President Donald Trump has renewed his US Hormuz control claim, saying Washington has “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz as more oil tankers move through the strategic waterway. Shipping remains well below normal levels, however, while Iran continues to dispute American claims of control. Trump Hormuz claim Trump told reporters on Wednesday that a large number of vessels had recentl

US ICC sanctions have intensified Washington's dispute with the International Criminal Court. The Trump administration has designated ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, escalating the ICC jurisdiction row and its campaign over national sovereignty. US ICC sanctions The United States announced sanctions against two senior International Criminal Court officials on

President Donald Trump has announced a three-day Trump Canada tariff pause, delaying new 50% duties on Canadian goods after saying Washington and Ottawa have a deal pending final documents. The Canada trade deal follows intense Carney talks and renewed discussion about a Keystone revival. Trump Canada tariff pause US President Donald Trump announced late Tuesday, August 18, that planned 50% tar

The UAE Iran missile dispute has opened a new front in already tense Gulf relations. Abu Dhabi says two ballistic missiles launched from Iran targeted maritime navigation, while Tehran rejects the allegation. The UAE has now halted Iran trade as the Hormuz crisis continues to threaten regional shipping. UAE Iran missile claim The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of launching two ballistic

North Korea has sharply criticized the latest US-South Korea military drills, calling them an open threat to its security even after President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in their scale. The response from Pyongyang shows that the deeper dispute on the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged, with mistrust still shaping every military and diplomatic move. Trump drill cut Pyongyang’s reaction c

Iran is demanding a permanent end to its conflict with the United States rather than another temporary ceasefire. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran wants lasting guarantees, even as the US-Iran deal stalls, Trump Iran talks remain off the table and Gulf security concerns grow. Iran permanent peace Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected the idea of another temporary truce

Trump’s India voter ID remarks have renewed debate over the SAVE America Act as India conducts its SIR 2026 exercise. While Trump praised India’s voter identification system, voter roll exclusions in Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal have raised concerns over electoral access and voting rights. Trump India voter ID e

The Kharge Vande Mataram row intensified on Tuesday, August 18, as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge defended the version of the national song followed by his party and rejected BJP allegations of disrespect. The dispute has also fuelled a wider Congress-BJP clash as Kharge focuses on strengthening the party in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Vande Mataram Row Intensifies Kharge t

Nearly 18 years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Indian authorities have initiated the 26/11 in absentia trial process against six Pakistan-based accused linked to the conspiracy. Mumbai Police has moved to invoke the new legal mechanism under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, while the court must still determine whether all statutory requirements have been fulfilled. The accused are Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur

Delhi Police has defended its handling of the July 20 Sansad Chalo protest in a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on August 18, 2026. Police rejected allegations of excessive force, saying officers adopted a graded response after parts of the crowd breached barricades and attempted to move towards Parliament. The affidavit comes amid judicial scrutiny of policing during the student-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Delhi P

India strengthened their position in the opening Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, after setting the hosts a challenging target of 372 runs. The visitors were bowled out for 193 in their second innings, but their strong first-innings advantage ensured that Sri Lanka were left facing a difficult fourth-innings chase. Earlier in the match, India had posted an imposing 462 in their first innings, putting significant pressure on the Sri Lankan batting lineup. The hosts

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra have received a clean chit from the Special Investigation Team probing alleged theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. According to an official statement cited on August 18, the Uttar Pradesh Home Department submitted the SIT's final report and forwarded it to the temple trust for further consideration.

More than 2.07 crore Maharashtra SIR voter forms remained uncollected at the end of the enumeration exercise, bringing voter verification into focus before the state publishes its draft electoral roll. The scale is significant because Maharashtra has nearly 9.8 crore registered voters, while Mumbai SIR, Thane SIR and Pune SIR account for a large share of the pending forms. The Special Intensive Revision, conducted under the Election Commis

The Taliban seeks deeper India ties as Afghanistan looks to strengthen political trust, trade and regional connectivity with New Delhi. Taliban chargé d’affaires Noor Ahmed Noor highlighted India ties and their shared history while outlining Kabul’s interest in broader diplomatic and economic engagement. India ties gain focus at New Delhi event Noor made the remarks during a New Delhi even

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s proposed new office at Namakkal Kavignar Maligai has come under scrutiny following allegations over the renovation tender process. The office is reportedly being shifted to the 10th floor to allow the Chief Minister to work closer to senior government officials and improve administrative coordination. ₹5.54 Crore Renovation Tender Draws Scrutiny Questions have been raised over the reported ₹5.54 crore renovation te

US envoy Jared Kushner says the Gaza peace plan could begin showing progress within 30 days, with early steps focused on Hamas disarmament and closing militant tunnels. His comments followed talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders as Washington tries to revive a stalled roadmap. Hamas disarmament Kushner said he hoped the first visible progress could involve remov

US President Donald Trump has renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, citing India’s voter ID system while arguing for stricter eligibility rules in American federal elections. His latest remarks put India’s massive election process at the center of a renewed debate over voter identification, citizenship checks and mail voting in the United States. SAVE

Higgsfield AI support is drawing closer attention as the fast-growing video startup reaches a $5.4 billion valuation and expands beyond 30 million users. The company has scaled revenue and funding at exceptional speed, but some customers continue to raise questions about billing, refunds and how quickly support problems are resolved. AI video growth pushes Higgsfield valuation to $5.4 billion

Pakistan has issued an Umrah warning for citizens travelling to Saudi Arabia, urging pilgrims and workers to strictly follow local laws and avoid begging. The advisory highlights Saudi begging laws and reminds Pakistani nationals that violating visa conditions or local regulations can bring serious consequences. Pakistan Umrah warning targets begging violatio

Hayden Panettiere death is under investigation after the Heroes and Nashville star was found unresponsive in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. Police reported no signs of foul play, while officials have not released a final cause or manner of death. Actor Hayden Panettiere, known for starring in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died at age 36 on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. Her rep