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Ukrainian President Zelensky outlined a peace plan involving a ceasefire and a free economic zone, while a Russian expert predicted that US envoys Witkoff and Kushner will bring concrete proposals to Moscow. The conflicting statements highlight the wide gap between Kyiv and Moscow's positions.
Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui said at the SPROUTS forum in Kazan that Presidents Putin and Xi aim to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level amid global instability. He cited a May meeting in Beijing as a qualitative step forward and highlighted 30 years of strategic partnership. The forum, running August 16-19, features 51 business sessions and expects over 200 Chinese companies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands disputed with Japan, prompting a strong protest from Tokyo and a sharp response from Moscow. The visit highlights the long-standing territorial dispute that has prevented a formal peace treaty between the two nations.
Ukraine carried out one of its biggest drone attacks of the war, with hundreds of drones causing deaths and damage across Russia, including near Moscow. Russian forces also struck Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and setting fires in Kyiv. A Spanish F-18 shot down a drone over Romania as regional spillover continued.
A day after a Russian drone attack on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih killed at least 16 people, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on Russian military and energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes continued to claim lives across Ukraine. Officials on both sides reported multiple casualties, with the death toll from the shopping centre attack rising overnight.
Ukraine has carried out drone strikes against at least two dozen Wildberries warehouses since mid-July, causing significant damage to Russia's largest online retailer. The attacks have triggered a government response, with President Putin ordering a rebuilding program, while experts highlight the economic and strategic impact on Russia.
Fresh Russian strikes killed at least three people in Ukraine overnight, officials said, while Kyiv's expanding drone campaign reached the outskirts of Moscow, hitting a Wildberries warehouse. The United Nations reports civilian casualties in Ukraine this year have reached their highest level since the early months of the war.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Krasnodar killed two children and injured nine others when debris struck a childcare centre, while a Russian strike on Kharkiv killed three. The incidents mark an escalation in cross-border attacks as Ukraine seeks more air defence support from allies.
A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, a historic move that breaks decades of impunity. While symbolic and unlikely to be enforced, it marks a step in the country's transitional justice process, though experts say more work remains.
Afghanistan's leaders celebrated the fifth anniversary of their return to power at a Loya Jirga in Kabul, touting restored stability and an end to conflict, even as the UN decried a grave human rights crisis, and the administration renewed its call for representation at the United Nations.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that nearly 1,750 drones targeted the Moscow region over the past week, with most neutralized on distant approaches. The Russian Defence Ministry also said air defences shot down 250 Ukrainian drones in 12 hours across 19 regions.
Fifteen-year-old Lucky Rawat from Chakrata, Uttarakhand, returned to India on August 15 after representing his country as the sole Indian student on Rosatom's 'Icebreaker of Knowledge' expedition to the North Pole. The journey aboard the world's most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker, 50 Let Pobedy, included scientific activities and environmental observations, leaving Lucky inspired to set new personal goals.
The Pentagon has circulated a questionnaire to NATO allies asking whether they have publicly supported US foreign policy priorities, as part of a review that could reduce American forces in Europe. The document, obtained by Al Jazeera, also inquires about restrictions on US base access and alignment with the 'NATO 3.0' concept, prompting concerns among allies and former officials about politicizing military posture.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting a strong protest from Japan. The visit coincided with Russian naval exercises that included missile tests, further heightening tensions between the two countries over the long-standing territorial dispute.
Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, targeting oil refineries, infrastructure, and warehouses. The campaign aims to make ordinary Russians feel the war's impact, but some analysts warn it could backfire, while Russians report growing anxiety and economic strain.
According to OPEC data cited by TASS, Russia was the largest oil supplier to India in June, with exports rising to 2.2 million barrels per day. India's total oil imports fell in June, while China's imports also declined, with Russia retaining its top position in both markets.
Russia-China trade turnover rose 25% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 to $135 billion, according to Russian and Chinese officials. Chinese customs data shows a 26.3% increase for January-July, with total trade reaching $159.24 billion.
Gold prices extended their rally, with Comex futures surpassing $4,700 per troy ounce for the first time since mid-May, after the US Treasury announced higher buybacks of long-term government bonds. Domestic markets on MCX showed mixed trading, with gold recovering from a weak start while silver slipped. The moves come amid shifting expectations for US monetary policy and persistent safe-haven demand.
In two reports, TASS cites Russia's Defense Ministry as saying its troops liberated the settlements of Baksheyevka and Vodyanoye in the Kharkov Region. The reports give different figures for daily Ukrainian losses and air-defense interceptions.
A Russian military expert says the Pacific Fleet's ongoing drills are a key strategic deterrent in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing the role of submarine-launched Bulava missiles and cooperation with North Korea and China. The exercises, involving 60 vessels and 13,000 troops, are framed as a response to U.S. militarization and regional threats.