's official residence in New Delhi last year. The panel's findings could clear the way for impeachment proceedings against Varma in Parliament.

Markets

Inflation cools to 3.4%, easing rate-hike fears 3.4% CPI

The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% over the past year through July, matching Wall Street's forecast and slowing slightly from June's 3.5% pace. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, held at a 2.5% annual rate. Money markets are now pricing in less than a 50% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.

CoreWeave, Super Micro surge 19% on earnings +19%

Shares of CoreWeave and Super Micro Computer each jumped about 19% Wednesday after both companies posted stronger sales and profit than analysts expected. Optical equipment maker Lumentum Holdings soared 14% on strong demand tied to artificial intelligence. The rally in AI-linked stocks helped drive the Nasdaq 100 to a one-month high.

Oil holds near $83 as Hormuz standoff drags on

US crude settled around $83 a barrel Wednesday, while global benchmark Brent held above $89, extending a six-session winning streak. Prices have stayed volatile as traders weigh conflicting signals from US and Iranian officials over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency says the closure is cutting global oil demand by more than 500,000 barrels a day compared with last month's forecast.

Gold climbs toward record highs

Gold prices rose to roughly $4,407 an ounce Wednesday as investors sought safety amid the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. The metal has climbed steadily since the US launched military operations against Iran in February 2026. The 10-year Treasury yield edged up to 4.69% the same day.

Entertainment

Disney sets dates for 'Lilo & Stitch 2,' 'Incredibles 3'

Disney announced release dates this week for two long-awaited sequels, Lilo & Stitch 2 and The Incredibles 3. Both films follow box-office hits, with Lilo & Stitch's 2025 live-action remake and The Incredibles franchise dating back to 2004. Disney did not release plot details for either upcoming film.

Netflix in talks for 'KPop Demon Hunters' world tour 2 OSCARS

Netflix is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a global tour featuring music from KPop Demon Hunters, Bloomberg reported this week. The animated film won two Oscars this year, for best animated feature and best original song. Promoters are aiming to launch the tour in 2027, ahead of a planned sequel.

Elvis Week opens at Graceland in Memphis

Elvis Week kicked off August 8 at Graceland in Memphis and runs through August 16, marking the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death in 1977. Fans travel from around the world each year for concerts, panels and a candlelight vigil at the mansion. Longtime Elvis Presley Enterprises staffer Alicia Dean said this year's lineup includes new programming for younger fans.

Spotify to label AI-generated music

Spotify said this week it will begin labeling AI-generated songs and will block them from its algorithmic recommendations. The streaming service has faced growing pressure from musicians and labels over undisclosed AI tracks appearing in playlists. Spotify did not specify how it will verify whether a song was made with artificial intelligence.

Trailer drops for McDonagh's Cold War thriller

A trailer debuted this week for Wild Horse Nine, the new film from director Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. The story follows two CIA agents dispatched to Chile shortly before the 1973 coup. The film joins McDonagh's past work, including In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin.