Latest India & World News Today Highlights: Trump says US 'achieving very big victory' as Iran war nears six-month mark

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the UK and France bear “direct responsibility” for any Ukrainian attacks carried out on Russian territory. She warned that Russia could retaliate against British Military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British missiles.

ALSO READ

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

ALSO READ

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib, a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that significantly extended survival in a late-stage clinical trial.

Manufactured by Revolution Medicines and marketed as Rasonque, the daily pill was tested on about 500 patients. Those receiving the drug had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 months among patients treated with chemotherapy.

The FDA described daraxonrasib as a "critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer."

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the world has “no plan” to deal with the “social, political, and economic upheaval” that artificial intelligence could bring.

Gates said AI could become the “greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” but argued there was no “evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately.”

In an essay published Wednesday, he warned that AI could eliminate jobs across industries, reduce opportunities for entry-level workers and push governments to reconsider employment, education and social safety-net policies.

The US Justice Department is working to revive long-dormant maritime prize courts as part of plans to make it easier for Washington to seize Iranian oil tankers, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The proposed move is aimed at reinforcing the US blockade of Iran and helping cover the costs of the conflict, though the plans are likely to face legal challenges.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston involved in the initiative, confirmed that the DOJ is "now reviving" prize courts, calling them an "ancient body of maritime law."

If approved, the plans could give federal prosecutors a quicker route to claim oil and other cargo seized from enemy or neutral ships as US property. The goods could then be sold, with the proceeds going to the US Treasury.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, injuring two people, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council.

Vilkul announced the attack on Telegram but did not disclose further details. Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is a major steel and mining centre and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

Read More

China has continued to increase pressure on neighbouring Taiwan, deploying a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the island last month. Taiwan's coast guard has warned that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.

According to AFP, citing Taipei coast guard data, Chinese ships detected around Taiwan and several of its outer islands since May have reached 1,247.

Read full story
 

Iran has been unable to import enough petrol to make up for insufficient domestic production because of a US naval blockade, according to a senior Iranian official. “Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah as saying.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has lashed out Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and extremists in the Israeli government over Tuesday’s raid on a UN training centre in the occupied West Bank. “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee,” Van Hollen said on social media platform X.

Iran’s president has called for unity among Muslim nations, despite their differences. Speaking at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “No Muslim country’s territory should be used against another Muslim nation”.

Two people were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in Lucknow. The incident happened near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage, on Thursday (Aug 27) afternoon, reports suggested. Emergency teams rushed to the spot. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the instructor pilot and trainee pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has reaffirmed plans to overhaul the country's prison system, including the construction of maximum-security mega-prisons for the country's most dangerous criminal leaders.

Speaking at a ceremony honouring Colombia's new military leadership, De La Espriella said his administration was moving ahead with plans to dismantle organised crime networks operating from inside prisons. He also pledged to deploy converted naval vessels as offshore jails to isolate high-risk inmates. The proposed mega-prisons would be developed in partnership with the private sector, he said.

"My commitment to building maximum-security mega-prisons to incarcerate the country's most dangerous terrorists remains unchanged," the president said.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara has carried out the country's first international Visa card transaction in Damascus, marking a symbolic step in Syria's efforts to reconnect with the global financial system.

Visa said it worked with Lebanon's Fransabank and Paymera for the transaction. The company had announced plans to return to Syria after signing an agreement with the country's central bank in December.

Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the transaction a "new beginning".

The move comes shortly after the US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, eliminating a major hurdle for Damascus as it seeks to revive its economy and rebuild links with international financial services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?&quot;<br><br>President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.<br><br>For more than fifteen years, this simple transaction was impossible.<br><br>Today, in the oldest… <a href="https://t.co/yLEW6ISJaz">pic.twitter.com/yLEW6ISJaz</a></p>&mdash; Syrian Response (@SyrianResponse) <a href="https://x.com/SyrianResponse/status/2092749712898044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has criticised Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's involvement in efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the two Trump representatives do not have enough understanding of the conflict and realities on the ground.

Kellogg reportedly called their participation in the negotiations a mistake as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace talks. The criticism comes as Witkoff and Kushner continue efforts to develop a framework for renewed negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a breakthrough, with territorial demands remaining a major obstacle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international pressure.

Speaking at an event for settlers, Netanyahu said Israel had established and legalised 104 communities and 160 farms, with more planned.

He also spoke of preparing for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, calling the settlements part of Israel's vision for the "Land of Israel". The expansion comes as Netanyahu faces elections in October.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce a complete trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to British media reports.

Possible sanctions

The move could come in response to Israel's plans for major settlement expansion in the E1 area of the West Bank, which critics say could disrupt territorial contiguity between Palestinian population centres.

Reports also suggest the UK could impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and individual settlers. The proposed measures have faced opposition from pro-Israel voices within Burnham's Labour Party.
 

Nvidia surprised markets on Wednesday, forecasting 70 per cent revenue growth for the next fiscal year and reporting that demand for its AI chips is climbing at a 100 per cent rate, a projection strong enough to spark an after-hours rally in its stock. That 70 per cent figure far outpaces Wall Street's existing estimates, which had pegged fiscal 2028 revenue at around $570 billion, or about 44 per cent growth over fiscal 2027 (the current year). Applying Nvidia's own growth projection to its fiscal 2027 numbers instead points to fiscal 2028 revenue somewhere between $690 billion and $700 billion, over $100 billion higher than analysts had been forecasting.

Divisions persist within the UN Security Council over the order in which steps should be carried out under a US-sponsored plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The 15-point plan ties Hamas's disarmament to a staged pullout of Israeli forces. While Hamas agreed to the plan in July, Israel turned it down five days later, insisting Hamas disarm before any withdrawal begins, a sequencing the US has also endorsed.

Bill Gates is looking to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, eager to propose global efforts to mitigate the growing ‌risks posed by artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said he believes China might agree to restrict potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took the initiative on that first.

Stocks rose at the start of the Asia-Pacific ​trading session on Thursday as Nvidia's latest earnings report beat estimates, lifting tech hardware manufacturers and reviving ‌investor confidence after data overnight showed that the Federal Reserve's preferred U.S. inflation measure is still running hot.

Nvidia investors got a roller coaster ride after the market closed on Wednesday, with its shares jumping after an early dip following the company's quarterly results, highlighting Wall Street's elevated expectations for its favourite AI chip designer. Nvidia handily beat the consensus estimates for its second quarter and raised ‌its third-quarter guidance. Second-quarter data centre revenue rose 117 per cent from a year ago to $89 billion, and the company said third-quarter revenue across the Santa Clara, California, firm should hit $108 billion, give or take.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.

The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

President Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" as the Iran war nears the six-month mark, but that it "will continue for as long as necessary" and there's no timetable to resume peace talks.
 

The United States has announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for Nepal after devastating flash floods and mudslides killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing. The US announcement came as several countries stepped forward to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations. This includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and the World Bank, which expressed solidarity with the Nepalese government and people, offering to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

India attracted a total of $30.7 billion as gross foreign direct investment (FDI) in the April-June 2026 quarter, the highest level in at least 15 years. This strong inward flow overshadowed outflows, resulting in net FDI in the quarter rising to its highest level since June 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the UK and France bear “direct responsibility” for any Ukrainian attacks carried out on Russian territory. She warned that Russia could retaliate against British Military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British missiles.

ALSO READ

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

ALSO READ

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib, a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that significantly extended survival in a late-stage clinical trial.

Manufactured by Revolution Medicines and marketed as Rasonque, the daily pill was tested on about 500 patients. Those receiving the drug had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 months among patients treated with chemotherapy.

The FDA described daraxonrasib as a "critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer."

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the world has “no plan” to deal with the “social, political, and economic upheaval” that artificial intelligence could bring.

Gates said AI could become the “greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” but argued there was no “evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately.”

In an essay published Wednesday, he warned that AI could eliminate jobs across industries, reduce opportunities for entry-level workers and push governments to reconsider employment, education and social safety-net policies.

The US Justice Department is working to revive long-dormant maritime prize courts as part of plans to make it easier for Washington to seize Iranian oil tankers, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The proposed move is aimed at reinforcing the US blockade of Iran and helping cover the costs of the conflict, though the plans are likely to face legal challenges.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston involved in the initiative, confirmed that the DOJ is "now reviving" prize courts, calling them an "ancient body of maritime law."

If approved, the plans could give federal prosecutors a quicker route to claim oil and other cargo seized from enemy or neutral ships as US property. The goods could then be sold, with the proceeds going to the US Treasury.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, injuring two people, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council.

Vilkul announced the attack on Telegram but did not disclose further details. Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is a major steel and mining centre and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

Read More

China has continued to increase pressure on neighbouring Taiwan, deploying a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the island last month. Taiwan's coast guard has warned that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.

According to AFP, citing Taipei coast guard data, Chinese ships detected around Taiwan and several of its outer islands since May have reached 1,247.

