Oil prices fell about 2% on Wednesday, extending the previous session’s losses, after Iran said it had resumed talks with neighboring Oman on managing the strategic waterway. The discussions raised fresh hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China firmly opposes illicit unilateral sanctions without a basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council. Responding to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan to expand secondary-sanctions threats against Iran, Lin said economic warfare and maximum pressure only heighten tensions, spill over risks and harm other countries’ legitimate rights. He called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue and negotiation.
China foreign ministryunilateral sanctionsIranUnited States
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told The Washington Post that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on Tuesday for contacts between the two countries’ special services. Peskov offered no further details, while the CIA has not confirmed the visit.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with Russian officials, CBS News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The trip appears to be his first as CIA chief and the first known Moscow visit by a U.S. intelligence director since William Burns met Vladimir Putin in 2021. Washington and Moscow have not confirmed it.
US media report that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on Tuesday for meetings, while the Kremlin says no talks with US envoys are planned this week. Washington reportedly asked Ukraine to suspend strikes until the delegation leaves Moscow.
John RatcliffeMoscowUS-Russia relationsUkraine war
John Ratcliffe, who heads the CIA, went to Moscow during the night for discussions with Russian officials, according to an American official familiar with the journey.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew from Riga to Moscow on a U.S. Air Force C-17 on Aug. 25 and departed that evening. The visit was never officially announced, and its purpose remains unknown. Speculation includes talks over an American prisoner, a secret operation, or a warning to Vladimir Putin. The U.S. also asked Ukraine to pause strikes on Moscow and northern Russian regions.
US Representative Anna Paulina Luna welcomed reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe had traveled to Russia, saying he was doing “some great things” for the United States. Axios and CBS previously reported that Ratcliffe arrived for meetings, but the CIA has not confirmed the information.
US-Russia relationsJohn RatcliffeAnna Paulina Luna
US media outlets reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for meetings. CBS News and Axios confirmed the trip but did not identify his counterparts or the agenda. Earlier, flight-tracking data showed a US Air Force transport plane flying from Latvia to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
US media report that CIA director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, citing flight data and the sighting of a US diplomatic motorcade. CBS News and Axios quoted sources confirming the trip, reportedly his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. The reason remains unclear, and neither the CIA nor the White House immediately commented.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly travelled to Moscow on a US military aircraft on Tuesday for unannounced talks. Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the purpose of the visit or who he was due to meet, while flight-tracking data showed the plane flew to Russia via Latvia.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Russia for meetings in Moscow on Tuesday, according to two US media outlets. The trip is believed to be his first known visit to Russia since becoming the US spy chief, as US-brokered talks to end the Ukraine war have stalled.
John RatcliffeMoscowUS-Russia relationsUkraine war
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, CBS News reported, though the purpose remains unclear. Axios said he may be holding talks with Russian officials, while CBS reported that he arrived aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17. An unsubstantiated theory links the trip to the possible release of imprisoned American Charles Zimmerman.
A person familiar with the situation said the U.S. asked Ukraine not to strike Moscow or St. Petersburg while CIA Director John Ratcliffe was visiting Russia. The visit has not been officially confirmed by either Washington or Moscow, and his meetings and agenda remain unclear. A U.S. Air Force C-17 landed in Moscow earlier on Aug. 25.
RockawayX is acquiring Relayer Capital to broaden its cryptocurrency offerings in the United States. Relayer will become the RockawayX Liquid Opportunities Fund, focused on identifying “undervalued liquid tokens and crypto-related equities.”
RockawayXRelayer CapitalcryptocurrencyUnited States
China has announced its biggest-ever car recall, affecting more than four million vehicles made by Tesla, XPeng, Xiaomi and others. Hidden door handles are under scrutiny because they may delay escape or rescue after crashes. New Chinese rules will require mechanical releases inside and outside doors from 1 January 2027.
China car recallTeslahidden door handlesvehicle safety
Businessman Mike Mazzei won the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma after President Trump endorsed him and attacked his rival on social media.
U.S. politicsOklahomaRepublican Partygubernatorial election
Days of torrential rain have caused severe flooding in Longzhou County, Guangxi, cutting off 27 village settlements in Shangjin Township. More than 60 rescuers are using boats to deliver necessities and medical aid. The flooding has affected 1,479 households and 3,719 people, while residents of inundated homes were evacuated in advance.
