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World news — August 18, 2026 - Page 3

World publications published on August 18, 2026 (UTC). This is a fixed calendar-day archive. Page 3 of 6.

123 publications

  1. WorldLawAsiaMiddle East

    Ceremonies Mark 40th Day of Ayatollah Khamenei's Burial

    Ceremonies to mark the 40th day since the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, were held across the country. The main event took place in Tehran, with the presence of high-ranking officials and a large crowd of people. The commemoration ceremonies also took place in Qom and Mashhad. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the teachings of the late Ayatollah and the preservation of Iranian unity and national interests.
    156 sourcesSee all sources
  4. WorldMiddle East

    Ukraine Rebukes Russia by Honoring Nazi Collaborator Konovalets

    Ukraine reburied the remains of Yevhen Konovalets, the founder and leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), with a state ceremony attended by President Zelensky. Konovalets, who collaborated with Nazi Germany in the 1930s, was liquidated by Soviet intelligence in 1938. His reburial has been criticized by Russia and sparked controversy due to OUN's role in World War II atrocities.
    23 sourcesSee all sources
  6. WorldMiddle East

    Heavy Rainfall in Japan's Chiba Prefecture Leads to Disaster

    Record rainfall in Japan's Chiba prefecture has resulted in a disaster, with 13 people confirmed dead and one person still missing. Rescue operations continue as over 2,300 buildings have been affected. The heavy rains have caused significant flooding, leading to multiple road collapses and water pipe damage. Around 40 households remain without water supply, and some train lines are still suspended.
    3 sourcesSee all sources
  9. WorldMiddle EastWeather

    Kanye West's First Russia Concerts Sell Out Quickly; Tickets Range from 9,000 to 160,000 Rubles

    American rapper Kanye West (Ye) will perform in Russia for the first time, with concerts scheduled in St. Petersburg on October 10 and 11 at the 'Gazprom Arena'. Ticket prices range from 9,000 to 160,000 rubles. The cheapest tickets sold out within an hour, with VIP boxes also selling out quickly. Organizers deny rumors about replacing the artist. The concerts are part of Ye's world tour in support of his new album 'Bully'.
    129 sourcesSee all sources
  10. WorldAsiaMiddle EastSci Policy

    Moldova's Electricity Needs Fully Covered

    As of today, Moldova's electricity needs are fully covered by commercial purchases. Energocom has reserved necessary volumes to ensure consumption. Today's purchases include 9,874 MWh of electricity, with 27.19% from renewable energy sources, 67.70% from bilateral contracts, and 3.80% from the electricity market. Despite full coverage, Energocom warns of difficult regional situation and expensive external market prices, urging rational electricity use between 18:00 and 23:00.
    12 sourcesSee all sources
  12. WorldRegulatorsMiddle EastChina

    Russia Summons Japanese Ambassador Over Putin's Kuril Islands Visit

    Russia summoned Japan's Ambassador to Moscow after Tokyo lodged a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, described Japan's reaction as unacceptable and a breach of diplomatic protocol. The dispute centers around the status of the islands, which Russia claims as part of its territory, while Japan contests this and refers to them as the 'Northern Territories'.
    68 sourcesSee all sources
  13. WorldLocal GovCivil RightsCorruptionMiddle East

    Kazakh Woman Dies After Argument Over Dessert

    In Kazakhstan, a 19-year-old woman named Madina Rashidkyzy was found dead after an argument with her husband over a dessert called 'Barney'. Madina, who had an eight-month-old son, was reportedly beaten by her husband and his mother during the argument. The incident occurred in the Zhambyl region of southern Kazakhstan, and a pre-trial investigation has been launched into the case.
    4 sourcesSee all sources
  14. WorldMiddle East

    UN Urges Immediate De-escalation in Yemen as Civilian Casualties Rise

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed alarm over the increasing number of civilian casualties in Yemen, urging all parties involved to immediately de-escalate tensions and halt any actions that risk returning the country to full-scale conflict. This call comes as renewed fighting between the Houthi rebels and the government undermines a 2022 truce, with at least 17 civilian casualties reported in government-controlled areas since August 6.
    14 sourcesSee all sources
  15. WorldMiddle East