Read full story
 

Iran has been unable to import enough petrol to make up for insufficient domestic production because of a US naval blockade, according to a senior Iranian official. “Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah as saying.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has lashed out Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and extremists in the Israeli government over Tuesday’s raid on a UN training centre in the occupied West Bank. “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee,” Van Hollen said on social media platform X.

Iran’s president has called for unity among Muslim nations, despite their differences. Speaking at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “No Muslim country’s territory should be used against another Muslim nation”.

Two people were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in Lucknow. The incident happened near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage, on Thursday (Aug 27) afternoon, reports suggested. Emergency teams rushed to the spot. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the instructor pilot and trainee pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has reaffirmed plans to overhaul the country's prison system, including the construction of maximum-security mega-prisons for the country's most dangerous criminal leaders.

Speaking at a ceremony honouring Colombia's new military leadership, De La Espriella said his administration was moving ahead with plans to dismantle organised crime networks operating from inside prisons. He also pledged to deploy converted naval vessels as offshore jails to isolate high-risk inmates. The proposed mega-prisons would be developed in partnership with the private sector, he said.

"My commitment to building maximum-security mega-prisons to incarcerate the country's most dangerous terrorists remains unchanged," the president said.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara has carried out the country's first international Visa card transaction in Damascus, marking a symbolic step in Syria's efforts to reconnect with the global financial system.

Visa said it worked with Lebanon's Fransabank and Paymera for the transaction. The company had announced plans to return to Syria after signing an agreement with the country's central bank in December.

Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the transaction a "new beginning".

The move comes shortly after the US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, eliminating a major hurdle for Damascus as it seeks to revive its economy and rebuild links with international financial services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?&quot;<br><br>President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.<br><br>For more than fifteen years, this simple transaction was impossible.<br><br>Today, in the oldest… <a href="https://t.co/yLEW6ISJaz">pic.twitter.com/yLEW6ISJaz</a></p>&mdash; Syrian Response (@SyrianResponse) <a href="https://x.com/SyrianResponse/status/2092749712898044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has criticised Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's involvement in efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the two Trump representatives do not have enough understanding of the conflict and realities on the ground.

Kellogg reportedly called their participation in the negotiations a mistake as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace talks. The criticism comes as Witkoff and Kushner continue efforts to develop a framework for renewed negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a breakthrough, with territorial demands remaining a major obstacle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international pressure.

Speaking at an event for settlers, Netanyahu said Israel had established and legalised 104 communities and 160 farms, with more planned.

He also spoke of preparing for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, calling the settlements part of Israel's vision for the "Land of Israel". The expansion comes as Netanyahu faces elections in October.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce a complete trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to British media reports.

Possible sanctions

The move could come in response to Israel's plans for major settlement expansion in the E1 area of the West Bank, which critics say could disrupt territorial contiguity between Palestinian population centres.

Reports also suggest the UK could impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and individual settlers. The proposed measures have faced opposition from pro-Israel voices within Burnham's Labour Party.
 

Nvidia surprised markets on Wednesday, forecasting 70 per cent revenue growth for the next fiscal year and reporting that demand for its AI chips is climbing at a 100 per cent rate, a projection strong enough to spark an after-hours rally in its stock. That 70 per cent figure far outpaces Wall Street's existing estimates, which had pegged fiscal 2028 revenue at around $570 billion, or about 44 per cent growth over fiscal 2027 (the current year). Applying Nvidia's own growth projection to its fiscal 2027 numbers instead points to fiscal 2028 revenue somewhere between $690 billion and $700 billion, over $100 billion higher than analysts had been forecasting.

Divisions persist within the UN Security Council over the order in which steps should be carried out under a US-sponsored plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The 15-point plan ties Hamas's disarmament to a staged pullout of Israeli forces. While Hamas agreed to the plan in July, Israel turned it down five days later, insisting Hamas disarm before any withdrawal begins, a sequencing the US has also endorsed.

Bill Gates is looking to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, eager to propose global efforts to mitigate the growing ‌risks posed by artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said he believes China might agree to restrict potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took the initiative on that first.

Stocks rose at the start of the Asia-Pacific ​trading session on Thursday as Nvidia's latest earnings report beat estimates, lifting tech hardware manufacturers and reviving ‌investor confidence after data overnight showed that the Federal Reserve's preferred U.S. inflation measure is still running hot.

Nvidia investors got a roller coaster ride after the market closed on Wednesday, with its shares jumping after an early dip following the company's quarterly results, highlighting Wall Street's elevated expectations for its favourite AI chip designer. Nvidia handily beat the consensus estimates for its second quarter and raised ‌its third-quarter guidance. Second-quarter data centre revenue rose 117 per cent from a year ago to $89 billion, and the company said third-quarter revenue across the Santa Clara, California, firm should hit $108 billion, give or take.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.

