⚡ Today in History

On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, two days after Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain. Today, President Trump is privately weighing whether to declare a different war over — the seven-month conflict with Iran — even as the Pentagon extends troop deployments across the region.

Top News

Trump weighs declaring Iran war over 7 MONTHS

President Trump has privately discussed with senior aides whether to declare the war with Iran finished, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, favoring an end to a conflict that began February 28. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is extending troop deployments across the Middle East at the same time, a sign the fighting could drag into next year. The mixed signals leave open whether the seven-month war, which has driven up gas and oil prices, ends before November's midterm elections.

Iran strikes three US allies overnight 3 COUNTRIES

In retaliation for fresh American airstrikes on Iranian targets, Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missiles and drones at US forces in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, according to Gulf News. Jordan's Camp Titin took an "intense ballistic missile attack," while air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain. The exchange, the first major escalation in nearly a month, further complicated efforts to end the war.

Wedding strike leaves children hospitalized in Iran

A US airstrike hit a wedding gathering on September 1 in Kuhestak, a town in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, according to CBS News. Iranian officials said most of the roughly 70 people injured were women and children, and 11 remained hospitalized as of Thursday, including five in intensive care. Iran's foreign ministry called the strike part of a "chain of atrocities."

Tanker attack in Hormuz kills two sailors

Two Filipino sailors were killed Monday when the oil tanker SIDR came under attack while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri confirmed Wednesday. The strait carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil and has become a central flashpoint in the US-Iran war. Tanker traffic through the waterway remains below its 10-day average.

NBA suspends Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for a year

The NBA suspended Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year and fined the team $30 million Wednesday over salary cap circumvention involving forward Kawhi Leonard, NPR reported. A league investigation found the team violated cap rules while structuring Leonard's contract. Ballmer will be barred from team activities for the coming season.

World

China's Xi visits Egypt for first time in a decade 10 YEARS

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo this week, NPR reported, his first visit to Egypt in ten years. The trip signals Beijing's growing reach in the Middle East at a moment when Washington's influence has been strained by its war with Iran. Xi is expected to continue building economic ties across the region during the visit.

UAE and Jordan summon Iranian envoys over strikes

The foreign ministries of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan summoned Iran's envoys in Abu Dhabi and Amman this week to protest missile and drone strikes on their territory. Both governments called the attacks a violation of international law and their national sovereignty. Iran has not withdrawn its envoys in response.

Maduro asks judge to drop drug trafficking charges

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, asked a US judge to dismiss the drug trafficking indictment against them, NPR reported Thursday, arguing they hold immunity as Venezuela's former head of state and first lady. The case dates back to Maduro's ouster earlier this year. A ruling has not yet been issued.

Israel warns of possible Iranian strike during holidays

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel is prepared to respond "with great force" if Iran attacks during the Jewish High Holy Days, which begin in mid-September. Katz's comments follow this week's wave of Iranian strikes on US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Israel has not been directly targeted in the latest round of attacks.

Kuwait reports dozens of troops wounded in strikes

Kuwaiti officials say 67 service members have been wounded since Iran began retaliatory strikes on American and Kuwaiti targets within its borders. Kuwait's Emir, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said the country never allowed its territory to be used against Iran and called the strikes unprovoked. Kuwait continues to host US military bases central to the conflict.

Politics

Fed holds rates steady for second straight meeting 3.6%

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate at about 3.6% on Wednesday, extending a pause that began earlier this year. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, appointed by President Trump, said the economic effects of the Iran war remain uncertain. The decision came despite repeated pressure from Trump, who has called for lower rates.

Senators warn of election security funding gap

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote to federal officials this week saying they share "grave concern that time is running out" to help state and local election offices guard against cyber threats and disinformation ahead of November, NPR reported. The letter comes as states prepare for the midterm elections. No public response from the administration has followed yet.

Food stamp cuts start to hit school meal programs

Reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are beginning to disrupt free breakfast and lunch access for students, NPR reported Thursday, because many schools use SNAP enrollment to automatically qualify children for meals. Experts say that link is starting to break down as SNAP caseloads shrink. Advocates warn more students could lose automatic meal access in the coming school year.

