United States
Travis Kelce spoke for the first time about his wedding to Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden, calling it the best night. There were about 1,100 guests at the ceremony, some of whom signed nondisclosure agreements.
Iran and the United States have made no progress in talks on restoring the temporary peace agreement concluded in June. The parties accuse each other of violating the agreements, while the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
U. S. President Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt will leave her post as White House press secretary at the end of the month. She will become Trump’s chief foreign policy adviser and an influential voice in the Republican Party.
The Greenlandic government rejected Greenland Energy's drilling plans due to insufficient time to assess the impact. Work may not begin before the winter of 2027, contradicting the predictions of Trump's envoy.
U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the creation of a task force to combat birth tourism.
Oil prices rose due to strikes on vessels in the Middle East and the lack of talks between Iran and the United States. U.S. oil inventories increased by 9.1 million barrels, which could ease concerns about a shortage.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna did not post the UAH 6 million bail by August 11. Her defense filed an appeal against the HACC's decision; the hearing will take place on August 13.
On Tuesday, only eight vessels were observed in the Strait of Hormuz, a weekly low. Shipowners are avoiding the waterway due to the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
Powerful storms in the U. S. Midwest claimed the lives of three people, including a child. More than 800,000 customers were left without electricity.
Russia's two largest grain terminals at the port of Novorossiysk suspended operations after overnight drone strikes.
U. S. President Donald Trump said he would like to run for a third term, but the law prohibits it. He noted that everyone is asking him to do so, but the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution limits presidents to two terms.
U. S. ICE plans to purchase thousands of Glove electroshock gloves worth up to $20 million. Human rights advocates have expressed concern about possible abuses.
On August 12, North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area, marking the second test in a week. The launch took place amid preparations for joint U.S.–South Korean exercises.
The United States accused China of providing insufficient warning about the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 6. China rejected the accusation, stating that safety measures were in place and that notification had been given in advance.
According to the EIA, disruptions in oil supplies caused by the war involving Iran and restrictions on operations in the Strait of Hormuz could continue until early 2027. This will lead to higher fuel prices and inflation worldwide.
Human Rights Watch and three other organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over sanctions against the ICC. They called the measures an unlawful attack on international justice.
Iran announced plans to create a ballistic missile with a range of up to 15,000 km, which could reach U. S. territory. It is noted that this would require a complex technological step, possibly involving the use of North Korean technologies.
The US military disabled the Panamanian-flagged vessel Vela Nova, which was violating the blockade of Iran. The strike was carried out with Hellfire missiles from an MH-60 helicopter.
The average volume of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz has risen to 9 million barrels per day. On Sunday, more than 20 million barrels were exported from the Persian Gulf, exceeding pre-conflict levels.
The Trump administration lifted the ban on TikTok on federal devices. The decision was made after control of the app’s business was transferred to American investors.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the United States and Iran are close to an agreement that could ensure lasting peace in the region. The statement came amid talks regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had conveyed proposals to the United States on ending the war. He emphasized the importance of air defense assistance and pressure on Russia.
In its 2026 report, the U. S. State Department praised Ukraine for providing open access to budget documents despite the war. At the same time, it noted that the Cabinet of Ministers maintains extrabudgetary accounts for military expenditures without an independent audit.
The U. S. Energy Information Administration raised its forecast for Brent prices to $87 per barrel for 2026 due to restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Retail gasoline prices are projected to rise to $3.78 per gallon, contrasting with Trump's statement that the strait is open.
Russia pardoned the 32-year-old American on humanitarian grounds after four years in prison. He is headed to a military hospital in Texas for treatment.
U. S. President Donald Trump said that America is selling weapons to the European Union, which are then transferred to Ukraine. He explained low ammunition deliveries by decisions made by Joe Biden, who allocated 300 billion dollars to Ukraine.
Ukraine's European partners are depleting their stocks of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, while new systems will arrive too late. Germany is balancing Kyiv's needs with its own defense, while Ukraine is developing the Freyja interceptor.
US authorities sold two sanctioned Russian tankers, detained near Venezuela in January, to Dubai-based Global Marketing Systems. The vessels "Era" and "Lileo" will be scrapped at metal recycling plants in India.
Russia is already testing NATO’s response to military aggression and may move on to more dangerous provocations. At the same time, Europe’s weak point remains the low pace of defense production and shortages of certain types of weapons.
In the first half of 2026, Chinese companies controlled more than 97% of global humanoid robot shipments. Agibot emerged as the leader with a 44% share, ahead of Unitree and U.S. competitors.