The US-Iran confrontation has entered another tense phase after American forces struck Iranian launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with claims of attacks on US-linked bases in the region, while diplomatic efforts continued in Bishkek, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Larak Island Strike

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. The Modi Pezeshkian meeting focused on India-Iran ties, the West Asia conflict, maritime security, trade and the need for lasting regional peace. India Iran Ties The two leaders revi

Lionel Messi career achievements span Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He retires from international football with a World Cup, two Copa America titles, 125 Argentina goals, eight Ballon d'Or awards and records that reshaped the modern game. Lionel Messi's retirement from international football closes one of the most accomplished national-tea

Lionel Messi retirement from international football closes a 21-year Argentina career that delivered the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles. The 39-year-old leaves as Argentina’s record scorer and appearance-maker but will continue his club career with Inter Miami. Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 21-year senior career with Argentina. The 39-year-old confirmed the decisi

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Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added another remarkable achievement to his rapidly growing cricket career by becoming the youngest player in Duleep Trophy history to score a half-century. The 15-year-old created the record while representing East Zone against Central Zone in the 2026 Duleep Trophy semi-final in Bengaluru. Showing his attacking approach from the start, Sooryavanshi reached his fifty in just 42 deliveries before going on to score 92 from 81 balls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The Modi Pezeshkian meeting would be their first face-to-face interaction since the latest West Asia conflict erupted, putting India-Iran ties, energy security and regional stability firmly in focus. India Iran Ties Modi and Pezeshkian last met in person in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. At that meeting, the leaders reviewed bilateral relations and highlighted the importance of the Chabahar Port project for trade links with Afghanistan and Central Asia. Their relationship has remained active despite the deterioration in regional security. The two leaders have spoken by phone several times during 2026, discussing developments in Iran and the wider region. India has consistently positioned itself as a partner of Iran while maintaining relationships with other major powers in West Asia. Hormuz Talks The Strait of Hormuz is expected to be one of the most important strategic issues surrounding the discussions. India depends heavily on secure maritime routes for energy imports, making any disruption in the Gulf a direct economic concern. During a March conversation with Pezeshkian, Modi stressed the importance of protecting Indian nationals and maintaining unhindered movement of energy and goods. He also reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. In another conversation in June, Modi again called for lasting regional stability and freedom of navigation and commerce. SCO Bishkek Summit The bilateral engagement comes as Bishkek hosts the 26th SCO Summit from August 31 to September 1. India’s government has confirmed that Modi will hold meetings with several SCO leaders on the sidelines while highlighting India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity. The 2026 gathering also marks the SCO’s 25th anniversary. Iran, India, Russia, China and Pakistan are among the organisation’s 10 full members, giving the summit added geopolitical weight as several regional conflicts remain unresolved. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also attending the Bishkek gathering, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the other major leaders expected to participate. Energy Security Energy cooperation remains central to India-Iran relations. New Delhi has repeatedly stressed that instability in West Asia can affect fuel supplies, shipping costs and the broader Indian economy. Connectivity is another major issue. Chabahar Port gives India a strategic route toward Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, making the project important for both commerce and regional connectivity. The two sides are therefore expected to review trade, transport links and wider economic cooperation alongside the security situation. Dialogue and Diplomacy India is likely to continue urging de-escalation rather than taking sides in the conflict. Modi has repeatedly told Pezeshkian that New Delhi supports dialogue and diplomacy while calling for the protection of civilians, infrastructure and international shipping routes. The Bishkek interaction would also carry significance ahead of further BRICS engagement. Pezeshkian has previously supported a larger role for organisations such as BRICS and the SCO in addressing regional challenges. For India, the meeting provides an opportunity to protect practical interests—energy supplies, maritime security, connectivity and the safety of Indian nationals—while maintaining a diplomatic channel with Tehran during one of the most unstable periods in recent West Asian politics.

US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to reports citing American officials. The US strike on Larak Island marked the first known American attack inside Iran in more than a month and immediately raised fears of renewed escalation around the vital shipping route. Iran Rocket Launchers US officials said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces had been observed preparing rocket systems that could be used to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The alleged activity prompted American forces to target two launchers on Larak Island before they could be used. Iranian media also reported an explosion near the island, although initial accounts differed over the scale and method of the attack. Larak sits near Bandar Abbas and close to several islands controlling access to the strait, giving it strategic importance for both Iran and international shipping. Strait of Hormuz Mine Threat The strike came shortly after US Central Command completed an operation aimed at clearing sea mines from international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. American officials said forces remained prepared to protect commercial traffic through the waterway. The strait is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Any renewed mine activity could threaten tankers, disrupt insurance and shipping schedules, and raise energy-market concerns far beyond the Gulf. President Donald Trump had previously warned that any vessel involved in laying new mines would be targeted. He described the policy as one of “zero tolerance” toward additional mine placement. IRGC Response Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded sharply after the attack. Iranian reports said the strike killed two people and wounded two others, while the IRGC later said Iranian fighters and civilians had been killed or injured. The Guards promised retaliation, saying those responsible for the attack would face punishment. The statement signalled that Tehran does not view the Larak strike as a limited tactical incident, raising concern that the confrontation could trigger another cycle of attacks and counterattacks. Hormuz Strike After Month-Long Pause The attack was described in the source material as the first known US strike inside Iran since late July, when Washington paused an earlier military campaign around the Strait of Hormuz. That pause had reduced direct exchanges, but tensions over mining activity and freedom of navigation remained unresolved. The latest strike therefore carries significance beyond the destruction of two launchers. It shows that Washington is prepared to resume direct military action if it believes Iranian forces are preparing to threaten shipping lanes. Shipping Security in Focus For global markets, the immediate question is whether the incident remains contained. The Strait of Hormuz connects Gulf energy exporters with world markets, and even a limited military confrontation can affect oil prices, tanker movements and freight costs. US forces say they are monitoring the area closely, while Iran has warned of retaliation. Until either side signals restraint, the Larak Island strike is likely to keep military planners, shipping companies and energy traders focused on the risk of renewed disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

Google Maps has changed the display name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for users in the United States following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The move has triggered a fresh US-Canada dispute, while users in Canada will continue to see the traditional Lake Ontario name. Trump Order Drives Map Rename Trump announced

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Israeli security agency Shin Bet has confirmed that a serious Yair Netanyahu threat prompted the urgent extraction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s eldest son from Miami and his return to Israel. The agency confirmed the security threat but did not publicly identify who was behind it. Shin Bet Alert The Shin Bet said on August 29 that authorities had identified a “significant threat??

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned violence carried out by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian villages of Qusra and Jalud in the occupied West Bank, describing the incidents as criminal acts that violate the law and damage Israel’s international standing. The remarks followed fresh clashes in Qusra, near Nablus, where dozens of Israeli settlers reportedly entered the village on Saturday after several weeks of rising tension in the area. Netanyahu sa

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H-4 EAD rules changed significantly before 2026. Eligible H-4 spouses can still apply for work authorization, but most renewal applications filed on or after October 30, 2025 no longer automatically extend an expiring EAD. Here are the current rules applicants and workers need to understand. Last updated: August 30, 2026 Eligible H-4 spouses can still apply for employment authorization in the United States, but an important EAD renewal rule changed before 2026.

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