Portland, Victoria, has become a hotspot for H5N1 bird flu, with many birds dead or suffering. Residents fear Sammy, a popular southern elephant seal that frequents the town and has been seen near birds presumed to have died from the virus, could become infected. More than 100 marine mammals have been reported in Victoria, but none has yet tested positive.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for stronger police accountability after public anger over the handling of several missing-person cases on Jeju island. Reforms are also set to give police a larger role in criminal investigations.
Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton says revamped Australian media bargaining laws could create major publishing growth by encouraging Google, Meta and other platforms to pay for news content. He also cites a strong pipeline of AI deals, while Nine cuts more than $160m over three years and reduces newsroom staff.
Nine EntertainmentAI dealsAustralian mediacost cutting
With the global economy facing mounting pressure, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva called on governments to address widening fiscal challenges and urged central bankers to remain committed to bringing inflation down.
India-based Ringg has secured $10 million from Peak XV in an extension of its Series A round as it works to expand voice AI beyond traditional phone calls.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, which led the fight against ISIL, have announced that they are disbanding. The move follows an agreement with Syria’s interim government to integrate militia groups into the country’s official armed forces.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces will dissolve as an independent military force under an agreement with Damascus, its chief, Mazloum Abdi, announced. The SDF was previously the United States’ main partner in Syria in the fight against ISIL.
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the group would end its existence as an independent military force and integrate with the Syrian army. He added that the Kurdish autonomous administration in northeastern Syria would become part of the government.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has been dissolved, its leader said on Tuesday, marking a major step in an integration plan agreed earlier this year with the Islamist-led government in Damascus.
SyriaSyrian Democratic ForcesKurdsintegration plan
Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, announced that the group had completed its merger with the Syrian army and would no longer operate as an independent military force. He also backed preserving education in Kurdish, describing the move as a step toward peace, stability and reconstruction in Syria.
Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, announced the group’s dissolution in a televised speech from Damascus’s presidential palace on Tuesday. He said the move followed the integration of SDF fighters into the Syrian military and marked a major victory for President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
More than five months before the Year-of-the-Goat Spring Festival, production and sales of festive goods are already active at Yiwu International Trade City. Bulk buyers from the United States, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia are placing orders worth over 500,000 yuan each, while merchants add multilingual couplets and New Year paintings for overseas customers.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, according to an administration official. The classified pact is intended to strengthen Riyadh’s nuclear program but depends on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.
Donald TrumpSaudi Arabiacivilian nuclear cooperationCongress
Trump’s nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia has reached Congress. Some Democratic lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates criticize the pact for failing to permanently prohibit enrichment or reprocessing, warning of proliferation risks.
A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire covering 40,000 square meters at a Wildberries logistics center in Kotovsk, Tambov Region, Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said. All employees were evacuated, while one reportedly suffered a concussion from the blast wave. Russian forces said they downed 16 drones targeting the city.
Coastal and southern parts of China are preparing for several days of intense rain as Typhoon Narra moves inland and another storm heads toward the eastern seaboard. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.
Typhoon Narra has caused widespread flooding in southern China, with water levels in Chongzuo, Guangxi, exceeding a record set in 2008. More than 15,000 people were evacuated there and 54,000 across Guangxi. Typhoon Saudel is meanwhile approaching southern Japan, Taiwan and southeastern China, while a separate system in Taiwan left one dead and four missing.
A massive vehicle recall in China last week targets a long-standing concern among EV owners: being trapped inside when power fails. It also underscores Beijing’s growing role in leading new safety standards for some of the world’s most advanced cars.
A California couple and their surrogate have testified in a Texas court as their escalating dispute over a newborn with a life-threatening heart defect continues.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Deputy Secretary General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda says the Global Governance Initiative has won broad backing within the SCO. He hopes China will use the organization’s platform to promote the initiative and advance its goals.
Israeli soldiers stopped Knesset member Ofer Cassif from reaching a Palestinian family’s home in Qusra village in the occupied West Bank. Settlers had maintained a 17-day siege, but Cassif eventually reached the families and voiced his support.
Russia and Ukraine are coordinating lists for another “quite large” prisoner-of-war exchange, Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said. The sides previously exchanged 103 people each on August 19 and conducted a ten-for-ten swap in Belarus on August 24.
Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Aug. 25, the first face-to-face talks between Moscow and the Vatican since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Gallagher urged an end to the war, cited “substantial differences,” and said they agreed to pursue humanitarian cooperation for children affected by the conflict.
China is expanding meal services for older people, with 82,000 sites serving more than 4 million meals daily, the Ministry of Civil Affairs says. Elderly-care providers, businesses and community groups are involved, while authorities offer tax, fee and utility support. Urban programs will join 15-minute community life circles, and rural areas will explore neighbor-to-neighbor arrangements.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he opposes a right-wing Hindu nationalist event planned for next week at Madison Square Garden. He describes the group, which is closely linked to India’s ruling BJP, as holding an “exclusionary vision.”
The U.S. military said a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean killed four people on Tuesday. Washington says the attacks target “narco-terrorists,” while human rights groups condemn them as extrajudicial killings; the incident is the latest in a series of such strikes.
U.S. militaryCaribbeanvessel strikeextrajudicial killings
Soluna Holdings is asking shareholders to raise its authorized common stock to 1 billion shares from 375 million as it seeks capital for a largely unbuilt 6.3-gigawatt data-center pipeline. A separate vote would permit larger stock sales under a YA II PN agreement. Approval would expand financing flexibility but could dilute existing investors. The company is also developing Project Dorothy 3 in Texas and sharing Bitcoin-mining revenue with Bitdeer at Project Kati 1.
At the second World Humanoid Robot Games, several robots beat human benchmarks in sprint and other track-and-field events. Observers say the results demonstrate rapid progress in controlled settings, but everyday applications remain at an early stage. More than 200 types of intelligent hardware are being tested in Beijing for companionship, education and healthcare, while costs could fall substantially over the next three years.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said humanoid robots are quickly moving from laboratories into industrial applications. At the 2026 World Robot Conference and World Humanoid Robot Games, Chinese robots broke records in events including the 100-meter sprint and men’s high jump, while also taking on sorting, assembly, elderly care and education tasks.
SpaceX unveiled plans Tuesday for its largest rocket launch complex yet, a $100 billion facility in southern Louisiana intended to support Starship and AI satellite missions. The company said the 125,000-acre Starbase Louisiana site on Pecan Island could eventually accommodate thousands of Starship launches each year.
SpaceX says it will build its largest launch facility yet in Louisiana, a $100bn project due to begin next year. The 125,000-acre Starbase Louisiana is intended to support thousands of Starship flights annually, with its first launch planned for 2029. The company says it will create more than 3,000 direct jobs.
SpaceX has unveiled plans to build a massive $100 billion spaceport in Louisiana, where it intends to launch its enormous Starship rocket thousands of times a year.
SpaceX plans to build a new $100 billion launch site for its Starship rocket on Louisiana’s southern coast, allowing it to expand operations of the behemoth vehicle that is critical to the company’s future.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said SpaceX will invest up to $100 billion to build Starship factories and launch pads along the state’s coast. SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell said the planned “Starbase Louisiana” would be a self-sustaining spaceport with propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing facilities and an airport.
SpaceX said it plans to build a Starship launch site in southern Louisiana under a deal announced Tuesday with the state’s governor. The company aims to begin construction next year, making it its fourth spaceport.
Chinese war comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East has announced a global release after earning more than 1.6 billion yuan since its Aug. 11, 2026 debut. It will open in Hong Kong, Macao, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia on Sept. 11, then Singapore and Japan, with further releases planned across North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Dolly Parton, the US singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, died Tuesday at 80, her family said. Across six decades, she released 49 studio albums, won 10 Grammys and 13 Academy of Country Music awards, and achieved 26 No. 1 country hits.
Stars including Dionne Warwick, Kacey Musgraves, Jane Fonda and Vince Gill are honoring Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 80. The beloved figure’s appeal reached across generations and political divides.
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, her family and representatives announced in a statement. Her career made her known as the ‘Queen of Country’.
Dolly Parton, the US country music icon celebrated worldwide for her songwriting, vivid persona and warmth, has died at 80. Her publicist said she passed away peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including “Jolene” and “9 to 5”, and founded Imagination Library, which sends free books to children.
