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• Indian equities ended their losing streak on August 20, 2026, with the Sensex climbing 628.04 points (0.82%) to 77,537.72 and the Nifty 50 rising 153.55 points (0.64%) to 24,231.85. • The rally was driven by broad-based gains in IT and financial stocks, supported by improved global risk appetite and advances in US indices like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq. • Positive momentum extended across Asian markets, highlighted by a significant 5.63% rally in South Korea, while the VIX fell by 6%.

Officers reportedly believed invitees were trying to make unauthorized entry on to Vandenberg base in CaliforniaFive news reporters and two members of the military who were invited to an event at Vandenberg space force base in California were briefly detained at gunpoint by security officers who thought they were gatecrashers, according to local news reports.The incident happened Monday ahead of an invitation-only groundbreaking for a new training facility for missile operators at the federal airfield near Santa Barbara, California. Reporters from Noozhawk and KEYT were among those detained, and both outlets published articles detailing the detainment. Continue reading...

• Asia base oil prices and trading patterns remain volatile due to the ongoing and unresolved conflict between the United States and Iran. • Market turmoil is being driven primarily by Iran's control and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely disrupted global oil flows. • These geopolitical tensions are creating significant instability in both the crude oil and base oil sectors, impacting pricing strategies.

• NASA and its partners are establishing the Moon Base, humanity's first lunar outpost located near the Moon's South Pole. • The project involves a series of crewed and uncrewed missions designed to build the necessary infrastructure for astronauts to live and work. • This initiative is critical for unlocking new scientific discoveries and creating a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

Exclusive: Analysis shows 55% of accounts were located overseas – and seven of 12 most-read posts came from USMore than half the accounts that posted on Elon Musk’s X about the rioting in Belfast and the civil disorder in Southampton in June were based outside the UK, an analysis by the Guardian can reveal.Of the 8,672 accounts whose combined posts about the events exceeded 1,000 views, just 45.3% were shown as from the UK, according to the social media platform’s own location function. Continue reading...

• Boris Pervushin argues that the current "coalition of willing" European politicians supporting Ukraine is operating against domestic public sentiment. • The support structure faces significant pressure in the coming year as voters in Italy, Poland, Spain, and Germany prioritize their own standard of living over the conflict in the East. • This shift is critical because the debate over funding Ukraine is evolving from a geopolitical strategic issue into a matter of electoral survival for European elites.

• The FDA has approved Moderna's new mRNA-based flu vaccine, named mFlusiva, which is specifically intended for adults aged 50 and older. • This approval marks a shift toward using mRNA technology for seasonal influenza, moving away from traditional egg-based vaccine production methods. • The development is significant as it aims to provide more precise and potentially more effective protection against evolving flu strains.

• Tech companies Coinbase, Shopify, and Ramp have developed their own proprietary AI coding agents while continuing to pay for Anthropic's Claude Code. • The industry trend suggests the primary competitive advantage lies in the "agent harness"—the infrastructure surrounding the AI—rather than the underlying large language model. • Ramp's "Inspect" tool exemplifies this by executing code within sandboxed virtual machines and integrating with engineering systems like Datadog, Sentry, and LaunchDarkly.

• The FDA has approved mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based influenza vaccine developed by Moderna, specifically targeting adults aged 50 and older. • The regulatory strategy includes full approval for adults aged 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older, pending a postmarketing study using a high-dose comparator. • This approval follows a unanimous recommendation from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee in June 2026.

• The FDA has approved the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, developed by Moderna, specifically for adults aged 50 and older. • Former FDA vaccine regulator Jesse Goodman noted the shot's documented superiority in effectiveness over standard doses for the 50-64 age group, particularly those with underlying health conditions. • The new vaccine serves as a potent alternative for seniors 65 and over and will be covered by Medicare, according to KFF health policy expert Jennifer Kates.

• On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, major venture capital firms including a16z, General Catalyst, and Insight Partners led a series of significant funding rounds. • Investors poured hundreds of millions of dollars into startups focusing on "human-out-of-the-loop" technologies, specifically targeting autonomous mobility and industrial robotics. • The funding surge also covered enterprise AI agents, developer infrastructure, and automated financial systems, signaling a shift toward total operational autonomy.

Exclusive: Louisiana firm awarded tender to build rudimentary outpost to house Moroccan troopsDonald Trump’s Board of Peace, which was set up in January to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, has finally issued its first construction contract in the devastated territory: a project to build a rudimentary 150-person military outpost to house Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter told the Guardian.The contract, which has not yet been finalised, was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously carried out work with the US government in countries such as Iraq. Continue reading...

• Motiva, SK Enmove, and Avista Oil have announced increases in posted base oil prices. • The price hikes are driven by recent spikes in crude oil costs and tight global availability of Group II+ and Group III base oils. • In a strategic shift, SK and Chevron have entered into new supply agreements with HF Sinclair.

• The FDA is currently reviewing Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine, which would be the first of its kind to enter the commercial market. • This decision comes amid a climate of skepticism regarding mRNA technology, highlighted by questions from RFK Jr. and recent HHS funding cuts. • The regulatory uncertainty and funding drops have alarmed venture capital firms, threatening the development of mRNA therapies for Lyme disease and rare cancers.

• Iran has claimed responsibility for launching a drone attack on U.S. facilities in Kuwait and striking two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. • The targeted tankers were reportedly under "aerial escort" from the United States at the time of the strikes. • Separately, an Israeli political source told CBS News that the IDF will not withdraw from the current "yellow line" unless Hamas is completely disarmed.

