Iran’s currency has fallen to a record low against the dollar. The US is expected to disclose details of the administration’s sanctions plans later today, with developments being followed live.

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China has been Iran’s biggest oil buyer for several years, placing its purchases under scrutiny as the United States threatens Tehran with severe economic sanctions.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington would sever all economic ties with Iran and isolate countries that partner with it financially, calling the planned pressure the “single greatest financial offensive ever”. Iran dismissed the threat, saying it could halt regional oil exports if the war continues, and warned shipping not to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration expects to launch a “financial offensive” against Iran on Monday, declaring that the conflict is entering its “endgame.” President Donald Trump had earlier announced an unprecedented economic war and isolation campaign against Tehran, warning that entities supporting it would face serious US economic consequences.

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With diplomacy over ending the war on Iran stalled, President Donald Trump is threatening economic penalties against any country doing business with Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US will impose the toughest sanctions in history to collapse Iran’s government, while Tehran warns that countries joining the measures will face retaliation and accuses Washington of asserting extraterritorial sovereignty.

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Russian newspapers highlight Washington’s preparations for new sanctions on Iran and Trump’s promise of “unprecedented” economic pressure as talks with Tehran remain stalled. They also report that Moscow is ready to mediate if asked, while warning that Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure will bring a severe response.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would respond rapidly to any Iranian military escalation following Washington’s promised “unprecedented sanctions.” He said the current US goal was to completely isolate Iran economically. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the sanctions policy economic terrorism and a crime against humanity.

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The Trump administration says it plans to sever every economic lifeline sustaining Iran through what officials call the toughest sanctions campaign yet. Targeting China, Iran’s biggest trade partner and main oil buyer, could trigger serious retaliation from Beijing, leading analysts to question whether Washington will match its rhetoric. China says it remains committed to peace talks, while Iran has threatened retaliation against countries supporting the US measures.

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Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, died while serving a 20-year prison sentence, his lawyer said. His fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, became a flashpoint in debate over police use of force.

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Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted after the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her home, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence, his lawyer said. The case became a flashpoint in debates over police use of force.

Sean GraysonSonya Masseypolice use of forceIllinois

A Damascus criminal court has sentenced Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, to life in prison for crimes committed during the country’s war. He was convicted of inciting violence, justifying killings and abusing his office, and faced accusations of legitimising Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson warned on Monday that Tehran would respond harshly to expanded US sanctions, including measures targeting countries it considers to be cooperating with Washington. The prospect of broader sanctions follows weeks of deadlock, with the United States still unable to dislodge Iran’s grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Iran has warned it will respond harshly to expanded US sanctions, including measures against countries it considers aligned with Washington. The move follows weeks of deadlock, while the United States has failed to loosen Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz and now hopes further sanctions will force change.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry says Battlegroup North fighters captured Pershe Travnya in Ukraine’s Sumy Region and are pushing Ukrainian forces farther from the state border. It said the units are advancing along all sectors of the front while creating a security zone in Sumy and Kharkov Regions.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry says its forces took control of three communities in the Sumy Region, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region during the past 24 hours. It also reported roughly 1,400 Ukrainian army casualties across the front lines, along with losses of vehicles, artillery and armored equipment.

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Ukraine marks 35 years of independence on August 24, while its conflict with Russia reaches four and a half years. As European leaders gather in Kyiv, the Coalition of the Willing is due to chair talks with Volodymyr Zelensky on strengthening support for Ukraine amid an intensifying Russian bombing campaign.

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European leaders joined President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on August 24 for official celebrations of Ukraine’s Independence Day as Russia continues its four-year invasion. New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended his first foreign trip since taking office in July.

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Western leaders and officials arrived in Kyiv on Aug. 24 for Ukraine’s Independence Day, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. Among them was British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, making his first visit since taking office and expected to chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting. European and Nordic-Baltic leaders also attended.

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Mohammed bin Salman is in Paris for a two-day official visit with President Emmanuel Macron. Their talks are expected to cover the war in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and new energy routes that could bypass it. The two leaders also appeared at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup, held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time but largely funded by Riyadh.

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French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince are due to chair the first meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council on August 24. Several agreements are expected, including a Dragon Ball-themed amusement park in the Paris region and French military equipment sales to the kingdom.

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Four people have been arrested over the shooting death of South African boxing champion Zolani Tete outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. A 22-year-old suspect is due in court on murder and attempted murder charges, while two others face firearm and ammunition possession charges.

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At least 30 people died and six were critically injured when a huge pile of rubbish collapsed at the Dar es Salam open-air landfill in Conakry after heavy overnight rain. The debris hit nearby shacks, destroyed homes and prompted rescue efforts. The dump had been due to close that day.

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Shares in Russian online marketplace Ozon fell as much as 28.5% to 2,129 rubles after Ukrainian forces struck its warehouses in several Russian regions for a third straight day. The stock was down 12.7% at 2,600 rubles after the Moscow Exchange opened, while the benchmark index dropped 2%. Ozon is a blue-chip constituent of the benchmark. Ukraine had previously struck warehouses operated by Wildberries, which is not publicly traded.

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Russian officials say a Ukrainian overnight drone attack on Krasnodar sent debris into a private children’s facility and residential buildings, killing three children and injuring 12 people, including six children who were hospitalized. An Ozon warehouse was also hit, with no injuries reported there initially.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kyiv regime had opened Pandora’s box by attacking Russian civilian infrastructure and was facing retaliation every day, which would continue. He said drone strikes on Ozon warehouses had failed to affect frontline dynamics and instead highlighted the regime’s true nature.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 351 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight across Russian regions and nearby waters. Debris hit a children’s facility in Krasnodar, killing three children and injuring seven. Ozon logistics centers in Adygea and Dagestan caught fire, while some warehouses were evacuated or temporarily closed.

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Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack on August 24 killed three children in Krasnodar. Officials said debris struck a private children’s center, injuring seven children and two adults and setting warehouses ablaze. Ozon facilities in Adygeysk, Makhachkala, and Nevinnomyssk were also hit; injuries were reported in Makhachkala.

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A massive Ukrainian drone attack is being repelled in the Krasnodar Region, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. Debris fell on a private children’s center in Krasnodar, killing two children and injuring seven others; two adults were hospitalized.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said. Modi also looks forward to meeting Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, he added.

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The United States has cancelled a joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korea that was scheduled for next month. Seoul’s Marine Corps said Washington attributed the decision to limits on available U.S. forces caused by the war in Iran.

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New Zealand’s government plans to introduce an Online Safety Bill barring children under 16 from social media and requiring platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook to verify users’ ages. Non-compliant platforms could face fines of up to 10% of global revenue. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the harm to children is too serious to ignore, but coalition partners NZ First and ACT oppose the proposal, leaving its future uncertain.

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Prime minister Christopher Luxon says his party will introduce a bill seeking to bar children under 16 from social media, with platforms facing fines of up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance. The proposal would require age checks using account data, facial technology or digital identity documents. Coalition partner New Zealand First says it will not support the bill.

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New Zealand’s conservative coalition government plans to introduce a bill in Parliament on Monday that would bar children under 16 from using social media. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

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