Country music star Dolly Parton has died at 80, her family announced in a social-media video. She was known for hit songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
President Donald Trump said he is ordering flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Dolly Parton, declaring that “there has never been anyone like her, and never will.”
Dolly Parton’s family has announced that the country music superstar died at 80. She sold more than 100 million records and earned 25 US country No. 1 hits, 11 Grammys and three Emmys. Her career, signature wigs, charitable work and $1 million donation to COVID-19 vaccine research are among the facts highlighted.
Dolly Parton, the US singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, died on Tuesday at age 80, her family said. Over six decades in American music, she released 49 studio albums and more than 100 compilation and collaborative albums, won 10 Grammys and 13 Academy of Country Music awards, and had 26 number-one country hits.
Dolly Parton, the glamorous and exuberant “Queen of Country,” has died at 80. She rose from extreme poverty in rural Tennessee to become one of America’s most distinguished songwriters and wealthiest self-made women.
Dolly Parton, the US country music legend, has died at the age of 80, her family said on social media. Her career lasted more than half a century and produced worldwide hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Dolly Parton died at her home in Nashville at age 80, according to a statement from her family. She rose from humble beginnings to become one of the highest-achieving figures in American music and one of the country’s most philanthropic, unifying and beloved stars.
Asian stocks wavered on Wednesday as falling oil prices pulled bond yields lower amid hopes that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could reopen. Investors also awaited another potentially decisive earnings report from AI bellwether Nvidia.
After a close relative died, Zhou and her parents missed the last flight to Xi’an because they could not complete mobile check-in. Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport staff member Wang Jin rebooked them on the earliest morning flight, arranged an overnight hotel stay and accompanied them through security. Zhou later thanked him publicly.
Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Sichuan Airlines are offering paid meals on domestic flights, from inexpensive snacks to premium platters costing several hundred yuan. Analysts say the move could broaden passenger choice and generate revenue from catering, while the China Air Transport Association says free economy-class meals will remain, though some adjustments may occur.
Chinese airlinesin-flight mealsaviation industrypaid services
A majority of economists surveyed by Reuters expect the Bank of Japan to move faster than previously anticipated, raising interest rates again in September. They also see the eventual policy rate settling at a higher level than earlier projected.
A 25-year-old Chinese student who had been missing for several days was found dead in Gyeongsan, South Korea, according to the Chinese Consulate General in Busan. Police arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder and are examining the cause of death, his possible motive and whether his missing-person report was intended to mislead investigators.
Meta has discussed a possible settlement in a major U.S. case accusing the company of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to make teenagers addicted to the platforms.
Maye Musk posted photos from her Shanghai visit, including events, shopping, dining and sightseeing. Elon Musk commented that Shanghai is “a great city” and strongly recommended visiting, after also calling China “amazing” and encouraging people to travel there. Maye Musk reposted that message and praised China’s cities and people.
HP has partnered with Huawei, which is blacklisted by the U.S., to license the Chinese company’s WiFi technology. The deal signals adoption of Huawei technology outside China despite U.S. restrictions on Huawei working with American suppliers such as Google.
The connection between climate change and human health is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook, particularly in Asia. The region is home to an estimated 60 per cent of the world’s population, is warming faster than the global average and is among the areas most exposed to climate disasters. Public awareness has not matched the threat, with many Hong Kong residents still unaware of heat-related health risks.
Asiarising heatclimate changepublic health
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-26 02:00
Why rising heat is Asia’s next major health challenge
Families displaced by Sudan’s war are enduring crippling water shortages in refugee camps in El Obeid. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been targeting the city’s water sources, according to the report.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station, installing and connecting a spare space-to-ground antenna. Initial checks showed good power and data transmission, while flight controllers will continue testing it.
International Space Stationspacewalkcommunications antenna
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said the EU should compete with China in a “friendly spirit” instead of treating it as an enemy and raising barriers. He also insisted that Ukraine’s EU accession bid must follow established criteria and should not overtake Montenegro, Albania or Serbia in the process.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s assertion that Taiwan is part of China, alongside his comments about using force to preserve territorial unity, has prompted debate over Malaysia’s traditional non-aligned policy. China praised the remarks, while Taiwan condemned them and warned they could hurt Taiwanese investment confidence. Analysts differ on whether the comments signal a strategic shift or an effort to accommodate Beijing.
