IndiaFocal.

India, in focus.

World

Global Briefing: Iran Standoff, Indonesia Quake, Michigan Shooting

Iran defies US over strait; Indonesia quake kills 20; Michigan shooting suspect found dead; plus business and culture news.

Here is a roundup of major developments from around the world on Saturday, August 15.

Middle East Tensions Iran has called on the United States to accept defeat in their ongoing confrontation, while President Donald Trump described Tehran as "very evil" and warned Americans to expect sustained high fuel prices as a result of the conflict. The statements come amid heightened tensions over the strategic strait.

Earthquake in Indonesia At least 20 people have died after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake and dozens of aftershocks struck off eastern Indonesia on Saturday, according to the country's rescue agency. Rescue operations are underway in the affected areas.

Shooting in Michigan A man suspected of shooting and killing five people in northern Michigan on Friday has been found dead, ending a manhunt. Michigan State Police confirmed the development in a statement on social media.

Political Controversy in Florida A South Florida venue has cancelled a planned rally with Democratic U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel's government. The decision followed complaints from a Democratic state lawmaker, highlighting ongoing divisions within the party over its stance on Israel.

Business and Finance In corporate news, AI company Anthropic is preparing for a potential record-breaking IPO, with Wall Street reportedly valuing it based on a forecast of $190-200 billion in revenue by 2028. Separately, trading firm Jane Street is said to have suffered a $15 billion loss in July, linked to its exposure to the AI-focused hedge fund Situational Awareness and other tech stocks hit by the market selloff.

Culture and Sports At Disney's D23 fan event in California, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed the star-studded cast for the upcoming "X-Men" film. In Italy, police announced the recovery of three paintings by French masters Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisse, which were stolen from a museum near Parma in March. In sports, Paris St Germain signed Spain's World Cup-winning forward Ferran Torres from Barcelona on a contract until 2031. Spain's Maria Perez set the inaugural world record for the women's half-marathon race walk at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.