India sets LPG output targets for oil companies as Middle East war strains supply
August 16, 2026, 5:50 AM EDT. India has set a maximum daily LPG production target of 63,810 metric tons for state-run and private refiners, according to an August 13 government order reported by Reuters. The directive is designed to protect domestic cooking-gas supply and build buffers after the war with Iran disrupted Middle Eastern imports. Reliance and other refiners now face higher domestic output expectations alongside requirements to strengthen storage and transport capacity.
Apple to release only Pro versions of iPhone 18 ahead of holiday sales boost—standard model waits
August 16, 2026, 4:50 AM EDT. Apple is reportedly planning to put the iPhone 18 Pro range on sale in fall 2026 while holding the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027, leaving the holiday launch weighted toward higher-priced models. Apple has not confirmed the schedule, but the timing matters because iPhone generated $54.25 billion, or 49.6% of the company’s fiscal third-quarter revenue. A Pro-first cycle could strengthen the holiday-quarter sales mix while shifting some mainstream demand into 2027, making supplier updates and Apple’s own event guidance the next important signals.
India opens tax amnesty for smaller taxpayers with undisclosed foreign assets
August 16, 2026, 3:55 AM EDT. India opened a one-time tax amnesty for smaller taxpayers with undisclosed foreign income or assets, with applications available through December 31. Undisclosed foreign income of up to ₹10 million can be regularized with a 30% tax plus an equal penalty, while certain already-taxed but unreported foreign assets worth up to ₹50 million can be disclosed for a ₹100,000 payment. The measure is aimed in part at students and non-resident Indians and could bring offshore financial holdings back into tax compliance.
Ukrainian drone strike hits Wildberries warehouse near Moscow
August 16, 2026, 3:53 AM EDT. Ukrainian drones struck the Moscow region overnight in one of the largest attacks reported there, hitting a warehouse operated by Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer. Reuters footage showed a large plume of smoke over the Koledino facility, while another warehouse near Domodedovo was also damaged. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Wildberries logistics sites, arguing that the retailer handles military-related goods, turning commercial distribution infrastructure into a growing wartime risk.
German companies cut US investment to three-year low, data show
August 16, 2026, 2:35 AM EDT. German companies cut first-half direct investment in the U.S. to €4.3 billion, down nearly two-thirds from a year earlier and almost 80% from the same period in 2024, according to calculations by the German Economic Institute based on Bundesbank data. The figure is the lowest since 2023 and far below the pre-pandemic first-half average of €15.8 billion. The institute said established U.S. operations are still reinvesting profits, while companies appear more hesitant to commit fresh capital amid trade-policy uncertainty.
Bonus, stock splits & dividends: Bandhan Bank, MGL, Mazagon Dock among nearly 100 stocks turning ex-record date this week
August 16, 2026, 2:06 AM EDT. Nearly 100 Indian companies are set to reach ex-record dates between August 17 and August 21 for announced shareholder actions including dividends, bonus issues and stock splits. The list includes Bandhan Bank, HUDCO, Manappuram Finance, NBCC, Mahanagar Gas, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Natco Pharma and LIC Housing Finance. The concentrated calendar matters for near-term positioning because eligibility for the respective distributions or corporate actions depends on holding shares before the applicable ex-date.
South Korea fires warning shots after North Korean soldiers cross demarcation line
August 15, 2026, 11:47 PM EDT. South Korea’s military fired warning shots after multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line in the eastern part of the DMZ, Yonhap reported. The troops returned north and no further unusual activity was reported, but it was the first reported North Korean military violation of the line this year. The incident lands just before major U.S.-South Korean exercises, keeping geopolitical risk elevated on the Korean Peninsula.
Suspected Russian drone shot down in Romanian airspace
August 15, 2026, 11:40 PM EDT. A Spanish F-18 flying a NATO air-policing mission shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace from Moldova, Romania’s defence ministry said. NATO said the drone appeared to be Russian, while Romania said fragments likely fell in an uninhabited area. It was the fourth unmanned aircraft shot down over Romania this year, adding to security risk around NATO’s Black Sea flank and regional trade and energy routes.
Indonesia quake disrupts roads, homes and fuel infrastructure
August 15, 2026, 11:33 PM EDT. A magnitude-7.7 earthquake in eastern Indonesia killed at least 51 people and forced around 5,000 residents to evacuate. More than 1,300 homes were damaged, landslides blocked roads and 20 petrol stations were out of service because of power outages. The disruption adds a near-term infrastructure and logistics shock in East Nusa Tenggara, while authorities consider declaring a provincial emergency to accelerate funding and resources.
Disney, Square Enix preview Kingdom Hearts 4 ahead of 2027 debut
August 15, 2026, 10:29 PM EDT. Disney and Square Enix previewed a longer trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4, confirming the game is due in 2027. Disney says Kingdom Hearts is one of nine game franchises that have generated more than $1 billion in retail sales for the company. The partners also disclosed an anime adaptation for Disney Channel and Disney+, extending the franchise across gaming and streaming.
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 returns to Munich after takeoff incident
August 15, 2026, 9:57 PM EDT. A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 bound for Hanoi returned to Munich after a technical problem shortly after takeoff. The aircraft circled for more than two hours before landing and was then unable to taxi off the north runway under its own power, forcing the airport to reroute traffic. Passengers and crew were safe, while the airline and authorities began inspecting the aircraft.
Peru growth slows as El Niño hits farming, fishing and mining
August 15, 2026, 12:17 PM EDT. Peru’s economy grew 1.75% year on year in June, easing from 1.8% in May as El Niño continued to disrupt key industries. Agriculture contracted 8%, fishing fell 52%, manufacturing dropped more than 6% and mining declined more than 2%. The economy still expanded 3.05% in the first half, while the government recently lifted its 2026 growth forecast to 3.5% from 3.2%.
Ukraine says it hit Russian rocket centre linked to Starlink-style network
August 15, 2026, 8:18 AM EDT. Ukraine said long-range strikes hit a Russian military airfield and the Progress rocket-and-space centre in Samara, which Kyiv links to Russia’s developing Rassvet satellite broadband network. Kyiv said Flamingo cruise missiles were used and claimed direct hits and fires; regional officials acknowledged damage to industrial infrastructure after a large missile attack but did not identify the facility. Reuters could not independently verify the Ukrainian claims. Progress is a major producer of Soyuz rockets, making the site relevant to Russia’s military and space-industrial capacity.