The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

President Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" as the Iran war nears the six-month mark, but that it "will continue for as long as necessary" and there's no timetable to resume peace talks.
 

The United States has announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for Nepal after devastating flash floods and mudslides killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing. The US announcement came as several countries stepped forward to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations. This includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and the World Bank, which expressed solidarity with the Nepalese government and people, offering to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

India attracted a total of $30.7 billion as gross foreign direct investment (FDI) in the April-June 2026 quarter, the highest level in at least 15 years. This strong inward flow overshadowed outflows, resulting in net FDI in the quarter rising to its highest level since June 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the UK and France bear “direct responsibility” for any Ukrainian attacks carried out on Russian territory. She warned that Russia could retaliate against British Military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British missiles.

ALSO READ

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

ALSO READ

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib, a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that significantly extended survival in a late-stage clinical trial.

Manufactured by Revolution Medicines and marketed as Rasonque, the daily pill was tested on about 500 patients. Those receiving the drug had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 months among patients treated with chemotherapy.

The FDA described daraxonrasib as a "critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer."

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the world has “no plan” to deal with the “social, political, and economic upheaval” that artificial intelligence could bring.

Gates said AI could become the “greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” but argued there was no “evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately.”

In an essay published Wednesday, he warned that AI could eliminate jobs across industries, reduce opportunities for entry-level workers and push governments to reconsider employment, education and social safety-net policies.

The US Justice Department is working to revive long-dormant maritime prize courts as part of plans to make it easier for Washington to seize Iranian oil tankers, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The proposed move is aimed at reinforcing the US blockade of Iran and helping cover the costs of the conflict, though the plans are likely to face legal challenges.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston involved in the initiative, confirmed that the DOJ is "now reviving" prize courts, calling them an "ancient body of maritime law."

If approved, the plans could give federal prosecutors a quicker route to claim oil and other cargo seized from enemy or neutral ships as US property. The goods could then be sold, with the proceeds going to the US Treasury.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, injuring two people, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council.

Vilkul announced the attack on Telegram but did not disclose further details. Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is a major steel and mining centre and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

Read More

China has continued to increase pressure on neighbouring Taiwan, deploying a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the island last month. Taiwan's coast guard has warned that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.

According to AFP, citing Taipei coast guard data, Chinese ships detected around Taiwan and several of its outer islands since May have reached 1,247.

Read full story
 

Iran has been unable to import enough petrol to make up for insufficient domestic production because of a US naval blockade, according to a senior Iranian official. “Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah as saying.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has lashed out Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and extremists in the Israeli government over Tuesday’s raid on a UN training centre in the occupied West Bank. “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee,” Van Hollen said on social media platform X.

Iran’s president has called for unity among Muslim nations, despite their differences. Speaking at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “No Muslim country’s territory should be used against another Muslim nation”.

Two people were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in Lucknow. The incident happened near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage, on Thursday (Aug 27) afternoon, reports suggested. Emergency teams rushed to the spot. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the instructor pilot and trainee pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has reaffirmed plans to overhaul the country's prison system, including the construction of maximum-security mega-prisons for the country's most dangerous criminal leaders.

Speaking at a ceremony honouring Colombia's new military leadership, De La Espriella said his administration was moving ahead with plans to dismantle organised crime networks operating from inside prisons. He also pledged to deploy converted naval vessels as offshore jails to isolate high-risk inmates. The proposed mega-prisons would be developed in partnership with the private sector, he said.

"My commitment to building maximum-security mega-prisons to incarcerate the country's most dangerous terrorists remains unchanged," the president said.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara has carried out the country's first international Visa card transaction in Damascus, marking a symbolic step in Syria's efforts to reconnect with the global financial system.

Visa said it worked with Lebanon's Fransabank and Paymera for the transaction. The company had announced plans to return to Syria after signing an agreement with the country's central bank in December.

Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the transaction a "new beginning".

The move comes shortly after the US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, eliminating a major hurdle for Damascus as it seeks to revive its economy and rebuild links with international financial services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?&quot;<br><br>President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.<br><br>For more than fifteen years, this simple transaction was impossible.<br><br>Today, in the oldest… <a href="https://t.co/yLEW6ISJaz">pic.twitter.com/yLEW6ISJaz</a></p>&mdash; Syrian Response (@SyrianResponse) <a href="https://x.com/SyrianResponse/status/2092749712898044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has criticised Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's involvement in efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the two Trump representatives do not have enough understanding of the conflict and realities on the ground.

