Houthi Forces Seize Red Sea Island and Port, Threatening Major Oil Shipping Routes
Houthi rebels captured Perim island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the port of Mocha, tightening their grip on a critical Red Sea chokepoint. Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes in response, and Brent crude surpassed $106 per barrel.Houthi forces in Yemen have seized Perim island, a strategically significant island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, along with the port of Mocha along Yemen's western coast. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints, through which a substantial share of global oil exports and commercial cargo passes between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The seizure gives the Houthis direct leverage over tanker traffic navigating the southern reaches of the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes on Houthi-held positions following the territorial advance. Separately, Saudi Arabia announced it had shut down a major oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq, compounding disruptions to the kingdom's export capacity. Saudi officials reportedly urged the United States to consider direct military action against the Houthis.
Oil markets responded sharply, with Brent crude prices rising past $106 per barrel. Shipping operators in the region were already navigating elevated risk, and the new territorial gains have deepened uncertainty over safe transit through both the Red Sea and the broader Persian Gulf region. Accounts of the precise extent of Houthi territorial control differ across sources, but multiple reports confirm the seizure of Perim island and advances toward the strait. The developments have direct implications for American consumers through energy prices, and for the US military and diplomatic posture in the Middle East.
BRICS Leaders Gather in New Delhi as Energy Costs and Wars Divide Member Nations
Leaders including Russia's Putin, China's Xi, India's Modi, and Iran's Pezeshkian convened in New Delhi for a BRICS summit, with divisions over the Ukraine war and Middle East conflict shaping the gathering.Leaders of the BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several newer members including Iran — met in New Delhi for a major summit at a moment when the bloc is divided by ongoing wars and energy supply disruptions. Russia's President Putin, China's President Xi, India's Prime Minister Modi, and Iran's President Pezeshkian were among the key figures present.
China has sought to position BRICS as a vehicle for challenging US-led global institutions, while India has taken a more cautious approach, aiming to keep the group broad enough to avoid forcing members to choose sides between Washington and Beijing. Iran's participation was notable given its ongoing conflict with the United States and the sanctions regime tightening around its economy.
The summit takes place against a backdrop of soaring energy prices driven by Middle East instability, and continued fighting in Ukraine. These conflicts have created genuine tension among BRICS members, some of whom depend on Western trade and investment even as they participate in a bloc explicitly oriented around alternatives to Western-dominated financial and political structures. The outcomes of the summit have potential implications for US foreign policy, sanctions enforcement, and global energy markets.
Israel Says It Destroyed Major Underground Hezbollah Facility in Lebanon
Israel reported the destruction of a large underground Hezbollah base. The explosion registered as the equivalent of a 4.1-magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey.Israeli forces reported destroying what they described as a major underground Hezbollah base in Lebanon. The blast generated by the strike was measured by the US Geological Survey as equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, indicating the substantial scale of the facility or the munitions used. The report comes as Israeli military operations in Lebanon have continued following an extended ground campaign. The destruction of underground infrastructure has been a stated Israeli military objective, given Hezbollah's documented use of tunnel networks for command, logistics, and weapons storage.
Drone Reportedly Narrowly Missed Zelenskyy's Plane Before Takeoff in Moldova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plane was reportedly nearly struck by a Russian drone during takeoff from Chișinău, Moldova, prompting the closure of the airport's airspace, according to Moldova's prime minister.Moldova's prime minister reported that a Russian drone came close to striking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft as it prepared to depart from Chișinău's airport. The near-miss caused Moldovan authorities to close the airspace around the airport. Zelenskyy was traveling to Norway for the funeral of King Harald. The incident, if confirmed, would represent a significant escalation in risk to a sitting head of state and underscores the geographic reach of Russian drone operations beyond Ukrainian territory.
Stocks have declined modestly over the past two weeks, with a slight recovery in the last few days.
US Diesel Prices Exceed $6 per Gallon as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Fuel Supply
Average US diesel prices have surpassed $6 per gallon, a new record, as the conflict between the US and Iran continues to disrupt global fuel supply chains.Diesel prices across the United States have risen past $6 per gallon on average, reaching a new record high. The increase is being driven in significant part by disruptions to global oil flows resulting from the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which has added supply uncertainty to already strained energy markets. Diesel is the primary fuel for freight hauling, and elevated diesel costs typically flow through to the prices of transported goods — including food, construction materials, and consumer products. The price increase adds further pressure on an economy already contending with inflation running at 3.4% annually as of August.
