• On August 28, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to Norway following the passing of King Harald V.
• PM Modi specifically highlighted the "warmth" of the late monarch, reflecting on the positive relationship between the two leaders.
• This diplomatic gesture underscores the importance of India's bilateral ties and mutual respect with Norway.
• Iran has launched a renewed diplomatic push, proposing a plan with Oman to ensure the continued movement of ships through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
• Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is visiting Tehran to facilitate mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.
• This diplomatic shift comes as U.S. economic pressure intensifies, with Iranian officials suggesting that the next move toward de-escalation rests with Donald Trump.
• Six months into the conflict between the US and Iran, reports indicate that Donald Trump's original strategic goals remain unfinished.
• Iranian Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has criticized those avoiding negotiations with the enemy, warning that labeling diplomatic achievements as "betrayal" is a form of comfort-seeking.
• Ghalibaf emphasized that loyalty to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei requires maintaining national unity and avoiding political polarization to prevent adversaries from creating internal divisions.
At least 160 people have died, while officials believe 340 foreign nationals from India, the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia and Ukraine among those missing. Follow the latest newsFlash floods on Nepal-Tibet border leave scores dead and hundreds missingTell us: have you been affected by the flash floods?Authorities in Nepal and Tibet have said they fear the death toll from catastrophic flooding could be much higher than 160 people already killed, as search and rescue efforts to locate the hundreds missing continue.A huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, triggering the flash flood which washed away houses, roads and border crossings.Rescue teams are rushing on Thursday to find hundreds of people missing after the flood and landslides killed at least 160 people. Many of the missing were foreign tourists, officials said.Nepali police said they had recovered 157 bodies after “devastating floods”, with officers working to move families in flood-risk areas to safety. Chinese state media reported “major casualties” from a mudslide at a Tibet border hub, reporting three dead and another 265 missing. The overall death toll appears likely to rise.Tibet government officials mobilised nearly 800 emergency workers and 150 vehicles as well as sniffer dogs and speed boats to help the rescue efforts, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.At least 403 tourists – 341 of them foreigners – were unaccounted for several hours after the disaster struck on Wednesday morning, according to Nepal’s tourism ministry. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, 33 from the UK, 47 from the US, 34 from Australia and 24 from Canada as well as others from South Korea, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Portugal and South Africa, the tourism board said. Nine South Koreans were missing, the country’s foreign ministry said.At least 28 Nepal police officials were missing, a police spokesperson said.Entire villages and markets were “wiped out”, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. It was dispatching emergency supplies including blankets, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.United Nations chief António Guterres said UN teams and partners were mobilising supplies and personnel in Nepal to support affected communities.Surveillance video from the Chinese side of the border showed a raging wall of mud and debris crashing over a building several storeys high, engulfing it as dozens of people flee for their lives below. The surge sweeps away buses and cars.Experts warned that a lingering blockage upstream on the Nepal-China border river could produce a second flood.The cause of the flooding was not immediately clear. Nepalese foreign minister Shishir Khanal said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide, which in turn blocked a river, sending water gushing downstream. Nepal’s disaster authority said satellite data indicated a “snow-rock landslide” on the Nepal-China border may have caused the flood. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people”, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.The US Geological Survey first reported a magnitude-4.4 earthquake early on Wednesday, about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the border. It later updated to call the shaking a 5.2-magnitude landslide. Continue reading...
• President Trump stated that the U.S. is "achieving a very big victory" in the ongoing war with Iran, asserting that military operations will continue for as long as necessary.
• As the conflict approaches the six-month mark, Trump confirmed there is currently no specific timetable for resuming peace talks with the Iranian government.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that while he and Trump discussed diplomacy, he doubts an agreement can be reached with those he described as "savages."
• Canada announced on August 25, 2026, that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods.
• The decision follows a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
• This escalation marks a critical turning point in trade tensions between the two North American neighbors, potentially disrupting cross-border supply chains.
• On Monday, August 24, 2026, the United States announced a new series of sanctions targeting Iran amid escalating tensions.
• The measures are part of a broader strategic effort involving the US and Israel to curb Iranian activities and influence in the region.
• These sanctions aim to exert economic pressure on the Iranian government to prevent further military escalation and destabilization.
• Sunny Deol's film "Batwara 1947" has officially crossed the ₹50 crore mark in worldwide box office collections as of August 23, 2026.
• The milestone was achieved on the movie's 10th day of release, demonstrating steady performance in the global market.
• This achievement highlights the commercial viability of the film and Sunny Deol's continued draw for audiences.
• Iran's president has declared a victory in its conflict with the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance emphasized that economic pressure remains the most effective tool for the United States.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi recently briefed Egypt's foreign minister on regional developments and efforts to return to diplomatic tracks, including negotiations via Oman.
• Discussions focused on de-escalation and the potential implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed between the U.S. and Iran on June 18.
• Iran's president declared victory on Friday, claiming the world has approved the country's success following a conflict launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28.
• Official Shahram stated that Iran increased weapons production and relocated key military assets and facilities to protect them during the hostilities.
• The Iranian defense industry reportedly shifted from reverse-engineering foreign technology to developing its own domestic weapon systems.