Russia and Ukraine experienced major drone and missile attacks across several regions on Sunday. Moscow’s mayor said Ukraine launched 600 drones at Moscow overnight, describing it as the largest Ukrainian drone attack in recent times. Ukrainian officials said at least five people were killed in Ukraine during Russia’s overnight retaliatory strikes, while air-raid alerts remained in force in the capital until morning.

In Russia’s southern Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar said five people were killed in Ukraine’s overnight attacks. He said several buildings were damaged and fires spread through two forested areas. The reported deaths in the two countries bring the stated toll from the attacks to at least 10 people.

Ukraine said it had shot down three Russian missiles and about 100 drones. Moscow’s mayor characterized the reported 600-drone assault as the biggest such attack carried out recently. The report did not provide further details on other damage, additional casualties, or subsequent measures by either side.

Australia will begin a major gun buyback programme in New South Wales on November 2 following a deadly shooting at a Jewish religious festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan, under which members of the public can surrender rifles and handguns to the government. Compensation of up to A$1,000 will be available for each weapon returned.

The initiative follows the December 14, 2025 shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, in which 15 people were killed. The government moved to tighten gun laws nationwide after the attack. Government data showed Australia had a record 4.1 million firearms last year, including more than 1.1 million in New South Wales, the country’s most populous state.

Albanese said the number of weapons is now higher than it was during the 1996 buyback following the Port Arthur killings, which left 35 people dead. The new plan is being viewed as Australia’s biggest gun return programme since then. New South Wales has also capped individual firearm ownership at four weapons and tightened licence checks and measures against hateful activity.

Severe flooding struck Indiana after days of heavy rain and storms, inundating areas of Noblesville and Indianapolis as the White River rose far above its danger level. The river reached its peak in the Noblesville area on Saturday night local time before rising sharply in northern Indianapolis. Residents in riverside areas were ordered to move to safer locations, while officials described the event as among the state’s worst floods in decades.

At least five people were reported dead in flooding and storm-related incidents across Indiana. Some deaths occurred after trees fell, while others involved people being swept away by floodwaters. Emergency rescue workers continued evacuating people at risk and moving them to safe places. Authorities said some areas received more than 11 inches of rain in only two days, rapidly raising water levels in rivers and canals.

Indianapolis is facing its largest flooding situation in at least 30 years. National Weather Service officials said the flooding was nearing the scale of an event that could occur once in a century. Homes, roads and businesses were submerged in several areas. Indiana’s governor declared an emergency, and the US president approved an emergency disaster declaration following a request for federal assistance. Authorities warned that additional rain could worsen conditions.

Iran’s embassy in South Africa claimed that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt resigned because of disagreements with US President Donald Trump. The claim was made in a social media post addressing reports about Leavitt’s resignation and included a photograph of her, according to a report published on August 16, 2026.

The embassy suggested that Trump had secured his own safety amid security threats while placing other officials at risk, causing Leavitt to lose confidence in him. The post was believed to refer to reports that Trump was secretly moved to a small military aircraft while returning from Turkey. The White House rejected the embassy’s allegation as directly false and baseless.

US officials said Leavitt was not with Trump during the Turkey trip and denied reports linking her to the alleged transfer of Trump to another aircraft. Trump confirmed Leavitt’s resignation, but the source said there was no independent evidence supporting the Iranian embassy’s assertion that personal or political conflict with Trump caused her departure.

Stephen Zunes, a professor of international relations at the University of San Francisco, said the US war with Iran is further weakening Washington’s already declining influence in the Middle East and worldwide. In an interview with Al Jazeera published on August 16, 2026, he said US global dominance was contracting and that the level of influence the country had exercised since World War II was coming to an end.

Zunes said the United States had gained notoriety for launching illegal wars whose “terrible humanitarian consequences” destabilize the Middle East. He argued that even Washington’s closest regional allies are questioning how far they can rely on it to protect their interests. According to Zunes, dependence on the United States can sometimes backfire severely, prompting those allies to seek alternative alliances and partnerships.

He also pointed to growing domestic opposition to the war against Iran and to other so-called endless wars in the Middle East and Asia in the recent past. Zunes said these conflicts divert large sums from essential domestic needs, including healthcare, housing, education and public transportation. He said more than half of the United States’ discretionary government budget is spent on the military each year, calling that allocation unreasonable.

