During a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington has no plans to recognize Palestine as a state. Instead, the US sees the destruction of Hamas as a top priority.
Vance said, “Recognition is an issue we need to discuss. Naturally, the UK will make its own decision. But as President Trump has made clear, given the current situation in Israel and Gaza, we have two clear objectives: first, to ensure Hamas can never again attack innocent Israeli civilians, which is only possible through its complete destruction; and second, to address the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has deeply concerned the President.”
Earlier, the UK had indicated it might recognize Palestine in September if relief efforts were obstructed and the war continued.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a new population census that excludes undocumented immigrants, challenging constitutional norms. He directed the Commerce Department to base the count on data from the 2024 election and modern records. The move revives Trump’s earlier attempt to alter census procedures, previously blocked in 2020. Critics warn this could negatively impact cities with large immigrant populations. The White House has not confirmed if an early census will be conducted before the next official one in 2030.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin even if Putin does not first meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This statement contradicts earlier reports that a Putin-Zelensky meeting was a prerequisite for a Trump-Putin summit. Trump emphasized his commitment to stopping the killing and said the decision depends on Putin. Following talks by his envoy in Moscow, Trump remains hopeful for a ceasefire but refrained from confirming a deadline.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT-5, its most advanced AI model yet, offering it for free to users worldwide. CEO Sam Altman describes it as faster, smarter, and capable of delivering expert-level responses. Though it doesn’t learn from real-time data, it's considered a major step toward Artificial General Intelligence. The model is trained to provide safe, honest answers and avoid harmful content. OpenAI also released two customizable models, signaling greater transparency and intensifying competition in the global AI race.

The Trump administration plans to construct the largest federal immigrant detention center at Fort Bliss, a military base in Texas. Initially, 1,000 immigrants will be held starting mid-August, with a long-term goal of building a 5,000-bed facility. The Department of Homeland Security will oversee detainee management, despite the location being on military grounds. This move is part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, with record-high detentions reported. Additional centers are also planned, including one in Indiana called the "Speedway Slammer."

U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended trade negotiations with India until a tariff dispute is resolved. The U.S. recently doubled tariffs on Indian goods, citing national security risks linked to India’s continued import of Russian oil. A 25% additional tariff took effect on August 7, with more to follow in 21 days. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will not compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and the dairy sector, even if it comes at a cost.

After over three decades of conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to sign a historic peace agreement at the White House today, with former U.S. President Donald Trump acting as mediator.

Under the proposed deal, Armenia will grant Azerbaijan a special corridor through its territory to connect Nakhchivan with mainland Azerbaijan. Additional energy cooperation agreements may also be signed.

The two nations have been at odds since the collapse of the Soviet Union over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where ethnic Armenians have long held control. A turning point came in September 2023 when separatist forces in Karabakh surrendered, allowing Azerbaijan to regain full sovereignty. By March 2025, both countries had agreed on a peace framework.

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning that the United States may launch another attack if Iran resumes its nuclear program. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump emphasized that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons has helped avoid war in the Middle East. He stressed that any attempt by Iran to restart the program would be dangerous and met with a strong US response. The warning follows recent military tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in late June.

Donald Trump has announced a potential 100% import tariff on semiconductor chips, just a day after imposing a 25% tariff on Indian goods. This move is causing concern in technology-reliant countries like India, which depends heavily on imported chips from the US, Taiwan, and South Korea. India’s semiconductor industry is growing rapidly but lacks full manufacturing infrastructure. The tariff increase could raise costs for electronics, automobiles, and medical devices, potentially hindering India’s ambitious semiconductor manufacturing goals.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on all Middle Eastern countries to join the Abraham Accords to ensure lasting peace in the region. He claimed Iran’s nuclear arsenal has been completely dismantled and emphasized the urgency of expanding the accords. Originally brokered during his presidency, the agreements normalized ties between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. However, the ongoing Gaza war, rising casualties, and international pressure have complicated further progress. Talks are also underway to include Central Asian countries like Azerbaijan in the accords.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that reciprocal tariffs will take effect at midnight on August 6, aiming to generate billions in import revenue from countries long benefiting from trade with the U.S. In a Truth Social post, he warned that only “radical left-wing courts” could stop this move. His comments likely referenced ongoing legal challenges to his tariff authority. Critics fear the tariffs could raise consumer prices, as economic uncertainty grows and the Federal Reserve remains cautious on interest rate changes.

US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have called for the quick passage of a sanctions bill targeting countries that continue trading with Russia, particularly India, due to its oil imports. They praised the recent 25% tariff on Indian goods signed by Donald Trump and pushed for a 500% tariff on Russian energy buyers. With strong bipartisan support—85 co-sponsors—the senators emphasized the urgency of passing the bill to pressure Russia and deter future conflicts.

Apple has pledged an additional $100 billion investment to expand production in the U.S., following pressure from former President Donald Trump. The tech giant aims to avoid high tariffs by building new facilities, including a data center and a smart glass production line. CEO Tim Cook says Apple’s U.S. investments are already showing results. The move also helps realign Apple’s supply chain away from China, with increased sourcing from India and Vietnam. Apple shares jumped over 5% after the announcement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that China may face higher tariffs—similar to those imposed on India—due to its continued oil imports from Russia. During a briefing in the Oval Office, reporters pointed out that besides India, countries like China are also major buyers of Russian oil. When asked whether China could face the same tariff penalties, Trump responded that it was “a possibility,” though he did not provide further details.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week—the first such meeting between the two countries' leaders since Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June 2021. According to The New York Times, Trump informed European leaders during a phone call on Wednesday that he plans to meet Putin and hopes to soon initiate trilateral talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. White House Press Secretary confirmed ongoing discussions. A Kremlin aide described a recent meeting between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff as "productive and constructive." Trump initially hailed it as “great progress” but later tempered expectations.