While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 28, 2026
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US President Donald Trump speaking to reporters at the White House on Aug 27.
PHOTO: AFP
Trump says US is not talking to Iran
President Donald Trump said on Aug 27 that the United States is not talking to Iran as Washington focuses on punishing Tehran economically, vowing to penalise countries that do business with the Islamic Republic.
“We don’t want to speak to them. We’re not looking to meet or anything,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US economic campaign would continue until Iran decides to negotiate meaningfully.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned countries on Aug 24 to cut their financial ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions as part of what had been billed as “Economic D-Day”, but the Treasury Department stopped short of actually imposing penalties.
No signs Russia prepping military attack on NATO countries
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
European intelligence agencies see no sign Russia is planning a military attack on European NATO countries, a senior EU official said on Aug 27, after US reports that the head of the CIA had warned Moscow not to strike the alliance.
Multiple US outlets reported that CIA director John Ratcliffe sought during a visit to Moscow to dissuade Russia from such an attack.
The Wall Street Journal reported it might seek to test NATO with a “limited assault” within a few years.
Visa, Mastercard begin first Syria global card payments in years
SCREENSHOT: @SAFWATRASLAN/X
Visa and Mastercard said they had carried out their first international card payments in Syria in more than a decade, days after Washington delisted the country as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Mastercard said in a statement that it and Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group “have processed Syria’s first international card payment in more than 15 years, marking an important milestone in the modernisation of Syria’s payments ecosystem”.
Visa in a statement on Aug 26 said it had “tested the first live international transaction in Syria”, also hailing “an important milestone in supporting the country’s financial services sector”.
Champions League draw throws up marquee ties
PHOTO: AFP
Champions League holders Paris St Germain will take on Barcelona and Manchester City in this season’s league phase, while record 15-time champions Real Madrid will face Inter Milan and Arsenal after the Aug 27 draw in Monaco set up several mouth-watering clashes.
Luis Enrique’s PSG, who beat Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties in the Champions League final in May to retain their title, will host Barca and travel to City. Their other league-phase opponents are Roma, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como.
Real Madrid host Inter and travel to Arsenal. They will also face PSV Eindhoven, Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK and AEK Athens.
US Open draw hands Alcaraz, Sabalenka tough tests
PHOTOS: EPA, IMAGN IMAGES
Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz faces a challenging road to the New York final while Aryna Sabalenka will also have her hands full in her bid for a three-peat, following the Aug 27 draw.
Alcaraz, who is returning to singles action after sitting out five months with a wrist injury, landed in the stronger bottom half of the men’s draw along with former US Open champions Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic.
The Spanish second seed will start the year’s final major against Roman Safiullin and could face either Arthur Fils or Ben Shelton in the quarters before a potential semi-final showdown against Djokovic, Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima.