US Inflation Holds at 3.4% in August, With Energy Costs a Key Driver
US consumer prices rose 3.4% year-over-year in August, unchanged from July, with energy costs — elevated by the resumption of US-Iran hostilities — a primary contributor.The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices rose 3.4% in August compared to the same month a year earlier, matching the July rate. On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.4%, with gasoline and energy costs a significant driver of the uptick, linked to the end of the US-Iran ceasefire and its effect on global energy markets. The inflation figure comes at a sensitive moment, with Federal Reserve policymakers weighing whether to raise interest rates further. Some market observers interpreted the data as increasing the likelihood of additional rate increases. The 3.4% annual rate is well above the Fed's 2% target, and energy market volatility makes the near-term inflation outlook uncertain.
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2027 Projected at 3.6%
AARP projects the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment at 3.6%, which would be the largest increase since 2023 if the estimate holds.AARP has estimated that Social Security recipients will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027, which would represent the largest such increase since 2023. The adjustment is calculated based on inflation data from the third quarter of the year, so the figure remains a projection until official confirmation. For the tens of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security as a primary or supplementary source of income, the size of the COLA directly affects purchasing power. Elevated inflation in recent months, driven partly by energy prices, is what would push the adjustment higher relative to previous years.
Chemical Companies Settle North Carolina 'Forever Chemicals' Lawsuit for $455 Million
Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva reached a $455 million settlement with North Carolina and 11 local entities over PFAS contamination linked to the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant.Three chemical companies — Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva — agreed to a $455 million settlement with the state of North Carolina and 11 local government entities over claims that PFAS, a class of synthetic chemicals commonly called 'forever chemicals,' contaminated drinking water in the region. The lawsuits centered on pollution tied to Chemours' Fayetteville Works plant and related facilities. PFAS compounds are so named because they do not break down naturally in the environment or the human body, and long-term exposure has been linked to a range of health concerns. The settlement resolves the North Carolina claims but does not address broader PFAS litigation the companies face in other jurisdictions. This is one of the larger PFAS-related settlements reached at the state level.
Federal Court Rules Energy Department Exceeded Authority in Ordering Michigan Coal Plant to Stay Open
A federal court ruled that the Energy Department overstepped its legal authority when it ordered a 64-year-old Michigan coal plant to remain operational past its planned retirement date.A federal court struck down a Trump administration order that had compelled a Michigan coal-fired power plant to remain open beyond its scheduled retirement. The plant, which is approximately 64 years old, had been set to close when the Energy Department intervened to keep it running, citing grid reliability concerns. The court found that the department exceeded its statutory authority in issuing that directive. The ruling is a setback for the administration's broader effort to extend the operational life of coal plants, and it may have implications for similar interventions at other facilities. The case reflects ongoing legal disputes over the federal government's power to override state and utility decisions on energy infrastructure.
Supreme Court Blocks Missouri from Using Congressional Map Expected to Benefit Republicans
The Supreme Court granted an emergency request to prevent Missouri from using a congressional district map that lower courts found was drawn to advantage Republican candidates, pending further legal proceedings.The Supreme Court issued an order blocking Missouri from using a congressional district map that had been drawn in a manner courts found likely to benefit Republican candidates. The court granted an emergency request to halt the map's use while litigation continues. Missouri's congressional map had been challenged on grounds related to partisan gerrymandering and, in some accounts, its treatment of mail-in voting rules. The order prevents the map from being used in the upcoming midterm elections unless the court later decides otherwise. Redistricting disputes have become a consistent feature of election-cycle litigation, and the court's willingness to issue an emergency block signals the justices considered the legal challenge sufficiently serious to warrant intervention before the lower court process concluded.
United States Marks 25th Anniversary of September 11 Attacks
Solemn ceremonies were held at the World Trade Center site in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which killed 2,977 people.The United States observed the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with ceremonies at the three sites where the hijacked planes came down: the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Families of victims, survivors, first responders, and public officials attended the commemorations. The attacks killed 2,977 people and fundamentally reshaped American foreign policy, domestic security, and civil liberties in the years that followed. The 25-year milestone prompted broad reflection on what has changed in the country since — including the evolution of counterterrorism approaches, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and ongoing debates about transparency and accountability related to the attacks.