At least five people have died in severe storms and flooding in the U.S. Midwestern state of Indiana, according to a report published on August 16. People are being rescued by boat from flooded homes as several rivers, including the White River through Indianapolis, have risen above danger levels and inundated surrounding areas.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the event as the area’s worst flooding in more than 30 years. The U.S. National Weather Service said some locations received more than 280 millimeters of rain in only two days. In Delaware County, authorities recovered the body of a 58-year-old woman on Friday; she is believed to have died while attempting to drive through floodwaters.

A four-year-old child died after a tree fell onto a home in Jennings County. Law enforcement also recovered the body of a teenager who had been missing since jumping into a river on Wednesday. Governor Mike Braun requested a presidential emergency declaration on Friday to secure additional federal help. On Saturday, Braun said President Donald Trump had agreed to approve the request and that the federal government would assist those affected.

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, secured their first Test victory on Australian soil by beating Australia by nine wickets at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. The result, reported on August 16, 2026, came 23 years after Bangladesh returned to play Test cricket in Australia. Bangladesh now lead the two-Test series 1-0.

Australia were bowled out for 284 in their second innings, leaving Bangladesh a target of 57. Tanzid Hasan Tamim was dismissed for a duck, but Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam completed the chase. Mominul remained unbeaten on 30 and Shadman on 25. Bangladesh’s players celebrated after the winning runs, while expatriate supporters in the stands chanted for Bangladesh.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz led Bangladesh’s second-innings bowling with five wickets for 66 runs. Hasan Mahmud took three wickets and finished with nine wickets in the match, earning the player-of-the-match award. Cameron Green made 104 for Australia in the second innings. Australia entered the series as the top-ranked Test side, while Bangladesh were ninth, and one Test remains.

Bangladesh retained control of the Darwin Test against Australia at the end of the third day, according to a report published on August 16, 2026. Australia, the hosts, were still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s first-innings total in their second innings, with six wickets in hand. Mehedi Hasan Miraz made a half-century, while Hasan Mahmud took two further wickets in Australia’s second innings to raise his match tally to eight.

Bangladesh batted for 138 overs in their first innings, their highest number of overs in an innings against Australia. Their previous record was 123.3 overs in the 2006 Fatullah Test. It was also Bangladesh’s 17th innings outside the country in which they batted for more than 120 overs. Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood took six wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings, his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests.

Hazlewood reached 300 Test wickets, becoming the ninth Australian bowler and seventh fast bowler to do so. Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins are the four Australian bowlers in this match with at least 300 Test wickets each. Statistics cited said teams holding leads of more than 200 runs have won 80.6% of Tests, while Australia have never won at home after a first-innings deficit exceeding 206 runs.

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith has opposed public broadcasting of the Islamic call to prayer, saying it is not part of American culture or history. The remarks were reported on August 16 after Beckwith answered a viewer’s question in his “Ask Micah Anything” video series about why adhan should be silenced if church bells are allowed. He did not identify a specific mosque, local dispute, or proposed ban.

Beckwith suggested that people who want to hear the adhan should go to countries where the practice is part of local tradition and history. He also said mosques could send text messages to members when it is time for prayer instead of broadcasting the call publicly. The report describes the comments as part of his broader criticism of Islam, which intensified from May.

Maliha Jafar, executive director of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, said she knew of no Indiana mosque that broadcasts the adhan outdoors through loudspeakers. She said Muslim communities are concerned about safety amid hostile public rhetoric and reported increased mosque security and active-shooter training. The report also cited museum and Library of Congress information indicating Muslims have been present in North America since the 1500s.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in Middle Eastern waters for nearly nine consecutive months, prompting concern among families about the mental health and safety of about 5,000 sailors and service members aboard. US warships are normally deployed for roughly six months, but the carrier has remained at sea far longer than that period. The report was published on August 15, 2026.

According to US officials, more than 10,000 combat aircraft sorties have been launched from the Abraham Lincoln over the past eight months. Personnel have also worked under the threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks. Jefferson Kelly, father of a sailor, said older warships require crews to work long hours to keep them operational. Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking accountability over complaints involving clean water, bathrooms and mental strain.

US Central Command rejected the allegations, saying there had been no deaths aboard and that reports about suicide risk were inaccurate. The Navy said water, air conditioning, sufficient food, doctors and counselors were available despite some wartime delivery delays. Families met Navy officials last week. The USS George Washington is heading toward the Middle East to assume duties, though the Abraham Lincoln may need several more weeks to return to the United States.

