The United States launched a major wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets, killing at least 18 people, including four at a wedding in Hormozgan province, according to Iranian officials. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Iraq's Kurdistan region. The escalation marks the heaviest fighting in weeks, with President Trump threatening further strikes and suggesting renaming the Strait of Hormuz as 'Trump Strait.' The conflict, which began in late February with US-Israeli attacks on Iran, has disrupted oil shipping through the strategic waterway, with traffic down 50% and oil prices above $95 a barrel.

The Dutch central bank (DNB) relocated 86 tonnes of gold from the US and Canada to London between March and August, citing geopolitical unrest and the need for quicker deployability in crises. The move increased London's share of Dutch gold holdings from 18.1% to 32.1%, while reducing US and Canadian shares to 18.5% each. The operation combined buying/selling and physical transport to spread risks. Analysts suggest the move reflects concerns about US political reliability under President Trump and could impact confidence in the US if other central banks follow suit.

Background: President Trump signed executive orders in August 2026 to restrict birthright citizenship and ban birth tourism, following a Supreme Court rejection of his earlier attempt. Today, a federal judge in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the August 6 executive order, ruling it 'almost certainly unconstitutional.' The injunction applies to children born after February 19, 2025, to parents not lawfully in the US. This is the second legal defeat for the administration's birthright citizenship restrictions, following the Supreme Court's June ruling. The judge rejected the administration's arguments that the challenge was premature, citing the Supreme Court's clear precedent, marking another legal setback for the administration's immigration agenda.

Background: The US and Venezuela reached a deal granting the US access to Venezuela's oil reserves, with a new company holding rights to 17 oil fields and a 55% effective output stake. Today: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright oversaw the signing of eight energy deals in Caracas between Venezuela and Chevron, Eni, and GE Vernova, worth tens of billions of dollars. Chevron will invest over $7 billion to expand in the Orinoco Belt, Eni gains exclusive rights to explore Junin 5, and GE Vernova will repair the electricity grid. The deals aim to boost Venezuela's oil output from 1.25 million to 2 million barrels per day by the end of the decade. Critics question the sovereignty and legitimacy of the agreements, while supporters argue they bring necessary investment. On Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright oversaw the signing of eight energy deals in Caracas between Venezuela and US and European firms, including Chevron, Eni, and GE Vernova. Chevron will invest over $7 billion to develop two additional oil fields in the Orinoco Belt, aiming to more than double its output to about 600,000 barrels per day within five years. Eni gained exclusive rights to explore the Junin 5 oilfield. GE Vernova will help repair Venezuela's electricity grid. The deals are separate from the August 28 agreement granting the US control of 17 oilfields with 65 billion barrels of reserves. Wright defended the agreements against accusations of 'gunpoint diplomacy,' stating the US is not 'stealing Venezuelan oil' but developing idle assets. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez reiterated that the deals will bring jobs and public services, estimating $209 billion in profits over 25 years. The role of businessman Alejandro Betancourt, linked to a PDVSA corruption scandal, remains under scrutiny. Critics question the legitimacy of the deals, noting lack of National Assembly approval and the pressure exerted by the US.

Background: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin is ready to meet Zelensky only to finalize an end to the war, not for ongoing negotiations. Today: US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin will only take place when Putin is ready to sign a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Trump said he could meet Putin immediately but prefers to do so when the war is ending, and called on both leaders to stop the fighting, describing it as a 'stupid war.' He also noted that personal animosity between the two presidents is an obstacle to peace. The comments follow CIA Director John Ratcliffe's proposal for a trilateral meeting and the Kremlin's stance that such a meeting could only formalize agreements. Zelenskyy has said intelligence suggests Putin does not want to end the war.

Background: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly warned of escalating US-Iran hostilities and supported Pakistan-led mediation efforts. On 29 July 2026, he expressed concern about an upsurge in Middle East hostilities involving the US, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, warning that the conflict risks widening if diplomacy is not restored. On 5 August 2026, Guterres expressed grave concern over renewed US-Iran strikes, condemning all attacks against civilians, including a reported strike on a wedding ceremony in Iran. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that Guterres is deeply alarmed by reports of civilian casualties and recalled that all parties must respect international humanitarian law, including principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. He urged Washington and Tehran to return urgently to diplomacy, emphasizing that a comprehensive and durable settlement can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiations.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been at sea for 286 consecutive days—a modern record—supporting combat operations against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury and the naval blockade, arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, on Wednesday for its first liberty port call in over nine months. The carrier, with roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines, is docked for a five-day rest and recreation visit, with crew shuttled to Pattaya. The ship shows visible wear including rust and algae, reflecting the grueling deployment. The extended deployment raised concerns about crew morale and mental health, with reports of food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health issues, including attempted suicides, prompting Democratic lawmakers to call for an investigation, while President Trump and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao have downplayed concerns. The carrier was relieved in the Middle East by the USS George Washington, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt expected to deploy soon. The port visit offers rest for the crew and an economic boost to Pattaya, though restrictions on water sports and certain entertainment zones have been imposed, while highlighting strains on US naval forces.

The US military, in coordination with Ecuador, intercepted and sank a vessel suspected of serving as a floating refueling station for the Los Choneros criminal group, involved in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific. This is the second such operation in less than a week. Crew members were handed over to Ecuadorian authorities. The operation is part of Ecuador's war on drug trafficking under the 'Shield of the Americas' coalition. Concerns have been raised by local fishermen reporting missing colleagues, though unverified if connected to the same vessel.