Measles Outbreak Grows as Experts Raise Concerns About CDC Data Reliability
The worst US measles outbreak in decades continues to expand. Health experts are expressing concern about federal health data reliability after the CDC raised questions about two Pennsylvania measles deaths, with flu season approaching.The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in decades, and public health experts are voicing concerns about the reliability of federal health data at a critical moment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questioned the classification of two Pennsylvania deaths as measles-related, a move that drew criticism from independent health experts who worry it signals a weakening of the agency's standard reporting practices. At the same time, flu season is approaching, creating additional pressure on public health infrastructure. Measles had been considered eliminated in the United States in 2000, and its resurgence has been associated with declining vaccination rates in certain communities. The intersection of a growing outbreak, disputed federal data, and imminent flu season has heightened concern among health professionals about the country's capacity to respond effectively to concurrent disease threats.
Wantefully and DHASUWT Hair Dryer Brushes Recalled; XR-8801 Model Sold on Walmart and eBay Has No Remedy Yet
Wantefully and DHASUWT hair dryer brushes sold on Amazon have been recalled with refunds available. XR-8801 model hair dryer brushes sold on Walmart.com and eBay have also been flagged but currently have no remedy in place.Two hair dryer brush models — sold under the names Wantefully and DHASUWT on Amazon — have been recalled, with refunds available to purchasers. Separately, hair dryer brushes sold under the model designation XR-8801 through Walmart.com and eBay have also been identified as part of a safety concern, but no remedy has yet been established for those products. Consumers who purchased any of these products are advised to stop using them. Those with the Wantefully or DHASUWT brushes purchased on Amazon can seek a refund, while those with the XR-8801 model from Walmart or eBay should monitor for further guidance from regulators.
Anthropic Reports State-Sponsored Groups and Criminals Attempted to Use Its AI for Weapons and Surveillance
Anthropic published a threat intelligence report documenting attempts by criminals, state-sponsored actors, and others to use its AI models to design weapons, develop pathogens, and surveil dissidents. The report coincides with public warnings from current and former company researchers about AI risks.AI company Anthropic released a threat intelligence report detailing a range of attempts by bad actors to misuse its artificial intelligence models. According to the report, those attempting to exploit the technology include criminals, state-sponsored groups, spyware vendors, and propagandists, with use cases including missile and bomb design, creation of dangerous pathogens, and surveillance of political dissidents. The company said it blocked at least one attempt that appeared directed at biological weapons development. The report's release follows a period of heightened public concern about AI risk: a former senior Anthropic researcher recently made public statements about the existential dangers posed by advanced AI systems, and additional current and former staff subsequently expressed agreement. The public debate over AI safety drew responses from prominent technology figures, with some dismissing the warnings and others endorsing them. The gap between the threat intelligence disclosed in the report and the broader debate over AI's long-term risks illustrates the range of concerns — both near-term and speculative — now being discussed publicly in the AI industry.
California Governor Signs First-in-Nation Law Barring Addictive Social Media Features for Users Under 16
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation prohibiting social media platforms from providing addictive algorithmic features to users under 16, the first law of its kind in the United States.California's governor signed a package of online child safety bills that includes a provision making California the first US state to prohibit social media platforms from offering algorithmically driven addictive features — such as infinite scroll and autoplay — to users under the age of 16. The law places the obligation on platforms to verify user ages and restrict these features accordingly. Proponents of the legislation argue that algorithmically amplified content contributes to harmful mental health outcomes in adolescents. Opponents, including some technology companies and civil liberties groups, have raised concerns about privacy implications of age verification and the law's effect on free expression. The measure is likely to face legal challenges and could set a precedent for similar legislation in other states.
Hurricane Lowell Causes Significant Damage to Hawaii's Western Islands
Hurricane Lowell struck Hawaii's western islands, bringing winds up to 110 mph near Ni'ihau, causing widespread power outages, downed trees, damaged roads, and destroyed piers on Kauai. The storm is part of an unusually active hurricane season for the island chain.Hurricane Lowell struck Hawaii's western islands this week, passing approximately 50 miles from the island of Ni'ihau in Kauai County as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of up to 110 miles per hour. The storm left widespread damage across the region, including downed power lines, crumbled roads, sunken boats, and destroyed piers on Kauai. Earlier this summer, Hurricane Lala also made landfall in Hawaii, making this an unusually active hurricane season for the island chain, which historically tends to be shielded from the worst effects of Pacific storms. Meteorologists have linked the increased storm activity to El Niño conditions, which have warmed ocean surface temperatures and altered typical storm track patterns. The combination of two significant storms in a single season represents a notable departure from Hawaii's historical weather patterns.