⚡ Today in History

On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France, widening World War I into a two-front conflict. In 1958, the USS Nautilus became the first ship to cross the North Pole while submerged beneath Arctic ice. Today? President Trump called off a planned strike on Iran that he said would have been the biggest military attack since World War II.

Top News

Trump cancels planned attack on Iran DEAL "NEAR"

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar urged President Trump to hold off on a planned strike against Iran, the White House said. Trump agreed Saturday night to cancel the attack, writing on Truth Social that "the perimeters of a deal" had been reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump made the announcement while flying back to Washington aboard Air Force One. Negotiations between the United States and Iran are set to resume Monday afternoon.

Gunman kills 3 at Idaho In-N-Out, dies by suicide 7 HURT

A motive remains under investigation after 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire outside an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday. Twin Falls is a city of about 56,000 people located roughly 120 miles southeast of Boise. Williams killed three people and wounded seven others before an off-duty state trooper and an armed bystander returned fire, driving him from the scene. Williams then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Spokane wildfires destroy 700 buildings, force 60,000 out

Record drought and wind gusts up to 25 mph fueled three wildfires that swept into Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, over the weekend. The blazes, known together as the Spokane Complex Fire, have burned more than 7,700 acres and remain at 0% containment. More than 700 homes and other buildings have been destroyed, and roughly 60,000 people have been evacuated. No deaths have been reported, and Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide wildfire emergency.

Louisiana joins states investigating Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right 111 times last week during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Saturday that her state will investigate Fauci, joining probes already opened by Alabama and Florida. Former President Biden granted Fauci a preemptive pardon in 2025, but that pardon does not cover potential state charges. Newly disclosed diary pages show differences between Fauci's public and private statements during the pandemic.

Spider-Man sequel scores second-biggest opening ever

Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the fourth film starring Tom Holland as the web-slinging hero, opened in 4,487 North American theaters this weekend. The film collected $355 million domestically, the second-biggest opening in box office history behind 2019's "Avengers: Endgame." Combined with Universal's "The Odyssey," the weekend produced the biggest collective box office haul ever, at roughly $430 million. Sony's film also beat its own studio record, previously held by 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

World

Indonesia ferry fire kills 5, leaves 41 missing 271 ABOARD

The cause remains under investigation after the ferry Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire early Sunday off Indonesia's Madura Island, which sits off the northeastern coast of Java. The vessel was carrying 271 people from Surabaya, in East Java, to Makassar, in South Sulawesi, when the fire broke out. Nearby ships rescued 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies. Indonesia's national search and rescue agency said 41 people remain unaccounted for as the search continues.

Israeli strikes kill 8 in Gaza since dawn

Israeli strikes continued across Deir al-Balah, Gaza City and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip early Monday, medical sources said. At least eight people were killed since dawn, adding to a death toll that has climbed since the war began in October 2023. Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and the United States have been pressing Palestinian factions to accept a roadmap tied to President Trump's peace plan. A Hamas-linked faction, the Al-Quds Brigades, agreed to a disarmament plan on Saturday.

Russia says it intercepted 635 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russian air defenses intercepted 635 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russian officials said Monday, in one of the largest such operations since the war began in February 2022. The overnight barrage came as fighting continues on multiple fronts more than four years into the conflict. Officials did not immediately report casualties or damage from the drone attempts. Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drone strikes as the war grinds on.

Ceuta migrant crisis death toll climbs to 67

Spain's Ceuta enclave, on Morocco's northern coast, has seen its migrant-crossing death toll climb to 67, authorities said Saturday. Some victims drowned attempting to reach Spanish territory, while others died in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier separating Morocco from the enclave. Roughly 60,000 migrants have crossed from Morocco into Spanish territory during the crisis. Spanish and Moroccan authorities have not announced new measures to stem the crossings.

Tanker reports blast near Strait of Hormuz

Tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to open ocean, have disrupted shipping for months. A tanker captain reported hearing an explosion 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, a British maritime security agency said Monday. All crew members aboard the vessel were reported safe. The incident comes as the United States and Iran prepare to resume negotiations over control of the strait.

Politics

Fauci pleads the Fifth 111 times before Senate panel 111X

Newly disclosed pages from Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic-era diary show gaps between his public statements and private records, according to state investigators. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times last week before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Former President Biden issued Fauci a preemptive pardon in January 2025, but Republican lawmakers argue that the pardon covers only federal charges. Senator Tommy Tuberville said he would pursue charges against Fauci if elected Alabama's governor.

Louisiana becomes third state investigating Fauci

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Saturday that her office will investigate Dr. Anthony Fauci over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Murrill's announcement follows similar investigations opened by Florida and Alabama in the days after Fauci's Senate testimony. Murrill said Louisiana and Missouri had deposed Fauci and uncovered records that contradict his prior statements. The probes could expose Fauci to state charges even though a federal pardon shields him from prosecution in Washington.

