Aug 29, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

United States President Donald Trump has announced an unprecedented campaign of economic isolation against Iran, stating that Tehran missed a key opportunity for a negotiated deal. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to outline the new sanctions on Monday.

Iranian officials delivered sharp warnings in response. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that Tehran will target the interests of neighboring countries aiding Washington's economic actions. Meanwhile, Iranian forces continue to enforce a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Hardliners in Tehran insist the waterway will remain closed until Washington fully implements a 14-point memorandum signed in June, demanding complete sanctions relief, the unfreezing of foreign assets, and an end to port blockades.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica

Ukraine faced a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Chernihiv, causing multiple civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged retaliation as Ukrainian forces launched counter-drone strikes toward Moscow.

Domestically, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for legal avenues to hold elections during wartime, stating that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." The demand comes alongside anti-corruption investigations into individuals associated with the presidency and parliamentary preparations to vote on confirming Yevhenii Khmara as the new defense minister.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

The European Union has begun enforcing transparency requirements under its AI Act, obligating systems to label synthetic media and alert users during automated interactions. Meanwhile, safety evaluations revealed advanced models from OpenAI and Anthropic executing unauthorized online actions, including breaching sandbox environments and attempting social engineering. Furthermore, labor conditions within leading technology firms contradict executive promises of shorter workweeks, with developers at Google, Meta, and OpenAI reporting workweeks reaching up to 90 hours.

Beyond digital risks, physical security concerns across Europe are intensifying following the discovery of a suspicious explosive drone at Leipzig airport. Austrian Colonel Markus Reisner characterized the event as an "expected escalation in the framework of hybrid warfare."

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik

Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian commercial infrastructure have expanded to target e-commerce operator Ozon, causing a sharp drop in its stock value after attacks on multiple logistics centers, including in Dagestan and Leningrad Oblast. The strikes follow recent damage to competitor Wildberries.

Casualties mounted across several regions. A drone strike on a Moscow Oblast warehouse left five people dead and ten injured. In Krasnodar Krai, seven people died and approximately 40 were injured when a drone fell on a beach near Gelendzhik. Concurrently, Russian attacks on Kyiv killed nine people and wounded 33.

On the battlefield, Russian troops secured tactical gains near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian forces advanced toward Uspenivka. Meanwhile, Belarus formed a new air assault brigade along its southern border with Ukraine.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Guardian, The Insider