Representatives from China and the United States met in Beijing for the third Track 1.5 Dialogue, urging both sides to turn their leaders’ consensus into concrete action and results. Participants called for expanded practical cooperation, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and joint efforts to address global challenges.
China and the United States held their third Track 1.5 Dialogue in Beijing on Tuesday. The roughly 40 participants described the relationship as vital and at a critical juncture, calling for implementation of leaders’ understandings, stronger communication and political trust, and expanded cooperation in areas including trade, healthcare, artificial intelligence and food security.
Phantom will drop Sui support on Sept. 24, removing balances, transfers, swaps and decentralized-app connections from its interface. The assets will remain on the Sui blockchain, and users can regain access through compatible wallets. The change shows how a wallet can withdraw the tools used to access a chain without erasing ownership.
The Louisiana National Guard announced this week that it is ending an eight-month deployment to patrol New Orleans streets, including the French Quarter.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s surprise proposal to expand bond buybacks in an effort to lower U.S. borrowing costs has sparked debate over how effective it will ultimately be. But key market indicators and positioning suggest the plan is already having an impact.
Oil prices fell Wednesday as investors assessed the easing of renewed-tension concerns following the U.S. shift toward economic sanctions rather than military strikes to pressure Iran.
U.S. intelligence sites in the Middle East sustained unprecedented damage from Iranian missile and drone attacks on surveillance facilities, NBC News reported, citing sources. Repairs will cost Washington billions of dollars, while the attacks have raised doubts about whether U.S. agencies can adequately protect American sites in the region.
The United States is not planning new attacks on Iran in the near term, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senior diplomats, according to Axios. Washington is expected to increase economic pressure through sanctions and a naval blockade while moving more oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said strikes remain possible if Iran attacks first, and the policy is expected to continue at least through the November 3 midterm elections.
The Trump administration’s latest sanctions against Iran have swept up dozens of businesses in China and Hong Kong, while stopping short of the far more consequential move of targeting major Chinese financial institutions.
Oil prices declined for a second day on Tuesday as traders judged the prospect of renewed US strikes on Iran to have diminished after Washington threatened wider economic sanctions instead. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for an “economic D-Day” against Tehran but offered no timetable or details on countries that might be penalized.
China said it opposes the United States’ expanded unilateral sanctions on Iran and will take all necessary steps to protect its legitimate rights and interests. Washington targeted nearly 60 individuals, entities and vessels, while warning countries and businesses dealing economically with Tehran that they could face US measures.
After six months of military threats and conflict, the United States has launched a broad economic pressure campaign against Iran. The measures expand secondary sanctions into digital assets, gold, aviation, shipping and technology, while pressing Iran’s trading partners to choose sides. The analysis says Washington is turning to economic pressure to sustain leverage over Tehran and reduce the costs of prolonged military confrontation, though sanctions may not force Iran to concede.
US sanctionsIraneconomic pressuresecondary sanctions
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China firmly rejects unilateral sanctions lacking a basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council. He warned that economic war and maximum pressure would deepen conflicts and disrupt global financial order, urging a return to dialogue and negotiations.
The article advocates whole-system and life-cycle thinking in green architecture, extending from design and construction through use, reuse and end-of-life recovery. It argues that careful material choices, adaptable technical systems and digital tools can preserve value, reduce environmental impacts and advance sustainability and innovation.
green architecturecircular economysustainabilitybuilding design
The Productivity Commission says Western Australian Premier Roger Cook crossed a line by calling its members “east coast clowns” and describing its review of the state’s GST deal as deceitful. Commissioner Angela Jackson said criticism was welcome but attacks on the body’s integrity were unacceptable. The commission will continue consultations before issuing a final report by year’s end.
After securing the Republican nomination, Darline Graham is set to appear on South Carolina’s general-election ballot in place of her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
U.S. politicsSouth CarolinaRepublican Partyelection
Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican runoff, securing the party’s nomination for South Carolina’s general-election ballot to succeed her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
U.S. politicsSouth CarolinaRepublican PartySenate election
Senator Darline Graham is projected by DDHQ to win the Republican runoff and become the GOP candidate in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, replacing her late brother, Lindsey Graham. Her victory was helped by strong backing from President Donald Trump.