Trump privately favors ending Iran war before midterms NOV. 2026

President Trump has told aides he prefers declaring the Iran war over, in part because of energy prices and the approaching November midterm elections, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Trump has publicly said electoral considerations play no role in his decisions on the war. Aides have warned that further escalation could hurt Republican candidates in November.

Pentagon extends Middle East troop deployments

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has lengthened deployments for air defense units in the Middle East from nine months to a year, the Wall Street Journal reported, keeping roughly 50,000 troops in the region. Some units have already been away from their home bases for more than a year. The extension keeps Trump's option to escalate the conflict open if diplomacy fails.

Markets

Stocks snap losing streak as yields ease +0.56%

The S&P 500 rose 0.46% Wednesday to close at 7,666.60, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.56% to 53,061.95 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.45% to 26,217.83. Stocks snapped a three-day losing streak as Treasury yields eased after climbing to their highest level since 2023. Shares of Nvidia and Johnson & Johnson led the Dow's gains.

Oil slips from six-week high as Trump downplays new strikes

Brent crude fell to about $95 a barrel Thursday, snapping a three-day rally, after President Trump said the latest US strikes on Iran would be "short-lived." US crude, the West Texas Intermediate benchmark, traded near $91 a barrel. Both benchmarks remain sharply higher than before the war began in February.

Bitcoin tops $77,500 on hopes war winds down

Bitcoin rose above $77,500 in early Thursday trading after the Wall Street Journal reported Trump is considering declaring the Iran war over. Federal Reserve official John Williams also eased concerns about further rate hikes, citing strong economic growth. Prediction market Polymarket shows most bettors still expect bitcoin to reach $85,000 by year's end.

Gold climbs on hopes Iran conflict stays contained

Gold futures opened at $4,436 an ounce Thursday, up half a percent from Wednesday's close, as traders bet the latest US-Iran escalation would not spiral further. The move followed Trump's description of this week's strikes on Iran as a "very heavy attack" that would not take long. Gold has traded near record levels for much of 2026 amid the war and broader economic uncertainty.

Fertilizer stocks jump on Hormuz supply fears

Chemical and fertilizer companies including CF Industries and Nutrien gained Wednesday as investors weighed disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, a route for roughly a third of global fertilizer shipments, according to Investrade. Sulfur, a key input for phosphate-based fertilizers, remains near record prices. Defense stocks slipped on the same day.

Entertainment

Venice Film Festival opens with Murdoch drama 83RD EDITION

The 83rd Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday on the Lido with director Danny Boyle's "Ink," a drama about media mogul Rupert Murdoch's early career, starring Guy Pearce. The festival runs through September 12 and includes new films from Martin McDonagh, Florian Zeller and Hirokazu Koreeda. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is chairing this year's main competition jury.

George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn receive lifetime honors

George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn each received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival's opening ceremony Wednesday. The honors mark career-spanning recognition from a festival that has run since 1932. Both actors attended the ceremony on the Lido.

Tony! Toni! Toné! singer's estate frozen amid family fight

A judge ordered the estate of the late singer D'Wayne Wiggins, of the group Tony! Toni! Toné!, not to distribute any money while relatives dispute control of his trust, TMZ reported Thursday. Wiggins' cousin, Veleta Savannah, says she is authorized to manage the estate and that Wiggins was found mentally capable before his death. The family dispute remains unresolved in court.

Wheel of Fortune announcer suspended amid investigation

"Wheel of Fortune" announcer Jim Thornton was suspended while the show investigates undisclosed allegations against him, E! News reported this week. Thornton's attorney has since spoken publicly in his defense. The show has not detailed the nature of the allegations.

Disney sets release dates for two animated sequels

Disney announced release dates this week for "Lilo & Stitch 2" and "The Incredibles 3," according to IMDb. Both sequels follow recent box-office hits for the studio. Exact release windows for 2027 have not yet been made public.