All news: Monday 24 August 2026

United States strikes on alleged drug traffickers during Operation Southern Spear

The United States Southern Command's Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere launches a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on alleged drug traffickers, killing two people.

Military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian war

British prime minister Andy Burnham, during a visit to Kyiv, confirms that he has approved supplying Ukraine with the classified blueprints to produce Storm Shadow cruise missiles despite Russian threats against such a move, which will give Ukrainian forces the ability to strike key targets deep inside Russian territory.

Kharkiv strikes

A Russian missile strike on the outskirts of Kharkiv kills three people and leaves eight others wounded.

Darfur campaign

Drone strikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces hits several Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary targets in Nyala, South Darfur, Sudan, hours after a cargo aircraft landed in the area.

Jonglei clashes

Two peacekeepers from Ethiopia of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen in Jonglei State, South Sudan. Three more peacekeepers, two policemen and two civilians are also wounded.

Syria–United States relations

The United States formally removes Syria from its designated state sponsors of terrorism list.

2026 Kazakh legislative election

The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan declares the preliminary results from yesterday's election, stating that Ädilet secured 71% of the vote.

United States sanctions against Iran

U.S. treasury secretary Scott Bessent announces Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign involving new sanctions against Iran, in an effort to isolate the regime.

Iranian economic crisis

The Iranian rial reaches 2.02 million rials ahead of the U.S. dollar, a record-low, ahead of U.S. sanctions.

France–Saudi Arabia relations

French president Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman reach an agreement to build a Dragon Ball Z theme park worth €6 billion (US$7 million) in Paris, France.

War crimes in the Syrian civil war

Syria's Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun is found guilty of committing war crimes spanning nearly 14 years of civil war under Bashar al-Assad's former regime and is sentenced to life in prison.

Former British snooker player Graeme Dott is found guilty of sexually abusing two primary school children.

South African police arrests four people in connection of the murder of former professional boxer Zolani Tete.

2026 United States cyclosporiasis outbreak

The Arkansas Department of Health reports seven new cases of cyclosporiasis in the state, including the first cases in Ashley and Cleburne counties, amidst a decline in the outbreak across the United States.

In tennis, Philippine tennis player Alexandra Eala becomes the highest-ranked female player in Southeast Asian history after reaching rank 18.