August 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled a sweeping campaign of sanctions and pressure against Iran, described as designed to cripple Iran's economy. The announcement was covered by multiple outlets, including The Washington Post, Axios, AP News, NPR, and The Guardian US.

President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, and steel, escalating the U.S.-Canada trade war. The move threatens to disrupt the auto industry on both sides of the border, with potential closures of Michigan auto plants and surging prices for consumer goods like toilet paper.

A devastating flood in Nepal has killed hundreds and left more than 1,000 people missing, including 65 Americans, according to CBS News. The disaster has prompted a race to deliver aid to affected areas in Nepal and Tibet, with warnings that a flood lake could burst and cause further destruction, as reported by The Guardian.

The Trump administration has proposed a new fee of more than $100,000 for H-1B worker visas, according to multiple reports. The proposal follows a court defeat for the administration, as noted by Bloomberg.

A new NTSB report finds that White House construction was a factor in a Marine One safety incident at Reagan National Airport. The report details communication issues before a jet came too close to Trump's helicopter, with alerts from the helicopter going unheard.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, a key ally. The decision was explained by Trump as part of his approach to the Korean Peninsula, and it has raised concerns about the strength of the US-South Korea alliance.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country's history, with over 2,300 deaths reported. The outbreak is described as fast-moving, and the virus is outpacing the international response.

Hurricane Lala has caused widespread devastation in Hawaii, with officials assessing the storm's fallout. The storm has left communities on Hawaiʻi Island cut off by floods and road damage, and 911 lines are down, according to reports.

Meta is heading to trial in California over allegations that its social media platforms, including Instagram, are addictive and harmful to children. The case is described as a landmark trial and a critical legal moment for the company, with potential consequences called 'astronomical'.

The US Supreme Court has again rejected former President Donald Trump's appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case, declining to overturn the $5 million verdict against him. The decision marks the second time the high court has rebuffed Trump's efforts in this matter, with the latest action denying his rehearing petition.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, causing buildings to collapse and killing at least 111 people. The quake's impact was captured on camera as structures fell, bringing death and destruction.

President Donald Trump has vowed to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory 'pretty soon,' according to Al Jazeera and DW.com. The declaration would come amid an ongoing war with Iran, with the strait's status central to the conflict.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines and spacing them out, a move that contradicts guidance from medical groups. The order also calls for splitting the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into separate shots, a change that would require millions of individual injections last used decades ago.

President Trump dismissed concerns about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier deployed for more than eight and a half months, much of it in support of the war against Iran. Reports described dire conditions and strain on sailors as deployments stretch longer.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's coast, toppling buildings and killing at least 20 people. The quake hit eastern Indonesia, prompting hundreds to flee their homes.

Iran says a deal with Oman is close, but its demands leave the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz uncertain, according to The Washington Post and Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point plan proposed by former President Donald Trump to disarm Hamas in Gaza, according to multiple outlets including Fox News, NBC News, The New York Times, CNN, and Bloomberg.

U.S. intelligence links Russia to an explosive drone found at a German airport, according to the Wall Street Journal (centre-right).

The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) providing the critical vote after previously being a holdout. (The Hill, The Washington Post, Mother Jones)

Yemen’s Houthis claimed attacks on a Saudi Arabian oil facility and a Yemeni port, according to AP News and other outlets.