EUR/USD
1.16785
0.014%
Gold
4520.03
-0.062%
Oil
84.167
-0.167%
USD/JPY
158.046
-0.066%
GBP/USD
1.36074
0.015%
GBP/JPY
215.066
-0.037%
Real-time News
On August 20th, local time, on the afternoon of August 19th, US President Trump, when answering media questions at the White House about how he would sanction Iran, stated, "We have many areas we can sanction, we have very strong sanctions in our hands, and well see." Earlier that day, Trump had also told the media that negotiations with Iran might resume "at some point," but Iran must completely abandon its nuclear weapons. Trump also reiterated that the US "owns" and "completely controls" the Strait of Hormuz, and said that Irans "occasionally launching drones does cause trouble." On August 18th, Trump stated on social media that there were currently no talks or dialogues with Iran. Previously, he had consistently insisted that the US was negotiating with Iran, but this had been repeatedly denied by Iran.On August 20th, Michael Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, commented on the rising debt problem from the perspective of the cost of living—an issue that has become a focal point of the upcoming midterm elections. In a statement, Peterson said, "The more debt we take on, the higher the interest costs we have to pay, and now interest payments even exceed defense spending." He continued, "Every trillion dollars we add to our debt pushes up interest rates and inflation, increasing the burden on mortgages, auto loans, and credit card bills for all Americans. At the same time, debt also hurts economic growth, slowing wage growth as the cost of living continues to rise."On August 20th, the U.S. federal debt surpassed the key milestone of $40 trillion, doubling in less than a decade. Fiscal hawks immediately issued strong criticism. Maya McGinnis, chair of the Committee on a Responsible Federal Budget, urged lawmakers to take action, noting, "Nobody knows how many more of these milestones the U.S. can afford." In a statement, she said, "Whatever the motivations our administration officials need to finally act—whether its concerns from domestic voters, warning signs from financial markets, foreign competition, or the consequences of inaction—it should be as soon as possible." She also emphasized that "other warning signs are emerging," such as the rising debt-to-economy ratio. In the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. national debt is estimated at approximately 122% of GDP ($31.87 trillion).Conflict Status: 1. Kyiv was attacked by Russian ballistic missiles. 2. Russian authorities in Ufa claimed drone attacks on industrial facilities. 3. Market news: Russia claims it hit a military cargo ship in the Black Sea. 4. Local governor: Oil refinery infrastructure in Russias Bashkortostan region was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack. 5. Russian Ministry of Defense: Air defense forces shot down 438 Ukrainian drones in one day. Other Developments: 1. The Ukrainian parliament formally approved Andrii Sybiha as Foreign Minister. 2. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy dismissed Deputy Chief of Staff Mudra by presidential decree. 3. It is reported that Russia will receive nearly 270,000 tons of refined oil products from Asia in August. 4. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia has the right to consider the direct use of British-made weapons in attacks on Russian territory as evidence of British intervention in the Ukrainian conflict.Pakistani Foreign Minister: Syrian Foreign Minister Shebani has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for an official visit at the invitation of the Syrian government.
