WORLD

 NEW YORK, 28 August, 2026 (News Desk): Democrats and Republicans in the United States are shifting their focus toward the November general election after the conclusion of the primary season, with both parties adopting sharply different campaign messages as they seek to win over voters. Democrats are increasingly focusing on the economy and the high cost of everyday essentials, including fuel, groceries and healthcare. Democratic candidates in competitive districts argue that voters are more concerned about affordability and household expenses than political extremism. Republicans, meanwhile, are seeking to keep the spotlight on the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, warning voters about the influence of democratic socialism and what they describe as a leftward shift within the...

TEHRAN, 28 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran has condemned US economic sanctions against the country as “state terrorism,” describing the measures as unlawful and reprehensible and accusing Washington of using economic pressure as a weapon against the Iranian people. In a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Tehran said US sanctions were placing the health and livelihoods of millions of Iranian citizens at serious risk. The ministry warned that countries joining or enforcing the US sanctions would effectively be participating in what Iran described as an unlawful attempt to impose the will of one country on others. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called on the United Nations and the international community to take measures to uphold international law and challenge what it described as Wash...

SINGAPORE, 27 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Oil prices fell for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday amid growing expectations that diplomatic talks involving Iran and Qatar could lead to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and ease supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Brent crude futures declined 60 cents, or 0.7%, to $87.24 a barrel by 0004 GMT, extending losses for a fourth day. West Texas Intermediate crude futures also fell 56 cents, or 0.7%, to $81.67 a barrel, marking its fifth consecutive day of declines. Iran and Oman are reportedly working to finalise details of an agreement concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source. Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the two countries had reached an understanding on how to sha...

 WASHINGTON, 27 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The Pentagon’s review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe will prepare at least four options for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by November 6, well ahead of the December deadline for completing the review, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The options will outline potential troop numbers, locations, the speed of any adjustments and associated costs. The six-month review, announced in June, has raised concerns among NATO allies that it could result in significant reductions to the roughly 80,000 U.S. troops stationed across Europe. Allied countries are also expected to be assessed on their defense-spending commitments, gaps in NATO’s force structure and the access rights they provide to U.S. forces. The Pentagon’s “Terms of Ref...

TRISHULI, 27 August 2026 (Nosheen): Rescuers in Nepal launched extensive search operations on Thursday for hundreds of people still missing after catastrophic floods swept through towns and valleys near the Himalayan border with China’s Tibet region, killing at least 162 people. Helicopters were deployed to search remote and affected areas as authorities warned that the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered. Authorities said nearly 1,500 people, including more than 700 foreign nationals, remain missing across Nepal and Tibet. In Nepal, police and tourism officials reported 826 people missing, including almost 500 foreigners from more than two dozen countries. Among those missing are 177 Indian nationals, 63 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians. In China’s Gyi...

CAIRO/DUBAI, 27 August 2026 (Nosheen): Qatar’s Prime Minister is set to visit Tehran on Thursday in an effort to revive diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran amid continued tensions over Washington’s plans to increase economic pressure on Tehran.Qatar, which is a Gulf neighbour of Iran and a close US ally, has played an important role as a back-channel mediator between the two sides and helped secure a ceasefire in June that temporarily halted hostilities. The visit comes as the conflict approaches its sixth month, with fighting largely reduced but diplomatic progress remaining elusive. Major differences persist between Washington and Tehran, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies. During the visit, Qatar is expected to disc...

 BEIJING, 26 August 2026 (Nosheen) : China’s coastal and southern regions are preparing for several days of heavy rainfall as Typhoon Narra moves inland and another storm approaches the country’s eastern coast. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated as authorities take precautionary measures. Narra made landfall as a tropical storm on Tuesday evening in the southern island province of Hainan after remaining over the Beibu Gulf, also known as the Gulf of Tonkin, for several days. The storm brought heavy rain to parts of Guangxi, Hainan and Guangdong provinces. According to China’s Meteorological Administration, Narra and Typhoon Saudel, along with tropical cyclones Gaenari and Atsani, have formed a rare group of four storms simultaneously circulating across the Northwest P...

WASHINGTON, 26 August 2026 (Ghufran) — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has paused visa appointments for applicants around the world as part of a broader immigration crackdown during Trump's second term in office. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that the department had launched a global training initiative at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Visa appointments will be adjusted to accommodate the training, the spokesperson said. The administration has pursued an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign that includes visa and green card revocations and the rejection of applications for a range of reasons, including applicants' political views and participation in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.Trump has said th...