Kellogg reportedly called their participation in the negotiations a mistake as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace talks. The criticism comes as Witkoff and Kushner continue efforts to develop a framework for renewed negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a breakthrough, with territorial demands remaining a major obstacle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international pressure.

Speaking at an event for settlers, Netanyahu said Israel had established and legalised 104 communities and 160 farms, with more planned.

He also spoke of preparing for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, calling the settlements part of Israel's vision for the "Land of Israel". The expansion comes as Netanyahu faces elections in October.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce a complete trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to British media reports.

Possible sanctions

The move could come in response to Israel's plans for major settlement expansion in the E1 area of the West Bank, which critics say could disrupt territorial contiguity between Palestinian population centres.

Reports also suggest the UK could impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and individual settlers. The proposed measures have faced opposition from pro-Israel voices within Burnham's Labour Party.
 

Nvidia surprised markets on Wednesday, forecasting 70 per cent revenue growth for the next fiscal year and reporting that demand for its AI chips is climbing at a 100 per cent rate, a projection strong enough to spark an after-hours rally in its stock. That 70 per cent figure far outpaces Wall Street's existing estimates, which had pegged fiscal 2028 revenue at around $570 billion, or about 44 per cent growth over fiscal 2027 (the current year). Applying Nvidia's own growth projection to its fiscal 2027 numbers instead points to fiscal 2028 revenue somewhere between $690 billion and $700 billion, over $100 billion higher than analysts had been forecasting.

Divisions persist within the UN Security Council over the order in which steps should be carried out under a US-sponsored plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The 15-point plan ties Hamas's disarmament to a staged pullout of Israeli forces. While Hamas agreed to the plan in July, Israel turned it down five days later, insisting Hamas disarm before any withdrawal begins, a sequencing the US has also endorsed.

Bill Gates is looking to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, eager to propose global efforts to mitigate the growing ‌risks posed by artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said he believes China might agree to restrict potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took the initiative on that first.

Stocks rose at the start of the Asia-Pacific ​trading session on Thursday as Nvidia's latest earnings report beat estimates, lifting tech hardware manufacturers and reviving ‌investor confidence after data overnight showed that the Federal Reserve's preferred U.S. inflation measure is still running hot.

Nvidia investors got a roller coaster ride after the market closed on Wednesday, with its shares jumping after an early dip following the company's quarterly results, highlighting Wall Street's elevated expectations for its favourite AI chip designer. Nvidia handily beat the consensus estimates for its second quarter and raised ‌its third-quarter guidance. Second-quarter data centre revenue rose 117 per cent from a year ago to $89 billion, and the company said third-quarter revenue across the Santa Clara, California, firm should hit $108 billion, give or take.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.

The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

President Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" as the Iran war nears the six-month mark, but that it "will continue for as long as necessary" and there's no timetable to resume peace talks.
 

The United States has announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for Nepal after devastating flash floods and mudslides killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing. The US announcement came as several countries stepped forward to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations. This includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and the World Bank, which expressed solidarity with the Nepalese government and people, offering to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

India attracted a total of $30.7 billion as gross foreign direct investment (FDI) in the April-June 2026 quarter, the highest level in at least 15 years. This strong inward flow overshadowed outflows, resulting in net FDI in the quarter rising to its highest level since June 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the UK and France bear “direct responsibility” for any Ukrainian attacks carried out on Russian territory. She warned that Russia could retaliate against British Military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British missiles.

ALSO READ

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

ALSO READ

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib, a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that significantly extended survival in a late-stage clinical trial.

Manufactured by Revolution Medicines and marketed as Rasonque, the daily pill was tested on about 500 patients. Those receiving the drug had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 months among patients treated with chemotherapy.

The FDA described daraxonrasib as a "critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer."

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the world has “no plan” to deal with the “social, political, and economic upheaval” that artificial intelligence could bring.

Gates said AI could become the “greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” but argued there was no “evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately.”

In an essay published Wednesday, he warned that AI could eliminate jobs across industries, reduce opportunities for entry-level workers and push governments to reconsider employment, education and social safety-net policies.

The US Justice Department is working to revive long-dormant maritime prize courts as part of plans to make it easier for Washington to seize Iranian oil tankers, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The proposed move is aimed at reinforcing the US blockade of Iran and helping cover the costs of the conflict, though the plans are likely to face legal challenges.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston involved in the initiative, confirmed that the DOJ is "now reviving" prize courts, calling them an "ancient body of maritime law."