Trump: Iran talks resume Monday after canceled strike

President Trump said Sunday that the United States and Iran will resume negotiations Monday afternoon after he called off a planned military strike. Trump made the comments to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from a weekend trip. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran appears more willing to negotiate over its nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have publicly denied that any deal framework has been reached.

Mandela Barnes exits Wisconsin governor's race

Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the Democratic primary for governor. Barnes made the announcement ahead of Wisconsin's primary, scheduled for August 11. His exit narrows the Democratic field as the party looks to hold the governor's office. Barnes previously ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin in 2022.

Senate GOP, Trump friction grows as recess nears

Tension between President Trump and Senate Republicans is growing as lawmakers prepare to leave Washington for their August recess. Senate appropriators reached a deal over the weekend aimed at avoiding a government shutdown, according to The Hill. Senator James Lankford said Sunday that Senate Republicans will keep working even if broader legislation stalls. The friction comes as the GOP juggles the Fauci investigations, Iran policy and messaging ahead of the midterms.

Markets

Oil drops more than 6% as Iran fears ease -6%

Crude oil futures fell more than 6% Monday after President Trump called off a planned attack on Iran over the weekend. The drop eased weeks of price swings tied to fears that fighting could shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping route. U.S. stock futures rose between 0.6% and 0.95% in response, according to Trading Economics. Investors are also awaiting Friday's July jobs report, which is expected to show 83,000 new jobs and 4.3% unemployment.

Amazon's 15% surge drove last week's market gains

Amazon shares jumped 15% last week after the company beat expectations on its cloud-computing business. The rally helped lift the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which gained 1.05% and 1.59%, respectively, over the week. Alphabet and Microsoft also posted gains, while Apple fell more than 7% on rising chip costs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added roughly 1% for the week, marking its fourth straight monthly gain in July.

Palantir set to report earnings after the bell

Investor attention is shifting back to artificial intelligence and defense-technology spending this week. Palantir Technologies, led by CEO Alex Karp, is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after Monday's closing bell. SpaceX's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is set to release its first-ever quarterly report as a public company on Tuesday. Both results could set the tone for tech and AI stocks through the rest of the week.

Gold climbs to $4,061 an ounce

Gold rose to $4,061.51 per troy ounce Monday, up 0.46% from the previous day, according to Trading Economics. The metal found support after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady last week despite inflation pressure tied to renewed fighting in the Middle East. Gold's price is still down 2.48% over the past month but remains more than 20% higher than a year ago. Markets are pricing in about a 63% chance of a Fed rate hike in September.

Entertainment

'Brand New Day' sets records for premium screens $72M PREVIEWS

Demand for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" was so intense that some theater chains scheduled showtimes every 15 minutes through the weekend. The film set new opening-weekend records for Dolby, 4DX and ScreenX premium formats, and its $72 million preview haul topped the prior record held by "Avengers: Endgame." Sony's motion picture group chair, Tom Rothman, said the film's theme of connection resonated with audiences worldwide. Tom Holland's fourth outing as Spider-Man improved on each of his three previous films at the box office.

Ariana Grande withdraws from West End play

Ariana Grande is stepping away from public-facing work after wrapping her "Eternal Sunshine" tour, her representative said. Grande has withdrawn from the London revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George," which had been set for the Barbican theater in 2027. The role would have reunited her with "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey. Grande's representative said the decision is part of a broader plan to pause acting work.

Oscar winner Glen Hansard dies at 56

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin this week at age 56. Hansard won an Academy Award for the song "Falling Slowly" from the 2007 film "Once," which he later adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical. Hansard also fronted the rock band the Frames and, with Marketa Irglova, formed the duo the Swell Season. Tributes poured in from musicians who worked with him over his decades-long career.

Sid Wilson resurfaces after Slipknot exit

Sid Wilson, a founding member of Slipknot since 1999, was seen in public for the first time since leaving the band. Wilson was spotted arriving at a recording studio in Los Angeles over the weekend, days after reports surfaced that he had exited the heavy metal group. Asked directly whether he had been fired, Wilson declined to answer and headed inside. Wilson had been recognized in Slipknot for his turntable work and high-energy stage presence.

WWE's SummerSlam wraps two-night run in Minneapolis

WWE closed out SummerSlam 2026 with Roman Reigns facing Seth Rollins in the main event at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The two-night event drew thousands of fans across Saturday and Sunday. Brock Lesnar lost to Oba Femi in a Hell in a Cell match on the event's first night, fueling speculation about Lesnar's future with the company. WWE has not commented on Lesnar's status going forward.