U.S. politicsSouth CarolinaRepublican PartySenate election
The UN confirmed that armed men killed at least 47 people, including five children, and kidnapped more than 50 others in Kenscoff near Port-au-Prince on Sunday. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and urged Haitian authorities to hold those responsible accountable.
Country music legend Dolly Parton passed away at 80, her family said in a statement. Born to a poor family in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in 1946, Parton began performing and composing music from a young age, rising to become a beloved cultural icon. Lisa Richwine remembers the country music star.
Country music legend Dolly Parton passed away at 80, her family said in a statement. Born to a poor family in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in 1946, Parton began performing and composing music from a young age, rising to become a beloved cultural icon. Lisa Richwine remembers the country music star.
Washington has launched an economic offensive against Iran and Canada, two countries that would not normally be grouped together, and the move is drawing retaliation.
Hong Kong-listed Chinese biotechnology companies have seen their shares surge after Moderna’s breakthrough cancer vaccine trial. Firms including Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals and Li Ka-shing-backed CK Life Sciences are advancing similar programmes, targeting a potentially large market as cancer deaths in China approach 2.6 million a year.
cancer vaccinesChinese biotechModerna
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-26 01:00
China rushes to develop Moderna-style cancer vaccines amid market frenzy
OpenAI says its new Jalapeno chip can outperform Nvidia processors in testing. The chip will allow customers to choose models that provide lower costs or faster responses.
Sudan’s army has made gains in North Kordofan as the Rapid Support Forces face a new wave of defections. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is also pursuing a national dialogue while saying the military campaign will continue. The developments may be shifting the political balance, but do not yet show an RSF collapse.
Sudan warNorth KordofanRapid Support Forcespolitical dialogue
Three Secret Service officials, including the agency’s director of communications, have been placed on leave as an investigation into potential misconduct proceeds, according to a source. The alleged misconduct has not been clearly identified.
Secret Servicemisconduct investigationofficials on leave
Three Secret Service officials placed on leave amid misconduct investigation
FlashBREAKINGTranslated by Minutes
Canada will match US tariffs 'dollar for dollar, rate for rate': Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue.
Canada says that its counter-tariffs responding to US President Donald Trump's latest duties will range between 15% and 50%, as a trade war intensifies between the historical allies
Canada will match US tariffs 'dollar for dollar, rate for rate': Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue.
Canada says that its counter-tariffs responding to US President Donald Trump's latest duties will range between 15% and 50%, as a trade war intensifies between the historical allies
Victoria’s auditor-general says the government introduced a previously undisclosed 1% annual levy on public transport fares across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria from January 2025 to help fund the Suburban Rail Loop and other major projects. The report questions whether SRL East can meet its schedule and budget, saying its funding is opaque and costs are more likely than not to exceed $34.5bn.
Suburban Rail LoopVictoriapublic transport faresinfrastructure
Robotics startup Generalist has reached a $3 billion valuation, according to sources. The milestone follows a $200 million extension, coming only months after the physical AI startup was valued at $2 billion.
Sphere 3D said it may owe about $2.2 million in supplemental U.S. tariffs on Bitcoin miners bought in 2022 by a subsidiary, after Customs and Border Protection treated the equipment as Chinese-origin. The company called the allegation meritless and plans to protest. The potential charge equals about 77% of its cash, though the final amount remains uncertain.
A family spokesperson says a man killed eight relatives, including four children, during a Sunday dinner at a home in Billings, Montana, before taking his own life.
A new UN report says Myanmar’s human rights situation has “plummeted to a new low”, citing increasingly brutal abuses against the Rohingya and the impact of illicit economies such as illegal rare-earth mining. The conflict between the military and armed groups has deepened civilian suffering, displacement, hunger and malnutrition.
A spokesperson for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts said Justice Department attorneys’ warning that the Washington institution might be demolished described only a hypothetical scenario. The statement concerned a filing suggesting demolition could follow if courts blocked Donald Trump’s overhaul plan. Renovations have also been challenged in court by historians’ and architects’ groups.
Lawyers for the Kennedy Center said in court filings Monday that the venue may have to be demolished and replaced with an open-air performance space if its current building cannot receive extensive renovations.
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.
ReutersOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-26 03:40
