Diyar Guldogan
25 August 2026•Update: 25 August 2026
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including the US State Department's removal of Syria from its State Sponsor of Terrorism list and the US launch of Operation Economic Outcast to sever Iran's financial 'lifelines.’
TOP STORIES
- US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list
The US State Department removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, fulfilling President Donald Trump's commitment to provide sanctions relief to the post-Assad government.
Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, according to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Washington revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization.
The Treasury's office also removed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
- US launches Operation Economic Outcast to sever Iran's financial 'lifelines'
The US launched Operation Economic Outcast, a sweeping campaign intended to completely isolate Iran from the global financial system, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced.
“Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” Bessent told reporters.
Directed by US President Donald Trump, the “unprecedented” sanctions target Iran’s "most vital lifelines," including aviation, shipping, gold, technology and digital assets, he said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opposed imposing any direct or indirect fees on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a joint statement.
- The UN condemned the killing of two peacekeepers during an ambush in South Sudan's Jonglei State.
- The Israeli army ordered the evacuation of a residential area north of the Al-Shati refugee camp in northwestern Gaza City, witnesses told Anadolu.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed ties between their countries as well as regional and global issues, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said.
- French President Emmanuel Macron said he is enacting a law banning cellphones in high schools starting with the new school year.
- Threats against Iran’s infrastructure will be met with “heavy strikes” on US energy chokepoints and vital interests, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman said.
- Syria hailed its removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism as the “result of the transformation brought about by the Syrian people,” saying the decision reflects the new Syrian state’s commitment to international peace and security.
- Russia delivered a confrontational message to the UN Security Council, asserting that Moscow will reject any peace settlement that compromises its core security interests as the conflict in Ukraine reaches the 4 1/2-year mark.
- Israeli forces carried out incursions into southern Syria, entering villages in Daraa and Quneitra provinces and conducting searches a day after Damascus and Tel Aviv held talks aimed at reducing tensions.
- A picture taken by a Palestinian photographer was removed from a sports photography festival in the French coastal city of Deauville after organizers got requests from unnamed sources, reports said.
- Türkiye and Qatar aim to increase their bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said.
- The Ukraine war must be made painful to push Russia to peace talks, Ukraine’s president urged.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held separate meetings with European Council President Antonio Costa and Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden on the sidelines of a “Coalition of the Willing” summit in the capital Kyiv.
- Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party renewed its call for a ban on Muslim headscarves in public schools, proposing that girls under 14 be prohibited from wearing them.
- Finland and Ukraine are expected to reach an agreement on drone cooperation soon, with Finland planning to send 90% of its drone production to Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said.
- The Italian Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CNA) estimated that the Iran war could cost Italy nearly €12 billion ($13.9 billion), according to ANSA news agency.
- The environmental organization Greenpeace reported that the impact of the extreme heat and weeks of drought has cost the German economy at least €36 billion ($42 billion), amounting to 0.8% to 0.9% of economic output.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said a fighter jet belonging to the country’s defense forces crashed near Szolnok, with the pilot ejecting safely.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US set to raise tariffs on Canadian autos, steel to 50% starting Jan. 1
US President Donald Trump escalated a major trade dispute by announcing that Washington will impose a 50% tariff on all Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel starting next Jan. 1.
“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
He claimed that “ridiculously high” Canadian duties on American agricultural goods have made life “impossible” for US farmers and resulted in a $60 billion annual trade deficit.
SPORTS
- Türkiye defeat Hungary 3-0 in European Women’s Volleyball Championship
Reigning champions Türkiye defeated Hungary 3-0 to claim their third Pool A victory at the CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship in Istanbul.
Türkiye won the sets 26-24, 25-21 and 25-14 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall following victories over Slovenia and Latvia. Melissa Vargas led Türkiye with 24 points, while Zehra Gunes added eight and Hande Baladin contributed seven.