    Kyrgyzstan Threatens to Block Large Foreign Online Platforms for Tax Evasion

    The State Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan has identified 11 foreign companies providing electronic services to residents without mandatory tax registration. These include Alibaba Group, Pinduoduo, Twitch, Microsoft Corporation, Valve Corporation, Sony Interactive, Epic Games Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., VK Company Limited, Telegram, and Dropbox Inc. Together, they received approximately 15.9 million money transfers totaling over 13.2 billion soms in 2024-2025. The tax authority has warned these companies and may seek to restrict access to their services if they fail to comply with Kyrgyz tax law.
    2 sourcesSee all sources
  16. WorldLocal GovMiddle EastNorth America

    Bawumia Calls for Unity Among NPP Executives Ahead of 2028 Elections

    Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the newly elected Greater Accra Regional executives to prioritize unity as a key ingredient for victory in the 2028 general election. He made this call during a courtesy visit by the executives, led by Regional Chairman Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, following the regional elections. Bawumia emphasized the importance of putting internal contests behind and focusing on rebuilding the party and preparing for the elections. He also pledged to work with all factions within the party.
    5 sourcesSee all sources
  18. WorldLegislationRegulatorsMiddle East

    Hormuz Strait Closure: Iran's Conditions for Reopening

    Iran has stated that the Hormuz Strait will remain closed until the United States meets certain conditions. These include lifting the marine blockade and sanctions, freeing Iran's frozen assets, and ceasing military operations. The closure comes amid difficulties in reaching an agreement between Washington and Tehran, following a memorandum of understanding signed last June.
    24 sourcesSee all sources
  20. WorldChinaSci PolicyGrid

    Chinese Company Launches Laser Mosquito Zapper

    A Chinese company, Photon Matrix Lab, has started mass production and sales of a laser-based mosquito killer. The device, called Photon Matrix, uses LiDAR for detection, millimeter-wave radar for motion tracking, and an AI vision module for confirmation. It then disables mosquitoes with a precision laser pulse. The system comes in two versions: infrared and blue-laser, with an effective range of six meters. It can detect and kill up to 30 mosquitoes per second. The device is marketed as a chemical-free, automated 'mosquito air defense' system, intended for use inside homes. It is now available for pre-order in several countries, with shipment promised within 120 days.
    7 sourcesSee all sources
  21. WorldMiddle EastBudget

    Poland Temporarily Reduces VAT and Implements Price Cap on Fuel

    Poland has temporarily reduced the VAT rate on gasoline and diesel from 23% to 8%, and introduced a daily price cap on fuel until the end of August. The Polish Ministry of Energy will set maximum prices based on average wholesale prices and operating costs of major suppliers. This measure aims to ease the financial burden on people returning from holidays and may boost fuel tourism from neighboring countries like Germany.
    9 sourcesSee all sources
  22. WorldMiddle EastUnited Kingdom

    Lee Kuan Yew's Pen Sells for US$360,000 at Singapore Auction

    A silver Montblanc fountain pen once owned by Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, sold for US$360,000 at an auction in Singapore. The pen, a Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146, drew 111 bids and sold for nearly 10 times its highest valuation. The pen was first sold in 2003 for S$52,000 and the proceeds supported teen girls. It was re-auctioned more than two decades later.
    9 sourcesSee all sources
  24. WorldMiddle EastLogisticsHardware

    Bitpanda Fined €70,000 Under MiCA Rules in Austria's First Enforcement Case

    Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) has fined cryptocurrency firm Bitpanda €70,000 for violating MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulations. The penalty, Austria's first published under MiCA, was issued for failing to submit a crypto asset white paper on time and publishing non-compliant marketing materials. Bitpanda also omitted mandatory disclosures in one advertisement.
    9 sourcesSee all sources