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US President Donald Trump is continuing efforts to arrange a Russia-Ukraine peace summit, the White House confirmed Friday. A senior official said Trump and his national security team are in contact with Russian and Ukrainian officials to pursue a bilateral meeting aimed at ending the war, Firstpost reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the prospect of talks but warned that if Russia fails to meet a Monday deadline, it could indicate Putin has “played” Trump. After recent meetings with both leaders and European officials, Trump announced plans for direct talks, though Russia has downplayed the likelihood of a summit.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller rejected suggestions Trump was being manipulated, praising the president’s commitment to advancing peace, according to Firstpost.

Russia and China have criticized Japan’s plan to host US “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles during joint exercises next month, calling it a threat to regional stability, Al Jazeera reported.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned the deployment poses a direct strategic threat and said Moscow may take “appropriate military-technical measures” if Japan does not reconsider. The ministry also cited Japan’s accelerated militarization and close cooperation with the US.

China urged Japan to act prudently and respect regional trust, calling on Washington and Tokyo to prioritize peace and stability and avoid repeating historical mistakes.

According to Al Jazeera, the Typhon missiles, part of US efforts to strengthen antiship capabilities in Asia, will be stationed at the US Marine Air Station in Iwakuni, Honshu, ahead of the “Resolute Dragon” exercises from September 11–25.

Mass protests have erupted across Indonesia after 21-year-old ride-sharing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed by a police vehicle during a demonstration. Clashes have left at least three dead and several injured, including in Makassar, where the regional parliament was set on fire, BBC reported.

Protesters, many from Kurniawan’s employer Gojek, demand justice, higher wages, lower taxes, and stronger anti-corruption measures. Frustration over lawmakers’ new allowance, nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage, has fueled unrest.

President Prabowo Subianto, Jakarta officials, and police have expressed condolences and issued apologies. Seven police officers were found to have violated professional ethics. Despite this, demonstrations continued, with some protesters blocking police convoys and throwing projectiles, according to BBC.

Thousands attended Kurniawan’s funeral, highlighting the human cost of the tragedy. Gojek pledged support to his family, calling his death a profound loss.

A US federal appeals court has struck down most tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, ruling they exceed his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to BBC, the decision affects tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, and dozens of other countries, but does not apply to steel and aluminium levies imposed under separate authority.

The court said setting tariffs is a core Congressional power and that IEEPA does not grant the president unlimited authority. The ruling responds to lawsuits from small businesses and several US states challenging Trump’s executive orders that imposed a baseline 10 percent tariff on almost all imports.

Trump condemned the ruling as partisan, warning it would weaken the US economically, while White House lawyers argued overturning the tariffs could trigger a financial crisis. The decision will take effect on 14 October unless the Supreme Court intervenes, likely setting up a high-stakes showdown over presidential power and trade policy, BBC reported.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has departed for China on an official visit on Saturday morning. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying a visit to the People's Republic of China from August 30 to September 3, at the cordial invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.  

The Prime Minister is accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya.     

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet with President Xi in Tianjin. He will also address the SCO Plus Summit in Tianjin on September 1. On the sidelines of SCO Summit, the Prime Minister will meet some world leaders attending the Summit. (RSS)

Kim Jong Un has met families of North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, offering condolences and promising state support for their children.

According to Al Jazeera, he pledged to build a monument and name a street in honour of the fallen, saying the state would raise their children “as courageous fighters like their fathers.”

South Korea estimates about 600 North Korean troops have died and thousands more were wounded, though Pyongyang has not confirmed numbers. The meeting highlights deepening ties between Kim and Moscow after last year’s military alliance.

At the 25th Franco-German Council of Ministers in Toulon, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged tougher secondary sanctions on countries aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.

In a joint statement, they pledged to step up pressure on Moscow’s war machine, send additional air defence systems to Kyiv, and open a strategic dialogue on nuclear deterrence.

Both leaders questioned Vladimir Putin’s commitment to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, despite President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts, warning the war could continue for months.

The US has revoked visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 officials, barring them from next month’s UN General Assembly in New York. Washington accused the Palestinian leadership of undermining peace by pushing for unilateral statehood recognition and failing to denounce terrorism, BBC reported.

The move, welcomed by Israel, is unusual as the US is expected to allow access for all delegations under the UN Headquarters Agreement. Abbas’ office condemned the decision as unlawful, while the UN said it was in talks with Washington to resolve the issue.

France, backed by the UK, Canada and Australia, is leading efforts at the Assembly to recognise Palestine—a step opposed by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestine is recognised by 147 UN member states but lacks defined borders and remains under Israeli occupation, according to BBC.