A charter aircraft crashed near its destination in Alaska, killing all eight people aboard, according to US aviation authorities. The flight, operated by Security Aviation, departed Anchorage for Cape Newenham and went down near the destination at about 12:15 p.m. local time on Thursday. The report was published on August 21, 2026.

Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska regional chief, said the aircraft carried two pilots and six passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration said Cape Newenham is about 450 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Alaskan Command described the aircraft as a civilian contractor-operated flight with eight occupants. Rescue personnel reached the crash site and confirmed that there were no survivors. The command said the plane crashed at Cape Newenham Airport, which is used as an Air Force runway and provides access to a long-range radar site.

Afghan-American politician Ayesha Wahab won the special election for California’s 14th Congressional District, defeating Democratic candidate and transit official Melissa Hernandez. The result, reported on August 21, 2026, makes Wahab the successor to former congressman Eric Swalwell in the US House of Representatives.

Wahab, previously elected as the first Muslim woman in the California State Senate, is a vocal critic of Israel’s military operation and policies in Gaza. Her victory came despite heavy campaign spending aimed at defeating her during the final weeks of the election.

Super PACs associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, spent millions of dollars on campaigning against Wahab and advertisements supporting Hernandez. The AIPAC-linked United Democracy Project alone spent $1.2 million in August to oppose Wahab, while another affiliated organization spent an additional $1.7 million. Despite that spending, Wahab retained her lead and secured the House seat.

US total government debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time, according to updated US Treasury Department data released on Wednesday. The threshold was crossed nearly two years earlier than a May 2023 Congressional Budget Office forecast that projected the debt would reach that level in 2028. The report, published on August 20, 2026, said US debt had exceeded $39 trillion in March, adding another $1 trillion in less than five months.

Debt has nearly doubled from about $19.95 trillion when Donald Trump first became president in January 2017. It rose by about $7.8 trillion during his first term, largely amid coronavirus pandemic spending, and by about $3.8 trillion since his return in January 2025. Under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, debt increased by about $8.4 trillion.

About 80% of the debt, or roughly $32 trillion, is held by the public, including domestic and foreign investors. Japan, the United Kingdom and China were listed as major foreign creditors in 2025. Analysts cited crisis spending, persistent gaps between revenue and expenditure, and rising pension and healthcare costs as drivers, warning of risks to inflation, interest rates, investment and growth.

Joe Kent, former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, criticized President Donald Trump’s hawkish policy and said a war with Iran would not serve US national security interests. In an interview with Fox News, Kent said Iran had not posed an imminent or immediate threat to the United States, and argued that the president has sufficient political authority to declare an end to the war.

Kent also criticized Israel’s role in what he described as the start of unjustified aggression against Iran. He said Israel’s influence within the Trump administration and Tel Aviv’s pressure on Washington to join the conflict were important factors behind US involvement. He further said the United States should not support parties involved in espionage and influence operations against Washington.

Referring to Iranian missile and drone attacks on US military bases in the region, Kent said Iran had demonstrated an ability to strike such facilities with ballistic missiles and drones. He said these attacks had forced the United States to evacuate several military bases, while its regional military presence leaves troops and installations vulnerable to potential Iranian targeting.

Natalie Harp, 35, has emerged as one of US President Donald Trump’s closest and most trusted aides, according to the report published on August 20, 2026. Her duties include typing posts for Trump’s Truth Social account, printing news and information for him, and accompanying him on trips. Her proximity to the president has prompted renewed discussion over her influence inside the White House.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff recently raised questions about Harp’s closeness to Trump. He criticized Trump’s travel with Harp on what he described as an unprotected “flying palace” gifted by the Emir of Qatar. The report says Harp was among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump when he secretly left Turkey on a smaller aircraft in July because of threats from Iran.

Born in California and raised in a conservative Christian family, Harp gained prominence after saying Trump had saved her life. She received treatment for bone cancer after experimental-treatment access was expanded during Trump’s first term. Harp later joined a 2020 Trump reelection advisory board and his subsequent 2022 presidential campaign. Formally an executive assistant, she is seen as influential over information reaching Trump and his social-media posts.

US government debt has exceeded $40 trillion for the first time, according to US Treasury Department data cited by the Associated Press. The milestone was reported on August 20, 2026, as federal spending continues to rise on defence, social programmes and interest payments tied to budget deficits.

