Global Express | August 26, 2026: Iran says Strait of Hormuz won't reopen until U.S. lifts blockade

1. Iran: Strait of Hormuz won't reopen until U.S. lifts blockade

Source: CBS News

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels and ends the war. He said the blockade is not the only condition — "another issue is the termination of the war" on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The same day, Iran's army announced that all weapons systems damaged in the war with the U.S. and Israel had been rebuilt and that new systems had been imported, according to army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia.

Iran and Oman, the two countries with coastline on the waterway, said in a joint statement Tuesday that they were discussing a proposal for a temporary route through the strait and a plan to remove mines. Oman's foreign minister said he was hopeful a temporary corridor would be announced soon.

2. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announce dissolution

Source: jpchinapress.com

Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced in a televised speech at the presidential palace on the 25th that the group and its autonomous administration would be dissolved and fully integrated into Syrian state institutions.

Abdi said the SDF had completed its integration with the Syrian transitional government's army and would stop operating as an independent armed force. The SDF was founded in 2015 and long controlled large areas of northern and eastern Syria.

3. Three U.S. Secret Service officials placed on leave

Source: CBS News

Three U.S. Secret Service employees have been placed on leave pending an investigation into "potential misconduct," the agency confirmed late Tuesday. The affected staffers include Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi and two other members of the communications office.

As part of the probe, the employees lost their security clearances and access to their work devices. It is not yet clear why they were placed on leave. The matter is being investigated by the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility.

4. U.S. suspends immigrant visa interviews at embassies worldwide

Source: 联合早报

The U.S. State Department has suspended and adjusted immigrant visa interviews at all embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a training program aimed at strengthening scrutiny, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. The training is meant to help consular officers identify applicants who may become a public charge and ensure "comprehensive and consistent" assessments.

The Financial Times reported that many applicants with scheduled interviews received emails saying their appointments were cancelled. The move is the latest in a broader immigration crackdown, though a federal judge last Friday rejected a policy suspending immigrant visas to 75 countries.

5. U.S. stock futures steady ahead of inflation data and Nvidia earnings

Source: Yahoo Finance

U.S. stock futures traded flat in premarket trading Wednesday ahead of a key inflation reading and Nvidia's earnings report. Dow and S&P 500 futures hovered near the flat line, while Nasdaq-100 futures fell 0.2% after broad gains Tuesday.

At 8:30 a.m. ET, investors will learn whether the Fed's preferred inflation gauge continued its downward trend. Economists expect core PCE of 3.3%, unchanged from the prior month. Nvidia reports after the close, a quarterly yardstick for the AI trade.

6. U.S. consumer confidence falls to seven-month low

Source: AP News

Americans' confidence in the economy declined again this month as the Iran conflict continued to push gasoline prices above $4 per gallon. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July — the lowest level in seven months.

Respondents' views of their present situation improved, but their short-term outlook soured. With midterm elections less than 70 days away, persistent frustration over inflation could pose a risk to President Trump and Republicans.

7. Fire at Pakistan hospital nursery kills 14 newborns

Source: AP News

A fire triggered by an exploding air conditioner killed 14 newborns in a hospital nursery in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday, officials said. One of the 15 babies in the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences was rescued.

The government has opened an investigation, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the health ministry's top civil servant removed from office. The fire was confined to the nursery, with no other injuries reported.

8. Gang attack in Haiti leaves 47 dead, over 50 kidnapped

Source: NPR

At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped when armed men attacked a community near Haiti's capital earlier this week, the United Nations said Tuesday. It is believed to be one of the largest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years.

Sunday's attack on Kenscoff pierced the belief that security was improving. A gang leader has threatened to kill the hostages if authorities harm any gang members. At least five of the dead were children, according to the UN.

9. OpenAI loses head of data centers amid executive exodus

Source: TechCrunch

OpenAI has lost Chris Malone, its head of data centers, who left the company last week, the Wall Street Journal reported. Malone spent nearly five years at Meta and more than a decade at Google before joining OpenAI in March of last year.

Malone joined shortly after the launch of the Stargate Project, a data center initiative championed by the Trump administration. His departure adds to a string of more than a dozen executive exits this year, including the chief revenue officer and chief operating officer.

10. Trump says U.S. 'seriously considering' renaming Lake Ontario

Source: 第一财经

President Trump announced on August 25 that the U.S. was "seriously considering" renaming Lake Ontario, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border, to "Lake America," saying he expected little future business with the province of Ontario.

The announcement came amid an escalating trade war: the Trump administration announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods, and Canada retaliated with tariffs of up to 50%. Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly responded: "We will always call it Lake Ontario."