Thursday, 20 August 2026

Trump announced sweeping new economic sanctions against Iran described as 'the most crushing' and 'economic D-Day,' threatening 'tremendous economic consequences' for any country doing business with Tehran. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated the U.S. would impose 'the toughest sanctions in history' and urged China and other trading partners to cooperate, though Trump has not specified which actions he would take.

Trump scaled back U.S.-South Korean military exercises, with war games ending early Friday amid North Korea's missile launches. The decision prompted alarm in Seoul and raised concerns about U.S. security guarantees to a longstanding 72-year ally as the president pursues diplomatic overtures to Kim Jong Un.

The first group of approximately 1,200 deportees began arriving in Liberia as part of Trump's expanding third-country deportation scheme. A separate incident saw ICE arrest the captain of a boat that capsized in New York Harbor, killing a mother and infant daughter, with DHS alleging he illegally entered the U.S. from El Salvador.

Max D Lederer Jr., longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes military newspaper, announced his resignation over differences with the Pentagon regarding editorial control, marking another clash between the Trump administration and the independent press.

The FBI raided the home of former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, a vocal Trump critic, as part of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell was stopped at an airport over the weekend and his devices were seized as part of the probe.

The Pentagon sent a questionnaire to 31 NATO allies asking about their 'political loyalty' to the United States, an extraordinary move that reflects the Trump administration's skepticism toward traditional alliances and scrutiny of allied commitment.

The U.S. national debt hit $40 trillion, with analysts warning the massive borrowing has raised interest rates and financial stability concerns. Walmart reported its slowest U.S. sales growth since 2020 due to high gas prices and consumer pullback, despite the company receiving nearly $3 billion in tariff refunds.

The Trump administration announced plans to allow oil drilling near a UNESCO world heritage site in New Mexico by scrapping the drilling-free buffer zone, prompting scrutiny from UNESCO and environmental organizations.

Trump revealed that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, marking the first time a U.S. official has publicly disclosed an exact figure for Pyongyang's stockpile, in statements directed at Congress.

Former bitter enemies Trump and Michael Cohen reunited for a radio interview, with Trump suggesting Cohen was 'weaponized' by the government during the 2024 hush money trial. Cohen, who was once Trump's personal attorney and fierce critic, said he has forgiven his former boss.