If approved, the plans could give federal prosecutors a quicker route to claim oil and other cargo seized from enemy or neutral ships as US property. The goods could then be sold, with the proceeds going to the US Treasury.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, injuring two people, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council.

Vilkul announced the attack on Telegram but did not disclose further details. Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is a major steel and mining centre and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

Read More

China has continued to increase pressure on neighbouring Taiwan, deploying a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the island last month. Taiwan's coast guard has warned that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.

According to AFP, citing Taipei coast guard data, Chinese ships detected around Taiwan and several of its outer islands since May have reached 1,247.

Read full story
 

Iran has been unable to import enough petrol to make up for insufficient domestic production because of a US naval blockade, according to a senior Iranian official. “Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah as saying.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has lashed out Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and extremists in the Israeli government over Tuesday’s raid on a UN training centre in the occupied West Bank. “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee,” Van Hollen said on social media platform X.

Iran’s president has called for unity among Muslim nations, despite their differences. Speaking at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “No Muslim country’s territory should be used against another Muslim nation”.

Two people were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in Lucknow. The incident happened near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage, on Thursday (Aug 27) afternoon, reports suggested. Emergency teams rushed to the spot. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the instructor pilot and trainee pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has reaffirmed plans to overhaul the country's prison system, including the construction of maximum-security mega-prisons for the country's most dangerous criminal leaders.

Speaking at a ceremony honouring Colombia's new military leadership, De La Espriella said his administration was moving ahead with plans to dismantle organised crime networks operating from inside prisons. He also pledged to deploy converted naval vessels as offshore jails to isolate high-risk inmates. The proposed mega-prisons would be developed in partnership with the private sector, he said.

"My commitment to building maximum-security mega-prisons to incarcerate the country's most dangerous terrorists remains unchanged," the president said.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara has carried out the country's first international Visa card transaction in Damascus, marking a symbolic step in Syria's efforts to reconnect with the global financial system.

Visa said it worked with Lebanon's Fransabank and Paymera for the transaction. The company had announced plans to return to Syria after signing an agreement with the country's central bank in December.

Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the transaction a "new beginning".

The move comes shortly after the US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, eliminating a major hurdle for Damascus as it seeks to revive its economy and rebuild links with international financial services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?&quot;<br><br>President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.<br><br>For more than fifteen years, this simple transaction was impossible.<br><br>Today, in the oldest… <a href="https://t.co/yLEW6ISJaz">pic.twitter.com/yLEW6ISJaz</a></p>&mdash; Syrian Response (@SyrianResponse) <a href="https://x.com/SyrianResponse/status/2092749712898044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has criticised Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's involvement in efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the two Trump representatives do not have enough understanding of the conflict and realities on the ground.

Kellogg reportedly called their participation in the negotiations a mistake as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace talks. The criticism comes as Witkoff and Kushner continue efforts to develop a framework for renewed negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a breakthrough, with territorial demands remaining a major obstacle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international pressure.

Speaking at an event for settlers, Netanyahu said Israel had established and legalised 104 communities and 160 farms, with more planned.

He also spoke of preparing for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, calling the settlements part of Israel's vision for the "Land of Israel". The expansion comes as Netanyahu faces elections in October.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce a complete trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to British media reports.

Possible sanctions

The move could come in response to Israel's plans for major settlement expansion in the E1 area of the West Bank, which critics say could disrupt territorial contiguity between Palestinian population centres.

Reports also suggest the UK could impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and individual settlers. The proposed measures have faced opposition from pro-Israel voices within Burnham's Labour Party.
 

Nvidia surprised markets on Wednesday, forecasting 70 per cent revenue growth for the next fiscal year and reporting that demand for its AI chips is climbing at a 100 per cent rate, a projection strong enough to spark an after-hours rally in its stock. That 70 per cent figure far outpaces Wall Street's existing estimates, which had pegged fiscal 2028 revenue at around $570 billion, or about 44 per cent growth over fiscal 2027 (the current year). Applying Nvidia's own growth projection to its fiscal 2027 numbers instead points to fiscal 2028 revenue somewhere between $690 billion and $700 billion, over $100 billion higher than analysts had been forecasting.

Divisions persist within the UN Security Council over the order in which steps should be carried out under a US-sponsored plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The 15-point plan ties Hamas's disarmament to a staged pullout of Israeli forces. While Hamas agreed to the plan in July, Israel turned it down five days later, insisting Hamas disarm before any withdrawal begins, a sequencing the US has also endorsed.

Bill Gates is looking to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, eager to propose global efforts to mitigate the growing ‌risks posed by artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said he believes China might agree to restrict potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took the initiative on that first.

