Afghanistan bomb attack kills mayor

A bomb attack killed the mayor of an Afghan provincial capital on Thursday night, hospital and municipality sources told AFP, weeks after another official was shot dead in the same region.
15 August 2026

US can keep Iran blockade ‘indefinitely’

The United States has said that it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran ‘’indefinitely’’ and would ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered, global oil supply is dropping and regional tensions are rising.
15 August 2026

Person fined after polar bear woken by ship’s foghorn

A person in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic has been fined 50,000 kroner ($5,255) for using a foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear, local officials said Thursday.
15 August 2026

Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal case, admits killing insurance CEO

Federal murder and weapons charges were previously dismissed on legal grounds 
14 August 2026

US says it can keep naval blockade on Iran 'indefinitely,' vows more economic pressure

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the US military has the capability to maintain a naval presence in the region to enforce its blockade of Iran
14 August 2026

US says lower oil prices, not Iran's nuclear program, are now top priority in war

Keeping oil and gas cheap for Americans all over the country is goal number one, says JD Vance
14 August 2026

Former Nepal premier Deuba returns home

Former Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, facing arrest for alleged corruption, returned home yesterday, six months after leaving for medical treatment abroad.
14 August 2026

Putin visits disputed island near Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday visited a disputed island close to Japan prompting a strong condemnation from Tokyo, which said his actions had made any improvement of relations between the countries difficult.
14 August 2026

Israel reopens settlement in north West Bank

Israel officially reopened the West Bank settlement of Ganim yesterday more than 20 years after it withdrew from the community, emblematic of current government’s policy of rapid settlement expansion.
14 August 2026

Russia strikes Ukrainian port on Danube

Russia struck Ukraine’s largest Danube grain shipment port overnight, causing damage and setting off a fire, authorities said yesterday, after President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed more US air defence missiles to get through winter.
14 August 2026

West Bengal govt strips BJP MP of state honour

The West Bengal government yesterday withdrew the Banga Bibhushan award, the state’s highest civilian award, conferred upon BJP MP Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, for alleged derogatory remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
14 August 2026

US, Iran trade competing claims over strait

The Strait of Hormuz is “under Iran’s control and management”, the recently appointed head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary unit said yesterday, a day after US President Donald Trump said the United States had “total control” of the strategic waterway.
14 August 2026

Hormuz oil spill: Iran calls for compensation

Iran yesterday warned of environmental degradation in the Strait of Hormuz after an oil spill reached its southern Qeshm island, calling for compensation from those responsible.
14 August 2026

Paramilitary drones attack Sudan capital for second day

Paramilitary drones yesterday attacked the Sudanese capital Khartoum for the second day in a row, an AFP correspondent and witnesses reported.
14 August 2026

11 arrested in US over alleged sham marriage scheme

Eleven people were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly organizing hundreds of sham marriages for foreigners seeking US residency, mostly Chinese nationals, officials said.
14 August 2026

World 'not on track' to meet biodiversity goals ahead of UN talks

Almost all countries agreed 4 years ago to protect 30% of the planet by 2030
13 August 2026

In pictures: Eclipse craze grips Spain, Iceland

Spain deployed a massive police contingent and set up special viewing spots across rural areas that offered the best views of the spectacle.
13 August 2026

Trump's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt to step down

Leavitt, 28, the youngest ever US presidential top spokesperson, has been a fiercely loyal Trump defender
13 August 2026

After Trump's Turkey ruse, a look at past secret presidential trips

Closed aircraft window shades. A ballcap pulled low to hide the president's face. Seized cellphones. These are all hallmarks of secret trips made by US presidents
13 August 2026

Colombia president says earthquake death toll hits 265

Colombia's president declared an economic emergency and vowed the country would rebuild after a massive earthquake
13 August 2026