An Israeli airstrike on August 28, 2025, struck a gathering in Sanaa, Yemen—killing Ahmed al-Rahawi, prime minister of the Iran-backed Houthi government, and several ministers during a workshop reviewing the past year’s performance. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the precision strike, calling it a “crushing blow” aimed at top Houthi leadership responsible for “terror actions.” Houthi leadership condemned the attack, pledging vengeance, while Muhammad Ahmed Miftah, the deputy PM, was appointed acting prime minister on August 30, 2025. (PC: PBS)  

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare Tibet visit marking the region's 60th anniversary as an autonomous region, addressing 20,000 people in Lhasa while emphasizing tighter Beijing control. Xi demanded Tibetan Buddhism "adapt to socialist society" without mentioning the Dalai Lama, signaling religious restrictions. The visit showcased China's strategic infrastructure investments including the Tibet-Xinjiang railway and the world's largest dam project, demonstrating long-term territorial consolidation. This high-profile appearance underscores Beijing's campaign to strengthen political and cultural dominance over Tibet through economic development and religious adaptation policies. The timing coincides with China's broader efforts to integrate autonomous regions more closely into the centralized state system while suppressing traditional religious and cultural independence. (PC: Council Of Foreign Relations)

Israeli airstrike killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several ministers during a government workshop in Sanaa on Thursday. Al-Rahawi served as PM of the Iranian-backed rebel government since August 2024. The strike targeted officials evaluating government performance over the past year. Israeli forces confirmed hitting "Houthi terrorist regime military target" in Sanaa area. Earlier strikes killed 10 people, wounded 102 according to Houthi health ministry. The attack represents significant escalation in Israel-Houthi conflict, with rebels launching missiles and drones toward Israel while targeting Red Sea shipping in Gaza solidarity. Israel and US-led coalition have responded with sustained bombardment of rebel-held areas including Sanaa and Hodeida, previously knocking Sanaa airport offline. (PC: The New York Times)

Yemen’s Houthi movement confirmed on 30 August 2025 that an Israeli airstrike launched earlier this week in Sanaa killed their Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi along with several cabinet ministers during a routine government workshop . The Israeli military stated it targeted a “Houthi terrorist regime military target” in the capital but did not elaborate on casualties . Al-Rahawi had served as the prime minister since August 2024, and his death marks the highest-ranking Houthi casualty to date, emphasizing a significant escalation in Israel’s campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. (PC: Reuters)

Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric has declared that a mass evacuation of Gaza City is currently "impossible" due to dire humanitarian conditions. As Israel intensifies its military campaign to dismantle Hamas, the civilian population faces severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and shelter. Many residents are unable to evacuate due to injury, illness, or starvation. International law mandates that Israel ensure civilian access to safety and basic needs during evacuations, but these conditions cannot be met under the current circumstances, making any evacuation not only unfeasible but incomprehensible. (PC: Reuters)    

The phrase "Trump Is Dead" has gone viral on social media platform X, sparking widespread confusion and concern. The trend was ignited by Vice President JD Vance's recent interview with USA Today, where he discussed the line of presidential succession and mentioned being prepared for a "terrible tragedy" affecting President Donald Trump. Although Vance emphasized Trump's good health and energy, the comment fueled speculation. Additionally, Trump's chronic venous insufficiency, a condition causing visible leg swelling, and recent assassination attempts have added to public anxiety. The situation was further amplified by remarks from "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening. (PC: NDTV)  

The United States announced visa denials for Palestinian officials attending September's UN General Assembly session in New York. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Palestinian leaders' undermining of peace efforts and pushing for "unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state." The US demands Palestinian Authority reject terrorism, condemn Hamas's October 7 attack, and cease international legal cases against Israel before considering partnership. Palestinian Authority President Abbas's office condemned this as violating international law and UN agreements, emphasizing Palestine's observer status since 1974. UN spokesman Dujarric will discuss the issue with State Department, noting importance of representation during planned two-state solution meetings. France leads international recognition efforts with 147 countries already recognizing Palestine, while Netanyahu rejects two-state solutions.

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed that all tariffs imposed on foreign countries will remain in effect, calling their removal a “total disaster.” His remarks followed a U.S. appeals court ruling that many of his tariffs were illegal, though they remain temporarily in place. Trump vowed to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that tariffs protect American workers and manufacturers. He warned that lifting them would weaken the U.S. financially and undermine national security. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed concerns, stating that removing tariffs could derail foreign policy and trigger retaliation. Trump’s administration continues to defend sweeping import taxes, including 50% tariffs on India and Brazil. (PC: History)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected proposals for a 40km buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces. He said such ideas ignore the reality of modern warfare, where drones already create a “dead zone” near the front line. Zelensky warned any deal could force Ukraine to give up territory, which he will not accept. He said Russia is not ready for real peace talks and only wants delays. European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron, vowed stronger pressure on Moscow after Russia’s latest missile strikes killed 23 civilians in Kyiv. (PC: BBC)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in December, his first trip since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, AFP reported. The Kremlin confirmed he accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation earlier this year, but a date is now set as both leaders prepare to meet at the September SCO summit in Tianjin, China. The visit comes as Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, accusing New Delhi of indirectly funding Moscow’s war through oil imports. India dismissed US criticism, citing market priorities, while Russia called Washington’s actions “unjustified” and pledged deeper energy and defence cooperation. (PC: India Today)