August 10, 2026

MIDDLE EAST WAR | Day 164.

• Iran said Saturday that while a deal with Oman on re-opening the Strait of Hormuz is close to being finalized, the strategic waterway would remain closed until the United States lifts the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdraws its military from the area, lifts sanctions on Iran, releases frozen Iranian funds, and compensates Iran for war damages. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,626 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Officials in Russia's Tatarstan region say at least 13 people were killed, and 48 others were wounded, in a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack today on the city of Nizhnekamsk – an important oil refining hub home to two refineries and a petrochemical plant. Reports note that Nizhnekamsk is approximately 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of the Ukrainian border. [more]
• Authorities in Bulgaria say a drone crossed into their country from Romania and exploded near a gas pipeline Saturday and that preliminary investigations indicate the drone is of a type commonly used by Ukraine. Reports cite Ukrainian officials as saying Bulgaria was not deliberately targeted and note that recently disclosed Lithuanian intelligence suggested Russia could use captured Ukrainian drones or drone parts to target European sites in order to undermine support for Ukraine. [more]

U.S. MILITARY | Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Saturday that the Department of Defense is actively seeking to accelerate domestic weapons production needed "at the pace the threat demands." The confirmation followed reports last week that the Department asked munitions industry leaders to submit plans to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities." [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND MILITARY | In a letter sent yesterday to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 61 Congressional Democrats said they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating to deport military service members and their families and called on the Trump administration to restore policies that had previously shielded military service members’ families from immigration enforcement while allowing them to adjust their legal status. The letter was sent following an Associated Press report that said more than 50 active-duty troops’ spouses and parents have been detained by immigration authorities. [full AP report] [more]

U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT | The Senate voted, 50-49, early Saturday to confirm Todd Blanche – President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer – as the U.S. attorney general. [more]

WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM | A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday upheld a lower court ruling blocking construction of President Donald Trump's $400 million ballroom on the White House grounds. The Court placed its ruling on hold for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme ⁠Court. [more]

U.S. GOVERNMENT FUNDING | The Senate voted, 90-6, Saturday to approve a short-term bill that funds the federal government at current levels through Dec. 11. The measure will need to be passed by the House before going to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. [more]

ISRAEL AND GAZA | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday rejected the U.S.-supported plan for stabilization in Gaza, saying that Israel would not withdraw from the Palestinian enclave "until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." [more]

YEMEN | Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked the government-held port city of Mocha twice over the weekend, raising concerns over new potential Houthi disruptions to Red Sea shipping. [more]

CHINA | Reports say more than 300,000 people were forced to temporarily relocate, and more than 1,300 flights were canceled at Shanghai's two airports, as Typhoon Dolphin struck China's east coast yesterday evening. Meteorologists say the storm could drop as much as 15 inches of rain on the region over the next few days. [more]

INDIA | The death toll from weeks-long flooding in India's northeastern Assam state has risen to above 100, according to the state's Disaster Management Authority. [more]

MORE INDIA | Reports say police used tear gas, batons, and water cannons to disperse thousands of youth and student protesters marching on the state legislature building today in India's Jharkhand state. The demonstrations were launched late last month over alleged wrongdoing in civil service examination procedures, similar to the separate recent youth demonstrations in the capital Delhi. [more]

EUROPEAN HEATWAVE | European climate agency Copernicus reports that this summer's heatwaves in Western Europe set a new average temperature record for the June-July period, exceeding the previous record set in 2022. [more]

CONGO | Local officials say at least 13 people were killed early Saturday when members of the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces militant group attacked the village of Banana École in Congo. [more]

SYRIA AND RUSSIA | Under a new agreement, Russia will give up control of two military bases on Syria's Mediterranean coast that it held as part of its alliance with ousted President Bashar Assad, and the bases will be used as joint Russia-Syria training centers going forward, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. [more]

CANADA | British Columbia Premier David Eby declared a state of emergency Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada. [more]

SOCCER | Soccer federations UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (Americas), and AFC (Asia) published an open letter today calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s recent plans to sell an interest in the World Cup a “fundamental breach of trust” with the institutions the world soccer governing body serves and calling for an independent third-party review of the matter. [full letter] [more]

GOLF | Michael Brennan shot a final-round 6-under-par 64 yesterday to win the Wyndham Championship and claim his second PGA Tour title in two years. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $145 million in receipts, followed by "The Odyssey" and "One Night Only." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was founded in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Congress with funds bequeathed by English scientist James Smithson for the establishment of an institution for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." [Smithsonian website] [more history]