The debt reached $39 trillion only five months earlier, in March, meaning it grew faster than forecasts had anticipated. The report said lower revenue from Trump administration tariffs that were cancelled was among the factors accelerating borrowing, as expected revenue worth several billion dollars did not materialise.

The increase highlights tensions among Trump administration priorities, including higher defence spending and efforts to reduce energy and food prices. Defence spending is also required for Trump’s continuing war against Iran, adding pressure on the government’s wider finances. AP said US government debt has more than doubled in less than a decade, during which Donald Trump and Joe Biden both served as president, and has quadrupled in less than 20 years.

Texas has seen a decades-long increase in its Muslim population, particularly around Dallas, where families have moved for schools, comparatively affordable housing and established community networks. Dozens of mosques and Islamic institutions have emerged across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but the expansion has coincided with stronger Islamophobic rhetoric, social hostility and political campaigns, according to a New York Times report cited on August 19, 2026.

The report described Muslims sharing accounts of derogatory comments while praying publicly or sitting in parks. A person was arrested over alleged terrorist threats against a major Islamic center in Houston, while a woman who told Muslim shoppers they were unwelcome later lost her job but received nearly $250,000 from supporters. Ghulam Kehar said hostility made him worried about leaving his wife and four children in Texas while serving with the US Coast Guard.

Political disputes have centered on a proposed mosque-linked development east of Dallas, initially called EPIC City and later renamed The Meadow. Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton opened investigations after criticism, while developers said the project would be open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Muslim leaders are considering engagement and stronger legal responses to false allegations.

The US Navy is facing renewed scrutiny over its sea-based military capability following a series of technical failures, accidents, extended deployments and shipbuilding delays. On July 24, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold suffered a generator failure during routine operations in the South China Sea, leaving it without electricity for four days. Food supply, toilets, air conditioning and access to clean water were disrupted, and the Navy is investigating the cause.

Nearly 5,000 sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln have remained at sea for more than 250 days after a deployment that began in November was extended several times. Reports cited food shortages, water problems, damaged pipelines and growing fatigue, though the Navy denied parts of the allegations. A March fire in the laundry area of USS Gerald R. Ford took more than 30 hours to control, injuring two sailors and causing smoke-related illness among others.

USS Harry S. Truman was involved in a collision near Port Said, Egypt, and lost two F/A-18 aircraft in the Red Sea last year. Investigations cited weak communication, limited training and excessive pressure. A GAO report said shipbuilding budgets nearly doubled over two decades without a significant fleet expansion, while China has more than 370 ships compared with fewer than 300 for the United States.

The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and court official Abdoulaye Sey. The US Treasury added both officials to its Specially Designated Nationals list on Tuesday, according to the report published on August 19, 2026.

The measures freeze any assets they hold in the United States and prohibit financial transactions with US citizens and institutions. With the latest designations, 10 ICC officials have been sanctioned under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on February 6, 2025.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that Akane and Sey were directly involved in efforts to investigate, arrest or prosecute officials from countries that do not accept the court's jurisdiction. He said Washington would broaden efforts to curb the ICC's influence and activities, urging other countries to halt funding and participation. Akane had previously said sanctions would not affect the court's judicial independence, adding that it would not yield to pressure. The ICC had not formally responded to the latest sanctions.

A dispute has emerged in Texas over planned and existing airport facilities for Muslim passengers to perform ablution before prayers. Governor Greg Abbott ordered a review of state funding for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and said grants could be halted. The issue was also referred to the US Department of Transportation for investigation.

The controversy began over a proposal for a separate ablution area at Dallas-Fort Worth. Abbott argued that publicly operated airports should not give special treatment to one religious group. The airport subsequently cancelled the plan, saying a rapid review found that the project would not provide the expected operational benefits.

Houston’s airport has had an ablution facility since 2024. Airport officials said it is available to all passengers, staff and others with terminal access, rather than only Muslims. Houston Mayor John Whitmire similarly said it does not provide preferential treatment to any religion. The Council on American-Islamic Relations called the governor’s stance political and anti-Muslim, describing ablution space as a routine passenger service that can also support cleanliness and management.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson claimed that nearly 30 sailors aboard the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide amid a prolonged Iran war. Johnson made the remarks on Monday night during Al Mayadeen’s program “The Great Standoff: Iran and the World,” in a discussion with Tehran University professor Mohammad Marandi. The article was published on August 18, 2026.

