The IRGC launched a combined missile-and-drone attack on two US-operated air bases in Jordan overnight, retaliating for American strikes on Iranian launchers. US officials say the incoming missiles were intercepted with no impacts reported, and Trump told Fox News a response is coming: "We're going to hit them hard; there will be a response." Officials also clarified that Iran's Kharg Island oil hub has not been struck, despite AI-generated videos Trump posted suggesting otherwise.
The administration unveiled an agreement giving the US majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan reserves — more than doubling American holdings — with the crude earmarked to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Republicans call it a generational win for gas prices; Sens. Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen blasted it, with Kaine calling it "a private oil grab." Critics on the right have also raised legality and democracy-promotion objections.
West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $2.91 to $86.31 a barrel as traders priced in fresh supply-disruption risk from the Strait of Hormuz. The AAA national average for regular has pushed back past $4 a gallon, with roughly 20% of the world's traded oil and gas normally moving through that waterway. Tanker traffic remains below pre-conflict norms with sea mines still a live threat.
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh struck a hawkish tone, saying the economy and labor market are strong but inflation is "still too high" with little progress toward the 2% target. The Fed's preferred PCE gauge held at 3.7% year over year in July. Following his Jackson Hole remarks, market odds of a September rate hike jumped from 35% to 55%.
CENTCOM says American forces destroyed two IRGC launchers on Larak Island Sunday after detecting preparations for a rocket launch designed to seed new sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command described it as "limited, precise action" against an "imminent threat" to commercial shipping — the first US strikes on Iran since late July. Iranian state media reported two killed and several wounded.
The toll from Saturday's Russian strike on a warehouse in the Bucha district west of Kyiv rose to 38, with four people still missing, President Zelenskyy said Sunday. The blast touched off a fire that swept through homes and damaged at least 50 residential buildings. Moscow claims the site stored components and boosters for long-range drones.
Even as the IRGC fired on American bases, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly called for dialogue and cooperation, saying a war with the United States serves nobody. He paired the overture with a warning of a decisive response to further aggression. It's the clearest split yet between Tehran's civilian leadership and its military hardliners.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off at 7:26 a.m. Eastern Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, its 27 Merlin engines putting out more than five million pounds of thrust. Roman separated on schedule 31 minutes later and began deploying solar panels for its trip to L2, about a million miles out. Its wide field of view will let it map billions of galaxies, hunt exoplanets, and study black holes.
A Connecticut man reported getting voicemails every 20 to 30 minutes from a phone that never rang — and when he plays them, there's no audio at all. Blocking the number does nothing; it simply rolls over to a fresh source number. It's "ringless voicemail," a direct-to-inbox delivery technique that slides past call blocking entirely.
After years of underwater excavation near the Croatian island of Mljet, the Croatian Conservation Institute has revealed more than 1.3 pounds of gold from a ship that went down in the late seventh or early eighth century A.D. The haul includes buckles set with rubies, emeralds and pearls, plus a golden signet ring. Researchers believe a passenger of considerable status — and his entourage — went down with the vessel.