Stocks rose at the start of the Asia-Pacific ​trading session on Thursday as Nvidia's latest earnings report beat estimates, lifting tech hardware manufacturers and reviving ‌investor confidence after data overnight showed that the Federal Reserve's preferred U.S. inflation measure is still running hot.

Nvidia investors got a roller coaster ride after the market closed on Wednesday, with its shares jumping after an early dip following the company's quarterly results, highlighting Wall Street's elevated expectations for its favourite AI chip designer. Nvidia handily beat the consensus estimates for its second quarter and raised ‌its third-quarter guidance. Second-quarter data centre revenue rose 117 per cent from a year ago to $89 billion, and the company said third-quarter revenue across the Santa Clara, California, firm should hit $108 billion, give or take.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.

The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

President Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" as the Iran war nears the six-month mark, but that it "will continue for as long as necessary" and there's no timetable to resume peace talks.
 

The United States has announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for Nepal after devastating flash floods and mudslides killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing. The US announcement came as several countries stepped forward to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations. This includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and the World Bank, which expressed solidarity with the Nepalese government and people, offering to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

India attracted a total of $30.7 billion as gross foreign direct investment (FDI) in the April-June 2026 quarter, the highest level in at least 15 years. This strong inward flow overshadowed outflows, resulting in net FDI in the quarter rising to its highest level since June 2022.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the UK and France bear “direct responsibility” for any Ukrainian attacks carried out on Russian territory. She warned that Russia could retaliate against British Military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British missiles.

ALSO READ

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

ALSO READ

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib, a new treatment for pancreatic cancer that significantly extended survival in a late-stage clinical trial.

Manufactured by Revolution Medicines and marketed as Rasonque, the daily pill was tested on about 500 patients. Those receiving the drug had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 months among patients treated with chemotherapy.

The FDA described daraxonrasib as a "critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer."

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that the world has “no plan” to deal with the “social, political, and economic upheaval” that artificial intelligence could bring.

Gates said AI could become the “greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,” but argued there was no “evidence that leaders, experts, and communities are confronting the challenges adequately.”

In an essay published Wednesday, he warned that AI could eliminate jobs across industries, reduce opportunities for entry-level workers and push governments to reconsider employment, education and social safety-net policies.

The US Justice Department is working to revive long-dormant maritime prize courts as part of plans to make it easier for Washington to seize Iranian oil tankers, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The proposed move is aimed at reinforcing the US blockade of Iran and helping cover the costs of the conflict, though the plans are likely to face legal challenges.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston involved in the initiative, confirmed that the DOJ is "now reviving" prize courts, calling them an "ancient body of maritime law."

If approved, the plans could give federal prosecutors a quicker route to claim oil and other cargo seized from enemy or neutral ships as US property. The goods could then be sold, with the proceeds going to the US Treasury.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, injuring two people, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council.

Vilkul announced the attack on Telegram but did not disclose further details. Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is a major steel and mining centre and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

China on Thursday has denied allegations of a state-sponsored cyberattack against its US government agencies. Beijing has warned that it will not tolerate “vilification” in the guise of cybersecurity issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, in a press conference, called them “disinformation based on political motivations” and lacks any evidence.

Read More

China has continued to increase pressure on neighbouring Taiwan, deploying a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other vessels around the island last month. Taiwan's coast guard has warned that the situation is becoming increasingly severe.

According to AFP, citing Taipei coast guard data, Chinese ships detected around Taiwan and several of its outer islands since May have reached 1,247.

Read full story
 

Iran has been unable to import enough petrol to make up for insufficient domestic production because of a US naval blockade, according to a senior Iranian official. “Petrol production is insufficient, and because of the US naval blockade, we cannot import it,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah as saying.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has lashed out Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and extremists in the Israeli government over Tuesday’s raid on a UN training centre in the occupied West Bank. “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee,” Van Hollen said on social media platform X.

Iran’s president has called for unity among Muslim nations, despite their differences. Speaking at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian said: “No Muslim country’s territory should be used against another Muslim nation”.

Two people were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in Lucknow. The incident happened near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage, on Thursday (Aug 27) afternoon, reports suggested. Emergency teams rushed to the spot. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the instructor pilot and trainee pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has reaffirmed plans to overhaul the country's prison system, including the construction of maximum-security mega-prisons for the country's most dangerous criminal leaders.

Speaking at a ceremony honouring Colombia's new military leadership, De La Espriella said his administration was moving ahead with plans to dismantle organised crime networks operating from inside prisons. He also pledged to deploy converted naval vessels as offshore jails to isolate high-risk inmates. The proposed mega-prisons would be developed in partnership with the private sector, he said.