Johnson said a report had cited six sailors attempting to jump into the water, but a recently retired US military officer told him the actual number might be closer to 30. He also alleged that morale and suicide-related concerns extend to other branches of the US military. Johnson further claimed the United States faces growing constraints in advanced weapons stocks, supply systems and naval logistics.

Marandi said Iran may be better able than the United States to withstand a long war, while rising fuel costs could intensify US public opposition. Both speakers described disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a major economic risk. They also discussed Iran’s ties with Russia, China and Pakistan, and potential Iran-Oman arrangements concerning the waterway.

Abdul El Sayed has secured the Democratic nomination in Michigan and will seek to become the first Muslim senator in United States history. The 41-year-old former public health official confirmed the nomination in early August and is due to face Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate contest during the November midterm election. In his victory speech, El Sayed described how his Egyptian immigrant father came to Detroit, allowing him to identify as American.

His campaign has focused on removing money from politics, putting money back in people's pockets and expanding access to healthcare. El Sayed has criticized President Trump's policies and opposed US funding for the militaries of any country, including Israel. He called assistance to Israel's military the worst use of US tax dollars. Analysts cited his political commitments, anti-Israel stance and demand to end American military funding abroad as important to his rise.

Although he did not receive support from Democratic Party central leaders, El Sayed has been backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He previously won more than 30 percent of the vote in Michigan's 2018 gubernatorial election. As Detroit's public health director from 2015, he pursued measures including reducing child mortality, providing free eyeglasses to students and testing lead levels at more than 100 schools.

US President Donald Trump is seeking to revive relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid a complicated US situation over Iran, according to a report published on August 18. Citing his “very good relationship” with Kim, Trump ordered a significant reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea. The move raises new questions over Washington’s long-standing military relationship with Seoul.

On Sunday, Trump said Kim had responded to his outreach, but he gave no details about the message or whether a new meeting between the two leaders could occur. Trump described the joint drills as costly and as a “sign of hostility” toward North Korea. He also expressed dissatisfaction that South Korea had not supported the US initiative to address Iran’s nuclear programme.

During Trump’s first term, he and Kim held several meetings, but they did not reach a lasting agreement to end North Korea’s nuclear programme. North Korea has since strengthened ties with Russia and China while continuing to expand its military capabilities. Analysts said the renewed diplomatic effort signals a potentially important shift in US foreign policy, though they questioned whether it would succeed while unsettling a close ally such as South Korea.

A Reuters-Ipsos opinion poll found US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33 percent, the lowest level of his current term. The report, published on August 18, 2026, said 64 percent of Americans expressed dissatisfaction with his performance. The online survey was conducted over four days among 1,166 US adults and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

The report linked falling support to US involvement in the ongoing war with Iran and higher energy prices. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they believed the war with Iran could be prolonged, while only about 20 percent said US participation was the right decision. Support for involvement was not complete even among Republican voters, according to the report.

Trump’s approval was 35 percent in an earlier Reuters-Ipsos poll at the beginning of August, meaning it dropped another 2 percentage points in a short period. Pressure on international energy trade and rising US petrol prices have increased concern about living costs. With midterm elections due in November, the report said the decline in support is a concern for Republicans.

US Air Force Major Jason Watson has faced disciplinary action after posting on social media that President Donald Trump should be impeached, according to the report published on August 18, 2026. Watson made the call after US military strikes in Iran and publicly criticized Trump’s Iran policy. He questioned the president’s decision to take military action against Iran and said it warranted impeachment.

The report says US military personnel face strict restrictions on political activity and public political statements. Service members on duty cannot take part in activities that could call the military’s political neutrality into question. The action against Watson has prompted renewed debate over the need to uphold military discipline and political neutrality.

Critics have raised questions about how much freedom a service member has to personally criticize government policy or express opinions. The case emerged amid intensified political debate in the United States over the Trump administration’s military and foreign policy toward Iran. It has also renewed questions about the boundaries of free expression, political neutrality and military discipline within the armed forces.