Treasury Secretary Bessent says a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come within days, with Iran taking temporary control of shipping routes. Russia's overnight barrage on Kyiv saw zero ballistic missiles intercepted as Ukraine's Patriot shortage worsens. U.S. manufacturing expanded for seven straight months with factory employment growing for the first time in nearly three years.

President Trump gave Iran a final ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearize, threatening military action as oil prices whipsawed. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche advanced to a full Senate confirmation vote after two Republican senators dropped their opposition once he terminated a nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund. Plus the cyclospora outbreak turns fatal, Houthis escalate in the Red Sea, and Alexandra Eala becomes the first Filipino WTA singles champion.

President Trump told Iran it's their last chance to negotiate before potential military action, laying out a two-phase deal structure. Meanwhile, Russia deployed AI-guided drones to sink cargo ships and completely shut down Ukraine's Black Sea corridor for the first time since 2023. Also: Gaza peace talks stall, the Senate votes nearly unanimously to fund the government through December, the EU bans deepfake intimate imagery while delaying harder AI rules, England records its driest July in 200…

President Trump declared negotiations with Iran would begin Monday over the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear talks, but Iran flatly denied any plans for direct U.S. talks. Meanwhile, Russia's 27-missile barrage on Kyiv resulted in only one interception, exposing critical shortages in air defense systems. Also: Spain fortifies its border as the Ceuta migrant crisis death toll climbs to 72, global warming rate has nearly doubled since 2015, and the Michael Jackson biopic crosses a billion dollars at…

Trump called off a planned military strike on Iran's energy infrastructure, claiming a deal framework was reached, but Iran flatly denied requesting the pause and showed no shift in its position. A brutal jobs report added just 57,000 positions in June, less than half forecasts, with prior months revised sharply downward and workers leaving the labor force entirely. Ukraine's drone campaign hit the Omsk refinery more than 1,500 miles away, breaking distance records as Russia faces fuel shortage…

It's Saturday, August first. Eight stories today, led by a major escalation in the Middle East and a wave of cyberattacks hitting infrastructure back home. The conflict with Iran has entered a dangerous new phase. U.S. and Israeli forces are now coordinating plans for bombing campaigns targeting Iranian energy infrastr…

Iranian attacks killed civilians in Kuwait as the U.S. launched strikes on Revolutionary Guard targets, and the Senate narrowly rejected a war powers resolution to pull forces from the conflict. Microsoft's earnings blowout added nearly $450 billion in market value in a single day—the largest gain ever for any company—signaling the AI spending debate may be settling. Russia also launched over 70 missiles and 280 drones at Ukraine, with a cruise missile straying into Polish airspace, as North Ko…

The U.S.-Iran diplomatic window has closed after a fourteen-point memorandum collapsed, and American strikes on Iranian targets have resumed. The Federal Reserve held rates steady, but three regional presidents dissented in favor of a hike—the first split of its kind since 2016—and the market reacted sharply. Meanwhile, Russia captured two major Ukrainian cities in a strategic domino effect that threatens Kyiv's remaining defensive line.

China's new lithography breakthrough triggered a massive semiconductor rout, with Samsung and SK Hynix posting their worst days in nearly two decades. The White House alleges a Chinese AI company copied Anthropic's Claude model, escalating tech tensions on two fronts. Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. forces—all intercepted—while Saudi Arabia publicly joined strikes inside Iraq for the first time, shattering the ceasefire.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met face-to-face as ceasefire hopes sent oil prices down nearly 9 percent, though Iran publicly denied any direct negotiations with Washington. The FDA approved Lipfendra, the first oral cholesterol drug in a powerful new class, offering millions of Americans a pill alternative to injections. Plus a federal judge quashed DOJ subpoenas against Minnesota officials, ruling they violated the Constitution.