"My commitment to building maximum-security mega-prisons to incarcerate the country's most dangerous terrorists remains unchanged," the president said.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara has carried out the country's first international Visa card transaction in Damascus, marking a symbolic step in Syria's efforts to reconnect with the global financial system.

Visa said it worked with Lebanon's Fransabank and Paymera for the transaction. The company had announced plans to return to Syria after signing an agreement with the country's central bank in December.

Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan called the transaction a "new beginning".

The move comes shortly after the US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, eliminating a major hurdle for Damascus as it seeks to revive its economy and rebuild links with international financial services.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Will that be cash or credit, Mr. President?&quot;<br><br>President Ahmed al-Sharaa pays with a Visa card in the heart of Old Damascus, joined by Central Bank Governor Mohammed Safwat Raslan.<br><br>For more than fifteen years, this simple transaction was impossible.<br><br>Today, in the oldest… <a href="https://t.co/yLEW6ISJaz">pic.twitter.com/yLEW6ISJaz</a></p>&mdash; Syrian Response (@SyrianResponse) <a href="https://x.com/SyrianResponse/status/2092749712898044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has criticised Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's involvement in efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the two Trump representatives do not have enough understanding of the conflict and realities on the ground.

Kellogg reportedly called their participation in the negotiations a mistake as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace talks. The criticism comes as Witkoff and Kushner continue efforts to develop a framework for renewed negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a breakthrough, with territorial demands remaining a major obstacle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international pressure.

Speaking at an event for settlers, Netanyahu said Israel had established and legalised 104 communities and 160 farms, with more planned.

He also spoke of preparing for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, calling the settlements part of Israel's vision for the "Land of Israel". The expansion comes as Netanyahu faces elections in October.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce a complete trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to British media reports.

Possible sanctions

The move could come in response to Israel's plans for major settlement expansion in the E1 area of the West Bank, which critics say could disrupt territorial contiguity between Palestinian population centres.

Reports also suggest the UK could impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers and individual settlers. The proposed measures have faced opposition from pro-Israel voices within Burnham's Labour Party.
 

Nvidia surprised markets on Wednesday, forecasting 70 per cent revenue growth for the next fiscal year and reporting that demand for its AI chips is climbing at a 100 per cent rate, a projection strong enough to spark an after-hours rally in its stock. That 70 per cent figure far outpaces Wall Street's existing estimates, which had pegged fiscal 2028 revenue at around $570 billion, or about 44 per cent growth over fiscal 2027 (the current year). Applying Nvidia's own growth projection to its fiscal 2027 numbers instead points to fiscal 2028 revenue somewhere between $690 billion and $700 billion, over $100 billion higher than analysts had been forecasting.

Divisions persist within the UN Security Council over the order in which steps should be carried out under a US-sponsored plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The 15-point plan ties Hamas's disarmament to a staged pullout of Israeli forces. While Hamas agreed to the plan in July, Israel turned it down five days later, insisting Hamas disarm before any withdrawal begins, a sequencing the US has also endorsed.

Bill Gates is looking to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, eager to propose global efforts to mitigate the growing ‌risks posed by artificial intelligence. The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist said he believes China might agree to restrict potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took the initiative on that first.

Stocks rose at the start of the Asia-Pacific ​trading session on Thursday as Nvidia's latest earnings report beat estimates, lifting tech hardware manufacturers and reviving ‌investor confidence after data overnight showed that the Federal Reserve's preferred U.S. inflation measure is still running hot.

Nvidia investors got a roller coaster ride after the market closed on Wednesday, with its shares jumping after an early dip following the company's quarterly results, highlighting Wall Street's elevated expectations for its favourite AI chip designer. Nvidia handily beat the consensus estimates for its second quarter and raised ‌its third-quarter guidance. Second-quarter data centre revenue rose 117 per cent from a year ago to $89 billion, and the company said third-quarter revenue across the Santa Clara, California, firm should hit $108 billion, give or take.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.

The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, amid U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia could try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.

President Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" as the Iran war nears the six-month mark, but that it "will continue for as long as necessary" and there's no timetable to resume peace talks.
 

The United States has announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for Nepal after devastating flash floods and mudslides killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing. The US announcement came as several countries stepped forward to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations. This includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and the World Bank, which expressed solidarity with the Nepalese government and people, offering to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

India attracted a total of $30.7 billion as gross foreign direct investment (FDI) in the April-June 2026 quarter, the highest level in at least 15 years. This strong inward flow overshadowed outflows, resulting in net FDI in the quarter rising to its highest level since June 2022.