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Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Since then, women and girls have faced severe repression, including bans on education and work. In June, troops fired on protesters, killing two people. UN observers now describe the situation as gender apartheid, leaving many girls in danger.
Shipping traffic at the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz remained steady on August 4 as U.S.-Iran talks stayed uncertain. Twenty vessels passed through Bab el-Mandeb on Monday, while six used the Hormuz route. Iran’s spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, "No negotiations with the U.S. were taking place and no meetings were scheduled."
The Democratic Action Party will decide on August 16 if its leaders should stay in the Malaysian government. DAP chief Anthony Loke said, "The vote will decide our participation in the government." The party faces pressure after recent election losses and concerns about the government’s handling of key national issues.
Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup, faces a reality test as Burkina Faso struggles with insecurity. In April, Traore told Burkinabe people to "forget about democracy" while extending military rule. Many supporters praise his push for sovereignty, but critics worry about the lack of civilian governance.
Iran and Oman are closing in on an agreement to reopen shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. While the deal could help President Trump, it might give Iran control over the waterway. A U.S. official said on Monday that the Iranian account of the deal was not accurate.
Spokane wildfires pushed more than 65,000 people out of their homes by Monday. Officials described the scene as a "war zone" after three fires destroyed neighborhoods. While streets now lie in rubble, no fatalities occurred. Mayor Lisa Brown said, "The fact that all those people made it out so quickly."
The United States sent a flight with 147 deportees to Venezuela on Monday for the first time since June earthquakes. A charter flight from Miami landed in Barcelona. An ICE spokesman said, "For operational security reasons, we would not confirm future removal operations." Many migrants now face uncertain futures back home.
Twenty-five Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration on Monday over new tariffs on 60 trading partners. The lawsuit claims the president exceeded his legal authority. "After losing at the Supreme Court, the administration is once again trying to illegally raise taxes on families and businesses," said Letitia James.
Donald Trump accused US attorney Jeanine Pirro of folding like an umbrella on Monday after she dropped vandalism charges against David Hearn. Trump said, “Frankly, I think she choked because the judge was really vicious.” The justice department later showed the pool damage resulted from a flawed installation by contractors.
Kay Granger, the first Republican woman from Texas elected to Congress, has died at 83. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced her death on Sunday evening. Granger served for nearly three decades and led the House Appropriations Committee. She moved to a Fort Worth living facility during her final year in 2024.
President Trump’s interference in the Justice Department caused major problems last week. His actions imperiled one criminal case, set the stage for sanctions in a second, and hindered his attorney general pick. Norman L. Eisen said, "When presidents meddle in the department, it tends to disrupt its normal functioning."
Representative Max Miller denied domestic abuse allegations on Sunday and refused to drop out of his race for a third term. The Ohio Republican faced a public rebuke from Senator Bernie Moreno after these claims surfaced. Miller said, "If I had assaulted her, would she have offered to cook dinner?"