Speculation is growing in the United States over whether New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could seek the presidency in 2028. The 36-year-old progressive has not stated whether she will run. But at a recent speech at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, she said her ambition was not to hold an office or seat but to “change the country,” renewing discussion of a possible candidacy.

A July University of New Hampshire poll placed Ocasio-Cortez ahead among potential Democratic candidates, the report said. She has nearly 10 million Instagram followers and support ranging from the Democratic Socialists of America to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. DSA co-chair Ashik Siddiqi said her candidacy would generate strong enthusiasm among the group’s members and give working people a powerful voice in the Democratic primary.

Potential Democratic rivals could include Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom, Jon Ossoff and Representative Ro Khanna. The report also cites criticism from some left-wing activists over her Gaza-related positions and comments. Analysts said she would need to address Black voters’ concerns and communicate on healthcare, living costs and economic security. Republican and right-wing media attacks could also present a major obstacle.

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 65 from 154 balls against Australia in the Darwin Test, setting Bangladesh’s highest individual Test score by a batter coming in at No. 7 or lower. His innings helped Bangladesh reach 426 in their first innings and take a lead of more than 200 runs.

Miraz arrived with Bangladesh at 306 for five, before Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed shortly afterward with the score at 308 for six. Batting with the lower order, he built a resistance that placed the side in a strong position against the Australian bowling attack. The report also cited contributions from Tanzid Tamim and Shanto.

Miraz has taken 219 Test wickets for Bangladesh since his debut, the country’s second-highest tally among bowlers, while scoring 2,296 runs. The report says only Miraz and India’s Ravindra Jadeja have achieved more than 2,000 Test runs and 200 wickets since debut. Two days remained in the match, with attention on whether Miraz could add further records.

Former US ambassador and White House adviser Mark Ginsberg said Iran is “playing” President Donald Trump by exploiting mounting electoral pressure in the United States. In an Al Jazeera interview published on August 15, 2026, Ginsberg said Trump’s decisions are being influenced more by the upcoming midterm elections and growing domestic political pressure than by a long-term strategy.

Ginsberg said Tehran is well aware of Washington’s internal political conditions and is prepared to pursue a long-term strategy. He said Iranian leaders are closely watching US opinion polls and remain determined to retain power despite any punishment or pressure imposed on the public. He also said Americans are becoming increasingly frustrated with the country’s current situation.

According to Ginsberg, Trump faces a problem because he is not in a position to acknowledge defeat. He said Tehran is betting on a familiar outcome: that Washington will eventually retreat from its demands. In his view, Iran expects such a shift to result in relief from sanctions.

Bangladesh ended the third day of the Darwin Test with a 67-run lead despite Australia mounting resistance in their second innings. After trailing by 228 runs, the hosts reached 161 for four at stumps. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 43 and Alex Carey on 19, leaving Australia’s deficit at 67 runs.

Bangladesh had dismissed Australia for 198 in the first innings before making 426. Tanzid Hasan scored a century, while Najmul Hossain Shanto made a half-century and Mehedi Hasan Miraz added an effective fifty to build the substantial lead. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood took four wickets in Bangladesh’s innings and finished with six first-innings wickets.

Australia lost both openers for 37, with Hasan Mahmud bowling Jake Weatherald for nought and also dismissing Travis Head. Taijul Islam removed Marnus Labuschagne for 31, ending a 36-run partnership with Steve Smith. Miraz then dismissed Smith for 44 off 88 balls. Green and Carey added an unbeaten 39 runs from 94 balls, and Australia’s effort to reduce the deficit will be a central issue on day four.

US President Donald Trump said he would never apologize for attacks on Iran, speaking at an event in New York on Friday local time. The remarks were reported on August 15, 2026, as he addressed the financial costs faced by Americans because of the Iran war.

Trump described those economic losses as insignificant and urged US citizens to accept higher oil prices. He said the increased cost was necessary to prevent Iran from continuing its nuclear program and, in his words, to ensure that an “extremely evil country” does not obtain nuclear weapons.

He said Americans were paying slightly more for petrol, but argued that the cost should be understood in that context. Trump also said the United States was acting not only for itself but for the world, calling its actions a noble and very good undertaking. He reiterated that he would never apologize for the attacks on Iran.