5 Most Popular International News Today

Long queues were observed at a number of petrol stations in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Tuesday (25/8) local time. The situation followed the United States’ announcement of a series of new sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran into submission. Washington has shifted to exerting economic pressure after the war that has raged over the past six months against Iran reached a military stalemate. Peace negotiations have also stalled, and most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global energy supplies, has been blocked.

In addition to that story, the following international news items attracted the attention of detikcom readers today, Wednesday (26/8/2026):

• Malaysian Professor Sacked After Claiming Ancient Malays Could Fly

A professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has been dismissed after making viral claims about ancient Malay civilisation. One of the claims stated that ancient Malays could fly and taught ‘flying kung fu’ to the Chinese. Such claims drew ridicule from historians. In a statement, as reported by The Star and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Wednesday (26/8/2026), IIUM announced that Dr Solehah Yaacob had been relieved of her academic duties since 27 April and was no longer entitled to claim any affiliation with the institution.

• Dolly Parton Dies, Trump Orders Flags at Half-Mast

United States President Donald Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast to honour Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer who died on Tuesday (25/8) at the age of 80. ‘It is with great sadness that I report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond that, has passed away,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘This is a great loss to millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and there never will be.’ Trump added that flags would be flown at half-mast from 6 pm on Tuesday for a full week.

• Tensions! Russian Aircraft Enter South Korean Air Defence Zone, Seoul Scrambles Fighter Jets

South Korean authorities have scrambled fighter jets in response to Russian military aircraft entering its air defence identification zone. This is the second similar incident in recent weeks. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since South Korea joined Western sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and since Moscow built closer ties with North Korea. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence said several Russian aircraft entered and then left its air defence identification zone over the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

• On Nuclear Deal, Trump Insists Saudi Arabia Must Make Peace with Israel

United States President Donald Trump has sent a draft agreement with Saudi Arabia on civilian nuclear energy to the US Congress. Trump stressed that the agreement would only take effect if the kingdom normalises relations with Israel. As reported by Reuters news agency on Wednesday (26/8/2026), the agreement, reached in July, would allow US companies to export civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. The pact was sent to the US Congress on Monday, according to a US administration official who declined to be named to Reuters. ‘The president’s position has not changed that the deal will only proceed if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords,’ a US administration official told Reuters, referring to the US-mediated agreements between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority countries to normalise relations.

• Iranians Queue for Fuel After US Announces New Sanctions

Long queues were observed at a number of petrol stations in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Tuesday (25/8) local time. The situation followed the United States’ announcement of a series of new sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran into submission. Washington has shifted to exerting economic pressure after the war that has raged over the past six months against Iran reached a military stalemate. Peace negotiations have also stalled, and most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global energy supplies, has been blocked. Although Iranian leaders have responded to Washington’s tough rhetoric with indifference, given that the country has faced sanctions for decades, some Tehran residents are worried about feeling the impact.