Rashad Sultanov, from London, suspected of conducting hostile surveillance and passing information to Revolutionary GuardsA British-Azerbaijani national has been arrested ⁠in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a British airbase on the Mediterranean island and passing information to Iran’s ⁠Islamic Revolutionary Guard ⁠Corps, the Metropolitan police ​said.Rashad Sultanov, 44, from Islington, north London, was arrested on 17 July by Cypriot authorities ⁠and is being held in custody as extradition proceedings continue, the police said in a statement on Friday. Continue reading...

Response from Hamas and Israeli officials suggest Gaza deal still faces obstacles; Tehran launches drone strikes at Kuwait in retaliation for recent US attacksTrump claims agreement for ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza but support uncertainSaudi Arabia prepares sea and possible land offensive against HouthisDonald Trump claims a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles and conditions remained in the Palestinian territory.“The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases,” Trump said on social media. “As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors.”Twenty-five commodities vessels passed through the ⁠Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, while traffic through the strait ⁠of Hormuz ⁠remained ​low with only two tankers transiting, according to Kpler shipping ⁠data.Analysts are expecting major oil companies to report large profits while fighting between Iran and the US impeded petroleum shipments. Six of Europe’s largest oil companies have posted first-quarter profits of $22bn altogether, a total 43% higher than the same time last year, according to Global Witness.Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it had set up a maritime defence alliance of 14 regional countries to secure navigation around the Bab al-Mandab strait.An Iranian strike hit a Chinese firm’s building in Kuwait on Thursday, severely damaging the structure and killing a worker, Kuwait’s military said, hours after Jordan’s air defences shot down five missiles launched from Iran.Egypt’s government said on Thursday authorities were analysing drone fragments from an unprecedented strike on one of its ports, after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned of regional escalation. His government had earlier confirmed that a fire on two gas vessels in the Damietta port – one of which was US-owned – was a result of a drone strike, the first to target the country since the outbreak of the Middle East war. Continue reading...

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility on Thursday for an attack on a US military base located in Kuwait as part of "Operation Nasr-2." • In a retaliatory move, US air strikes targeting Iran's Zanjan province resulted in the deaths of at least three IRGC members. • These escalating strikes highlight the intensifying military conflict between the US and Iran, signaling a dangerous shift in regional stability.

• Mercis and WildBrain CPLG have partnered to expand the "Miffy and Friends" brand into location-based entertainment (LBE) across multiple global regions. • The expansion targets the development of theme parks, resorts, and family entertainment centers in China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. • This strategic move aims to increase the brand's physical presence and consumer engagement through immersive experiences beyond traditional merchandise.

• Approximately 1,100 AI industry insiders from major firms including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have signed a petition calling for an international framework to "pace" AI development. • The move follows recent open letters from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei regarding the role of open source in the industry. • This collective effort highlights a growing urgency among tech leaders to establish global safety and regulatory standards as AI capabilities accelerate.

Figures are source of dispute as US defense department days ago reduced record of troops killed and woundedThe Pentagon updated its official war casualty database over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members. The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) also introduced a new casualty category labeled “Overseas Operations” for personnel killed and wounded “starting July 7”.According to the updated database, the official toll for the earlier phase of the US-Iran war, known as Operation Epic Fury, now stands at 14 service members killed and more than 400 wounded in action. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president will be first overseas visitor for new British prime ministerVolodymyr Zelenskyy will become Andy Burnham’s first overseas visitor as prime minister, in a visit that Burnham said underlined Britain’s “unwavering” backing for Ukraine.Less than two weeks after Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv for the final foreign visit of his prime ministership, the Ukrainian president will on Monday join Burnham at a naval base where Ukrainian forces have been receiving training. Continue reading...

• The Premier League title race is shaping up to be highly competitive following a series of high-profile summer transfers. • British transfer records were broken twice with Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million and Chelsea acquiring Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million. • These massive investments by top clubs signal an aggressive attempt to strengthen squads and shift the balance of power before the new season begins.

• Iran is utilizing Chinese technology and Russian tactics to launch increasingly accurate and lethal bombing campaigns against US bases in the Gulf. • US intelligence estimates reveal that Iran's ballistic missile program remains roughly 70% intact, contradicting previous Washington claims that Tehran's military capabilities had been obliterated. • These developments highlight critical weaknesses in stretched US defenses and demonstrate the result of three years of targeted technological advancement by Iran.

Latest attacks come after Trump vowed ‘major military punishment’ for Tehran and its Houthi alliesUS missiles struck targets across Iran on Friday after Donald Trump vowed “major military punishment” for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen for extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint, the mouth of the ⁠Red Sea.The US Central Command said it targeted Iranian military command centres, communication networks, drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. Continue reading...

IRGC claims base in south-west England was used by US to launch bombing missions, making it ‘legitimate target’Middle East crisis live – latest updatesThe government has said the UK is “ready to defend itself” after Iran’s military warned that any bases being used by the US were “legitimate targets”.The UK has allowed the US to launch “defensive” operations from British bases hosting American planes since the start of its war on Iran but has refused to help in offensive operations. Continue reading...

• Escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran, alongside the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted the flow of crude oil and refined products from the Persian Gulf. • These geopolitical tensions have pushed base oil and energy prices to steeper levels due to supply chain instability. • The situation is expected to worsen as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threaten to attack shipping companies loading cargoes at Saudi ports on the Red Sea.

Sgt Angel S Pampersad also believed to be dead in attack that killed two others, raising death toll to 18 troops since start of Iran warThe US military has confirmed that a third service member is believed to be dead in Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan and identified them as Sgt Angel S Rampersad, 28, of New York.The confirmation brings the death toll to 18 US service members killed since the war began. Continue reading...